Chapter 3 I suppose the Imperial Sister-in-Law and my imperial brother have consummated their marriage by now, right?

Jun Yuyan's probing gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, but in the next instant, it returned to normal.

He had once been a commander of thousands, with an authority and presence that common people couldn't match. That single look had scared countless spies to the point of wetting themselves, but Murong Jiu met his gaze without so much as flinching.

"I was raised in the countryside, naturally different from the others at the Marquis Mansion. As a child, I provided aid to an elderly man who was an exceptional physician, and I happened to have a talent for it, learning some basics from my master. Regarding your leg ailment, Prince, I dare not claim certainty, but I have a seventy percent confidence in treating it."

Murong Jiu wasn't being boastful—she truly had such skills.

In her previous life, it was exactly because of her extraordinary medicinal skills that the Second Prince had taken her into his confidence, using her abilities to heal and save people, thereby winning their hearts.

The first time she met the Second Prince, she had stepped in to save a young child who had fallen from a tree and was critically injured. Where all the other physicians had given up, she revived the child, bringing him back to life.

It was also because of this that she had fallen into the tender trap set by the Second Prince, which turned her life into a ridiculous farce.

"Who was your teacher?"

Jun Yuyan looked at her as he asked, his tone very calm, showing no signs of being swayed by Murong Jiu's claim that she could heal his leg.

Murong Jiu knew that he would certainly doubt her, especially since she was so young. She had heard that many imperial physicians and renowned doctors had declared his leg ailment incurable, that he would be lame for life. He wouldn't just harbor hope because of her words.

"My master said he was just a country doctor, without fame or title; you've likely never heard of him, Prince. If you doubt my abilities, you could let me try. There's no harm in it for you. And if perchance I do cure your leg ailment, then it would be a cause for joy, would it not?"

"This Prince does not like women approaching," he said flatly.

That was a polite rejection.

Murong Jiu pursed her lips; she truly wanted to help him.

The biggest obstacle to the Second Prince's desire to become the Crown Prince was him. Noble Consort Qi was the Emperor's most favored consort for over twenty years and he was also the Prince whom the Emperor valued the most. Although the Empress was the Central Palace, she was less honored than Noble Consort Qi in the harem.

Before Jun Yuyan's severe injury, there had been rumors in the court that the Emperor was considering establishing the Eldest Prince as the Crown Prince. Without his disfigurement and disability, there would have been no opportunity for the Second Prince.

The Second Prince was cunning and ruthless in his methods, stopping at nothing to achieve his goals. In this new life, she would not let him have his way!

However, having been refused by Jun Yuyan, she could only think of another way and refrained from further persuasion, lest her eagerness lead him to believe she had ulterior motives.

The carriage soon arrived at the palace gate, and since Jun Yuyan had a leg ailment, the Emperor had granted permission for Prince Ling's Mansion's carriage to enter the palace. It sped towards Weiyang Palace, the residence of the Empress, before stopping.

"Second Imperial Eldest Brother, it's the Eldest Imperial Brother! What a coincidence!"

She hadn't even alighted from the carriage when she heard the voice of the Fifth Princess.

Murong Jiu narrowed her cold eyes; the Second Prince was also here!

This was no mere coincidence—it was clearly a deliberate wait for their arrival!

In her past life, she had run over to the Second Prince as soon as she arrived at the palace, anxious to tell him nothing had happened between her and Jun Yuyan the night before, begging him to ask the Emperor for a divorce.

This scene happened to be witnessed by Noble Consort Qi, who was so infuriated that she slapped Murong Jiu publicly, berating her for shamelessness. The Empress intervened to stop it, but Noble Consort Qi, in her rage, even insulted the Empress, causing an irreparable commotion.

The Emperor was furious and nearly ordered her death on the spot. It was only because Jun Yuyan pleaded on her behalf that her life was spared, though both he and Noble Consort Qi were punished because of her.

At the time, she felt extremely wronged. She hadn't done anything bad, yet in the eyes of others, she appeared vain, having used despicable means to marry Prince Ling by deceit, and then regretting it after the marriage, leaving the Imperial Family's dignity in tatters.

She even resented Jun Yuyan, not understanding why he would not join her in overturning this wrongful marriage.

Only later did she discover that he had someone else in his heart, and that his marriage had been out of deference to the Imperial edict. If even he sought a divorce, the Emperor, for the sake of the Imperial Family's face, would not spare her life; she would just quietly vanish, leaving no room for talk of divorce.

Jun Yuyan was saving her.

"Princess Consort."

Flashes of the past crossed her mind, Jun Yuyan had already dismounted from the carriage, and at this moment, he was lifting the curtain and reaching out to her, offering his hand to help her down.

This scene had not happened in her past life, because back then she had been crying in the carriage the whole time, and Jun Yuyan, not one to seek discomfort, had not exchanged a single word with her.

The hand he extended was long-fingered, the pads bearing several thick calluses, marks of long-term sword handling. Murong Jiu looked up at him, his gaze deep and steady, comforting to the heart.

Murong Jiu hesitated for a moment, then placed her hand in his. She knew that from this lifetime forth, starting with the hand he extended, everything would be completely different.

Seeing Jun Yuyan leading Murong Jiu down from the carriage by hand, the Fifth Princess was filled with disbelief.

The Second Prince was right there, and that woman, Murong Jiu, dared to have skin contact with the Eldest Imperial Brother. Could it be she no longer favored the Second Prince? Impossible!

"Second Imperial Eldest Brother!"

She subtly nudged the Second Prince beside her.

The Second Prince was staring at Murong Jiu, his gaze as if trying to see through her completely.

But soon, he smiled, a corner of his lips curling up. He understood the affection Murong Jiu had for him, it wasn't possible she'd change heart so quickly. So, there was only one possibility: Murong Jiu was doing it on purpose, to provoke him.

The Second Prince gave the Fifth Princess a reassuring look and stepped towards Murong Jiu and him.

"Father the Emperor sent me to Cloud City Mountain to suppress bandits yesterday, and I only rushed back to Capital City at Chen Hour this morning. I deeply regret missing Eldest Imperial Brother's grand wedding!"

He addressed this to Jun Yuyan, but in reality, the message was for Murong Jiu: he had not stopped the marriage because he had been away from the Capital City. Upon hearing the news, he hastily returned, but alas, it was still too late.

In her past life, Murong Jiu had taken it as truth, believing that the Second Prince cherished her deeply, which further solidified her decision to seek a divorce.

But now, recalling the past, the Second Prince had never loved her, so how could he possibly marry her? Perhaps he had known about the Marquis Mansion's plan to have her marry into Prince Ling's Mansion all along.

At this time, perhaps he and Murong Man were already enjoying their romance, while she alone had been kept in the dark.

Seeing Noble Consort Qi's procession approaching from behind, the Fifth Princess hurriedly looked at Murong Jiu and said loudly on purpose:

"Second Imperial Eldest Brother, you missed quite the spectacle by not being there yesterday. Our Eldest Imperial Sister-in-law said she was born a person of Prince Ling's Mansion, and she would die a ghost of Prince Ling's Mansion! Look, how affectionate she and the Eldest Imperial Brother seem!"

With Murong Jiu's deep affections for the Second Imperial Eldest Brother, she would surely come over to explain immediately and propose a divorce with the Eldest Imperial Brother. If Noble Consort Qi overheard her own daughter-in-law belittling her son and wishing to marry another prince, she would surely be fuming mad and speak indiscreetly.

At this thought, a smug smile formed on the corners of the Fifth Princess's mouth.

The Fifth Princess waited for Murong Jiu to rush over and explain to the Second Prince.

But unexpectedly, Murong Jiu did not even flicker an eyelid, just standing quietly by Jun Yuyan's side as if what had been said wasn't about her.

Murong Jiu did not look up, solely because she did not want to reveal the overwhelming hatred in her eyes.

Such a crude provocation, laughable that she fell for it in her past life. It only proved that the one embroiled in the situation is blind, while the onlookers see clearly; and in her past life, she had been that involved person, led by her emotions.

The Second Prince was always watching her, and seeing that she was unmoved, he frowned slightly, suddenly feeling a strange sense that things were starting to escape his control.

The Fifth Princess couldn't believe it. Murong Jiu was completely indifferent to her words, without the slightest reaction!

She bit her lip, then said, "I heard that the Eldest Imperial Brother spent half of an hour in the bridal chamber last night. It seems that Imperial Sister-in-Law and the Eldest Imperial Brother must have consummated the marriage, right?"