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

Everyone in the hall was startled.

The Empress hurriedly hugged the Crown Prince tightly, her tears dried by the wind, clinging to her cheeks.

Pei Jinxuan looked at the tightly closed palace doors, his gaze darkening.

Why would the King of Liang come?

Has the news leaked? Or did he plant spies in the palace?

Pei Jinxuan took a deep breath. He was already feeling unwell, and now his head felt as heavy as if it were filled with lead, and the burden on his shoulders weighed him down.

"Your Majesty, please don't panic. The Prince of Liang has come here on some important matter. I'll go and find out what's going on." With that, he looked at the Empress, cupped his hands in a bow, and said, "Your Majesty, please don't make things difficult for my physician."

After saying this, Pei Jinxuan turned and left. As he passed by Lin Ci, he gave her a look that was just like the look of the deceased Song Xuan.

Lin Ci immediately understood.

Pei Jinxuan entrusted the Yan Emperor and the mother and son to her, giving her absolute power and trust.

Lin Ci's heart was moved, and a surge of heat ignited in his chest.

She closed her eyes, suppressing all distracting thoughts, and re-established her grip on the Emperor's pulse, asking Imperial Physician Xu, "What medicine has His Majesty been taking these past few days?"

At this critical moment, Physician Xu no longer concealed anything and truthfully told the doctor the prescription. He then added, "Your Majesty has caught a cold, so I added cinnamon twigs and aconite to the original prescription. This morning, Your Majesty's spirits are still good, and his appetite is also quite good."

Lin Ci pondered for a moment, then asked, "Does the Imperial Hospital have mugwort?"

"Naturally, there is no shortage."

"Take some mugwort, scald it three times with boiling water, and only extract the juice, the more concentrated the better."

"I'll make the arrangements right away." Judge Xu turned and left, his pace much faster than before.

The Empress, holding the young prince, saw Lin Ci massaging the Emperor's acupoints, specifically the Hegu and Neiguan points, with very forceful pressure. She couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing?"

"Don't speak."

Three simple words left an empress speechless.

The Empress opened her mouth, but held the little prince tightly and ultimately remained silent.

Outside the palace, King Liang stood on the steps, with the blind monk Xuanjing beside him.

Xuanjing leaned on his monk's staff, his handsome face beneath his bamboo hat showing neither sorrow nor joy, as pure as a Buddha descending to earth.

Seeing that the palace doors were tightly closed, King Liang narrowed his dark blue eyes slightly.

"Why won't you let me in?"

Two armed guards stood like door gods in front of the hall, their armor cold and hard, their bodies motionless.

"Her Majesty the Empress has decreed that no one is permitted to enter the palace."

"I am the pillar of the nation, His Majesty's uncle. The late Emperor bestowed a golden decree, granting me permission to enter the palace to meet the Emperor at any time. By what right do you stop me?" King Liang's tone was not heavy, but his low, hoarse voice felt like a boulder pressing on the guards' chests.

Although no word came from within the palace, the eunuchs were in a state of panic, fearing that the Emperor Yan was about to pass away. If he were to die today, it was uncertain who would sit on the dragon throne.

Right now, Prince Liang is at the height of his power; to offend him is to offend tomorrow's emperor. But the Yan Emperor is still alive; to open this door would be disloyal, and wouldn't that mean the deaths of his entire family?

Although the guards held low ranks, they understood the implications.

They looked at each other, seemingly both weighing their options on a scale in their hearts.

The Prince of Liang remained calm, his fingertips stroking the golden token bestowed upon him by the late emperor at his waist, and slowly said, "I wish to enter the palace to meet the Emperor."

One of the guards lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the golden token.

The late emperor's order to let people in was perfectly reasonable. He shifted his grip, moving his hand away from the hilt of his sword.

With a loud "bang," the door suddenly opened.

Everyone turned around in surprise.

Pei Jinxuan arrived through the snow, holding a red umbrella. His expression was calm, his peach blossom eyes slightly curved, as if he were strolling leisurely in a garden.

When King Liang saw it was him, his expression paused slightly. After a moment, he took a deep breath and put his hands behind his back.

Pei Jinxuan walked up to him, bowed, and said with a smile, "With the heavy snow, Imperial Uncle must be tired from your journey."

As he spoke, he handed over the other umbrella he was holding.

"Uncle, you came in a hurry and probably didn't bring an umbrella. The weather can turn cold very quickly, so please don't catch a chill."

"You're very kind, my dear nephew." King Liang accepted the gift with a forced smile, then handed it to his attendant behind him. "But I don't need it."

Before he finished speaking, he lifted his foot to step over the threshold.

Pei Jinxuan stepped to the side, blocking his way perfectly. The palace doors behind them slammed shut with a dull thud before anyone could react.

The two guards stood at attention again, motionless like door gods.

"His Majesty is resting. Please wait in the side hall, Imperial Uncle." Pei Jinxuan raised his hand, displaying impeccable manners.

"Amitabha."

A voice suddenly rang out.

Xuanjing, leaning on his monk's staff, slowly stepped forward from behind King Liang. He had been as quiet as a ghost just moments before, but now that he spoke, everyone's attention was drawn to him.

Xuanjing made a palm seal with one hand and bowed in the direction where Pei Jinxuan was standing, saying, "This humble monk was chanting sutras before the Buddha today when the wooden fish inexplicably cracked. This humble monk sensed the Bodhisattva's intention to chant sutras and pray for His Majesty's well-being."

Xuanjing spoke with sincerity and his voice was extremely clear and pleasant to hear.

Those present couldn't help but show a hint of respect, but Pei Jinxuan just smiled.

"Master Xuanjing, I know you are a highly accomplished monk, capable of seeing the secrets of heaven. But His Majesty is asleep. If he is awakened by the sound of the wooden fish drum and chanting, should we blame you, or the Bodhisattva who invited you?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "Bodhisattva," and his gaze fell on King Liang, intentionally or unintentionally.

King Liang's expression darkened. "You really don't know how to speak properly, daring to offend even gods and Buddhas."

Pei Jinxuan smiled faintly: "A gentleman judges by his heart, not by his actions. The Bodhisattva knows that I stand on the side of the common people and will not blame me."

"Is that so?" King Liang chuckled, his dark blue eyes narrowing slightly, a hint of anger flashing within them. "I never expected my nephew to have such a magnanimous heart. If I remember correctly, you were quite competitive and argumentative when you were young; it seems you've changed your ways."

"Human nature is similar, but habits make them different." Pei Jinxuan smiled unhurriedly. "That's what Confucius said."

"Confucius also said, 'You can tell a person's future at three, and their character at seven!' Are you trying to prevent me from seeing His Majesty? Is there something you're hiding?"

"Uncle, you flatter me. I merely wish Your Majesty to rest well. He will summon me once he has awakened."

"Very well." King Liang straightened his back. "In that case, I will wait here. I will not leave until I see His Majesty today."

He glanced at Pei Jinxuan with disdain, gave a cold laugh, and said, "Nephew, would you like to wait with me?"

Just as Pei Jinxuan was about to speak, a gust of cold wind entered his throat, making his throat itch again. He turned his head and coughed a few times.

"Amitabha." Xuan Jing clasped his hands together, his empty eyes turning towards Pei Jinxuan. "The sound of your cough indicates that the cold has entered your lungs. If you don't receive timely treatment, it may develop into a serious illness."

Liang Wang raised his eyebrows slightly, as if he had caught Pei Jinxuan in a compromising situation, and quickly replied, "A cold can be serious or minor, so it cannot be taken lightly. Xuanjing, quickly take your nephew's pulse."

Upon hearing this, Xuanjing took a half step forward.

Pei Jinxuan straightened up, forcefully suppressing his cough, and said, "It's perfectly normal to cough a few times in this cold weather. There's no need to trouble the Master."

"A cold is contagious! How dare you come to serve the Emperor when you are ill? Don't you know His Majesty is frail and cannot withstand even the slightest disturbance?"

"I already said it was just a few coughs. Uncle, there's no need to make a fuss about it."

"If it's just a cough, why don't you dare let Xuanjing take your pulse?" King Liang pressed on, gritting his teeth as he asked, "Are you afraid of being diagnosed with a shameful illness?"

"Uncle, you are overthinking it. Treating patients requires 'observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation.' Master Xuanjing has poor eyesight and is missing a step. What if we misdiagnose him because of that one step and he diagnoses me with a disease that he doesn't even have?"

Pei Jinxuan raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Prince Liang, showing no sign of avoiding his sharp edge.

"Besides, how dare a mere monk touch me, the dignified Prince Jing'an?!"

After he finished speaking, no one responded.

Only the snow was falling softly.

A moment later, King Liang forced a cold laugh. "I think you're not afraid of a misdiagnosis; you harbor ill intentions. I wonder what tricks you've used in the palace to harm His Majesty. Guards!"

King Liang waved his hand, and his entourage stepped forward in response.

"Take this thief away!"