“Your Highness! Does Your Highness also want to go and see?” Quan Yu asked openly but was hinting.

Only then did the Crown Prince respond, his feet that seemed nailed to the ground began to move, and he nodded in agreement: “Quickly follow! To the Bai mansion!”

When the Crown Prince stepped over the tavern threshold, he nearly tripped, but fortunately, Quan Yu was quick to support him: “Your Highness, be careful!”

“Horse!” The Crown Prince steadied himself, grabbed a personal guard by the hand, and shouted: “Go relay the order…”

The Crown Prince’s words suddenly stopped. He had originally wanted to order all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy to come treat Bai Qingyan’s wounds, but remembering that all the imperial physicians were in the palace, guarding the Emperor’s dragon bed, the Crown Prince swallowed the rest of his words.

Even if he died… he wouldn’t dare compete with his father Emperor, for imperial physicians!

But that Physician Hong at the Bai mansion had superb medical skills and was the senior brother of Imperial Physician Huang, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. Surely there would be no problem!

The Crown Prince gritted his teeth, released the guard’s collar, mounted his horse, and shouted: “Send people immediately to the Idle Prince’s mansion to arrest Nandu’s Young Lady Liu Ruofu! If there’s resistance, kill without mercy! If Liu Ruofu has already escaped… have the Magistrate of Jingzhao find her for me! Even if you have to turn the entire capital upside down, find her! Otherwise, let the Magistrate of Jingzhao come see me with his head!”

After speaking, the Crown Prince spurred his horse and galloped rapidly after Princess Zhenguo.

Perhaps, after people experience life and death together and encounter someone who would risk their life to protect them, their hearts… would inexplicably develop trust and affection for that person.

This was why the Emperor had trusted the Idle Prince so much in the beginning.

After this assassination on the long street, and seeing so much of Bai Qingyan’s blood with her life hanging by a thread, the Crown Prince… swore that as long as Bai Qingyan could survive, he would never again suspect her!

Old Fang had experienced life and death alongside the Crown Prince, and now… Bai Qingyan had risked her life to protect him!

The Crown Prince’s mind was filled with all the events since going to Nan Jiang with Bai Qingyan!

Throughout this journey, ever since Bai Qingyan had come under his command, she had done nothing but plan and calculate for him. She was exceptionally intelligent, steady, and reserved, and invincible in battle…

Such a person, once she had truly determined her loyalty, once she could sacrifice her life to protect him, the Crown Prince didn’t want to lose unless necessary!

Moreover, people all have emotions. No matter what, Bai Qingyan was the Crown Prince’s cousin, and they had blood ties, so… the Crown Prince didn’t want Bai Qingyan to die!

Xiao Rongyan’s face was ashen. Although Bai Qingyan’s plan this time couldn’t be called rash, she was genuinely risking her safety. How could Xiao Rongyan not be angry, and how could he not worry?

Although he was mentally prepared, seeing Bai Qingyan struck by an arrow in the chest, Xiao Rongyan was still overwhelmed by helpless and confused fear.

Originally, Xiao Rongyan thought he would dedicate his entire life to Great Yan, never having considered marriage and family.

But… he had met Bai Qingyan, a woman whose aspirations, ambitions, and magnanimity were identical to his own. From initial wariness and testing, to admiration and respect, to later being moved beyond self-control, Xiao Rongyan knew… he would never meet a second woman like this in his lifetime.

He had given his heart entirely to Bai Qingyan. If something happened to Bai Qingyan…

Xiao Rongyan absolutely could not tolerate anything happening to Bai Qingyan.

Leaning in Xiao Rongyan’s embrace, Bai Qingyan, still somewhat conscious, looked up at Xiao Rongyan’s tense jawline and gently grasped his clothing: “I’m fine… this was planned from the beginning. I pointed to my chest and had them shoot there…”

Xiao Rongyan was filled with anger and worry, his thin lips pressed tightly together without making a sound.

Bai Qingyan’s fresh blood continued to flow out, scalding Xiao Rongyan’s spine with tremors.

There’s a saying that when people are about to die, their words are kind. Bai Qingyan wanted the Crown Prince to send Bai Jinzhi to Anping Grand Camp without any suspicion, and only by taking this opportunity to speak with the Crown Prince was most appropriate, including the arrangements for Fu Ruoxi.

Yue Shi arrived at Princess Zhenguo’s mansion first. His announcement that the eldest miss had been struck by an arrow was like stirring up a thousand waves – the entire Zhenguo mansion exploded into chaos.

Lu Ping waited at the gate with the Bai family guard army. Seeing Xiao Rongyan return on horseback carrying Bai Qingyan, he immediately rushed down the high steps, his face pale as he shouted: “Eldest Miss!”

Xiao Rongyan reined in his horse with one hand, leaped down while holding Bai Qingyan, and strode rapidly into the Bai mansion: “Where is Physician Hong?”

“We’ve already sent someone to fetch him!” Lu Ping tried to take Bai Qingyan from Xiao Rongyan’s hands, but Xiao Rongyan avoided him and headed straight for the inner quarters.

“Don’t change hands now, Guard Lu, lead the way! Quickly!”

The Bai family guards, hearing that the eldest miss was injured, rushed to Physician Hong’s courtyard… Upon seeing Physician Hong, one carried him on his back and ran, while another busily carried Physician Hong’s medicine box in pursuit.

Physician Hong was about to knock the guard on the head when he heard the guard say, “The eldest miss has been struck by an arrow!”

Physician Hong’s expression froze, and he tightened his arms around the young guard’s neck: “Run faster!”

The young guard carried Physician Hong on his back, running through the rain all the way, nearly jolting Physician Hong’s old bones apart.

When they reached Qinghui Courtyard, Xiao Rongyan had just placed Bai Qingyan on the bed.

With the feathered arrow piercing through, Bai Qingyan couldn’t lie flat and could only lie on her side, pressing against the arm that could no longer be lifted. Bai Qingyan gritted her teeth, the pain making her gasp, unable to distinguish whether what was on her face was sweat or rainwater.

Chun Tao saw Bai Qingyan covered in blood and was so frightened her legs went weak, kneeling by the bed and crying out: “Eldest Miss!”

Chun Tao remembered that year when Bai Qingyan returned severely wounded from the battlefield, and Physician Hong had said the eldest miss nearly didn’t survive. She couldn’t help but cover her mouth and cry.

“This matter… must not be told to Grandmother!” Bai Qingyan commanded in a hoarse voice.

Physician Hong, soaked through, entered the room and pushed aside Yue Shi, who was blocking the bed. He sat on the footstool to take Bai Qingyan’s pulse, speaking extremely rapidly: “Get out! Everyone out! Chun Tao, go have someone boil water! Someone heat scissors over fire and bring them to me! Quickly!”

“Master Xiao, you should wait outside!” Lu Ping raised his hand to request that Xiao Rongyan go outside. After all, this was their eldest miss’s boudoir. Although saving a life earlier justified Xiao Rongyan bringing Bai Qingyan into the boudoir, it was inappropriate for him to stand here now.

“Elder Sister! Elder Sister…”

Outside came Bai Jinse’s tearful voice as she rushed in like the wind, with Lu Ning’e carrying her medicine box and following close behind, her face deathly pale.

Upon entering, Bai Jinse immediately saw Xiao Rongyan, who had already emerged from behind the screen with Lu Ping. Xiao Rongyan’s tea-white clothing was covered in blood. Her legs went weak, and she nearly fell, her tear-filled eyes widening as she hurriedly rushed toward the screen, kneeling before Bai Qingyan’s bed with her throat constricting: “Elder Sister!”

Lu Ning’e also hurried inside, asking Physician Hong what she could help with.

Xiao Rongyan turned back, listening through the screen… to Bai Qingyan’s gentle and warm but weak voice comforting Bai Jinse. He gritted his teeth and stepped out of Bai Qingyan’s boudoir. Just as he lowered the curtain, he saw Second Madam Liu rushing over.