In Fanghua Garden of the Xingyuan Marquis Mansion, Xue Huichun was busy organizing the carefully copied Sutra of Rebirth one by one and carefully placing them into an exquisite carved lacquer box.

News came from the palace that Concubine Liu had unfortunately passed away due to complications during childbirth, and even the baby in her womb could not be saved.

The Queen Mother and Your Majesty were deeply saddened by this and decided to hold a seven-day chanting ceremony in Anhua Hall to commemorate the soul.

Rumors spread in the capital that Concubine Liu fell out of favor because she defied palace rules and contradicted the Empress Dowager, but the truth is little known.

Because the Xingyuan Marquis Mansion was involved in this matter, it knew some of the secrets.

Xue Huichun was still practicing as a layperson in Baiyun Temple, so she was specially named by the Empress Dowager to enter the palace along with the nun of Baiyun Temple.

Before leaving, old lady Hong Yingrong personally went to Fanghua Garden to visit her daughter who was about to enter the palace and gave her earnest instructions.

"The Queen Mother summoned you to the palace, presumably to serve her. It's all good this way. Chatting with her might help ease her sorrow." Hong Yingrong held her daughter's hand, her eyes filled with reluctance. "You've heard about Concubine Liu's affairs, so remember not to violate taboos in the palace."

"My daughter understands that the palace is different from home. You have to be extra careful with everything you say and do." Although Xue Huichun is the daughter of a marquis and is occasionally spoiled, she is kind by nature and can distinguish right from wrong. She has never caused Hong Yingrong too much worry.

Madam Hong Yingrong nodded in relief, gently stroking the headband on her daughter's head, and said seriously, "By the time you return, the Spring Examination results will be announced. I've already agreed with Master Zhixin of Baiyun Monastery that you will end your secular practice as soon as the ritual at Anhua Hall is over. I can't expect you to wear a Taoist robe when your aunt Jiang comes to propose marriage, can I?"

When Xue Huichun heard her mother mention her marriage, a shy blush appeared on her cheeks.

Seeing this, Hong Yingrong smiled and comforted her, "Okay, I'll tell you more about this when you come back."

At this time, Madam Zhao came forward and reported: "The carriages and horses are ready."

After Xue Huichun kowtowed to her mother, she left the mansion with a group of servants and headed for the palace.

The case of the leak of the Spring Examination questions involving Liu Cairen's family was not made public by His Majesty Li Longze. Although some important officials in the court knew something about it, they kept it secret and remained silent, fearing that they would be involved in this mess.

Even though Liu Cairen's position was not high, because she was pregnant with the royal heir and both mother and child had died, the empress dowager, in order to save the royal family's reputation, granted her posthumous honors and buried her with the ceremony of a Zhaoyi.

Since the chanting of scriptures in Anhua Hall, many officials and clan women have gone there to burn incense and offer sacrifices to express their condolences.

Outside the Dong'an Gate of the Imperial City, the luxurious carriage of Li Yunting, Princess Xianning, drove proudly among the other carriages, with great momentum, straight to the palace gate.

She was dressed in a long, floor-length dress embroidered with crescent-shaped white cloud brocade, her hem dragging across the ground. She was a dazzling sight. Although she wore a plain dress, the exquisite pattern and luxurious texture attracted the attention and whispers of the officials and ladies waiting at the palace gate to enter.

Lord Zhang Xianzhi followed closely behind. The scars on his face had basically healed, leaving only faint marks. He was completely different from his previous downtrodden image in Liquan Mountain. Today, he was wearing a royal blue fifth-rank official robe and a gauze hat, looking dignified and handsome.

One cannot help but admire that His Majesty Li Longze had a keen eye for talent and appointed him as the Prince of the County. There was a reason for that.

Li Yunting was already accustomed to the gazes coming from all directions and didn't take it seriously.

She gracefully extended her slender jade fingers and gently adjusted the slightly messy bun on the side. At the same time, she glanced at Zhang Xianzhi with a bit of disdain and arrogance.

"You can go to the Imperial Academy on your own," she said in a cold voice, as if giving instructions on a trivial matter. "I still need to speak with the Queen Mother for a while."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xianzhi lowered his eyes humbly and replied, "Yes, I will follow your Highness's arrangements."

Li Yunting snorted lightly, revealing her condescending attitude, then she put her right hand on the arm of the young eunuch who came forward to greet her, looked at her with an arrogant look, and walked into the deep palace as if no one was around.

This scene fell into the eyes of Li, the wife of Imperial Censor Fan Jie. She could not help but stamp her feet in anger and muttered indignantly, "When we return home, I will make my master write a letter to His Majesty to report Princess Xianning for her disrespect for etiquette and extravagance!"

Zhang Xianzhi watched Li Yunting leave, his face still maintaining a calm expression. He bowed and saluted those who were looking at him with curiosity or sympathy, neither humble nor arrogant. His thoughtful etiquette made it impossible to find any fault.

This made people feel even more sympathetic towards him and sighed. This scene would undoubtedly become a hot topic of discussion in the teahouses and taverns of the capital.

The Hanlin Academy is located in the outer garden of the imperial city and is closely connected with important confidential places such as the Six Ministries' Conference Hall, the Imperial Medical Service, and the Imperial Household Department.

Zhang Xianzhi walked alone, occasionally nodding to his colleagues, and they were polite to each other without losing courtesy.

When he was about to step into the palace gate where the Hanlin Academy was located, seeing that no one was paying attention, he quietly turned to the corridor connecting to the Imperial Hospital, walking hurriedly.

As soon as you enter the Imperial Hospital, you are greeted by the refreshing aroma of medicine.

He looked around and soon found the doctor Hong Zhengxuan who was concentrating on pounding medicine, so he called out softly.

Hong Zhengxuan looked up when he heard the voice and saw Zhang Xianzhi through the window lattice. He looked around and made sure that no one was paying attention. Then he quickly put down the work in his hands, ran out, and stood in the dark to talk with Zhang Xianzhi.

"Master Zhang, this is a precious record I recently found in 'The Origin and Development of Miscellaneous Diseases and Shazhang,'" Hong Zhengxuan whispered, his tone revealing a hint of excitement that he could hardly conceal. "The description of colic in the book is different from that in other medical texts. It describes colic as severe, twisting, and cutting pain in the heart and abdomen, as if a tendon is being pulled, a needle is piercing, or a knife is scraping. The pain is extremely unbearable."

As he spoke, he pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket, which was covered with dense handwriting.

Zhang Xianzhi took it carefully, his gratitude overflowing with words: "Doctor Hong, thank you for your help," he said sincerely.

"Master Zhang, you're too kind," Hong Zhengxuan said with a smile, waving his hand. "Speaking of which, the Hong and Liu families are distant relatives. If that accident hadn't happened back then, according to seniority, I should have called you 'brother-in-law.'"

At this point, Hong Zhengxuan stopped talking suddenly and said no more, fearing to bring up Zhang Xianzhi's sad story.

At this time, a eunuch came to ask if the medicine was ready. He hurriedly responded, bowed, and turned back to continue his work.

It was not advisable to stay here for long, so Zhang Xianzhi left the Imperial Hospital quietly.

On the way back to the Hanlin Academy, he couldn't calm down. The word "accident" mentioned by Hong Zhengxuan was like a heavy stone pressing on his heart.

Accident?

He sneered in his heart. As for the unexpected death of his childhood sweetheart, he never thought it was an accident from the beginning to the end!