Chapter Two: The Little Princess with the Strange Illness

“What!”

The moment Lin Qingxue’s words rang out, the entire hall erupted in astonishment.

Yet, amidst the crowd’s shock, Fang Han’s gaze grew even colder.

He had already seen through Lin Qingxue’s scheme.

She knew that publicly breaking their agreement would spark criticism from both the court and the people. If she further punished him, it would only stir even greater negative public opinion.

Thus, she adopted a magnanimous facade, not only stripping herself of the seemingly prestigious title of “Protector of the Southern Frontier” but also deliberately arranging a marriage as a gift—ostensibly a reward, but in fact a deadly trap.

In recent years, the Great Zhou’s control over the Southern Frontier had long weakened; bandits roamed within, and southern barbarians lurked outside, with barely one in ten villagers surviving.

By transferring herself there, she intended to use the chaos to eliminate him.

What was more cruel was that she married off the little princess Lin Qingwei, who was poorly reputed and neglected, to Fang Han. This not only resolved Lin Qingwei’s marriage issue but also earned her a reputation for generosity.

Two birds with one stone, the plot was flawless!

Fang Han sneered coldly: “Fine! I’ll stay with Lin Qingwei and go to the Southern Frontier as your Protector!”

He had seen through Lin Qingxue’s treachery but accepted without hesitation.

Since she was so ruthless, he saw no need to hold back.

He silently vowed: since she wanted to use the turmoil of the Southern Frontier against him, he would govern the region with impeccable order, relying on the foresight and wisdom from his previous life to develop it into a stronghold—and then strike back at Great Zhou!

After agreeing, Fang Han turned and left the hall with steady steps.

Watching his departing figure, Lin Qingwei’s eyes were filled with complex emotions.

“My sister, I have ordered the carriage to be prepared,” Lin Qingxue said coldly, a trace of mockery in her eyes.

She had never liked Lin Qingwei; if not for concerns that openly killing her sister would cause public outcry, she would have long found a way to get rid of her.

Fang Li’s proposal was a perfect twofold solution—resolving Lin Qingwei’s problem and driving Fang Han away, achieving multiple goals at once.

Lin Qingwei gave Lin Qingxue a deep, silent look before leaving the hall.

...

After returning to his residence, Fang Han quickly packed his belongings while dealing with the various inventions he had left in the capital.

In the six years since his transmigration, he had invented many devices that could revolutionize production efficiency, such as the Jiangdong plow and the Dragon Bone waterwheel, and had also researched high-yield hybrid rice.

He had originally planned to continue assisting Lin Qingxue’s administration after marriage, but now that was unnecessary.

He packed everything he could take and destroyed the rest without hesitation.

Watching each invention being destroyed, Fang Han felt reluctant but his heart was as hard as iron.

Soon, the escort arrived at his residence. After organizing his luggage, Fang Han boarded the carriage.

Inside, Lin Qingwei closed her eyes to rest, silent.

Feeling the cabin grow dim, Fang Han casually pulled aside the curtain, ready to enjoy the scenery outside and gather his thoughts.

“Ah!”

Sunlight streamed into the carriage, and Lin Qingwei suddenly cried out in alarm.

Fang Han turned in surprise. “What’s wrong?”

Lin Qingwei quickly retreated into the shadows, commanding sharply, “Close the curtains!”

Fang Han looked at her expressionlessly, unmoved.

“Fang Han, are you deaf? Close them!” Lin Qingwei grew angry when Fang Han did not respond.

She had been extremely sensitive to sunlight since childhood. When sunlight touched her skin, it caused intense itching. That ray of sunlight had already made her extremely uncomfortable.

At this moment, multiple patches of sunlight had already entered the cabin, and she was burning with anxiety.

“You’re a vampire, afraid of the sun?” Fang Han teased with interest.

“You!”

Though she didn’t understand the vampire reference, seeing his indifference made Lin Qingwei’s chest heave with anger.

“Why are you afraid of light? Are you sick?”

Before Fang Han finished speaking, Lin Qingwei made up her mind and quickly drew the black curtain shut.

The carriage plunged into darkness.

Lin Qingwei exhaled deeply and sat back down.

Though the sunlight was gone, the skin exposed earlier had already developed red blisters.

“You... are you a Rakshasa?”

Fang Han noticed the changes in Lin Qingwei’s skin and pointed at her in surprise.

He finally understood—she truly was ill!

“I’m not a Rakshasa!”

Lin Qingwei’s heart jolted at his words, and she quickly denied it.

Rakshasa disease was considered an ominous symbol.

It was widely believed that those afflicted feared sunlight because they were reincarnations of Rakshasa demons.

Since birth, Lin Qingwei had suffered from this disease, which led to her being despised in the Great Zhou palace.

“You think you can still lie to me?”

Seeing Lin Qingwei’s stubborn denial, Fang Han stepped closer, his gaze sharp as a blade.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

Lin Qingwei panicked and shrank into a corner.

Seeing her reaction, Fang Han reached out and uncovered her hood.

“Ah!”

Startled, Lin Qingwei screamed and quickly covered her face with her hands.

But it was too late.

In that moment, Fang Han saw her face clearly.

Due to the earlier sunlight, small spots had appeared on her face, but her features remained exquisite.

Her eyes were bright and captivating, her lips gently curved, and her aura outstanding.

Compared to the most beautiful empress in Great Zhou, Lin Qingxue, Lin Qingwei’s beauty was even more bewitching.

Yes, bewitching!

Though her appearance was pure, Fang Han felt an enchanting, almost seductive beauty emanating from her.

Staring at her true face, Fang Han was momentarily stunned, a smile spreading across his lips.

Inwardly, he marveled: Lin Qingxue had truly handed him a treasure in this beautiful sister!

“Fang Han, you... bastard!”

As Fang Han reveled in his astonishment, Lin Qingwei could no longer contain her anger and cursed.

She quickly snatched the hood back and put it on again.

“Don’t glare at me so fiercely. What if I told you I could cure this Rakshasa disease?”

Fang Han smiled faintly at the fury blazing in Lin Qingwei’s eyes.

“Really?”

Lin Qingwei sneered coldly. “Even imperial physicians are helpless. You can cure it? That’s a joke!”

She knew well that Rakshasa disease was incurable, with no precedent of healing throughout history.

How could Fang Han possibly cure it?

“Imperial physicians? To me, they’re quacks.”

“This little Rakshasa disease is a trifle I can handle with ease!”

Fang Han smiled confidently at Lin Qingwei.

“Handle with ease?” Lin Qingwei nearly spat, disbelief etched across her face.

She was growing increasingly doubtful of this man.

Going to the Southern Frontier with him, she worried his incompetence would only worsen the chaos.

“You don’t believe me? How about a bet?” Fang Han said with a smile.

“A bet?” Lin Qingwei frowned.

“If I can cure your Rakshasa disease, you’ll fulfill your duty as a wife and support me wholeheartedly.”

“Fine! But if you fail, you must promise never to bother me again, and stay away from me!”

“Deal!”

Fang Han laughed.

In this era, Rakshasa disease was seen as a shameful curse.

Yet Fang Han, as a transmigrator, knew it was nothing more than ultraviolet hypersensitivity!

He silently planned to concoct sunscreen when the opportunity arose, easily solving Lin Qingwei’s problem.

...

Night fell in the imperial study.

Fang Li sat on Lin Qingxue’s dragon throne, while Lin Qingxue lazily leaned against him, their eyes full of affection as they shared a sweet kiss.

After a moment of intimacy, Fang Li toyed with Lin Qingxue’s hair, his tone playful: “Qingxue, shouldn’t we create some obstacles for Fang Han? I doubt anyone knows he’s a useless man in the Southern Frontier.”

Lin Qingxue’s eyes brightened. “You mean set traps on his way there, so he becomes notorious?”

“Ha ha ha, you understand me perfectly, Qingxue!” Fang Li laughed heartily.

Lin Qingxue narrowed her eyes, a teasing glint flashing: “Alright. I’ll have someone notify Zeng Tianlai, the commander at Zhen Nan Pass, to give Fang Han some trouble. Then, we’ll take advantage of the opportunity to...”

Her meaningful glance at Fang Li left the rest unspoken.

“Qingxue, you really are clever!” Fang Li praised with admiration.

“By the way, how’s the other task I gave you going?” Lin Qingxue traced his Adam’s apple, her voice laced with seduction.

Fang Li smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ve already learned about the genius behind the Jiangdong plow and Dragon Bone waterwheel.”

“In less than a month, I’ll find him!”

“Good. If this person is recruited by another vassal king, he’ll pose a threat to me. We must act quickly!” Lin Qingxue’s tone grew urgent.

“Understood. Such a talent must be ours,” Fang Li nodded.

He then leaned in close to Lin Qingxue, and they continued their intimacy...

They could never have imagined that the “genius” they were desperately searching for was none other than Fang Han—the very man they had humiliated and sought to kill...