He remarried after his mother's death, seized power over the world, and slept on the emperor�

The carriage sped off wildly.

Jiang Bingning braced herself against the car wall, holding the unconscious Liu Jingyi firmly in her arms.

Although her mother's breathing had stabilized thanks to the life-saving pill, the bluish-gray tinge on her face had not completely faded and instead seemed to be spreading toward her neck.

The poison is still in her body.

Ji Yunhan was acting like a madman, his eyes fixed on Liu Jingyi, as if the person in his arms would turn into smoke and disappear if he blinked.

"hurry up!"

"Faster!"

He kept yelling at the coachman.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of rapid hoofbeats grew louder as it approached.

"Your Highness! The military doctor has arrived!"

Shouts from the guards could be heard outside the vehicle.

The carriage suddenly stopped, and the curtain was lifted from the outside. A middle-aged man carrying a medicine box scrambled in.

"Quick! Quick, check on her!" Ji Yunhan grabbed the military doctor.

The military doctor didn't dare to delay and immediately knelt down beside Liu Jingyi, placing his fingers on her pulse.

A moment later, he lifted the bandage on his wound and brought it closer to smell it.

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely.

Finally, the military doctor raised his head, his face extremely grim.

"How is it?" Ji Yunhan's voice was trembling.

The military doctor swallowed hard and said with difficulty, "Your Highness, the poison this lady has been given... is extremely potent."

"If it weren't for the divine elixir protecting his heart meridian, he would probably already be..."

"The pill has temporarily suppressed the spread of the poison, but it is continuously eroding the lady's meridians. We must find an antidote as soon as possible!"

Ji Yunhan's eyes blazed with fury.

"You can't solve it?"

The military doctor lowered his head in shame.

"I am of limited knowledge and experience, and dare not act rashly. I'm afraid we'll have to ask the imperial physicians for help..."

He took a small bottle from the medicine box and poured out a few pills.

"This is a blood-purifying pill prepared by my subordinates. It can slightly slow down the spread of the poison and buy the lady some more time."

Buy some time...

Ji Yunhan took the pills and, together with Jiang Bingning, fed them to Liu Jingyi.

"Thank you," Jiang Bingning said in a hoarse voice.

Ji Yunhan suddenly stood up and said to the anxiously waiting Empress Dowager, "Mother, Jingyi's health cannot be delayed any longer."

The Empress Dowager's expression was grave: "Then let's hurry on our journey. My body can handle it!"

Ji Yunhan said no more, dismissed the driver, and drove off towards Cuiping Mountain himself!

-----------------

The Northern Barbarians, Yan Hui Pass.

Below the pass, a caravan of envoys from the Great Zhou Dynasty was quietly waiting.

Jiang Chengxuan, dressed in a brocade robe, sat upright on horseback, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

To think that he, a dignified general, would be sent to this barren land by an imperial edict to serve as some kind of worthless envoy!

He had a burning desire inside him.

In earlier years, when the Northern Barbarians were weak, they came to serve as envoys, a highly coveted and prestigious position.

But now?

The Northern Barbarians were growing stronger day by day, while the Great Zhou was empty of treasury and plagued by endless factional strife in the court, and was no longer the prosperous state it once was.

It's all because of those spineless cowards in the court. They're afraid the Northern Di cavalry will march south, so they want to send someone over to appease and win them over!

How laughable! How pathetic!

Behind him, his two sons, Jiang Siyuan and Jiang Luwei, also looked bewildered.

Unlike her father and brothers' solemn expressions, Jiang Yuerong's heart was burning with excitement in another magnificent carriage.

She quietly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, gazing at the majestic Yan Hui Pass in the distance, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Northern Barbarians!

She's finally back!

In her previous life, her older sister Jiang Bingning followed her father to Beidi. She was aloof and always looked down on the young masters from the noble families of Beidi who came to curry favor with her, wasting countless opportunities.

But she's different.

In this life, without Jiang Bingning, that "femme fatale," the Northern Di would likely continue to live a peaceful and prosperous life.

Life here is much more pleasant than in the lifeless Great Zhou!

She wanted to seize this opportunity and, by virtue of her status as the daughter of an envoy, secure a bright future for herself in the powerful circles of the Northern Di capital!

Just as she was envisioning the future, the soldiers sent to clear the border finally returned.

"Splash—"

A series of ear-piercing sounds of armor rubbing together rang out, and hundreds of Northern Di soldiers wielding long spears poured out from both sides of the pass, instantly surrounding the entire Great Zhou chariot!

Jiang Chengxuan's expression changed instantly.

"presumptuous!"

His eyes widened in anger.

"I am an envoy of the Great Zhou Dynasty, how dare you be so disrespectful!"

"When two countries are at war, envoys are not to be killed! Is this how you Northern Barbarians treat your guests?"

The leading soldier merely sneered, showing no respect whatsoever.

Inside the carriage, Jiang Yuerong's smile froze instantly, replaced by shock and fear.

How could this happen?

In my previous life, although my father mentioned that the Northern Di people were arrogant and made things difficult for me, there was never such a tense situation!

What went wrong?

The soldier continued in a cold voice, "Just yesterday, a distinguished figure from our Northern Di was assassinated within our borders and seriously wounded."

"Why did General Jiang's entourage arrive at this exact moment, of all times?"

"The timing is just too coincidental."

A hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

"Therefore, we can only apologize and ask that you all bear with us until the matter is fully investigated!"

After saying that, he ordered his men to escort Jiang Chengxuan and his party into the pass!

-----------------

Two days later.

Shangjing, Cuiping Mountain.

The carriage stopped in front of a secluded house at the foot of the mountain.

Ji Yunhan looked gaunt, with sunken eyes. He hadn't rested for two days and was extremely exhausted.

He knocked heavily on the door.

"Squeak—"

An elderly man with white hair and beard, yet full of vigor, came out.

He glanced at the disheveled Ji Yunhan, frowned, and his eyes were full of disdain.

"Your Highness King Xin?"

"What brings someone as distinguished as you to this desolate wilderness?"

Ji Yunhan showed no airs of a prince, bowing deeply to the old man, his bow almost touching the ground.

"Mr. Zhang Xuanzhi!"

"This junior, Ji Yunhan, begs for your life, sir!"

The old man, known as Zhang Xuanzhi, glanced at him, his tone carrying a hint of dislike.

"Your Highness is weak and ill, likely due to excessive drinking, but he is not yet dead and need not come looking for me."

"Besides," he sneered, "I am no longer a royal physician, and I have no desire to treat you members of the royal family!"

Ji Yunhan's face drained of color; he knew this old man had an eccentric temper.

"Sir, you've misunderstood! It wasn't about me!"

He turned around and, together with Jiang Bingning, who also looked haggard, helped carry Liu Jingyi down.

"Thump!"

Ji Yunhan actually knelt down directly in front of Zhang Xuanzhi.

"Please, sir, have mercy and save her life!"

Zhang Xuanzhi was stunned for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Liu Jingyi's face, his expression still cold and stern.

"My medical skills have long since fallen into disuse, and the person on the stretcher must be an important person."

"This old man dares not get involved; Your Highness, please find someone more capable!"

After saying that, he turned to close the door.

Just then, an old yet dignified voice came from inside the carriage.

"Zhang Xuanzhi".

Zhang Xuanzhi abruptly stopped in his action of closing the door.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and the Dowager Consort slowly stepped down, her gaze towards Zhang Xuanzhi calm and unwavering.

"Can't you even refuse to give me face, old woman?"