Chapter 5: A Severed Finger Warning

The front courtyard was in utter chaos. Song Guo responded with a nod, grabbed the small medicine box, and rushed outside, leaving behind only the words, “Miss, lie still. I’ll be back soon.”

Sheng Mingyue hadn’t yet replied when she vanished from sight.

The empty room was left with only her.

—

Not far from the palace gate, a carriage was parked without any flags. The tassels atop swayed lightly. Outside, maids stood watch, forbidding anyone from approaching.

“Your Highness, have you dealt with that troublesome maid yet?”

Yun Shengsheng leaned against Rong Yan’s shoulder, her delicate face nestled in his embrace, whispering softly.

Mentioning Sheng Mingyue caused a slight change in Rong Yan’s expression. He cleared his throat gently and said slowly, “There was a slight complication, but it’s nothing serious. Rest assured, I promised you, I would never break my word. No one will enter the Crown Prince’s Mansion before you.”

Hearing this, Yun Shengsheng finally relaxed and murmured, “Your Highness mustn’t be soft-hearted. That maid… is a stain that must be erased.”

“Only when she disappears from this world will Your Highness forget the past.”

Rong Yan’s expression darkened, and the hand around her shoulder loosened slightly, his tone turning cold, “After all the hardships and finally returning to the palace, I will not let emotions cloud my judgment.”

“A mere lowly servant girl—how could she be worth my attention?”

As his words fell, a cruel glint flashed in his eyes. “I have plenty of ways to make her obedient.”

Seeing this, Yun Shengsheng lowered her eyes, a subtle smile playing on her lips, her mood brightened.

“By the way.” Rong Yan lowered his head, his gaze resting on her smooth, pale face. “At today’s Early Autumn Banquet, the court ministers came with their families. Why didn’t you attend, Ah Sheng?”

Rong Yan toyed with her fingertips, his voice deep and serious. “You haven’t been to Foshan for a long time. I was worried. I thought we’d meet at the palace today, but I only saw your parents.”

Yun Shengsheng sighed softly, sitting up straighter in his arms. Her voice was gentle as she said, “Your Highness doesn’t know—during my half-month absence, my family nearly forced me into an arranged marriage…”

“What!” Rong Yan’s face changed dramatically, his hands gripping her shoulders tightly. “Who did they plan to marry you off to?”

Yun Shengsheng winced from the grip, frowning instinctively, but secretly pleased by his jealousy. “Don’t be anxious, Your Highness. It was my father’s decision alone. He wishes to betroth me to Prince Jing’an.”

“Prince Jing’an… my little imperial uncle…” Rong Yan’s face turned unexpectedly grim, his voice squeezed through clenched teeth, “Why him again? That wretched shadow just won’t leave!”

Yun Shengsheng frowned in confusion. “What do you mean by that, Your Highness?”

Rong Yan shook his head, signaling her to continue. “It’s nothing. Please go on.”

Yun Shengsheng pressed her lips into a smile, her fingers entwining with his palm, holding tightly. “Your Highness, rest assured. My heart belongs to you alone. I will never obey my father. Besides, my mother has long known of our mutual affection and will surely support me.”

Upon hearing this, Rong Yan’s face softened somewhat. “Prince Jing’an is frail and often ill, far from a suitable husband at this prime age. Your father’s actions are ill-considered.”

Though his words were polite, his tone was far from kind.

The daughter of the esteemed Prime Minister’s residence could never be given away so carelessly.

—

A sickly prince—how could he be more noble than the Crown Prince?

Yun Zhongkui is truly an old fool!

Yun Shengsheng lowered her gaze and wrapped her hand around his arm gently. “Please calm your anger, Your Highness. My heart is with you. Now that you have returned to the palace, I have reached the age for marriage. With my mother’s persuasion, my father will surely waver.”

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at his brow. “I only wish your heart is as steadfast as mine, never betraying my love.”

Rong Yan was moved. His fingertips traced the smooth skin on the back of her hand, and he bent down to kiss her rosy lips.

After a long while, the sky darkened, and the carriage finally began to move.

Yun Shengsheng leaned on the soft couch, her fingertips brushing her lips, swollen and reddened from his kiss. Her gaze grew dim. She called to a nearby maid, “Yumo, select some modest gifts, preferably related to medicine. Send them to Prince Jing’an’s residence in the name of the Prime Minister’s household.”

Yumo hesitated, cautiously warning, “Miss, if the Crown Prince finds out, I fear…”

“Fear what?” Yun Shengsheng cast her a glance, her tone casual. “The Crown Prince has just returned to the palace. No one can predict what tomorrow holds. The emperor has many sons; even my father cannot fathom His Majesty’s thoughts. How can I not prepare for all eventualities?”

“Though Prince Jing’an is frail, marrying him would at least make me a princess. The Empress Dowager and Emperor dote on him. Marrying him would be safe.”

Though Yumo did not fully understand her mistress’s intentions, she obediently replied, “Rest assured, Miss, I will do my best.”

Night fell. The streets were nearly empty, save for a few passersby. The creak of the carriage wheels echoed sharply in the dark.

—

Prince Jing’an’s Residence

Long after night had deepened, Song Guo finally returned, carrying the small medicine box.

Hearing the wooden door creak, Sheng Mingyue tried to push herself up.

“Miss, don’t move. Be careful with your wounds!” Song Guo hurried over, holding two red wooden boxes in her arms.

Sheng Mingyue frowned, grasping Song Guo’s sleeve. “Does the prince have any news?”

Her long-sought protector—could he not even last half a day?

Song Guo sighed deeply, lowering her voice. “The prince’s illness has been with him since birth. He’s been a regular visitor at Qingfeng Medical Hall for years. I’m used to it. But after he turned twenty, his condition worsened. Fortunately, it’s still manageable.”

[Our second male lead is truly tragic yet handsome. He outshines the protagonist in looks by miles!]

[He’s already a goner. What good is good looks if he died young?]

[I remember the little prince only lived to twenty-five, right?]

[In the story, the second male lead’s death was sudden. It didn’t seem like a natural illness…]

Sheng Mingyue’s face paled instantly as she read the floating black text.

Today at Qingfeng Academy, Yun Lai mentioned the prince is twenty-two this year.

That means… the prince has only three years left to live?

Just thinking of it made Sheng Mingyue dizzy, her vision darkening.

Good. The suspense in my heart can finally die.

“Miss?” Song Guo waved her hand in front of her, tilting her head in puzzlement. “What are you thinking about?”

Snapping back to reality, Sheng Mingyue shook her head to clear her mind. “Nothing. Just some trivial matters.”

Song Guo smiled broadly and placed the two boxes on the bed. “By the way, these were given by Yun Lai. He said they were rewards sent from the palace—fifty pieces each of gold and silver. Shall we count them?”

“No need.” Sheng Mingyue’s expression was cold. Facing impending disaster, she had no interest in gold or silver. “Please help me keep them, Song Guo.”

“Alright.” Song Guo accepted them freely and stored them in a wooden cabinet nearby. Then she took out a slender wooden box from her bosom and whispered, “This is also for you. I don’t know who it’s from, only that it’s from an old acquaintance. Yun Lai couldn’t be sure, so he gave it to me to deliver.”

Sheng Mingyue frowned. “An old acquaintance?”

She had no such person.

She didn’t dwell on it and softly said, “Please help me open it, Song Guo.”

“All right.” Unsuspecting, Song Guo swiftly opened the box. But when she saw its contents, her face changed drastically, and she screamed, shattering the night, “Ah—!”

The next moment, the box fell to the ground, spilling its contents.

Startled, Sheng Mingyue tried to pull herself out of bed but was stopped by Song Guo, who tightly covered her eyes.

“Miss… don’t look!”

Song Guo trembled violently, desperately blocking her from seeing what was inside.

But Sheng Mingyue caught a glimpse the instant Song Guo lunged.

Inside the box lay a severed finger, small and delicate—likely a pinky.

A black birthmark marked the knuckle.

That finger was unmistakable.

It belonged to her younger brother, Sheng Li.

In an instant, Sheng Mingyue realized this was a warning from Rong Yan.