Chapter 6: Keep It Quiet

“Fairy sister!” Su Lan, unable to match Ye Jinchen’s speed, had only just arrived when she saw Yun Qing fainting in Ye Jinchen’s arms and immediately burst into tears. “Fairy sister! That damned impostor actually turned you into this state…”

Ye Jinchen’s brow lifted slightly. An impostor? This matter was clearly not simple.

He raised a hand to check Yun Qing’s breathing—there was still a faint pulse. Cradling the girl horizontally, he headed toward the door.

Seeing Ye Jinchen about to leave, Su Lan hurried after him. “Prince Ye! Where are you taking the fairy sister?”

Ye Jinchen ignored her, walking out of Sansheng Hall without a glance back.

Earlier, Ye Jinchen had arrived in haste, moving with lightness like stepping on tiles. On the way back, his protector Pei Xuan had already prepared a carriage. Seeing the girl in his arms, Pei Xuan’s face filled with shock. “Your Highness, this is…”

Ye Jinchen was about to board the carriage. Pei Xuan immediately got the ladder ready and lifted the curtain.

“Back to the Prince’s Mansion,” Ye Jinchen said coldly, gently laying Yun Qing on the soft couch.

Su Lan hesitated, her raised hand lowering slowly.

Since Yun Qing had asked her to find Ye Jinchen, it was clear he could help her. Fine—if anything went wrong, she would fight her way through the mansion, bloodied if necessary. Offending the Prince’s Mansion was nothing; her fairy sister was what mattered most!

She pressed her lips, following close behind.

“You sister is injured. I will take her back to the mansion to rest and call the best imperial physician. You, handle the aftermath—close the clinic and keep it quiet,” came a voice from inside the carriage.

Su Lan stopped, looking up at the curtain, clenching her fists and furrowing her brows. “I don’t trust you.”

“Miss Su, our prince’s word is ironclad. He never speaks falsehoods. He promised to cure Miss Yun Qing and to take good care of her.”

Su Lan lowered her head to consider for a moment. She recalled how, at dusk, Yun Qing had mentioned the purple aura surrounding Ye Jinchen could nourish her depleted vitality.

They were new in the capital, unfamiliar with the place, and knew no other royal family members. Now only Ye Jinchen could save her.

Seeing how generous Ye Jinchen usually was, and that he didn’t seem like a villain, she finally agreed. “Prince Ye, if it weren’t to help you, my sister wouldn’t have ended up like this. If you dare repay kindness with cruelty, heaven will punish you!”

Ye Jinchen glanced out the window without answering, only saying to Pei Xuan, “Go.”

---

The Prince’s Mansion was brightly lit. Yun Qing lay quietly on the couch.

An elderly man dressed in imperial physician robes took her pulse briefly, then bowed to Ye Jinchen. “Your Highness, this young lady’s pulse is faint and her breath is like a wisp. She is likely suffering from vital energy exhaustion and requires strong tonic treatment.”

Ye Jinchen rolled a jade thumb ring on his hand. “Prepare the prescription.”

“Yes.”

Soon, a maid carefully helped Yun Qing sit up while another gently fed her nourishing broth.

Ye Jinchen watched the pale-faced girl, lost in thought.

She had been lively and full of life just hours ago—how had she come to this state so quickly?

“Your Highness, you should take your medicine now,” Pei Xuan reminded him. A maid had brought his daily tonic.

He paused briefly, downed the medicine in one gulp, then waved everyone out of the room. Sitting on a pear blossom wood chair beside her bed, he held a white carved jade pendant against the flickering candlelight. It was crystal clear, without a single flaw.

Ye Jinchen’s brow furrowed gently. Since waking in Sansheng Hall, the intense pain in his heart had disappeared, and he felt much lighter.

But Yun Qing—those things she had been meddling with in Sansheng Hall, claiming his jade pendant was cursed—could it be true?

If so, then as Su Lan said, was she like this because of him?

Pei Xuan returned from outside, bowing. “Your Highness, I have ordered men to clean up after Miss Su at Sansheng Hall. No one saw Miss Yun Qing leave with Your Highness.”

Ye Jinchen nodded. “Investigate who Yun Qing is and what her purpose in the capital is.”

“Yes.”

He secured the jade pendant inside his inner garment. “Pei Xuan, my heart condition… it’s healed.”

“What?” Pei Xuan looked up in astonishment. “Your Highness has suffered heart disease for years. No doctor could cure it. Now… it’s healed?”

Looking at Ye Jinchen’s elegant profile, like a fallen immortal, Pei Xuan felt a pang of sadness.

---

With his family background, talents, and looks, Ye Jinchen had been favored by the late emperor since he was a prince. When he came of age, admirers in the capital were endless. Nobles and officials nearly trampled the gates of the Prince’s Mansion, seeking to marry their daughters to him.

Until he inexplicably contracted heart disease. Countless doctors were powerless. They said the illness was incurable, his heart failing, and he wouldn’t live long.

This scare drove away all suitors. Even noble ladies who admired him refused, shaking their heads and shutting their doors tight when marriage was mentioned.

The only exception was the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Zhenbei’s household, a gentle and virtuous young lady who did not care about the prince’s illness.

It was thought to be a good match, but now it seemed that even if the prince was ill-fated, such a woman was not suitable for him.

Pei Xuan had thought he would accompany Ye Jinchen alone for life, but now there was a turning point.

“But did Miss Yun Qing cure Your Highness?”

Ye Jinchen nodded, his brow tightening. “There must be a traitor in the mansion. Until they are caught, my medicine cannot be interrupted for a single day. This matter must not be spread.”

“I will investigate thoroughly!”

The candlelight flickered across the girl’s face. Ye Jinchen found it somewhat familiar—somewhat resembling Sheng Jintang.

Previously, when discussing marriage with the Marquis of Zhenbei’s household, Ye Jinchen had wanted to wed the legitimate eldest daughter, Sheng Jintang, because she resembled an old playmate and was about the same age.

At that time, neither had revealed their names or identities, so he mistakenly thought this girl was her. Later, after learning more, he found Sheng Jintang dull and uninteresting, no longer the lively little sunbeam she once was, and decided to call off the marriage.

A few months ago, when he saw Yun Qing in Sansheng Hall, he had no strong reaction.

Her master had altered her appearance, and after years of cultivation, she exuded an extraordinary immortal aura, lacking the immediate familiarity he felt upon first meeting Sheng Jintang.

He stared at her, lost in thought. Could this girl truly be her?

He reached out to gently brush aside her fallen hair to see more clearly, but a pale little hand grasped his wrist.

Ye Jinchen frowned, trying to pull back his hand, but she held on tighter.

As he leaned closer, her previously ashen face gained a hint of warmth; her pale nails turned pink. Feeling him pull away, Yun Qing whispered softly, “Don’t go...”