Even women who travel through time can become prime ministers and nobles.

The imperial physicians inside the palace were still busy, while the court officials gradually came to their senses and began to apologize to His Majesty in twos and threes, saying that they had failed to protect him in time and deserved to die.

Shen Yuxi listened calmly, his face expressionless.

Just as everyone was discussing, Cui Zhihao suddenly broke free from Shi Wanxia's support and knelt down before the throne again, his voice even hoarser than before, but also more determined.

"Your Majesty! Although Prince Rongyang has disappeared, his followers are everywhere in the court and the country!"

"And...and those powerful families who secretly support the Third Prince, if they are not eradicated, they will surely become a great threat in the future!"

Shen Yuxi's gaze fell on Cui Zhihao, his eyes deep and unfathomable, making it impossible to discern what he was thinking.

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze once more.

At that moment, Wang Leyao, who had just stepped out of the main hall, suddenly stopped in her tracks.

She glanced back at the brightly lit Golden Palace, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.

She knew that although the palace coup today seemed to have been settled, the real storm was probably just beginning.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the direction of Kunning Palace.

A palace maid ran over, her face ashen, and knelt on the ground, her voice trembling: "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! Your palace physician... has disappeared!"

Wang Leyao's body suddenly stiffened.

Shen Yanzhou tightened his grip on Lin Chuying's arms instantly.

The late summer wind grew increasingly biting. The stench of blood in the wind seemed to intensify.

In the shadows, a pair of eyes were fixed on the direction of the Golden Palace, a cold smile curling at the corner of their lips.

This game of chess isn't over yet.

The palace maid knelt on the gold-brick floor, trembling like a leaf, her voice trembling with sobs: "Your Majesty, this servant... this servant went to fetch the physician sister, but found her residence empty, the doors and windows locked from the outside, and the medicine chest that hadn't been packed away was still on the table, as if... as if she had been forcibly abducted!"

"what?"

Wang Leyao's face instantly darkened, and a hint of shock and anger flashed in her phoenix eyes.

The physician Qinghe in her palace was someone she personally sought out from the common people. Not only was her medical skill superb, but more importantly, she was extremely loyal.

Over the years, she has managed medical affairs at Kunning Palace without ever making a single mistake.

At this critical moment when the Crown Princess's life is at stake, Qinghe has suddenly disappeared, and the doors and windows are locked from the outside. It's obvious that something fishy is going on here.

Shen Yanzhou tightened his grip on Lin Chuying's arm, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He had just survived the bloodshed of a palace coup, and his wounds were still throbbing. Now, he heard that the only healer who could save Chu Ying had gone missing.

The anxiety that had just subsided surged back up instantly, burning him with a sharp pain in his chest.

"Mother, this matter is suspicious."

Shen Yanzhou's voice trembled slightly, "Qinghe, the female healer, is always cautious. She would never leave without permission unless something unexpected happens."

"Ying'er is currently unconscious, how could she possibly disappear at this time?"

Wang Leyao took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

She is the Empress and the Crown Prince's mother; the more critical the moment, the more important it is to maintain composure.

She glanced down at Lin Chuying in Shen Yanzhou's arms and saw that her face was even paler than before, her lips were an unnatural bluish-purple, and her breathing had become weak. Her heart skipped a beat.

"Guards!" Wang Leyao commanded in a deep voice, her tone carrying an unquestionable authority.

Soon, two solemn-looking old women dressed in palace attire strode in. They were Zhang and Li, the head old women of Kunning Palace.

Zhang Mama had served Wang Leyao for many years and was calm and capable, while Li Mama was meticulous and good at investigating details.

"What are your orders, Your Majesty?" the two asked in unison, bowing.

"Immediately take men to Qinghe's residence and search it thoroughly, leaving no corner unchecked, to see if any clues have been left behind."

Wang Leyao's gaze swept over the two of them. "In addition, seal off all entrances and exits of Kunning Palace. No one is allowed to enter or leave at will. Conduct a thorough investigation of all palace maids and eunuchs who have entered or left Kunning Palace today. Ask them if they have seen any suspicious persons."

"Yes!" Granny Zhang and Granny Li didn't dare to delay and quickly accepted the order and left.

Shen Yanzhou, carrying Lin Chuying, staggered as he followed Wang Leyao into a side hall of Kunning Palace.

Soft brocade quilts had already been laid out in the hall, and the palace maids carefully took Lin Chuying and gently placed her on the bed.

Ignoring his own injuries, Shen Yanzhou squatted by the bedside, tightly holding Lin Chuying's cold hand, his eyes filled with tenderness and anxiety.

"Ying'er, just hold on a little longer. Physician Qinghe will be back soon, and you'll be alright."

He murmured softly, as if comforting Lin Chuying, or perhaps comforting himself.

Wang Leyao stood aside, looking at her daughter-in-law's lifeless appearance, feeling a mix of emotions.

She raised her hand to signal the palace maids to leave, leaving only the mother and son in the hall.

"My son, your injuries are quite serious. Should we have the imperial physician treat them first?"

Wang Leyao looked at the blood seeping from her son's shoulder and couldn't help but ask.

Shen Yanzhou shook his head, his gaze never leaving Lin Chuying's face: "Mother, I am fine. As long as Chuying is safe and sound, this injury is nothing."

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the hall, and Granny Zhang rushed in with a young eunuch, her face showing a hint of seriousness.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, this servant found this at Physician Qinghe's residence!"

Granny Zhang held a small jade pendant in both hands and handed it to Wang Leyao.

The jade pendant was entirely black, with a crooked "Rong" character engraved on it, and a trace of dried blood still stained the edge.

When Wang Leyao saw the jade pendant, her pupils suddenly contracted.

"This is... a token from the Rongyang Prince's Mansion?" she exclaimed.

When Prince Rongyang was young, he once had a whim to have a batch of jade pendants engraved with the characters "Rong" made for his trusted confidants as a mark of their identity.

Later, because he was too flamboyant, he was reprimanded by the late emperor and was never used again.

Wang Leyao only remembered the jade pendant because she had seen it once by chance.

Shen Yanzhou's face instantly turned ashen: "They are remnants of Rongyang King's faction! They kidnapped Physician Qinghe, clearly because they don't want Chu Ying to live!"

Although the palace coup has been quelled, the Third Prince has been captured, and the whereabouts of the Prince of Rongyang are unknown, there must still be many remaining members of his faction who have escaped capture.

These people hate them to the bone, and now they've taken advantage of the chaos to kidnap the female physician who could save the Crown Princess. How wicked their intentions are!

"Hmph, what audacity!"

A fierce glint flashed in Wang Leyao's phoenix eyes. "Dare to make a move right under the nose of Kunning Palace? Do you really think I'm just a figurehead?"

She turned to Zhang Mama and said, "Zhang Mama, immediately inform the commander of the Imperial Guards and have him send more men to search the entire city for the remaining followers of Prince Rongyang. Focus on checking all the exits from the city and make sure to find the whereabouts of Physician Qinghe!"

"Yes!" Zhang Mama accepted the order and was about to turn and leave when Li Mama hurriedly stopped her.