Zhan Tianye did not enter through the main gate.
Instead, he flew directly over the high wall.
Initially, the guards patrolling the Yun Manor discovered someone had arrived and immediately went on high alert. Just as they were about to act, they saw it was Zhan Tianye and retracted their hands.
Zhan Tianye glanced at them and said, "Very good, guard the Yun Manor well."
"Yes!"
The Prince actually praised them!
The guards immediately straightened their backs, determined to protect the Yun Manor even better for this single commendation from the Prince! To protect the Second Miss Yun! They would absolutely not disappoint the Prince!
Zhan Tianye was eager to see Yun Shu and therefore did not notice the guards' sudden surge of excitement and encouragement.
If he had seen it, he would have undoubtedly offered a few more words of encouragement.
When it came to protecting Yun Shu, there was no room for carelessness.
Yun Shu was poring over information about the assassin organization from Western Xia.
It was intelligence compiled by Ruan Xi, which had just been sent over.
Because she was engrossed in her reading, she didn't notice someone approaching at first.
If it had been anyone else, she would have sensed their presence, but she couldn't detect Zhan Tianye because his martial arts were superior to hers.
Only when he drew near did she become aware, and she looked up sharply, "Why are you here so suddenly?"
He should be very busy these days, with many matters to attend to.
Moreover, it was daytime, and the weather outside was pleasant.
The next moment, Zhan Tianye suddenly pulled Yun Shu into a tight embrace, holding her with great force.
It was as if she might disappear at any moment.
Yun Shu was a little surprised, "What is... happening?"
Why was such a reluctant emotion suddenly surfacing?
She gently hugged him back, her palm lightly patting his back.
Perhaps it was Yun Shu's gentle comfort that calmed Zhan Tianye's sudden, inexplicable state of mind. He said in a slightly hoarse voice, "I suddenly missed you."
Yun Shu's red lips curved into a smile, "I suddenly missed you too."
They looked at each other and smiled once more.
Zhan Tianye's heart, which had been inexplicably flustered, calmed down in Yun Shu's smile.
He kissed Yun Shu's soft hair again and murmured softly, "Soon, we will leave, and no one will be able to stop us from leaving."
"Mm."
After they embraced for a while longer, Yun Shu gave Zhan Tianye the letter she had just received, "Take a look, is it useful?"
Zhan Tianye took it and began to read.
A moment later, his expression became grave, "It's useful. We can use it when we go to Western Xia in the future. Once we resolve these troubles in the capital, we will go to Western Xia to avenge your maternal grandfather."
"Okay, together."
...
The Imperial Palace.
Zhan Tianhong suddenly remembered Jiang Luoxi in the inner palace.
He hadn't seen her for some time.
He had just asked the palace servants, and Jiang Luoxi had been confined to her palace, never leaving.
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that Jiang Luoxi had not only not left her palace but had not even left her bed.
Was she so seriously injured at the hot spring villa that day?
Hearing the palace servants' report, Zhan Tianhong knew this matter was not simple.
He decided to visit Jiang Luoxi.
Jiang Luoxi had been unable to sleep day or night for some time. It wasn't that she didn't sleep at night, but rather that her mind was burdened with worries, and she couldn't think of a way to escape her predicament, making sleep impossible.
Of course, the internal injuries and leg injuries were also a torment, causing her excruciating pain in the quiet of the night.
With such noticeable pain, how could she ignore everything and sleep?
Suddenly, the voices of palace servants paying their respects to the Emperor outside the door drifted in.
The sounds reached her ears.
Jiang Luoxi, lying in bed, her expression changed. Why had Zhan Tianhong come?
The next moment, Zhan Tianhong entered.
The moment Zhan Tianhong entered, he saw Jiang Luoxi, her face incredibly pale and gaunt, and he was momentarily taken aback.
Not only was Jiang Luoxi's complexion pale and haggard, but she had also lost a lot of weight, looking nothing like her usual gentle self. Instead, she exuded a touch of harshness.
It was clear at a glance that her current condition was not good.
Just being kicked by his fifth brother, even if she had sustained some internal injuries, shouldn't have prevented her from recovering by now?
Zhan Tianhong harbored suspicion. "Your consort's internal injuries from the hot spring villa, have they still not healed?"
It hadn't seemed serious at the time, nowhere near as severe as now. Could it be...
Zhan Tianhong, whose thoughts could now race a hundred times over, seemed to have guessed some reason.
Zhan Tianhong's question clearly struck a nerve with Jiang Luoxi.
Jiang Luoxi suppressed her anger, lowered her head, and said with apparent obedience, "This concubine is also somewhat surprised. I have been taking medicine for a long time, but there is still no improvement. Even the place where I was bitten by the Snow Spirit Snake still aches faintly. The detoxifying decoction has never been interrupted."
Zhan Tianhong raised an eyebrow, took a few steps closer, and carefully examined Jiang Luoxi from head to toe.
Jiang Luoxi pursed her lips, anger rising within her. She knew very well that Zhan Tianhong was not concerned or worried about her!
He was scrutinizing her!
Or perhaps trying to guess something about her!
If he knew she was sent by Prince Ning, she wouldn't last two days in the palace!
"Have you seen the imperial physician?" Zhan Tianhong asked with an indifferent tone.
The palace servants beside him were surprised by Zhan Tianhong's cold attitude.
Consort Luo was, after all, a recently enfeoffed consort. Had the Emperor lost his novelty so quickly? Seeing Consort Luo unwell, he merely inquired, seemingly not worried at all?
Jiang Luoxi nodded, "Yes, I have. The prescription has been changed, but it requires slow recovery, no haste. I thank Your Majesty for your concern."
Zhan Tianhong nodded, "That's good."
He then added, "Since you need to rest well, then rest well. If you need anything, you can have the palace servants find the imperial physician."
"This concubine thanks Your Majesty!" Jiang Luoxi also played along. She knew better than anyone how insincere Zhan Tianhong's words were.
He was not concerned about her at all.
The only reason he had agreed to grant her the title of consort was because she had used a bit of provocation, urging him not to rely too much on Prince Ye.
It seemed she wouldn't last much longer!
Perhaps he would get rid of her at any moment.
Jiang Luoxi's temples throbbed intermittently, a fearful thought gripping her mind.
She remained lost in thought until Zhan Tianhong left.
Only when the palace servants' report reached her ears again did she snap back to reality.
"Who is it?" Jiang Luoxi abruptly looked towards the door.
What did the palace servant outside the door say just now? Who had arrived? She thought she heard Yun Shu?
Would Yun Shu come to the palace to see her?
Or was Yun Shu coming to gloat at her misfortune?
"Your Ladyship, it is the Second Miss Yun," the palace servant outside replied.
Jiang Luoxi instinctively wanted to blurt out "Do not see her," but then her thoughts shifted, and she changed her words, "Please invite the Second Miss Yun in."
"Yes, Your Ladyship."
A moment later.
Yun Shu walked in.
As soon as she entered, a wave of medicinal fragrance washed over her.
Jiang Luoxi was drinking a decoction, her eyebrows furrowed by the dark, bitter liquid. She still swallowed it down mouthful by mouthful.