Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Yan Zhen paused, not answering immediately, but instead gave the Imperial Concubine a somewhat puzzled look—she was testing the Imperial Concubine.

When the Imperial Concubine saw her expression, she was slightly taken aback, and unconsciously tightened her grip on her hand: "Lingyi, could it be that you, like others, think that falling into the water was a scheme orchestrated by Ajin to ruin your reputation and force you to marry him?"

Yan Zhen was silent for a moment, then lowered his eyes and said with some fear, "I...I don't know..."

"You and A-Jin have been in love since childhood, and everyone in the palace knows that. Although the Emperor has not said it outright, he has already tacitly approved of your marriage to A-Jin. Why would he go to such lengths, risking your life, to force you to marry him using such despicable means?"

The Imperial Concubine said anxiously, "This is a trap set by people with ulterior motives. They want to sow discord between you and A-Jin, and also want the Emperor to suspect that A-Jin is coveting the position of Crown Prince. If you believe them, you will fall into their trap."

At this point, the Imperial Concubine's eyes reddened: "Ah Jin went to the Emperor to apologize early this morning and hasn't returned yet. Lingyi, if you also believe the instigation of these villains, what should we do?"

Yan Zhen observed her without making a sound.

From concern to anxiety, and then to panic, the Imperial Concubine's emotional transitions were so natural and unpretentious. If they weren't genuine, then her acting skills would be nothing short of masterful.

"My lady..."

"Enough." The Imperial Concubine tucked her handkerchief into her eyes, stood up and said, "What's done is done, there's no point in saying more. I understand your situation in the palace. Rest assured, I will definitely find out who is behind this and give you an explanation."

After she finished speaking, she gave a few words of advice to get some rest, and then hurriedly left with her palace servants.

Yihua Palace returned to silence. Yan Zhen pondered for a while and then asked Hongyu beside him, "In your opinion, how credible are the Consort's words?"

Hongyu lowered her head: "This servant dares not speak recklessly."

"But it doesn't matter."

Hongyu then cautiously said, "This servant dares to guess that this matter has nothing to do with the Imperial Concubine and His Highness."

"Tell me carefully."

“Everyone in the palace knows that the princess is in poor health. If you were deliberately pushed into the water at this time of year and caught a cold… it would be more harmful than beneficial to the eldest prince and the imperial concubine. On the other hand, if the eldest prince loses your and the Xiao family’s support, it would be like cutting off his arm. They would then have a chance to compete for the position of crown prince.”

Yan Zhen said thoughtfully, "That makes sense. I was just thinking too little."

As she spoke, she coughed softly.

Hongyu fetched a cloak and draped it over her shoulders. Just then, a round-faced maid rushed in and announced, "Miss, the Second Prince has arrived."

Your Highness?

Yan Zhen searched through the original owner's memories and found that this second prince was named Xiahou Chuan, eighteen years old this year, born to Consort Chen, and had a good relationship with the original owner.

Xiao Lingyi was only ten years old when she entered the palace. She was still a little girl and missed her family so much that she fell ill. For a while, she was depressed. At that time, Xiahou Chuan, who was thirteen years old, was audacious. He disguised her and hid her in the purchasing department's carriage, hoping to take her out of the palace to see her family.

The two were discovered at the palace gate and sent back to the inner palace. Xiahou Chuan was severely beaten by Consort Chen.

Xiahou Chuan was a lively person who would often run outside the palace whenever he had free time. He would bring back some delicious food and fun things to give to her. The original owner had been in the palace for five years, and all her imagination about the world outside the palace walls came from this second prince.

"Invite him in."

The round-faced maid named Green Pearl whispered, "The Second Prince said you are not feeling well and it is inconvenient for him to come in. He asks you to come to the door to see him."

Yan Zhen thought for a moment, then put on his cloak and walked to the entrance of Yihua Palace, but Xiahou Chuan was nowhere to be seen.

Her eyes searched around, and suddenly she heard the sound of wings flapping outside the palace walls. She looked closely and saw a wooden kite flying in from outside.

The kite was exquisitely made. After a few spins, it flew to her. A paper package was hanging below it. Hongyu immediately reached out, took the package off, and opened it to find a bag of shortbread.

A whistle came from afar. Yan Zhen looked up and saw a young man in a blue brocade robe clinging to the outer wall of Yihua Palace.

The boy had handsome features and smiled when he saw her. He was still holding a kite string in his hand and called her by her childhood name in a low voice: "Aheng! Aheng!"

Recognizing that it was Xiahou Chuan, Yan Zhen lifted his foot to go over.

Xiahou Chuan stopped her, saying, "Don't come any closer! My mother won't let me see you. I have to go, or she'll give me another beating if she finds out."

As he spoke, he quietly asked, "Are you feeling better? Has your fever subsided?"

"I feel better."

"That's good." Xiahou Chuan said, then raised his chin to indicate the candy in Hongyu's hand, "That's Chen's new candy. If your medicine tastes bitter, just suck on one. I'll go buy you more after you finish it."

Yan Zhen paused for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."

Xiahou Chuan didn't linger long, retrieving his kite: "I have to go. Take good care of yourself. I'll come see you again when Mother no longer restricts me."

After saying that, he looked around like a thief, and seeing that no one was around, he quietly slipped off the wall and left.

Xiahou Chuan came and went quickly. Yan Zhen looked at the bag of shortbread in Hongyu's hand and raised an eyebrow slightly.

This Xiahou Chuan is quite interesting.

When Yan Zhen woke up, she saw the Imperial Concubine and Xiahou Chuan. Now she felt exhausted, so she went back to the inner palace and planned to take another nap.

But before she could lie down, Green Pearl came in from outside and said that the Third Prince had sent someone to deliver something.

It was a strange stone the size of a palm, radiating a warm heat. It was brought by a senior eunuch and two palace maids, who said it was beneficial for warding off the cold.

This incident set a precedent, and for the rest of the day, people from all the palaces sent gifts.

From large items like fabrics, jewelry, and rare treasures to small items like a sweet soup, the tables in the inner palace were piled high with them.

The gifts revealed the closeness of the relationship. Yan Zhen perked up and examined the gifts, matching them with the givers one by one. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that the original owner had a good relationship with the four princes who were of similar age.

Besides the second prince Xiahou Chuan, there are also the third prince Xiahou Xiao and the fifth prince Xiahou An.

Xiahou Jin, who jumped into the lake to save her, has not appeared since she woke up.

The original owner had a poor constitution. Although the high fever subsided, the energy and spirit depleted by the illness could not be recovered in a short time.

Yan Zhen lay in bed on and off for three days, finally managing to muster the energy to go out and bask in the sun on the morning of the fourth day.

As autumn approached, the Imperial Household Department sent over many potted chrysanthemums, which were lined up under the eaves.

Yan Zhen picked the best-blooming flower, sat by the fishpond, and plucked off the petals, throwing them into the pond.

Watching the koi carp eagerly swim over, only to slink away dejectedly after realizing it wasn't fish food, repeating this cycle over and over again, I never tire of it.

Before she could finish picking a single chrysanthemum with dragon-shaped claws, a gentle male voice came from behind her: "Ah Heng."

Yan Zhen turned his head.

The newcomer wore a dark blue brocade robe with narrow sleeves, the collar and cuffs embroidered with intricate and delicate dark patterns in gold thread, a white jade pendant with a dragon hanging from his waist, and his black hair was tied up with a crown inlaid with gilded jade. He was indescribably handsome and had a noble air about him.