After the system set its sights on the dragon throne, the princess started courting death every day.

“You are an obedient person. Don’t be like Xiang Xin, who kills or kicks people every day. He’s a bastard.” The emperor gradually relaxed. “That day he was beaten with you. Today you came, but he didn’t come.”

Changfu, being perceptive, moved a low chair for Xiang An, brought over some snacks, and poured tea.

Xiang Anrou sat down. "Your subject went to see your brother. His injuries haven't healed yet, and he can't walk." As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes again.

"Oh?" The emperor's eyes flashed.

Changfu leaned closer and whispered, "Your Majesty, the First Prince's injuries are more serious than Princess Miankang's."

"Is that so?" The emperor leaned back slightly. "Still so stubborn. Send a few imperial physicians to his residence to take a look."

"Yes." Changfu then withdrew.

The vast palace was filled with a strong, exotic fragrance. A jade beaded curtain hanging from the doorframe fluttered in the wind, and vibrant, exotic gemstones embedded in the floor reflected a beautiful light. Xiang An's tears gradually ceased.

half an hour.

"How is your recovery going?" The emperor leaned back in his chair, looking listless. "I sent some tonics; are they effective?"

She was about to be flogged when the emperor sent over a dozen boxes of fine medicinal herbs to the princess's residence. A beating followed by a sweet treat.

"Alright." The emperor finally spoke, and Xiang An seized the opportunity to kneel down once more, his expression sorrowful. "Father, do you still remember Sun Yi?"

"Sun Yi?" The emperor hesitated for a moment. "Who is he?"

Xiang An explained: "Many years ago, when my princess residence was first built, my father felt sorry that I had no one to accompany me, so he specially assigned a eunuch from his staff to take care of the trivial matters of the princess residence for me."

The emperor understood: "He didn't serve me well enough?"

"He...he died yesterday." As she finished speaking, tears streamed down her face. Xiang An quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief, but could not suppress the soft sobs.

"died?"

Xiang An choked up as she recounted everything that had happened the previous night.

"This morning at court, the Prefect of Yingtian Prefecture reported that the yamen runners on duty last night saw thick smoke billowing from the Princess's residence, but it was extinguished shortly afterward. When the runners went to inquire, the gates were not opened, and only a servant replied through the door that everything was fine."

"Yes, the assassin broke into the manor last night. I was very scared and dared not open the door. I thought that if the door was not opened, the assassin could not get out and perhaps I could find some clues. Even if he was forced to escape, there were still servants and guards in the manor who could hold him off. If he wanted to kill someone, he could just kill me."

“If I open the door, the assassin might escape in the chaos and accidentally injure someone else. I would be willing to die a thousand deaths. Therefore, I dare not open the door casually when someone knocks.”

"Have you found anything?"

“No.” Xiang An shook his head. “It was too dark, and the person was masked. Not only did they not leave any clues, but we also couldn’t see what they looked like.”

"Ha! The assassin escaped." The emperor leaned on the armrest of his chair. "Still completely clean."

"Your subject is guilty." Xiang An bowed deeply. "Please, Father Emperor, forgive me."

"Dead is dead, just a servant. The important thing is the assassin. There are assassins roaming the capital—how are the officers of the Military Command doing their job!" The emperor couldn't help but growl, "Guards, bring Sun Liang to me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure moved outside.

"I know about the assassination attempt. I will send people to search the capital. You don't need to concern yourself with this matter anymore." The emperor looked displeased, stood up, and turned to leave. "Go back."

"Yes." Xiang An kowtowed and saw the emperor off.

Looking up, she saw a graceful figure emerge from behind the jade curtain. The Shu brocade, adorned with vibrant flowers, was magnificent and elegant. Her hair was embroidered with pearls and gold hairpins, and her fair and delicate face was flushed with shyness. She estimated that the figure was sixteen or seventeen years old.

"Princess."

Yan Qing was waiting at the door.

"Let's go back to the manor." Xiang An limped ahead and took the lead.

Yan Qing stepped forward quickly and reached out to help, but Xiang An declined and pushed her away, saying in a low voice, "Wait until we leave the palace."

"Yes."

The palace road that led us there was long, and the palace road that led us back was still long.

As soon as they left the palace, Yan Qing immediately reached out to help Xiang An, but Xiang An pushed him away and silently boarded the carriage. Yan Qing followed closely behind, and as soon as he stood up, he saw Xiang An untie the thick strip of cloth wrapped around his knees. Yan Qing was stunned for a moment, then quickly raised his hand to lower the carriage curtain, grabbed the reins, and drove away.

"I'd like to see for myself what the emperor's favorite paintings look like."

"What's the rush? We don't even know if it's true or not yet. Li Qinhu painted very few paintings during his lifetime, but I've never heard of him ever painting on a vase."

"You don't know this, do you? Li Qinhu's family was poor. In order to learn painting, he did any kind of work that could earn money! I also heard that someone once asked Li Qinhu to paint erotic beauties!"

"It sounds fake. Painters and scholars are all proud and aloof. If you said you were painting a portrait of a beautiful woman, I might believe it to some extent. Erotic art... impossible." The man shook his head as he finished speaking, then extended his index finger to lightly lift the chin of the woman in his arms, his greasy body leaning close to her beautiful face. "Beauty, am I right? How many years have you been in Ping Le Kang?"

"How annoying." The woman gave the man a coquettish look and lightly slapped his hand. "I've been in Ping Le Kang for a year and I've never heard of any Li something-or-other vase."

"The rumors outside are quite detailed, but even if they were true, the madam would have already hidden them away."

"No, there really isn't. If you don't believe me, I'll ask you right now in front of you."

"Alright, alright, go ask around. If you find out, I'll give you this much." The man spread his fingers, his eyes brimming with undisguised greed.

The man didn't understand painting or Li Qinhu. He only knew that the officials in the capital were searching for this vase like mad dogs. Once he found the vase, he would have a chance to curry favor with the high-ranking officials.

Upstairs, the woman pushed open the door and sighed heavily, "Mom, do we really not have any Li Qinhu vases in our building? Young Master Li has asked me about them five times today, and the price he offered each time was higher than the last. I'm so tempted!"

"You're so tempted you're dying? Do you want to try dying for real?!" The madam slammed her hand on the table, her anger reaching its peak.

Today, Lord Wei asked her about the vase again, saying that all the civil and military officials in the court were asking him all sorts of indirect questions, which annoyed him to no end.

This was the fourth time he had asked, but Ping Lekang simply didn't have any. Now, in this critical situation, she was practically risking her life; how could she dare hide it? If she had it, would she refuse to give it to him?

The young masters of the capital asked her every day, asking questions every few words, offering hundreds or even tens of thousands of taels of silver. She was so tempted that she couldn't sleep at night.

But she searched the entire Ping Le Kang area thoroughly, almost to the point of scrubbing it with a rake, and found nothing about Li Qinhu, not even a plate or dish with the character "Li" on it.

She told Lord Wei the truth, but to her dismay, he didn't believe her this time and insisted that she move all the vases in Ping Le Kang's collection together so he could check them one by one that night.