Chapter Seventy-Six: The Second Young Master of the Eastern Family

Yan Heru eventually established her own power, largely because of her childhood experiences with finances. Gradually, she developed a fondness for herbal medicines, believing that herbs were the most loyal companions, able to stay by her side longer than anything else. Even though her master harbored intentions of using her talent to create more poisons and other concoctions, her master never mistreated her. For a time, Yan Heru thought her master was someone she could depend on for life, but fate took a cruel turn—her master was killed by an enemy. From then on, Yan Heru believed that everyone in this world was unreliable; only herself and her herbs could be trusted.

Later, a man suddenly entered her life, bringing a glimmer of light into her darkness. Yet this man, the very one who brought her light, was also the one who pushed her back into the shadows.

...

“Princess, what are you thinking about? I see you’ve been standing here for a long time without moving. Is it because this herb in front of you is poisonous?” Mo Yi’s words brought Yan Heru back from her reverie.

Recalling her past life, it was unbearably bitter. Perhaps even the heavens could not bear to watch, and so after the plane crash, she was granted another chance at life.

“No... it’s not that. I’m just thinking about what we should eat tonight when we return,” Yan Heru replied to Mo Yi with a gentle smile.

Now that she had another opportunity to enjoy a better life, why dwell on the past? Yan Heru suddenly realized that, since Shen Hezhi liked her and she had feelings for him as well, why not try accepting each other? If neither of them could open their hearts, what difference would there be between her and her former self?

She had only wished to survive in this world, but now, after living here for some time, she found herself with more thoughts, more hopes. She had become greedy.

Yet this greed brought her happiness.

“Ah? Princess, you...” Mo Yi was surprised. Since serving at the princess’s side, she had never seen her smile so brightly.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“No... it’s nothing. Whatever the princess wishes to eat, we’ll have it when we return.” Mo Yi also smiled.

Seeing the princess so radiant filled her with happiness as well.

---

The two returned to the inn, but Yan Heru didn’t immediately decide what to eat. Instead, she went straight to her room to study her herbs. Though she was ready to face a new life, her passion for herbal medicine had not diminished. After all, loving herbs and loving life were not contradictory.

Suddenly, with a loud bang, the door to Yan Heru’s room was kicked open. A group of strangers entered, each holding a knife, appearing to be guards of some sort.

Yan Heru did not panic at the sight of them. She stared at them coldly, for she was in the inn—the safest place on the frontier. She believed someone would soon come to her aid.

“Are you Yan Heru?” the leader asked.

Yan Heru didn’t answer. She simply lifted her head and glared at the man.

He wasn’t angered by her silence. With a wave of his hand, he ordered his men to seize her.

Yan Heru finally spoke, “Who are you people, daring to come here and arrest me!”

For the first time, she exhibited the authority of a princess.

“Arrest you? That’s exactly what we’re here for! We’re from the Eastern Family. I advise you to surrender quietly. We know you’re the princess, and you are precisely the one we’re here to capture!”

Without giving her another chance to speak, the man had his men take her away.

Mo Yi had been sent to the kitchen to prepare food, as Yan Heru had spent the night organizing her herbs and felt hungry. When Mo Yi returned, she found her princess gone and the door shattered. Shen Hezhi also arrived at that moment, ready to rest.

“What happened here!” Shen Hezhi demanded, surveying the wreckage.

Mo Yi, terrified, fell to her knees. “I... I don’t know. I went to prepare food for the princess, and when I came back, it was like this...”

Mo Yi was always fearful before Shen Hezhi, even when she had done nothing wrong. This fear was etched into her bones—a mix of reverence and awe.

“Damn it!” Shen Hezhi turned and left immediately.

---

He waited all day, but Shen Yi never brought Eastern Qing to him. Now, with such a crisis, he had no choice but to seek out Eastern Qing himself.

Mo Yi, seeing Shen Hezhi’s actions, hurried after him.

Outside the Eastern Residence, Shen Hezhi was blocked by the guards.

“Who are you? Do you know where you are? How dare you barge in here—you must have a death wish!” the guard shouted.

Shen Hezhi, anxious beyond measure, had no patience for explanations. With a swift strike, he knocked the guard unconscious and entered the Eastern Residence.

His actions were misunderstood by the other guards, who assumed he was causing trouble. They quickly rallied all the guards in the courtyard, surrounding him.

Staring at the encircling guards, Shen Hezhi’s anger surged. Fortunately, Eastern Qing arrived just in time.

“What are you all doing here?” Eastern Qing demanded.

The leader, seeing Eastern Qing, was not intimidated by his reprimand. “Young Master Qing, we were merely apprehending someone who tried to trespass. Is that wrong?”

Eastern Qing narrowed his eyes in displeasure. When his gaze fell upon the man surrounded by guards, he immediately frowned.

“Your Highness?” Eastern Qing’s words startled the leader momentarily, but he quickly composed himself.

“Even a prince cannot trespass in another’s residence at will,” the leader replied.

Eastern Qing glanced at him, about to speak, when a spirited voice rang out from outside the courtyard.

“Oh my, brother, it’s quite lively here! Ah Yi, how can you be so powerless in front of so many people? Hurry up and apologize.”

“Yes, Second Young Master.” The leader showed no discontent toward the newly arrived second young master, but listened respectfully, apologizing to Eastern Qing.

“I just heard from outside the courtyard—this must be the Ninth Prince. Ninth Prince, as it happens, I have something to discuss with you. It concerns your wife,” the second young master said with a smile.