Chapter Sixty-Four: Let Nature Take Its Course

Just as she was about to step outside to seek Yan Heru, he returned on his own accord.

“Madam,” Shen Hezhi blocked Yan Heru in the courtyard, smiling broadly at her.

“Is there something you need, Your Highness?” Yan Heru replied coldly.

Although Yan Heru’s attitude toward him was harsh, Shen Hezhi had no intention of giving up on her because of it. After all these years, he had finally met a woman he truly liked; how could he possibly let her go so easily?

“I may have to travel to the borderlands soon. Come with me.”

“The borderlands? I’m not going.” Yan Heru frowned at first, then relaxed, sidestepping Shen Hezhi and seating herself in the courtyard.

Shen Hezhi turned and walked over to her side. “Why are you unwilling to go with me? Is it because you wish to continue treating the sick in the capital?”

“That’s one reason. The other is, why should I go with Your Highness?” Yan Heru raised her eyes to look at Shen Hezhi.

“Because you are my princess!” Shen Hezhi replied with a mischievous grin.

Now that he was facing his own heart honestly, Shen Hezhi wondered how he could have been so foolish in the past, letting such a beauty slip by without even trying to reach out.

Yan Heru’s purple gauze dress made her look stunning beyond compare. Such a beautiful wife ought to be kept hidden from prying eyes.

Lost in his thoughts, Shen Hezhi almost drifted away. Noticing the uncontrollable smile on his lips, Yan Heru shook her head in resignation. “Your Highness, what are you thinking about?”

“Ah…” Startled from his reverie, Shen Hezhi gave an awkward smile. “Nothing, really. It’s just that I worry about your safety if you remain alone in the capital. You know my current situation—enemies everywhere.”

He secretly sighed in relief. Thank goodness he reacted quickly; if Yan Heru had realized he’d been thinking about her beauty, it would have been unbearably awkward.

“Your Highness need not worry about my safety. I promised to help you cure your cold poison, and until it is completely purged, I will stay by your side. But I do not wish to go to the borderlands,” Yan Heru replied.

Her words were utterly devoid of emotion, her tone as flat as if she were a puppet carrying out orders.

Shen Hezhi disliked how their conversations had become so emotionless. Previously, when he hadn’t understood his feelings, he could ignore it. Now that he knew his heart, he could no longer overlook the distance between them.

Suddenly, Shen Hezhi grasped Yan Heru’s shoulders, gazing at her intently. “Yan Heru, I don’t know what you’re resisting, but you give me the sense that you’re afraid to accept my feelings for you.”

Yan Heru stiffened, her attempt to break free halted. “Your Highness, you should not speak of such things. The relationship between us is nothing more than a transaction. What talk is there of feelings?”

Shen Hezhi shook his head. “But now, it’s more than a transaction. I’ve realized my heart is already with you. You’ve stolen it away, and you ought to take responsibility for that.”

Yan Heru blushed, hastily pushing Shen Hezhi away. Turning her back to him, she said, “Your Highness, you’d better spend your time preparing for your journey to the borderlands. I’ll go and prepare some medicine for you.”

Hearing the word “medicine,” Shen Hezhi suddenly thought of a way to keep his little princess with him.

He reached out and caught Yan Heru’s hand. “I really think you should come with me to the borderlands. Think about it—from every perspective, you ought to accompany me. Even if our relationship is transactional, you’re still responsible for my safety. If my cold poison flares up, only you can cure it.

Besides, as my princess, it’s only right that you accompany me to the borderlands. I truly worry you’ll be bullied if you stay in the capital. If the Sixth Prince learns I’m away, he’ll surely try every means to harm you. Have you forgotten how he abducted you right after you married me?”

Shen Hezhi blurted out everything at once, afraid Yan Heru would interrupt him.

Yan Heru listened carefully to his words, analyzing them, and found them all very reasonable.

But she feared that if she followed him to the borderlands, she would completely lose herself in his tenderness. That was not the outcome she wanted—it was the result she feared most.

“Your Highness, my heart is already dead. If you only wish for me to accompany you to the borderlands, safeguard your safety, and prevent your cold poison from recurring, I can do that. But if you want my heart, you would do better to give up,” Yan Heru replied coldly.

Shen Hezhi felt a pang in his heart at her words, yet he was secretly pleased, for Yan Heru had agreed to accompany him to the borderlands.

“Very well. As long as you’re willing to go with me to Binjiang, nothing else matters.” With these words, Shen Hezhi turned and left.

Yan Heru heard the hint of resignation in his voice and felt a trace of sorrow herself.

Though she tried her best not to admit it, she had to acknowledge that his shadow had entered her heart.

Once someone’s shadow is in a heart, erasing them becomes all but impossible.

Watching his departing figure, Yan Heru sighed helplessly.

Let it be, she thought. I’ll take it one step at a time, see how things develop. Perhaps this is the path fate has laid out for me…

Her heart lightened at the thought. Shen Hezhi liked her, and now, she had to admit, she liked him as well. She would see what transpired in the days to come before deciding if they truly belonged together.

In any case, she had to follow him, to prevent his cold poison from suddenly flaring up.

Yan Heru smiled and went to the pharmacy. Since she had decided to accompany him to the borderlands, she needed to prepare the necessary herbs in advance, for such a harsh place was unlikely to offer much in the way of medicine.

After finishing her preparations, she left the prince’s residence. If she was to travel to the borderlands, she could not continue treating the common folk in the capital. Her mentor, the head of the medical hall, would need to be informed, for a disciple departing on such a distant journey ought to say farewell.

Yet, deep down, Yan Heru dreaded her mentor’s reaction.

Shengjing Medical Hall.

“Doctor Yan, you’re here. This isn’t your usual consultation time, is it?” The attendant spotted Yan Heru from afar and greeted her warmly.

“Yes, I have something to discuss with the Head Physician.”

“The Head Physician is resting in the inner hall. Please come in, Doctor Yan.” The attendant ushered her inside.

Moments later, a man followed her into the room.