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

The evening breeze swayed the palace lanterns under the eaves, and the dim yellow light shattered on the bluestone slabs, like scattered gold dust.

Shi Wanxia supported Cui Zhihao, her fingertips tense, afraid of touching the white silk wound that had just been wrapped around his arm.

Choi Ji-ho's face was still pale from blood loss, and the veins on his forehead were throbbing slightly, but he still forced a smile: "Wanwan, this injury is nothing. Don't treat me like a porcelain doll. I'm not that delicate."

Shi Wanxia didn't let up, her brows furrowed: "Brother Cui, you took a knife for His Highness, the wound was deep enough to see the bone, the imperial physician said it would take at least three months to recover, how can you say it's nothing?"

She kept her voice low, afraid of startling the people in the palace, and also afraid that she might accidentally let out a word that would be overheard by someone with ulterior motives.

The wind in this palace is sharper than a knife.

The two had just reached the bottom of the steps at the entrance of the main hall when they heard hurried footsteps behind them, accompanied by palace servants shouting in a panic: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!"

When Shi Wanxia turned around, she saw a little eunuch tumbling and crawling towards her, his palace robes askew and his hair half-undone.

Her face was covered in tears, and she staggered as she ran, almost falling headfirst onto the threshold.

This is someone from the Empress's palace, named Xiao Luzi. He is usually very clever and reliable, so why is he so flustered today?

Cui Zhihao also stopped laughing and said in a deep voice, "What's the panic! How can someone serving the Empress behave so improperly?"

Xiao Luzi trembled at his shout, then knelt on the ground with a thud, kowtowing loudly, his voice trembling with sobs: "Lord Cui! Miss Shi! Please go and see her quickly!"

"Your Highness the Crown Princess... Your Highness the Crown Princess has been poisoned! The imperial physician says... the imperial physician says she's on the verge of death!"

"what?"

Shi Wanxia's voice suddenly rose, and her hand loosened, causing Cui Zhihao to stumble. Fortunately, he managed to grab onto a nearby pillar in time.

"Poisoning? How could I be poisoned?"

Shi Wanxia quickly walked to Xiao Luzi, squatted down and grabbed his arm, "The Crown Princess is always cautious, and her food and daily life are checked by special people. How could she be poisoned for no reason?"

Xiao Luzi cried so hard he could barely breathe, his words incoherent: "It was...it was the assassin who did the assassination today who had a deadly poison on his knife,"

"Her Majesty is suffering from excruciating abdominal pain and is vomiting black blood... The imperial physicians are all helpless, saying that the poison is too potent, it is the 'Trapping Poison' from the martial arts world, and there is no antidote!"

Poison from a flying machine!

Shi Wanxia felt a tingling sensation on her scalp.

This poison is extremely potent; those poisoned convulse all over, their head and feet contorting in pain, as if being pulled on a sieve, causing excruciating agony. Moreover, it takes effect very quickly, and once the poison takes hold, even a miracle cannot save them.

Cui Zhihao's expression changed, and his hands, gripping the pillars, clenched until they turned white: "Where is the Empress? Where is His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"Her Majesty the Empress has already fainted once, and she's crying in the Crown Princess's arms right now!"

Xiao Luzi wiped away her tears, then, as if remembering something, suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with despair.

"And...and His Highness the Crown Prince...His Highness heard that the only antidote to the 'Trapping Poison' is the Seven-Star Grass, which grows uniquely among the snow-capped peaks deep in the northern desert. So...he actually left the palace alone with a sword!"

"what?!"

This time, it was Choi Ji-ho's voice that changed.

Shi Wanxia felt as if a large hand was gripping her heart tightly, causing her so much pain that she couldn't breathe.

Your Highness is far too impatient!

What is the northern desert? It is the territory of the Xiongnu, a place of constant warfare and rampant banditry. Moreover, the peaks of the cold mountains are covered in ice and snow, making it a place fraught with danger.

Even if he went alone, or even with an elite guard, he might not be able to return safely.

This is utterly absurd! It's gambling with your life!

"When did Your Highness leave?"

Shi Wanxia's voice trembled, but she forced herself to calm down, "Did you bring any rations? How many men did you bring?"

Xiao Luzi shook her head, crying even harder: "His Highness left secretly! He didn't tell anyone! It was only when the guards discovered that the Crown Prince's sword was missing that they reported it to the Empress. The Empress sent people to investigate and found out that His Highness went to the North Gate... His Highness... he was determined to go and get the Seven Star Grass!"

Just then, a loud crash came from the main hall, as if something had been slammed to the ground.

Shi Wanxia and Cui Zhihao exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

The sound... came from the side hall where Shen Yuxi was.

Without giving it a second thought, the two hurried towards the side hall. Just as they reached the door, they heard Shen Yuxi's suppressed roar from inside: "Nonsense! This is utterly outrageous!"

Pushing open the door, one sees Shen Yuxi standing in front of the desk, his face ashen, his right hand still in the position of slamming the table. The inkstone on the table has been shaken off and fallen to the ground, spilling ink all over the floor and soaking the bright yellow tablecloth.

Several pale-faced guards stood in front of him, their heads bowed, not daring to even breathe loudly.

"His Majesty!"

Shi Wanxia quickly stepped forward, "Please calm down. Things have come to this point, and getting angry won't help."

Shen Yuxi whirled around, his eyes blazing with anger and anxiety, the veins on his forehead throbbing: "Calm down? How can I calm down? He's the Crown Prince! The heir apparent of Cangling! How can he act so impulsively?"

"Trying to venture alone into the northern desert? Does he think this is a stroll through the imperial garden? What if something happens to him? What will happen to Cang Ling? What will happen to the Empress? Does he even respect me anymore?!"

He got angrier and angrier as he spoke, and kicked the stool next to him, which overturned with a crash.

Cui Zhihao took a deep breath, stepped forward, and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, there's no use saying these things now. The most urgent task is to send someone to chase after His Highness the Crown Prince and persuade him to return."

"The journey to the northern desert is long, and Your Highness has only been gone for a short time, so we should be able to catch up."

"Chase? How?"

Shen Yuxi sneered, his eyes full of exhaustion. "Since he dared to leave secretly, he must have made thorough preparations and probably already shook off his pursuers."

"Moreover, the Xiongnu are eyeing us from the north. If our people rush over there, we will only alert them and harm them instead."

Shi Wanxia's heart sank.

Shen Yuxi is right. His Highness the Crown Prince is always intelligent. Since he has decided to go alone, he certainly won't leave any clues.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door again, and a middle-aged man in a blue official robe strode in, his face full of solemnity.

This is Pei Xuan, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and also Shen Yuxi's confidant.

Pei Xuan bowed as he entered and said, "Your Majesty, I have found out. The poison in the Crown Princess's lotus seed soup was put in the frosting."

"That icing sugar was a tribute from the Western Regions, originally intended for the imperial kitchen, but it was switched on the way. And..."

He paused, glanced at Shi Wanxia and Cui Zhihao, and then continued, "Moreover, I have also discovered that the person who switched the icing seems to be connected with the remnants of Rongyang King's faction."

Remnants of the Rongyang King's faction!

Shi Wanxia's pupils suddenly contracted.

The Third Prince's rebellion has been executed, but unexpectedly, his remaining followers are still active in the shadows, and they have even set their sights on the Crown Princess!

Shen Yuxi's face darkened further, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes: "Good, very good! It seems I have been too lenient these days, allowing these treacherous officials to run rampant!"