The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

Shen Wangxi's decree instantly created a tense atmosphere in Qingyi Palace.

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy personally stayed behind, and precious medicinal materials were delivered into the palace like a flowing stream.

The palace servants hurried along, their expressions filled with fear, daring not to be negligent in the slightest.

Shen Qingruo remained lying there in a daze. Xiao Jiu whispered in her mind, "Aruo, Shen Wangxi didn't leave. He's sitting in the outer room."

Shen Qingruo's heart stirred slightly. He hadn't left after all?

She allowed the palace servants to attend to her, feeding her medicine and wiping her body.

The medicine was bitter, and she swallowed it in small sips. Occasionally, she would choke and cough in suppressed spit. Her pale face would flush red, and tears would well up in the corners of her eyes. She looked extremely pitiful.

The imperial physician emerged from the inner chamber and reported to Shen Wangxi, who was sitting upright in the outer room, "Your Majesty, the old ginseng has been used to revive her vital energy, and Princess's pulse has stabilized somewhat, but it is still dangerous. She needs to be cared for day and night and cannot be subjected to any further stimulation."

Shen Wangxi showed no expression, only waving his hand to signal him to leave.

The hall fell silent once more.

Inside the tent, Shen Qingruo could feel that intensely perceptible gaze, which seemed to pierce through the curtains and fall upon her.

She knew he was scrutinizing, weighing, and perhaps even feeling guilty.

Late at night.

Shen Qingruo tossed and turned restlessly on the bed, letting out soft moans, as if she were being haunted by a nightmare.

"Mother..." she sobbed, "Don't leave Aruo behind..."

"It's cold, so cold..."

The palace maid on night watch quickly stepped forward and tucked her in.

Outside, Shen Wangxi picked up the cold tea beside him and took a sip. The sobbing, dreamlike murmurs continued intermittently, making him even more agitated.

He put down his teacup, got up, and went into the inner room.

When the palace maid saw him, she hurriedly knelt down, but Shen Wangxi didn't look at her and went straight to the bedside.

Shen Qingruo seemed to sense his approach, and groggily opened her eyes to look at him.

"Father?" Her voice was thick with a nasal tone.

Shen Wangxi looked at her in silence.

Tears streamed down her face silently. "It hurts so much. Is it because Aruo has been naughty that nobody wants Aruo anymore..."

Her speech was fragmented and illogical, sounding like the babbling of a sick child.

Shen Wangxi recalled that when Shen Jingyan was sick as a child, she would cry and make a fuss, wanting hugs and comfort, and Wu Lanyun would stay by her side without leaving her side.

Even when she was in a daze, this youngest daughter only dared to cautiously express her grievances, and did not even dare to question them.

He bent down, reached out, and touched her forehead. It was still a little warm, but not as burning hot as before.

Shen Wangxi withdrew her hand, straightened up, and instructed the kneeling palace maid, "Take good care of her."

After saying that, he turned and left the inner room.

Only after his footsteps disappeared outside the palace did Shen Qingruo quietly close her eyes. In her heart, she said, "Xiao Jiu, he softened."

Although it was only a little bit.

Xiao Jiu exclaimed excitedly, "Yeah, he sat here for a long time. Aruo, you acted so well!"

Shen Qingruo didn't say anything, but that wasn't entirely an act.

This was just the beginning; what she wanted was far more than just a little bit of pity and guilt.

She wanted him to never be able to ignore her so easily again.

She wants to take away everything that originally belonged to Shen Jingyan.

She wanted to live as the princess he loved most.

-

The smell of medicine lingered in Qingyi Palace for three days.

Shen Wangxi would come over every day after court. Sometimes he would just sit in the outer room for a while, and sometimes he would go into the inner room to take a look.

Shen Qingruo was no longer in a daze as she had been at first. She lay quietly most of the time and was very obedient when taking her medicine, though her brows furrowed slightly, showing her delicate nature.

On the afternoon of the fourth day, when Shen Wangxi came in, she was awake, sitting on the headboard, sipping the water fed to her by the palace maid.

She was wearing a white nightgown, her black hair was loose, and her face was still pale. When she saw him, she lowered her eyes and said in a weak voice, "Father."

Shen Wangxi walked to the bedside, and the palace maid quickly stepped aside.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice flat.

"Much better," Shen Qingruo replied softly, still not daring to look at him. "Thank you for your concern, Father."

She paused, as if gathering her courage, glanced at him quickly, then lowered her head again: "Father is busy with state affairs, there's no need for you to come see Aruo every day."

She spoke in a well-behaved and sensible manner, but her fingers gripped the corner of the blanket tightly.

Looking at her downcast face, Shen Wangxi suddenly spoke, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Shen Qingruo was taken aback and looked up at him blankly.

Shen Wangxi's tone was flat, "You weren't doing well in Daliang, you were feeling depressed, why didn't you say so when you came back?"

Shen Qingruo's eyelashes trembled, and her voice became even softer: "There's nothing to say. It's just that A-Ruo herself is useless and can't adapt."

She didn't complain; instead, she took the responsibility upon herself.

Shen Wangxi recalled Shen Jingyan complaining to him about the food in the Central Plains, about how the daughters of officials secretly ostracized her, and about how the men of the Central Plains were not as forthright as those in the desert.

Ah Yan has always been like this since she was a child. If she is unhappy at the slightest thing, she will make a scene and coax everyone to know about it.

The person in front of me was so gentle and obedient, even when expressing her grievances, she was so careful.

Perhaps he went too far.

Shen Wangxi looked at her and continued, "The imperial physician said you're overly worried. What have you been thinking about?"

Shen Qingru remained silent for a long time, so long that Shen Wangxi thought she wouldn't answer.

She whispered, "I miss my mother."

"I still think back to when I was little, and my father taught me to write my name." There was a hint of nostalgia in her voice. "Just that one time."

Shen Wangxi had no recollection of this incident.

He had taught Shen Jingyan how to write, and he had also tested Shen Yinian's knowledge.

His memory of Shen Qingruo was completely blank.

Shen Qingruo seemed to realize that she had misspoke and quickly shook her head: "Aruo was talking nonsense, Father, please don't take it to heart."

She pulled up the blanket, slowly lay down, turned her back to him, and slightly hunched her shoulders: "Aruo is tired and wants to sleep for a while."

The meaning of "expelling" is quite clear.

Shen Wangxi stared at that slender figure without moving.

"If you're missing anything, send someone to get it," he finally said.

The person on the bed did not respond, as if they were truly asleep.

Shen Wangxi turned and left.

Only after hearing the footsteps fade away did Shen Qingruo slowly open her eyes, her gaze clear and bright.

Xiao Jiu whispered in her mind, "Aruo, why did you chase him away just now?"

Shen Qingruo looked at the exquisite embroidery on the top of the tent.

"If you give him too much sweetness at once, he'll quickly forget the feeling of guilt," she said softly.

"The aftereffects need to be strong enough; let him savor it slowly."

The next day, after Shen Wangxi finished court, the eunuch asked him as usual if he wanted to go to Qingyi Palace.

Shen Wangxi paused, then ordered, "Go to the storeroom, pick out some writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and send them over."

The eunuch hesitated for a moment, then quickly agreed.

Shen Wangxi looked in the direction of Qingyi Palace, still not remembering teaching her to write.

But if she wants it, he can give it to her.