Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 245: You Really Did Come After All

Chapter 245: Chapter 245: You Really Did Come After All

Qi Yu scoffed lightly and gave him a dismissive glance, "I’m a doctor, what could you possibly hide from me?"

Thinking that his secret was already known to this person, Liu Wensheng’s expression turned somewhat annoyed, yet he couldn’t retort.

Qi Yu saw his face turn dark with anger and laughed, "What are you afraid of? This matter is known only to heaven, earth, you, and me."

She wasn’t intentionally prying into others’ secrets; it was just that some things could be deduced with a single pulse check.

However, the taste of having someone else holding something over you must certainly be unpleasant.

She patted Liu Wensheng on the shoulder and comforted him, "Don’t worry, I won’t reveal this matter to anyone."

Liu Wensheng eyed her suspiciously, half in disbelief, "You will keep my secret?"

Qi Yu nodded earnestly, "I dare not say for others, but regarding this matter, I won’t tell anyone."

The two stood in silent confrontation for a while until Liu Wensheng reluctantly looked away, his tone low, "Then I’ll trust you this once."

Qi Yu smiled and called out to Qinrui outside the door.

Qinrui hurried in, stealing a glance at her master. Seeing his expression had calmed down, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Qi Yu asked her to fetch paper and brush, and she wrote a new prescription with flourish, "From today on, use this prescription to prepare the medicine."

Qinrui didn’t understand pharmacology, looking at it for a long time without recognizing anything. Moreover, she stole another glance at Qi Yu.

Don’t they say that handwriting reflects the person? Why was Princess Qi’s writing so different from her persona?

She spoke solemnly, "Alright, I’ll go have the medicine prepared right away."

Having said that, she scurried off.

Now only the two of them remained in the room, Qi Yu closed the door and spoke in a low voice to Liu Wensheng, "I have something to ask you."

"What’s the matter?" An inexplicable nervousness welled up in Liu Wensheng.

Qi Yu tapped her folding fan against her palm, her expression solemn as she asked, "Why would the Empress seek you out? And order you to kill me and the Prince?"

This matter, upon closer thought, was very suspicious.

How could an Empress, long secluded in the deep palace, know a person from Evil Valley, who lived away from Jianghu and never showed themselves to the world?

And moreover, to be able to invite such a person to come forth?

Qi Yu already had a guess in her mind, but she still held onto hope, preferring to be wrong in her assumption.

But Liu Wensheng’s silence had already given her the answer.

Qi Yu closed her eyes and spoke gravely, "The Empress knows, doesn’t she?"

A hint of pain flashed across Liu Wensheng’s eyes as he forced out a single word from his throat, "Yes."

The room fell silent.

After a moment, Qi Yu opened her eyes. Although she had anticipated this result, she couldn’t help but sigh, "If that’s the case, why didn’t you just keep hiding? Why get involved in these murky waters?"

Liu Wensheng responded with a bitter smile, his voice desolate, "Could I have hidden from it?"

Qi Yu silently shook her head, then whispered, "In a few days, the Prince and I will leave. Then, the people the Empress sends won’t focus on Evil Valley; you should take some time to rest and heal."

Liu Wensheng moved his lips but didn’t know what to say.

He was clearly in the wrong; yet, this person was still willing to try her best to help him.

After a while, he spoke hoarsely, "Thank you."

Qi Yu waved her hand dismissively and then left.

In the dungeon, Li Mingjue and Shiqi evaded the guards and lit a candle, illuminating the otherwise utterly dark dungeon.

Li Mingjue walked to the front of one of the cells, crouched down to become level with the person inside, and spoke softly, "Senior Shen."

The person referred to as Senior Shen was none other than Shen Qingcang, who stirred at the sound of someone speaking, his murky eyes moving slightly.

Barely lifting his head, he looked at the handsome face outlined by the candlelight.

Time seemed to have come to a standstill as Shen Qingcang stared blankly at the newcomer.

After a long while, he finally moved his dry, cracked lips and hoarsely squeezed out two words from his scorched vocal cords, "Prince..."

Seeing that he had recognized him, Li Mingjue’s eyes flickered slightly as he continued to ask, "Who locked you up here?"

Upon hearing this question, the man who had been lifeless as a decaying corpse suddenly became agitated.

His hands, shackled in iron chains, shook, making a loud noise in the deadly silent dungeon.

It drew the unconscious glances of others toward them.

Shiqi truly felt as if he’d descended into Hell, feeling dozens of cold eyes staring at him.

His hand holding the candle trembled slightly, causing the light to flicker.

Just as his scalp began to tingle, Shen Qingcang let out a low growl, a sound akin to that of a wild beast.

Shiqi looked down and saw his eyes filled with hatred, and if it weren’t for his hands and feet locked, he would likely have charged out of this cage.

He slightly furrowed his brow, not sure why, but feeling that something was off.

This man before him bore no resemblance to the mild-mannered and smiling Sect Leader of Qianshan Sect from seven years ago.

If it weren’t for faintly recognizing the same features, he would have almost doubted whether he had mistaken someone else for his acquaintance.

Li Mingjue’s eyes darkened and he said to the now out-of-control Shen Qingcang, "Senior Shen, who has harmed you?"

Shen Qingcang coughed twice but did not answer the question.

After a moment, he closed his eyes weakly and said to them, "Go."

His face, marred with scars, could no longer hide his deep pain and regret, and faint voices could be heard from outside, signaling the approach of the patrol.

Li Mingjue did not ask further and exited the dungeon with Shiqi.

Two days later, Qi Yu left Evil Valley with Song Ting.

Qinrui prepared a carriage for them, advising, "Once you leave here, continue straight along the east side and you’ll find the exit."

Qi Yu nodded, thanked her, and boarded the carriage with Song Ting.

She took the reins at the front, while Song Ting, unable to sit still, lifted the curtain and settled next to her, looking up and saying, "Cousin-in-law, are you sure that big villain won’t catch us and take us back?"

Even though they had left Evil Valley, the shadow of being captured that day had not yet faded, and Song Ting always felt that someone might suddenly appear and take them back again.

Qi Yu glanced at him and saw his furrowed brows. She smiled and said, "No, they won’t."

As she spoke, her gaze set firm on the path ahead, her expression swiftly turning cold.

Liu Wensheng wouldn’t send people to capture them, but that didn’t stop some people from taking matters into their own hands, refusing to let them go.

The carriage wound through the smoky forest, and after a whole morning’s journey, they finally saw the exit.

However, Qi Yu tugged on the reins, halting the still galloping horse.

Song Ting, jostled by the abrupt stop, looked at his cousin-in-law, puzzled, and asked, "Cousin-in-law, why did we suddenly stop?"

Qi Yu pushed him back into the carriage in one motion and ordered, "Don’t come out!"

Though Song Ting did not understand what was happening, he obediently stayed inside.

Outside the carriage, Qi Yu faced the woman in red and slightly raised her eyebrows, "You’ve really come after all."

Hong Ling, with her sword aimed at the carriage’s occupants, let out a cold laugh, a thick murderous intent flashing in her eyes, "I told you, I’m going to kill you!"

With a slight curl of her lips, Qi Yu replied, "Then try."