Holding the script, I want to give up.

"Imperial Physician, how is the Crown Princess?"

"I'm worried," Leqi asked.

"I observe that the Crown Princess's pulse is disordered. It's strange; it's somewhat like the pulse of someone who is about to die."

"No, logically speaking, with my medicine keeping the Crown Princess's body healthy, she should be able to recover without any problems after some further treatment."

"How could this be? Could someone have poisoned the Crown Princess?"

The imperial physician was helpless; he couldn't revive the unconscious Crown Princess either. He could only try to prolong her life with medicine, and whether she would wake up was up to fate.

"Your Highness."

Everyone bowed their heads in greeting when they saw Huangfu Hongxi arrive.

"How is she?"

Huangfu Hongxi glanced at the haggard person lying on the bed. He was perfectly fine just a moment ago, so how did he end up like this after coming back?

"It might be a case of dissociative identity disorder."

"Your Highness, someone has poisoned the Crown Princess."

After examining the patient, the physician bowed to Huangfu Hongxi and left to return to his pharmacy, far from this place of trouble. These turbulent times were truly unbearable.

“Hongjin, perhaps you’ve been too comfortable lately, and now you’re itching for a fight.”

"Go and investigate this thoroughly for me."

Huangfu Hongxi had originally intended to take her to the market she had been longing to visit, but he hadn't expected her to be like this when they arrived. She was lifeless, looking like a mannequin.

"Yes, I obey."

After finishing his speech and bowing, Hongjin went to begin his investigation.

Inside the Shuiyun Pavilion, Manqi knelt before Song Yao, slapping her own mouth and begging for her forgiveness.

"My concubine, I only feel sorry for you."

"His Highness has seen your behavior."

“You are pregnant now, but His Highness is traveling with the Crown Princess, leaving you in this small world.”

"So I wanted to slowly poison the Crown Princess. She was already paralyzed on one side, so it didn't matter whether she died sooner or later. I just didn't expect her to suddenly faint."

Manqi's cheeks were swollen as if she had just been stung by a bee; she was really ruthless to herself. Song Yao didn't stop her, just watched coldly.

"You're not helping me, you're hurting me."

"Your Highness cannot be truly blind; things are far more complex than we imagine."

"A moment of patience brings calm, a step back opens up a vast sky. Why can't you understand this principle?"

“I know how loyal you are to me. For the sake of our past relationship as master and servant, I will help you.”

"Come on, go apologize to me."

Song Yao helped her up, and with her support, Song Yao herself gently supported her lower back as they walked towards the study.

"Your Highness, the investigation has been completed. It was Manqi, a maidservant of the concubine, who committed the crime. What should be done?"

Hongjin clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said.

"Once is acceptable, twice is acceptable, but a third time is not. Kill him."

"Just send a few more maids to the concubine's side."

Huangfu Hongxi put down the list in his hand and said.

"Your Highness, the concubine requests an audience."

A gatekeeper entered the hall, bowed, and reported.

"You're really well-informed!"

"Hongjin, don't kill anyone in front of her. If she asks you, just say you sold him to a human trafficker."

"Let her in."

After Huangfu Hongxi finished speaking, Hongjin went to kill the man, and the attendants went to bring the concubine into the palace.

"Your Highness, it's all my fault. If you must blame someone, blame me!"

"It's all because I didn't teach my maid Manqi well, which almost led her to make a terrible mistake."

As soon as Song Yao entered the hall, she knelt before Huangfu Hongxi and kowtowed. She genuinely wanted to protect Manqi. After all, Manqi had been with her for a long time, and it was impossible for her not to have feelings for her during that time.

"Concubine, what are you doing?"

"I already know the whole story."

"It's not your fault. Since she's dishonest, then sell her to a slave trader."

Huangfu Hongxi helped Song Yao up and said calmly.

"Your Highness, you mustn't. Sending her to a slave trader will make her life miserable."

"Why don't we send her back to Dongchuan? I'll have my father keep an eye on her."

Song Yao stood up, her eyes filled with horror. She hadn't expected Huangfu Hongxi to be so heartless, not caring about human life at all.

"Concubine, you have overstepped your bounds."

"It's not your place to decide the Crown Princess's affairs. I've already had Hongjin take her to see the slave trader."

Huangfu Hongxi released her hand and moved away from her.

"Your Highness, you... will regret what you have done today."

Seeing his behavior, Song Yao found him rather uninteresting and returned to her own bedchamber.

Three days have passed, inside Tangxi Pavilion.

"How is the imperial physician?"

Huangfu Hongxi felt that she couldn't fall ill at this point; his plan had only just begun, and it wouldn't work without her participation.

"Your Highness, I do not know."

"But I will certainly do my best."

"Everything is up to fate."

After the physician finished speaking, he bowed and left. Le Qi anxiously watched Shangguan Zitong, who was on the verge of death, wishing she could take her place in the suffering. Yi Bai felt a pang of sorrow, as if a piece of his heart was missing. Huangfu Hongxi sat quietly by her bedside, watching her.

"Leqi, take good care of her. I have other things to do."

"I have dealt with the person who poisoned the princess, so you don't need to worry. Just take good care of the Crown Princess."

After Huangfu Hongxi finished speaking, he went to the general's mansion to plot with someone.

Three days later, Shangguan Zitong slowly woke up. She raised her hand to her forehead for a while, feeling dizzy and trying to get up. Le Qi was startled and excitedly helped her up.

"Your Highness, you've finally woken up. I'll go and inform His Highness right away."

Leqi happily went out, her steps clumsy.

"Wait, don't go."

Before Shangguan Zitong could finish speaking weakly, Le Qi rushed out.

"Yibai, stop her."

Yibo jumped down and squatted in front of her.

"Your Highness, you've finally woken up."

Why stop her?

Yibai asked, puzzled.

"Never mind, let's just let things take their course."

Shangguan Zitong got up and got out of bed, but she fell forward weakly after taking only one step. Fortunately, Yibai caught her in time.

"Princess Consort, please be careful."

After helping her steady herself, Yibo kept his distance from her.

"Thank you."

Seeing this, Shangguan Zitong didn't think much of it and walked barefoot slowly towards the swing outside the hall. Before she even reached the door, she was blocked by Huangfu Hongxi, who had arrived late.

"You are frail, so don't walk barefoot. Don't go out either; just stay in the mansion."

"Yes, Your Highness, the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and I would like to go to the market."

"I will make sure the banquet is well organized."

Shangguan Zitong felt that the Mid-Autumn Festival was the time to escape.

"Ah Li, give me a little more time."

"I'll complete the mission; I'm just running away first."

【...Um...】

"Alright, put on a thicker cloak and come with me to the market."

Seeing that he couldn't persuade her otherwise, Huangfu Hongxi took her out of the mansion. When they arrived at the market, she didn't feel particularly happy, only a sense of powerlessness.

"Ahri, the mission should be 80% complete by now, right? Can you tell me the real plot now?"

"I only know my ending, but not the process. Does that mean I have a script?"

[Host, please don't worry, the mission is not 80% complete yet, so you cannot know the outcome.]

"What's wrong? Are you in a bad mood?"

Seeing Shangguan Zitong's worried expression and her lack of interest in the bustling market, Huangfu Hongxi became somewhat flustered.

"No, let's continue shopping."

"What's the point of being happy? What's the difference between knowing you're destined to die and being cannon fodder? You can't even survive to the end. The most helpless thing is knowing the ending but being unable to change it! I'm so angry!" Shangguan Zitong roared inwardly.

Do you still eat candied hawthorn?

Huangfu Hongxi looked at the old man selling candied hawthorns in the distance and said.

"I'm not eating anymore, my teeth hurt from eating too many sweets lately."

"Let's go back."

Shangguan Zitong wasn't in a good mood, so she didn't really want to eat. Anyway, she had no sense of taste, so it didn't matter whether she ate or not.

"Wait a little longer. I heard from the servants in the manor that there will be a 'iron flower' performance tonight."

He grabbed her sleeve as she walked back.

"Alright, let's look around some more then."

As she strolled around, Shangguan Zitong suddenly felt as if the bustling market had nothing to do with her, as if she had lost interest in everything.

"Look, the iron flower performance is about to begin. Let's find a good vantage point to watch it."

Huangfu Hongxi pulled her up to the treetop to get a better view. It was indeed the best spot, but people would occasionally glance over. She felt so embarrassed she could dig a castle out of her toes.

"They seem quite skilled; hopefully, there won't be a fire."

Shangguan Zitong recalled the time she watched the iron flower performance in Nanning. She swung her legs and looked up at the stars in the sky. Suddenly, she felt relieved and her mood improved.

"The moonlight is so beautiful tonight, isn't it, Ahri?"

A gentle evening breeze caressed her face, and she smiled faintly, her eyes slightly narrowed.

Yes, indeed.

Seeing Shangguan Zitong's nonchalant attitude, the system felt a pang of guilt.

"What are you looking at? Why did you suddenly laugh?"

Huangfu Hongxi thought she was a bit crazy.

"...I just feel like laughing for no reason. What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Shangguan Zitong was speechless. She'd ask what was wrong whether she was angry or laughing. What, was she a robot? Could she only follow a program?

......