Taking her into his tent, he incurred the wrath of a powerful and mad minister, from which he could

Upon returning home that day, Mingyi fell ill and developed a high fever that persisted throughout the night.

The doctor diagnosed it as being caused by cold pathogens entering the body and a weak constitution.

Once the doctor had written the prescription, the servants in the household each performed their duties, hurriedly preparing the medicine, boiling water, and getting the bed ready.

Zong Xian settled the person in Songhe Garden, and only after finishing all his business did he step into the inner room under the cover of night.

Ah-Qing had already given her her medicine and changed her wet clothes, which were repeatedly soaked with cold sweat, and tidied her up properly.

The person on the bed was still in a daze, not very clear-headed, with a sickly flush on their cheeks.

The candlelight flickered as Zong Xian slowly walked to the bedside and leaned down to gaze at her.

His usually cold and reserved eyes were now shrouded in a heavy gloom.

He began to have doubts.

I felt much better after soaking in the hot spring medicinal bath during the day, so why did I suddenly fall ill after returning home?

The cold pathogen entering the body is clearly not the cause of the high fever; it is the great disturbance of the mind and spirit, the shock and depression that induce the high fever.

What exactly did that wicked monk say to her that terrified her so much that she couldn't control her emotions and fell ill?

Zong Xian looked angry.

"Guards, go to Tianchi Manor immediately and bring Wuming here!"

The guards immediately obeyed the order to capture him, but Wuming and the young novice monk beside him had already left and their whereabouts were unknown.

Fan Siyuan also didn't know where they went, and admitted that Zong Xian had just left during the day, and Wuming left right after.

The fact that they left so quickly made Zong Xian even more certain that the other party had probably secretly done something to Ming Yi.

Zong Xian's eyes were filled with dark clouds. He ordered in a deep voice to seal off the four city gates and conduct a full-scale search.

As long as Wuming remains in the capital, he will spare no expense to capture him!

However, Wuming is inherently elusive, appearing only briefly and never returning. Once his trail is lost, it is not easy to find him again.

They searched for two days and two nights straight, turning almost the entire city of Kyoto upside down, but they couldn't find even a trace of Wuming.

Fortunately, Mingyi's condition improved very quickly. She recovered to normal in less than a day and was able to get out of bed and walk around the next day.

Unbeknownst to her, Zong Xian had already secretly laid a trap to capture Wuming.

Zong Xian also chose to remain silent.

...

One of the advantages of being sick is that you don't have to deal with a difficult discipline nanny.

Zong Xian used her illness as an excuse to turn the tables on her.

The old nanny was turned away and had no choice but to go back to report to Madam Zong, since she was invited by the old lady.

Since Zong Xian intervened, Madam Zong couldn't say anything. She rewarded the old nanny with some gold and silver as a reward for her hard work and then sent her back.

However, upon seeing Zong Xian, the old lady couldn't help but complain, saying that he spoiled Ji Mingyi too much.

He even clashed with Princess Jianing because of her.

Rumors about what happened by the river that day had already reached the ears of Madam Zong.

She is now genuinely worried that her second son, who has always been shrewd and calculating, might do something foolish like favoring a concubine over his wife!

"What kind of spell did that girl cast on you?"

Madam Zong pounded her knee, her expression anxious. "Princess Jianing is your fiancée. This marriage is of utmost importance to the General's Mansion. How can you let an outsider cause a rift between you and the princess?"

Zong Xian said calmly, "She is not an outsider."

Madam Zong was so angry she didn't know what to say. "If I had known it would turn out this way, I shouldn't have agreed to let Xie Huaiyu bring her into the manor!"

"Mother, you don't need to blame her. It's all the son's fault."

Zong Xian frankly admitted, "I forcibly took her from Qingzhou and brought her back to the capital."

Madam Zong was quite surprised to hear this.

She had previously thought that Ji Mingyi had come to her senses and wanted to curry favor with the Zong family for their wealth and status, which was why she had shamelessly returned.

It turned out not to be.

Zong Ying, who was outside the window, also heard these words.

She hurriedly covered her mouth, her eyes filled with surprise.

Although I had long suspected that Mingyi was probably not acting voluntarily, it was a completely different feeling to actually hear the truth from my second brother.

She had always respected and been close to her second brother, who was her all-powerful support. How could he use such a coercive and forceful method to trap a woman?

Feeling a mix of emotions, including disappointment and confusion, Zong Ying dared not continue eavesdropping.

She tried to leave quietly, but it was too late.

Zong Xian came out of the house and saw her.

Zong Ying immediately looked guilty, nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, "Second Brother..."

Zong Xian smiled gently at her: "Why don't you go in?"

Zong Ying didn't dare to look him in the eye. "I...I'll go in now."

After being warned by the old lady, she finally realized the gravity of the situation and dared not interfere in Zong Xian's affairs anymore.

She couldn't let a stranger ruin her sibling relationship.

Zong Ying walked past him with her head down, looking timid.

Zong Xian glanced back at her, knowing full well but saying nothing.

He went out to the General's Mansion.

Since there was an imperial decree in place, it wouldn't be good to truly neglect that princess.

...

Princess Jianing is making a scene, demanding that the engagement be called off.

She could accept sharing a husband with other women, but she could not bear the fact that her husband's heart was not with her.

That day by the river, Zong Xian spoke so heartlessly, trampling her dignity as a noblewoman into the ground.

Despite her reluctance and unwillingness, she was unwilling to marry such a man again.

But when she proposed to break off the engagement, her father and brothers, who had always doted on her and granted her every wish, all voiced their opposition.

They took turns admonishing her, telling her to be sensible and not to be willful.

To prevent her from impulsively going to the palace to request annulment of the engagement, the mansion locked its gates and confined her to her quarters.

Her father, who had never argued with her before, reprimanded her through the door: "Your marriage to Zong Xian is bestowed by His Majesty! The imperial decree is before us, the marriage is settled. Even if it means death, you must marry into the Zong family! Reflect on your actions and think this through!"

She felt wronged and confused.

They spoiled her, but now they expect her to be sensible and consider the bigger picture. She can't do it!

They swept all the porcelain vases, jade artifacts, and exquisite ornaments within sight to the ground.

Just then, a maid came to the door and said that Zong Xian had arrived.

Upon hearing the name Zong Xian, the humiliation and disgrace she had suffered by the riverbank that day instantly flooded her mind, and the woman's anger flared: "What is he doing here?!"

"Naturally, I came here specifically for the princess."

The maidservant, having received instructions, gently and slowly persuaded him, constantly speaking well of Zong Xian.

After hearing these gentle words, Jia Ning's anger gradually subsided, and she placed the vase in her hand on the table.

Her tone unconsciously carried a hint of shyness: "He...is he really here to sue for peace?"

The maid replied, "Yes, sir also regrets offending the princess that day! This visit is to try and resolve the misunderstanding with the princess."

After a brief silence, a woman's arrogant voice came from behind the door: "I can forgive him, but only if he executes the woman he protected that day!"