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

He turned around, looked at Pei Xuan, and said in a voice as cold as ice: "Pei Qing, you immediately take men to the Imperial Clan Court and keep a close watch on the Third Prince. Do not allow anyone to approach him! In addition, thoroughly investigate the Imperial Kitchen and the officials in charge of procurement. Anyone suspected of being involved should be arrested!"

"Yes!" Pei Xuan bowed and accepted the order, then turned to leave.

"Wait!" Shi Wanxia suddenly called out to him.

Pei Xuan stopped and looked at her with a puzzled expression.

Shi Wanxia took a deep breath, her eyes resolute: "Lord Pei, while you are investigating the case, could you please send more people to keep an eye on the movements in Mobei? His Highness the Crown Prince is going through a dangerous journey. If you can find his whereabouts, you can report it in time."

Pei Xuan nodded: "Don't worry, Miss Shi, I understand."

After Pei Xuan left, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

The glow of the palace lanterns cast dim and bright shadows on everyone's faces, and everyone's heart felt heavy.

Cui Zhihao sighed and looked at Shen Yuxi: "Your Majesty, what should we do now? His Highness the Crown Prince's fate is unknown, and the Crown Princess... I'm afraid she won't be able to hold on for much longer either."

Shen Yuxi closed his eyes, rubbed his temples, and when he opened them again, his eyes were full of exhaustion, yet also carried an undeniable firmness: "Send down the order, instructing the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital to do everything in their power to prolong the Crown Princess's life!"

"Furthermore, secretly dispatch five thousand elite cavalry, under your command, to secretly travel to the northern desert to meet the Crown Prince! Remember, you must act in secrecy and not alert anyone!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Cui Zhihao bowed and accepted the order, his eyes filled with determination.

Looking at the injury on Cui Zhihao's arm, Shi Wanxia couldn't help but ask, "Brother Cui, your injury..."

"It doesn't matter!"

Choi Ji-ho waved his hand, "Compared to His Highness the Crown Prince's safety, what is this little injury!"

He turned to leave, but Shen Yuxi called him back.

"and many more."

Shen Yuxi walked to the desk, picked up a long sword that was entirely black, and handed it to Cui Zhihao. "This is my personal sword. It can cut through iron like mud. You can take it with you so you have something to protect yourself on the road."

Cui Zhihao took the longsword. The blade was cold and heavy. He knew that this was not just a sword, but also Shen Yuxi's trust.

"Your subject will certainly not fail in his mission!" Cui Zhihao said solemnly, then turned and strode out.

Only Shi Wanxia and Shen Yuxi remained in the hall.

A cool evening breeze blew in through the window, stirring the memorials on the table.

Looking at Shen Yuxi's tired back, Shi Wanxia couldn't help but whisper, "Your Majesty, please don't worry too much. His Highness the Crown Prince is a lucky person and will definitely return safely."

Shen Yuxi didn't turn around, but said in a low voice, "I hope so."

He paused, then said, "Miss Shi, go to the Empress's palace and keep an eye on things. Her Majesty is frail and cannot withstand such a blow."

"Also, take good care of the Crown Princess. If... if she really can't hold on any longer, make sure she passes away peacefully."

"Yes." Shi Wanxia nodded and turned to walk out.

As she reached the door, she couldn't help but look back.

Shen Yuxi stood by the window, gazing at the deep night outside. His back looked lonely and desolate, as if he had aged considerably in an instant.

Shi Wanxia's heart clenched; this palace intrigue had only just begun.

Meanwhile, on the official road leading out of the city, a white figure was galloping at full speed on horseback.

Crown Prince Shen Yanzhou's white cloak fluttered in the night wind, his face weathered by time, yet his eyes remained exceptionally resolute.

He didn't know if he could retrieve the Seven Star Grass or save the woman he loved.

Little did he know that after he left, the sky over the capital had quietly changed color.

In the shadows, pairs of eyes were fixed on his back, their light gleaming with greed and ferocity.

A much larger conspiracy is brewing.

Shen Yanzhou's boots rolled over the official road on the outskirts of the capital, and the dust on his fingertips still lingered from the interrogation of the spies.

Before the spy was escorted back to camp, his words, spitting out with black blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, were like poisoned needles, piercing his heart like countless needles—"The female healer Qinghe has been sent to the desert by us. If Your Highness wishes to find the antidote, then come alone to brave this yellow sand hell."

The wind outside the city swirled withered leaves, lashing against the treetops and making a whistling sound, like Ying'er's weak groans during her illness.

Shen Yanzhou raised his hand and pressed it to his chest, where a small jade pendant was hidden under his clothes. He had tied it to Ying'er's waist with his own hands on their wedding night. The jade pendant was still there, but his wife was bedridden in the palace, her life hanging by a thread.

"We became husband and wife, and our love and trust are unwavering."

The words lingered in his mind, each one carrying the warmth of the red candlelight.

Back then, he was a spirited young man, and Ying'er, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, looked at him with eyes full of trust.

But now, he can't even keep her alive.

"His Royal Highness,"

Li Pinghai's urgent voice came from behind, "The spy has committed suicide by poisoning himself. We couldn't get any more clues out of him."

Shen Yanzhou slowly turned around, his eyes filled with an unprecedented crimson.

His usually gentle brows were now furrowed, his jawline taut, and his voice hoarse as if it had been sanded: "A clue? The clue is the desert."

He raised his hand and grabbed Choi Ji-ho's wrist with such force that he almost crushed the other's bones.

"Ying'er can't wait. Even if I have to give up the position of Crown Prince, I must go to the Northern Desert to find the female physician Qinghe and get the antidote."

Li Pinghai was startled and quickly advised, "Your Highness, please reconsider! The northern desert is vast and deserted, teeming with bandits. Moreover, that group of people clearly planned this in advance. Your journey is extremely dangerous."

"If His Majesty knew, he would certainly not agree."

"Agreed?" Shen Yanzhou laughed self-deprecatingly, his laughter filled with bitterness.

“Father values ​​the country and its people, but I, Shen Yanzhou, am first and foremost Ying’er’s husband.”

He released his grip, turned, and looked toward the palace, where the outlines of the palaces were faintly visible in the twilight.

"I can't just stand by and watch her die."

Before he finished speaking, Shen Yanzhou had already strode up and mounted his horse. Seeing this, Li Pinghai dared not delay any longer.

He knew that once the Crown Prince made up his mind, nothing could sway him, so he could only grit his teeth and hurry to follow the Crown Prince.

Lin Yiyu had just changed out of his court robes and was about to exchange a few words with Shuyun when Cui Zhihao's urgent shouts came from outside the courtyard gate: "Lin Yiyu! Quick, come with me!"

He paused, then noticed Cui Zhihao was covered in dust, followed by several guards in black uniforms—all bodyguards personally bestowed upon the Crown Prince by His Majesty. His heart skipped a beat: "What happened?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince is going to the northern desert to rescue the Crown Princess. We must go and protect him!"

Cui Zhihao spoke very quickly and reached out to grab Lin Yiyu's arm, "Stop dawdling, the people are already waiting outside the palace gates, or we'll miss it!"