the next day.

A ray of dawn on the horizon gradually changed from dark to light, from bluish-purple to deep red.

Finally, the rising sun broke through the clouds and gently awakened everything on earth from its slumber.

As soon as Mei Xiyuan opened her eyes in Shaohua Pavilion, Zhao Mama, who had been guarding her bedside all night, came forward excitedly and said, "Your Highness has finally woken up! You scared this old servant to death!"

"No need to worry, Granny, I know what I'm doing," Mei Xiyuan said weakly, struggling to get up.

Upon seeing this, Granny Zhao quickly pressed her back down with her hand and said, "Your Highness, please do not move around. The imperial physician specifically instructed that Your Highness should not get out of bed until your wound has completely healed. You must rest in bed and recuperate."

Left with no other choice, Mei Xiyuan obediently lay back down again, then worriedly muttered to herself, "This injury will probably leave a scar, won't it?"

"Why are you worried now? Last night, when Her Majesty was taking action, she didn't even blink an eye, showing the slightest hesitation or soft-heartedness towards you!" Granny Zhao tucked the blanket around her, then got up and took the toiletries from the maid who was already waiting to serve her.

Mei Xiyuan sighed inwardly but didn't say anything.

Granny Zhao, still shaken, said, "Your Highness's move last night was too risky. It must never be used again. If anything had gone wrong, this old servant would have deserved to die."

"As long as we can get out of this unscathed, what's a little pain or scar? If His Highness finds out that we sent that woman to a place like Beilie, that's no laughing matter."

Thinking back to what happened last night, Mei Xiyuan seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

At this point, she suddenly recalled that it seemed that Xuanyuan Han had personally visited Shaohua Pavilion last night.

So she asked Zhao Mama anxiously, "Speaking of His Highness's arrival... By the way, last night I felt dizzy and lightheaded the whole way here. Did His Highness visit Shaohua Pavilion?"

Granny Zhao carefully propped up Mei Xiyuan's body, and together with several other maids, they quickly helped her finish washing up.

At this moment, another bowl of hot, nutritious rice porridge was brought over, and spoonful by spoonful was fed into her mouth. With a face full of joy, she said, "It's not just that he came; he's been keeping watch in the study downstairs all night! He must be worried that something might happen to Your Highness's health during the night! This couple is truly a couple. As the saying goes, 'True feelings are revealed in times of trouble.' If it weren't for Your Highness's actions last night, this old servant would never have realized that our Prince is a person who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside!"

"What? Last night... His Highness was in the study downstairs... watching over... me, the Princess Consort?" Upon hearing what Zhao Mama said, Mei Xiyuan was instantly incredulous, seemingly unable to process what she was saying, staring at her in astonishment.

After a moment's thought, she abruptly threw back the brocade quilt. Upon seeing this, Granny Zhao exclaimed in surprise, "What is Your Highness doing?"

Mei Xiyuan hurriedly got up from the bed and scolded her while frowning, "His Highness is in Shaohua Pavilion. Why didn't you say so earlier, Granny? Hurry up and help me get up to do my makeup."

"Your Highness, you mustn't! Your health is important..." Granny Zhao said urgently, pulling her back.

Mei Xiyuan sat on the edge of the couch, sadly surveying the pavilion. She said blankly, "Granny, I've lived here for so long, and His Highness has never set foot in Shaohua Pavilion. This pavilion, the courtyard outside, and even the air here—everything, on the surface, looks magnificent and vibrant, but in reality, it's as cold as an ice cave. His Highness has finally come; am I just supposed to lie here like this, without taking the initiative to do something?"

“But Your Highness, your health has just recovered…” Although Granny Zhao thought so without a doubt, she was still extremely worried for her. She seemed to want to explain something, but was ultimately defeated by Mei Xiyuan’s pitiful yet hopeful and determined eyes.

Finally, she sighed deeply and agreed, "Very well, this old servant will now help Your Highness with your hair and makeup."

Soon, Mei Xiyuan transformed again, now dressed in a magnificent robe, adorned with jewels and precious stones. Covered by various expensive cosmetics, she resembled a newly blossoming lotus, delicate and graceful yet elegant, as she descended the stairs with a beaming smile.

With unprecedentedly light steps and a heart pounding like a young girl's, she stood gracefully behind the incredibly charming Xuan Yuanhan, who was standing with his hands behind his back under the eaves of the doorway, gazing thoughtfully at the fish in the pond in the courtyard.

She gazed at his back from afar, mesmerized, for a long time, feeling deeply grateful to Heaven for bestowing upon her such an outstanding man to be her husband.

Just one glance at his strong and imposing back is enough to make her never forget him until death. She will cherish him in the palm of her hand, not allowing anyone to violate him, and is willing to pay any price to protect him.

As if under a spell, she didn't even know how she moved forward and got close to him. When she came to her senses, she quickly bowed and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan gradually composed himself, took a deep breath, and slowly turned around. His gaze only swept over her rather elaborate attire, without any ripples or lingering, before finally looking at the empty space on the other side, where she still stood with her hands behind her back.

Upon seeing this, Mei Xiyuan immediately lost her smile and paused for a moment.

She smiled again in an instant and took two steps forward to his side. She spoke softly and shyly, saying, "I heard that Your Highness stayed up all night in the study of Shaohua Pavilion because of my injury. I am so afraid that I have worried Your Highness."

She was eagerly anticipating a sliver of pity from the man she had longed for, a man who seemed like a celestial being, even if it was just a few words of concern. But to her surprise, Xuan Yuanhan remained with his back to her and said coolly, "You went to the Sihai Tea House yesterday?"

Upon hearing this, Mei Xiyuan was startled and immediately froze, seemingly unable to process what was happening.

He thought to himself, at this moment, even someone he wasn't particularly close to should have asked about her injuries first, right? Was she still feeling unwell anywhere? Why was he asking this instead…?

At this point, she seemed to have lost all semblance of a smile, unable to continue forcing a smile, and she no longer knew how the following words came out of her mouth: "Yes, Your Majesty, I went to the Sihai Tea House yesterday."

Xuan Yuanhan continued, "Do you really think those cheap goods in Sihai Tea House can compare to those used by your Dongning royal family? You actually find them appealing?"

Faced with Xuan Yuanhan's relentless questioning, Mei Xiyuan knew that he had finally suspected her. Since she couldn't hide it any longer, she let out a sigh of relief and said confidently, "To be honest, the reason I have visited Sihai Tea House so many times is because... I want to help Your Highness."

"Help me?" Xuan Yuanhan asked in a deep voice, puzzled.

Mei Xiyuan composed herself and said, "Yes, Your Highness, I am doing this to help you capture that heinous merchant from the Northern Lie Kingdom, Tuoba Ze."

"Why...why did you do this?" Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan suddenly turned around and asked him with genuine surprise.

"Because I truly love Your Highness." Mei Xiyuan no longer avoided his gaze, looking at him with unwavering conviction and earnestness.

Xuan Yuanhan, upon hearing her sudden words, showed a hint of surprise in his eyes and his expression faltered slightly. However, he quickly regained his composure, turned his gaze away, and turned his back to her face without saying anything.

At this moment, Mei Xiyuan remained calm and continued in a flat tone, "Because I truly love Your Highness, I don't want to see Your Highness being suppressed by anyone, forced to run around all day worrying about the country, and then returning home still looking worried and troubled. Meanwhile, I am just lazily enjoying myself in this courtyard, passing my days idly."

As if she hadn't finished speaking, and something was on her mind, she quickly took a deep breath and spoke: "Actually, when I was in my motherland Dongning, I already knew about the superficial relationship between Emperor Jing of Western Qin and the King of Qin. To be honest, I came with the support of my motherland and wanted to help Your Highness completely replace Emperor Jing and marry Your Highness."

Before he could finish speaking, Xuan Yuanhan finally lost his temper and shouted, "Shut up! Stop talking!"

Mei Xiyuan was startled, and then let out a faint bitter smile, as if she had already anticipated that Xuan Yuanhan would not admit his ambition in front of her. So she changed her mind and said, "Does Your Highness not want to know what I discovered when I was investigating the whereabouts of Tuoba Ze of Sihai Tea House?"

"Yun'er has also been captured by Tuoba Ze?" Xuan Yuanhan said indignantly.

"'Yun'er'? I was unaware that Your Highness would call a woman by her name so intimately." Mei Xiyuan chuckled softly, then said with a hint of bitterness.

The two were silent for a moment, then Xuanyuan Han asked, "Where is Tuoba Zeren? Where did he take Yun'er?"

At this moment, Mei Xiyuan slowly took out the short sword hidden in her sleeve pocket, walked forward to Xuan Yuanhan's side, and solemnly handed it to him with both hands.

“Your Highness, this is the dragon and phoenix short sword that she personally handed to me, asking me to pass it on to you. She said, ‘In this life, she is grateful for Your Highness’s affection.’”

Xuanyuan Han turned around and stared blankly at the sword she was holding. Suddenly, a very bad premonition welled up in his heart.

Mei Xiyuan continued sadly, "Actually, I knew long ago that I didn't please Your Highness. Your Highness's heart has always belonged to Yun'er alone. I originally planned to bring her back to the manor from the palace first, and then find a way to have her serve Your Highness. But I never expected this to happen. If I had known this would happen, I would have just let her stay in the palace, at least she could still live."

"At least she's still alive, what do you mean by that? What... what happened to her?" Xuan Yuanhan suddenly shifted his gaze from the short sword in her hand to her face.

Suddenly, Mei Xiyuan knelt heavily in front of him with a "thud"...