When Gu Yi woke up groggily, she was on horseback, bound to the front of the saddle with her head hanging down.

Honestly, the blood rushing to her head made her feel dizzy, and her skull ached.

She strained her neck, looked around, and saw Hamu’er sitting by a fire. They were in woodland, though not particularly dense—mostly low shrubs. The black horse beneath her, still snorting, had been running for quite some time.

Hamu’er wasn’t looking at her, so Gu Yi tried to shift her body on the saddle.

She was both thirsty and hungry, and her head still hurt.

For others, fake deaths seemed so easy, but why was hers so difficult? Those romance novels had misled her!

Hamu’er had already noticed the movement on horseback. He frowned as he rose from the fire, walked to the horse, and grabbed the rope around Gu Yi’s waist like catching a rabbit, lifting her down.

Gu Yi promptly fell to the ground, her head spinning momentarily before she steadied herself.

Hamu’er looked down at her expressionlessly. Gu Yi could see his face was covered in dust; he must have been traveling for a long time. She had no idea where he planned to take her.

Gu Yi turned her head and gazed pitifully at the water skin hanging from the saddle. Though Hamu’er snorted coldly, he did give her a few sips of water.

After drinking, Gu Yi had enough strength to ask, “Is Na Guo dead?”

Hamu’er’s brows furrowed, and instead of answering, he asked, “Were you awake then?”

Gu Yi quickly shook her head, but judging by his reaction, Na Guo was indeed dead.

The plot was on track!

Hamu’er’s gaze swept over her and noticed her hands tied behind her back, with deep bloody marks where the rope had cut into her wrists.

He squatted down and loosened the ropes slightly.

Gu Yi instinctively backed away when he suddenly approached, but after her wrists were slightly loosened, Hamu’er stood up and walked away.

Finding this rather strange, a flash of insight came to Gu Yi: “You’re not taking me to the Dantat capital, are you?”

Hamu’er laughed, “And what if I am?”

Gu Yi steadied herself. With Na Guo dead and Di City likely fallen, Dantat’s defeat was certain. Taking her to the capital would serve no purpose unless he intended to present her to some prince or the Dantat sovereign.

This wouldn’t be the first time Hamu’er had done such a thing.

Gu Yi eyed him warily and moved her sore wrists. The string of multi-treasure beads on her arm, freed from the rope’s restriction, had slid down near her hand, cool against her skin, helping her stay somewhat calm.

She needed to find an opportunity to escape before reaching the capital.

After resting briefly, Hamu’er pulled her back onto the horse and headed out of the woods.

The horse moved quickly. After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a sharp eagle cry pierced the air. Gu Yi looked up and saw a somewhat familiar black eagle with a white head soaring through the clear blue sky.

This looked like Xiaoyan’s pet!

Hamu’er tightly reined in his horse, stopping to look up with a frown.

Eagles trained by falconers had excellent eyesight and could deliver messages or track objects and people.

Hamu’er snapped back to attention and carefully examined Gu Yi, who was lying on the horse.

After looking her over, his gaze finally fell on the beads visible at her wrist, protruding from her sleeve.

A golden agate-like bead that smelled of eagle fragrance.

He laughed loudly and suddenly yanked the string of beads from Gu Yi’s hand. “Xiaoyan gave you the eagle fragrance bead?”

What was that?

Gu Yi winced in pain, frozen in place, watching sideways as Hamu’er pulled at her string of multi-treasure beads, his expression extremely grim.

In the sky, the eagle continued circling, its cries incessant, never leaving for a moment.

Suddenly, Gu Yi understood. This string of beads must be some kind of eagle tracking device, allowing the black eagle with the white head to find her.

Xiao Gouzi’s schemes ran so deep! She had been too naive, truly believing it was just an ordinary gift.

Seeing that Gu Yi remained silent, Hamu’er sighed coldly: “So that’s it… When we were heading north, I thought Xiaoyan was simply overwhelmed, eager to lead troops northward, which is why there weren’t many pursuers. Now I realize he was probably just being cautious, fearing that if he pursued too aggressively, I might kill you, leaving only Concubine Zhao.” Hamu’er laughed with a “Ha!” and forcefully threw the beads into the shrubs.

He took out a bamboo whistle hanging from his neck and blew it gently.

The Ha clan had been falconers for generations.

Now he would see whose eagle was superior—his or Xiaoyan’s.

Hamu’er whipped his horse forward and said to Gu Yi with a smile: “Fortunately, I had a moment of softness and didn’t kill you. You’ve proven even more useful than I initially anticipated.”

Gu Yi froze, turning to see Hamu’er’s expression growing harder, his smile chilling.

Shortly after, another long eagle cry sounded in the sky. Gu Yi strained her neck to look up and saw another black eagle flying in from the distant blue sky, pursuing the circling white-headed black eagle. The two eagles beat their wings and clashed in the high sky.

Taking advantage of this moment, Hamu’er cracked his whip in the air and spurred his horse to gallop forward.

Gu Yi’s heart sank even further.

*

Meanwhile, in the military camp, Chief Physician Hu had been burning the midnight oil for days, finally finding in the ancient scroll “The Classic of Hundred Herbs” a poisonous plant similar to what Yu Dai had described. According to the text, this poison indeed caused the victim’s blood to darken, with the toxin traveling throughout the body. Once it entered the heart vessels, no medicine could cure it. However, if discovered in time, artemisia could counteract this poison.

Artemisia grew in the Great Mu region, but due to the climate in the northern areas of Di City, it was difficult to find. Chief Physician Hu had sent people searching for days without success.

However, there was artemisia in the pearl medicine.

When examining Consort Huai’s condition, the Emperor had given him one of the pearl medicines formulated by Gao Xiyuan for close inspection.

Chief Physician Hu had kept this pearl until now, but the pearl medicine contained not only artemisia but also other toxic substances, albeit in different dosages with different levels of toxicity.

Chief Physician Hu had used acupuncture to temporarily protect the Emperor’s heart vessels. After hesitating for three days, until he was certain that artemisia could not be found and the Emperor had been unconscious for too long with weakening breath, he could wait no longer.

Chief Physician Hu took out the pearl medicine stored in a porcelain bottle and carefully extracted a dose about half the size of a fingernail with a silver needle, dissolving it in water.

This was risky—if too little, the artemisia wouldn’t save the Emperor; if too much, the Emperor might be poisoned by the pearl medicine.

Though experienced, he couldn’t be entirely certain of success, so Chief Physician Hu wrote a letter overnight to his wife and children. If the Emperor died and he lost his life as a result, at least they would have an explanation.

After administering the medicine to the Emperor that night, Chief Physician Hu stayed by his bedside without leaving, not even loosening his clothes.

Early the next morning, at dawn, Chief Physician Hu finally saw the Emperor’s fingers move slightly. Overjoyed, he immediately summoned Yu Dai and General Zhou to the main tent.

Xiaoyan woke from his deep dream to find it already bright daylight.

The three men by his bedside sighed with relief in succession.

“Ah Yan!”

“Your Majesty is awake!”

“Your humble servant begs forgiveness!”

Xiaoyan turned his gaze, his eyes still showing confusion and fear.

Candles had been burning throughout the night in the cowhide tent, with only a finger’s width of white wax remaining on the candlestick by the bed. The sand table he had arranged earlier still stood on the table.

Seeing the Emperor open his eyes, Chief Physician Hu quickly handed him the cup of hot tea from the table.

Yu Dai reached out to help support Xiaoyan.

Xiaoyan half-reclined on the bed, took a sip of tea, and finally came to his senses. He reached up to touch the right side of his neck, feeling a layer of white gauze.

Chief Physician Hu immediately said: “Your Majesty, the wound has been washed with clean water, and I’ve covered it with white gauze. The poison in Your Majesty can be neutralized by artemisia, but there is none in this area. I boldly tried using the artemisia from the pearl medicine.” He bowed deeply. “I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!”

Seeing Xiaoyan nod without any sign of blame, Chief Physician Hu finally felt completely relieved.

Once his throat was less dry, Xiaoyan asked: “How many days have I slept?”

“Four days, Your Majesty,” General Zhou answered, then continued happily, “Your Majesty’s wisdom prevailed—Na Guo is dead, and Di City fell the day before yesterday!”

Xiaoyan’s gaze swept around the tent, but he only asked General Zhou: “Was the carriage intercepted?”

General Zhou was startled inwardly but dared not show it. He saluted with clasped hands, “I will immediately send someone to invite the Consort to come.” With that, he promptly left.

Chief Physician Hu lowered his head upon hearing this, while Yu Dai, not understanding, looked at Xiaoyan again. “Does Your Majesty still feel unwell?”

Xiaoyan moved his limbs, which were indeed weak, but that was to be expected after sleeping for four days. “Nothing serious.”

Chief Physician Hu let out a long breath of relief, showing a gratified smile. “I’ve ordered some porridge to be warmed. Since Your Majesty is awakening, please have some porridge first to nourish your stomach. Afterward, I’ll prescribe replenishing and warming medicines. After the remaining poison is cleared, Your Majesty must take care and rest, and must not overexert yourself.”

Xiaoyan absently responded with a “hmm,” furrowing his brow as he watched the tent flap.

General Zhou returned very quickly, lifting the curtain to enter and meeting the Emperor’s gaze, which startled him greatly.

It was full of expectation, with emotions suddenly revealed.

He hurriedly lowered his eyes and stepped aside, revealing Zhao Wan behind him.

Seeing her, Xiaoyan’s eyes immediately darkened, and he only asked: “Where is Concubine Rou?”

Bitterness spread through Zhao Wan’s heart, weighing so heavily that she could barely breathe. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t utter a single word.

That day, the soldiers had abandoned Gu Yi and saved only her.

She later learned that Na Guo was already dead, and with Gu Yi recaptured by the Dantat people, she was unlikely to survive.

She couldn’t say it.

General Zhou hurriedly knelt and said: “I have failed you. That day, I could only prioritize Your Majesty’s safety. I sent cavalry to pursue the carriage, but halfway there, a man on horseback suddenly appeared and took Concubine Rou hostage. Your servant was incompetent and could only rescue Consort Zhao.”

Xiaoyan silently stared at General Zhou kneeling before the tent flap. After a moment, he slowly said: “General Zhou has violated military orders. Fifty strokes of the rod.”

General Zhou saluted with clasped hands: “I obey the imperial edict.” He then left the tent to receive his punishment.

Xiaoyan no longer looked at Zhao Wan. “You may withdraw,” was all he said.

Zhao Wan’s hands and feet grew cold. Before she could even speak a single word, she had to retreat awkwardly.

Chief Physician Hu looked up to see that the Emperor’s face had turned deathly pale. With his black hair falling over his shoulders, he looked as white as paper, completely bloodless.

He urgently advised: “Your Majesty must take care of your health!”

Yu Dai had never interacted with Concubine Rou but remembered how Xiaoyan had pursued her when Bo Gu had kidnapped her.

He had thought it was simply eagerness to kill Bo Gu.

Yu Dai frowned at Xiaoyan, “Your Majesty…”

“General Yu,” Xiaoyan called to him.

“At your service,” Yu Dai said, standing at attention.

Xiaoyan continued in a deep voice: “My eagle bead is with Concubine Rou. Quickly dispatch the eagle to find Ha Duo. Finding Ha Duo will lead to Concubine Rou’s whereabouts. Once found, report to me immediately.”

Yu Dai was greatly shocked. A falconer’s eagle bead was never separated from their person—it was a lifesaving strategy in times of danger, allowing eagles to find one’s location.

Xiaoyan had given his eagle bead to Concubine Rou.

Xiaoyan raised his head to look at the frozen Yu Dai, who immediately came to his senses. “I obey the imperial edict,” he said, leaving to carry out the order.

The tent grew quiet again. Chief Physician Hu, with head bowed, earnestly advised: “Your Majesty, please take heart and rest for a few days. Concubine Rou will surely be blessed by heaven’s protection!”

Xiaoyan wasn’t listening to his words. His mind was replaying the scenes from his dream, vivid before his eyes—past and present lives intertwined. Fear gripped his heart. If Gu Yi had died early in every life, would she meet an early death in this life too…?

He clenched his fists within his sleeves and closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling several times.

Life was like a game of chess, and in this game, it seemed he was manipulated at every turn. But being in the game, having seen through it, he naturally would no longer be manipulated. Life and death might be fated, but even if it was fate, he refused to believe in it!

Xiaoyan suddenly tasted sweetness and blood in his throat and violently coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Chief Physician Hu was terrified at the sight. He quickly helped Xiaoyan lie down and urgently said: “Your Majesty may still have residual poison. Protecting the heart vessels is most crucial now! I… I’ll quickly fetch some heart-clearing pills!”

Before he finished speaking, Chief Physician Hu had already rushed off like a shooting star to get the medicine.