Chapter Seven: Caught Pretending to Be Sick

Because she feared Cold Yichen would question her about that day, Shen Ningshuang had been feigning illness at home these past few days.

One noon, sunlight poured like scattered gold over the tranquil courtyard. Shen Ningshuang leisurely savored her tea and snacks, basking in the blissful moment.

At that moment, Shen Muyun’s voice, gentle as a soft breeze, came from behind her: “Sister, I heard you’ve been ill. Are you feeling any better these days?”

Shen Ningshuang paused mid-motion, slowly setting down her teacup, and lazily replied, “I’m not sick at all, I just—”

Before she could finish, the instant she turned her head, it was as if struck by a sudden lightning bolt; she stood frozen in place.

For reflected in her eyes was the tall figure of Cold Yichen, who followed closely behind Shen Muyun.

In that moment, her mind seemed to thunder like a great bell, thoughts sinking into a dense quagmire, temporarily halted, as if time itself had stopped.

Shen Muyun looked at her with suspicion and said, “Just what are you saying? The Prince personally came to the army to seek me out, declaring he wanted to visit you, yet look at you now—not a hint of illness. Hey, why are you daydreaming? Why don’t you bow to the Prince?”

At that instant, a shocking scene unfolded.

Shen Ningshuang, like a startled bird, sprang up with unprecedented speed, rushing like a gale toward her bedchamber, shouting at the top of her lungs:

“I am sick! No one is allowed into my room!”

She burst into her chamber and collapsed onto the bed, wrapping herself tightly in the quilt, resembling a frightened silkworm cocoon.

Soon, a soft knock came from outside. Cold Yichen’s cold yet magnetic voice spoke gently at the door, “Miss Shen, please open the door.”

Feigning weakness, Shen Ningshuang responded coyly, “Your Highness, this is my bedchamber—men and women must keep their distance. I hope you will kindly step away.”

Cold Yichen’s patience was considerable. Soon, he knocked again, his tone now laced with undeniable authority:

“Miss Shen, if you insist on not opening the door, I shall force my way in. Should I disturb others, I fear it may cause trouble.”

Shen Ningshuang grimaced, kicking the quilt aside, unwilling yet helpless, slowly making her way to the door.

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Upon opening the door, she said nothing, turning back inside like a frightened fawn, sitting on the bed and wrapping herself tightly in the quilt again, leaving only her head exposed.

Cold Yichen hesitated at the threshold. Always considering himself a gentleman, forcing a young lady so was far from honorable.

Yet, recalling the many strange mysteries surrounding this seemingly fragile “young lady,” he inhaled deeply and resolutely stepped into the fragrant, feminine chamber.

The room was elegantly and exquisitely arranged, revealing the owner’s refined grace and gentleness.

It was Cold Yichen’s first time entering a woman’s boudoir. For a while, an inexplicable nervousness welled in his heart, as if countless ants crawled restlessly within.

He looked at Shen Ningshuang lying on the bed, feeling awkward and unsure whether to stand or sit, overwhelmed by an indescribable embarrassment.

Annoyed by his own awkwardness, Cold Yichen furrowed his brow, his expression darkening as he asked:

“The day I saved you, Miss Shen, I never expected gratitude. Yet you abandoned me there and vanished without a trace afterward. Do you not think such behavior is unbecoming?”

A flicker of grievance flashed in Shen Ningshuang’s eyes, a misty haze veiling her gaze. With a touch of coquettish reproach, she said:

“Your Highness, staying there would have only been a burden, merely holding you back.”

Cold Yichen’s gaze pierced her as he pressed:

“Then, Miss Shen, could you tell me where your remarkable skills come from? And what business took you to Jade Blossom Pavilion that day?”

At these words, Shen Ningshuang’s complexion darkened instantly; a flash of panic and anger stirred in her eyes as she snapped:

“You followed me?”

She truly felt wrongly accused. Cold Yichen had merely crossed paths with her while investigating the truth behind the men in black.

She knew well that Cold Yichen would not let her go easily today; his expression showed he was determined to unearth the truth no matter what.

With that in mind, she adopted a detached, indifferent demeanor, replying coldly:

“Your Highness, everyone in this world has their secrets. What I do has nothing to do with you—why press so hard?”

Cold Yichen’s lips curled slightly, but his smile was as frosty as midwinter ice, chilling to the bone.

“Miss Shen, you are right; I ought not to meddle in your affairs. However, during my recent thorough investigation, I discovered Jade Blossom Pavilion appears strangely connected to someone in my household.

“And you, Miss Shen, just happened to visit its second floor. Such coincidences compel me to suspect your actions are intricately linked with mine in ways I cannot ignore.”

Shen Ningshuang was shaken to the core.

She had not expected him to uncover the clues so swiftly.

“Your Highness, everything requires proof. You cannot accuse me simply because I visited Jade Blossom Pavilion.”

“Indeed, without evidence, I will not lightly condemn you. But perhaps I should have a proper talk with Shen Muyun, ask why his sister can come and go at Jade Blossom Pavilion so freely and behave in such perplexing ways.

“Or maybe I should speak with General Shen to see if he knows his daughter’s skills are so extraordinary!”

Shen Ningshuang’s anger nearly made her grind her silver teeth. Cold Yichen was extremely troublesome—more difficult to deal with than anyone she had met before.

She snapped angrily, “Your Highness, why must you torment me? What exactly do you want from me?”

Cold Yichen’s gaze blazed as he enunciated each word:

“I want to know what connection you have with Jade Blossom Pavilion, and what ties it has with me!”

A fierce fire of rage blazed within Shen Ningshuang, threatening to consume her reason entirely.

She stared into Cold Yichen’s icy eyes; grief and fury surged like two raging rivers colliding in her heart.

She had carefully plotted everything, each step as precarious as walking on thin ice—all for him, after all!

Yet now, he doubted her so profoundly.

That burning urge to act on her thoughts grew like an uncontrollable blaze.

With a snort, she resolved to no longer endure.

Without hesitation, she kicked off the quilt, barefoot, and like an enraged little tiger, stormed fiercely toward Cold Yichen.