Reincarnated as the daughter of my mortal enemy, all I want is to ascend the throne.

Li Qingyan fell into a deep sleep again, and the illness was becoming increasingly strange.

Both Physician Zhao and Doctor Liu had their suspicions; it didn't seem like they had contracted the disease themselves, but rather that someone had done it intentionally...

However, the two doctors could do nothing else; the most important thing now was to cure Li Qingyan.

Physician Zhao and Doctor Liu searched through all the existing medical books.

"It still doesn't work..."

Physician Zhao sat on the ground, somewhat discouraged, while Doctor Liu wiped his face, looking dejected.

They had been practicing medicine for many years and were quite experienced in treating smallpox, so why were these prescriptions ineffective for the young prince?

"I've got it! I've got it! I've got it!" Doctor Zhao frantically rummaged through his medicine chest, pulling everything out. "Tao Jiannan, come quick! Come quick!"

Tao Jiannan heard Physician Zhao call him to put down the basin of water and come over. "What do you need me for?"

The overpowering, pretentious air about it was quite off-putting, and Physician Zhao looked at it with disdain. He handed the medicine box to Tao Jiannan, saying, "Get something and smash it open."

"Um?"

"what?"

Doctor Liu and Tao Jiannan both looked puzzled, but Physician Zhao ignored their questions and urged them on.

Tao Jiannan found a few large stones in the yard, carried them on his shoulders, and smashed them down with force, repeating this four or five times before finally breaking the medicine box.

The box broke, and he collapsed to the ground, exhausted.

Doctor Liu looked at the broken medicine box with a pained expression. It was made of top-quality wood and was an heirloom.

No matter how many people try to buy it, they can't get it.

On the contrary, Physician Zhao showed no pity whatsoever; his eyes were filled with excitement. "Good, good, good!"

He rummaged through the debris and found a few thin sheets of paper, which he handed to Doctor Liu. "Take a look at this prescription."

The reason for smashing the medicine box was to find the prescription hidden inside. This thing was obviously passed down from the Zhao family, and even Doctor Liu was hesitant to look at it.

Medical skills are something that require inheritance; if someone else sees them, it's like selling out the family business.

Physician Zhao waved his hand, saying that this prescription was a potent medicine that ordinary people could not use, not to mention that the ingredients were not something that ordinary people could obtain. Even if it were leaked, the prescription would be useless.

Now we have no choice but to use it on Li Qingyan, even if it's a last resort.

Doctor Liu glanced at the prescription. It was better than any other prescription. They also had the precious medicinal herbs in it, and it was exactly what was needed. Although the medicine was dangerous and strong, it would work for Li Qingyan.

only……

"Blue scale stone?!"

Dr. Liu's voice was almost cracking.

His hands trembled when he saw those words.

Qinglin Stone is a medicinal herb that looks like a green stone carved with fish scale patterns, but it is actually a plant.

No wonder Dr. Liu was shocked.

This thing has harsh growing conditions; it dies if it's too cold or too hot. It's also surrounded by poisonous insects and snakes.

There is a nearby forest called the Secret Forest, but that place is shrouded in poisonous fog, and anyone who goes in is almost certain to die.

This can't be waited for.

And how many lives will be lost?

"this……"

Doctor Liu looked at Physician Zhao several times, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

"That's why I'm reluctant to share this prescription. The most dangerous aspect of this prescription is that it might cost countless lives for one person. It's the only option we have now."

There was also bitterness in Doctor Zhao's eyes. When his grandfather gave him the prescription, he told him that it was almost a matter of life and death, and whether or not it could be used was up to him.

He sighed. He had never done anything wrong in his life, yet he was about to harm others in order to save someone.

"Never mind, never mind."

Ultimately, the prescription was presented to Li Yan by Yan Xu.

Li Yan's grip on the prescription tightened and loosened. For ordinary people, going into the Secret Forest would only be a waste of time. He had been in and out twice back then to find medicine to save the late Crown Prince, so he was the most familiar with that area.

"Red Rain prepares her things and heads to the Secret Forest."

Li Yan couldn't wait even a quarter of an hour; the longer he waited, the less chance Li Qingyan would have of surviving.

The red-armored guards quickly surrounded them, and the leader knelt on one knee, saying, "Your Majesty must not leave the palace."

Li Yan kicked the man to the ground, then casually drew a knife from the waist of a nearby red-armored guard and held it to the guard's neck. "Blocking me? How many lives do you think you have?"

How could the Emperor of the Great Yu be threatened by anyone else?

Even if Li Yan were to actually kill someone, the Red-Armored Guards wouldn't dare to lay a hand on him. They could only stubbornly continue, "Your Majesty must not leave the palace."

Lai Fu sensed something was wrong when the Red-Armored Guards entered, and quickly sent someone to find Yan Xu. A short while later, Yan Xu led the Imperial Guards in. He took the sword from Li Yan's hand and said bluntly, "You don't need to personally deal with someone like His Majesty."

He looked at the red-armored guards in front of him.

"The Red-Armored Guards have offended His Majesty and deserve to be executed without pardon."

At Li Yan's command, the Imperial Guards drew their swords, and even the assassins in the shadows were ready. They were prepared to kill these Red Armor Guards even if it meant their own demise, as long as Li Yan gave the order.

"Get out, everyone."

Li Yan narrowed his eyes. Now was not a good time to start a war, and besides... why should his men bleed and die? These Red Armor Guards would be dealt with sooner or later.

The Red-Armored Guards and the Imperial Guards disliked each other, but Li Yan ordered them to obediently withdraw.

Only Li Yan and Yan Xu remained in the room.

Li Yan sat on the dragon throne with a cold face; he had to go to Mi Shanlin.

Yan Xu stood in front of him and saw through his thoughts at a glance.

"Your Majesty, I was the one who accompanied you on those two trips to and from the Secret Forest. Therefore, it is permissible for me to go as well."

"If something happens to you, even if the young prince recovers, he won't survive."

Li Yan was, after all, the emperor. If anything happened to Li Qingyan, even if she recovered, she wouldn't survive. Countless accusations would be leveled against this child.

Hearing this, Li Yan calmed down and realized that Yan Xu was right. He had been too anxious and had forgotten about this.

Li Yan hesitated, wondering if he could send Yan Xu instead…

Having used Yan Xu for years, Li Yan couldn't bear to let him die at this moment. Regardless of whether they were ruler and subject, they were also childhood friends and comrades-in-arms who had crawled back from danger together.

Yan Xu noticed the hesitation in his eyes and quickly knelt down, presenting the tiger tally with both hands. "Your Majesty, that is also my child. If I die, please find a more suitable person to lead the White Tiger Army."

Many people would want this military tally. If anyone else had it, the emperor would have been wary of them. But since the person holding the tally was Yan Xu, Li Yan could rest assured.

If Yan Xu had dared to say such things in the past, he would have been beheaded by Li Yan long ago, but today...

Li Yan closed her eyes and then opened them again. "Go see her, then leave."

Yan Xu's eyes lit up when he heard this. This meant that he was willing to admit that he was another father to Li Qingyan. He turned around and was about to leave when he stopped.

He turned around, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed heavily, "Your Majesty and the young prince are facing a life-or-death situation. I only wish that Your Majesty and the young prince will be safe and happy in the future."

'Knock knock knock'

The three consecutive kowtows were a sign of worshipping one's sovereign and also of worshipping the god one believes in.

Watching Yan Xu's retreating figure, Li Yan closed her eyes.

His feelings toward this person were always complex; he resented this person, yet this person was also the one he trusted most in the world.

Their relationship was ultimately complicated and tangled.

The Misty Courtyard was very quiet, with only the soft rustling of sweeping.

Tao Jiannan was a person who could adapt to any situation and settle down no matter what it was like.

"General Yan? You may not enter."

He quickly spread his arms to stop him.

Yan Xu wasn't angry. Instead, he took out Li Yan's token and said, "I'm going to gather herbs. I'll check on the young prince before I leave."

Tao Jiannan still blocked the way even after seeing the token.

"Let Tao go."

With his sleeves rolled up, Physician Zhao was rubbing pills. These pills, sprinkled in the corner, could repel insects and calm the nerves, and were good for Li Qingyan's health.

Yan Xu thanked him and quickly went inside.

Physician Zhao patted Tao Jiannan on the shoulder, "In this world, besides His Majesty, the person who values ​​the young prince the most is General Yan. He watched the young prince grow up."

He even lowered his status to serve as a guard on patrol in the palace for the sake of the young prince.

What kind of general would do such a thing?

Physician Zhao had many guesses, but all of them were ideas that would get him killed.

Humans are truly complex.

He sighed, "For someone who has survived a near-death experience, it's good to see them one last time before they leave. It might be the last time."

He dared not say that there was an 80% chance that Yan Xu and Li Qingyan would not survive.