Transmigrating into a book to save her best friend, her sickly husband vies for her affections every

Ji Boxue stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, then became even more worried about Tingyao. It was a good thing that a prince's wife had appeared in the family, as it meant they had become relatives with the royal family.

Not to mention that the royal family really needs to appease Tingyao and get the Bai family members on the front lines to work harder. This whole thing is completely unreasonable.

However, as long as the matter of filial piety is taken into account, it will actually benefit Tingyao's reputation. Last night, I also discussed it with my elder brother. If anyone dares to make a fuss about this matter, even if the royal family doesn't intervene, they will find someone to impeach the royal family for being too ruthless.

If we're going to die, we'll die together. Anyway, the mess is too big. Following the usual approach, we'll just let it go and move on without saying anything more.

In any case, what the royal family cares about is appearances.

There was one thing that Ji Boxue was truly worried about: "How will you explain this to His Highness the Ninth Prince? And now that you're back, how will you explain this to His Majesty and the Empress?"

The question was whether Tingyao had arranged for someone to inform these people.

"Where is Second Uncle?" Tingyao asked instead of answering. What was there to say? The palace was indeed very large, but even a slightly outrageous incident could reach the ears of those in high positions in an instant.

Ji Baizhang was won over by Zhang Zhan. As the most shrewd person in the Ji family, "I received the news last night and went to the Yan family. I returned a step ahead of you. I was a little injured and am resting."

As he spoke, Ji Baizhang seemed to think that someone was listening from behind the walls, "Last night, several streets around the Yan family were controlled. The troops from the Pingyang Marquis's mansion were mobilized, and the Crown Prince even wrote a letter to open the city gates at night. The Northern Garrison Command was also mobilized. There was no imperial edict. His Majesty will probably be furious. There is no news at all about what is going on inside the Yan family."

Tingyao: "What about the Crown Prince? How is the Crown Princess?"

Ji Baizhang: "Your second uncle said that the Crown Princess lost her child, and the Crown Prince seems to have betrayed her and has been imprisoned by the Ninth Prince."

Tingyao's eyes flickered. If this were true, Zhao Siwei and Zhang Zhan would definitely leave one of them behind.

"The Ninth Imperial Consort has already paid her respects. Please go inside for a cup of tea and then head back shortly."

Tingyao hummed in agreement.

Tingyao went to Old Madam Ji's courtyard.

The courtyard was sealed off.

Zhong Youling was also there; he was investigating the death of Old Mrs. Ji.

Zhong Youling looked unwell, and Tingyao said, "Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Zhong. You should go and rest."

Zhong Youling simply asked, "Where is Zhang Zhan?"

"He went to the palace. Something happened last night. If you want to find him, I'll find someone to call him for you."

Zhong Youling hummed in agreement, "Thanks." He then said, "It seems someone poisoned me, but I can't determine what kind of poison it is yet. I suspect it's a slow-acting poison, but we need to see how many days it takes to slow down."

“It was the Sun family,” Tingyao said. “As for why she killed my grandmother and who else was involved, those are questions that need to be investigated slowly.”

In her previous life, Sun had also poisoned Old Madam Ji, completely disregarding whether the Ji family would lose anything due to the mourning period.

In any case, after the mourning period, the Ji family could no longer move around in officialdom, so they would rely on the Sun family, and the Sun family's status in the Ji family rose accordingly.

Sun family.

Tingyao repeated her name in her heart.

"When Zhang Zhan arrives, you can go with him if you want to leave, or stay here if you don't want to get involved."

Zhong Youling said, "Consort Xian doesn't like you. What if she secretly meets with the Sun family and asks them to advise your stepmother? What do you think?"

This was the possible way he could think of to take action.

“If you were Xu Tutu, Consort Xian would have helped you last night. Consort Xian just doesn’t like you.”

Tingyao: "Consort Xian will not have a good ending."

Tingyao read everyone's testimonies, ate something, and waited for Zhang Zhan to arrive before leaving.

Zhang Zhan brought a message.

"Consort Xian has been imprisoned. Zhao Siwei said that after the Yan family matter is resolved, he will request an imperial decree to allow Consort Xian to guard the imperial mausoleum."

Tingyao and Zhong Youling remained silent.

Given Consort Xian's fate, only Zhang Zhan could offer a word of leniency, since his grandparents had been spared.

But for Tingyao and Zhongyouling, there was no going back, let alone let it go.

Zhang Zhan glanced at Zhong Youling, knowing he was likely to get beaten up soon. Not wanting to be the butt of the show, he sent Ting Yao away first. "After you go back, you still need to apologize to His Majesty. As for Zhao Jiu, he's been very good to you, hasn't he? I won't advise you or stop you from doing anything. Just don't let me know what you're plotting, and don't involve me."

As long as the truth comes out, no matter how Zhao Siwei investigates, it will have nothing to do with him; the more they investigate, the more innocent he will seem.

Tingyao: "What could possibly be hidden from your mind?"

Zhang Zhan: "I only have one brain. If you add your brains together, I'm no match for you. Besides, I stole the token and mobilized troops last night. The Marquis's mansion is going to cripple me now. Maybe in a few days, I'll have to squeeze into the private residence."

So he came to Zhao Zhongyouling first. He got beaten up here, and when he went back, his distant father wouldn't hit him too hard. Everyone would think it was "his father" who beat him, and it wouldn't have anything to do with Zhongyouling.

Tingyao: "As long as you want to stay in the Marquis's mansion, there will always be someone to help you. You just want to leave yourself a way out."

“There’s something my grandmother said that I used to disagree with, but I’ll keep it in mind from today onwards: women shouldn’t be allowed to cry too much. Once the tears in their brains have all flowed out, they become empty, and then other things will fill them up, making them very difficult to manage.”

Tingyao raised her hand to tell him he didn't need to continue seeing him off. "Don't worry, Zhao Siwei has a very strong bias towards you. No matter how much I whisper sweet nothings in his ear, he'll still believe you."

"Respectfully seeing off my sister-in-law." Zhang Zhan cupped his hands in farewell, and after watching Tingyao leave, he hurriedly turned to find Zhong Youling.

Zhong Youling was rolling up his sleeves when he saw Zhang Zhan walk back and close the door. He then made himself some tea.

"Cousin, cousin, can we talk?"

“I think you’re the last person who should be here right now.” Zhong Youling didn’t even want to glance at Zhang Zhan. “You’re really something.”

They actually tricked him into coming to the Ji family. He had gone to the palace with them yesterday, but before he could even have a sip of tea, a servant came to say that Ji Anzhi's wet nurse had suddenly fainted and was having difficulty breathing. They had tried everything, so they had no choice but to come and beg him. Of course, he knew how important this wet nurse was to Ji Anzhi, so he had no choice but to come out.

Very well, when they rushed over, there was no wet nurse in the house, only Ji Anzhi, a Ji Anzhi who was just as bewildered as she was.

Zhang Zhan: "On your wedding day, you absolutely cannot do such a thing. It's fortunate that you didn't succeed last night, otherwise things would have been much worse. Once the Yan family's matter is settled, you can do whatever you want. Anyway, I know nothing about it."

Looking at the tea Zhong Youling handed him, he asked, "This isn't poisoned, is it?"

Zhong Youling took a small sip himself and said, "As a doctor, you have to test the poison on yourself before you can detoxify. You can try it too."

Zhang Zhan hesitated, holding the teacup, raising it and then putting it down, finally managing only an awkward smile, "I won't drink it."

What if Zhong Youling really wants to poison him?

Zhong Youling said with a smile, "I expected you would stop me. So I prepared a backup plan."

Zhang Zhan froze. "What?" Too many things flashed through his mind. He immediately stood up and stared at Zhong Youling, a trace of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "What are you doing?"

Zhong Youling raised his hand and wiped away the blood from his nose. "This is a poison I concocted myself. It can make someone bleed from all seven orifices and die a gruesome death. Zhang Zhan, aren't you supposed to be very clever?"

Zhang Zhan froze, unable to even utter the words "doctor" from his throat.

"This medicine can also be administered as a slow-acting poison. At first, it only causes a nosebleed, which can be controlled with some cooling medicine, so people won't take it seriously. Do you want to guess who I gave it to?"

The faces of his grandfather and grandmother flashed through Zhang Zhan's mind.

Zhong Youling laughed out loud, "That's too little. I've given it to everyone I've treated. I'll be waiting for you in hell."

Zhang Zhan watched helplessly as Zhong Youling collapsed to the ground, then rushed over and hugged him tightly. "What nonsense are you talking about?" he cried out for help. "Don't mess with me, buddy! How am I supposed to save you? Say something! You're like this, you're like this..."

"Zhang Zhan, you wished I were dead, and now, your wish has come true."

"You protected Consort Xian very well. The royal bloodline is the most ruthless. You are very capable..."

After saying that, Zhong Youlin spat out a mouthful of black blood, his head slumped, and he was completely lifeless.

The door was broken open, and the people who rushed in stared wide-eyed at Zhong Youling, who was bleeding from all seven orifices.

Zhang Zhan shook Zhong Youling violently, shouting, "Zhong Youling! You! You!"

He couldn't say anything more.

His vision blurred.

At first, he disliked Zhong Youling, but later he looked down on him because he had a face that was somewhat similar to his own and was particularly cowardly.

Later, seeing Zhong Youling still looking timid was infuriating. It was obvious that Zhao Fucang was his backer, yet he was still so submissive to everyone. He really didn't want him to die.

Why must they just die?

It's revenge, a different kind of revenge.

If he cannot kill Consort Xian, he will take revenge on Consort Xian's most valued son, and then apologize to Zhao Siwei with his own death.

If what he said is true, then Zhao Fucang was probably also poisoned.

Zhong Youling's medical skills are unmatched by the entire Imperial Medical Academy. Doesn't that mean that no one but Zhong Youling can cure the poison?

Looking at Zhong Youling lying in his arms, Zhang Zhan had only three words in his mind.

--what to do.

Why do so many things keep happening all at once?

Xu Yuan's voice came, "Quickly, quickly get Zhong Youling to come with me!"

Xu Yuan rushed in, and upon seeing the scene inside, his eyes widened in shock. "Master, Master..."

The old lady Ji's maid had already chased the people out and was now guarding the door.

Zhang Zhan: "What's wrong now? Whatever it is, don't look for me. I... I need to think about how to tell Zhao Jiu."

Zhong Youling's actions were also a form of revenge against him.

In his heart, Zhao Siwei also felt that he wished Zhong Youling were dead. Even though he knew who Zhong Youling was, he still had the attitude that he would not kill him, but he would not help him if he was courting death.

Now, now he's dead, and he died right in front of him. Zhao Siwei has no way of explaining himself.

"The Crown Prince was stabbed by the Crown Princess. His Highness dared not send anyone from the Imperial Hospital, so he sent me to invite Mr. Zhong to take a look."

Zhang Zhan's mind went blank for a moment, and he collapsed to the ground, managing to hold Zhong Youling firmly in his arms.

Xu Yuan: "What should we do... Your Highness, you can't just stay silent."

When Zhao Siwei left, he said that he would probably not be back for a while, and that Zhang Zhan would handle everything outside the palace.

Now, one of our own people, a trusted confidant, has inexplicably been lost.

Zhang Zhan: "Go tell Zhao Siwei that Zhong Youling drank poison."

Xu Yuan cupped his hands in greeting, but did not leave, waiting for what was to come.

"He's gone. Suddenly he didn't want to live anymore, so he was given a proper burial." Zhang Zhan couldn't explain it clearly.

The capital was in complete chaos. The Ninth Prince was getting married, the Ji family held a banquet, the Yan family was surrounded and their fates were unknown, Consort Xian was imprisoned, and Zhong Youling suddenly died.

Among the onlookers, those who were short-sighted and loved to gossip started discussing how Tingyao was an unlucky person, and also said that her mother died young because she was cursed to death.

Those with foresight understand that the marriage is a signal that Zhao Siwei has begun to take action.

The emperor is in poor health, the crown prince has not yet shown up, and the Pingyang Marquis's forces have been mobilized. What does this mean?

If they can resolve everything in one fell swoop, Zhao Siwei will win. Moreover, the Bai family holds military power at the front lines, which can restrain the capital.

Therefore, the wedding day is the best day.

Furthermore, the fact that Tingyao, who violated palace rules, did not receive any punishment indicates that things are truly about to change.

In the Yan family home, amidst the upheaval, the air was thick with the stench of blood.

Zhao Fu'er, her skirt stained with blood, looked at Zhao Sicong lying on the bed and said, "I told you not to go see your Crown Princess, not to go see her, she would definitely kill you, but you wouldn't listen! Now look what happened!"

"Yuelan is furious. Don't touch her. She's no longer able to have children, and her body can't withstand any disturbance." Zhao Sicong struggled to get up. "It's nothing, just a hairpin prick. Do you think I don't know how strong she is?"

"You should also see where you're being stabbed. I told you back then that your Crown Princess was just a pretentious liar, but you wouldn't believe me! Now, you feel better after I hit the nail on the head? Shut up, stop talking, don't you think I'm busy enough?"

Zhao Sicong was pressed down to lie down by her. "Don't touch the Crown Princess."

Zhao Fu'er: "What's the use of begging me? You know what the situation is like outside. Didn't we arrange for you to avoid leaving the capital? But you insisted on being tricked back by that bitch, with all this talk about stomach aches!"

Zhao Fu'er was so angry her head ached. Zhao Sicong glanced at the medicine beside him, "How was I supposed to know you would do this last night..."

It was clearly agreed that Zhao Siwei's marriage would serve as the signal to begin taking action. He would go to Yongzhou to gather all the unambitious members of the Yan family, and then disperse and re-concentrate the military power held by the Yan family.

His deal with Zhao Siwei was that the Yan family's military power could be out of their hands, but it had to be in his hands.

"Are you stupid?" Zhao Fu'er said. "Wasn't it your Crown Princess who reported you? She tricked you into coming here to force you to kill Zhao Siwei. If you didn't kill him, she would kill Zhang Zhan to anger Zhao Siwei. You, you are stupid! Why did you come here!"

"You left, and the Crown Princess went back to her parents' home. Let me think, she said she was lonely in the Eastern Palace after you left, so she came back. She even went back to her parents' home to upset her pregnancy, so she made you rush back—"

"Zhao Fu'er! I am the Crown Prince, so watch your words!" Zhao Sicong interrupted her.