072

072

Physician Yan frowned, his face showing difficulty, as if he had encountered a disease he could not cure.

Looking at Physician Yan's expression, Zeng Chenhua was also curious, "What do you mean?"

Undeterred, Physician Yan took the pulse again, but the result was the same as the first time he had examined the pulse. His complexion was still not good. After bowing to the Princess, he left the room.

Zeng Chenhua glanced at Xu Huanong behind the screen and whispered, "I hope you keep your word."

"That's natural!"

Upon exiting, Zeng Chenhua found Imperial Physician Yan still waiting for him at the door. After bowing to him, the physician revealed the truth, "Your Highness, the Princess's condition has worsened due to the effects of this poison. If we administer medication, I fear..."

The Imperial Physician Yan did not continue speaking, but his shaking his head and sighing gestures were enough to illustrate Xu Huanong's current condition.

Unexpectedly, Xu Huanong's medicine was so effective, seemingly a bit too strong. Even Physician Yan would say so. Zeng Chenhua pretended not to know and asked anxiously, "Approximately how long?"

"At most three months, even this old minister has no other choice."

Three months! I never expected Xu Huanong to take such a risk. In these three months, she will either be sent to a marriage alliance or wait to die in front of outsiders, then disappear without a trace and start a new life under a different identity.

"Many thanks to Physician Yan. I hope that when I present myself before the Emperor..."

Zeng Chenhua didn't say anything more, but just gestured to Physician Yan with his eyes. However, Physician Yan was an old and shrewd man, and he understood what Zeng Chenhua meant.

"Your Highness, rest assured, this old minister will speak earnestly when the time comes."

Now that Physician Yan has made his stance clear, the rest depends on what the Emperor thinks. If he truly considers Xu Huanong his daughter, then he will let her live on her own for three months. However, if it is to maintain his position, he will definitely send Xu Huanong to marry someone else while no one knows. But after she dies in a foreign land, others will only criticize the neighboring country.

As Zeng Chenhua left the Princess's residence with Imperial Physician Yan, he was still thinking about his wife who was waiting for him there. His heart felt as if it had been filled with hot water, warming his entire body.

Her pace quickened, and since she was in the mansion, she didn't need to hide anything. She walked briskly with anticipation on her face.

Upon entering the courtyard, he found it dark and began to worry, wondering if she had gone out.

He strode into the room and looked around, only to see a bulge on the bed. At that moment, he wondered if she was already asleep.

Somewhat uncertain, I slowly walked forward and seemed to see the blankets moving slightly, indicating that there was indeed someone in the bed.

He gently lifted a corner of the blanket to reveal her hair, then sat on the edge of the bed, leaning closer until he saw her sleeping face and felt at ease.

He didn't want his cold hands to touch her warm cheeks. He just looked at her closely, watching her sleep peacefully. For some reason, he felt very happy, but he muttered, "You little ingrate."

While he was outside, he was worried about whether she was still waiting for him, and he was also thinking about how cold it was and what would happen to her. But when he came back, he didn't have to worry at all, because the little ingrate was already sleeping soundly and had completely forgotten that there was someone outside thinking about her.

But seeing that she was sleeping comfortably was enough. He took off his cold outer coat, intending to wait until he warmed up before hugging her. Perhaps she was too warm from sleeping, because she sensed the ice block next to her and immediately came closer, wrapping her legs around his and hugging him.

As if talking in his sleep, he even said, "It's so cool."

Zeng Chenhua felt a little uncomfortable being held, so he carefully pried her legs apart and gently laid her down so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable. Looking at her sleeping face, a smile appeared on his lips as he held her tightly in his arms.

The wind was blowing fiercely outside, but the room remained as calm as a still pond.

Jiang Chaoyu slept soundly until dawn, but it seemed that her head was not resting on a pillow. She slowly opened her eyes and saw an enlarged version of Zeng Chenhua's sleeping face in front of her. Turning her head, she realized that the "pillow" was Zeng Chenhua's arm, which must have been numb by now.

He was still a little sleepy a moment ago, but now that he saw clearly, his eyes widened immediately. He was somewhat impressed by Zeng Chenhua, though, for not waking up even after all that.

Before Zeng Chenhua woke up, Jiang Chaoyu carefully turned over, trying not to wake him. She didn't even know when he had returned.

She braced herself on the bed and could have taken a step away, but before she could succeed, her hand was grabbed and she fell into Zeng Chenhua's arms.

The moment they fell, their eyes met. Jiang Chaoyu smiled and said good morning first, "Did I wake you up? I'll be right there."

Before she could even get up, she was pulled out again, feeling him hold her tightly, whispering in her ear with a sleepy, lingering affection, "Sleep with me a little longer, okay~"

His tone was gentle and tender, as if he were trying to make it impossible for you to refuse him. Jiang Chaoyu softened her heart and said, "Okay."

But she couldn't sleep, so she turned to look at his sleeping face. She had never seen him so closely before, and now she saw his long eyelashes, his flawless skin, and his high nose.

Jiang Chaoyu couldn't resist touching it, and in fact, she did.

This was the first time Jiang Chaoyu had ever seen a nose bridge so high, like a towering mountain standing there. After touching it, Jiang Chaoyu gently pressed it, and the hard bone proved that Zeng Chenhua's nose was real.

I can't help but exclaim, "How can someone have such a high nose bridge!"

Touched by Jiang Chaoyu, Zeng Chenhua found it hard to fall asleep. He wondered what Jiang Chaoyu would do. Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, his sleepiness vanished, and he opened his eyes, meeting Jiang Chaoyu's gaze.

Jiang Chaoyu, who was observing Zeng Chenhua's nose, was caught red-handed. She quickly withdrew her hand and laughed awkwardly, "Aren't you going to sleep?"

Zeng Chenhua grabbed Jiang Chaoyu's mischievous hand and rubbed her fingers, without directly answering her question, "What is Madam doing?"

Jiang Chaoyu tried to break free, but to no avail. "It's nothing, I'm not sleepy and want to get up."

She leaned back forcefully, trying to sit up, but Zeng Chenhua pulled her into his arms. "Yesterday I thought Madam would be waiting for me, but I didn't expect..."

Jiang Chaoyu felt a pang of anxiety when Zeng Chenhua brought up the matter. It seemed he was here to settle scores. She didn't know why the bed had felt unusually warm the night before, and then she fell asleep.

"You told me to warm the bed, and then the bed was so comfortable that I fell asleep." Jiang Chaoyu blinked her big, wet eyes, and what she said was the whole truth, not a single word was false.

"Oh~ really?" Zeng Chenhua's tone made Jiang Chaoyu feel that he didn't trust her, so she immediately became anxious and spoke quickly, "Of course, I'm the kind of person who doesn't keep his word!"

Jiang Chaoyu's eyes sparkled, as if to prove that she was right.

Seeing this, Zeng Chenhua smiled and nodded, saying with great affection, "Alright, alright, I believe you."

Listening to his words, Jiang Chaoyu corrected him, saying, "It's not about believing, it's just the truth."

"good."

"Then can you let go of me now?" Jiang Chaoyu gestured with her eyes that Zeng Chenhua was still holding her hand, and she wanted to get up.

But Zeng Chenhua followed his gaze, gripping Jiang Chaoyu even tighter, continuing to hold her in his arms, "Sleep a little longer~"

Jiang Chaoyu didn't want to sleep anymore, so she rolled over and stood up on the floor. When her feet touched the floor, they felt cold. "No, I want to eat."

Zeng Chenhua looked at her appearance and didn't want to make do, but he felt sorry for her because she wasn't wearing shoes.

"Okay, the ground is cold, put on your shoes first."

After putting on the shoes, Jiang Chaoyu became a little curious.

"Why did the Emperor summon you?"

When Jiang Chaoyu asked, Zeng Chenhua revealed everything: "The princess has woken up, but she won't live much longer."

This news shocked Jiang Chaoyu. She told her everything she knew, "As far as I know, there is no antidote for this drug. Why?"

Jiang Chaoyu frowned, thinking to herself that this shouldn't be happening; Xu Ninghui had no reason to lie to her.

Do you know Physician Yan of the Imperial Hospital?

Physician Yan? Upon hearing this name, Jiang Chaoyu had absolutely no recollection of him. "Who is he?"

"A family of doctors, with the most superb medical skills. It was he who saved the princess from the brink of death."

!

Jiang Chaoyu really didn't expect that there were such capable people in the Imperial Hospital, but then she remembered what Zeng Chenhua had said about the eldest princess not living long.

"That······"

"She's lying; she took fake medicine and fooled Doctor Yan."

So now he's not faking his death, but he's taken other drugs to create the impression that he's about to die, leaving people and the emperor helpless. But would the emperor really be so kind?

"Now?"

"Wait patiently~"

After returning to the palace without stopping, Imperial Physician Yan immediately explained the situation to the Emperor. Upon hearing the news, the Emperor himself didn't even notice that he had broken the writing brush in his hand.

Upon seeing this, Imperial Physician Yan immediately knelt down, knowing this was a signal that the emperor was about to become angry. He lowered his head, waiting for the emperor's decision, but after a long while, there was still no sound.

"Imperial Physician Yan, it's getting late. You should go back and rest early. As for the matter of the Eldest Princess..."

The emperor didn't say the rest, but Imperial Physician Yan, who had risen to the top, naturally understood what he meant. "This old minister has never heard of this matter. This old minister takes his leave."

Xu Huanong, the posthumous daughter of General Xu, was born after the entire Xu family perished in battle. To reward them, General Xu bestowed upon his daughter the title of princess, demonstrating his favor and consolidating political alliances. Her entire upbringing was geared towards forging marriage alliances with neighboring countries and reducing external enemies.

But now, she only has three months to live. Should we let her live out the rest of her life in peace, or make use of her last bit of value?

On the high platform, the only candle flickered in the wind, but gradually burned out. Its light shone on the emperor's face, but could not illuminate what he was thinking.

The emperor picked up the broken brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote heavily on the imperial edict, stroke by stroke. Just as he finished the last stroke, the candle burned out.

The sky gradually brightened, but there was no sign of sunshine; dark clouds loomed overhead, as if a violent storm was about to break out.

"Someone, go to the Princess's residence and announce the imperial decree!"

Xu Huanong was woken up while she was still asleep. She had felt uneasy in her heart yesterday, and it was only when she read the imperial edict in front of her that she realized that something was wrong.

"Princess, receive the decree!" Sure enough, in the emperor's eyes, even his own children could be schemed against, let alone others.

Xu Huanong now feels sorry for his whole family. He never expected that after guarding the country for this man for so long, his children would suffer such a consequence.

Fortunately, when I felt uneasy yesterday, I came up with a solution.

A flying dart pierced through the eunuch who was receiving the imperial decree. Before he could pass the decree to Xu Huanong, he fell to the ground, his eyes filled with disbelief before he died.

Seeing this, the others panicked and ran away in all directions. Apart from a maid, the others around Xu Huanong were all people sent by the emperor. Perhaps the emperor had not expected this to happen, so the people he sent were not skilled in martial arts.

Xu Huanong knelt quietly, watching the flying swallow dart kill everyone present, before slowly standing up and unhurriedly patting the dust off her body.

"Boss, your subordinate is late!"

The familiar voice belonged to Xie Yunyin. He had just been about to rest yesterday when he received a message from Xu Huanong via carrier pigeon, instructing him to keep watch outside the Princess's residence for the next few days and to deal with any unexpected events immediately.

Unexpectedly, it was resolved so quickly.

Xie Yunyin sent men to drag in a corpse that looked quite like Xu Huanong, and then set fire to the Princess's residence. People who got up early in the morning thought it was the sun rising from a distance, but the more they looked, the more something seemed wrong.

"The Princess's residence is on fire!"

The fire was so large that it took two hours to extinguish it. However, upon entering the mansion, they found only a female corpse with a burned face, whose body was exactly the same as that of the princess.

When the people who were helping to put out the fire saw this, they all said that the princess had died in her own residence, but they didn't know who had started the fire.

"Useless! What kind of work are you doing?!"

He had just finished the morning court session when he heard that all the people he had sent were dead. He wondered who was opposing him and had repeatedly tried to harm the princess. Several ministers at the morning court session today expressed their determination to thoroughly investigate the matter and not let the daughter of a loyal minister die unjustly.

"Have you found out who did it?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, nothing was found." The people below were all imperial assassins trained by the emperor. They had been considering sending them, but after much hesitation, decided against it. But they hadn't expected this...

Who on earth is working against me like this?!

"My lord, our men have investigated, and all the men you sent died from darts, all of them killed by a single dart."

"A dart?!" The emperor raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of confusion, while he was still pondering who could have done it.

But as he thought about it, a frown appeared on his face, and the confusion in his eyes slowly melted away and turned into shrewdness.

"It seems to be them!"