A piece of Japanese incense

"Look at what you said, it's as if our family is purely dependent on him, and mother and Aunt Hong have done nothing."

"Then... what about Her Royal Highness the Princess? We didn't know it was the Crown Princess who harmed the girl before, so we always suspected that it was Her Royal Highness the Princess. But you see, we have been in the palace for so long, has Her Royal Highness the Princess ever treated the girl harshly? On the contrary, she has taken good care of her! If she didn't know that the Prince Consort loved the girl, why would the Princess care so much about her?"

I continued to argue, "The princess is a very good person! What does it have to do with him? And! If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten. What do you think the Crown Princess has to do with him? Is she an old lover?"

"Bah! Bah! Bah! Nonsense! How can someone belittle his own father like this!"

"That's right~ Why did he arrest me for no reason? He also wanted to kill me! What's his intention? I tell you, he didn't let me have too much contact with the people of the Feng family. Humph! I don't know what he is planning!"

The room was filled with a light aroma.

My eyes gradually lost focus, Yuyi blurred in front of my eyes, and her voice became distant and ethereal. My breathing became steady and rhythmic, and my head gently rested on the side of the bed. Just like that, I fell asleep inadvertently, like a small boat slowly sailing into a quiet harbor in the night.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince and I have never met before. I hope Your Highness the Crown Prince will stop pestering me like this!"

A girl was stopped by a man. Was it... Aban? Am I dreaming again?

"We met when we were little! I saved you! Do you remember? We hid in the reeds until daybreak, when your family found you!"

"It's you……"

"It's me!"

"I would like to thank His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for saving my life."

"Actually... I'm not the crown prince. I just look like him..."

The girl took two steps back, but the man grabbed her wrist and said, "Don't be afraid! I was taken away by your father so that I could appear in this palace one day and protect you!"

"My father? You were placed in the palace by my father? You..."

"Yes! I am now the crown prince! He'er, no matter what difficulties you have, you can come to me!" The man's face was filled with joy...

"Your Highness Zhixu! Don't you remember me? It was during the Ullambana Festival in the 20th year of Zhaoding, at your grandfather's funeral!" The girl's voice trembled in the air, like a willow in the night wind, eager for a response.

"What on earth do you want to say? Don't write to me again! You have no shame!" Feng Zhixu showed dissatisfaction on his face and impatiently threw the letter in his hand.

(Ouch! The scene changes immediately? What’s the plot?)

"Your Highness Zhixu! I am Zhi Yihe, the daughter of the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet! That day, my father and I attended your grandfather's funeral and accidentally got separated from my father. It was Your Highness Zhixu who lent a hand and led me to find my father."

Feng Zhixu did not respond. He snorted absentmindedly and was about to turn around and leave.

“Your Highness Zhixu! I…I…” Zhi Yihe picked up the letter on the ground, raised her hand above her head, and said with a red face: “I am just grateful for your kindness back then, so…so…”

"No need!" Feng Zhixu's voice was like a thunderbolt, cutting through the sky, cold and resolute. He had no intention of stopping, and walked straight past Zhi Yihe and out of the study.

The sick Zhi Yihe curled up helplessly in the embrace of the bed like a withered leaf. Her face was as pale as the first snow, and her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat. It seemed that even breathing had become heavy and difficult. Her eyes had lost their former luster, and they were half-closed, revealing a trace of fatigue and helplessness.

The quilt tightly wrapped her body. As she coughed faintly, Yu Yi walked in from outside: "Miss, His Highness Zhixu learned that you were ill and came to visit you."

Zhi Yihe sat up straight in surprise: "Really? Quick! Change my clothes for me! Ahem! I want to go see him!"

Yu Tuan put down the medicine bowl, held Zhi Yihe's arm, and advised: "Miss! You have been ill for more than half a month, and your health has just improved. You should not..."

"Stop talking nonsense! Change my clothes quickly!" Zhi Yihe got out of bed without hesitation with his frail body.

"Your Highness Zhixu! I thought... you..."

Feng Zhixu gently lifted Zhi Yihe's wrist, his eyes revealed an unprecedented gentleness: "Sister Yihe has not come to the study for several days. Today, I learned that you are not feeling well. I feel guilty for being indifferent to you before, so I came to Changle Palace in person to visit you. Is Sister Yihe getting better?"

"Ahem! Your Highness, don't mind. I am a commoner. Ahem."

Feng Zhixu patted Zhi Yihe's back, feeling the warmth in his palm. His voice was full of concern: "Why do you still have a cough? Didn't Zhiyu order the imperial physician to ask the imperial physician Xing to treat you? Why doesn't he seem to have a good solution for your illness?"

"Imperial Doctor Xing is an excellent doctor, but I have a unique physique. My grandfather has taken good care of me since I was young. Naturally, Imperial Doctor Xing is not as familiar with my physical condition as my grandfather..." Zhi Yihe's cheeks were stained with a faint blush due to Feng Zhixu's touch, as if the sunset was gently caressing the calm sky.

"Oh~ This is not simple! Zhiyu is really something, wouldn't it be better if you invited your grandfather into the palace earlier~"

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has sent someone to invite my grandfather to the palace. I have recovered a lot in the past few days."

Feng Zhixu carefully filled Zhi Yihe's cup with hot tea: "That's good! That's good~"

Zhi Yihe took the teacup and accidentally touched Feng Zhixu's fingers. Feng Zhixu couldn't help but exclaimed softly, then held her hands tightly: "Your palms are like ice, how can you say you have recovered? How can anyone feel at ease with you!"

Zhi Yihe's hands were wrapped in Feng Zhixu's broad palms. The blush on her face was like peach petals blown by the spring breeze, spreading from her ears to her entire face, until even the most delicate pores were dyed crimson.

Feng Zhixu's eyes were full of inquiry. He said with emotion, "Oh! That's right! I've never seen you and Zhiyu talk to each other before. I didn't expect that when you were sick, Zhiyu was so worried that she even disobeyed the Crown Princess and insisted on coming to Changle Palace to visit you!"

Zhi Yihe hurriedly explained: "Don't misunderstand, Your Highness Zhixu! I am just an acquaintance of yours truly! I am ill and have been in a coma with a high fever. I don't know if your Highness..."

Feng Zhixu smiled softly and consoled him: "Hey, look at you, I was just asking out of curiosity, you don't have to be so nervous."

Zhi Yihe bit her lips tightly, looked at him silently, and said nothing.