chapter 3: The first encounter

The marketplace bustled with life, merchants calling out their wares as the scent of dried herbs and incense filled the air. Xu Nuan moved through the crowded stalls, her fingers grazing over bundles of medicinal plants, her mind lost in a tangle of thoughts.

Angelica root to nourish the blood. Aconite to steal it away.

Susu her maid, walked beside her, clutching a small basket, her eyes darting around warily. "My lady, are you certain we need this much monkshood?" she whispered, voice barely audible over the marketplace din.

Xu Nuan barely registered her concern. Her fingers traced the delicate petals of a datura flower, its beauty deceptive, its poison swift.

The imperial palace loomed in her mind—silken robes, measured smiles, whispered betrayals. She would enter a world where power was measured in secrets, where trust was more dangerous than a blade.

If she was to survive, she needed more than innocence. She needed knowledge.

With a calm, unreadable expression, she handed a few silver coins to the vendor. "We should leave before we attract attention," she said softly.

Susu hesitated but nodded, tucking the herbs carefully away.

As they stepped back into the flow of the crowd, Xu Nuan exhaled slowly. She had always believed medicine was meant to heal.

But in the palace, sometimes survival meant knowing how to ...

The marketplace was alive with its usual chaos—merchants calling out their wares, the scent of fresh herbs mingling with roasting chestnuts, and the chatter of townspeople bartering over silk and spices. Xu Nuan walked alongside her maid, Susu, who clutched a small basket of medicinal ingredients.

Just as they stepped past a fabric stall, a sudden commotion broke out.

"Move aside!" a frantic voice shouted.

Xu Nuan turned just in time to see a horse-drawn cart hurtling down the narrow street, the driver pulling desperately at the reins. At the very front, Susu stood frozen, her face drained of color as the thundering hooves bore down on her.

Without hesitation, Xu Nuan lunged forward, shoving Susu out of the way. But the moment she did, she realized her mistake—there was no time for her to escape.

The world seemed to slow, the roar of hooves deafening.

Then, a sharp tug—iron-like fingers wrapped around her wrist, yanking her backward with force. She collided against something solid and cold.

When she looked up, she found herself staring into the piercing eyes of Crown Prince Li Feng. His grip on her wrist was unyielding, his expression devoid of concern, as if saving her had been nothing more than an afterthought.

The cart came to a screeching halt a few feet away, the startled horse snorting as its driver finally regained control. A young man in physician's robes jumped down from the carriage, eyes widening in alarm.

"I-I apologize!" he stammered, his gaze flickering to Xu Nuan. "Are you hurt?"

Xu Nuan steadied herself, realizing only now how close she had come to being trampled. She turned back to Li Feng, who was already releasing her wrist, his touch lingering for only a moment before vanishing like a phantom.

"You are reckless," Li Feng said, his voice as cold as winter steel. His eyes held no warmth, no relief—only detached scrutiny, as if she were nothing more than an inconvenience. "Throwing yourself into danger for a mere servant. Foolish."

Susu, still trembling, rushed to Xu Nuan's side. "My lady, you—"

"I'm fine," Xu Nuan interrupted, lifting her chin. She turned to the young physician, who was watching the exchange with quiet curiosity. "Who are you?"

"Pei Qian," he introduced himself, bowing slightly. "A traveling physician. I truly meant no harm—"

Li Feng, already turning away, cut him off. "Your carelessness nearly cost a life. See that it does not happen again." His tone was clipped, indifferent, as if the incident had already been forgotten.

With that, he disappeared into the marketplace crowd, leaving behind only the ghost of his grip on Xu Nuan's wrist—and the lingering chill of his indifference.

The marketplace gradually returned to its usual rhythm, the commotion from the near accident fading into murmurs and sidelong glances. Xu Nuan, still steadying Susu, turned her gaze to the young physician standing before her.

Pei Qian.

The name stirred something in her memory. Now that she looked at him properly, she understood why.

Dressed in simple yet elegant robes, he carried an air of effortless grace—too refined for an ordinary traveling doctor. His features were striking, almost ethereal, with sharp, delicate brows and clear, intelligent eyes that held the calm confidence of a man who had long been accustomed to life and death.

Xu Nuan had heard whispers of him before. A physician so skilled he could bring the dying back from the brink, a man whose name was spoken with reverence even in the capital.

"You are the renowned Physician Pei of Yunzhou," she said, realization dawning in her voice. "The one who saved the governor's son from an untreatable illness."

Pei Qian's lips quirked slightly, amusement flickering in his gaze. "It seems my reputation precedes me."

Susu gasped, clutching her basket. "My lady, he's that Pei Qian? The Miracle Physician?"

Pei Qian chuckled lightly. "Miracle is too grand a word. I only do what I can." His eyes lingered on Xu Nuan, studying her with quiet curiosity. "And you, my lady, are no ordinary noblewoman. Few would recognize me at a glance."

Xu Nuan met his gaze steadily. "I read about your work in the imperial records." She hesitated before adding, "And I have a personal interest in medicine."

Pei Qian's expression shifted, interest sparking in his eyes. "Then perhaps fate intended for us to meet today."

Before Xu Nuan could respond, a royal guard stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Lady Xu, His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered an escort for you. The palace awaits."

The reminder of her impending future settled heavily in her chest. She turned back to Pei Qian. "It seems we must part ways."

Pei Qian inclined his head. "For now," he said, a knowing glint in his gaze. "But the world is small, my lady. I suspect we will meet again."

Xu Nuan studied him for a moment longer before finally nodding. As she turned to leave, she could still feel the weight of his gaze on her back.

Inside the Eastern Palace, Crown Prince Li Feng stood near the open window, his sharp eyes fixed on the distant horizon. The wind carried the scent of ink and sandalwood, but his thoughts remained cold and distant, untouched by the warmth of the afternoon sun.

A kneeling guard broke the silence. "Your Highness, the lady you saved in the marketplace today… she is Lady Xu Nuan."

Li Feng's fingers, which had been idly tracing the rim of his teacup, stilled.

"…Xu Nuan?" His voice was calm, unreadable.

"Yes, Your Highness. The daughter of General Xu. The very one His Majesty has decreed as your future princess consort."

For a brief moment, silence stretched between them. Then, Li Feng let out a quiet scoff, though there was no amusement in it.

Fate, it seemed, had a cruel sense of humor.

He had thought her reckless, foolish even, for throwing herself into danger for a mere maid. And yet, this was the woman the emperor had chosen for him.

Slowly, he set his cup down, the porcelain making a soft clink against the table.

"Interesting, send someone to invite her to see me" he murmured at last. His gaze darkened, unreadable as he turned away.

" yes your highness "

So, this was the woman who would soon stand beside him.

Whether she was a pawn, a burden, or something more—time would tell.