The chair toppled backward.
Chu Chenye stood in the middle of the study, one hand braced against the table. His expression was cold, as if everything that had just happened had been completely within his expectations.
But everyone present knew that wasn't true.
His trusted guard, Ta Lam, dropped to his knees.
“Your Highness… you're standing?”
No one dared believe their own eyes.
For the past three years, Chu Chenye's legs had been completely numb. The famed physicians had said he would be bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. And yet today, he was standing before all of them.
Chu Chenye took one step.
Pain immediately pierced through his bones, making the veins bulge on his forehead. But he didn't stop.
A second step.
A third.
Every step was heavy, yet each was also a declaration of war against fate.
Wan Yuting stood beside him with her arms crossed, showing no intention of helping.
Chu Chenye glanced over. “You're not going to help?”
“You've paid half the money. I'm only responsible for curing you, not for acting as your crutch.”
Ta Lam lowered his head deeply to hide his astonishment.
In this world, the only person who dared speak to the Night Prince like that could very well be the first—and possibly the last.
Chu Chenye walked to the window. Sunlight fell across his tall figure. Though his body was still weak, the War God's aura kept everyone in the room from even daring to breathe too loudly.
“Three days,” Wan Yuting said. “For the next three days, you can't use your internal energy, ride a horse, or let anyone massage you recklessly. Otherwise, the remaining poison will flare up.”
“You're giving orders to me?”
“I'm protecting the rest of my payment.”
Chu Chenye looked at her, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
He ordered someone to deliver the remaining half of the gold to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, while also granting her a token that allowed her to enter and leave his residence freely.
Wan Yuting took the token and raised an eyebrow. “Is this a thank-you gift?”
“It's your payment.”
“I prefer gold.”
“You can sell it.”
Wan Yuting slipped the token straight into her sleeve.
“Then I'll take it.”
The news that the Night Prince had stood up quickly reached the imperial court.
In the palace, Chu Jing smashed his teacup the moment he heard the news.
“Impossible!”
Lu Ruowei, sitting beside him, turned pale as well. She knew all too well that once Chu Chenye recovered, the Crown Prince's position would be shaken.
“It was Lu Yuting.” She bit her lip. “She must have used sorcery.”
Chu Jing ground his teeth.
Since the engagement annulment, he had never once thought about that abandoned older cousin of his. He had assumed she would cry and beg, then die in the woodshed.
No one could have expected her to open a mysterious shop, make a fortune in gold and silver, and even heal the legs of the most terrifying man in the capital.
“We can't let her keep growing stronger.”
Lu Ruowei lowered her head, her voice soft and gentle. “Your Highness, the palace is about to hold a beauty-products auction for the imperial harem. If we can make the Myriad Treasures Pavilion lose in front of the Empress, wouldn't that take care of both her shop and her reputation?”
Chu Jing looked at her.
A moment later, he gave a cold laugh.
“Then let her win once first. After that, I'll make her lose everything.”
At the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, Wan Yuting knew nothing about the plan.
She was checking the inventory list when the System suddenly issued an alert.
“New mission: Enter the imperial palace. Reward: Unlock the advanced-care area.”
Wan Yuting propped her chin on her hand and chuckled.
“The imperial palace? Sure.”
She closed the ledger.
“It’s time to show those people what the real deal looks like.”