Chapter Sixty-Seven: Arriving at the Frontier in Search of Xunzhou

Yan Heru nodded. “Although I cannot cure him immediately, if I’m given a month, I can completely purge the cold poison from the prince’s body.”

The curator was so astonished by her answer that he could scarcely find the words to respond. After a moment, as if digesting the news, he smiled with relief. “Good, you truly are the talented seed I had hoped for. In that case, rest assured and accompany the prince to the frontier. If you can cure his cold poison, there will be many good years ahead.” Stroking his beard, the curator looked at Yan Heru with great satisfaction.

Yan Heru felt a little embarrassed by her master’s praise. “I came today to bid you farewell. I’ll be traveling with the prince to the frontier, and I do not know when I will return. You must take care of your health.”

The curator nodded. “No need to worry about this old man. I may lack abilities, but my body is sturdy. You, however, must be careful and watch over yourself in the borderlands.”

Yan Heru nodded again as the curator studied her closely. Though their time as master and apprentice had not been long, Yan Heru’s exceptional medical skills had earned his admiration, and she had become precious to him.

Now, as his cherished apprentice was about to leave, he could not help but feel a little sad. Yet she had grown, and this small capital city could not contain her. Perhaps, after venturing to the frontier, she would make a name for herself.

“All right, lass, let’s say no more. This old man cannot bear the sorrow of parting, so you’d best leave quickly—no need to say goodbye again when you go.” With those words, the curator turned his back.

Yan Heru bit her lower lip, for she truly cared about her master. “Take care, Master!” With her farewell, she returned to the prince’s manor.

Shen Hezhi had finished packing. When he saw Yan Heru return, he immediately asked, “My lady, everything is ready. We can depart.”

Shen Yi, standing nearby, could not help but twitch his lips at Shen Hezhi’s eager manner.

Their prince was truly a man of extremes. Before he realized his feelings, he was quite indifferent to his princess; if not for her ability to heal him, who knows how long he would have gone without speaking to her.

“Go whenever you wish. I’ll ensure your cold poison does not flare up during the journey,” Yan Heru said calmly.

Yan Heru did not dislike Shen Hezhi’s enthusiasm; she simply did not know how to respond to it.

She could not, nor dared, to answer Shen Hezhi’s feelings. Yet seeing his joyful expression, she could not bear to spoil it.

With a sigh, Yan Heru returned to her room to check if anything had been left behind.

The two departed, their hearts filled with mixed emotions. Yan Heru spoke little along the way, while Shen Hezhi eagerly sought topics to discuss, though she did not engage. Thus, they finally arrived at the frontier.

The borderlands were shockingly poor, so impoverished that Yan Heru was stunned. She had expected hardship, but not the devastation before her—a wasteland, much like a slum.

Seeing her astonished look, Shen Hezhi explained at once, “The court originally allocated much silver here, but with the emperor distant and far removed, the locals enrich themselves. Moreover, few are willing to come manage this place.”

“Are the people here to live like this forever? If you know of it, surely the other officials do as well, and the emperor must know. Yet none come to govern. Is it because this place is distant from the capital that the lives and deaths of these people are ignored?” Yan Heru was indignant.

Though these people were strangers to her, perhaps due to her calling as a healer, she could not bear to watch so many suffer.

Corpses lay everywhere along the road—not casualties of war, but victims of hunger.

“Look at these bodies, Prince. They are but impoverished commoners. What wrong have they done to deserve such misery?” Yan Heru turned to Shen Hezhi.

He was taken aback. He had never expected Yan Heru to react so strongly upon arriving. Before coming, he had imagined many scenarios, but not this.

“Now that I am here, I will not let this continue,” Shen Hezhi replied.

Yan Heru asked no further questions, though she knew she was meddling. Yet her heart could not stay indifferent.

“Ninth Prince, Ninth Princess, welcome!”

A group approached from a distance, led by a robust young man who addressed them.

Shen Hezhi’s demeanor turned cold at once, but Yan Heru felt that, despite his icy attitude, his exquisite features made him far from intimidating.

“You are the official of Xun Prefecture?” Shen Hezhi asked.

The frontier was not nameless; it was called Xun Prefecture, a lovely name for such a barren place.

The official nodded promptly. “Yes, Your Highness. I am the person in charge here.”

Shen Hezhi examined him closely. He looked very young, probably just over twenty. Ordinarily, one so young would not be posted to Xun Prefecture.

“Your Highness, perhaps you think me too young for this position?” The official smiled ingratiatingly.

Shen Hezhi did not answer, so the official continued his explanation. “In fact, the original overseer was not myself, but my father. My name is Dongfang Qing. A few months ago, my father fell gravely ill and could no longer serve. By local custom, the son inherits the post, so I took over.”

Shen Hezhi nodded and asked, “So now you are responsible for all affairs here?”

“Yes.”

“Very well. Let us go to the relay station, and then you can tell me about the situation with the enemy nation,” Shen Hezhi said calmly.

“Yes, Your Highness, Your Ladyship, this way please.” Dongfang Qing gestured for them to follow, leading the way.