After the magnificent three-day wedding in Lingnan City, everyone returned to Wuzhen to resume their duties.
Bai Yunchen barely had time to enjoy married life.
He was immediately assigned to continue the joint investigation with Murong Yexuan.
Together with elite soldiers from the 'Snow Wolf Cavalry' and the terrifying 'Black Phoenix Infantry,' they secretly departed toward the borders.
At the same time, Yexuan's Shadow Guards infiltrated the Western Peaks Region, observing every suspicious movement under Marshal Lord Xie Wenzhao's command.
The mission was carried out quietly, with utmost caution —
The Crown Prince did not want Prince Murong Yuntai sensing even a hint of danger.
The Emperor Falls Ill — A Poisoned Tea, A Silent Scheme
It started subtly.
At first, the emperor seemed… tired.
A slight confusion in his speech.
An unusual sluggishness.
Everyone assumed it was work or age.
So when he collapsed one morning during a small court meeting…
everyone panicked.
But Rouyuan, summoned urgently to the palace, immediately sensed something was wrong.
She questioned the palace maids and the chief eunuch about the emperor's recent condition—what he had been eating, drinking, and any unusual symptoms he displayed.
They reported that His Majesty often appeared confused, excessively drowsy and sometimes he has difficulty in concentrating.
At times, he complained of dizziness, heart palpitations, and severe insomnia.
Day by day, the emperor's condition worsened.
It was also revealed that the emperor had been regularly drinking a special nighttime tea gifted by Second Consort Xulan.
"May I have all the tea leaves he consumed?" Rouyuan requested.
"I need to examine them further."
At the same time, the Empress and Consort Rou had also begun experiencing headaches, irregular heartbeats, mild nausea, and dizziness.
Rouyuan immediately summoned both Niángniáng in private for a thorough examination.
Rouyuan's Secret Diagnosis
After checking the emperor's pulse, eyes, nails, and breath, Rouyuan understood,
This was not illness.
This was planned poisoning.
But she did not announce it publicly.
Instead, she bowed respectfully and said, "Huánghòu Niángniáng … this physician requires time to investigate and prepare medicine."
She excused herself — but went straight to meet the Crown Prince in secret.
Rouyuan's Warning to the Crown Prince
Inside the Crown Prince's study, Rouyuan finally spoke, her voice low and steady.
"Your Highness… the emperor did not fall ill naturally," she said.
"He was poisoned—deliberately."
Crown Prince Murong Yunqing froze.
"And I fear the Empress and Consort Rou were targeted as well," she continued.
"But their symptoms are milder. Their exposure must have been limited."
The Crown Prince's expression tightened.
"They have been complaining of headaches, irregular heartbeat, mild nausea, and dizziness," Rouyuan added softly. "All signs of poisoning."
Murong Yunqing exhaled sharply.
"I… have the same symptoms. And also, palpitations and a difficulty to sleep at night."
Rouyuan nodded grimly.
"I believe all of you have been poisoned through a tea blend. I examined the leaves—the scent alone was enough."
She laid out each element like a blade on a table.
"First… Valerian Root, in abnormally high concentration. It causes extreme drowsiness, slowed reflexes, confusion, dizziness."
"Second… Kava. Combined with valerian, it induces respiratory depression, impaired judgment, and severe difficulty concentrating."
"Third… Chamomile. Harmless on its own, but in concentrated doses—it damages the liver, causes jaundice, and weakens immune function."
She took a breath and continued.
"Fourth…Ginseng and Licorice Root, its cause overexcitement, palpitation and insomnia."
"And to worsen matters—Angelica Root mixed with Ginger. A dangerous combination that thins the blood, increases internal bleeding risk, and triggers stomach pain and irregular heartbeat."
Her eyes darkened.
"If taken daily, with the dosage quietly increased over time… it is no wonder His Majesty collapsed."
Murong Yunqing's hands clenched.
But Rouyuan was not finished.
"And then," she said quietly, "a final ingredient was added."
She lifted her gaze.
"I detected Nightshade Resin Incense—Mùyě Ān Hūn Xiāng—in His Majesty's chamber."
The Crown Prince's breath caught.
Rouyuan explained, voice barely above a whisper, "It is a rare incense… once used by assassins. Prolonged inhalation causes hallucinations, unconsciousness, cardiac irregularities. If the emperor breathed this for months… he would inevitably fall into collapse."
Silence gripped the room.
"I could smell the same incense lingering here, in your study," Rouyuan said at last.
Her expression was grave.
"This poisoning did not happen overnight. Someone has been preparing this for a very long time."
"For now, do not drink the tea with all the combination of herbs I said just now. Do not burn the incense in any of your chambers. Replace them all — I will prepare new ones for you."
The Crown Prince nodded immediately, "I will investigate this matter."
Rouyuan's voice remained gentle, but her words carried weight. "It is likely that palace maids or eunuchs had a hand in this. The preparation of tea and the burning of incense fall under their duties. Your Majesty should investigate who gave the command."
He ordered Prince Murong Yunxi to begin a covert investigation.
Rouyuan returned to Sacred Lotus Medicine Hall to prepare her antidotes.
Rouyuan's Emergency Remedies
Rouyuan returned to the Sacred Lotus Medicine Hall at once, gathering every necessary herb and ingredient to prepare the treatments for the Emperor, the Crown Prince, the Empress, and Consort Rou.
She moved swiftly, hands steady but breath tight, selecting roots and herbs with the precision of someone racing time itself.
Bowls, jade spoons, and medicine knives were laid across her long worktable as she prepared antidotes, liver-cleansing decoctions, blood-stabilizing tonics, and incense purifiers.
She brewed, crushed, sifted, strained—working without pause, her mind fixed on one thought, 'I would save them. All of them.'
For the Emperor, a Milk-thistle extract — protects liver & accelerates detox, a Ginseng + Rehmannia decoction — strengthens heart & circulation, a Honeysuckle & Chrysanthemum tonic — counters nightshade poison.
An Activated charcoal herbal tablets — absorb toxin residue.
A Warm ginger-jujube soup — stabilizes blood flow, Rouyuan will ask palace chef prepare it later.
A Goldenleaf Antidote Paste — Rouyuan's own innovation.
A Slow detoxifying incense made of bamboo charcoal, sandalwood, mugwort and crushed lotus seeds.
For Crown Prince, Empress & Consort Rou, pearl powder antidote balls — stabilize nerves, lotus-leaf purification tea — flush out toxins, hawthorn & licorice decoction — support liver, mint-lotus detox incense — cleanse the air.
All medicines were delivered only through Princess Murong Qingshi and Prince Murong Yunxi.
People who Rouyuan fully trusted.
Yexuan & Yunchen's Mission
Yexuan and Yunchen successfully located every desert mercenary cell hired by Prince Yuntai.
They seized the official rosters, secret payment ledgers, maps marked with invasion routes and lists of traitors hidden in each province
At last, with the evidence secured, they began returning to Wuzhen…
When the unthinkable happened.
The Ambush — Yexuan's Fall
A group of assassins struck near the coastal cliffs.
Swords flashed.
The battlefield echoed with shouts.
Yunchen fought like a man possessed.
But the assassins were well-trained and in overwhelming numbers.
One assassin slashed the ropes of the cliffside path.
The ground crumbled beneath Yexuan.
"YOUR HIGHNESS!" Yunchen roared—
But the sea swallowed him.
His body was carried away by the waves.
No corpse was found.
Only his cloak washed back ashore.
Rouyuan's Grief
The news reached Wuzhen at dusk.
When Rouyuan heard it, she immediately collapsed to her knees.
Her hands trembled.
Her heartbeat stuttered.
She couldn't breathe.
Memories of his smile, his protection, his confession, the night in the cave, his warmth,
—all struck her at once.
She whispered, "I should have said yes…I should have chosen him while he was still here…"
But Yexuan was gone.
And despite her heartbreak, she stood up.
She wiped her tears.
And she whispered to herself,
"He died protecting this empire.
I must save the Emperor…
I must protect the Crown Prince…
I must protect everyone he cared for."
For now, she buried her grief.
There were lives depending on her.