Chapter Five, resembling floating duckweed

She did not let go

The slender nails scraped fiercely against Xu Da's arm. She gritted her teeth and held on with her last breath, saying: "Xu Da, if you truly care for Da Yong, you must protect his child"

I am here. A faint ripple appeared in Li Rongzhi's eyes, which he quickly concealed. He grasped her outstretched hand, their wide sleeves concealing their clasped hands.

She stared blankly at the baby being cradled in her sister-in-law's arms upon hearing this... It was the first time she had seen the boss's child, and it turned out that babies could be this... lifeless.

Dead? The chief is dead! Xu Da ignored the prison officer and headed straight into the prison

Xu Huizheng stood in front of her, observing all her movements, momentarily stunned in astonishment

Is this Miss Xu Er? Qin Dayong is a serious criminal, and without the token of the Chief Justice, it is absolutely impossible to see him. Moreover, the case involving Qin Dayong is already under the responsibility of the Second Prince. Without the order of the Second Prince, even the Grand Preceptor...

In the past, he was the Prince of Wei residing temporarily in Xixuan; today, he is the Crown Prince of Wei. The Xu family has always been the trusted right hand of Xixuan. From this moment on, you are a member of the Xu family of the Prince of Wei. Accompany him, protect him safely to Wei, and there is no need to return to Xixuan. May Xixuan and Wei forever establish a bond of friendship.

If the leader truly heard her shouting outside the prison gate and chose to bite his tongue to end his life, then in his heart, he must want to protect her... The person behind this has the intention to eliminate anyone who might learn of the leader's significant plans, and he would not want to implicate her... Who possesses such immense authority...

The Second Prince's expression changed, and he took a deep breath, sneering: "This is truly wonderful. How could a mere Qin Dayong disrupt the relationship between father and son? The injury to the Crown Prince's arm is indeed a splendid one! I am sure the seriously injured Third Royal Brother will feel comforted upon hearing this!" He approached Xu Da, looking down at her from a position of superiority. "Xu Da, heed the command!"

Wen Yu gently kicked the woman's corpse aside and forcibly pulled Xu Da up. "Let's go, I will take you to find a doctor!"

The Second Prince raised an eyebrow and smiled mockingly. The prince sent as a hostage from the Great Wei is a kind-hearted person; such individuals, when they return to ascend the throne, will inevitably become puppets controlled by others. It is no wonder that the Western Xuan is willing to let him go back

... there are people. ... someone originally intended to set a trap for Qin Dayong to make you jump down, from then on you would only be able to serve him ... it should be said that by borrowing your surname, he forced the Xu family behind you to stand on his side, who would have thought you didn't go last night, I estimate that person made a mistake, first deceiving Qin Dayong into thinking the Third Prince had intentions of chaos and killing him, then making Qin Dayong bear the blame, I am not yet aware of the details in this regard. ... Xu Da, even if you do not think for yourself, you must think for the child!

She lowered her head to look at the unconscious baby in her arms, fully aware that she must pull herself together—"Is it the royal poison... How could a folk apothecary possibly resolve this? Now I am poisoned as well; even if the father-daughter bond is weak, he wouldn't want to see me die before his eyes, would he?" She murmured to convince herself and turned to rush out...

Two ... ... Two ... ...

Xu Zhi turned his eyes away. Xu Hui slowly approached and gently touched Xu Da's closed eyelids with his hand

He is currently accompanying the emperor in the palace

Upon hearing this, she smiled and closed her eyes—perhaps she thought she was smiling, her lips barely curving upwards, and she murmured softly:

She cautiously reached out to touch the body with indistinct features

Among his three children, Xu Zhi and Xu Hui are emotionally distant from him and do not share a close relationship, while he looks down upon those who are willing to be close to him

Before he finished speaking, he saw Xu Da glaring at him fiercely

The man in the red robe, who had been admiring the peonies in the pot, finally turned his attention to this side. He walked over slowly, slightly bending down beside Xu Da, and spoke softly:

She felt guilty and flustered, finally letting go of her hand. She raised her eyes to look at him and said in a muted voice: "Thank you, Your Highness!"

"In the end, is this the kind of person you are after?"

"He uses you, but will never endanger your life." Wen Yuyi said softly, "Impressive, pulling you into the power of the Western Xuan royal family, making it so you can no longer enjoy the carefree days of the past..."

The Second Prince casually glanced at Xu Da, who reached out to offer support. That hand was slightly darker in complexion, stained with blood; although the bone structure was exquisite, it was unfortunately somewhat rough due to martial arts training. A playful smile curled at the corner of his mouth

She suddenly looked up. "The prince is well acquainted with the person who set the trap, so he knows about this plan, which is why he went to the Zui Xin Building last night to avoid suspicion"

"It is I! Sister-in-law!" Xu Da exclaimed with great joy. "I will carry you and the child to find a doctor!" She attempted to lift her sister-in-law with all her strength, only to find that her sister-in-law was gripping her shoulder tightly, her fingers digging into her flesh with force.

Instantly, her lips were slightly closed

Xu Da felt a tremor in his heart, his fists clenched tightly. Wen Wuyi did not speak explicitly, but how could she not know who the person behind the scenes was

Xu Da completely ignored him and rode away directly. She had only one destination in her mind

Without any hesitation, she walked through the gate of the Xu residence, and not a single soldier stood in her way. The old servant by the door was taken aback upon seeing her face

"Is the second young lady acquainted with those few people?" The voice of the Second Prince of Xixuan drifted from afar

At this moment, the imperial physician arrived. Upon hearing this, Xu Da immediately raised his eyes towards the direction of the hall door

Xu Da rode straight to her small residence. Before the horse's hooves had even stopped, she leaped down from the saddle and handed the reins to the maid who had come out to greet her

She thought she was fast enough, but when it comes to the royal family, how could the court officials easily close the case? Even if they were to frame someone, they would need to do it convincingly and obtain a confession. The person in her heart, even if he were to have his limbs severed, would never admit to anything he had not done.

Xu Da had long lost the strength to support herself; she collapsed to the ground, and before her was a sea of red mist, rendering her unable to see anyone any longer

The master is in the hall ... ... the second young lady ... ... you ... ... you ... ...

Xu Da hurriedly entered the residence, heading straight to her boudoir, where she took out a one-foot-long phoenix robe stored in the cabinet. Just as she was about to step out quickly, she caught sight of the long sword in the bedroom. After a brief moment of hesitation, she averted her gaze and rushed out of the mansion to mount her horse

Having just conversed with the Qin family, Xu Da felt utterly drained. She stared blankly at the person in her arms for a long time, murmuring: "Your Highness, last night you spent the night at the Drunken Heart Pavilion in the northern part of the capital with the Prince of Wei, was it to avoid disaster? Xu Da insists on being a clear-sighted ghost, could you please tell me, what exactly led to Qin Dayong's death?"

Upon seeing him, the young man thought for a moment and replied: "Let's go to the street that leads west."

... ... I await your command.

This is quite good, finally... there is someone at the end... who is willing to help me without any ulterior motive... I am truly grateful... Please inform the prince on my behalf that I have asked Prince Beitang to send him the Beitang hairpin... I kindly request Young Master Huang to personally collect it... using the 'money' I have left for him...

Xu Da murmured to herself: "It is well known that the Crown Prince has always valued the leader; how could he possibly injure the Crown Prince? The Crown Prince visits him in prison... not to save the leader, but rather to injure his own arm to eliminate suspicion?" She let out a soft laugh.

Having left the Drunken Heart Pavilion, it is truly fortunate that a noble young master is about to depart. Wen Yuyi laughed heartily and rushed to take the horse. "Brother, I will compensate you for the horse later!"

He then looked towards the Second Prince of the Western Xuan and explained gently: "Over the past two years, it has all depended on the Second Young Lady to facilitate the affairs between the Proton Mansion, and Rong Zhi has always held a sense of gratitude towards her. This time, regarding the matter of the Third Prince's serious injury, it also relies on the Second Prince to clarify for the Second Young Lady."

Xu Da tightly gripped the pill in his hand and said softly

The man was Li Rongzhi. He lightly glanced at Xu Da, paused, and then met the gaze of the Second Prince of the Western Xuan. He smiled wryly and said, "I encountered the imperial physician in front of the Xu residence, so I came in together, hoping he could examine me for wind damage."

Still, she is different for each person, would rather take a risk for that Qin Dayong

The Second Prince of the Western Xuan, with a cold voice, said

Is the doctor too old? The joyful voice was shattered by a mouthful of blood choking in the throat

Xu Da only wished for her to pass away peacefully. In a moment of thoughtlessness, he seized the half-drunk poisoned wine and drank it all in one gulp

Li Rongzhi lifted the hem of his robe, half-squatted down, raised his cup to Xu Da's lips, and said softly

Her hands are covered in fresh blood

He is certainly willing to do so

Wen Yu felt that this woman's life had reached its end, and it was impossible for her to speak freely anymore, so he let out a quiet sigh of relief

Xu Da suddenly raised his head

The house was quiet; she had only visited twice, but seeing that her sister-in-law did not seem very welcoming, she never came again.

The old physician, with a pale complexion, completed the diagnosis. Xu Dazhong was clearly poisoned with the toxin that had been secretly taken from the palace a couple of days ago. He hesitated for a moment and glanced back at the second prince.

I will definitely protect the leader's child

Xu Da responded lightly upon hearing this. Li Rongzhi's final compassion truly allowed her to pass away with a smile. ... She could pretend for a moment; in fact, that Young Master Huang from last night was indeed a real person, and he even came specifically to see her off for the last time ... . ... Fantasizing a little, finding joy amidst suffering is also good; if she departs joyfully today, she will have a joyful life in the next life.

The Second Prince curled his lips and said, "Let it be treated."

I found it! I found it! Originally, I was worried that this Young Master Huang could not accompany me for a lifetime, but now I realize I was overthinking. I think I was overly concerned.

From beginning to end, has she merely been a pawn used by others? This Xu family name has caused the death of the only person in the world who would treat her well. How much longer will this Xu family name continue to follow her?

The Second Prince snatched it over to examine closely, and indeed it was the handwriting of the Crown Prince. A momentary grimace crossed his face as he gritted his teeth and smiled, "He has a serious injury to his arm, yet he can still write. The Crown Prince is now... in the palace"

Wen Yu did not respond, which was taken as a default acceptance

Xu Hui, sitting beside, slowly straightened his body and clenched the long knife in his hand

At dawn, there were still few common people on the streets. Upon seeing Xu Da riding swiftly, they all hurriedly moved aside. The royal guards, in order to avoid startling the citizens, were dispersed throughout the streets of the capital. Upon seeing her, they all remained motionless.

As she rode past the Drunken Heart Pavilion on her swift horse, several young attendants were yawning and opening the windows. Upon seeing her whirlwind-like elegance, they thought they were seeing things. After focusing their eyes, one of them exclaimed, "Miss Xu Er!" His eyes widened in shock as he shouted, "This is unbelievable! Am I seeing things? Her hands and robe are covered in blood!"

Her voice was so weak that even Li Rongzhi had to lean down to listen closely. The second prince of Xixuan stepped forward, faintly hearing her mention a brothel, and couldn't help but let out a sneer

Miss Er, without the decree of the Second Prince, it is truly...

Did you not predict, as a divine master, that your life would be smooth? In the two years you have held your official position, he has not suffered a single major injury; he jokingly calls you his lucky star. I think he may have a point. Why did you not save him this time? Not save him?

She suddenly stood up

Wen Yu glanced at her and let out a cold laugh: "True feelings? Do people from Beiya really have true feelings? Don't talk about me; have you ever received anyone's true feelings? Every move I make is already under your watchful eyes. Do you still wish to restrict my actions now?" After saying this, he waved his robe and left.

Thank you, Your Highness

Xu Da, give me the child, do not let him hold you back

Why is the second young lady in such a predicament? How did you wade into such murky waters? That Qin Dayong truly causes great harm, implicating the entire Xu family. The Chief Justice should have invited the second young lady to inquire in detail, but what kind of person is the second young lady? If those lowly individuals were to harm her in the slightest, how could the Western Xuan royal family justify themselves to the Xu family?

The daughter, unaware of the outcome of life and death this time, bids farewell to her father here... The lifespan of a person from the Western Xuan is at most sixty years. Xu Zhi and Xu Hui are both talented individuals with lofty ambitions, and when the time comes, they will surely be indifferent to their father. The daughter has always been lacking in talent and ambition; she had intended to return to the residence in two years to accompany her father and share the joys of family together... Now it seems that there will likely be regrets left behind. Xu Hui conveyed this to this point, and upon hearing Xu Changfeng's faint "hm," he coldly remarked: "Xu Da is right. What family joy? Xu Hui never even thought of it. Now it seems that there will likely be regrets left behind." Xu Hui conveyed this to this point, and upon hearing Xu Changfeng's faint "hm," he coldly remarked: "Xu Da is right. What family joy? Xu Hui never even thought of it."

Xu Changfeng looked at her and asked in a deep voice, "Where were you last night?"

He hesitated for a moment, unsure whether he should capture Xu Da's piece

Then, it is you! The woman suddenly released the child and tightened her grip on Xu Da's arm again. Xu Da hurriedly protected the infant, but the woman ignored it, glaring at her with intense hatred. With you here, shouldn't Da Yong be safe?

Several prison guards were taken aback, carefully scrutinizing the woman before them who was dressed in a royal phoenix robe

Sister-in-law, I ... ... " Xu Da was left speechless, filled with guilt

Miss Xu Er. A prison officer appeared at the prison gate, looking troubled. "The person you wish to see has already left."

He headed straight for Xitong Street, his keen eyes catching sight of the royal guard's soldiers seamlessly blending into the marketplace. When he arrived at the Qin residence without any hindrance, Xu Da was just about to push open the main door of the Qin house, and he leaped off his horse, rushing forward to grasp her wrist.

He was astonished by her almost expressionless demeanor

The disheveled bangs obscured her eyes, yet blood trickled down from the corners like a fine stream. Clearly, the bloodstains broke forth from her seven orifices, coursing across her face. How could she endure for so long? Was she so afraid of death that she didn't even dare to close her eyes? ... Or ... . ... He squinted, locking eyes with those beautiful orbs filled with waves of hatred, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat

Yesterday, the second young lady stayed overnight at the Drunken Heart Pavilion, was it to find a young man? What? Did she not find one?

His voice lingered around her, but she could not hear it clearly and had no desire to concentrate on listening. She turned and walked into the Qin residence

The Second Prince of the Western Xuan looked at Li Rongzhi with suspicion and asked, "Who are we discussing?"

Xu Da, follow me

The prince is perhaps too soft-hearted. It is said that you were almost killed in the Great Wei, and in the end, it was the Great Wei's empress who sacrificed her life to save you. I believe you must be able to empathize with this.

Xu Changfeng glanced at the silent Second Prince and replied, "Why trouble the prince?" He stepped forward, supporting Xu Da with one hand. Both of them were extremely stiff; as he helped her sit down in the chair, his hands immediately released.

Having finished speaking, he turned to her pair of dazed blood-red eyes, recalling the figure in the ancient painting, feeling a sense of unwillingness, and swept away his robe as he departed

"My daughter usually has no friends, and Qin Dayong is merely her superior, so there is no real relationship between them." She showed an anxious expression, trying to crawl forward on her knees, but her legs were too weak, causing her to fall to the ground, revealing her desperation for life. She trembled as she spoke: "Does father really want to see his daughter die here? I do not wish to die yet! I beg father to save me!"

Xu Da ignored the nervous expression of the jailer and said in a deep voice: "Don't you see what I am wearing?"

The elderly physician quickly caught the bottle, counted the pills to confirm their accuracy, and then secured the medicine bottle.

"... just treat it as brotherhood, are you really willing to risk your life like this?"

Upon seeing this, Xu Da felt no longer the sorrow of laughter and tears. It turned out that he had long known she was destined to fall into the trap, which is why he was so utterly astonished when he saw her.

Xu Da lowered her head, her ink-black hair trailing down, concealing all her expressions. It seemed she said something again, and Xu Hui leaned forward to listen and replied:

"How will you ensure it? Xu Da, how will you ensure it? In this world, apart from Dayong, I trust no one else. How can you make me believe?" Her eyes were already bulging.

You were born into the Xu family of the Western Xuan, and the Xu family will surely save you. Dayong did not misjudge you. My son, I entrust you to him. With that, he leaned to one side and took his last breath.

Upon entering the prison gate, one is met with the execution chamber. ... She first detected a strong, foul odor, and then she saw a man lying in a pool of blood. ... She could no longer recognize whether he was the leader; the torment he had endured was clearly not aimed at extracting a confession, but rather at forcing this man to his death.

What about Li Rongzhi? Is it the same?

Li Rongzhi sighed: "Those youthful memories, Rongzhi has long forgotten." Seeing Xu Da covered in blood, he showed a look of compassion and took out a clean handkerchief to gently wipe her.

Xu Da was taken aback and immediately shook his head vigorously. "Sister-in-law, you have misunderstood! You have misunderstood!"

She walked past him and headed towards the hall. Outside the hall, the royal guards stood in formation, yet she seemed oblivious to them as she stepped into the hall

Li Rongzhi smiled faintly and took out the royal edict of the Western Xuan dynasty from the hidden pocket of his sleeve. "I am about to return to the Great Wei, and His Majesty of the Western Xuan has permitted me to bring one member of the Xu family with me. No, it should be said that I request a member of the Xu family to escort me back to the Great Wei"

She paused, slowly turning her head to look at him. The morning breeze lifted her long hair, revealing her pair of dazed, crimson beautiful eyes

Xu Da? Suddenly, the seemingly lifeless body opened its eyes wide.

The area outside the Xu residence was already filled with the royal guards. She appeared oblivious to this, and as she dismounted, she stumbled and nearly fell to the ground, but ultimately managed to steady herself by gripping the reins of the horse.

Her veins bulged, and she stared fiercely at Xu Da. "Don't you like him? Aren't you infatuated with him? Why don't you save him? Why don't you save him?"

Two will suffice, first to mitigate the toxicity, and then to proceed with the recuperation

The prince? Qingfeng gently adjusted his robe for him

Having lived for nineteen years, what has she truly accomplished? If the leader had met not Xu Da today, but Xu Hui or Xu Zhi, could a life have been saved in time?

Xu Da directly donned the phoenix robe while on horseback, not caring whether the robe would get dirty. Upon reaching the prison gate, she immediately dismounted and shouted: "Xu Da of the Western Xuan, under the orders of Grand Master Xu, brings the prisoner Qin Dayong."

Do you know what crime Qin Dayong has committed? Do you have a close relationship with him?

... Xu Da, the child is not dead, is he? I have protected him, I have always protected him. If I must drink poison, I will; he is the only child of Dayong, and I will not allow anything to happen to him. He cannot be harmed..." She looked at Xu Da with wide eyes, straining to see. "Is it because I want Dayong to befriend the royal descendants, forcing him to undertake great matters, that this has brought him harm? ..." She looked at Xu Da with wide eyes, straining to see. "Is it because I want Dayong to befriend the royal descendants, forcing him to undertake great matters, that this has brought him harm? ..."

The second young lady denies it so quickly. That voice seems to mock.

His words hinted to her that he could also obtain the medicine? Xu Da was taken aback, instinctively wanting to raise his head to look at him, but he heard Xu reply: "Drink water." She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately opened her mouth and slowly drank.

Xu Da seemed to know who was touching her, moved slightly, and whispered something in Xu Hui's ear

Does mocking her for being afraid of death make sense? Indeed, she is so afraid of death that she feels no shame at all. She is lost in thought, no longer looking up at her father, merely hanging her head to preserve her last bit of strength while waiting for the physician.

Is Dayong dead? Is Dayong really dead? Why are you still alive? Xu Da, why have you not been captured yet?

Xu Da

Xu Zhi, who was beside Xu Changfeng, interjected softly: "The Second Prince speaks too harshly. If the descendants of the Xu family were to tarnish the name of our ancestors, even if it were a death sentence, we would personally bring her before the prince."

The young prince of a small nation was so startled by her face that he fell to the ground. Soon after, he regained his composure, trembling as he opened his mouth and shouted: "I... I... I have seen the second young lady of the Xu family! Here! Here! Someone come quickly! It was I who saw her! I found her first!"

Your Highness!" Qingfeng followed out and said in a very low voice: "This is a matter of the Xixuan family. Your Highness came here last night to avoid disaster, so why bother to get involved again? It would be best to establish a good relationship with the Xu family, but over the past two years, Your Highness has only acquainted yourself with Xu Da, avoiding other members of the Xu family. Is Your Highness not acting with genuine feelings in this matter?"

He was merely asking casually, without expecting her to answer, but suddenly she looked up at him and smiled brilliantly

Clearly, she should feel desolate, yet at this moment, she felt nothing at all. The horse's hooves did not stop as she withdrew her gaze and directed it towards the Xu residence located to the south of the capital.

His voice was still somewhat hoarse from the cold, Xu Da moved slightly, tilted his head a bit, and his eyelids fluttered, as if he wanted to look over here

I... my sister-in-law, it is my fault, I should have followed the boss last night... She is filled with regret! Had she known this would happen, she would not have gone to the drunken building! If time could be turned back, she would rather live a life of solitude than lose the boss!

She looked again at the elderly man before her, whose expression was indifferent. Although he was clearly fifty-five years old, he appeared to be in his forties. Since the passing of his mother, he had been eager to have another child, a child who would bear the surname Xu, truly representing Xu Changfeng. Unfortunately, to this day, his concubines had not borne him a child.

Father, the daughter has returned. She locked her gaze on that old man

Wen Yu felt angry at her slow and unhelpful actions. He replied: "What other reason could there be for death? It is merely a victim of the internal strife among the princes"

What merit or capability does she possess? It is astonishing that such a significant mobilization has occurred, to the extent that Xu Hui even carries that sinister dagger with him.

The Prince of the Great Wei had once visited a brothel, understanding somewhat the psychology of the young male courtesans. Last night, Xu Da became infatuated with a young male courtesan with the surname Huang... Tell me, if he were to know that Xu Da had lost all value for his use, would he still be willing to assist Xu Da in such a predicament?

Xitong Street? What is there on Xitong Street? ... There is ... ! ... the residence of Qin Dayong? ! Wen Yuyi thought to herself, isn't this woman quite adept at self-preservation? Shouldn't she go to the prison to mourn with a few tears and then continue living her smooth life?

He wanted to pull her closer again, but she took a step back

... ... there is no ... ... '' there is no, there is no. ... ... This faint sound, like a thread in the wind, is hers

She could not bear to go against Li Rongzhi's wishes, her lips slightly parted, allowing him to slowly pour into her.

Why has the Prince of the Great Wei come to the Xu residence? Is there something urgent?" The Second Prince of the Western Xuan furrowed his brows

Just now, she had been hanging her head, but at this moment, when she lifted it, Wen Yuyi was filled with shock and fear. "You..."

Xu Da suddenly widened her crimson eyes, revealing an expression of fear for her life, and with all her strength, she snatched the medicine bottle from his hand. "How do I take it?" she asked urgently

Do not harm her life, for her surname is Xu. But when the one being used does not bear the surname Xu, then one strikes with lethal force

He unexpectedly shook it off. With a hint of anger on his face, he said coldly: "Xu Da! This matter has nothing to do with you, do you really want to bring trouble upon yourself? You have already avoided it, why do you still seek death by going straight into it?"

Where is father? Is he in the residence? Although Mingming's mouth was already moving, she realized that it took her quite a while to hear her own words.

The imperial physician is requested to wait outside for this king. Once this king has discussed matters with the Grand Preceptor and secured the person, you shall be invited to treat this king for wind-cold. Lin Xiu, take the imperial physician outside, and then go inform Prince Beitang to prepare the hairpin. " He casually glanced at the medicine box in the imperial physician's arms, speaking clearly word by word while standing beside Xu Da.

She slowly crouched down, her fingertip gently touching the fresh blood that had pooled in the muddy ground. The blood had not yet coagulated and still felt warm; if only it could flow back, this man before her could be revived.

Xu Da cast a deep glance at him, slowly sweeping his gaze over the others in the hall... Xu Zhi, Xu Hui, and a man in a red robe were admiring the bonsai behind him

One of the prison guards moved his lips, and after a long time, he finally recognized the person in front of him

Xu glanced at the tea water floating with a hint of white powder, looking at Li Rongzhi in surprise

Xu Da trembled all over

The Second Prince of the Western Xuan asked her a few more questions, but she seemed to have lost her hearing and did not respond at all... He turned to look at Xu Zhi and Xu Hui, both of whom pretended not to see Xu Da in a life-threatening situation... Is it truly as the rumors say, that there is no connection between them, and that there is no sisterly bond?

She did not notice his terrified expression, no longer delaying, and rushed out of the Qin residence to ride away once more

Wen Yuyi, who was listening to all of this, slightly narrowed his handsome eyes

"Second Miss, previously the Prince of Beitang asked me to look at the hairpin. I will take care of your matters properly. Please have some water."

The Second Prince has issued an order: do not apprehend her for the time being

... ... it is I ... ... who is incompetent ... ... Xu Da is so incapable ... ... that he cannot even save a single person ... ... '' The words at the mouth are shattered, causing a sharp pain in the throat.

The unprecedented coolness on the street... She had never felt this before; now, she could only feel the cool breeze stinging her face, making it almost impossible to open her eyes.

Nonsense... Is this really the emperor's edict?

They forced me to commit suicide out of guilt... They even want to force poison into my child... Where is the child? Where is the child?

A sharp pain shot through the back of his hand, and he instinctively shook her off, looking down to find that the back of his hand had been deeply scratched by her.

"Wait a moment, miss, your hairpin is not fastened properly." The maid hurriedly picked up the hair tie from the muddy ground, but Xu Da had long since disappeared. The maid sensed something was amiss, quickly closed the courtyard gate, and hurried towards the Wei Prince's residence.

The painting, it is said, was intended to be buried with Emperor Taizu, but for some unknown reason, it ended up being hidden in the palace. The figure in the painting appears to be a military general yet is not entirely martial, seeming both male and female, exuding a heroic demeanor that instills awe and respect. It was not until he saw Xu Zhi, who bore a striking resemblance to the figure in the painting, that he realized the ancient figure depicted in the painting was an ancestor of the Xu family.

Xu Da looked around in panic, and finally a person appeared in front of her, leaning close to her ear and whispering: "This infant has also been poisoned, it is evident that it cannot survive."

Her thoughts were sluggish, and after pondering for a moment, she hoarsely said: "The Qin family has only one line of descent. If Xu Da does not assist his wife and children, how will I, as his brother, face him in the afterlife?"

"The Prince of the Great Wei?" she asked in a hushed voice

The lady first looked at her in shock, and then her expression gradually softened, tears rolling down her cheeks, which were filled with a deathly pallor

This imperial decree means that regardless of your involvement in the case, you can leave without a trace. The Prince of Wei possesses great power, managing to take Xu Da away just like that. He smirked, bent down, and whispered in Xu Da's ear: "The Third Prince has always been favored by the Emperor. Since you are the only one by Qin Dayong's side, the Emperor cannot punish you. Whether you are guilty or not, he does not wish to see you remain in the capital any longer. Some may think this saves you, but little do they know that the nature of the people of Xixuan is such that a floating weed without roots will only suffer for a lifetime. Xu Da, from this moment on, you are forever exiled by Xixuan."

It is not ... ... it is not ... ...

Prince infighting? Which prince is the third prince fighting against...? She felt somewhat confused, lost in thought.

He waved her away and quickly walked to the hall, asking: "Where is Xu Da going?"

Xu Da! Wen Yu's expression changed dramatically.

She did not know whether it was the mixture of blood and water she was drinking, or if it was her own illusion, but she felt that the tea had a strange taste... perhaps a hint of medicinal flavor

Wen Yu immediately blocked her way, firmly gripping her wrist that was holding the child

Wen Yu-yi was getting dressed when she heard the commotion outside, which made her pause

The Second Prince followed the gaze and saw the face covered in blood and dirt... a serene smile blooming at the corner of her mouth

A head of flowing black hair, unbound, with bangs that usually part to the side now nearly obscuring her dark eyes, yet beneath the bangs shines a bright and fierce gaze. The bestowed phoenix robe, worn by someone of the imperial court, should be both noble and elegant, yet the robe on this person only trails a foot on the ground, the waist not cinched, neither noble nor elegant, almost a disgrace to the garment. This, however, caused the officials present to involuntarily fall silent.

Xu Changfeng remained silent, and even did not lower his head to look at her

The sound of dripping echoed as the water sliding down her face gradually pooled into a small puddle of crimson on the muddy ground. After a long gaze, everything before my eyes seemed to turn red. Xu Da lowered his gaze and spoke in a deep voice:

The prison officer trembled, instinctively stepping back, murmuring: "Second Miss, this phoenix robe stained with the accumulated blood of this place is guilty..."

Li Rongzhi's heart softened once again, whispering in her ear: "Second Miss, it’s alright. Just hold on a little longer." He helped roll up her wide sleeves and lifted her cold arms, allowing the imperial physician to take her pulse carefully.

The Second Prince of the Western Xuan furrowed his brow, pondered for a moment, and then said

Lin Xiu nodded quietly and asked the imperial physician to leave

Suddenly, her cheeks felt a bit itchy, and something slid down from the corner of her eye to her cheek. She looked up at the beam of the room, wondering where the water came from. After wiping it away and staring at her fingertip for a long time, she finally recognized what was on her face. She smiled faintly, knelt on the ground, and said in a hushed voice: "Father, it is my fault! I should not have stayed overnight at the Drunken Heart Pavilion, which caused a grave mistake. I should have taken responsibility for my actions. The eldest daughter has mistakenly ingested poison, and I implore you, Father, to urgently summon the physician to treat her at the residence." Her tone conveyed a sense of fear for her life.

She saw the poisoned servant lying on the ground, and a chill ran down her spine. As she walked on, she noticed the door to the Qin couple's bedroom wide open, and the lifeless color finally changed. In a hoarse voice, she called out, "Sister-in-law!" She rushed into the room and embraced the woman in the white dress, who had an unremarkable appearance.

Xu Da tightly grasped her icy hands and sincerely said: "Sister-in-law, from now on, my life and the child's life are intertwined. If I am saved, she will surely be saved. If I, Xu Da, unfortunately perish, I will certainly apologize to your family of three in the underworld"

The prison officer scrutinized her from head to toe and snorted, "We are currently conducting an interrogation. With your loud shout, Qin Dayong bit his tongue and committed suicide. How are we, the subordinates, supposed to respond to this? Are we to say that upon hearing your shout, Qin Dayong willingly took the blame? The intricacies of this matter should be clearly explained by the Second Miss to the Second Prince."

Xu Da lowered his gaze, not even uttering a word of thanks

The imperial physician hurriedly arrived, and upon taking a closer look, he was nearly frightened out of his wits. It was only thanks to the man beside him who supported him that he did not fall.

He saw Li Rongzhi again, with his eyes lowered. Li Rongzhi's complexion was as lustrous as jade, and his pair of finely detailed, strikingly beautiful eyes were dark and bright, fixed intently upon Xu Da.

She turned around, her long hair flowing with the phoenix robe.

The one calling her was a young man. She recognized him as the prince of the small nation. The annual living allowance sent by the small nation was insufficient, causing these hostages from the small nation to live rather uncomfortably. She feared that the hostages would starve to death in Xixuan, and at times, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and donate her monthly salary to help these hostages through their difficulties

Li Rongzhi smiled subtly and looked towards Xu Da, his dark eyes clearly revealing a sense of compassion. He said: "The imperial physician should go and take a look first, the second young lady... Master, may I assist the second young lady to her feet?"

Xu Da acted swiftly, pouring two pills from the medicine bottle and swallowing them dry with his head tilted back

Xu glanced coldly at Li Rongzhi, shouldering the weight of Xu Da and supporting her as she knelt on the ground

You can endure, but he cannot last even a moment. In my residence, I have some northern pond ginseng that can sustain him for a while; you go first, and I will bring the child over shortly. Seeing that she still refused to let go, he gave a faint bitter smile: "In these past two years, even if we cannot be completely honest with each other, have I ever truly harmed you?"

Do you know that all of Qin Dayong's confidants are accomplices? They have all committed suicide out of fear of punishment. This king is also compelled by circumstances to personally come and ask you...

Li Rongzhi presented himself before the Second Prince and said with a faint smile: "Your Majesty's oral decree, written on behalf of the Crown Prince."

The man in the crimson brocade was none other than the Second Prince of Xixuan. He had always harbored a certain affection for Xu Zhi, so he sought to please her by saying: "How could the Second Young Lady possibly commit such an act of treachery? Someone, quickly summon the imperial physician, do not delay for a moment! Second Young Lady, please rise. My father has entrusted this matter to me to investigate thoroughly. Rest assured, I have never wronged a good person." He kindly extended his hand for her to support herself as she stood up.

Li Rongzhi handed the tea to Xu Hui and spoke to the imperial physician

The poison that came out of the Imperial Medical Institute was, of course, already prepared with an antidote, and the old physician hurriedly took out a jade bottle from the medicine chest

He remembered seeing Xu Da half a month ago; she was merely a pleasingly attractive black beauty. Now, her face was covered in blood and dirt, obscuring her features, yet it reminded him of a portrait he had seen in the depths of the palace during his childhood

Sister-in-law