Time passed quickly, and before we knew it, it was the end of the year.

　　General Xie and his family will soon return to the capital from the northern region.

　　Zhou Yijun is becoming increasingly anxious because he knows that General Xie's family will be his biggest obstacle.

　　Both men and women in General Xie's family have been trained in martial arts since childhood, and Mrs.

　　Xie is particularly skilled.

　　General Xie only has two sons and one daughter.

　　The eldest son was kidnapped at the age of four, and the youngest son is now only nine years old.

　　Only the daughter, Xie Rongting, has a close relationship with me.

　　One year ago, General Xie found out that the person who kidnapped his eldest son had appeared in the northern region, so he requested to be stationed there.

　　Now that the Xie family is about to return to the capital, Zhou Yijun is worried that his hard work will be ruined by this change, causing him to feel anxious.

　　After leaving the court today, Zhou Yijun couldn't wait to see me.

　　"Aning, the return of the Xie family to the court is not a good thing.

　　The Xie family has military power, and their army has always been loyal only to the Xie family.

　　This return may indicate a rebellious intent," he said.

　　I knew about his scheming, but I gently advised, "The Xie family is devoted and would not harbor such thoughts.

　　Besides, I had a marriage pact with the eldest son of the Xie family, and although he is missing now, it was disrespectful to the Xie family for me to marry you.

　　How can you suspect the Xie family?" "Aning, it's my fault for making things difficult for you like this, but the Xie family really can't stay," Zhou Yijun said, pretending to be deeply moved, and his tone was extremely gentle.

　　Ugh! I almost vomited last night's dinner.

　　It's such a waste that Zhou Yijun can act so well and is not in the Six Happiness Troupe.

　　With a worried look on my face, I said, "The northern region is not stable at the moment, and it is necessary for the Xie family to stay there.

　　It is not safe to get rid of them now.

　　Let's see how the emperor decides after tomorrow's court." Finally getting rid of Zhou Yijun, Gu Yu came in and told me that Lin Rou was waiting for me in the private room with the "Tian" sign at Chunman Tower.

　　I changed into simple clothes and went to the Chunman Tower for the appointment.

　　Chunman Tower is my property, and there is a secret room in the private room with the "Tian" sign.

　　I understood that Lin Rou must know something.

　　As expected, Lin Rou handed me a confidential letter.

　　I understood its contents, but my heart sank bit by bit.

　　I took a carriage back to the princess's residence ahead of the others, while Lin Rou wandered in the streets for half a day to prevent Zhou Yijun from suspecting anything.

　　As soon as I got off the carriage, the steward of the residence anxiously greeted me with a slightly tearful voice, "Your Highness, during the court today, there was suddenly news of a battle in the northern region.

　　General Xie and his family hurriedly returned to the capital to join the fight, but they were defeated and forced to retreat.

　　The emperor was so angered by the news that he spewed blood and fainted." I knew it was the poison given by the emperor of the southern kingdom taking effect.

　　"Your Highness, Lord Zhou hasn't returned from the court yet.

　　It is said that he went to the outskirts of the capital to find that eccentric divine physician.

　　Should we wait for Lord Zhou to return before entering the palace together?" the steward continued.

　　I was worried, but I understood that the old physician in the outskirts of the capital was just an old fraud brought by Zhou Yijun.

　　If I let that old fraud attend to the emperor, it would be too late to save him.

　　I quickly got on the carriage and urged the coachman, "To the palace, hurry!" When the princess's residence was established, my father didn't want me to live far away, so it was only a street away from the palace.

　　The coachman saw my urgency and whipped the horse's reins hard, causing them to crack.

　　After only half an hour, we arrived at the palace gate.

　　The eunuch in charge by my father's side was already waiting at the gate.

　　"Your Highness, when the Empress heard that you knew about the Emperor's collapse, she knew you would come rushing over.

　　She ordered me to wait for you at the palace gate." I nodded slightly, my expression grave.

　　My father's condition must not be good, otherwise the Empress wouldn't be so anxious to see me.

　　I removed the jade card tied around my waist and handed it to Zhang, the manager.

　　"Go to the Ren Shou Tang in Dong Street and give the waist card to the medicine boy at the entrance of the shop.

　　He will take you to find the doctor, and all you need to do is safely bring the doctor into the palace." With that, I turned and boarded the nimble carriage that Zhang had prepared in advance.

　　As soon as I entered the inner chamber, I smelled a strong medicinal scent.

　　The imperial physician must have used strong medicine.

　　The Empress had red eyes as she fed medicine to the Emperor, whose face was pale and whose breathing had become weak.

　　A group of imperial physicians from the royal hospital were kneeling on the ground, not daring to breathe.

　　I felt a tightening in my heart and called them out to talk.

　　"Yuan Zheng, you speak first." Yuan Zheng had once received favor from my father when he was just a small physician in the royal hospital.

　　My father had said, "Yuan Zheng, you will surely save the patient." With these words, Yuan Zheng's days of being disliked in the royal hospital came to an end, and many physicians were trying to curry favor with him.

　　Among these physicians, the one I trusted the most was Yuan Zheng.

　　"Your Highness, the situation is not looking good.

　　This illness is coming on aggressively.

　　We have prescribed medicine for His Majesty and stabilized his condition.

　　But when His Majesty will awaken, or if he will awaken at all, is still unknown." My breath hitched, and tears almost fell.

　　Just then, a confident voice came from outside, "Instead of wondering whether it is known or unknown, let me take a look first." I turned towards the voice and saw an elderly woman with graying hair and a slightly stooped back walking briskly, accompanied by Zhang.

　　I breathed a sigh of relief.

　　With this skilled and experienced doctor, Wang, who had been famous in his youth, there might still be hope.

　　I dismissed the others and only left Yuan Zheng, myself, and the elderly woman to enter the inner chamber.

　　When the Empress saw us enter, she immediately vacated the spot by the bed.

　　Wang approached and took the Emperor's pulse.

　　I saw her shake her head, and I tightly grasped the Empress's hand to comfort her.

　　Wang then took out a cloth pouch from the medicine box that Zhang had been carrying and proceeded to give the Emperor an injection.

　　Seeing the Emperor's breathing become stronger, Wang removed the needle.

　　After securing the needle, she nodded at me, and I understood.

　　I immediately instructed Zhang to prepare a side room for her to rest in the palace.

　　Then, I summoned Gu Yu and asked her to return to her residence and spread the word that I wouldn't be going back for these few days.

　　Since the Emperor's illness became critical and the borders were in urgent need of attention, the scheming of Zhou Yijun and Duke Jingyuan became more apparent.

　　It was widely rumored in the capital that after the Emperor passed away, the throne would be passed on to the Prince Consort.

　　But Zhou Yijun and Duke Jingyuan couldn't wait.

　　They were afraid that the Emperor would pass the throne to me, after all, it was royal blood that flowed through my veins.

　　They also feared that an unexpected incident might occur at the borders, and the Xie family could deliver a fatal blow to them.

　　On the day before New Year's Eve, Gu Yu rushed in anxiously and said, "Your Highness, the Princess's residence is surrounded.

　　I couldn't get in, but Miss Lin Rou managed to send out a note." As she spoke, Gu Yu took out a silk pouch from her bosom and handed it to me.

　　I silently opened the note, read its contents, and burned it as I told Gu Yu, "Go rest, tonight might be a sleepless night."

　　"