Lu Hua's mind swirled with the vivid memory of Zihao's face, his intense gaze, the slight tilt of his head, the faint flush on his cheeks. It played in her head like a sweet, haunting melody she couldn't shake. "Was he...? Did he almost...?" The thought sent a shiver of excitement through her. A tiny, uncontrollable squeal slipped past her lips before she clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes darting around the empty hallway. Thank goodness no one was there to hear her. She pressed her cool palms to her warm cheeks, a giddy smile spreading across her face as her heart did a little flip.
"Oh my gosh! He was totally about to kiss me! Right there in the study, on his lap!" The terrifying memory of the dark cellar faded for a moment, replaced by a fizzy warmth bubbling in her chest. She practically skipped the last few steps to the receiving chamber where the physician was waiting.
Pushing the door open, her smile still bright, Lu Hua stepped into the airy room. Sunlight poured through tall windows, bathing the space in a soft, golden glow. A young man stood near a table covered with a physician's tools, small bottles, neatly folded cloth wraps, and a cushioned pillow for taking pulses. He turned as she entered, his movements calm and precise.
He was tall and slender, dressed in crisp, dark blue robes that marked him as part of the Imperial Medical Bureau. His face was sharp and intelligent, maybe a little stern, with neatly combed dark hair framing his features. He looked young, much younger than the senior physicians the Empress usually sent, but capable, with a quiet confidence.
Out of habit, Lu Hua activated her Analyzing System, a cautious reflex she'd developed over time. The information appeared instantly in her mind:
Name: Lei Jun
Age: 19 Years
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 61 kg
Info: Scholar. Third ex-husband to Chun Lu Hua (marriage canceled). Currently apprentice Imperial Physician.
Her smile froze, then vanished like a candle snuffed out. The warm, fluttery feeling in her chest evaporated, replaced by a cold wave of recognition and deep awkwardness. Lei Jun. Her third ex-husband. The one who had publicly declared he cared more for scrolls than for a wife, rejecting her before their marriage could even begin. The memory of his cold dismissal stung like a fresh wound.
Lei Jun bowed deeply, his face calm and professional. "Your Highness," he said, his voice steady and polite. "Please forgive the change. My uncle, Senior Physician Kang, was called to the Third Prince's household. He asked me to attend you in his place, as I am assisting him this week."
He straightened, meeting her gaze with a cool, detached look. "I am Lei Jun, apprentice physician. Her Imperial Majesty is concerned for your health after your recent ordeal. She wishes me to check for any lingering effects from the substance you were given." He gestured to the cushioned chair by the table. "If Your Highness would please sit?"
Lu Hua stood still for a moment, the cheerful hallway replaced by the heavy reality of the room. Her former husband, the scholar who had deemed her unworthy of his time, was now here to examine her. The irony was almost too much.
Forcing herself to wear the regal mask she'd perfected over years, Lu Hua gave a slight nod. "Apprentice Physician Lei," she said, her voice cool and empty of the warmth she'd felt moments ago. She walked to the chair with stiff steps, the sunlight now feeling too harsh, the room too silent. She sat, smoothing her robes slowly, her eyes fixed on the table to avoid his gaze.
---
Time dragged on as Lu Hua sat rigidly in the cushioned chair. Her hand rested limply on the small pillow where Lei Jun had just taken her pulse. His touch was quick and impersonal, his cool fingers barely brushing her wrist. He examined the faint rope burns on her wrists and ankles with the same detached efficiency, his movements precise and clinical.
"You appear unharmed, Your Highness," Lei Jun said, stepping back and wiping his hands on a clean cloth. His voice was flat, his eyes avoiding hers as he began packing his physician's case. "There are no signs of lingering effects from the substance you ingested."
Lu Hua nodded once, her voice matching his cool tone. "Thank you." She kept her gaze fixed on a spot on the far wall, refusing to look at him.
The silence stretched, heavy and uncomfortable. Lei Jun's hands paused over the clasp of his case. He glanced at her, then quickly away, his voice softening slightly, losing its clinical edge. "Your Highness," he said, hesitating. "Do you... recognize me?"
Lu Hua didn't flinch. She turned her head slowly, meeting his eyes with a look of polite indifference. "Should I?" she asked, her voice smooth and calm. "You are Apprentice Physician Lei, nephew of Senior Physician Kang, attending me on the Empress's orders. Is there more I should know?"
Lei Jun's lips pressed into a thin line, a faint flush creeping up his neck. He looked down at his case, snapping the clasp shut with a sharp click. "No," he said, his voice tight. "No, Your Highness. That is all." He bowed again, deeper than needed, and added, "I will report your condition to the Empress. Good day."
He turned quickly, eager to leave. As he did, his eyes caught a figure at the doorway. Jiang Chen stood there, silent and still, his presence commanding without a word. Lei Jun's composure faltered for a moment, the unexpected sight of the guard adding to his unease. He gave a quick, awkward bow toward Jiang Chen, muttering, "Guard," before hurrying past him and disappearing down the corridor with hurried steps.
Jiang Chen's gaze shifted to Lu Hua.
Lu Hua gave a small, tight nod. "Thank you, Jiang Chen. I am done here." She stood, smoothing her robes with careful movements, and walked past him, feeling his steady presence fall into step behind her as she headed toward the safety of her chambers.
---
Jiang Chen followed a few steps behind, his quiet presence a comfort as they moved through the palace corridors. Lu Hua's thoughts were still tangled, the encounter with Lei Jun leaving a bitter taste. But as they rounded a corner near a quiet courtyard entrance, a sharp, sour smell hit her nose-strong wine, unmistakable and heavy.
A figure stumbled out from the shadows, blocking her path. It was Dexiu, the Second Prince. His fine silk robes were wrinkled, his hair messy, and his eyes red and unfocused. He reeked of alcohol, swaying unsteadily as he tried to fix his gaze on her.
"Lu Hua," he slurred, his voice thick and unsteady. "There you are. Pretty Lu Hua." His eyes wandered over her face, struggling to focus.
A cold chill ran down Lu Hua's spine. She took a small step back, her voice calm but guarded. "Second Prince," she said carefully. "You seem unwell. Perhaps you should rest."
"Rest?" Dexiu let out a harsh, bitter laugh that echoed in the quiet corridor. "How can I rest? Seeing you... walking around... with him." He jerked his chin toward Jiang Chen, who had moved silently closer to Lu Hua, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword. Dexiu ignored the guard, his bleary eyes locking onto Lu Hua again. "It should be me. You should still be mine."
Lu Hua kept her face blank, though her heart beat faster. "That was decided long ago, Prince Dexiu," she said, her voice steady. "By the Empress. By your own choice, you abandoned me."
"Your choice?" Dexiu lurched forward, his voice rising. Lu Hua held her ground, but Jiang Chen shifted slightly, placing himself more firmly between them. "A mistake! A stupid mistake!" Dexiu's words were thick with drunken regret, but there was something darker in his tone. "I listened to lies... saw the mask and didn't know what I had. I threw away a treasure." He reached out a trembling hand toward her face. "You're so beautiful... now everyone sees it. And you belong to Zihao? That useless cripple?"
Lu Hua flinched back from his hand, her voice sharpening. "Do not speak of the Sixth Prince that way."
"Why not?" Dexiu's voice twisted into a snarl, his drunken sorrow turning to anger. "He can't even stand! What can he give you? What can he do for you?" His tone dropped, low and threatening. "I made a mistake, Lu Hua. But I can fix it. I will fix it. You were mine first. I'll make sure you're mine again. You belong with me."
The raw possessiveness in his words, mixed with the stench of wine, made Lu Hua's stomach churn. This wasn't just regret, it was a threat. Before she could respond, Jiang Chen stepped forward, his body a solid barrier between her and the prince.
"Prince Dexiu," Jiang Chen said, his voice calm but firm, like unyielding steel. "The princess requires passage. You are unwell. Please step aside."
Dexiu's red-rimmed eyes snapped to the guard, his face contorting with rage. "You?!" he spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "Who are you to command me? A lowly guard! Get out of my way! This is between me and my wife!"
"She is not your wife," Jiang Chen said, his stance unwavering. "She is the Sixth Prince's Consort. Move aside, Your Highness."
"Or what?!" Dexiu roared, swaying as if he might lunge toward Lu Hua or Jiang Chen, it wasn't clear. "You think you can stop me, you insignificant dog? I'll have your head for touching me!"
The commotion finally drew attention. Two nervous palace servants, Dexiu's own, by their uniforms, rushed from the courtyard entrance. They must have been waiting nearby, too scared to step in sooner. They grabbed Dexiu's arms, trying to pull him back gently.
"Your Highness, please!" one pleaded, his voice shaking.
"Come now, Prince Dexiu, let's get you some tea..." the other said, his tone coaxing.
"You must rest, sire!" the first added, tugging harder.
Dexiu struggled against them, spitting curses, his eyes still fixed on Lu Hua past Jiang Chen's shoulder. "Let go! Unhand me! Lu Hua! Remember what I said! I'll reclaim what's mine! You hear me?!"
The servants, sweating with effort, managed to drag the cursing prince back toward the courtyard entrance. "Princess Consort, our deepest apologies!" one called over his shoulder before they disappeared around the corner, Dexiu's shouts fading into the distance.
The hallway fell silent again, the air still heavy with the stench of wine. Jiang Chen relaxed his stance, turning slightly to face Lu Hua, his expression calm but watchful. "Are you alright, Princess?"
Lu Hua nodded, her voice still unsteady. "Yes," she said softly, staring at the spot where Dexiu had stood. His drunken words weren't just the ramblings of a man lost in wine. He regretted losing her, but it wasn't about love-it was about ownership, about pride stung by her new status and beauty. It was about control he thought he'd lost.
Her mind flashed back to the cellar, to the servant boy's terrifying obsession. Then to Lei Jun's awkward intensity earlier. And now Dexiu. A bitter taste filled her mouth. Even here, in this ancient world, after escaping a life of being hunted and discarded, the pattern repeated. Different faces, different times, the same dangerous wanting.
She took a slow, deep breath, pushing the unease down. Suspicion hardened in her eyes.
"Let's go, Jiang Chen," she said, her voice steady now, but quieter. She started walking down the hallway, her steps measured. Her thoughts raced. She needed to be careful. She needed to watch her back.