Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

Shoukang Palace was quiet and solemn.

"Aning, are you here to see me again?" The Queen Mother's voice was soft, yet hinted with fatigue.

"Yes, Empress Dowager," Shen Chuning replied respectfully. "At the beginning of winter, An Ning went hunting with her brothers in Fengming Mountain and unexpectedly hunted a fox. This was the first time in An Ning's life that she had personally killed such a precious prey. Thinking of your frequent complaints of knee pain last year, An Ning made these knee pads and brought them to you specially."

After saying that, Shen Chuning carefully handed the knee pad in her hand to the Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother took the kneepad and touched it lightly with her fingers, a look of approval flashing in her eyes: "It has been a long time since Jinyu left. It is rare that you still remember me now."

The Queen Mother took the knee pad from Shen Chuning and her hand touched Shen Chuning's hand.

"Why are your hands so cold? Are you wearing too thin clothes?" The Queen Mother held Shen Chuning's hand with one hand and touched the thickness of her clothes with the other hand.

"It's not that thin, Jian Xin, quickly bring me a hand warmer." The Queen Mother took the hand warmer from Nanny Jian and handed it to Shen Chuning.

Shen Chuning picked up the hand warmer, but instead of holding it in her arms to warm her hands, she placed it on her lower abdomen and pressed it down.

"Aning, why are you putting the hand warmer on your stomach?" The Queen Mother asked curiously when she saw Shen Chuning's actions.

"Empress Dowager, I... I have a stomachache." Shen Chuning lowered her head and said in a low voice.

"Stomachache? What's wrong? Did you eat something bad? Or did you catch a cold? Let the imperial physician take a look." The empress dowager asked with concern.

"No need, Your Majesty, I just caught a cold. I'll be fine after a while." Shen Chuning quickly shook her head.

The Queen Mother saw Shen Chuning's movements and suddenly thought of something, "Is it your menstrual period?"

Shen Chuning nodded gently, a hint of embarrassment and shyness flashing in her eyes, and she whispered, "It's too hot this summer. I couldn't help but crave the coolness and ate too much ice. That's why I always feel uncomfortable. I'm taking the medicine prescribed by the palace doctor to recuperate."

After hearing this, the Queen Mother's face showed worry. "That won't do. A girl's health is a big deal. The family doctor's medical skills are limited, how can he treat her well? Jianxin, go and summon the imperial physician. I remember that Han Yuanzheng is good at treating women's illnesses. Go and invite Han Yuanzheng."

The Queen Mother instructed Nanny Jian anxiously.

However, Nanny Jian looked embarrassed and hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Empress Dowager, Han Yuanzheng..."

The Queen Mother seemed to suddenly remember something, and her face darkened. "Forget it, then go summon Imperial Physician Li."

Shen Chuning keenly noticed the change in the Queen Mother's expression and couldn't help but speculate in her heart.

Considering that the prince in the previous life died after the Chinese New Year, Shen Chuning felt that something must have happened to the prince.

If something happens to the prince, the court will be in chaos.

After sitting in Shoukang Palace for a while, Shen Chuning hurriedly stood up and said goodbye.

After leaving the palace, Shen Chuning went straight to Xinglin Hutong.

After Shen Chuning entered the Han Mansion, she found that everyone had a look of worry on their faces.

When Han Yuanzheng's wife learned of her identity, she came out to receive her in person.

"Han Yuanzheng once treated my family's weakness, but we haven't been able to find him in the past two months, so I came here to inquire about the situation." Shen Chuning said a little embarrassedly.

Madam Han gently filled the teacup in front of Shen Chuning with tea, then replied gently, "Miss Shen must be referring to the Fifth Prince."

After saying that, she stood up, walked to the cabinet behind her, took out a box, placed it on the table, and opened it in front of Shen Chuning.

The box was filled with many small porcelain bottles.

"This is the medicine my master prepared for the Fifth Prince. He only had time to prepare this much at the time, and I have been worried about how to deliver this medicine to the palace and give it to the Fifth Prince. Miss Shen's arrival today has solved a big problem in my mind." There was a hint of relief in Mrs. Han's voice.

Shen Chuning keenly noticed that Mrs. Han's tone was a little strange, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Has Han Yuanzheng not been home for a long time?"

Mrs. Han nodded gently, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes. "About a month ago, he hurried back home. That night, he stayed up late to prepare these pills, and left in a hurry the next morning."

Madam Han walked to the window and looked at the sun in the sky. "Master said that if he doesn't come back for the New Year, he might never come back, so he may not be able to prepare medicine for the Fifth Prince in the future."

When Shen Chuning heard this, her heart was shocked.

She suddenly remembered that in her previous life, Shen Jingwan and Aunt Xue had lived in Xinglin Hutong before returning to the Shen Mansion.

Just when she was reborn, she sent Birui's brother to Xinglin Hutong to inquire about the news.

It turned out that there was only one family living in Xinglin Hutong now, that is Han Yuanzheng's family.

In other words, ever since Han Yuanzheng encountered misfortune, the entire Han family has been affected.

However, Shen Chuning was not sure whether they had encountered the misfortune together with Han Yuanzheng, or whether they had chosen to leave on their own.

So she asked cautiously, "Mrs. Han, if... I'm just saying if, Han Yuanzheng can't come back before the New Year, what are your plans?"

Hearing this question, Madam Han smiled bitterly and said softly, "If the master doesn't come back for one day, I will wait for him in this house for one day; if he doesn't come back for a year, I will also wait for him here for a year; if he really can't come back, I will stay here forever and raise our child to adulthood."

Shen Chuning felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She whispered to Madam Han, "Madam Han, why don't you find a safe place to hide? What if Han Yuanzheng encounters an accident..."

However, before Shen Chuning could finish her words, Madam Han interrupted her anxiously: "Miss Shen, do you know anything? What happened to the master?"

Shen Chuning quickly waved her hands and explained, "No, no, I just said it casually."

Mrs. Han finally felt relieved, but the worry on her face still lingered.

Madam Han sighed, her tone filled with helplessness and anxiety: "Master once told me that if he couldn't return before the New Year, he would let me take the children and leave the capital. But if I really leave, what will happen if Master can't find home when he returns?"

Shen Chuning looked at Madam Han's expression and cautiously probed: "If you plan to leave the capital, I can help you arrange everything."

But Madam Han shook her head firmly, refusing. "If His Majesty truly wants our entire family's lives, we won't be able to escape even if we flee to the ends of the earth. Furthermore, doing so will not only implicate you, Miss Shen, but will also cause trouble for many more people."

Mrs. Han paused for a moment, then continued, "Miss Shen, I have a humble request..."