The maidservant before her looked unfamiliar, yet Qin Guan immediately recognized the waist token from the Longevity and Health Palace in her hand. Behind her followed two young eunuchs, their faces etched with panic. Qin Guan hurriedly asked, "What has happened to the Empress Dowager? Just two days ago when I entered the palace, she was perfectly fine."
The maidservant replied anxiously, "Her Majesty began feeling unwell this afternoon. There was no particular incident—she suddenly started trembling and collapsed to the ground. After we helped her up, she could no longer speak. We summoned the imperial physicians at once. They diagnosed it as a recurrence of her wind-evil ailment but could offer no cure. They suggested inviting you immediately, but today is your wedding day. Mammy Chen dared not disrupt your ceremony and instead had Physician He from the Imperial Hospital perform needle therapy. He administered two needles, and by evening, Her Majesty was able to swallow medicine. However, just half an hour ago, she suddenly struggled to breathe, her throat producing rasping sounds. Even needling proved ineffective now. The Emperor is already waiting at the Longevity and Health Palace. It was only with His Majesty’s approval that I came to summon you. Today is your joyous occasion, were it not for Her Majesty’s condition..."
The Empress Dowager’s illness was indeed a wind-evil syndrome. Qin Guan listened as the description matched the symptoms perfectly, and her concern grew. She was well aware that the Empress Dowager’s health had been declining. She had hoped that if Her Majesty could pass the winter peacefully, she might recover, but she never expected such a crisis to occur on this very day. In that moment, thoughts of her wedding and nuptial celebrations faded from her mind. "I understand," she said decisively. "Her Majesty’s health takes precedence. Let me prepare, and we will depart for the palace immediately."
The maidservant nodded in relief. Qin Guan turned and hurried into the room. "Baiying, bring the silver needles."
She then glanced at Yan Chi. "This time it seems truly serious. Her Majesty was critically ill just a few days ago."
Yan Chi, dressed only in a thin robe after his bath, nodded calmly. "With you here, she will surely overcome the crisis." As he spoke, he began changing into proper attire. Qin Guan stepped forward to assist him with his robes. Yan Chi paused, watching as she fastened his belt. Unable to resist, he took her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to it.
Qin Guan looked up, their eyes meeting. In that shared gaze, there was only clarity and understanding.
By then, Baiying had already brought the silver needles. Without delay, Qin Guan and Yan Chi prepared to leave for the palace. Fuling stood bewildered, watching the sudden turn of events. Noticing her confusion, Qin Guan reassured her, "It’s alright. Rest early and await our return."
Fuling nodded blankly. Having just arrived at the royal residence, she felt somewhat lost with both Qin Guan and Baiying departing.
Qin Guan and Yan Chi exited together, following the maidservant toward the palace. The day had been clear, but now snowflakes drifted from the sky. Yan Chi gently pulled up Qin Guan’s hood. As they walked, faint noises could still be heard from the main courtyard—most guests had left, and servants were cleaning up after the banquet. Yan Chi led Qin Guan along the covered corridor, taking a shortcut. By the time they reached the residence’s entrance, a carriage was already waiting. However, just as they stepped outside, a group of riders on swift horses arrived abruptly. Yan Chi looked up—the man leading them was none other than Zhao Yu.
The sudden appearance of the riders brought their steps to an abrupt halt.Zhao Yu was momentarily taken aback upon seeing Yan Chi and Qin Guan. He galloped to the front of the royal residence's horses, dismounted swiftly, and said, "Greetings to Your Highness Prince Rui, greetings to the princess consort..."
After paying his respects, Zhao Yu quickly rose and asked, "Where are Your Highness and the princess consort heading?"
Yan Chi replied, "The Empress Dowager is critically ill. We are entering the palace. Why have you come here?"
At this question, Zhao Yu immediately straightened his expression and said, "This humble general has come to seek Your Highness. We have discovered traces of Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince and wish to request Your Highness's decision."
Upon hearing this, both Qin Guan and Yan Chi were inwardly startled.
It was certain that Yan Ze was aiding the Empress and the Crown Prince. Although Yan Chi had not chosen to form an alliance with Yan Ze, both sides had an unspoken understanding. Yet, Yan Chi had assumed that with Yan Ze's help, the Empress and the Crown Prince would surely leave the capital smoothly. How could their traces have been discovered now?
"Where are the Empress and the Crown Prince? What have you found?"
Zhao Yu promptly responded, "In the southern part of the city. We found two elderly people who had come from the palace in a civilian residence there. These two individuals are connected to Her Majesty the Empress, but both are extremely tight-lipped. They haven't confessed anything yet. My subordinates are currently interrogating them, and we should have news soon. I came specifically to report to Your Highness."
Zhao Yu had followed Yan Chi to fetch the bride in the morning and returned to the royal residence to observe the ceremony in the evening before leaving. Originally, he and Yan Chi had been searching for people in the capital together, but now that Yan Chi was married, Zhao Yu was left to manage everything alone. Naturally, he couldn't linger for long.
Hearing this, Yan Chi's expression turned grave. Granny Qian had previously been in the southern part of the city. Yan Chi and Qin Guan didn't know how many people the Empress still had at her disposal, but if the Empress and the Crown Prince were captured, it would not be a good outcome for them... In the current situation, the Empress and they shared a common enemy.
Yan Chi thought of this, and Qin Guan naturally did as well. She quickly grabbed Yan Chi's arm and said, "You handle this matter first. I will go to the palace to treat the Empress Dowager. Both matters are urgent and cannot be delayed. Once you've dealt with this, you can come to the palace to visit the Empress Dowager."
Qin Guan's words were decisive. On one hand, the Empress Dowager's critical condition truly could not wait; on the other, it was better to keep the matter of the Empress and the Crown Prince under their control. Hearing this, Yan Chi also felt it was the most appropriate course of action and could only nod in agreement. The two exchanged a glance, and Qin Guan turned to board the prepared carriage.
Baiying followed her into the carriage, and as the driving guard cracked his whip, the carriage immediately set off.
Yan Chi watched as the carriage gradually moved into the distance. With Baiying accompanying her, nothing would go wrong. Besides, Qin Guan was going to the Longevity and Health Palace to save the Empress Dowager...
Yan Chi steadied his thoughts and turned to Zhao Yu. "Where are those two people? I will go and see."
Zhao Yu hurriedly replied, "They are in the southern part of the city!"
Yan Chi immediately said, "Lead the way."
Life's two greatest joys are achieving success in the imperial examinations and the wedding night. Yan Chi naturally wished for this wedding night to be peaceful, allowing him to indulge in the bliss of matrimony. However, it was clear that neither the discovery of the Empress and Crown Prince's traces nor the Empress Dowager's critical illness were events that could be taken lightly.
Without saying more, Yan Chi ordered the guards to bring his horse, gathered a team of covert guards, and departed from the main gate of the royal residence.Qin Guan sat in the carriage, her heart clenched tightly as she repeatedly urged the driving guard to go faster. It was already the hour of midnight, and the Imperial Road was completely empty, allowing the carriage to move swiftly. Before long, they arrived at the palace gate. The accompanying Momma presented her waist token, and the imperial guards immediately granted passage. Momma led Qin Guan toward the Longevity and Health Palace, the only sound along the way being the hurried footsteps of the group. Soon, as the Longevity and Health Palace came into view, Momma’s steps suddenly slowed and halted...
Qin Guan raised an eyebrow, about to ask a question, when she noticed a pair of Imperial Guards approaching her from not far away.
The group wore stern expressions, their demeanor clearly indicating they had been waiting there for her all along.
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