“Big Brother, did you hear what I said?” Qi Qiong poked Qi Shuo’s arm.

Qi Shuo snapped back to attention. “Oh, I heard you.”

It seemed A’Hao had fooled someone again.

Qi Qiong’s eyes sparkled. “I never imagined A’Hao could read faces.”

Qi Shuo rarely pitied his sister for a moment and kindly reminded her, “Perhaps it was just coincidence.”

Qi Qiong became unhappy upon hearing this. “Who says that? Our A’Hao has talent!”

Qi Shuo touched his nose.

Fine then, she has talent.

“Big Brother—” Qi Huan rushed in impetuously, then froze when he saw Qi Qiong. “Little Sister, you’re here too.”

When he had just returned to the prince’s mansion, he went to tell their father the prince and mother the princess consort about what happened at Fuxiang Garden, not expecting his little sister to come directly to big brother’s place.

Qi Huan excitedly walked to Qi Shuo’s side. “Big Brother, did Little Sister tell you? Princess Yuliu got hit by a stone.”

He had long felt that the gatherings among young masters from various households weren’t as interesting as the young ladies’ gatherings—what with falling into water, tripping and falling, none of that was fresh anymore. He hadn’t expected someone could get hit by a stone.

“Already told me.”

Qi Shuo glanced at Qi Qiong, who hurriedly gave him a “Big Brother, don’t worry” look.

Although keeping secrets was very uncomfortable, she temporarily wouldn’t tell Second Brother about A’Hao’s face-reading ability.

Qi Huan keenly sensed something was wrong. “Big Brother, Little Sister, are you two hiding something from me?”

“No.” The two replied in unison.

Qi Huan: “…” He was being excluded again!!

When Lin Hao returned to the General’s Mansion, Lin Shi couldn’t wait to ask, “How was it? Is Princess Lingque really that beautiful?”

Lin Hao’s expression showed something unusual. “Beautiful yes, but today she got hit by a stone—”

Lin Shi was somewhat confused. “What do you mean got hit by a stone?”

“A stone fell from the artificial mountain and happened to hit Princess Lingque on the head while she was standing there chatting with Princess Yi’an.”

Lin Shi wrung her hands in dismay. “I told you, what kind of broken rule is this, only inviting young ladies to go? Now look what happened.”

Compared to the shock felt by various households upon learning of this incident, Emperor Tai’an felt more anger.

Even a flower-viewing banquet could have such an incident—what had been going on lately?

He sent Consort Zhuang as a representative to visit Fuxiang Garden, dispatched several imperial physicians, while in his heart he began making the worst-case plans.

If Princess Yuliu died in Great Zhou, even if it were purely accidental, the trouble would be considerable—it might well become a war.

Would Princess Lingque be favored enough for King Yuliu to start a war over her? Emperor Tai’an naturally knew it was impossible, but the current situation was already delicate, and often what was needed was merely an excuse.

Consort Zhuang hurriedly arrived at Fuxiang Garden in a palace sedan chair and saw a group of people waiting outside.

“How is Princess Lingque?”

Prince Wei shook his head slightly. “She hasn’t woken yet.”

“What do the imperial physicians say?”

“The imperial physicians say the wound isn’t deep, but it injured her head. Under the impact and shock, she hasn’t been able to wake up yet.”

Consort Zhuang nodded and gently comforted the Yuliu prince.

The Yuliu prince’s complexion looked very poor, appearing extremely worried about his sister. “Father King dotes on Royal Sister the most. If anything happens to Royal Sister, I’ll have no way to explain.”

Consort Zhuang sneered inwardly.

She had never seen any parents who truly cherished their daughter bear to let her travel thousands of miles to a completely unfamiliar place.

On the surface, she still wore an impeccable expression of concern. “Princess Lingque is a blessed person and will surely wake up safely.”

“We can only wait.” The Yuliu prince said hoarsely.

This wait lasted until the golden crow set in the west.

The sunset painted the horizon, draping Fuxiang Garden’s flowers and grass in soft, gentle gauze, as if in the blink of an eye the curtain of early summer night would fall.

Consort Zhuang couldn’t wait any longer and spoke with appropriate decorum. “His Majesty and the Empress Dowager are both very concerned about Princess Lingque. This consort will return first to report the situation, so His Majesty and the Empress Dowager can be at ease.”

Her words had barely fallen when the door was suddenly pulled open, and Princess Lingque’s maid called out tearfully, “The princess has awakened, the princess has awakened!”

Those waiting outside surged in like a tide, even pushing the imperial physicians aside.

“Royal Sister (Princess), how are you?”

Princess Lingque lay on the bed with layers of gauze wrapped around her head, her cleaned face pure white and flawless, without a trace of injury.

The Yuliu prince’s heart completely settled.

As long as her face wasn’t disfigured, all was well!

Princess Yi’an, after seeing clearly, felt relieved but also couldn’t help a trace of regret that couldn’t be shared with outsiders.

So Princess Lingque’s face wasn’t injured at all—Heaven was always especially generous to beauties of exceptional appearance.

“Royal Sister, how do you feel?” The Yuliu prince asked with concern.

Princess Lingque’s eyes slowly swept over everyone, finally landing with confusion on the face of the Yuliu prince who had asked the question. “You… who are you?”

These words struck like thunder, stunning everyone.

“Royal Sister, what are you saying?”

Princess Lingque blinked, her expression showing complete unfamiliarity. “Who are you? I don’t know you.”

The Yuliu prince was shocked. “I’m your Fourth Royal Brother. How could you not recognize me?”

Princess Lingque slowly shook her head. “I truly don’t know you.”

“What about her? Do you recognize her?” The Yuliu prince pointed at Princess Lingque’s maid and asked. Seeing her still shake her head, he pointed toward Princess Yi’an. “You don’t recognize this person either?”

“I don’t recognize—” Princess Lingque’s brow furrowed, her face showing pain. “My head hurts so much—”

“Imperial Physician, what’s wrong with my royal sister?” The Yuliu prince looked toward the several imperial physicians who had been squeezed into a corner.

Consort Zhuang also asked, “What is Princess Lingque’s condition?”

One imperial physician, bearing the pressure, replied, “The princess injured her head and may have developed symptoms of memory loss.”

The Yuliu prince let out a cry of alarm. “Memory loss? When will she be able to remember?”

The several imperial physicians looked at each other, and for a moment no one answered.

“Are you saying my royal sister will remain like this forever?” The imperial physicians’ silence made the Yuliu prince’s tone sound somewhat aggressive.

The several imperial physicians looked toward Consort Zhuang.

Consort Zhuang indicated they should speak up.

The same imperial physician said, “The head has always been the most complex part of the human body. It’s difficult to say when the princess will recover—at the shortest three to five days, at the longest—”

“What?”

“It’s also possible she won’t remember for several years.”

The Yuliu prince punched the wall.

It was indeed getting late. Now that Princess Lingque had awakened, Consort Zhuang, Prince Wei, and Princess Yi’an comforted the Yuliu prince and left Fuxiang Garden with varying moods.

Two imperial physicians remained. Seeing Princess Lingque had fallen asleep, they said to the Yuliu prince, “The princess needs much rest. Good spirits will help her recover her memory.”

“I understand. You may all withdraw.”

Soon, aside from Princess Lingque and her servant, only the Yuliu prince remained in the room.

Staring at Princess Lingque’s peaceful sleeping face, the Yuliu prince sighed. “Royal Sister, oh Royal Sister, your luck is really too poor. How did you end up with memory loss?”

Could a Princess Yuliu who had lost her memory still stir up storms in Great Zhou as their father king expected?

Without outsiders present, the Yuliu prince appeared much calmer, his eyes dark and deep.

Just then, Princess Lingque’s lashes trembled slightly, and she opened her eyes.