Spring arrives and the land smiles

The two stood anxiously outside Qingyan's door until the maid opened it.

"How are you feeling?" Yunxuan walked to the bedside and sat down. Looking at Qingyan, who was exhausted from all the commotion, he gently stroked her forehead with heartache.

Luo Qing, however, grabbed Qing Yan's wrist and took her pulse without hesitation.

After a moment, Luo Qing breathed a slight sigh of relief: "Thank goodness."

"I'm so tired." Qingyan closed her eyes.

"take a good rest."

Yunxuan tucked her in and went out with Luo Qing.

"Young Master Luo, on behalf of the princess, I thank you for saving me." Yun Xuan bowed to Luo Qing, showing great sincerity.

"It was nothing, Lord Fu, there's no need for such formality. Besides, saving the princess is also saving myself," Luo Qing said with a faint smile.

Upon hearing this, Yunxuan naturally understood. If the male concubine sent as a gift were to cause the princess's death, then all the cats and dogs in the entire Sui County would be doomed.

"This ghost doctor is truly fearless, capable of destroying heaven and earth," Yunxuan laughed.

Luo Qing feigned a headache: "The Ghost Doctor is capricious and unconventional, doing things entirely according to his whims. My master has repeatedly tried to dissuade him to no avail. This time, he has even involved the royal family. I'm afraid my master will no longer allow him to act recklessly."

Judging from his tone, Luo Qing was simply being considerate of his elders and didn't want to call him an old rascal.

"May I ask what the connection is between your esteemed master, the Immortal Physician, and the Ghost Phys

"This..." The question put Luo Qing in a difficult position. "It involves elders, and I know very little about it, so I cannot say much. I only know that my master and the Ghost Doctor are from the same school."

Since Luo Qing was averse to it, Yun Xuan politely apologized, saying, "I was being presumptuous."

After escorting Luo Qing to her room in the east wing, Yun Xuan returned to the main hall, only to find Lan Zhen enjoying tea in the reception room.

Given his past record, Yunxuan was displeased with him. "Your Highness Prince Zhao, what brings you here?"

Lan Zhen didn't bother with pleasantries or formalities. She stood up, bowed, and asked directly, "I heard that Her Highness the Princess suddenly fell ill. How is she now?"

The worried expression didn't seem feigned; genuine concern was evident in his eyes. However, the matter of Yan'er's poisoning was kept strictly confidential; how did he know? Yun Xuan stared at Lan Zhen, as if trying to see right through him.

"Lord Fu, are you allowing Young Master Diehua to be so close to the princess to please the Ghost Doctor?"

With just a few words, Yunxuan's doubts were dispelled. Ning Yuan had told him that on the way to Suizhou, Lan Zhen was poisoned, and it was Luo Qing who brought the antidote, saying that they were even from now on.

The fact that a debt of gratitude for saving a life must be the basis for a complete severance relationship suggests how complicated and complicated things must have been before.

Having realized this, Yunxuan didn't want to waste any more words with him. At this moment, Qingyan was ill and needed his care, so he only wanted to get rid of Lan Zhen.

"The princess is out of danger, so Your Highness Prince Zhao need not trouble yourself. Please return."

Yunxuan spoke in an unfriendly tone and left without waiting for Lan Zhen's response.

Whether it was the lingering effects of the medicine or soaking in hot water for too long, Qingyan's face still appeared unnaturally flushed, and her forehead was still a little hot. Yunxuan was powerless to do anything but stay by her bedside.

This companionship lasted for a full day and night.

As the fervor surrounding Qingyan subsided, she opened her eyes to find Yunxuan leaning wearily against the bedside. Even in his dream, he seemed unable to relax, his brows furrowed and the occasional trembling of his eyelids revealing his restless sleep.

Qingyan had lost count of how many times Yunxuan had stayed by her bedside, and each time it moved her deeply, just like the first time in Qiongzhou.

Seeing that the princess had woken up, Zhui'er quickly went to serve her. Qingyan gestured for her to be quiet, indicating that she should not disturb Yunxuan. Zhui'er immediately became quieter.

But Yunxuan was still woken up by the noise.

"woke up."

"woke up."

The two asked each other questions, then looked at each other and smiled.

"Are you still feeling unwell?"

Qingyan shook her head.

Yunxuan touched her forehead and cheek with his hand before he felt relieved.

Upon hearing that the Princess had awakened, Luo Qing came uninvited to take Qingyan's pulse.

"Is there anything wrong?" Yunxuan looked more nervous than Qingyan.

"She'll be fine after a few days of rest." Luo Qing breathed a sigh of relief.

Her Highness the Princess's health was deteriorating, so she naturally had to stay in Sui County to recuperate for a few more days. The people of Sui County also came to pay their respects every day, but as usual, they were sent away before they could see the Princess.

After leaving Suizhou, they stayed in the neighboring Suixian County for several days. No one could tell whether the princess was really sick or not. Even if they couldn't see her, they could only serve her with trepidation.

After taking the medicine prescribed by Luo Qing for two days, Qingyan felt much better.

Qingyan sat at the table, holding the slip of paper in her hand, and looked at Sicheng with a puzzled expression: "Is this the contents of the secret letter?"

Sicheng didn't say much, just nodded.

Previously, in order to avoid the scouts from Nanxia delivering the secret letter, Lan Zhen hid in the main courtyard for two hours under the pretext of asking for wine. She never expected that the result of sending Si Cheng to spy on the secret letter would be gossip of little value.

"Fangrong, the eldest daughter of Minister Chen Tingzhi, is gentle, virtuous, kind, filial, and beautiful."

"Wanyin, the eldest daughter of General Rongwei Liu Yi, is intelligent and virtuous, especially skilled in calligraphy and painting, and is also plump and healthy."

"Ruoyu, the eldest daughter of Guo Feng, the Left Minister of Works..."

As she read, Qingyan's voice grew increasingly harsh, and finally, with a loud thud, she slammed her hand on the table: "Lan Zhen, you're ruthless."

Why is Lan Zhen using a worthless secret letter to create such mystery? What exactly is he up to?

"Sicheng, send someone to keep a close watch on Prince Zhao. Report back immediately if there is any unusual activity."

"Yes."

After Si Cheng left, Qing Yan held the so-called secret letter in her hand and pondered for a long time.

Things became suspicious from the moment Lan Zhen appeared without warning in the regular diplomatic corps between Nanxia and Daqi. Although he was the fifth prince of Nanxia, ​​he was a military general. Even if such diplomatic matters required sending a prince out for training, it wouldn't be him. Moreover, the way he appeared so secretly meant that he must have acted on his own initiative.

Then he used Lu Changlin's high-profile attempt to gain attention, and incidentally dragged me into his scheme to become his backer. Later, he used the incident involving the official letter between my Great Qi and Qiu Rong to follow the group on their escape to Suizhou, and then Li Muqing came to pick him up. Throughout the entire process, he didn't seem to be in a hurry to return. Even now, he's taking a detour to Nanxia, ​​and he's even actively helping me buy time. If we connect all these events with this secret letter, the answer seems obvious:

He really was hiding, hiding from the marriage arranged by the Emperor of Southern Xia!

Therefore, what he said in his drunken stupor that night was at least half true and half false...

The position of Princess Consort of Prince Zhao is extremely important. Lan Zhen once mentioned that her mother favored the youngest daughter of the Situ family. However, judging from Lan Zhen's attitude, she seemed somewhat unwilling.

But why is Situ Jin's name not mentioned in the secret letter from the Southern Xia scouts?

Who gave him the secret letter, instructing him to abandon the Situ family and choose another household?

And he seemed unwilling as well.

What is he thinking?!

Qingyan tapped her forehead, still clueless for a moment.

"Why do you look like this?" Yunxuan pushed open the door and saw Qingyan's worried face.

"See for yourself." Qingyan handed over the secret letter, "A letter from the Southern Xia scouts to Lan Zhen."

"Haha, His Highness Prince Zhao is truly blessed with good fortune in love." Yunxuan laughed as he watched. "However, judging from how he avoids her like the plague, he is probably the one who finds it hardest to accept the favor of a beautiful woman."

"That night when she was drunk, Lan Zhen said that her mother favored Situ Jin, the youngest daughter of the Situ family. If they were to marry, it would be difficult for Lan Zhen to control Situ Huan." This was the real reason for Qing Yan's worried expression.

"You can tell from his repeated attempts to avoid me that he has no interest in Situ Jin. So, these things are still unknown." Yun Xuan was not worried. The power struggle between Lan Zhen and his father and mother was still unresolved, so such worries were unnecessary.

"With such ambition, if he doesn't choose the Situ family, is there anyone more worthy of choosing than the Situ family?" If the newly rich and powerful officials mentioned in that secret letter were to be compared, none of them would be as powerful as the Situ family.

Yunxuan didn't answer, but only smiled ambiguously. Qingyan suddenly understood.

Lan Zhen, that sly fox, is actually playing a game of feigned indifference. By deliberately not choosing anyone, she's making it clear that everyone has a chance, and whoever performs best will win the title of Princess Consort of Zhao.

Currently, among the princes of Southern Xia, only the position of principal wife for Prince Zhao is vacant. In other words, this is the only chance for anyone who wants to become a legitimate member of the royal family.

Qingyan sighed inwardly: Lan Zhen, Lan Zhen, you really will stop at nothing to climb the social ladder.

Outside the door, Zhui'er requests an audience.

When Qingyan saw the bowl of medicine in her hand, her face fell again.

"Didn't Young Master Luo say that we only need to drink for two days?"

"It's okay to drink it for one more day, here." Yunxuan smiled and put the medicine to Qingyan's lips.

Qingyan frowned, then drank it down as if she were bravely going to her execution.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Qingyan has been staying in Sui County for seven or eight days. If things go quickly, there should be news from the nautical chart.

Sure enough, the next morning, just as Qingyan woke up from her sleep, she received an urgent message.

"I never expected that Hai Tu would submit a memorial to you in the name of a subject, a plea for forgiveness." Yun Xuan placed the memorial on the table.

"I thought I'd have to deal with him for a while, but now I don't have to worry about that at all." Qingyan gently stroked the satin surface of the folded cloth with her fingertips.

"What are your plans?" Yunxuan asked.

"The other half of the provisions promised to him is still in Zhao Minghui's hands, so he naturally apologized readily," Qingyan paused, then continued, "Since that's the case, let him know his mistake and correct it, and send ten more craftsmen who know how to temper blades."

"That's it?" Yunxuan smiled.

"Dream on, this is just the beginning..." I will get back at him for everything he has done to me, one by one.

"Indeed, women and petty men are the hardest to deal with." Though it was a helpless remark, Yunxuan's eyes were full of affection.

"Yunxuan, you are the number one talent in our Great Qi, yet you use the classic text incorrectly, tsk tsk tsk..." Qingyan avoided Yunxuan's burning gaze, covered her mouth and laughed, deliberately mocking him.

"Regardless of the texts, if we only consider the literal meaning, it's perfectly appropriate here." Yunxuan reached out and pulled Qingyan into his arms, leaving her no way to escape.

Fine, Qingyan gave up resisting, wrapped her arms around Yunxuan's waist, and pressed her blushing face against his chest: "Thank you for your hard work."

"My heart isn't bitter, but my fate is." Yunxuan joked, using a homophone, "My fate is so bitter that I still haven't been able to make you fall in love with me."

Such teasing made Qingyan bury her face even deeper.

"Yan'er, if you are poisoned by something like 'Dieqing' again next time, I will definitely not use the method of soaking you in water to detoxify you."

After saying that, Yunxuan gave Qingyan a light kiss on the lips, then pushed open the door and went out.

If Yan'er wants it, he will do it; if Yan'er is happy, he will be happy.

With everything settled, it's time to set off after staying in Sui County for several days.

"Go and inform His Highness Prince Zhao that we will depart at 3:45 AM tomorrow," Qingyan instructed the person outside the door.

The following day, the princess's entourage proceeded to Yushan in a grand procession, and the officials, both high and low, who came to see her off knelt on the ground, bowing and kowtowing three times and nine times to respectfully send off Her Highness.

Along the way, they stopped to rest at every post station, so the journey was only about thirty li in a day. As it was getting late, they had no choice but to set up camp in the wild.

Inside the main tent, Qingyan was playing chess with Yunxuan, her chin resting on her hand. Qingyan had always found chess extremely difficult, for no other reason than that her skills were simply too poor.

"You made a mistake again." Yunxuan slapped Qingyan's hand, using a little force.

Qingyan grinned, gently rubbing her palms, and pinched the misplaced chess piece back into her hand.

The chess piece rolled back and forth between her fingers several times, and Qingyan remained undecided. Finally, she simply looked up and stared intently at Yunxuan, grabbed his hand, and pressed the chess piece into his palm.

"I surrender."

"If you lose, you have to be punished." Yunxuan smiled slyly, moved next to Qingyan, put his arm around her waist, and kissed her.

The touch on his lips was warm and moist. Yunxuan's kiss lingered and lingered, tender and affectionate, yet it was tinged with a trembling unease.

"Sigh, is he punishing me or himself?" Qingyan sighed inwardly.

That's it.

Feeling reluctant to speak, she responded enthusiastically.

Unexpectedly, what happened next was completely beyond Qingyan's expectations.

In the past, Qingyan had always responded to Yunxuan's enthusiasm to some extent, and everyone had consciously kept their distance. Today, however, it's unclear what triggered Yunxuan to lose control.

He pushed Qingyan hard onto the bed, his body half-pressed down. Yunxuan's kisses traveled down her body, behind her ears, her neck, and even tore at Qingyan's clothes.

"Yunxuan, no..." Qingyan clutched her clothes, her voice clearly panicked.

Yunxuan seemed to suddenly come to his senses and stopped, looking at Qingyan's flustered little face, his eyes as deep as the thin mist on the horizon, hazy and helpless.

A heart-wrenching pain loomed before her eyes, and Qingyan's heart clenched.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later, so why resist? Fine, pretend I didn't say anything, you can continue." Qingyan silently thought to herself, and simply gave up resisting.

Yunxuan suddenly laughed.

"Yan'er is scared."

"Don't be afraid, just be surprised." So he was just teasing her, teasing her again. Is teasing her fun? Qingyan replied irritably.

"If you're not afraid, how shall we continue?" Yunxuan smiled contentedly.

"Whatever you say." Qingyan wasn't without temper either.

Yunxuan stroked Qingyan's face and gave her a kiss on the corner of her lips: "Next time, I'll definitely finish it next time, and it will be done willingly by you."

"How could I be unwilling?" Qingyan denied subconsciously.

"That's not enough." Yunxuan patted her head. "I'll make you even more willing."

After saying that, he got up, helped Qingyan straighten her clothes, and went out.

They traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping frequently, and in three to five days they had only covered a little over a hundred li.

Scouts from Nanxia were still occasionally passing messages to Lan Zhen within the group, but His Highness Prince Zhao didn't seem to be in any hurry to return.

After three to five days of hard work and sleeping outdoors, the group finally arrived at Fancheng, the last commercial hub town on the way to Yushan.

The prosperity of Fancheng lies not in its streets or shops, but in its people. Every person in Fancheng has a knack for business; no matter what kind of product it is, they can generate maximum profit in their hands.

When Song Wenbo, the prefect of Fancheng, learned of the arrival of the eldest princess, he naturally did everything he could to welcome her from ten miles away. However, just like in Suixian, Qingyan didn't even look at him, only asking about the lodgings arranged by the prefect, before leading everyone there.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and in ten days it will be summer. So, after three or five days of eating and sleeping outdoors, what Qingyan wants to do most right now is not to eat but to take a bath.

Soaking in the warm water, Qingyan pondered: Fancheng was still over two hundred li away from Yushan. If they traveled at their current speed, it would probably take another ten days. In ten days, all the anxious matters concerning the sea chart and her father should have come to an end.

Qingyan was pondering with her eyes closed when suddenly a report came from outside the door: "Urgent message, 800 li away."

"Go and get it," Qingyan instructed Zhuier, and then immediately got up and dressed herself.

The messenger, covered in dust from his journey, presented a document box. Zhui'er accepted it without delay.

Holding the document box in her hand, Qingyan felt a sudden tightness in her chest at the conspicuous seal. She took a deep breath, removed the seal, and opened the box.

"Go and invite the prince consort here."

A moment later, Yunxuan entered, looking refreshed. Upon seeing the document box on the table, he knew what it was about.

The imperial edict in the box was written on the emperor's special silk, in the handwriting of the Longqing Emperor. Qingyan dared not be negligent and read it carefully word by word.

After about half an hour, Qingyan handed the imperial edict to Yunxuan, who carefully read it through with a complicated expression.

After a long pause, Qingyan finally spoke, "Yunxuan, we didn't lose the previous bet. How about we make another one?"

The question was asked, but the tone was firm. Besides, in this situation, there was no other way but to take a gamble, Yunxuan nodded solemnly.

The imperial edict contained only seventeen characters in bold, flowing regular script: "This matter concerns the dignity of the nation and must not be humiliated. You may exercise your authority and make decisions arbitrarily as the situation warrants."

"Decisive decision-making on the spot!" These four words, seemingly embodying immense power, are actually fraught with danger. How can one exercise power and act arbitrarily? If the power exercised and the decisions made do not align with the emperor's wishes, will it be considered a misunderstanding of the emperor's will and a false imperial edict? With the Qiu Rong matter pressing, the only option left is to gamble on the emperor's trust in this crown prince.

However, the fact that I was able to get the Emperor's authorization to make decisions on the spot after reporting the matter of the craftsmen and the manufacture of weapons in Suizhou shows that the Emperor trusts me at least seven-tenths. In that case, the more honest I am, the more I will be trusted.

"Yunxuan, do you think it's appropriate to report every step of our actions to Father Emperor?"

Yunxuan pondered for a moment and replied, "That's the only way."

A high-stakes gamble; tonight is destined to be a sleepless night.