Chapter 168: Look, You Can’t Keep Up the Act Anymore

After finishing one bowl of rice, Ziyue was about to get another when he saw Cen An beside him, holding a bowl of rice. His chopsticks had picked up two grains, but he spent ages unable to bring them to his mouth.

He looked as foolish as could be.

Ziyue waved a hand in front of his face but got no reaction.

Ziyue looked toward Song Junzhan. "Is he scared stupid?"

Uncle Jiang gave a mysterious smile. "He’s fallen ill, and it’s something no divine medicine can cure."

Ziyue grew nervous at the mention of illness. But if Cen An was sick, why was Uncle Jiang smiling?

"Young Master, what kind of illness does he have?"

Faced with Ziyue’s innocent question, Song Junzhan cleared his throat. "You wouldn’t understand. Go on and get your rice. The rest of the food will get cold."

Completely bewildered, Ziyue went to get his rice. When he returned, he saw Cen An eating as if nothing was wrong.

’He’s better already?’

After the meal, Song Junzhan went to the rear courtyard for tea. Cen An personally brewed his medicine and brought it over. Just as Song Junzhan raised the bowl to drink, a burnt smell wafted up before it even reached his mouth.

He took a sip but couldn’t possibly drink it. With a helpless sigh, he said, "You only met the young lady once. Do you really have to be like this?"

Cen An snapped back to reality, his eyes darting away. "What are you talking about? I’m certainly not thinking about Miss Wang."

Song Junzhan: "..."

’He’s already confessed without being prompted, yet he still says he wasn’t thinking about her.’

Cen An, believing he was acting perfectly normal, said, "The Princess was willing to save her before. When she came to visit yesterday, why was she so harsh with her? I don’t know what was said, but it made the poor girl cry."

Song Junzhan lifted his gaze. "Talk about an ungrateful wretch. The Princess personally went to save you yesterday, yet now you only care that she was harsh with Miss Wang."

Cen An instantly looked awkward. "I’m grateful to the Princess too, of course. I’m just... curious..."

Song Junzhan was exasperated. "The Princess is Miss Wang’s savior. Even if the Princess was harsh with her, so what?"

Cen An was left speechless.

Song Junzhan added, "Miss Wang is a daughter of the Wang family, and now she’s entered the palace as a female official. Forget about pursuing her; you’ll be lucky to even catch a glimpse of her."

’The Wang family would never marry their daughter to a physician with no family background or status.’

The words were too realistic and too hurtful. For the sake of their friendship, Song Junzhan didn’t say them out loud to crush Cen An.

Cen An ran a hand through his hair, his expression forlorn.

With reality laid bare, Song Junzhan thought his friend would see reason. But he had underestimated the power of love at first sight.

"I’m going to become an Imperial Physician!"

Cen An’s bold declaration startled Song Junzhan. "COUGH, COUGH, COUGH! What nonsense are you spouting now?"

A complete change from his listlessness the day before, Cen An was now full of vigor and radiating energy. "I’m going to become an Imperial Physician. If she can’t come out, I’ll enter the palace to see her."

Song Junzhan pressed a hand to his forehead. "First of all, I’m not trying to crush your spirits, but even if you become an Imperial Physician, you won’t be able to get near her attendants, let alone her, without a summons from the Empress."

"Second, being an Imperial Physician isn’t a game. You’ll have to deal with all the masters of the palace. While the title ’Imperial Physician’ sounds prestigious, in their eyes, you’re still just a servant."

Cen An nodded, his expression resolute. "I know. But I still want to go. I want to see her."

Song Junzhan was speechless. ’He’s a lost cause.’

’Deciding his entire life’s path over a girl he’s only met once?’

Cen An even tried to persuade Song Junzhan, "It’s normal that you don’t understand me, just as I don’t understand why you’ve committed yourself to Princess Xuanyang. But you must understand the feeling."

Song Junzhan was numb to it all. He didn’t understand in the slightest.

He hadn’t chosen Princess Xuanyang out of romantic love. He chose her after witnessing her spirit, capability, and courage. It was only after realizing his own chosen path was a dead end that he, after deep contemplation, chose her as his liege.

He was a follower of Princess Xuanyang, serving her loyally to ultimately achieve the goals he had always wanted to accomplish.

Although the Princess was stunningly beautiful, enough to make his heart flutter, he was crystal clear about what he wanted. He was firm in his goals and held no improper fantasies.

But Cen An had met a girl once, exchanged a couple of sentences, and then, in a moment of hot-headed recklessness, was ready to throw his whole life away. It would be a miracle if Song Junzhan could understand that.

Though utterly exasperated, Song Junzhan had no choice but to help him strategize. "I have to go to the Princess Mansion tomorrow. Come with me."

"We can ask why Miss Wang was crying. And as for this business of you wanting to become an Imperial Physician, you should at least mention it to the Princess first."

’He knew he couldn’t talk Cen An out of it. Perhaps the Princess would have a solution.’

’Failing that, they could ask Miss Wang for her thoughts. Once his hopes were crushed, he would stop making a scene.’

Cen An could wait one day.

In truth, Cen An felt this was his own business and his decision to make. No one else had the right to stop him. However, his relationship with the Princess was decent, and they would surely interact in the future if he became an Imperial Physician. Besides, the Princess had saved Miss Wang. So, telling the Princess did seem necessary.

When it came to visiting the Princess Mansion, Ziyue was undoubtedly the most excited. He was ready long beforehand, having even combed his hair three times.

He was happy to see the Princess, but after greeting her, he dove headfirst into the Princess Mansion’s training grounds. What he loved most were the weapons and equipment there; he couldn’t bear to put them down.

He could also spar with the guards of the Princess Mansion, fighting freely and to his heart’s content.

Song Junzhan had come to deliver something to Xiao Li. He had compiled information on many scholars from poor families, a number of whom could be recruited as guests of the Princess Mansion.

The Princess Mansion had considerable martial strength, but it was almost entirely lacking in civil and scholarly talent. With no power at court, this would be a major disadvantage for the Princess should a crisis arise.

The civil service examinations could not be revived at present, but the Princess Mansion could help these capable scholars from poor families enter the court, where they could bide their time.

Song Junzhan’s notes were detailed and included his own analysis. As Xiao Li carefully reviewed the candidates, Cen An sat fidgeting, unable to stay still.

Before Cen An could state his purpose, a visitor arrived from the palace—it was Nanny Cui, a trusted confidante of the Empress Dowager.

"This old servant greets the Princess."

’Since when did one of the Empress Dowager’s Palace Attendants need to bow to Princess Xuanyang? Her attitude was unprecedentedly polite.’

Xiao Li gave her a cool glance. "What decree does the Empress Dowager have?"

Nanny Cui shook her head and presented a list of names. "The Empress Dowager has personally selected five young men from the capital’s most eligible talents. Their looks, abilities, and family backgrounds are all a worthy match for you, Your Highness. Please, take a look."

Xiao Li’s brow twitched. For a moment, she thought she had misheard. "You... what did you say?"

Nanny Cui patiently prepared to repeat herself, but Xiao Li raised a hand to stop her. "There’s no need. I have no intention of marrying. Take it back, and thank the Empress Dowager for her kind intentions."

Nanny Cui frowned. "Is Your Highness still angry with the Empress Dowager?"

She sighed. "The Empress Dowager knows she was not attentive enough to you in the past. She now recognizes what a good child you are, so she wants to do something for you."

"You were treated poorly by Prince Consort Lu, but that doesn’t mean all men are like him. These are fine young men whom the Empress Dowager has carefully selected. Your Highness can personally choose your own ideal husband from among them."

She then added with heartfelt persuasion, "In the end, a woman must marry. This grand Princess Mansion without a male master... it just doesn’t look proper."

’What nonsense is this? It’s her mansion. Why must it have a male master?’

Xiao Li’s long, slender fingers curled slightly, tapping the armrest twice. A mocking smile touched her eyes. "Nanny Cui, do you know how Qian Hui died?"

Nanny Cui frowned. Of course, she knew Qian Hui had been beaten to death by the Princess.

Her expression immediately turned cold. "Does Your Highness intend to have this old servant beaten to death as well? I belong to the Empress Dowager. Your Highness should not be so brazen."

’See? She couldn’t keep up the act.’

Xiao Li leaned back in her chair, her condescending gaze dark and cold. "This Princess is merely reminding you, Nanny, that you are only a messenger for the Empress Dowager. Simply reply with the words I have given you. Do not presume upon your age to preach your self-righteous opinions here."

"This is the Princess Mansion. And this Princess Mansion has one master and one master only: this Princess!"