After Shen Zhiyi asked this question, the room fell into a brief silence.

Zhou Xuance continued eating his pastries, smiling as he looked at him: "If it really were me, aren't you afraid I'd kill you to silence you if you asked me like that?"

"Your wife died suddenly right after your marriage. How are you going to explain this to my father and brothers? Or did she suddenly contract a serious illness?"

“Someone came to the Prince’s mansion to assassinate him. The Princess sacrificed herself to protect her husband. The Regent was heartbroken and fell ill again. In this way, I can completely clear myself of any involvement, after all, I am also the victim.”

"..."

The branches were heavy with unspoken words.

No wonder Dad always said that those who play tactics are all ruthless.

Zhou Xuance's heart is probably already completely black.

"Who could have sent the assassin?" Shen Zhiyi muttered to herself.

Northern Rong, Southern Frontier

Or perhaps the crown prince?

After all, if His Majesty were to pass away or be seriously injured and unable to participate in politics, the Crown Prince would be the biggest beneficiary.

But now that the Third Prince has lost power, and the other princes are either mentally challenged or too young to pose any threat, he doesn't need to be in such a hurry.

Could it be that the Crown Prince knew he was in poor health, so he took a desperate gamble?

Shen Zhiyi was racking her brains but couldn't come up with a solution.

"Don't think about it anymore, try the jujube paste cake, it tastes good," Zhou Xuance said with a smile.

"Only you would still have the appetite to eat."

"I still have the energy to do other things."

As he said this, he stared intently at her, his eyes conveying an unreadable meaning. Shen Zhiyi suddenly understood the hidden meaning in his words and felt her face flush.

Can't he think of anything else besides those things?

The imperial physician came to check your pulse every day. On this day, when he came, he looked at your pulse and a look of joy appeared on his face: "Your Highness, your health is much better than before. It must be because of the Princess's good care."

He said it aloud, but inwardly he thought it was all wrong:

A marriage to bring good luck?

Isn't all of this superstition?

How did it have such a miraculous effect on the regent?

I took her pulse a while ago and it was clear that she didn't have much time left, so how come her health started to improve just a few days after the wedding?

This is really...

It's a medical miracle.

Shen Zhiyi personally escorted the imperial physician out of the residence, and the physician gave her further instructions.

Back in her room, Hongrui smiled and poured her a glass of water: "Miss, this is truly a joyous occasion. Before, everyone laughed at you, saying that you were going to become a widow after marrying into the Prince's mansion. If they knew that the Prince's health was recovering, they would probably be furious."

“Our daughter is blessed,” Green Lotus said with a smile.

Shen Zhiyi just smiled sullenly, took the cup and drank the water.

Before he could even swallow his words, she continued, "In that case, your consummation with the prince is just around the corner."

"Pfft—" Caught off guard, Shen Zhiyi choked on a mouthful of water, coughing until her face turned red.

"Girl, what's wrong?" Hongrui gently patted her back.

She didn't know what she had said wrong.

During their time in the Prince's mansion, Hongrui and Lühe could see that everyone in the mansion treated their young lady with great respect, and that her food, clothing, and daily necessities were better than those of nobles in the palace.

The prince seemed to forbid outsiders from approaching, and spent most of his time recuperating in his room. Sometimes, the young lady would go to his room and stay for most of the day.

Apart from that, everything is fine.

Green Lotus continued, "Miss, please don't blame me for being nosy."

"Although Your Highness's health has improved temporarily, who knows when it might..."

"Why don't you take advantage of his improved health and consummate your marriage soon? If you can have a son or daughter, your life in the Prince's mansion won't be so lonely after the Prince passes away."

After all, once you marry into the royal family, you can't remarry.

Shen Zhiyi knew that Zhou Xuance was a scourge who would live for a thousand years, so how could he die so easily?

So she never intended to keep a man or woman by her side; she simply made up an excuse to send the two away.

After the maid left, she drank some cool tea to calm herself down.

Consummating the marriage?

Having a child?

She and Zhou Xuance had been married for several days and were treating each other with respect.

Except for someone who had to feign illness and be unable to go out and see people, life seemed to have returned to the time when he was still Xiao Zhongxuan.

It was simple, yet comfortable.

After finishing her herbal tea, Shen Zhiyi was about to pour herself another bowl when someone picked up the teapot before her. Without even looking, she knew who it was just by the smell.

"You're in your own palace, and you're still stealing?" Shen Zhiyi said helplessly.

Zhou Xuance remained silent, only pouring tea and handing it to her.

Just as Shen Zhiyi reached out to take it, she heard him say softly, "Madam...do you want to consummate our marriage?"

These words startled her so much that her fingers trembled.

The herbal tea overflowed from the cup, instantly covering my hand.

"How could you be so careless?" Zhou Xuance took a handkerchief and wiped her face. "I know, when you said you'd marry me, you were just trying to provoke me. You thought I would never marry you, maybe..."

"You never thought about marrying me."

He smiled and spoke casually, as if he were talking about the weather.

"It's good enough that you're by my side, as for consummating the marriage..."

I won't force you.

"If the Empress Dowager or His Majesty asks about it in the future, just say that it is because of my poor health."

Zhou Xuance had already wiped the tea off her hands. "Soon, news of my gradual recovery will spread throughout the capital. In a few days, I will go to the palace to accompany you on your homecoming."

Returning to one's parents' home after marriage?

After she married Song Yuxiu, her parents disapproved, and because of the disturbances caused by the Rong barbarians in the north, her parents and brothers went to the north the day after her wedding.

In her past life, she had blamed her parents for this, feeling that they didn't value her enough.

He was further deceived by Song Yuxiu's sweet talk and devoted himself even more to the Marquis's mansion.

"What are you daydreaming about?" Zhou Xuance reached out and gently pinched her cheek. "Isn't it your duty to accompany Madam on her return visit?"

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