"Someone, quickly! Someone come! Assassins have infiltrated the palace..."
"Hurry and summon the Imperial Guards to the Imperial Study to protect His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Who dares to be so bold as to trespass into the heavily guarded imperial palace?"
"There! Everyone, quickly apprehend him!"
"..."
A large crowd of Imperial Guards swarmed the entrance of the Imperial Study, blocking it completely.
Meanwhile, a plump little figure darted nimbly across the rooftops, shouting loudly, "Xiao, you better come out! Xi Tian is in trouble..."
Indeed, the one arriving was Little Jie Kong, who had rushed over from the Yun Manor.
He had given his all to find Xiao Jin Heng and bring the imperial physicians to treat Xi Tian, and was now on the verge of collapse from exhaustion.
"What's all the commotion outside?" Emperor Cheng frowned, his mood worsening.
Xiao Jin Heng narrowed his eyes; he thought he had faintly heard the little monk's voice.
"Your Majesty, I will go out and see..." Xiao Jin Heng turned and ran out.
Seeing this, Emperor Cheng could no longer sit still. He took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and strode out of the Imperial Study.
"Archers, prepare yourselves! We must shoot down this assassin today, no matter what!" a captain of the Imperial Guards shouted.
The little monk, panting, squatted on the roof of the main hall, observing the scene below carefully. "Xiao, are you even a man? Xi Tian has fainted, and you're hiding like a scared turtle? I'll never let her talk to you again..."
Though he put on a brave front, he was terrified inside.
If Xi Tian were to die suddenly, his remaining life would be like a walking corpse, devoid of love.
Xiao Jin Heng, who had just rushed out of the Imperial Study, heard the commotion and looked up. He saw the little monk squatting on the roof, sweating profusely and babbling incessantly.
"What happened to Xi Tian?" Xiao Jin Heng asked urgently.
Emperor Cheng's heart also skipped a beat, and he looked at the little monk with a pensive gaze.
Jie Kong wiped his sweat. "She fainted, and even Old Guan can't save her. Hurry and summon all the imperial physicians to examine and prescribe medicine for Xi Tian!"
Initially, he didn't trust these so-called imperial physicians. With Guan Zhong Bo present, all other physicians could step aside.
But now that Old Guan was baffled and helpless, Little Jie Kong had no choice but to turn to Xiao.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jin Heng's heart pounded. Without a second thought, he ran towards the palace gates.
The palace gates were already locked for the night. Even as the Crown Prince, he couldn't leave the palace freely without Emperor Cheng's golden tablet of authorization.
"Heng'er!" Emperor Cheng called out, catching up to Xiao Jin Heng. "Take my imperial sword out of the palace. No one will dare to stop you on the way!"
Xi Tian's sudden fainting was no trivial matter.
Therefore, Emperor Cheng and Eunuch Zhao, among others, were also very worried and concerned.
Xiao Jin Heng took the sword and replied with a "Mm," "Thank you, Father!"
No matter the arguments or disturbances, in critical moments, family was what mattered most.
Emperor Cheng dismissed the Imperial Guards and patted Xiao Jin Heng's shoulder. "Don't panic when facing problems. I will send the best imperial physicians in the palace immediately. No matter what method is used, Xi Tian must be saved. As the Crown Prince, you cannot lose your composure..."
"Understood, Father!"
Xiao Jin Heng responded and looked at Little Jie Kong, "Let's go!"
Eunuch Zhao prepared two swift horses and escorted them to the palace gate. Seeing the two little ones gallop towards the Yun Manor, Eunuch Zhao sighed and returned to the palace.
Meanwhile, within the Yun Manor.
Little Xi Tian's bedroom was near the back garden. The scenery here was beautiful and the terrain serene. Especially at night, the fragrance of flowers and plants would drift into the bedroom, cleansing the air of any impurities.
It was now deep into the night, and most households had already extinguished their lights and retired to sleep. However, the Yun Manor was brightly lit, with servants bustling about, all to help the young county princess recover.
"Oh dear, why hasn't the little monk returned yet?"
Steward Li stood by the bedside, his hands tucked into his sleeves. "The young county princess's complexion is worsening. What if she doesn't make it?"
The young master had instructed that after the county princess moved in, she must be well taken care of and not be wronged in any way.
But now, the young county princess had suddenly fainted, and even the divine physician Guan couldn't cure her. If the young master got angry, he might be kicked out.
Tu Qing Dong paced back and forth in the room, his hands clasped behind his back.
What was going on? The county princess was usually lively and cheerful, so how did she suddenly fall ill?
Could it be that she had stayed up late designing the warship blueprints for him, leading to poor rest and weakness, causing her to collapse?
"Lord Tu, please stop pacing and think of a solution!" Steward Li was so anxious he was almost in tears.
Tu Qing Dong stopped pacing and sighed, "What can this official do? Perhaps... perhaps I should find a shaman to come and examine the young county princess?"
The county princess's inexplicable fainting must be due to some evil spirit.
Steward Li: "..."
You might as well keep pacing.
Just then, a gentle breeze blew from outside, causing the door to creak.
The wind carried a hint of mint fragrance. Just a gentle inhale brought a sense of peace and comfort.
Following this, a white figure descended from the sky, landing steadily outside the bedroom door.
A young maidservant screamed, "Ah! A ghost! A ghost!"
White figure man: "..."
Have you ever seen a ghost as handsome as me?
Hmph, truly lacking in discernment.
"Who is outside?" Steward Li rushed out without thinking, assuming it was the little monk.
But upon coming out, he saw a handsome young man in white standing at the door.
He was fair and handsome, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. His features were sculpted like an ancient carving, as if a god had descended to earth, leaving Steward Li momentarily stunned.
"Who... who are you?" Steward Li asked cautiously.
Why would such a jade-like, dignified young man come to the Yun Manor?
The young man smiled faintly, closed his fan with a 'snap', and cupped his hands towards Steward Li. "I am Yu Nian, here to treat the young county princess..."
Steward Li: "???"
Yu Nian?
He seemed to recall the little monk mentioning this name earlier.
Could he have misremembered?
Hearing the commotion, Tu Qing Dong also hurried out.
Upon seeing the young man, he asked Steward Li in a low voice, "Who is this young master?"
"He says his name is Yu Nian. Does our Great Liang Kingdom have anyone with the surname Yu?" Steward Li was bewildered.
Tu Qing Dong shook his head and scratched his face. "This name sounds like a Buddhist dharma name!"
"Does it?"
"Yes, yes, it's a dharma name!"
Yu Nian: "..."