Chapter Sixty: The Fairy Physician Yan

Shen Hezhi turned around and saw Sixth Prince.
“Sixth Brother… What a coincidence, are you also out for a stroll?” Shen Hezhi smiled faintly, but his guard was up.
He did not believe for a moment that he could so casually run into Shen Heye by merely stepping out of the residence. The best proof was that Shen Heye always had people tailing him, and only appeared now because he knew Shen Hezhi had left the prince's manor alone.
“Indeed, I never thought I'd run into you, Ninth Brother, just by taking a walk. Since fate has brought us together, why not join me for a drink at the tavern?”
Faced with Shen Heye’s invitation, Shen Hezhi did not immediately respond. He quietly studied Shen Heye, trying to guess what scheme was at play.
At that moment, Cen Changxiao suddenly appeared.
“Ninth Prince, our Sixth Prince has other matters to attend to with me today, so we must excuse ourselves,” Cen Changxiao said with a bow to Shen Heye, then moved to stand by Shen Hezhi’s side.
Shen Hezhi saw Cen Changxiao and said nothing more.
Seeing that Shen Hezhi had found an ally, Shen Heye no longer pressed him to leave together.
“Since you have other matters, Ninth Brother, I won’t disturb you further. Another day, you must come to my residence for a drink,” Shen Heye said with a laugh, then strode away.
Shen Hezhi watched Shen Heye’s departing figure, pondering just where he had spies placed, to be able to track his every move so precisely, even enough to intercept him on the street.
“This way, Your Highness,” Cen Changxiao said, breaking his train of thought.
Shen Hezhi glanced at Cen Changxiao, nodded, and followed him to a small teahouse nearby.
“Your Highness, why did you go out alone? Sixth Prince is always coveting your position. It’s extremely dangerous for you to be out unaccompanied,” Cen Changxiao said, his tone earnest and concerned.
Listening to him, Shen Hezhi felt as if there had never been any rift between them, as if they were still brothers as before.
But what had happened, had happened. No matter how much one tried to conceal it, the facts could not be changed.
Shen Hezhi looked at Cen Changxiao for a few moments, then reached for the teacup before him, fiddling with it as he said, “Changxiao, how is it that you’re here?”
Cen Changxiao was startled by his words. “Your Highness… are you suspecting me?”
“Not at all, I was merely asking casually how you happened to be here,” Shen Hezhi replied with a slight smile.

Cen Changxiao pressed his lips together, understanding Shen Hezhi’s character well. He knew that, because of his sister, he had once stood against Shen Hezhi, and so in Shen Hezhi’s heart, their relationship could never return to what it once was.
“I… I was simply taking a walk, and happened to see you and Sixth Prince on the street, so I came over,” Cen Changxiao explained honestly.
“I see,” Shen Hezhi replied blandly, leaving Cen Changxiao unsure of his true meaning.
Without another word, Shen Hezhi stood, took out a few pieces of silver, and placed them on the table. “Thank you for today. Otherwise, things might have gotten complicated. I’ll take my leave.”
With that, Shen Hezhi departed, leaving Cen Changxiao sitting there, at a loss.
He had once thought that they might grow apart, but never imagined things would become as they were now.
Shen Hezhi no longer confided in him, nor expressed any joy, anger, sorrow, or other feelings.
Cen Changxiao sat motionless in his chair for a long time…
Shen Hezhi did not wish to be so resolute, but he simply could no longer face Cen Changxiao.
Though this was not a matter of great consequence, Cen Changxiao’s lack of trust had wounded him deeply. Over the years, Cen Changjing had made many mistakes, yet Cen Changxiao always defended his sister.
That was fine, not wrong in itself, for those matters were trivial—Shen Hezhi had always considered Cen Changxiao loyal. But when faced with something truly important, Cen Changxiao still blindly chose to believe in Cen Changjing.
Though they were brothers, one was master and the other a subordinate. If Shen Hezhi hadn’t saved him years ago, both he and his sister would have been long dead.
…
Shen Hezhi wandered aimlessly, lost in memories while also searching for Yan Heru’s whereabouts.
As for why he sought her, he could not have said.
“I must see Doctor Yan! Why won’t you let me?”
“That’s right! Doctor Yan is not like you! She doesn’t look down on us poor folk!”
Hearing the name “Doctor Yan,” Shen Hezhi instinctively thought of Yan Heru and stopped in his tracks. Looking up, he realized he had somehow wandered to the Shengjing Clinic.
“Stop making a scene! I already told you, Doctor Yan is busy today and not here. Why are you still clamoring? Move along, or I’ll have to beat you!” the impatient servant at the door shouted.
Shen Hezhi shook his head helplessly. Shengjing Clinic had always been like this, and the authorities allowed it.

Because treating the commoners this way gave the wealthy and powerful a sense of superiority, and Shen Hezhi had no intention of meddling in such affairs.
Just then, a clear, melodious female voice caught his attention.
A woman in a violet dress, her face veiled, walked down the street. Before she even reached the entrance, she called out, “Didn’t I say you must not treat the people this way?”
At once, the crowd of commoners cheered, “Doctor Yan!”
“Don’t call her Doctor Yan—call her Fairy!”
“Fairy Yan!!”
Their affectionate shouts made Shen Hezhi laugh despite himself, reminding him of how Yan Heru had once told him she was a fairy.
But unlike before, this woman was not claiming the title herself; she was truly beloved by the people.
Shen Hezhi studied the woman in violet, mentally comparing her with Yan Heru.
Still, the princess is more beautiful, he thought to himself.
The servant, seeing Doctor Yan arrive, immediately became respectful. “Doctor Yan, you were out, so I told them to come back later.”
“Come back later? I heard every word you just said. Are you sure that’s what you told them?” Yan Heru questioned sternly.
Hearing her full sentence, Shen Hezhi found the voice oddly familiar, very much like Yan Heru’s, yet with a subtle difference. He decided to wait patiently, watching from the shadows.
“Doctor Yan, I…” The servant stammered, afraid—he was the same one who had once spoken rudely to Yan Heru.
“Let them queue up. I’ll see them,” Yan Heru said as she entered the clinic.
Seeing that she was not going to pursue the matter, the servant hurried to arrange the line.