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

Don't be fooled by the fact that the ministers in the palace are currently unable to leave and are all obedient. Who can guarantee that there aren't any of them colluding with the Fifth Prince and the Third Prince who are now rebelling?

Who can guarantee that the eunuchs and guards who were given false orders to close the palace gates weren't acting on their own?

Xiang An was already sweating profusely. Two schemes with the same goal, all intertwined, what was real and what was fake? Was their goal really just to obtain the military seal or the command token?

Or was she overthinking?

Is there really such a coincidence in the world?

But who has the ability to get so many ministers to act and set traps together?

Why didn't someone with such great abilities participate in the rebellion when his father passed away?

A thick fog loomed before my eyes; one wrong step and I would fall into an abyss.

The Prime Minister and Bai Yuchen left quickly and peacefully.

When Xiang An turned around to try calling out to Fu Qingbai to follow him, he found that Fu Qingbai had already taken off his white undergarment, revealing his strong upper body with broad shoulders and a slender waist.

Perhaps it was related to his years of riding horses and fighting; although his waist was slender, the lines of his waist were smooth and powerful, and his muscles were well-proportioned, neither too thin nor too exaggerated. His fair skin seemed to be glowing... no, it was that her eyes were practically gleaming with envy at the sight of such a handsome man's figure.

With her arms crossed and her chest folded, she watched Xiang An with great interest. As for whether she would feel shy—she didn't know either, since she was just like a wisp of air, and air doesn't feel shy.

In fact, he only took off his upper body, while his lower body remained fully clothed. Xiang An's skin wasn't thick enough to dare to look at him completely.

Because of his waist and abdomen injury, Fu Qingbai couldn't do any big movements. He dressed slowly, and because of the cold weather, he had to wear several layers of clothes. By the time he finished dressing, his forehead was already covered in sweat.

The patient's injuries were obvious, but Xiang An didn't care. She lightly sat on his shoulder and was about to call his name repeatedly when Fu Qingbai opened the door and walked out, his steps unsteady and his lips pale, clearly because walking had aggravated his wounds.

Looking around, Xiang An noticed that Fu Qingbai was walking in the same direction as the Prime Minister, and she was overjoyed. However, after observing for a while, she frowned and urged, "Can you walk faster? You can't catch up with the Prime Minister and Bai Yuchen if you walk so slowly."

Heaven and earth bear witness, it's fortunate that Fu Qingbai couldn't hear what she was saying, otherwise her brows would be furrowed even more noticeably than they are now, as she's tearing at her wound.

Taking a deep breath, Xiang An floated high into the air, looked around, and indeed could not see the Prime Minister and Bai Yuchen in the vast expanse of white snow. Dejected, he sat back on Fu Qingbai's shoulder listlessly: "We're too slow, we can't see them anymore."

Even if you're heading in the right direction, not being able to keep up with the speed is a major flaw.

Just as the clouds began to gather overhead, lightning struck with a deafening roar, and she collapsed unconscious.

When Xiang An regained consciousness, he was being dragged along by the barrier to a door with Fu Qingbai.

To be precise, this door is a small door; more accurately, it's a back door, a real back door located at the back of the house.

The door was inconspicuous; it was a small vermilion door that, at first glance, looked like a door for eunuchs to take meals, no different from any other door in the palace.

"This is where?"

I've been to the palace many times, but this is the first time I've seen this door.

Fu Qingbai didn't react at all. He reached out and knocked on the door three times in a rhythmic thud, and the small door opened from the inside.

Changfu peeked out and looked around warily before whispering, "The Empress Dowager and the imperial physicians have just left. The officials are guarding the door. Marquis Anwu, please keep your voice down."

Fu Qingbai nodded and tiptoed inside. Xiang An followed closely behind, constantly guessing who was in the room, until they passed through door after door and arrived at a bright yellow bed. Xiang An froze—

It is Xiang Xin.

On the large bed, Xiang Xin lay quietly covered with a thin blanket, her face pale and bloodless, looking like she was terminally ill.

Master Xuanqing sat on a small stool, nodding his head up and down as if dozing off. Changfu cautiously stepped forward and called out softly, "Your Majesty, Marquis Anwu has arrived."

Xiang Xin, who had been lying on the bed with his eyes tightly closed, opened them abruptly. Xiang An was startled, his eyes widening in surprise. The emperor had awakened! Why did the ministers say he was unconscious? Were they just making things up?

Can't figure it out.

In fact, there's no need to think about it anymore, since Xiang Xin has indeed woken up.

Remembering what Changfu had said at the back door, Xiang An turned to look at the door. The door was tightly closed, and it was very quiet outside. He couldn't tell if anyone was there.

She approached the wall step by step, but the enlarged barrier was not enough to allow her to leave the emperor's bedchamber; it was too wide and too large.

[System, is this barrier automatically upgraded, or do I need to do something for it to upgrade?]

If the words are normal, then it's humble.

Normally, the system can't find it at all, and she knows nothing about the barrier.

Since being bound, I have thought of resisting, but it has been of no use.

If I ask today, I still won't get a response from the system.

With a helpless sigh, he said, "Your system and my system seem to be different..."

Now, back to Xiang Xin, the first thing Changfu did after he woke up was to bring him a sip of tea. After clearing his throat, he looked at Daoist Xuanqing: "Xuanqing—"

The tone was drawn out and slow.

Just that one sound, and as expected there was no response, Xiang Xin's face immediately darkened, and her anger was about to burst out. Chang Fu mustered up his courage and pushed Xuan Qing Daoist's arm: "Daoist, Daoist."

Master Xuanqing suddenly raised his head: "What? Time to eat? Oh? Marquis Anwu is here."

Fu Qingbai: "..."

Ignoring Master Xuanqing's discomfiture after waking up, Xiang Xin asked impatiently, "Master, is Xiao Jiu here?"

Master Xuanqing stretched lazily and said casually, "Here."

With just a few words, a single syllable, Xiang Xin visibly relaxed. She reached under her pillow and searched for a while before pulling out a smooth, round jade bead the size of an egg. She held it carefully and asked, "Xiao Jiu, do you like this bead?"

He glanced at it, tilted his head to the side, and said something he didn't mean: "I don't like it."

Master Xuanqing relayed the information truthfully. Xiang Xin listened, nodded casually, and tossed the bead to the ground like trash. The round bead landed on the ground, rolled along the force of the impact to a dark corner, and quietly emitted a faint glow, as if it had accepted its abandoned fate like a living thing.

With a pout, Xiang Xin said disdainfully, "It really is ugly. Changfu, go out and post a notice: A large reward will be offered to find the most precious and rarest treasures in the world."

"Your Majesty, think twice."

Fu Qingbai stood in front of Changfu and said in a deep voice, "The entire capital is in a state of panic right now. If His Majesty issues this decree at this time, the capital may descend into chaos."