As Song Xizhi spoke, the doctor from Japan felt a chill run down his spine and became increasingly fearful.

Seeing the expression on the face of the Divine Physician Rihua, Song Xizhi reached out and grasped the physician's hand, his voice remaining calm.

“I really don’t want to think like that, to think too badly of him. Nothing has been decided yet, and there is no evidence. I need to ask my master for something.”

The Japanese-Chinese doctor asked, "What do you want?"

Song Xizhi whispered a few words in her ear.

Upon hearing this, the Divine Physician Rihua's brows gradually relaxed. She squinted at Song Xizhi and said, "You brat, how come you discovered all of your master's treasures?"

Song Xizhi tugged at her sleeve: "Master, tell me, did you bring it with you this time you came down the mountain?"

The Divine Physician Rihua nodded helplessly, then walked to his personal bag and handed two blue porcelain bottles to Song Xizhi.

After the divine physician Rihua explained how to use it, Song Xizhi put the two porcelain bottles in his sleeve and returned to his room.

When she arrived at the inner bedroom, she found He Jingyan sitting on the soft couch.

The candlelight flickered, and it seemed he was waiting for her.

Song Xizhi looked at the man in front of her. He had a handsome face, his brows were slightly furrowed, and he was currently closing his eyes slightly. He exuded a gentle and mild aura.

Although this face was exactly the same as Pei Yunyi's face from before, Song Xizhi clearly recognized that they were not the same person.

Song Xizhi simply looked at him without saying a word.

He Jingyan seemed to sense something, and slowly opened his eyes. When he saw Song Xi, he smiled again.

"You're back? How's Master?"

He asked with concern.

Song Xizhi smiled and sat down on the soft couch, next to He Jingyan.

"Master is fine. It's just that she's used to having the final say on the mountain, and now that something like this has happened, she's a bit angry and upset."

He Jingyan nodded, looking somewhat guilty: "It's all because of me that Master has suffered."

"...I just think it's good to be forgiving and I don't want to make things too awkward between us."

As he spoke, he looked eagerly at Song Xizhi, wanting her confirmation: "Zhizhi, do you understand me?"

Song Xizhi nodded, and then reached out to stroke the back of his hand, as if to comfort him: "I understand your good intentions. You're doing all this for my own good."

Feeling the intimacy in Song Xizhi's actions, He Jingyan finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Don't worry, I will definitely protect you in the future."

After talking for a while, He Jingyan left the house and went to rest in a side room.

After he left, the smile on Song Xizhi's face slowly faded.

She took out the two porcelain bottles that the divine physician Rihua had given her and placed them on the square table. She stared at the two porcelain bottles, her expressionless face carrying a slight chill.

Time flies, and before we knew it, we arrived at the flower-viewing banquet that the Empress Dowager had mentioned.

Actually, the Empress Dowager's flower-viewing banquet, ostensibly for a trip to Huaqing Palace to relax, was in reality a preparation to welcome back the Crown Prince and to honor He Jingyan.

Therefore, at this palace banquet, not only His Highness the Crown Prince, but also He Jingyan became the focus of attention.

Song Xizhi could clearly sense He Jingyan's joy. Not only did he take meticulous care of her in front of others and behind their backs, but he also urged her to change into beautiful clothes early that morning.

The clothes were custom-made by He Jingyan, using exquisite materials and fine stitching. Even the patterns on them were Song Xizhi's favorite, and the color was a pale yellow.

It must be said that Song Xizhi usually goes to his duty in a dusty and tiring manner without much dressing up, but now that he is dressed up like this, he is even more radiant.

When the two arrived at the back garden where the banquet was being held, before Song Xizhi could even admire the garden full of precious flowers, the two of them became the focus of the entire event.

All the officials and their wives surrounded He Jingyan upon seeing him, bowing and exchanging pleasantries with him.

"Seeing is believing. General He is renowned for his upright and courteous manners. He is a rare scholar-general. I am truly impressed after meeting him today!"

Another official also praised, "Truly, every generation produces talented people. General He and Judge Song are such a perfect match, both handsome and beautiful!"

These officials had initially been lukewarm towards Song Xizhi, harboring some resentment. However, now that they knew Song Xizhi had become a princess and was often seen with He Jingyan, their attitudes improved considerably.

Everyone laughed again, and someone suddenly said, "We can't call her Judge Song anymore, we should call her Princess Tong'an. The princess is truly the most extraordinary woman of all time..."

What was originally meant to be flattery suddenly stopped when the official remembered Song Xizhi's past relationship with the Crown Prince.

Everyone stopped laughing immediately, and the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Just then, Lady Xin, arm in arm with Lord Xin, arrived at the garden.

She looked up at the commotion over there, patted Lord Xin's hand again, and gave him a knowing look.

Lord Xin's eyes flickered slightly: "Really... do you want me to put it this way?"

He clapped his hands and stamped his feet in frustration, "But I really can't say it... Ah!"

Madam Xin glared at him: "Didn't we agree on this at home? What are you doing?"

Lord Xin swallowed hard, and under the oppressive power of Madam Xin, he hurriedly squeezed into the crowd.

The atmosphere among the crowd was still somewhat awkward. Many officials, upon seeing Lord Xin, acted as if they had seen a savior, bowing and paying their respects.

Lord Xin nodded and bowed to He Jingyan again: "Lord He is a young talent!"

He Jingyan hurriedly returned the greeting, grasped Song Xizhi's arm tightly, and said with a smile, "Lord Xin is too kind. This junior is no match for Lord Xin!"

Lord Xin nodded and continued speaking at a rapid pace, as if he were rushing from one event to another:

"Wouldn't it be a waste if such a talented young man didn't take a few more beautiful concubines?"

"I've heard before that the Marquis of Anding married a concubine, and the two are living happily together. It just so happens that Judge Song is currently holding an official position and cannot take good care of General He or be a virtuous helpmate..."

“I happen to have a suitable young lady by my side. She has long admired Lord He. Not only does she come from a scholarly family, but she also knows medicine and can take good care of your health. In the future, she can even accompany you to the frontier, which can be considered as sharing the burden of Judge Song.”

He Jingyan was taken aback. He glanced at Song Xizhi beside him and was about to refuse without thinking, "Thank you for your kindness, sir, but my heart belongs only to Zhizhi..."

Lord Xin interrupted him, his hands clenched into fists hidden in his sleeves, and roared in a tearing voice: "Liking someone is one thing, but continuing the family line is another."

"You've just arrived, and you're already rejecting me like this, rejecting the sister I cherish most? Don't you want to give me any face?"

"Um?"