Xuanyuan Yue begged the Empress for a long time before she was finally allowed to travel secretly for three days. Although it was called a secret trip, she was actually accompanied and protected by the palace's top-notch secret guards the whole way.

Today is the last day of the three-day agreement, so they must travel day and night, just as they did when they came, to return to the palace before dawn tomorrow. Otherwise, she won't be able to leave the palace again next time.

Xuanyuan Yue truly disliked the palace, this gilded cage. It appeared magnificent and luxurious, but for her free-spirited and unrestrained nature, it only made her feel suffocated. However, being born into the imperial family, she had no choice whatsoever; she was powerless in everything.

She loved butterflies since childhood, and ever since learning about the Butterfly Valley behind Xiqin Academy, she'd come to visit almost every two years. No one knew that her love for the butterflies stemmed from her admiration for their freedom; she hoped that one day she too could fly out of the palace, out of Xiqin, to another free land, a land where freedom and him would reside...

Over the past few days, as Yi Shangyun observed Xuan Yuan Yue's every move, she developed a deeper respect for the princess. Although Xuan Yuan Yue was two years younger than Yi Shangyun, she possessed an innate sense of justice and authority, inspiring both awe and fear. Just as Yi Shangyun felt respect, so too did Lu Tianlin feel fear. Who could have imagined that such a dissolute, idle playboy would be moved by a 15-year-old girl? He regretted it deeply.

Although Yi Shangyun's engagement to Lu Tianlin was called off, what Xuan Yuan Yue said last night was exactly what Yi Shangyun had thought. If it weren't for the huge difference in their social status, Yi Shangyun thought the two of them would probably be very good friends.

It was already evening, and they had only traveled a little over halfway. Everyone was already feeling very tired. Suddenly, the car came to a screeching halt, and everyone inside lurched forward. Xuan Yuan Yue flung open the curtains and demanded sharply, "What's going on?"

The carriage driver was also startled and broke out in a cold sweat. "Princess, a woman suddenly rushed out and fell to the ground, blocking the carriage's path!" Xuan Yuan Yue looked up and saw Yi Shang Yun and two palace maids had already gotten out of the carriage to check on her. A heavily made-up woman, dressed in disheveled clothes, was lying on the ground, her face pale and looking extremely unwell. Yi Shang Yun immediately reached out to feel the woman's pulse and exclaimed, "Princess, she's been poisoned!" Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Yue hurriedly got out of the carriage and stood behind them, glancing at the woman.

Just then, several burly men with menacing faces rushed out from a side alley, wielding large knives. They threatened Yi Shangyun and the others, saying, "That woman is ours. Give her back to us right now, and we'll spare you a bit today. Otherwise... hehehehe..." They grinned lewdly and bent down towards Yi Shangyun and the maid who were squatting beside the woman. Yi Shangyun and the maid were so frightened that they turned their faces away and immediately backed away.

Just as Xuan Yuan Yue was about to show off her skills, several burly men suddenly collapsed heavily in front of them with a series of "thuds." After they fell, they saw a handsome young man standing behind them. He wore a long white brocade robe, his black hair was completely tied up, he was gentle and refined, and his brows exuded an air of nobility.

Then, while bowing and greeting, he said in his naturally warm and magnetic voice, "Miss, you've been frightened." He then bent down and helped up Yi Shangyun and the two palace maids who were still half-squatting on the ground.

Yi Shangyun and the others stood in line and walked to Xuan Yuan Yue's side, only to find that Xuan Yuan Yue was already staring blankly, lost in a deep fascination. His beauty was like jade, his charm like emerald pines, unparalleled in the world. A little palace maid tugged at Xuan Yuan Yue's dress, bringing him back to his senses. He hurriedly said, "Thank you for your help, young master. May I ask your name?"

"I'm here to help those in need, young lady, please don't worry about it. I have other matters to attend to, perhaps we'll meet again someday," he said, bowing as he said goodbye, before disappearing into the crowd in the blink of an eye. Xuan Yuan Yue's eyes, however, remained fixed on his departing figure, never looking away.

Yi Shangyun deliberately held up five fingers in front of Xuan Yuan Yue's eyes, blocking her view, and gently shook her hand, tilting her head and smiling. Immediately, Xuan Yuan Yue's eyes lit up, and she reached out to slap Yi Shangyun's waving hand away, saying, "How dare you!"

The group then hurriedly bent down again to look at the woman lying on the ground. Her attire was clearly that of a prostitute, her clothes disheveled, suggesting she had escaped. However, the poison seemed to be caused by a long-term, slow-acting drug, resulting in confusion and memory impairment.

What secret does she hold? Yi Shangyun and Xuan Yuan Yue exchanged glances. Yi Shangyun spoke first, "Princess, she needs an antidote immediately. We need to find a place to stay."

Xuan Yuan Yue glanced around, her eyes resolute, and said, "Take her to the carriage. This princess knows a good place."

Xuanyuan Yue thought of a place.

They were currently very close to this place, and she believed there was nowhere safer than this. Most importantly, treating this woman would delay their timely return to the palace, while the master of the place they were going to could easily protect them in front of their father and mother.

This place is—the Prince Qin's residence in Western Qin, the mansion of Xuan Yuanhan. His father and mother always give this Prince Qin some face, especially for something as simple as her delaying her return to the palace.

By this time, the night had completely fallen.

"Is there still no news from the secret guards at the old woman's house?" Xuan Yuanhan asked his deputy Cheng Liang with a solemn expression. His already cold face became even colder with the added solemnity. If it weren't for Cheng Liang, who had been by his side since childhood, he would definitely have been terrified.

"Your Highness, not yet. Our people have been guarding the area the whole time," Cheng Liang replied helplessly. Xuan Yuanhan took a deep breath, clearly frustrated.

So much time has passed, and there's still no news. The grandmother and granddaughter are still hoping with bated breath that their son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter's parents will return safely. And now, how many families in the Western Qin Kingdom are also waiting in the same way? How many families across the Spirit Void Continent are also anxiously anticipating their return? Xuan Yuanhan fell into deep thought...

A guard approached the main hall, and Cheng Liang immediately went out. The guard reported, "General, Princess Yue has arrived. She is currently in a side hall, accompanied by a poisoned woman, whom she says she encountered on the way."

Cheng Liang immediately entered the hall and reported the details to Xuan Yuanhan. Xuan Yuanhan, frowning and displeased, immediately left the main hall and headed towards the side hall.

"Yue'er greets Imperial Uncle." Xuan Yuan Yue bowed respectfully as Xuan Yuan Han entered, and Yun and the accompanying palace maids also bowed.

"Why did you leave the palace, and why did you bring this woman back? Explain the details clearly." Xuan Yuanhan was as cold and serious as ever, and even Xuan Yuanyue was somewhat afraid. She quickly and obediently recounted the whole story, word for word.

"Cheng Liang, immediately send someone to the palace to let the Emperor and Empress know that Princess Yue is safe and sound. Tell them that I will personally escort her back to the palace early tomorrow morning. Please put their minds at ease." After saying this, Xuan Yuanhan was clearly impatient with dealing with such a petty trick. Cheng Liang accepted the order and went to make the arrangements.

"I will first arrange for the royal physician to treat him," Xuan Yuanhan continued.

"Uncle, there's no need. Yue'er has brought the medicine girl with her; she can handle it."

Xuan Yuan Yue's gaze fell on Yi Shang Yun, who stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This servant, Yi Shang Yun, a pharmacist from the Imperial Pharmacy, greets Your Highness, Prince Qin."

Only then did Xuanyuan Han notice that it was her. She really had gone to the Imperial Pharmacy and even met Xuanyuan Yue, who seemed to trust her a lot.

“In that case, you can do it,” Xuan Yuanhan said, gesturing for her to stand up.

Xuan Yuan Yue then spoke up, "Yun'er, then this woman is in your care. You don't need to rush back to the palace with me tomorrow. Wait until she's been treated before you go back. I'll send someone to the Imperial Pharmacy to deliver the message." Yi Shang Yun naturally had no choice but to obey her mistress's arrangements.

Xuanyuan Yue continued, "Uncle, this little medicine girl will have to stay at your residence for the next few days. She can return to the palace after everything is finished. Thank you for your trouble, Uncle."

Xuanyuan Han remained silent, only blinking slightly. He was always like this; silence meant approval, tacit agreement. He was always sparing with words, and she didn't know what the consequences of saying even a single extra word would be. However, Xuanyuan Yue, having grown up with him, knew her uncle very well, and thus readily accepted his silence. She then bowed to Xuanyuan Han, took her leave, and went to her bedchamber to rest.

The people in the side hall of Chenghua Palace had all dispersed, leaving only Xuanyuan Han and Yi Shangyun. Xuanyuan Han stood sideways to face Yi Shangyun; no one spoke, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward. At this moment, Yi Shangyun, though somewhat uneasy, hurriedly spoke, "Your Highness, Your Highness saved my life earlier, and I haven't yet had the chance to apologize in person. Thank you for saving my life."

"I am merely returning a favor," Xuan Yuanhan murmured, his voice so soft that it seemed only he himself could hear what he was saying.

"What did Your Highness say? This servant didn't hear you clearly," Yi Shangyun asked, frowning slightly and tilting her ear as if she was trying her best to hear Xuan Yuanhan's words this time.

However, from the side, she only saw Xuan Yuanhan take a deep breath, his eyes slightly raised but then instantly lowered. He then said, "It's nothing, you don't need to worry. What's the condition of the poisoned person?"

"Your Highness, the poisoned woman has likely been controlled by a slow-acting poison for a long period. What exactly is it? Her extreme stress upon escaping caused her blood to rush to her head, leading to the drug's sudden attack on her brain and causing her to fall into a coma. Just now, in the pavilion of the Prince's residence, I administered acupuncture to her acupoints to improve her blood circulation, and she is now resting. Tomorrow, after she wakes up, I will need to inquire about her specific condition before I can begin the detoxification process. Please rest assured, Your Highness."

Yi Shangyun spoke very carefully. Xuan Yuanhan was listening, but it seemed he was listening to her voice rather than the content of her words. His heart was no longer the same as it was before he met her. What exactly was inside it? How could he possibly say? In other words, even if he knew what was inside, what could he do? Would he want it? Would he take it? Could he even want it and take it?

He knew everything perfectly well, yet he never dared to reveal it. What was he afraid of? He was afraid of unrequited love, afraid of ending up with nothing but empty joy, afraid of being unable to bear the weight of a relationship. He wasn't afraid of being unable to shoulder the responsibility for the entire Spirit Void Continent, the entire world, but at this moment, he was terrified of her. He could easily accept an arranged marriage that he didn't know or care about, but he couldn't be casual with her.

Rather than end like that, he would rather never get close, never...

A swing inside the wall, a path outside. Passersby outside, a beautiful woman laughs inside. The laughter fades, the sound grows quiet, the affectionate are troubled by the heartless.

That night, the two of them spent the first time alone together, and it ended with Xuan Yuanhan saying, "You did a great job, you've worked hard, go and rest."

In the quiet night, with a bright moon and few stars, the master of the Qin Prince's mansion was once again stirred with emotion...