After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

"I won't move." Because of her cold, Xie Xing's voice was heavily nasal, sounding soft and sweet.

The man behind her spoke with a slight rise in his voice, tinged with amusement, "Good boy, be good and don't expose me."

The cold dagger lingered lightly on Xie Xing's delicate neck, sending shivers down her spine.

The man behind her came from the cold night. The cold fabric of his clothes made Xie Xing, who was already delirious from the fever, want to cool off and she leaned into his arms.

Jun Lan paused.

"So cool! So comfortable!" came the little girl's sigh.

Jun Lanjin: "..."

His lips twitched speechlessly. Should he say she was carefree, or just incredibly bold?

"Search this area!" came the voice of a guard from outside the door.

Jun Lanjin's eyes turned cold. He placed his large hand on the girl's waist, pulled her up, and rolled her onto the bed.

"Hmph." Xie Xing's muffled groan of discomfort reached his ears.

Xie Xing frowned, her beautiful brows furrowing as her cheeks touched the cool mask, the coolness relieving the burning sensation on her face.

She couldn't help but rub against him.

"Bang bang bang!"

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Xie Xing!" Xie Tongchen's icy voice came from outside the door. "Open the door!"

Xie Xing shook his throbbing head and was about to get up when a large hand grabbed his wrist.

"You know what to say, huh?" The deep voice of the man beneath him came, his narrow eyes looking at Xie Xing with a chill in them.

The dagger was pressed against Xie Xing's waist.

Xie Xing immediately nodded obediently.

Jun Lanjin released her, but his gaze remained fixed on the bed curtains, watching her leisurely.

Xie Xing opened the door.

Outside the door stood Xie Tongchen, dressed in a black robe. He had been woken up in the middle of the night and hadn't even had time to tie his hair.

"Is there anything unusual in your room?" Xie Tongchen's cold gaze swept over his younger sister.

Xie Xing wasn't feeling well; a blush crept onto her fair face. Hearing this, she tilted her head and said, "No."

My head is spinning, I need to take some medicine.

The little girl's heartfelt words came through, sounding aggrieved.

Xie Tongchen paused, only then noticing that Xie Xing's eyes were glazed over, her voice was hoarse, and she looked weak all over.

"Are you sick?" Xie Tongchen frowned and looked at Xie Xing.

Why don't you call a doctor when you're sick?

The events of the day left Xie Tongchen with a lingering sense of wariness towards his younger sister.

But she cannot die easily before the doubts are resolved.

He paused, beckoned to his henchman, and said calmly, "Go find a doctor to prescribe medicine for her."

Upon hearing this, Xie Xing's hazy eyes widened slightly, and she looked at Xie Tongchen in utter astonishment:

[System! System! Has Xie Tongchen been possessed? He called a doctor for me?]

It's important to know that, both in the plot and when Xie Xing first entered the Xie family after transmigrating into the book, Xie Tongchen was the most indifferent person to her.

As the character who dotes on Xie Mingzhu the most in the book, Xie Tongchen's feelings for Xie Mingzhu even surpass ordinary familial affection.

He was even willing to watch his beloved younger sister die.

For the first time ever, this person actually called a doctor for her?

Xie Xing retreated warily. [Could he be planning to kill me now?]

Xie Tongchen: "..."

His face darkened.

"Did you see the thief break into Mingzhu's room tonight?" Xie Tongchen hadn't forgotten the purpose of his visit.

Feeling the piercing gaze behind him, Xie Xing shook his head: "No."

She casually asked, "What's wrong with Sister Mingzhu?"

[System, who was that person who went into Xie Mingzhu's room?]

The system didn't know either. [No, this part isn't in the story.]

Since no assassins came to interrupt the arranged marriage, the female lead, who was not originally engaged, has now been betrothed to the fourth prince, and the plot has become chaotic.

The system is starting to panic.

Xie Xing fell silent.

The sentiments also reached Xie Tongchen's ears.

Plot?

What does "plot" mean?

He glanced at Xie Xing without showing any emotion, stood there for a while, and when he didn't hear her thoughts anymore, Xie Tongchen said, "Then you should get some rest."

Xie Tongchen glanced into Xie Xing's room.

Because they lived in the most remote courtyard, the room layout was very simple, a stark contrast to Xie Mingzhu's expensive room decorations.

Xie Tongchen couldn't help but frown.

Mother's arrangement is not appropriate. No matter what, she is the legitimate daughter of the General's Mansion. How can she be arranged in such a simple manner?

However, the thought only flashed through his mind for a moment before disappearing completely.

To him, Xie Xing was just a stranger. How could he compare to the precious pearl he cherished in his hands?

After everyone left, Xie Xing closed the door and turned around to find that the strange man was no longer in the room.

Xie Xing breathed a sigh of relief, relaxed, took a sip of water, and was about to go to bed when he saw a jade pendant on the bed.

*

Prince Jin's Mansion.

In the study room.

Jun Lanjin, dressed in a black outfit, with his long hair tied up and his long legs slightly apart, sat on a soft chair. He supported his forehead with one hand and placed the other hand beside him as the imperial physician took his pulse.

Physician Li's expression was grave: "Your Highness, the pulse is weak and scattered."

He widened his eyes slightly, looking at Jun Lanjin in astonishment: "It's...it's a slow-acting poison, a sign that it's already seeped into the bone marrow!"

"How could this be?" Hua An exclaimed in astonishment.

"His Highness has always been healthy, how could he be poisoned?"

Physician Li said, "This poison was not detected at first. It needs to accumulate over the years and slowly seep into the bone marrow. When the time is right, a single tonic can take the prince's life in an instant!"

"Click."

Jun Lanjin crushed a piece of the table corner.

His face was cold and his voice was like snow on an iceberg: "Hua An, summon all the secret guards and find a divine physician to cure this king's poison!"

Hua An: "Yes!"

"In addition, send people to keep watch over the General Zhenguo's mansion, focusing on monitoring two people."

"The fifth young lady of the Xie family and that fake heiress whose origins are unknown."

Jun Lanjin's eyes were deep and dark.

Today he went to check on Xie Mingzhu, and what he found was quite unexpected.

He did indeed discover some secrets.

As for the neglected seventh prince, Luo Hanfeng…

Junlan gently stroked the beaded string in her hand, her long eyelashes slightly lowered, lost in thought.

The next day.

Last night, Xie Tongchen really called a doctor to treat her.

After taking the medicine and falling asleep, Xie Xing was much better than last night, but her voice still had a slight nasal tone.

"Miss." Xie Xing had just put down the medicine bowl when she heard Xiao Wen walk in from outside.

"Madam and Master invite you to dine in the front hall."

It was noon, lunchtime.

Xie Xing usually ate in the courtyard with his personal maid, Xiao Wen, and never went to the front hall to cause trouble.

Why did you suddenly call her today?

Xie Xing had a bad feeling.

Together with Xiaowen, they arrived at the front hall.

The Xie family was all in the front hall, with Xie Mingzhu sitting in the middle surrounded by everyone, enjoying a harmonious family time, until Xie Xing came over and broke the warm atmosphere.

Xie Ansheng's smile faded, and he glanced at Xie Xing indifferently: "You've arrived."

Xie Xing bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Father, Mother, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother."

The others responded with indifferent expressions.

Only Xie Mingzhu had a smile on her face: "My sister is here, come and sit down."

Xie Mingzhu patted the spot next to her.