Xie Chang'an skillfully tucked the blanket around Ye Jingchen. He had done this countless times during his two years in the Northern Frontier, and it had become an unconscious reaction for him.

He couldn't stay in his bedchamber for long, but he was reluctant to leave during this rare time alone.

It's unclear how much of Ye Jingchen's unusual reaction today was due to the medication, and how much was his true reaction.

He stayed by Ye Jingchen's side until Ye Jingchen's breathing and heartbeat had stabilized before leaning down and gently kissing Ye Jingchen's lips.

He only dared to kiss her once.

"His Highness is asleep," Xie Chang'an said to Fangfei, who was guarding the door, as he walked out of the bedroom.

"Thank you for taking care of our Highness, Vice Commander Xie," Fangfei said politely.

"Not you, but mine!" Xie Chang'an thought to himself.

But he could only think these words in his heart and could not say them aloud.

Today was the emperor's first test. Although he managed to pass it, Ye Jingchen clearly suffered.

There will be a second, a third, and many more times, but even a method as painful as today's can only be used once. If it is used a second time, the emperor will definitely become suspicious, and the subsequent countermeasures will certainly be even more painful than this time.

Xie Chang'an felt that the emperor should not be allowed to continue testing the waters so recklessly, without any consequences or concerns.

"Have you heard? Today His Majesty suddenly brought people to the East Palace and forced His Highness to drink a bowl of medicine. After drinking the medicine, His Highness vomited for a long time and then fell ill!"

"Impossible! His Majesty has always doted on His Highness, how could he possibly harm him?"

"How could it be impossible? Didn't you see the expressions on Fangfei's and the others' faces? It was as if the sky had fallen. I heard that His Highness didn't even leave his palace all afternoon."

"Now that you mention it, I didn't see His Highness this afternoon. Could it be that His Majesty really gave His Highness some terrible medicine?"

......

Ye Jinghe had just returned to the East Palace and was about to go find his brother when he overheard this conversation.

His expression changed, and he immediately quickened his pace, running towards his brother's bedroom.

The door to the sleeping quarters was open, and Xie Chang'an stood at the door with a deadpan expression, as if someone owed him money.

Ye Jinghe glanced at him coldly and was about to enter the bedchamber when Xie Chang'an stopped him.

"Fifth Prince, isn't it a bit presumptuous of you to enter His Highness the Crown Prince's bedchamber without prior notice?" Xie Chang'an said coldly.

"What business is it of yours, an outsider, that I'm entering my brother's bedchamber? Who gave you the right to stop me?" Ye Jinghe said disdainfully, and then turned to continue walking inside.

Xie Chang'an continued to stop him, "His Highness the Crown Prince is not only your elder brother, but also the heir apparent of Dayuan. There is a difference in rank. As His Highness's guard, I am of course qualified to stop you for His Highness's safety!"

"You're the most dangerous person to my brother!" Ye Jinghe said, and immediately started fighting with Xie Chang'an.

Xie Chang'an didn't give in either, responding to every move with his own, and refused to let him enter the bedchamber.

"It seems you two really enjoy sparring. Let's continue sparring tonight then," Ye Jingchen said with a smile as he walked out of his bedchamber and saw the two fighting.

The two combatants separated instantly, both looking quite grim.

They've been fighting for several nights in a row, and now just seeing each other's faces makes them want to vomit.

"Brother, it was Xie Chang'an who stopped me from entering your bedchamber first," Ye Jinghe complained to Ye Jingchen.

“You can’t enter without prior notification,” Xie Chang’an said, walking to Ye Jingchen’s other side.

Ye Jingchen immediately laughed even more heartily.

"The fact that you can fight over such a small thing only shows that you really enjoy sparring. It's okay, you can spar every night from now on."

Ye Jinghe and Xie Chang'an exchanged a glance, a rare moment of tacit understanding, and both shut their mouths.

Ye Jinghe secretly glanced at her brother's face and noticed that he was indeed a little pale, while Fangfei and the others all had very serious expressions.

"Brother, did anything happen at the East Palace today?" Ye Jinghe asked.

"No," Ye Jingchen replied without hesitation.

"Has the emperor come?" Ye Jinghe asked again.

“You should call him Father Emperor. I’m thinking of asking him to reinstate your position as Captain in a while. Don’t upset him recently,” Ye Jingchen said.

"Did he come to cause trouble for my brother again today?" Ye Jinghe asked directly.

He knew his brother; the fact that his brother avoided answering his questions meant there was a problem.

"My father values ​​me so much, why would he cause me trouble? Did someone tell you something?" Ye Jingchen asked with a serious expression.

Logically speaking, Ye Jinghe should not have known what happened at the East Palace since he was at the guard camp that afternoon.

"When I came back, I heard two palace maids say that the emperor came to the East Palace in a very aggressive manner and made things difficult for my brother today!" Ye Jinghe said.

"Your Highness, I will immediately inform Aunt Huayan and ask her to find the person who is gossiping about our master!" Fangfei said in a serious tone.

Ye Jingchen glanced at Xie Chang'an with amusement. He hadn't expected that Xie Chang'an had actually planted someone in the Eastern Palace and even wanted to stir up trouble and incite Ye Jinghe to confront the Emperor.

“My father didn’t make things difficult for me. I’ll tell you the whole story after dinner,” he said to Ye Jinghe.

Xie Chang'an's expression immediately turned sour.

During dinner, Fangfei brought over a bowl of soup and placed it in front of Ye Jingchen.

"Your Highness, this is a nourishing soup that His Majesty specially instructed the Imperial Kitchen to prepare for you."

Ye Jingchen stared at the bowl of soup, lost in thought.

Is it possible that his father would make him drink that kind of potent drug twice a day?

“Brother is in good health and doesn’t need to drink tonic soup, so let me drink it for him!” Ye Jinghe immediately reached out and took the bowl of soup, pouring it into his mouth without hesitation.

"Wait a moment--"

Ye Jingchen had barely finished speaking when Ye Jinghe had already finished his drink.

"Quickly summon Imperial Physician Zhang!" Ye Jingchen ordered.

Fangcao dashed out of the palace in a flash.

"Don't do that again. You can't just eat whatever you want," Ye Jingchen warned seriously.

"He was definitely up to no good!" Ye Jinghe said angrily.

Otherwise, my brother wouldn't have been so wary of what he sent.

"It's not what you think. I'll explain in detail later," Ye Jingchen said with a smile.

Ye Jinghe was so cute when he puffed out his cheeks, it's a pity the child has grown up and we can't pinch his cheeks as we please anymore.

Soon, Fangcao dragged the old doctor in.

"Physician Zhang, could you please take Jinghe's pulse?" Ye Jingchen said to Physician Zhang.

Then he looked at Fangcao and said, "Fangcao, Physician Zhang is getting old. You must not drag him around like this anymore."

Fangcao smiled somewhat awkwardly, "This servant knows her mistake, I will definitely be slower next time!"

"Your Highness, the Fifth Prince is in good health and has no problems whatsoever," the old imperial physician replied after taking his pulse.

"Jinghe just drank the soup that Father specially gave me. Is it really okay?" Ye Jingchen asked.

The old doctor's beard twitched. "That was indeed just a regular tonic soup."

Ye Jingchen was immediately embarrassed; he had misunderstood his father.