It Was A Fake Marriage, But Jiu Qian Sui Took It Seriously - Chapter 24

Shen Qing Li got up to open the door. Besides Physician Xiao Yang, Yun Sheng also entered, carrying a pot of hot water.

Yun Sheng smiled and placed the hot water down, and then left.

Doctor Yang checked Chun Hua’s pulse and said she had caught a bit of a cold, but it wasn’t serious.

“I’ll give her a few acupuncture treatments to reduce the fever. After taking medicine for a few days, she’ll be fine.”

Hearing this, Shen Qing Li finally felt relieved. After the acupuncture, Yun Sheng went to the back courtyard to fetch medicine. Since the Third Prince had been recovering here for a while, the room was well-stocked with medical supplies.

After brewing the medicine, Yun Sheng brought it over, and Shen Qing Li thanked him once again.

She didn’t know how to prepare medicine, so she could only trouble Guard Yun.

Yun Sheng chuckled, “It’s my honor to assist you, Miss Shen. My master has instructed me to ensure that you rest well. If you need anything, just let me know.”

“I also hunted some animals in the mountains this morning. I’ll cook something fresh for later.” With that, Yun Sheng hurried off to the kitchen.

By the time Shen Qing Li helped Chun Hua up to drink the medicine, her fever had already subsided, and she looked a little more energetic.

Shen Qing Li took the empty bowl and walked out, just as Jun Mo Ran was about to knock on the door. They nearly bumped into each other.

The porcelain bowl almost slipped from her hands, but his long, slender fingers caught it firmly.

Holding the bowl, Jun Mo Ran asked, “Have you changed the bandages on your arm?”

Shen Qing Li instinctively touched her arm. She had been so busy all morning that she had completely forgotten about it. Now that he mentioned it, she suddenly felt a faint ache.

Jun Mo Ran lifted the medicine box in his other hand and said, “Go inside. I’ll change it for you.”

Chun Hua had already heard Jun Mo Ran’s voice. She didn’t dare to keep on lying down in front of him, so by the time they entered, she was already standing to the side.

Jun Mo Ran sat at the small table in the room. Seeing Shen Qing Li still standing, he looked at her as if asking—why aren’t you sitting?

She quickly sat down on the small stool beside him, then glanced at Chun Hua and hesitated before saying, “Your Highness, Chun Hua just recovered from a high fever. May she also sit down?”

As Jun Mo Ran unwrapped the bandages on her arm, he nodded indifferently.

Shen Qing Li signaled Chun Hua with her eyes to sit. Chun Hua wiped away her tears and carefully sat at the edge of the bed, not daring to move.

Jun Mo Ran changed the dressing with gentle movements and asked in a calm voice, “What exactly happened yesterday?”

Shen Qing Li bit her lip. After a moment, she slowly recounted the events of the previous day.

She thought she had recovered from the shock, but as she spoke, her heart still pounded, and her voice trembled slightly. Jun Mo Ran’s expression darkened—Lu Yuan deserved to die.

Chun Hua hadn’t expected Lu Yuan to be behind it all. Sitting on the bed, she silently shed tears. If only she had been more alert, her mistress wouldn’t have suffered such misfortune.

After finishing her account, Shen Qing Li speculated with a shaky voice, “Princess An Ning probably never went to the fabric shop. Lu Yuan must have used her name to lure me out.”

Jun Mo Ran was silent for a moment before responding in a cool tone, “Princess An Ning did visit the fabric shop yesterday. But Lu Yuan likely just borrowed her name.”

Shen Qing Li nodded lightly.

For some reason, when she heard how well he knew Princess An Ning’s whereabouts, a faint sense of disappointment flashed through Shen Qing Li’s heart.

Did he come here because of Princess An Ning? Were they really going to be engaged?

Jun Mo Ran frowned. “Lu Yuan still hasn’t been captured. He’s probably already fled the area.”

Shen Qing Li’s eyes were filled with worry. As long as Lu Yuan remained on the run, she wouldn’t feel at ease. That man had become her nightmare.

Noticing her tension, Jun Mo Ran’s expression softened slightly. He gently patted the top of her head and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll have the capital authorities investigate in secret. I’ll make sure you get justice.”

A blush crept onto Shen Qing Li’s face, and her eyes welled up with emotion. It felt good to be protected.

“What does Lu Yuan look like? Do you remember?”

“Yes, I can draw him.”

Jun Mo Ran nodded.

There were ink and brushes in the room. Just as Chun Hua was about to grind the ink, Jun Mo Ran had already added water and begun grinding it himself.

Shen Qing Li glanced at him before lowering her head and carefully sketching.

She rolled up her wide sleeves, revealing a fair wrist, as a loose strand of hair fell over her face. It was a side of her he had never seen before. He had never heard that she could draw, yet in the time it took to drink a cup of tea, she had captured the man’s likeness vividly.

Jun Mo Ran gave her a deep look and then put the portrait away.

Shen Qing Li bowed slightly. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

She trusted him. If he said he would catch Lu Yuan, then he surely would. There was nothing romantic between them, but she knew he had always been protecting her.

“Come with me for a moment.” Jun Mo Ran’s gaze swept past Chun Hua before he turned and walked out of the room.

Shen Qing Li was momentarily stunned.

Chun Hua jumped to her feet, recalling the ambiguous scene from yesterday when she had just entered the room.

She looked at her mistress, eyes full of concern.

What could they possibly need to discuss in private?

Shen Qing Li gave her a reassuring smile, her eyes filled with comfort.

Chun Hua hesitated, shifting forward slightly, watching as her mistress closed the door behind her. In the end, she didn’t dare to follow.

She snuck over to the window, pressing her ear against it… but heard nothing.

Jun Mo Ran led Shen Qing Li to a quiet, open area in the courtyard. It felt unusually silent—Physician Xiao Yang and that elegant young man seemed to be gone.

Shen Qing Li’s heart began to race. Lowering her gaze, she asked, “What does Your Highness wish to say?”

Jun Mo Ran’s voice was calm. “Last night, there was a landslide. The mountain road was destroyed, and the people you brought can’t get down. You’ll have to stay here and recover until the road is repaired.”

Stay here to recover? But there were too many men around—how could she feel at ease?

“From today on, only you and your maid will remain here. Yun Sheng will bring your meals daily, and no one will disturb you.”

Shen Qing Li let out a small breath of relief. He was truly considerate.

“I understand.”

Jun Mo Ran said nothing, only staring at her intently.

Shen Qing Li’s heart tightened. Was there more?

He took another step closer, his tall figure looming over her, the weight of his presence pressing in. His voice was firmer now.

“When you fell off the cliff, it was I who saved you. Only me. Do you understand?”

Shen Qing Li’s breath hitched. So this was why he had called her out alone—no one could know about that strikingly beautiful young man.

She quickly composed herself and replied seriously, “Understood. Your Highness, rest assured, I won’t say a word.” Then, after a brief hesitation, she asked, “Why were you here, though?”

Jun Mo Ran smirked slightly, his tone softening. This girl hadn’t lost her sharpness.

“I came at Princess An Ning’s invitation to buy fabric. Remember that.”

Shen Qing Li’s eyes flickered up to him before quickly lowering again. Her mind went blank for a moment before she nodded instinctively.

So he was here for Princess An Ning after all. He even accompanied her to shop?

She forced a small smile, bowed, and returned to her room. Shaking her head, she told herself… she should just wish him happiness.

Life in the small wooden house was peaceful and carefree. Every day, she practiced martial arts, read books, and listened to the sounds of birds, flowing water, wind, and rain. Shen Qing Li had never felt so relaxed.

One day, she and Chun Hua sat beneath the eaves, basking in the sunlight.

Unable to help herself, Shen Qing Li sighed, “Living here is so comfortable. I won’t get married. When we return, let’s bring Mother out and find a place like this. We’ll never step into the outside world again.”

“Miss Shen, don’t speak nonsense.”

A cold, firm voice rang out from a distance.

Jun Mo Ran had entered the courtyard with Nanny Su at his side, his gaze indifferent as he looked at her.

Shen Qing Li pressed her lips together. Another cold day.

Nanny Su, disregarding formalities, rushed forward anxiously. “Miss, hurry and come with me! Something has happened!”