"How is it you?" Shao He, upon seeing the familiar figure, had not expected him to find this place.
"I’ve heard that your medical skills are superb, and even The Emperor has conferred upon you the title of Divine Doctor. So, I came to ask if there’s any possibility for my illness to be cured," Pei Hanze stated, well aware that it was impossible. It was merely an excuse he had concocted.
Shao He pursed his lips and said, "I may be a Divine Doctor, but I’m no deity. With a condition like yours, all you can rely on are various nourishing medicinals to keep you going."
His organs were gradually failing, and all that could be done was to delay the decline. There was no way to treat it, especially given the extreme unsteadiness of his qi.
Pei Hanze let out a light laugh, "You’re quite amusing, girl. I wonder if I might have the honor of inviting you to dine with me this evening?"
"I’ve heard that a new Drunken Immortal Pavilion has opened in the Capital City. Miss Shao, would you care to join me and try it out?"
Shao He, seeing the smile on his face, recalled the words that Pei Huaian had questioned her with last night. Moreover, Ah Mo had mentioned that Pei Huaian had always been protecting her from the shadows.
Shao He was annoyed she hadn’t managed to keep Pei Huaian by her side last night and was worrying about how to force him into the open. Now the opportunity had presented itself.
Perhaps this would force him to appear. Shao He hoped to face what lay ahead together with Pei Huaian, rather than letting him suffer alone.
Moreover, he had been working on a potion for mania. Although he hadn’t succeeded yet, he believed he would definitely be able to create it.
Pei Hanze, noticing Shao He’s dazed expression, waved his hand in front of her eyes, "Miss Shao, are you alright?"
"No, it’s nothing." Shao He snapped back to reality.
"If you’re unwilling... then..."
"Of course, I can." Shao He immediately agreed. Such a good opportunity was not to be refused.
Pei Hanze felt a surge of joy in his heart, "Then I will come to pick you up this evening."
"Alright." Shao He watched him leave, a crafty smile playing on her lips.
Qingxia took her words seriously and anxiously persuaded, "Miss, how can you agree to someone else’s invitation? If the Fifth Prince finds out, he will surely misunderstand."
"Let him misunderstand. It was he who abandoned me first," Shao He said nonchalantly.
Qingxia was stomping anxiously, urging Shao He to reconsider. Now that she was personally bestowed the title of Fifth Prince’s Consort by The Emperor, it might be inappropriate to share dinner with another man.
"It’s just a dinner." Shao He waved it off, unconcerned.
Qingxia wanted to say more, but Shao He was in no mood to listen. Instead, she began to dress up with great care, trying different hairpins on her head.
"Miss has never valued the Fifth Prince this much before. It feels like Miss’s affections have shifted," Qingxia muttered from behind.
Her voice was neither loud nor soft, perfectly reaching Shao He’s ears. She turned her head to give Qingxia a look, "Keep blabbering nonsense, and I’ll sell you off."
"I was wrong, Miss," Qingxia immediately begged for mercy.
"Hmm, remember this, never speak out of turn at any time," Shao He said coldly, with Qingxia quickly nodding in agreement.
Qingxia had never seen her mistress dress up with such grandeur; it was much more so than even the previous palace banquets.
By evening, Pei Hanze was already waiting outside Anji Hall.
Shao He took slow steps out, her expression carrying a faint hint of sorrow, as if she could wither away at any moment.
She was dressed in a snow-white floor-length gown, her waist cinched with a silk belt of the same color, and a trailing, pleated skirt decorated with scatterings of water-green flowers that seemed like misty folds of a lotus pond.
Butterflies that seemed to come to life were embroidered on the hem, setting off her entire appearance as ethereal and otherworldly, like a celestial being descended from the heavens to the mortal realm.
Pei Hanze stood frozen, gazing at her without blinking.
The familiar face stirred his dormant heart once again, making his breathing heavy.
Even the servant boy by his side couldn’t help but stare, mesmerized.
The beauty before him was astonishing, breathtaking to the point of celestial!
"Ahem..." Pei Hanze cleared his throat twice, struggling to suppress the turmoil within him.
Qingxia, hearing the cough, realized that Pei Hanze was ogling her mistress. She immediately shielded her, glaring at him.
"You stare at my mistress like that. Do you harbor improper thoughts?"
Pei Hanze came back to his senses, shaking his head, "No, not at all."
Qingxia snorted and, tugging at Shao He’s sleeve, said, "Miss, let’s go."
Shao He nodded slightly and, after giving Pei Hanze a nod, left with Qingxia.
As she was about to get into the carriage, she suddenly felt a wave of murderous intent. Shao He’s lips curved slightly. It seemed he had made his appearance.
Pei Hanze withdrew his gaze, sensing something amiss in the surrounding air. He looked around cautiously, making sure nothing was out of the ordinary, and then followed into the carriage.
Meanwhile, in a nearby alley, Pei Huaian, wearing a hat, appeared behind the carriage.
An Jiu couldn’t help but grumble, "The Consort is going too far, sharing a carriage and dining with another man. She’s blatantly disregarding her lord."
An Shi reached out to tug at her sleeve, signaling her to keep quiet.
Despite this, An Jiu was not content and said, "I didn’t say anything wrong."
No sooner had she finished speaking than a pair of large hands clasped around her neck, the sensation of choking coming instantly.
An Shi immediately knelt on the ground, pleading on An Jiu’s behalf, "An Jiu misspoke, please forgive her, master. Consider that it’s her first offense and spare her life."