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

Lin Ci had been sitting in the car for more than half an hour.

She heard a series of footsteps and curiously lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.

The temple was surrounded by guards with swords, their menacing aura so strong that even birds dared not perch on nearby branches.

These are not people from the Jing'an Prince's Mansion. Where did they come from?

Lin Ci secretly observed, and an ominous premonition arose within her.

Just then, someone noticed the carriage Lin Ci was riding in, their eyes sharpened, and they walked over with their hands on the hilt of their swords.

Lin Cixin jumped, but then she thought, this carriage has a gilded bronze bell hanging on it, and the seal of the Jing'an Prince's Mansion is engraved on the bell. Who would dare to offend it?

But the man did not stop when he saw the mark of the Prince of Jing'an's mansion. Instead, he drew his scimitar and approached her.

"How dare you!" Suddenly, a clear female voice rang out from beside the carriage. "How dare you approach the distinguished guest of Consort Chang?!"

The heavy footsteps came to a halt.

Lin Ci lifted the curtain and saw that it was a palace maid named Zhenzhu who served Consort Chang.

After dismissing the oblivious guards, Pearl bowed to Lin Ci and said, "Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine, invites you in."

What could she want from me? Lin Ci was a little surprised.

After a moment's thought, Lin Ci got off the carriage and looked back. The imperial concubine's phoenix palanquin was parked not far away. It was covered in gold and silver, with scarlet brocade curtains hanging from the four corners, and phoenixes flying in the sky were embroidered on the curtains with gold thread.

This rank is no less than that of the Empress, which shows how much Emperor Yan favored her.

Lin Ci stepped forward and bowed.

A hand emerged from the phoenix palanquin, a jade bracelet gleaming on its wrist. Pearl quickly stepped forward to support it, and Consort Chang, with Pearl's hand in hers, descended from the palanquin.

Consort Chang stood before the magnificent brocade curtain, like a lotus flower growing in the wrong place, plain and out of place.

"Madam Lin," she spoke first, her tone gentle, "I'm really feeling bored. How about you come for a walk with me?"

Lin Ci looked towards the temple gate, where the guards with swords were still there.

Consort Chang said softly, "They are all from the Liang Prince's residence, so there's nothing to be afraid of."

Although Lin Ci found it strange, she didn't ask any further questions and suppressed her anxiety for the time being.

She bowed slightly, lowered her eyes, and declined, saying, "Your Highness, I am of humble status and dare not walk alongside you. It would be improper."

"There are no outsiders here, so it's alright."

Lin Ci hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Consort Chang waved her hand, not allowing the palace servants to follow. She strolled along the cobblestone path, her steps slow and deliberate.

Lin Ci followed half a step behind him, neither too close nor too far.

"You're from the South, aren't you?" Consort Chang turned her head, her smile gentle and tender.

"I lived in the south for a while before," Lin Ci answered cautiously.

"Really? Your accent sounds like it's from my hometown." As she spoke, Consort Chang's brows furrowed slightly, and her long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings.

"During my years in the palace, I rarely heard my native accent. Seeing you today feels like family has come to visit."

These words were spoken in a very intimate way, yet without seeming abrupt.

Lin Ci kept her eyes down and said, "This humble woman dares not presume to associate with Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine."

Consort Chang smiled slightly, "We are both women, and besides, you are a friend of Prince Jing'an, so there's no need to be so reserved."

"My friend, I am unworthy of such praise. Prince Jing'an is my mentor and has shown me great kindness." Lin Ci lowered his head, his posture becoming even more respectful.

Consort Chang smiled slightly, her eyes softening a bit. She passed by an old plum tree, casually broke off a branch, and sniffed it lightly, saying, "Prince Jing'an is like this. He likes to travel the world and make friends with extraordinary people. He's not like a prince at all."

Consort Chang's hands, which were plump and clean, were stained with light pink nail polish, unlike Lin Ci's hands, which were yellow and somewhat rough from years of gathering herbs and making pills.

Consort Chang's hands are the same as Pei Jinxuan's.

They are from the same world.

Consort Chang handed the plum branch to Lin Ci and asked softly, "You're about my age, are you married?"

Lin Ci accepted the plum branch, smiled and said, "I'm already married."

Consort Chang let out a seemingly unnoticed sigh of relief, then asked, "Is your husband's family also practicing medicine?"

"Yes, my husband is a physician just like me, but his medical skills far surpass mine."

"Oh? Why didn't he come with us?"

"He... has passed away." Lin Ci's eyes dimmed, and her tone became indifferent.

Consort Chang's smile froze on her face. She was somewhat at a loss and slowly put her hands into the cup to cover her embarrassment.

I never imagined she was a widow.

After a long pause, Consort Chang said in a low voice, "I was unaware of the details, and I was truly impolite. Please accept my condolences, my lady."

Lin Ci bowed slightly, "Your Highness is too kind."

Consort Chang remained silent, fidgeting with her fingers hidden in her hand warmer before finally speaking: "Then... what are your plans for the future? You are still so young, and so beautiful, it's such a pity."

"Having seen the vast ocean, other waters seem insignificant; having beheld the clouds of Wushan, other clouds seem pale in comparison. My husband and I were childhood sweethearts, and in this life, I dare not ask for anything more than him." With that, Lin Ci smiled faintly, a smile tinged with bitterness.

Consort Chang's anxiety subsided. She took a few steps forward and stopped at the edge of the release pond. Several goldfish swayed in the pond, and upon hearing the commotion on the shore, they swam over, wagging their tails.

"These fish were put in here by His Majesty and me when we were children. They were very small then, but now they've all grown so fat."

She pointed to a red and white fish in the pond, which was half-hidden among the water plants, as if it were being bullied by the other fish.

"Look at that one... It was the weakest back then, and couldn't even compete for fish food. Prince Jing'an specially took it out of the pond and raised it for a few days until it was strong before releasing it back."

Lin Ci followed her gaze and said somewhat perfunctorily, "Your Highness is kind-hearted."

"yes."

Consort Chang withdrew her gaze, the excitement she had felt while looking at the fish fading away.

She turned to look at Lin Ci, her demeanor once again dignified and gentle. "Before I entered the palace, I was always favored by Prince Jing'an. He was kind to everyone, even a fish."

Lin Ci vaguely sensed the deep affection that Consort Chang had hidden in her bones.

If she had feelings for him, why did she become the Yan Emperor's favorite concubine?

A flicker of curiosity crossed Lin Ci's mind, but she knew which questions she should ask and which she shouldn't.

"Prince Jing'an is benevolent and righteous; he is a gentleman," she said casually, brushing it off.

Consort Chang nodded and smiled slightly, "That's right, so is His Majesty. His Majesty has the world in his heart; he is a benevolent ruler."

She sighed, a worried look creeping onto her brow. "His Majesty toils day and night for the affairs of the state, yet I cannot share his burdens. Compared to a few days ago, His Majesty has become much thinner, and he has been coughing incessantly these past few nights, unable to sleep soundly. My lady, your medical skills are superb; do you have any good methods to help His Majesty sleep more peacefully?"

Lin Ci pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty need not worry. Take mugwort leaves, ginger, and Sichuan peppercorns, boil them, and then let them cool to a warm temperature. Have His Majesty soak his feet for half an hour before going to bed. This will improve blood circulation, replenish Yang energy, and help him sleep and calm his mind."

"Does it really work?"

"Your Majesty can try it with peace of mind. However, as the ancients said, 'Illness comes like a landslide, but recovery is like pulling silk.' It may not be effective in a short time. Let's see if His Majesty sleeps soundly in seven days, and then we can gradually recuperate."

Consort Chang nodded, silently read the prescription aloud, and when she looked up again, her gentle demeanor remained unchanged. "Thank you for your trouble, Madam."

As soon as she finished speaking, a gust of cold wind blew by, and Consort Chang covered her mouth with her hand and coughed lightly twice.

Seeing that her body was as frail as a willow swaying in the breeze, and her breathing was shallow and rapid, Lin Ci casually said, "If Your Majesty is not feeling well, it would be best to return to your sedan chair to avoid the cold."

"It's been cold these past few days, and my throat is sore. Perfect timing, I'd like to trouble you, my wife, to take a look at it."

Consort Chang smiled and extended her hand generously.

Unable to refuse, Lin Ci reached out and touched Consort Chang's wrist. As soon as her fingertips touched her pulse, her gaze suddenly darkened, and she couldn't help but look up at Consort Chang.