The Dark Moonlight returns to the capital, and the mad prince is accused of forcing love.

"Summon the imperial physician!"

As Xiao Huaijin lifted Xu Qianhui up, the wound on his arm reopened, and blood streamed down the cuff of his python robe. He seemed oblivious to the pain, only holding her tighter, his steps frantic.

Princess Fu'an forced back the last alien warrior with a single sword strike. When she turned around and saw the arrow on Xu Qianhui's shoulder, her face turned pale.

"The arrow has barbs, we can't pull it out." She quickly followed, "Second brother, let's go to Chang Le Palace, where there is the most complete selection of medicinal herbs."

The flames on the palace road had not yet died down, and squads of imperial guards rushed past on both sides.

Some were escorting rebel soldiers, others were carrying blood-stained long knives, their boots leaving messy footprints in the blood.

The Chang Le Palace was brightly lit.

Almost all the imperial physicians on duty at the Imperial Hospital were summoned, and young apprentices carried hot water and strong liquor in and out, quickly leaving piles of blood-stained cloths on the ground.

When Xu Qianhui was placed on the couch, the arrow shaft on his back had already broken off, with only half of it embedded in his flesh.

The head physician broke out in a sweat after just one glance.

"Your Highness, the arrow wound is only half an inch away from her lungs, and the arrowhead is coated with a cold poison. If we remove the arrow, the young lady may not be able to withstand it. If we don't remove it, the poison will enter her bloodstream, and she won't survive the night."

Xiao Huaijin stood by the couch, his face even more unpleasant than Xu Qianhui's.

"Pick."

The old imperial physician hesitated and said, "Your Highness, it would be best to first use ginseng soup to keep her breathing afloat, and then administer anesthetic powder..."

"She reacts extremely badly to ordinary anesthetics," Xiao Huaijin interrupted him. "Use my medicine box, the bottom one, the celadon bottle."

The imperial physician was taken aback.

That was medicine that the Second Prince never allowed outsiders to touch.

Xiao Huaijin had already personally opened the medicine box, taken out a porcelain bottle, and poured out a pill.

He bent down, cradled Xu Qianhui's nape, and pleaded in a low voice, "Ahui, take your medicine."

Xu Qianhui did not respond.

Xiao Huaijin closed his eyes, dissolved the medicine in warm water, and fed a little to her lips.

She swallowed with difficulty, water sliding down the corner of her lips. Xiao Huaijin raised his sleeve to wipe it away, his fingers trembling violently.

"Let's do it," he said.

The old doctor dared not delay any longer.

As the blade sliced ​​open the wound, Xu Qianhui tensed up instantly, her nails digging deep into her palms.

Xiao Huaijin immediately grabbed her hand, letting her pinch his wound until it bled profusely.

The moment the arrowhead was pulled out, blood gushed out.

Xiao Huaijin almost lunged forward to press on the wound, and his vision went black for a moment.

The imperial physicians and apprentices rushed over to stop the bleeding, clean the wounds, and stitch up the wounds, creating chaos inside the palace.

After an unknown amount of time, the old doctor finally straightened up and let out a long breath.

"The arrow has been removed, and most of the poison has been expelled. However, the young lady has lost too much blood and injured her bones and muscles. I am not sure if she will wake up."

Xiao Huaijin remained silent.

He was still holding Xu Qianhui's hand, his palm was icy cold.

Princess Fu'an stood at the door, her palace dress stained with blood.

She watched for a while, then gently closed the door and turned to stop the Imperial Guard commander who had rushed over.

"How's it going outside?"

The commander clasped his hands and said, "Your Highness, the rebels have been completely captured, and Prince An's heir, Xiao Shicheng, has been personally subdued by General Chu. His Majesty has ordered the palace gates sealed off and the Imperial Guards to be thoroughly investigated."

Princess Fu'an lowered her voice: "Is Father Emperor injured?"

"Your Majesty is unharmed. General Chu protected you in time, and His Highness the Crown Prince has also led his men to secure the west gate of the palace."

The wind and snow outside the palace were getting heavier.

That night, no one in the capital slept peacefully.

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the emperor sat on the high steps, with Xiao Shicheng kneeling before him, his shoulders being pressed down.

His dark red brocade robe was covered in bloodstains, and the arrogance on his face had not yet faded, but his eyes had become more sinister.

"Uncle Emperor," Xiao Shicheng raised his head, "can you imprison me, and can you imprison the fifty thousand iron cavalry of the Northwest?"

The emperor looked down at him, his expression calm.

"If your father is capable, let him attack us personally."

Xiao Shicheng sneered: "Don't you know what kind of emperor my father is? If he had any ability back then, how could you have banished him to such a desolate place as the Northwest? I only regret that I didn't have a brother who could help me, which is why I fell into your hands."

The crown prince strode in from outside the palace, his armor still bearing the marks of swords.

He knelt down and pleaded, "Father, since Xiao Shicheng dares to rebel, there will surely be unrest in the Northwest. Your son is willing to lead troops to the Northwest immediately to quell the rebellion."

Chu Yunci also bowed and stepped forward.

"Your subject is willing to accompany His Highness the Crown Prince on the expedition."

The emperor looked at the two men for a long time before finally saying, "Granted."

Overnight, several imperial edicts were issued from the palace gates.

The imperial guards involved were replaced, and all of Prince An's relatives and family members were detained. The Crown Prince and Chu Yunci led their troops north immediately.

......

In Chang Le Palace, Xu Qianhui remained unconscious.

On the first day, Xiao Huaijin stayed by his bedside, refusing to let anyone else feed him his medicine.

The next day, he dismissed all the palace servants and sat by her bedside, wiping her sweat and changing her dressings. Xu Qianhui's high fever persisted, and she occasionally winced in pain, mumbling "Zhiyi" incoherently.

Xiao Huaijin then bent down and told her, "Zhiyi won't blame you, he won't."

On the morning of the third day, it snowed in late autumn, and the snow outside the window made the whole room look white.

Xiao Huaijin lay by the bedside, unable to sleep all night.

Suddenly, the hand in his palm moved very slightly.

Xiao Huaijin suddenly raised his head, barely daring to breathe.

Xu Qianhui's eyelashes trembled, and after a long while, she managed to open her eyes a crack.

Her vision was blurry. The first thing she saw was the bright yellow tassels hanging from the top of the canopy, and then she could see the incredibly haggard face beside the bed.

"Little Huaihuai..." Her voice was terribly hoarse, "How did you manage to turn yourself into a ghost?"

Xiao Huaijin stood frozen in place.

The next moment, he bent down and hugged her tightly, but he dared not touch the wounds on her shoulders and back, so he could only hold her in a loose embrace.

Xu Qianhui felt a hot, wet sensation on the side of her neck. She was stunned for a moment, and tried to raise her hand to touch him, but he pressed her back into the quilt.

"Don't move around," he said hoarsely. "Your injuries haven't healed yet."

Xu Qianhui looked at his reddened eyes and suddenly stopped talking.

The three days she was in a coma felt like a very long dream.

In her dream, there was rain in Jiangnan, the cold threshold of the Duke's mansion, and Zhiyi standing in the wind, waving gently at her.

But when she opened her eyes, she saw Xiao Huaijin instead.

Just like three years ago, when she was sent to Huichuntang, the first person she saw when she opened her eyes was him.

When Princess Fu'an arrived after hearing the news, she saw Xiao Huaijin holding a bowl of medicine, coaxing Xu Qianhui to drink the medicine spoonful by spoonful.

"Second brother, if the court officials saw you like this, they would probably think you've been bewitched."

Princess Fu'an stood by the door with her arms crossed, her tone becoming lighter.

Xiao Huaijin didn't even turn his head: "She just woke up, keep your voice down."

Princess Fu'an rolled her eyes, walked to the bedside, carefully examined Xu Qianhui, and then breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're finally awake. If you hadn't woken up, my second brother probably wouldn't have even bothered to read the battle reports from the Northwest."

Xu Qianhui paused as she took the medicine.

What happened to the Northwest?

Princess Fu'an's expression softened slightly: "Xiao Shicheng's attempt to force the emperor to abdicate failed, and rebellious intentions have already been revealed in the northwest. The Crown Prince has volunteered for battle, and Chu Yunci has also joined the army heading north. Father has already issued the decree for the expedition."