With her deceased husband as her dowry, would Your Highness dare to marry her?

King Liang stared at Pei Jinxuan, his dark blue eyes narrowed slightly, like a black panther that was angry but not yet unleashed.

He knew his nephew's temperament well; the more flamboyant his smile, the more cunning he was.

"Nephew, there's no need to bring private matters of love and romance into this sacred Buddhist sanctuary."

After saying that, he glanced at Lin Ci, not as if he were looking at a person, but as if he were examining a piece of goods of dubious origin.

Lin Ci's face turned even redder, burning hot, but she still maintained her composure perfectly.

While blushing may be understandable, one must maintain a composed and unperturbed demeanor.

Xuanjing walked up to her, leaning on his monk's staff. His empty eyes stared straight at her; though she couldn't see them, they seemed to envelop her entirely.

Suddenly, he closed his eyes and took a light sniff.

Pei Jinxuan slowly pulled Lin Ci behind him.

"What, Venerable Xuanjing, do you like my sandalwood?"

"No." Xuanjing opened his eyes, his gaze calm and unwavering. "This humble monk smells a medicinal scent. Borneol, dragon's blood, frankincense, myrrh... Are you injured, benefactor?"

Lin Ci subconsciously reached for her arm.

Yesterday I was whipped by Princess Yongle and applied the wound medicine sent by Pei Jinxuan. The smell of the medicine had long faded overnight, and this person described it exactly as he said.

She couldn't help but look at Xuanjing in a different light.

Xuanjing added, "There's another scent on you... that seems familiar."

Hmm? Lin Ci's eyes sharpened as she scrutinized every inch of Xuan Jing's face, but unfortunately, she couldn't find a familiar face.

"What does it taste like?" Pei Jinxuan asked for her.

Xuanjing smiled but did not answer. He turned around and walked to Liang Wang's side, whispering in his ear.

"Gentlemen, is there anything we cannot hear?" Pei Jinxuan asked deliberately.

Xuanjing turned his head, his eyes naturally "sticking" to Lin Ci. Anyone else would have called him a lecher, but he was blind and a monk.

Pei Jinxuan walked up to Xuanjing and said in a deep voice, "Master Xuanjing, please speak freely."

Xuan Jing lowered his eyes and clasped his hands together. "This benefactor's scent is somewhat similar to my master's."

Lin Ci was surprised and couldn't help but look at Pei Jinxuan.

Pei Jinxuan remained completely unmoved. He suddenly cupped his hands and said unhurriedly, "Oh? That's quite a coincidence. Is your master still alive? I have long heard that the Ghost Hand's medical skills are divine, capable of bringing the dead back to life. If I could meet him, I would certainly like to learn from him."

Lin Ci's heartstrings trembled slightly.

What did Pei Jinxuan mean by that? Was he testing the monk, or was he giving her a warning?

Xuanjing smiled and said, "My master has already passed away. Even if he were alive, he would only be a mortal. How could he reverse life and death? The cycle of cause and effect is predetermined. Disrupting it will not only fail to save people, but will also harm both people and oneself."

Pei Jinxuan's gaze sharpened slightly, as if touched by some word, and he fell into deep thought.

Lin Ci didn't hear a single word.

She wasn't afraid of karma or retribution. She was only afraid that she wouldn't be able to do it.

King Liang laughed, his voice coming from his chest, hoarse and deep.

"My dear nephew, how can there be any such thing as bringing the dead back to life? If such a thing truly existed, wouldn't the world be in chaos? If the dead all came back to life, where would the living stand?"

"I only heard about it, Imperial Uncle, you don't need to take it seriously."

Pei Jinxuan bowed, smiling calmly, then changed the subject, saying, "It's getting late, I should go back to my residence. We didn't have a very enjoyable chat today, Uncle, let's arrange another time."

"Very well," King Liang said with a smile. "How could I dare refuse such a generous invitation from Prince Jing'an?"

Pei Jinxuan glanced at Xuanjing with his peach-blossom eyes and said, "I would like to invite Master Xuanjing to accompany me at that time. As the successor of the Ghost Hand, I have many medical matters to consult with you."

He spoke politely, a smile playing on his lips, but his eyes held a cold glint.

King Liang smoothed his wrist guard and replied casually, "Don't worry, I will definitely bring Xuanjing to visit you."

As he spoke, his dark blue eyes darted around, and he added, "There are quite a few extraordinary people in my nephew's household. I'm quite curious. Don't hold back when the time comes."

He emphasized the words "extraordinary people" heavily, glancing at Lin Ci as if he could see right through her.

Pei Jinxuan's smile remained unchanged; he simply turned slightly to shield Lin Ci even more completely.

"Uncle, you flatter me. My household consists of ordinary retainers; they are hardly worthy of your attention."

After saying that, the two looked at each other and smiled.

**

"Your Majesty, everyone outside has dispersed."

Emperor Yan leaned against the Buddhist couch, slowly opened his eyes, picked up three prayer beads between his fingers, and suddenly withdrew them, tightly clenching them in his palm.

Consort Chang reached out and helped him sit up straight.

He took a breath and couldn't help coughing again.

Consort Chang patted his back and said softly, "Your Majesty, let's return to the palace."

Emperor Yan stopped coughing, picked up the teacup and brought it to his lips, but then put it down again, remembering Lin Ci's instructions.

What do you think of the physician that Prince Jing'an invited?

Consort Chang smiled slightly, "I chatted with her outside just now and deliberately let her take my pulse. Lady Lin's medical skills are indeed superb; she described my symptoms perfectly. What's even more commendable is that she knows her place and understands the bigger picture."

The Emperor of Yan nodded, then asked, "What about the Prince of Liang?"

"The blind monk brought by the Prince of Liang is also said to be a disciple of Ghost Hand. As for whether it's true or not..." Consort Chang's voice trailed off, "This concubine cannot see through it."

The Yan Emperor remained silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

He gently turned his wrist and grasped Consort Chang's soft hand.

"Thank you for your hard work. If only I were feeling better..."

Consort Chang raised her hand and gently pressed her fingertips against his lips.

"Your Majesty is blessed with good fortune. Tomorrow, Your Majesty should summon Lady Lin to the palace. Treating her illness is of utmost importance and cannot be delayed."

Emperor Yan patted her hand, "Prince Jing'an has already made arrangements, you don't need to worry about it."

Consort Chang looked at Emperor Yan's hands, which were so thin they were almost bony, and then covered them with her own hands, wrapping them tightly. His fingertips were icy, but his smile was warm.

"How can I not worry about Your Majesty's tireless work day and night? In the eyes of others, Your Majesty is the ruler of a country, but in my eyes, Your Majesty is my husband, the heavens." As she spoke, Consort Chang's gentle eyes glistened with tears, and her eyes reddened.

The Emperor of Yan pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her hair, and whispered in her ear, "When spring comes, I'll recover and ride horses with you. I remember your favorite horse when you were little was called 'Jingtan,' as white as snow. I'll find you one exactly the same."

"I didn't expect His Majesty to still remember."

Consort Chang smiled, the tears that had been welling up in her eyes disappearing. Her gaze drifted to the snow outside the window, her thoughts returning to the past. It was on a snowy day like this that Pei Jinxuan came to find her, leading "Jingtan" by the hand.

Back then, I was young, dressed in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse.

She had never seen such a handsome man before, and secretly vowed that she would marry no one but him in this life, but in the end she became his brother's sister-in-law.

The snow outside the window grew heavier and heavier, and the man in my memory drifted further and further away.

Consort Chang's heart ached faintly, filled with resentment... resentment...

Snowflakes are falling.

The carriage left two deep ruts in the snow.

King Liang leaned against the carriage wall, sitting upright like a wild beast with its eyes half-closed deep in a cave. He looked at Xuan Jing, who sat upright opposite him, and suddenly spoke.

"Do you recognize the person Prince Jing'an brought?"

Xuanjing sat upright like a bell, his empty eyes unfocused and vacant. He nodded slightly and said, "This humble monk recognizes you."

"But she doesn't seem to recognize you."

"After so many years, it's perfectly normal not to remember."

King Liang stared at him for a moment, his gaze like a knife, scrutinizing him from head to toe.

"Is she really Ghost Hand's apprentice?"

"That's true."

"Can she cure His Majesty?"

Xuan Jing remained silent for a moment, then calmly replied, "We'll have to try her medical skills to know."

"Your Majesty's illness has penetrated to the bone marrow, and as your subject, I naturally feel worried. However, with you, Xuanjing, I am sure you can share my burdens."

King Liang's words had a hidden meaning, how could Xuanjing not understand it?

Xuanjing lowered his eyes, clasped his hands together, and said, "This humble monk is willing to obey Your Highness's orders."

He curled his lips into a smile, a clean and genuine one.

In another carriage, Pei Jinxuan was also thinking about the same thing.

The fact that Prince Liang appeared in the temple today is clearly to probe Emperor Yan's intentions. The more seriously Emperor Yan falls ill, the greater Prince Liang's ambitions will become. If Emperor Yan were to pass away one day, and the Crown Prince were too young to control the government, Prince Liang would surely raise an army in rebellion.

Fortunately, most of the civil and military officials in the court were loyal, so it wouldn't be so easy for the King of Liang to overthrow the regime. However, once the Emperor of Yan was no longer there as a "stabilizing force," the situation would be very unpredictable, given the King of Liang's seniority, prestige, and his long-standing relationship with the Tiele tribe.

Therefore, the Emperor of Yan cannot die, for his death would surely plunge the world into chaos.

This is also why Pei Jinxuan sought out Lin Ci.

He had checked before and it was true that Ghost Hand only had two disciples, but the way that blind monk stood in the bamboo forest with two green snakes winding out of the grass made him look like no ordinary person.

"What exactly is Xuan Jing's background?" Pei Jinxuan murmured to himself, then looked at Lin Ci with burning eyes, "If he really is Ghost Hand's disciple, then you..."