Princess Zhenzhen was considered a favored person before the Empress Dowager. As soon as news of her severe illness spread, consorts from all quarters came to visit, yet not one could see Princess Zhenzhen in person. Soon, the imperial physicians declared that funeral preparations should be made for Princess Zhenzhen.

The Empress Dowager was finally alarmed and sent Eunuch Lai Xi to inquire, only to receive Consort Li’s heart-wrenching wails in response.

“How could she fall so gravely ill so suddenly? This dowager shall go see her.” The Empress Dowager thought of her granddaughter, who had once been gentle and obedient at her knees, feeling unable to bear it. She prepared to move to the princess’s bedchamber but was dissuaded by Lai Xi.

“Empress Dowager, the Ninth Princess’s illness came on fiercely, and the cause is unknown. The imperial physicians say funeral preparations should be made. If it were to affect you, that would be terrible…”

The Empress Dowager hesitated for a long time before sighing: “Very well. Lai Xi, go find Wei Wuxie and have him report the Ninth Princess’s matter to His Majesty. That child was deeply cherished by this dowager. We cannot simply let her depart so coldly and quietly. The Imperial Clan Court and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices must quickly arrange the funeral rites. The funeral ceremony… shall follow the protocol for a first-rank official…”

Lai Xi hurried to find Wei Wuxie to relay the message.

Wei Wuxie was stunned upon hearing this.

“Eunuch Wei, please quickly report to His Majesty. No matter what, she is still a princess.” Seeing Wei Wuxie motionless, Lai Xi urged.

Wei Wuxie looked helpless: “This servant also wants to report to His Majesty, but His Majesty announced his seclusion early this morning!”

Emperor Mingkang was eager to cultivate the Dao. Having endured for so long, he finally couldn’t resist entering seclusion again. Wei Wuxie could already imagine His Majesty’s expression when he emerged to hear news of the princess’s death.

“This, what can be done about this?” Lai Xi’s head grew heavy upon hearing this.

“What else can be done? Notify the Imperial Clan Court and Court of Imperial Sacrifices to prepare first.”

Long Ying was practicing swordwork when he heard news of Princess Zhenzhen’s critical condition. His long sword clattered to the ground as he immediately ran toward the princess’s bedchamber.

“Long Ying, are you mad? That’s not a place you can barge into!” Other guards stopped him.

“Let me through!” Long Ying’s face was expressionless, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

The princess had just seen him yesterday—how could she possibly have suddenly contracted an acute illness?

Thinking of how Princess Zhenzhen had spoken unusually more than usual yesterday, Long Ying’s heart felt as if pierced by ten thousand arrows, wishing he could go mad.

The princess was not ill—she must have been harmed by someone!

“Long Ying, calm down. If you rashly barge into the princess’s bedchamber, you’ll lose your life!”

“I am the princess’s guard. If something has happened to the princess, I shouldn’t live alone anyway. I’ll say it once more—let me through, or don’t blame me for turning ruthless.”

“Fine, if you want to die, we won’t stop you. But think clearly—can you see the princess by charging in blindly like this? The princess might be fine, but you could be hacked to death instead.”

Long Ying lowered his hands, gazing toward Princess Zhenzhen’s bedchamber for a long time without looking away.

“Sir, the Ninth Princess is in trouble.” A Jinlin Guard reported to Jiang Yuanchao in a low voice.

Jiang Yuanchao frowned slightly.

This meant the Ninth Princess had not taken Miss Qiao’s antidote pill.

Very well, he had done his best. If the Ninth Princess was determined to seek death, she couldn’t blame others.

Jiang Yuanchao was about to let the matter go, but the small porcelain bottle hidden in his sleeve made him hesitate.

If the Ninth Princess died, she would be heartbroken, wouldn’t she?

He already owed her greatly. If he could spare her some grief, that would be good.

Jiang Yuanchao sighed softly, took out the small porcelain bottle, and pressed it into the Jinlin Guard’s hands: “Find a way to give this to that little eunuch and have him deliver it to the Ninth Princess’s most trusted person.”

If the Ninth Princess could swallow this antidote pill, she might be able to hold on, which would at least buy the imperial physicians time for treatment.

This was all he could do. The rest would depend on the Ninth Princess’s fate.

Night had already fallen, and Long Ying paced outside Princess Zhenzhen’s bedchamber.

Due to propriety between men and women, although he was Princess Zhenzhen’s personal bodyguard, he normally couldn’t step foot into the princess’s bedchamber, which now became his greatest obstacle to seeing the princess.

Long Ying looked up at the darkening sky, lost in thought.

The sky within the imperial palace always appeared gloomy and narrow, making one feel oppressed at the sight.

Once it became completely dark, he might find an opportunity.

Long Ying suddenly turned around, raising his hand to strike: “Who’s there?”

“Don’t attack, don’t attack.”

Long Ying grabbed the person’s collar and pulled him close, using the already lit palace lanterns to see clearly that it was a small eunuch with ordinary features.

Such small eunuchs could be seen everywhere in the palace—the kind one would have difficulty remembering after seeing once.

Long Ying disliked talking and stared coldly at the small eunuch.

“Let go, I can’t breathe.”

Long Ying released his grip but continued staring intently at the small eunuch, ready to attack at any moment.

The small eunuch handed over the porcelain bottle.

Long Ying looked puzzled.

“An antidote pill that can neutralize the poison in the princess’s body—”

Before the small eunuch could finish speaking, Long Ying grabbed him by the throat: “How do you know the princess has been poisoned?”

The small eunuch covered his mouth and began coughing.

Long Ying released his grip and said in a low voice: “Speak, or I’ll take your life!”

The small eunuch didn’t seem afraid and sneered: “If you keep making a commotion with all this grabbing, the Ninth Princess will truly be beyond saving. As for me, I’m just a small person following orders. I don’t know what’s going on. Even if you beat me to death, I still wouldn’t know.”

“Then what do you know?”

“I only know this porcelain bottle contains an antidote pill. If given to the Ninth Princess, it might allow her to hold on. If she’s lucky, she might be able to wait for the imperial physicians’ treatment.”

Long Ying gripped the porcelain bottle tightly and suddenly reached into his chest to pull out a jade pendant, pressing it into the small eunuch’s hands: “What else do you know? Please tell me.”

This jade pendant had once been bestowed upon him by the princess. Fearing damage, he had been reluctant to wear it outside and had always kept it close to his body. The princess had even been annoyed with him for not knowing how to accessorize.

The small eunuch had good taste and immediately recognized the jade pendant as no ordinary item. Seeing Long Ying like this, he felt some compassion. He quietly pocketed the jade pendant and looked around before saying: “I once delivered an antidote pill to the princess.”

Long Ying was startled and pressed: “Who exactly sent the antidote pill?”

“A young lady. Alright, don’t ask anymore—I don’t know anything else even if you do.” The small eunuch waved his hand and scurried away.

A young lady.

Long Ying clutched the porcelain bottle, an answer flashing through his mind.

Deep into the night, thick clouds obscured the bright moon and stars, making places not illuminated by palace lanterns appear even darker.

Long Ying secretly infiltrated Princess Zhenzhen’s bedchamber, following the faint sounds of weeping to find Princess Zhenzhen’s living quarters.

After waiting for an unknown length of time, the weeping gradually ceased. Long Ying heard voices from inside: “Her Ladyship has cried herself to sleep.”

“I’ll get some clothes. You guard Her Highness well.”

“Mm.”

The palace maids’ conversation carried thick sobs, clearly knowing that Princess Zhenzhen might not survive the night, yet none dared say so.

Through the window crack, Long Ying saw a palace maid with red-rimmed eyes standing guard by the bed, while Consort Li lay sleeping at the bedside.

He flicked his finger, sending a piece of broken silver striking the palace maid’s neck.

The palace maid whimpered softly and collapsed beside the bed. Long Ying took the opportunity to quietly slip inside.

On the bed, Princess Zhenzhen’s entire body was rigid, her face already blackened.

Long Ying glanced once, feeling hot blood surge in his throat, which he forcibly swallowed back down.