After leading Doctor Li to the neighboring courtyard, Zhao Zhiyan's refined face turned chilling, and his wedding robes looked somewhat eerie under the lamplight.

"Eighth Prince, please spare me! It was my poor medical skills that led to the wrong diagnosis. My intention was that the child could not be saved, but the holy medicine could help the Eighth Princess recover. I just didn't want her to continue to be heartbroken and ruin her health."

Dr. Li had already thought of an explanation.

He was just fooling Zhao Zhiyan; he could get the medicine and save the child.

The crime does not warrant death.

A cold glint flashed in Zhao Zhiyan's dark eyes as he asked, "How did you find out about Xing Ninglu?"

Star Dew was a tribute from a foreign vassal state, and there was only one bottle. The doctors outside the palace had no idea about it. So how did Doctor Li know about its effects?

"I..." Doctor Li stammered, then forced himself to say, "It was recorded in a medical book, something I overheard by chance."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhiyan was furious. He shamelessly went to the hospital to beg for medicine, but he didn't get any and only received a casual remark that he had overheard it by chance!

Zhao Zhiyan moved his lips, raised his head and looked at the dark night, and said in a deep voice, "Guards, drive this person out of the capital!"

Dr. Li was dragged out in a panic.

Keep quiet.

The night breeze carried a slight chill. Zhao Zhiyan stood in the center of the courtyard, one hand tied behind his back, gazing at the horizon in deep thought.

Even if Dr. Li's medical skills were not good and his diagnosis was wrong.

But Xu Lingqing was skilled in medicine.

"Did the Princess take any medication to prevent miscarriage and stop bleeding today?" he asked.

A clear, cold voice came from the darkness: "Your Highness, no."

Zhao Zhiyan froze.

She hadn't used any hemostatic drugs, probably because she was certain he wouldn't get the Star Dew back today, which delayed things and caused signs of miscarriage.

This way, they can legitimately accuse the little girl of failing to save him.

I'm sure I'll end up turning against the girl and be completely disappointed in her.

Zhao Zhiyan shook his head. No, it can't be. Lingqing grew up in the countryside and has a simple mind. How could she think of this?

He suddenly remembered that at Beiyuan earlier that day, Zhang Da Niang still had a gold hairpin stuck in her chest, and Xu Lingqing said that Su Jing had accidentally killed someone while trying to protect her.

Su Jingde said she was clean, but Xu Lingqing's hands were stained with blood.

This doesn't seem quite right.

On their wedding night, Zhao Zhiyan stood in the courtyard for a long time, until the sky began to lighten.

The red decorations at the Eighth Prince's Mansion were removed early this morning.

The young maid stood trembling at the door: "Your Highness, the Princess Consort has woken up and wants you to come and see her."

Zhao Zhiyan shifted slightly, a surge of irritation rising within him: "I still have matters to attend to; we'll discuss this later."

The maid relayed the words verbatim. Xu Lingqing had already changed out of her wedding dress and put on plain clothes. Upon hearing this, her face darkened: "Was the prince in the next courtyard all night?"

"yes."

She didn't know exactly what Doctor Li had said. Feeling uneasy, Xu Lingqing stood up despite her weak body and said, "Since the prince refuses to come, then I will go to see the prince."

"Your Highness!" Su Jing exclaimed, "Your health is frail, and you've only just managed to stop the bleeding from your lower body. You absolutely mustn't let this lead to any lasting health problems. If the Prince comes to his senses, he will naturally come to find you."

Xu Lingqing shook her head: "You don't understand. Some misunderstandings need to be cleared up immediately. If you let them linger, they will take root in a man's heart, and he will never be able to go back to the way things were before."

Xu Lingqing believed she had a very good grasp of men's minds.

She changed into coarse cloth clothes and combed her hair in the style she had before marriage. Ignoring Su Jing's obstruction, she stumbled and ran towards the neighboring courtyard.

"Your Highness!" Su Jing called after her.

Pushing open the door, Xu Lingqing fell heavily to the ground, then hurriedly got up and ran into the courtyard.

Through the window, the man took in the scene he had just witnessed. He stood up unconsciously, then sat down again as if he had thought of something, his face gloomy.

"Brother Zhiyan!" Xu Lingqing pounded on the door, her voice choked with sobs as she called his name over and over again.

Zhao Zhiyan's mind was already in turmoil, and he glanced sideways at his personal guard.

The guard understood and went out to block Xu Lingqing: "Your Highness, the Prince is not in the study. Please return."

Xu Lingqing clearly saw a figure under the window just now, how could it not be there?

"I'll go inside and wait..."

"Your Highness, please don't put your subordinate in a difficult position." The guard stood firm.

Xu Lingqing thought for a while, realizing she shouldn't push people too hard, lest it cause unnecessary backlash. She pursed her lips and turned to leave.

With Su Jing's support, her thin and frail body slowly walked away.

...

Upon waking up, Yun Dong held the Star Dew and smiled at Song Yue: "It was brought back by the people from the Eighth Prince's Mansion last night."

Song Yue was surprised.

“This servant has weighed the options carefully. Not a single drop is missing. Besides, the Eighth Princess was diagnosed with a miscarriage by the Vice President of the Imperial Hospital yesterday, so the Star Dew will be of no use.” Yun Dong carefully put away the Star Dew and turned to help Song Yue get up to wash.

Song Yue understood; she had indeed guessed correctly.

Xu Lingqing was physically weak, and the child would definitely miscarry within seven months. She simply couldn't withstand the emotional ups and downs.

Yesterday's wedding went wrong; she's bound to have miscarried.

Given Xu Lingqing's personality, she would definitely grit her teeth and persevere until the wedding was completed.

"Today we should go to the palace to pay our respects to the Emperor." Yun Dong quickly combed Song Yue's hair. Every fixed time, she would go to the palace to treat the Northern Chu Emperor's health.

Because of the mourning period for the Dowager Lady, I haven't been able to enter the palace for a while.

We can't afford to delay.

"Where is the prince?"

"The prince left the manor early this morning, saying he had some official business to attend to."

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