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

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

He slowly turned around, his cloudy eyes scrutinizing the Dowager Empress from head to toe.

First came surprise, then disbelief, and finally, a warm smile bloomed on that stern and cold face.

"You old woman!"

"Why didn't you say you were here sooner!"

He stepped forward in two quick steps and bowed deeply to the Dowager Empress.

"Old woman, I thought you wouldn't even recognize my old face anymore." The old lady's voice carried a hint of amusement.

Zhang Xuanzhi straightened up and glared at Ji Yunhan, who was still kneeling on the ground.

"What are you standing there for! Hurry up and bring him in!"

His tone no longer carried any trace of the previous aloofness and disgust, but was filled with familiarity and eagerness.

Ji Yunhan and Jiang Bingning quickly worked together to carefully carry Liu Jingyi into the courtyard.

Zhang Xuanzhi led them through the courtyard and into an inner room filled with the fragrance of herbs.

In his youth, he was a military doctor who fought alongside the then-General Dowager Empress on the southern battlefield for several years.

He shielded her from a knife, and she caught an arrow for him; their bond was one of life-or-death friendship.

Later, he grew tired of fighting and was transferred to the Imperial Hospital, thanks in large part to the help of the Dowager Empress.

Later, when he retired, he lived in seclusion at the foot of Cuiping Mountain. Many people here were like him, either retired officials or servants of wealthy families. It was a very peaceful place.

The reason he looked down on Ji Yunhan was twofold: firstly, he despised the hypocrisy and infighting within the royal family; secondly, he felt that the young man was not filial enough to the Dowager Consort, always causing her worry.

But today, the mother and son actually came to see him together, so their relationship must have improved.

As the "older uncle," he naturally had no reason to push people away.

The group gently laid Liu Jingyi down on a simple wooden bed.

Zhang Xuanzhi said no more and immediately stepped forward.

He extended two withered fingers and placed them on Liu Jingyi's wrist pulse, his eyes tightly closed.

A moment later, he bent down again, removed the gauze from Liu Jingyi's shoulder, and brought his hand close to the hideous wound, gently sniffing it.

"Um……"

He turned and walked to the medicine cabinet by the wall, and pulled open a drawer.

He took out a cloth bag, spread it out, and quickly heated the silver needles over the candle flame with fluid movements.

"Get out, everyone."

He gave the order without turning his head.

Ji Yunhan's lips moved, but he was stopped by a look from the Dowager Consort.

Everyone had no choice but to retreat outside the door.

Through the crack in the door, they could see Zhang Xuanzhi pick up a three-inch-long silver needle and, without hesitation, pierce it into Liu Jingyi's vital acupoint.

The tip of the silver needle emitted a slight buzzing sound.

Then came the second one, the third one...

After an incense stick had burned, Zhang Xuanzhi emerged, covered in sweat, and closed the door behind him.

"Sir!" Ji Yunhan rushed forward in one stride. "How...how is she?"

Zhang Xuanzhi raised his hand and twirled his gray beard.

"Wolfsbane Reverse Tooth Arrow".

He slowly uttered five words.

"Specially made for the military, infused with the unique wolfsbane juice of the Northern Barbarians, it's extremely potent."

He glanced at Ji Yunhan and Jiang Bingning.

"But you're lucky."

"First, a divine pill protected the heart meridian; second, someone used a sharp blade to cut open the wound and release the poisoned blood, and also pressed acupoints to delay the poison's attack on the heart."

"Otherwise, even if a celestial being were to come, it would be too late to save the situation."

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a great weight lifted from their hearts.

"I just used the 'Nine Needles to Restore Yang' to temporarily seal the rampant poison in her body, and her life is no longer in danger."

Ji Yunhan and Jiang Bingning exchanged a glance, both seeing relief in each other's eyes.

But Zhang Xuanzhi suddenly changed the subject.

"but……"

"This poison is too insidious and has already invaded the meridians. Even if it is removed, it will probably leave sequelae."

"She must stay here with me for the next few days to rest and recuperate, and I will personally remove the toxins and treat her."

He waved his hand and looked around his small courtyard.

"My place is too small to accommodate so many people."

"Just leave one careful person to look after the patient."

The voice just fell.

"I stayed!"

"I stayed!"

Jiang Bingning and Ji Yunhan spoke at the same time, and both were stunned after they finished speaking, looking at each other in surprise.

Ji Yunhan's cheeks flushed slightly, making him appear uneasy.

He looked at Jiang Bingning, his eyes filled with an unprecedented pleading.

"Miss Jiang..."

"I want...I want to stay with her."

His voice was very soft, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

Jiang Bingning remained silent.

Reason told her that her mother needed her most at that moment, and how could she leave her mother alone in this unfamiliar place?

But looking into Ji Yunhan's bloodshot yet expectant eyes, she couldn't bring herself to say no.

Just then, the Dowager Empress stepped forward and gently patted Jiang Bingning's hand.

"Listen to me."

"Let's go back to Prince Xin's residence and settle down first."

"It's not far from the capital, you can come anytime you want. I'll come with you to visit in a couple of days."

She sighed and looked at the closed door.

"Let him stay."

"They haven't seen each other for twenty years."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Bingning raised her head, gave Ji Yunhan a deep look, and finally nodded.

On the one hand, the Dowager Princess is right; this place is indeed too small to accommodate so many people, and their presence would only disturb Mr. Zhang's treatment of his mother.

on the other hand……

Xinwangfu.

That place was no benevolent place; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a dragon's den or a tiger's lair.

According to Jiang Yuerong herself, in her previous life, she almost lost her life when she first arrived at the Prince Xin's mansion.

Now that she has gained some of the Dowager Princess's trust, it wouldn't be a bad idea to go to Prince Xin's residence to scout things out for her mother!

"it is good."

She looked up.

"I will follow the Empress Dowager's arrangements."

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

Meanwhile, on Xiufeng Mountain Road.

Ji Ling was dressed in black, and the cold wind made his clothes flutter.

At his feet lay the corpses of several black-clad assassins.

A scout was kneeling on one knee, reporting to him.

"Your Highness, the trail of the assassin went cold at the foot of the mountain."

"The other party is a master; they erased all traces."

"But..." the scout paused.

"News has come from Yan Hui Pass that the Great Zhou delegation has arrived."

Ji Ling raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Oh?"

"Your timing is perfect."

A cold smile slowly crept onto Ji Ling's lips.

There are no such coincidences in this world.

He turned around, his voice like a knife chilled to the bone.

"Pass down the order."

"Since they are 'distinguished guests' from the Great Zhou, do not detain them; let them come, however..."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing in them.

"Remember to treat them well."

"yes!"

The scout accepted the order and vanished into the night in an instant.

Ji Ling raised his head and murmured to himself as he looked towards Beijing.

"Jiang Bingning... are you a prodigy with extraordinary talent, or a spy planted by the Zhou Kingdom in my Northern Di territory? You're even so familiar with the army's bandaging techniques and the anti-toothed arrows..."

"I want to see what tricks you and your father are up to."