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

Lin Yiyu's expression changed, and without asking any more questions, he grabbed the sword on the wall and walked out.

He and Shen Yanzhou grew up together and knew the weight the Crown Princess held in the Crown Prince's heart. Without saying much, he nimbly mounted the spare horse that Cui Zhihao had brought.

Cui Zhihao and Lin Yiyu arrived. Without much preamble, he ordered in a deep voice, "Zhao Lie, you lead ten men to scout ahead, the rest of you follow me to cover the rear. Head to the Northern Desert at full speed!"

Zhao Lie, whose name was called, was the commander of the guards. He was a burly man with a scar on his face that stretched from his brow bone to his jaw. He was usually taciturn, but at this moment he simply clasped his hands and said, "Yes, sir!"

His movement as he mounted his horse was clean and swift, the long sword at his waist clanging crisply.

Cui Zhihao spurred his horse, and Ta Xue let out a long neigh as its hooves flew, galloping towards the official road north of the city.

Lin Yiyu followed closely behind, the hoofbeats of more than a dozen horses shattering the twilight. Amidst the rising dust, the outline of the palace grew ever more distant, while the road ahead was gradually shrouded in night.

Meanwhile, candlelight flickered in the Queen's palace.

Shi Wanxia lifted her skirt and hurried into the inner hall. As soon as she crossed the threshold, she frowned because of the strong smell of medicine in the hall.

Crown Princess Lin Chuying lay on the soft couch, her face ashen as if covered with frost, her brows tightly furrowed, her lips cracked, and she occasionally let out a painful groan, her breath so weak it seemed she might stop breathing at any moment.

The Empress sat by the bed, her eyes red and swollen. When she saw Shi Wanxia enter, she quickly got up and took her hand: "Miss Shi, please take a look at Ying'er. Her condition is getting worse and worse. The imperial physicians are all helpless. Do you have any ideas?"

Shi Wanxia walked to the edge of the bed and reached out to touch Lin Chuying's wrist.

The skin touched by my fingertips was icy cold, and the pulse was disordered and weak, like a candle flickering in the wind.

She shook her head gently, her voice tinged with helplessness: "Your Majesty, I do not know any medicine. This poison is too potent; ordinary methods cannot cure it."

Upon hearing this, the Empress couldn't help but shed tears again: "What should we do? Chengyu has already gone to chase after them, but Mobei is so far away, Ying'er... can she wait?"

Seeing this, he hesitated before speaking: "Your Majesty, I have thought of a way. Although it cannot cure the disease, boiling mint, mugwort and honeysuckle in water and applying it as a cold compress to the joints of the limbs may relieve some of the pain and slow down the progression of the poison."

The Empress's eyes lit up, and she quickly asked, "Miss Shi, is this method truly effective?"

"I dare not make any guarantees, but it's better than watching the Crown Princess suffer."

Granny Zhang sighed, "Those herbs are all common items; they're readily available in the palace storeroom. This old servant will go and prepare them right away."

The Empress nodded hurriedly: "Go quickly! We must try any method that can reduce Ying'er's suffering."

Granny Zhang turned and left quickly, while Shi Wanxia stayed by the bedside, gently wiping the cold sweat from Lin Chuying's forehead.

Seeing the once gentle and bright Crown Princess in this state, she felt a pang of sadness.

She silently prayed: Your Highness, you must find Physician Qinghe quickly and return safely with the antidote.

Lin Chuying seemed to feel someone touching her; her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Her vision was blurred, and she could only vaguely make out Shi Wanxia's outline. Her voice was barely audible: "Sister Wanxia... His Highness the Crown Prince... he..."

"Your Highness, please don't worry."

Shi Wanxia quickly bent down, her voice extremely gentle, "His Highness the Crown Prince has already gone to find the antidote for you and will be back soon."

"Please bear with it a little longer, we have already tried to help you relieve your pain."

Lin Chuying managed a weak smile, as if she wanted to laugh, but the intense pain made her furrow her brows.

She shook her head gently, her breath weak: "I...I'm afraid...I won't be able to wait for him..."

"Will not!"

Shi Wanxia quickly interrupted her, "You will definitely wait for His Highness the Crown Prince. You have many good days ahead of you."

As she spoke, she felt uncertain.

The poison was taking effect faster and faster, and no one knew whether the Crown Princess could hold on until Shen Yanzhou returned.

Soon, Granny Zhang came in carrying a large basin of boiled herbal water. Mint and mugwort leaves floated in the water, emitting a cool fragrance.

Together with Granny Zhang, Shi Wanxia used clean cotton cloths soaked in the medicine to gently apply it to Lin Chuying's wrists, ankles, and forehead.

The cool sensation spread along her skin, and Lin Chuying's brows seemed to relax a little, and her painful groans lessened somewhat.

Seeing this, the Empress breathed a slight sigh of relief, but looking at Lin Chuying's still pale and dark face, she still couldn't put her mind at ease.

Meanwhile, Shen Yanzhou was leading a group of guards, speeding through the night.

A light rain began to fall, wetting the saddle and his clothes. The cold rain streamed down his neck, but it did nothing to quell the anxiety in Shen Yanzhou's heart.

"Your Highness, the mountain road ahead is slippery. Should we slow down?" Li Pinghai called out from behind. The rain blurred his vision, and he was afraid that the horse would slip and cause an accident.

Shen Yanzhou didn't turn around, but simply cracked his whip, his voice carrying through the rain: "No need! Every moment of delay increases the danger to Ying'er."

His horse seemed to sense its master's urgency, its hooves flying, splashing mud and water all around.

Suddenly, Cui Zhihao's voice came from behind. Shen Yanzhou frowned. Could it be that his father had sent them to stop him?

Cui Zhihao, accompanied by Lin Yiyu and guards, stopped his horse in front of him. Just as he was about to pay his respects, the Crown Prince's voice rang out.

"Huai'an, wasn't it Father Emperor who sent people to arrest me and bring me back to the capital?"

Cui Zhihao's shoulders trembled slightly, but he didn't reply. Shen Yanzhou could see through this. He flicked his sleeve and turned his back to him. "Huai'an, go back! My mind is made up. Ying'er is my first wife. I married her, so naturally I have to take responsibility for her."

"I'm determined to go to the northern desert. Anyone who dares to stop me, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Choi Ji-ho sighed helplessly. How could he not know the Crown Prince's temper?

"Your Highness, since you have made your decision, I am willing to accompany you and protect your safety!"

Shen Yanzhou didn't turn around to look at him, nor did he reply to him. He simply spurred his horse and his figure gradually disappeared into the distance.

Knowing that His Highness had agreed, Cui Zhihao quickly waved his hand, signaling everyone to follow, and soon caught up with His Highness the Crown Prince.

In the darkness, they had no idea how long they had traveled, only that the rain was getting heavier and heavier.

Lin Yiyu rode alongside Shen Yanzhou, watching his tall but somewhat lonely figure, and couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, the journey to the northern desert is long and arduous. We set off hastily this time, and we only brought some emergency supplies of food and water."

"There's a post station not far ahead. Why don't we stop there to resupply before continuing our journey?"

Shen Yanzhou remained silent for a moment, gazing at the dark night sky in the distance, where he seemed to see Ying'er's pale face.

He gritted his teeth: "Alright, let's go to the post station to resupply, stay for half an hour, and then set off immediately."

The group rode to the post station, where the innkeeper, seeing that they were a group of people dressed in tight-fitting clothes and with an imposing presence, quickly came out to greet them.

Zhao Lie left two men to guard the horses, while the rest followed Shen Yanzhou into the post station.

Not long after he sat down, Shen Yanzhou sensed that something was wrong.