The slender, jade-green Longjing tea leaves unfolded and swirled in the clear tea, with Xia Mingyuan’s face reflected in the teacup, which rippled and dispersed as he gently blew across the surface.

Yuanxi stood somewhat stiffly to one side, her eyes already red and swollen from crying. Xia Mingyuan set down his teacup, looked up at her with a sigh, and said, “Xi’er, such a major incident occurred, yet you didn’t tell your father. It must have been so difficult for you.”

Seeing the deep concern in Xia Mingyuan’s eyes, Yuanxi felt her nose sting and nearly burst into tears again. Though she had always felt an inexplicable fear toward her father, these past few days of constant perilous situations had already exhausted her mentally and physically. At this moment, feeling the care of a family member was like warm currents flowing into her heart, making her feel she was no longer fighting alone.

Old Marquis observed coldly from the side and quickly said to Xia Mingyuan, “Chancellor Xia can be completely at ease. Since Yuanxi has entered the Marquis household’s door, regardless of what happens to Du’er, we will not let her suffer any grievances.”

Xia Mingyuan snorted coldly, “Old Marquis needn’t be so tense. Even if we don’t usually get along well, I wouldn’t stoop to kicking someone when they’re down at a time like this.” He sighed again, “Even if Xiao Du isn’t promising, he’s still my son-in-law. How is he really doing now? I don’t want my daughter to become a widow for no reason.”

Yuanxi frowned slightly, finding the word “widow” rather harsh to hear. She stepped forward to refill Xia Mingyuan’s tea and said, “Father, please don’t worry. My husband will certainly be fine, and your daughter can take care of herself.”

Xia Mingyuan looked at her noncommittally, then waved to his rear, having a personal guard present a sandalwood box to Old Marquis. “These are some medicinal ingredients treasured in my household, all bestowed by the palace. I don’t know if they’ll be useful, but Old Marquis should keep them for now.” He then turned to Yuanxi, “Since Father has come, I also want to see him personally. Xi’er, would you take me there now?”

Yuanxi hesitated as she glanced at Old Marquis, knowing he didn’t want outsiders to know about Xiao Du’s condition. Old Marquis looked coldly at the wooden box in his hands, understanding that Xia Mingyuan had come fully prepared today and wouldn’t be easily sent away. He could only force a smile, “Thank you for your kind intentions, in-law, but Du’er is currently receiving treatment, and even we cannot enter. I’m afraid we must disappoint your thoughtful gesture today.”

Xia Mingyuan casually picked up his teacup again, “That’s no matter. Since I’ve already come, I’ll wait with you all to see. If there’s a result today, I won’t have to keep worrying about Xi’er.”

His attitude was perfectly presented, and Old Marquis couldn’t think of other words to decline, so he had to let him wait in the hall.

Yuanxi ordered servants to bring fruit tea for service, then secretly glanced at the several personal guards Xia Mingyuan had brought, her heart filled with doubts. Though she was moved by her father’s concern, she vaguely felt that his purpose for coming this time was not simple.

After a while, Xiao Chun ran in from outside, sweating profusely, his voice trembling, “Master, Young Madam, Imperial Physician Zuo has come out and asks you to come immediately!”

Old Marquis and Yuanxi knew from his expression that the situation was dire. They quickly stood up and hurriedly followed Xiao Chun outside. A flash of sharpness passed through Xia Mingyuan’s eyes as he quickly set down his teacup and rushed after them with his several guards.

Outside Xiao Du’s room, chaos had already erupted. The Princess, unable to bear the shock, had been forcibly dragged back to her room by Nanny Yu. Zuo Qiao’s face was grave as he paced anxiously at the door. Seeing Old Marquis and Yuanxi arrive, he quickly approached them with guilt and grief, “It’s all because of Zuo’s incompetence—the Marquis… the Marquis might not survive tonight!”

Yuanxi covered her mouth and cried out, nearly fainting. Old Marquis’s body also shook violently, his weathered eyes filled with grief, momentarily unable to speak, not caring that the person who shouldn’t hear these words was right behind them.

It was Zuo Qiao who noticed Xia Mingyuan following closely behind them, immediately shuddering with fright and stammering his greetings, “Chan… Chancellor Xia, how did you come?”

Xia Mingyuan’s eyes showed an inquiring expression as he glanced sideways at Zuo Qiao, “Has Imperial Physician Zuo examined carefully? This matter concerns the Marquis’s life and death, and even more importantly, the safety of the border regions. Such conclusions cannot be made carelessly.”

Zuo Qiao wiped the sweat from his face and cast an apologetic glance at Old Marquis, “Of course, we cannot say there’s absolutely no hope. In any case, tonight is the critical moment. We can only hope the Marquis can pull through.”

Xia Mingyuan sighed and walked to Yuanxi’s side, who was overcome with grief. He gently drew her head to his shoulder and consoled her softly, “Don’t worry, Father will stay here with you. Whatever happens, Father will help you get through it.”

Yuanxi looked up in confusion, feeling that everything seemed somewhat unreal. Her eyes were red and swollen, her gaze unfocused, her voice weak as if floating in the distance, “Father, will you stay tonight?”

Old Marquis finally emerged from his pain. He slowly closed his eyes and said coldly, “Without seeing the outcome, how could Chancellor Xia be willing to leave, right?”

Xia Mingyuan laughed dryly twice but didn’t respond. Old Marquis took a deep breath, and in that moment, seemed to return to being that resolute man who made decisive kills on the battlefield. He called Zhou Jingyuan over and instructed, “Go prepare a guest room for Chancellor Xia and assign several maids and servants to attend to him properly.”

Xia Mingyuan waved his hand, “No need. These few personal guards beside me have followed me for over ten years—they know what to do. The household has many affairs, so there’s no need to arrange anything special for me.”

He turned around and gripped Yuanxi’s hand again, “Don’t worry, Father will stay here tonight. If anything happens, be sure to send someone to tell Father.”

Yuanxi’s mind was only on Xiao Du’s safety at this moment. She responded absently and instructed Nanny Li to take note. Old Marquis stared intently at Xia Mingyuan’s retreating figure, a cold smile playing at the corners of his mouth… Inside and outside the house, people’s hearts differed greatly, each harboring their own schemes.

When the moon reached its zenith, in the guest room of the Marquis household, Xia Mingyuan sat leisurely in a grand chair. His most trusted guard, Han Kun, was leading four others in carefully examining every item in the room. After confirming there were no anomalies, he sent the others to guard the outer room and reported back, “Your Excellency can rest assured—there are no problems.”

Xia Mingyuan smiled coldly, “Xiao Yunjing wouldn’t be so foolish. Everyone knows I entered his Marquis household. If I can’t walk out completely intact, neither the Empress Dowager nor His Majesty would easily let him off.”

Han Kun understood, “So Your Excellency dares to stay overnight in the Marquis household with such confidence.” He continued, “It’s just that old fox Xiao Yunjing has sealed off news from the household so tightly. If we hadn’t lost contact with our inside source, why would Your Excellency need to come personally?”

Xia Mingyuan said, “Though rumors outside say Xiao Du is dying, I don’t believe this matter could be so simple. Only by coming to see personally can I be at ease. Tonight we’ll thoroughly investigate his situation, then we can make arrangements tomorrow.”

Han Kun thought for a moment and asked, “But how could Xiao Yunjing just sit and wait for death?”

Xia Mingyuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table, “So you few must guard well for me in the outer room tonight. There must be no mistakes whatsoever.”

Han Kun quickly stood straight and bowed to him, “Your Excellency can be assured. Today we brought only selected elite soldiers, and I’ve arranged a team outside the Marquis household to keep watch. Unless Xiao Yunjing dares to openly oppose our Chancellor’s household, nothing will happen.”

Xia Mingyuan nodded and gave Han Kun several more instructions. After confirming everything was arranged without doubt, he relaxed slightly. Just then, he suddenly heard guards shouting from the outer room, “His Excellency has already retired. No one may enter.”

Seeing Xia Mingyuan give him a meaningful look, Han Kun called out loudly, “What’s the matter?”

A guard outside quickly replied, “It’s a maid from the household, saying she came specially to bring Your Excellency a late-night snack.”

A late-night snack for no reason? Han Kun frowned and was about to have the others dismiss the maid when he suddenly heard Xia Mingyuan speak, “Have her leave the things and go.”

Han Kun was puzzled, but the guard outside had already brought in a plate of pastries. Xia Mingyuan’s eyes were sharp as he instructed Han Kun to break open each piece of pastry. Sure enough, they found a folded paper note hidden inside one piece.

Han Kun carefully unfolded the note, which read: “There is deception in the household. Meet at the west corner gate at the third watch.”

“This…” Han Kun drew a sharp breath, unable to determine whether the message on the note was true or false, and could only look cautiously at Xia Mingyuan.

Xia Mingyuan only thought for an instant before crumpling the note and casually tossing it into the candlelight. Han Kun watched as the paper was quickly consumed by the flames, turning into black smoke, and asked with lingering unease, “What if this really is a message from that person? Should I go explore the corner gate later?”

Xia Mingyuan smiled and shook his head, “Whether true or false, you need only remember our purpose for coming today. We needn’t concern ourselves with others. As long as we stay safely until morning, whatever happens in the household naturally won’t escape our eyes. Before then, the more we do, the easier it is to be caught at fault.”

Han Kun responded with partial understanding, arranged everything in the room, then went to the outer room to stand guard. He also assigned someone to keep watch outside and closely monitor any unusual activities in the household.

Xia Mingyuan’s nerves had been taut all day, and now he felt somewhat weary, but he didn’t dare sleep too deeply, so he lay on the bed fully clothed.

At the third watch, several “dong dong” sounds of the night watchman’s wooden clapper echoed outside the wall. Xia Mingyuan was suddenly awakened by a strange fragrance. He immediately became alert and got down from the bed, following the scent. After taking just a few steps, when he stepped near the bed corner, he suddenly felt the floor sink beneath his feet. Before he could cry out, he fell into an underground pit.

The pit wasn’t deep, but caught off guard, he tumbled headfirst and was knocked senseless. Looking up, he saw the stone slab above had instantly closed, and in the corner behind him, a dark shadow was slowly walking toward him…