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

Pei Jinxuan's face turned even redder. A gust of cold wind made his temples throb, his mind felt dizzy, and he could see double.

He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. If Lin Cizhen hadn't been quite capable, he would have kicked her off the car.

Pei Jinxuan glared at her.

Lin Ci tilted her head, staring directly into his cold gaze, her eyebrows slightly raised, a hint of provocation in her expression.

Fortunately, the road to the palace was not long.

The carriage stopped in front of Xuande Gate. As soon as it came to a complete stop, a shrill voice came from outside the carriage.

"Greetings, Prince Jing'an. Her Majesty the Empress has commanded me to await you here."

"Thank you for your help, Eunuch Gao." Pei Jinxuan replied, her gaze still fixed on Lin Ci, afraid that she might ambush her if she wasn't careful.

Lin Ci was quite frank. Today she came to see the Emperor, and the Yan Emperor was her backer. Even if Pei Jinxuan wanted to take action against her, he would have to think twice.

The two, each with their own thoughts, stared at each other, locked in a stalemate.

Finally, Pei Jinxuan caught a chill from the wind and got off the carriage first. After landing, he couldn't help but sneeze.

"Oh dear, Prince Jing'an, are you alright?" Eunuch Gao quickly reached out to help him up.

Pei Jinxuan forced a smile, "Thank you for your concern, Father-in-law. It's just a minor cold, nothing to worry about."

"Alas, it's been terribly cold these days, and His Majesty has caught a cold. He didn't sleep well last night and is catching up on sleep now."

"Then I've arrived at an inopportune time?"

"Not at all. Her Majesty instructed that Prince Jing'an should rest in the side hall for a while, and His Majesty will summon him when he wakes up."

As they were talking, Lin Ci got off the carriage.

When she saw Eunuch Gao, she quickly sized him up: white hair and a youthful face, no beard, and a purple robe made of expensive material, he was a person of high status and power.

Lin Ci lowered his eyes and bowed respectfully.

Eunuch Gao paused slightly, then asked, "And who is this...?"

"Physician, today you will accompany me to meet the Emperor."

"Oh, His Majesty mentioned it to me, but I didn't expect it to be a young man." Eunuch Gao saw through it but didn't say anything, flicked his whisk and smiled, "It's freezing cold, I won't let you two stay here in the wind. Come with me to the palace."

Having said that, Eunuch Gao raised his hand, inviting him to leave.

Lin Ci picked up her medical kit and followed Pei Jinxuan across the vermilion palace gate.

Behind the gate was a straight imperial road, flanked by towering palace walls and heavily guarded. As one walked deeper in, one saw layers of palaces, golden tiles covered with snow, and glazed tiles gleaming coldly in the thin sunlight.

So this is what the palace looks like. Lin Ci was both curious and excited.

Eunuch Gao led the two of them into a side hall, where several eunuchs filed in and laid out tea, snacks, and fragrant tea.

"Please wait here, both of you. I will go and report to Her Majesty the Empress." With that, Eunuch Gao withdrew.

Lin Ci looked around. The furnishings in the hall were simple and plain, with sandalwood tables and underglaze red porcelain vases, which were very different from what she had imagined.

"I thought the palace was full of gold and silver."

As Lin Ci spoke, she turned to look at Pei Jinxuan.

He leaned back in his chair, not uttering a single word since he entered. Those few meters had almost exhausted his last bit of strength, and now he couldn't even pretend anymore.

Despite her anger, Lin Ci couldn't bear it. She poured a cup of hot tea and presented it to Pei Jinxuan, saying, "Drink something hot first. I'll prescribe some medicine for you when we get back."

"Oh?" Pei Jinxuan lifted his eyelids, his voice hoarse. "Could it be rat poison?"

Lin Ci pursed her lips, afraid that she might "accidentally" slip and spill the hot tea on his face.

"Drink it." Lin Ci shoved the teacup into his hand. "Getting angry with me won't help; your illness won't get better on its own."

Pei Jinxuan obeyed. He held the teacup in both hands, lowered his head and took a sip. The hot water felt like a razor blade as it slid down his throat.

He squinted slightly and said in a hoarse voice, "My throat hurts a little."

"It's frozen." Lin Ci glanced at him. "You'll feel better after a couple more sips."

Pei Jinxuan didn't argue anymore and finished his hot tea in one sip. Afterwards, he leaned back on the pillow and closed his eyes for a short rest. His thick eyelashes drooped down, making his face look even whiter, and his lips were an unnatural red, probably because he had a high fever.

Lin Ci looked at him for a moment, then reached out and touched his forehead. It was burning hot! He had been chilled by the cold wind all the way in the carriage, and it would definitely get worse by nightfall.

She regretted it a little; she shouldn't have impulsively lifted the curtain.

Just then, Pei Jinxuan suddenly raised his hand and grasped her fingers.

Lin Ci was startled and looked down at him. He slowly opened his eyelids, his hazy peach blossom eyes fixed on her, like a fox that had gone mad with fever, devoid of all scheming, only a pitiful look remaining.

"Your hands... are so cold."

His voice was low and somewhat indistinct.

"Your body is too hot." Lin Ci pulled her hand back. "Why don't you have the imperial physician in the palace prepare some medicine for you? Drink it while you have time, so you won't be unable to hold on when you meet the emperor later."

"Decoct the medicine..." Pei Jinxuan murmured, repeating it over and over, then suddenly sat up straight, leaning on the armrest. "That reminds me."

He beckoned to the little eunuch standing in the corner.

The young eunuch quickly stepped forward, bowed, and asked softly, "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

"Go to the Imperial Hospital and inform them to bring me all the prescriptions His Majesty has been taking these past few days."

"Yes, sir." The little eunuch accepted the order and left quickly.

Pei Jinxuan leaned against the pillow and sighed with difficulty: "I almost forgot the important matter. Once you get the prescription, take a close look at it and adjust or change what needs to be changed."

Lin Ci nodded without saying anything.

Pei Jinxuan closed his eyes again, his chest heaving deeply, even breathing became a little difficult.

About half an hour later, the little eunuch returned.

Empty-handed, with a troubled expression.

Pei Jinxuan opened his eyes. "What? Is no one on duty at the Imperial Hospital?"

"No..." the little eunuch said with a bitter face, "Today, Physician Xu was here. He said... that no one is allowed to see His Majesty's prescription."

Pei Jinxuan sat up straight, his eyes instantly turning cold.

Why?

"Judge Xu didn't say, only that it couldn't be seen. Not even by the Prince of Jing'an."

Pei Jinxuan remained silent for a moment, then let out a cold laugh.

"Go and call him here."

"Yes, sir." The little eunuch went off again.

This trip will take even longer.

About fifteen minutes later, the person returned, still empty-handed. He brought neither the prescription nor himself.

The young eunuch knelt down before Pei Jinxuan as soon as he entered, his forehead almost touching the ground, his voice trembling, "Prefect Xu said... said he was brewing medicine for His Majesty and couldn't leave."

Pei Jinxuan was neither angry nor annoyed. He slowly leaned back on the pillow, changed to a more comfortable position, and rested his forehead on his hand.

"Then you can make another trip for me. Tell them that Prince Jing'an has caught a cold and ask the Imperial Hospital to prepare a decoction to dispel the cold. If you find it difficult, just tell Eunuch Gao."

"Yes." The little eunuch was almost crying, and his steps were not as quick as before, as if he were going to be tortured.

The hall fell silent.

Lin Ci discerned some clues from this back-and-forth exchange.

For a mere Imperial Medical Academy to dare to treat Prince Jing'an with such disrespect, they must be either incredibly audacious or utterly foolish. And which of those who serve in the palace isn't shrewd and intelligent? They're all incredibly capable; they must have powerful backers who have emboldened them.

Indeed, once you enter the palace gates, it's like entering a deep sea; even medicine prescriptions can be a trap.

"Stubborn old man," Pei Jinxuan snorted hoarsely. "If I weren't feeling unwell today, I would definitely have argued with him to find out the truth."

Lin Ci glanced at him, said nothing, poured hot tea into the teacup, and pushed it towards his hand.

"If I had known you were going to argue with the old man, I wouldn't have lifted the curtain."

"Ha, you underestimate me. Even if my brain were split in two, I could still win an argument."

As they were speaking, footsteps came from outside the curtain, unhurried and unhurried.

The curtain was lifted, and it was indeed Imperial Physician Xu who entered. He personally carried a bowl of medicine and walked to Pei Jinxuan, saying respectfully, "Greetings, Prince Jing'an. I heard that Your Highness has caught a cold, so I personally brewed this medicine. Please take it while it's hot."