Yun Shu had been lying in bed for an entire day and night without a single bite of food.
Not long after Emperor Xuanwu left, she asked Ting Xue to bring up the evening meal.
The young maid had likely been frightened by the "severity" of her condition earlier in the day. Now she was especially attentive, as though afraid the "delicate" princess would collapse again if she looked away for even a moment.
Yun Shu felt a pang of guilt under her watchful gaze, but there was no way to explain the truth. So instead, she tried to change the subject.
"Where is the Sixth Prince? Did he go back already?"
"You fell into a deep sleep and didn't wake at all today, Your Highness," Ting Xue answered seriously, checking the warmth of the medicine bowl by pressing the back of her hand against it. "The Sixth Prince skipped his studies and insisted on staying to care for you. But after His Majesty arrived, he said the prince was too noisy and might disturb your rest, so he had him sent back to Yaohua Palace."
Ting Xue placed the now-cooled bowl of medicinal decoction in front of Yun Shu. "The Imperial Physician said you must take this before eating, Your Highness."
Yun Shu's expression froze.
So this is the price of pretending to be ill?
She pinched her nose and forced down a single bitter mouthful before pushing the bowl away, no longer willing to suffer a second. Thinking quickly, she tried to send Ting Xue on an errand.
"It's still a bit hot. Let it sit for a while."
She paused, then added, "Actually… there's something else I need you to do for me. Right now."
"Right now?" Ting Xue blinked. "What is it?"
"I was supposedly ill all day, wasn't I? I'd wager word of it has already spread through the rear palace." Yun Shu stroked her chin. What started as a flimsy excuse now gave rise to a genuinely clever idea.
"Try to spread the news that I had repeated bouts of fever today—make it sound dangerous, even dire. Say that if it weren't for the underfloor heating in Fengyang Palace, I might not have held on..."
"Don't say such ominous things!" Ting Xue quickly interrupted, horrified. She even forgot herself and spoke without observing the usual courtesies. "You mustn't speak such ill-omened words, Your Highness! Spit them out at once with me—hurry!"
Yun Shu laughed and coaxed her along with a few light-hearted words. "If it's false news, it won't come true."
Then she pressed, "It's best to let this kind of news spread today, while it still feels natural. Any later and it would seem forced."
"But..." Ting Xue looked hesitant.
Yet Yun Shu had already made up her mind. Ting Xue could only drag her feet as she finally stood and went out.
Unbeknownst to her, the moment the door closed behind her, Yun Shu grabbed the medicine bowl, strode to the window, flung it open, and dumped the contents outside in one swift motion.
Her movement was so quick she didn't even have time to check her surroundings—only to freeze in horror as the contents of the bowl splattered across four grim-faced men in black standing silently outside.
Yun Shu stood still.
There's no way… right?
Maybe these people were assassins?
"Your subordinates greet the Princess."
The four black-clad figures dropped to one knee in perfect unison, giving her not a sliver of false hope.
Yun Shu stared.
Why was her Imperial Father so efficient?
Didn't he still have a meeting with the Minister of Rites? Surely the shadow guards could have waited until tomorrow.
She awkwardly set the empty bowl down. "Since you were sent by Father Emperor, then you belong to me now, don't you?"
"Yes."
"You will obey my commands, correct?"
"Yes."
"Then…" Yun Shu paused deliberately. "I order you to forget what just happened. Do not speak of it to anyone."
"Understood."
"Good. Then we have no further matters at present."
To her surprise, the guards were rather agreeable. They answered everything she said without question, which instantly lifted her spirits.
"You should change into dry clothes. It's freezing out. Don't catch cold."
"Yes."
Like shadows themselves, the four vanished from sight in a single breath, leaving no trace behind.
Satisfied, Yun Shu closed the window and returned the bowl to the table, ready to tell Ting Xue she had finished her medicine when she returned.
But after three or five minutes had passed, Ting Xue was still gone. Instead, one of the black-clad men returned, this time carrying a fresh bowl of that painfully familiar herbal brew.
Yun Shu blinked. "What is that?"
"Take it away!"
Her expression darkened instantly. "When did I tell you to bring me more medicine?"
"His Majesty ordered us to protect Your Highness and ensure that you take your medicine."
So they could speak more than just "Yes."
But Yun Shu had no interest in further conversation. She could hardly ask Emperor Xuanwu how he knew she wouldn't want to drink it.
Her glare sharpened. "So you're defying this princess's command?"
"Forgive us, Your Highness."
The guard apologized promptly, but the bowl remained unmoved before her. He would admit fault—but never disobey an order from the Emperor.
At that moment, the sound of Ting Xue's returning footsteps echoed outside.
If they kept arguing, the maid would realize she hadn't taken the medicine and start fussing all over again. With no other choice, the dignified Fifth Princess took the bowl, held her breath, and downed it in one go.
"Did you secretly add Coptis root to this?"
Why did it taste even worse than the last one?
Her features contorted, and she shoved the empty bowl into the guard's hands with a grimace. "Get out!"
The man took the bowl without a word and vanished just as Ting Xue stepped through the door.
Because she had "fallen seriously ill," Emperor Xuanwu granted Yun Shu three days of rest—no lessons in the Academy hall.
Naturally, this made Yun Chuhuan green with envy.
The very next afternoon, the moment his lessons ended, he rushed straight to Fengyang Palace. His voice arrived before he did.
"Fifth Sister, are you feeling better today?"
Yun Shu was seated at her writing desk, calculating how much silver she had earned that day. Hearing his voice, she looked up with a raised brow.
"They're laying the underfloor heating in Yaohua Palace today. I thought you'd be more eager to see that."
"What's so great about watching people dig up the floor? It's much nicer here with you!"
He flopped onto the soft couch like he owned it, then handed her several silver notes.
"Here's the payment from the Grand Chancellor's estate for installing the heating—sixty rooms. Fifth Sister, see if the numbers are right."
"Sixty?" Yun Shu's eyes widened.
She had known the Grand Chancellor was wealthy, but this was still startling.
That was more than the total number of orders she had received from all the imperial consorts combined today.