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

Lin Ci said softly, "General, someone in the Jing'an Prince's residence has suddenly fallen ill, and I have been specially dispatched to leave the palace with this edict to treat them. The matter is urgent, and I hope the General will be lenient. Princess Yongle is young and eager to save lives; she did not intend to violate palace rules, and I hope the General will understand."

The gatekeeper took the edict, ordered the guards to bring a lantern, and then carefully examined it by the light. After a moment, he closed the edict, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and ordered his subordinates to release Princess Yongle.

Lin Ci bowed deeply to the gatekeeper and said respectfully, "Thank you, General. The Jing'an Prince's Mansion will remember your kindness tonight."

"What's there to record!" Princess Yongle rubbed her arm, which was throbbing from being pinched, and jumped up and down in anger. "Didn't you see how badly they beat me just now? I'm going to hold them accountable!"

Lin Ci turned around and gave her a cold glare.

Princess Yongle obediently shut her mouth.

Thank you everyone.

Lin Ci bowed to the guards to take his leave, then grabbed Princess Yongle's wrist and pulled her to the front of the chestnut horse.

"Saving lives is the priority, take me back quickly."

Princess Yongle's eyes lit up upon hearing this. She quickly took Lin Ci's medicine box, hung it on the saddle, placed her hands on the horse's back, and mounted the horse.

"Come up." Princess Yongle extended her hand to Lin Ci.

Lin Ci tried to climb up, but she was too weak. Her feet slipped on the stirrups twice, and she fell down. At that moment, the goalkeeper placed a stool steadily under her feet.

Lin Ci looked down, somewhat surprised, then looked up and smiled slightly at the goalkeeper: "Thank you."

After saying that, she stepped on the horse stool, used it to climb onto the horse's back, sat behind Princess Yongle, and put her arm around her waist.

"drive!"

Princess Yongle gave a soft shout, her horse's hooves kicked up, and it rode away amidst the wind and snow.

Inside a side hall of the palace, the candles had burned down to half their flames, casting flickering light on the walls.

Pei Jinxuan sat on the edge of the couch, draped in a robe, wide awake. About half an hour later, the eunuch he had sent out finally returned, bowing and reporting that Lady Lin had safely left the palace with a written edict; the gatekeepers had allowed her to pass, and no one had stopped her. Only then did he secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

No sooner had I breathed a sigh of relief than I heard hurried footsteps coming from under the eaves.

"Your Highness... Your Highness..." Eunuch Gao's high-pitched voice pierced through the door, panting.

Upon hearing the call, Pei Jinxuan knew something was wrong. He quickly got up, rushed to the door, and asked, "What's wrong?"

The eunuch, Gao, was out of breath and said, "Her Majesty the Empress has decreed that you and Physician Lin must go to His Majesty's palace immediately."

Pei Jinxuan's heart sank upon hearing Eunuch Gao's words.

What else could be the reason for summoning someone at this hour, besides the recurrence of Emperor Yan's old illness?

But Lin Ci has already left the palace, how could she possibly come back in time!

After much deliberation, Pei Jinxuan had no choice but to say to Eunuch Gao, "I would be so kind as to trouble you to invite Judge Xu along as well."

Grandpa Gao nodded in agreement, then turned and hurriedly left.

Pei Jinxuan was filled with anxiety. After pacing back and forth in the room twice, he couldn't think of a better solution.

He had no choice but to grit his teeth, steel his resolve, and, after dressing properly, rush to the Yan Emperor's palace.

Outside the palace, the candlelight was dim and the silence was profound. Inside, it was just as quiet; there was no coughing, no groaning, not even the rustling of palace servants moving about.

The unusual quiet seemed out of place.

Pei Jinxuan stood under the eaves, rubbing his frozen hands.

If Lin Ci were still by his side, even if the Yan Emperor's situation turned from safe to dangerous, he would feel reassured.

But now that the person isn't here, he's a little lost.

Before long, Judge Xu arrived. He had been woken up from his sleep by the bed and was rubbing his eyes as he walked.

Upon seeing Pei Jinxuan present, Imperial Physician Xu hurriedly bowed before asking, "What's wrong, Your Majesty? Have your physicians figured out what's wrong?"

Judge Xu assumed Lin Ci had already entered the hall and craned his neck to peer inside.

Pei Jinxuan deliberately remained silent, and gestured for Imperial Physician Xu to enter the side room to rest.

"Judge Xu, please sit inside. If there is any disturbance, we will consult you."

Judge Xu stroked his gray beard, nodded in agreement, and turned to enter the side room. He had barely rested his head on the pillow when he began to snore.

He can eat and sleep well, and he can even argue with people with great energy.

Pei Jinxuan was even a little envious of this old man, unlike him, who was full of worries and could not find a moment's peace.

The snow gradually stopped, but the wind picked up.

Pei Jinxuan wrapped himself tightly in a fox fur coat and paced back and forth in front of the palace, waiting for the Empress to summon him.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Eunuch Gao finally came out of the hall and bowed to him, saying, "Your Highness, please."

Pei Jin strode into the hall and saw that the curtains were half-drawn, and the Yan Emperor was fast asleep on the dragon bed. Only the two darkest palace lanterns were left on, their light weak and seemingly about to be extinguished by the wind.

The Empress stood guard by the bedside, one hand gently resting on the back of the Emperor Yan's hand. Hearing footsteps, she merely turned her head slightly to glance at Pei Jinxuan. Her face was half in light and half in shadow, making it impossible to discern her expression.

Pei Jinxuan walked lightly and very carefully to the Empress, bowing with his hands clasped in greeting.

The Empress raised her hand to support him, the movement so light it was almost imperceptible.

No one dared to make a sound; even their breathing was kept extremely low.

The sleeping Emperor Yan suddenly coughed twice, and both of their hearts jumped. Only when the Emperor Yan turned over and fell into a deep sleep again did their hearts return to normal.

The Empress withdrew her hand from the Emperor's hand and slowly pointed to the side chamber beside her.

Pei Jinxuan understood immediately and tiptoed over. As soon as he stopped, the Empress followed him in and gently closed the door behind her.

The Empress turned around, bent her knees, and suddenly knelt down before Pei Jinxuan.

Pei Jinxuan panicked instantly and subconsciously reached out to help her, but as soon as his hand touched her sleeve, he realized it was inappropriate and stopped abruptly, lowering his voice and saying urgently, "Your Majesty, you mustn't."

The Empress looked up at him, tears streaming down her face before she could speak. The sharp and sarcastic tone she had displayed during the day was instantly washed away by her tears.

"Thanks to Prince Jing'an for stepping forward today, the Crown Prince and I were able to escape unharmed." She sobbed softly, wanting to cry but not daring to cry out loud. "I have acted inappropriately during the day and have failed Prince Jing'an's sincere heart. I apologize to you here."

As she spoke, the empress kowtowed her forehead to the ground again.

Pei Jinxuan disregarded the distinction between men and women and the proper etiquette between ruler and subject, and forcibly helped her up from the ground.

"Your Majesty, you are the mother of the nation, and also my brother and sister-in-law. You should not perform such a grand ceremony for me."

With tears welling in her eyes, the Empress looked around in her grief. She lowered her voice, as if afraid of being overheard by ghosts, and said very slowly, "Prince Jing'an, you are the younger brother of the Yan Emperor. I dare not trust anyone but you."

As she spoke, she took out a dried flower from her sleeve and held it tremblingly to Pei Jinxuan's eyes. "This flower is poisonous. It's hidden in my embroidered pillow."

The Empress suddenly grabbed Pei Jinxuan's sleeve, nervously crumpling it into a ball. Her expression was panicked, her eyes wide and round, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"Someone wants to harm me, and also the Crown Prince!"