Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

Mo Yun's voice was urgent and restrained.

[That Cen Yan, is she already...]

Logically speaking, since the main system chose for its master and Cen Yan to come here together, it shouldn't allow anyone to die easily. There's only one possibility: Cen Yan herself chose to disappear.

No, no, she wouldn't just leave me without saying anything; there must be another reason.

Can't you sense even a trace of his presence?

[Using the master's brainwave range of a hundred miles, no one was detected.]

Why doesn't the body die?

In short, Miss Cen is currently faking her death, somewhat like a modern-day vegetable.

Shen Sangwan found it hard to accept. By the faint moonlight, she looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar face on the bed and felt a pang of pain in her heart.

"Take me back to the palace, take me back!"

Without saying a word, Mo Yun grabbed Shen Sangwan and they returned along the same route.

The silence that followed filled Mo Yun with an ominous premonition.

Sure enough, as soon as she returned to Weiyang Palace, Shen Sangwan developed a high fever and kept talking incoherently in a very low voice, so it was hard to hear clearly.

The only thing Mo Yun could clearly hear was the name the other person was repeating – “Cen Yan”.

After changing the other person into their nightgown, he woke up Shuyi and went to the Imperial Hospital that night to summon Physician Li to examine her pulse.

The summons of the imperial physician to Weiyang Palace at night alarmed the Empress Dowager of Chonghua Palace, and even Shen Yuchen of Fengluan Palace was awakened.

Because Imperial Physician Li diagnosed that the Princess was in critical condition, the palace servants dared not slack off in the slightest and reported to the Empress Dowager and His Majesty.

The Weiyang Palace is really lively tonight.

【Master! Master!】

【Master, don't sleep!】

[Master, you can't sleep. If you're gone, the mission won't be completed, and I'll disappear with you.]

My lord! You absolutely cannot leave me behind!

No matter how urgently Xiaotong called out to Shen Sangwan, she received no response.

Even as she berated the main system and subjected it to the most severe punishments, there was no sign of it waking up.

"Why did the Princess suddenly fall ill? You are all paid by the Emperor, yet you cannot even diagnose the cause of her illness. What use are you to me?"

Almost everyone in the Imperial Medical Academy was kneeling in Weiyang Palace.

"Your Majesty, calm down!"

"Calm down, calm down, what else can you do besides calm down? If you can't save my sister, then all of you go down and keep her company."

Enraged, Shen Yuchen swept the tea that was being served to him off the table.

The teacup shattered into pieces, scattered all over the floor.

The imperial physicians and palace servants all lowered their heads and held their breath.

"Huh—? Am I back?"

〖Cen Yan, Cen Yan! 〗

Upon seeing Cen Yan on the main road, Shen Sangwan excitedly ran over to hug her, but passed right through Cen Yan's body and missed.

She looked down and realized that her body was transparent; the people around her could neither see her nor hear her speak.

Watching Cen Yan walk away, she wanted to follow, but an invisible force held her back tightly.

〖Cen Yan, Cen Yan——! 〗

She struggled desperately forward, as if an invisible vortex was pulling her in from behind.

After a dizzying experience, she arrived at her grandmother's small courtyard.

I saw Cen Yan chatting and laughing with her grandmother.

"Xiaotong, Xiaotong, what's wrong with me?"

"Xiaotong, where am I?"

She seemed like a wisp of a broken soul, severing all ties with her surroundings.

She couldn't hear what the two were talking about, but she could see her grandmother laughing heartily as Cen Yan amused her, her face beaming with smiles.

She wanted to hug her grandmother; she hadn't been to visit her grandmother in a long time.

The suction force behind her reappeared, carrying her to the beach.

Looking around, two familiar figures stung her eyes.

Shen Sangwan's parents sat close together on the beach, looking very affectionate. Every now and then, they would point to the setting sun in the distance and say a few words.

It seems you truly didn't know I was dead. I even dreamt of you two weeping for me; it was all just wishful thinking on my part.

If you don't love me, why did you give birth to me?

Shen Sangwan lowered her head and murmured to herself, but no one knew or responded.

The figures around her became increasingly blurry, and Shen Sangwan's consciousness also became unclear.

"Ah Wan, it's time to go home!"

These were the last words she heard while she was still conscious, but there was no one around.

......

"One bow, one worship—"

"Kowtowing again, bowing—"

"Three kowtows, bow—"

"The passing of Her Highness the Eldest Princess has plunged the entire court into mourning! Alas!"

Shen Sangwan vaguely heard a long shout in her ear.

He wondered, "Could she be dead?"

The surrounding light was dim, and she could not see very clearly with her eyes open.

But his ears are exceptionally sensitive.

There was a rumbling, grinding sound, exactly the same one she had heard when her grandmother, Cen Yan, passed away.

This is the sound of the coffin lid being closed as the coffin is being prepared.

She looked around carefully and realized, good heavens, she was sleeping in a coffin!

He hurriedly raised his hand, grabbed the edge of the coffin, and struggled to his feet.

With a loud crash, screams erupted from all around: "The princess has risen from the dead...!"

The palace servants who were placed in the coffin were all terrified and scattered in all directions.

Even the high-ranking officials kneeling on the ground turned pale when they saw Shen Sangwan rise from the coffin.

Even these were all well-informed ministers, and they were still frightened and moved back a little.

Only Shen Yuchen, with red eyes, walked forward step by step.

She cautiously called out softly, "Sister—?"

"Huh—? What are you doing?"

"Sister, is it really you!"

Shen Yuchen reached out and eagerly grabbed her hand. The warm touch in his palm made him pause in surprise.

His elder sister came back to life from the dead!

"Sister, sister—!"

Shen Yuchen disregarded the current situation and stepped forward to give the person a full embrace.

Tears welled up in his eyes, overflowing like a flood bursting its banks.

If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's hasty reprimand, who knows how long he would have had to carry her.

Shen Sangwan stared blankly at the black cloth hanging all over the hall.

He quickly scanned his surroundings; the ceremony was no less grand than the one held when the late emperor passed away.

"Am I dead?"

A look of doubt suddenly appeared in his sharp eyes, a faint mist clouded his eyes, revealing a thoughtful expression.

"What unlucky things are you saying, sister?"

"Someone, get this thing away immediately."

Apart from the Empress Dowager and Shen Yuchen, all the palace servants were terrified by Shen Sangwan's resurrection.

"What are you standing there for? Help the princess out!"

Shen Yuchen turned to a group of trembling palace servants and shouted at them.

"Shuchun, quickly go to the Imperial Hospital and invite Physician Li here."

"The slaves obey the order."

Shuyi, her head wrapped in a white cloth, was sobbing uncontrollably. Despite the trembling in her heart, she was the first to step forward and help Shen Sangwan.

Joy filled her eyes as she felt the warmth from his palm.

"Your Highness, be careful."

"Mother, what is your son doing..."

"Awan, don't be anxious. We'll discuss this in detail after the imperial physician has made the diagnosis."

This is—I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush?

[Waaaaah, my master! You're finally alive!]

[Waaaaah, I thought I was going to be wiped out by the main system!]

[Waaaaah, my dear master, what's wrong with you!]

Shen Sangwan heard Xiao Tong's series of accusations echoing in her mind.

Stop, stop, stop! Your crying is ruining my ears!

The already confused mind was now filled only with Xiaotong's cries.

"I really want to know what happened to me, Xiaotong. It's like I've returned to the real world. I saw Cen Yan, my grandmother, and my parents."

【Ah—? Why is Master back again?】

In this world, my body is transparent; others cannot see me or hear me speak, just as I cannot hear them speak. I can only see the corners of their mouths moving.

This... is beyond my comprehension. Even your current situation, Master, is the strangest I've ever encountered among all the hosts I've met.

"how?"

Physician Li arrived in a hurry, carrying his medicine box. After taking the pulse, his voice trembled slightly.

"Your Majesty, His Highness's pulse is steady, calm, and even. He is in very good health."

"Seven days ago you said that the princess's pulse was weak and unstable, indicating that she would not live long. She stopped breathing before dawn. Now she has suddenly woken up. Do you know why?"

The Empress Dowager sat on the throne, her eyes deep and cold, the glint of which sent chills down one's spine even in the sweltering heat of summer.

"Your Majesty, I... Your Majesty, I am unaware of the matter."

Physician Li was already covered in sweat, stammering as he responded to the Empress Dowager's words.

"That's enough, you may leave now. Come again tomorrow to examine the princess's pulse."

"Your humble servant... takes his leave."

After bowing, Physician Li hurriedly left, only daring to catch his breath after leaving Weiyang Palace.

"Your Majesty has not slept for the past few days. Please take him to the Phoenix Palace to rest properly."

"Your Majesty, I will obey your decree."

"I'm not leaving. I want to stay with my sister."

Shen Yucheng tried to reach out and grab Shen Sangwan's wrist, but Wen Yuening pulled him back and whispered words of comfort in his ear.

"Your Majesty, the imperial physicians all say that His Highness is out of danger. You should take care of yourself first, and it is not impossible for you to come to see His Highness later."

These past few days, Shen Yuchen has been overwhelmed with worry and has fainted several times. No matter how much the Empress tries to persuade him or how much the Empress Dowager scolds him, he remains unmoved and stays by Shen Sangwan's side.

Even the strongest body can't withstand such hardship.

After meeting Shen Sangwan's gaze, he gave in and returned to Fengluan Palace with Wen Yuening.

"Granny Gu, go and stand guard outside. No one is allowed to enter without my permission."

"The old slave accepts the order."

Then the palace servants inside the hall were dismissed, leaving Shen Sangwan alone.

"Mother Empress—?"

Shen Sangwan hesitated, then tentatively called out.

"Mo Yun told me that my daughter died long ago while on her way to rescue the emperor, but I don't believe it. Your little habits and favorite dishes are exactly the same as my Awan's..."

"I want you to tell me yourself."