Chapter 2: What Does It Have to Do with Me?

Shen Xuan stepped outside, only to see the Qin family’s carriage already vanished into the distance; Qin Shu Jun had not waited for her.

Dusk was settling. The Prime Minister’s residence was far from the imperial palace; an ordinary person would not arrive until deep into the night. But as Shen Xuan took her first step, a gentle yet familiar voice suddenly rang out behind her.

“Master Qin?”

She turned toward the sound and saw a luxurious carriage with its side curtain lifted, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty. Yet the pride in her eyes marred the perfection.

With his memories, Shen Xuan immediately recognized her.

The Princess Royal of Great Qian—the woman he was once betrothed to, but had never married.

Huangfu Wanwan.

Shen Xuan paused for a moment, then bowed at once. “This servant greets Your Highness, Princess Royal.”

“What did you call me?” Huangfu Wanwan’s lovely face changed imperceptibly, her voice tinged with disbelief.

If she remembered correctly, Qin Xuan had always been arrogant when meeting her in the past. His ostentatious manner seemed to announce to the world that he was perfectly suited for a royal princess. Especially when alone, he addressed her almost domineeringly as ‘wife,’ utterly disregarding etiquette, as if she, the Princess Royal, was already his possession before marriage.

Huangfu Wanwan had always felt disgusted by Qin Xuan’s intense need for control. Yet the late emperor’s decree had bound her; since childhood, she disliked wastrels, but she could never act on it.

Even when he saw her reluctance, Qin Xuan’s enthusiasm never waned. He would visit the palace every few days, bringing her rare and precious objects, as if showing off that only the son of the Prime Minister could find such treasures. This made Huangfu Wanwan feel even more repulsed.

But after three years apart, he seemed somewhat unfamiliar.

So unfamiliar that Huangfu Wanwan felt an inexplicable sense of loss.

“It’s getting late. Master Qin, are you heading home?”

“I happen to have a swift horse. You may borrow it, if you wish.”

Huangfu Wanwan’s cheeks flushed lightly as she hurried to add, “Don’t misunderstand—I just happened to pass by, not waiting for you on purpose.”

She said this, fearing Qin Xuan might read too much into it. In the past, even a simple gift would make him ecstatic, eager to boast to everyone as if declaring it to the world.

She had grown irritated and stopped giving him gifts.

But this time…

Shen Xuan merely nodded, bowing coldly. “Thank you for your kindness, Princess Royal. I am a lowly servant and dare not presume. I shall walk.”

With that, Shen Xuan turned to leave.

Huangfu Wanwan’s beautiful eyes froze, leaving her rooted in place.

…

Shen Xuan didn’t look back, but the exotic fragrance from the Western Regions lingered near his nose. If he remembered right, this was the scent he had brought her from afar.

Back then, he was proud, but had met someone even prouder. His innate desire to conquer was ignited; he vowed to marry this proud woman.

Over time, Huangfu Wanwan’s pride and coldness never faded, as if she believed no man in the world was worthy of her.

At first, he felt the same.

Until Qin Shaotian, the true heir of the Qin family, first met Huangfu Wanwan.

That day, he stood aside, witnessing the ever-proud Huangfu Wanwan’s eyes flash with undisguised shyness.

When he saw the blush on her cheeks—a look she’d never shown him—he was dazed, his heart twisted in agony.

Shen Xuan was not him; he understood everything from the start.

So when he saw Huangfu Wanwan, he could not act ingratiatingly.

After all, Young Master Qin was her true fiancé.

What surprised Shen Xuan was that after three years, the two still hadn’t wed, even though it was the proper time. Interesting.

“What does it matter to me?”

He shook his head and smiled lightly.

Now, his priority was to open the last meridian required by the “Celestial Evolution Manual.”

To most illiterate eunuchs, this book was useless. But in his previous life as a divine physician, he had stumbled upon it while cleaning the Sima Bureau’s miscellaneous courtyard. The moment he saw the ancient martial tome, he could barely contain his joy.

This manual seemed tailor-made for him.

And this would become his greatest asset in Great Qian.

Seventy li on foot—Shen Xuan used lightness technique, arriving at the Prime Minister’s residence in less than an hour.

Turning the corner, the grand gates appeared before him.

To his surprise, despite the night’s darkness, the entrance was brightly lit.

Countless people holding lanterns waited at the gate, peering this way, eagerly anticipating something.

The moment they spotted Shen Xuan—

“Xuan’er!”

A dignified, elegant figure, eyes reddened, hurried forward.

Lady Song.

His mother from days past.

Before Lady Song could come near, Shen Xuan stepped back, bowed. “Servant Shen Xuan, greets the lady.”

Those words stopped her outstretched arms and hurried steps.

Lady Song’s eyes were filled with disbelief, her voice trembled. “What… what did you call me? Xuan’er, I am your mother!”

Mother?

Shen Xuan’s heart was calm as still water, his head lowered.

Lady Song’s tears welled up instantly. “Xuan’er, it’s my fault. These three years have been hard on you. Don’t be like this… it pains me.”

“That’s right! Brother Xuan, everyone knows how much you’ve suffered these years.”

“But no matter what, we’re still a family.”

The speaker was a tall, refined young man—Qin Shaotian.

Shen Xuan glanced at him, feeling an urge to laugh.

In his memory, Qin Shaotian had barely been in the Prime Minister’s residence two days before he started bossing around his “brother,” yet always wore this brotherly, courteous facade.

Three years, and this attitude hadn’t changed.

“It’s good you’re back! It’s good you’re back!”

Lady Song wiped her tears incessantly. “Jun’er is so naughty, daring to leave you alone on the road. I’ve already scolded her and sent her to fetch you, but you came back first.”

Just then, the sound of a carriage approached. Qin Shu Jun jumped down before it had even stopped.

“Qin Xuan! I knew you’d never change!”

“Three years, and you’re still so arrogant, daring even to kill the chief eunuch of the Sima Bureau!”

What!?

At her words, everyone’s expression changed dramatically.