Before leaving, Zhan Xiao glanced at it from afar...

Rongrong ran out of the bamboo forest with a red flower in her hand, and said to Jiang Fushi with a slightly frightened expression, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I should not have left my post without permission."

"What did you go to do?"

Rongrong's eyes sparkled: "Your Highness, please look. This is the Crimson Skylight. I smelled its scent just now, so I dared to follow the scent to find it, afraid of missing it."

Jiang Fushi examined it carefully for a while, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes.

Medical records state that the Red Sky Mango grows in secluded places, is extremely difficult to find, and is very precious, a rare find.

"I've heard my father say before that the Crimson Skyflower is a holy antidote that can cure many kinds of poisons. When combined with the Nine-Star Flower, it can even bring the dead back to life! Your Highness, please put it away quickly."

Rongrong's words drew everyone's attention to the small red flower.

Jiang Fushi knew the medicinal properties of the Red Sky Sprout and the Nine Star Flower, but this was the first time she had seen them in person, and she was stunned for a moment.

In comparison, the Red Sky Flower is easier to find than the Nine-Star Flower. The Nine-Star Flower has extremely demanding growing conditions, blooming only once every ten years near the snow line at the summit of high mountains.

Over the years, she had only seen descriptions of it in medical books and ancient texts, and had never had the chance to see one herself.

"Heavens! Such a wonderful thing exists!" Lou Bingling exclaimed, then looked at Jiang Fushi with delight: "Your Highness, this is truly the will of Heaven. You just wanted to study medicine and then you received such an opportunity. It is clear that even Heaven is helping you."

Jiang Fushi smiled gently, carefully took the Crimson Sky Light, and wrapped it in a silk handkerchief. "You're quite clever, recognizing such a treasure. You've done a great service today."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for the compliment." Rongrong was somewhat flattered, her eyes timid.

Unexpectedly, such a noble person as the princess would praise a lowly commoner like herself so gently. A surge of warmth welled up in Rongrong's heart, her eyes slightly moistened, and she secretly vowed to do everything in her power for the princess, even at the cost of her life.

Back in the carriage, Jiang Fushi wished she had wings so she could fly back to the princess's residence immediately to deal with the Red Heavenly Mango and perfectly preserve its medicinal properties.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.

The convoy suddenly stopped while traversing a narrow and treacherous river valley.

Before Jiang Fushi could react, Liu Zi's voice rang out from outside the carriage: "Your Highness, there has been a sudden rockfall ahead, blocking the road. Please wait a moment, I will go and check it out."

Jiang Fushi frowned slightly and gestured for Qingdai to lift the carriage curtain. Sure enough, they saw that the road ahead was littered with rocks and mud, completely blocking their way.

After surveying the area, Liu Zi returned quickly with a grave expression: "Your Highness, I have arranged for men to try to clear the area, but there are many fallen rocks and the terrain is treacherous, so it may not be a quick task."

An autumn wind swept through the valley, bringing a chill. Jiang Fushi glanced at the sky; the sun was already setting, and dusk was approaching. "In your opinion, how long will it take to clear the road? Is it possible to return to the capital tonight?"

"Your Highness," Liu Zi said, bowing his head and clasping his hands in a heavy voice, "Forgive my bluntness, but even if we clear it overnight, it will be barely passable by tomorrow morning at the earliest. Tonight... I'm afraid we'll have to stay here."

"This..." Lou Bingling looked worried: "How can we spend the night in this desolate wilderness? Your Highness is of noble birth, how can you afford to have any mishaps?"

Liu Zi was also in a dilemma, her head drooping lower and lower.

Jiang Fushi sighed: "Natural disasters are beyond human control, so you can't be blamed."

As they were talking, a young man dressed as a farmer walked down the hillside path and looked over curiously. Liu Zi immediately became alert and put her hand on the hilt of her sword.

The farmer was startled by what he saw and quickly waved his hand, saying, "Sir, sir, please don't misunderstand."

"I was just passing by and happened to see your vehicle stuck here."

“There are frequent rockfalls and landslides here, and it will be difficult to clear the area in a short time. It is getting dark, and there are no villages or shops in sight. There may be wild animals or other dangers at night.”

"If I may be so bold, go another three miles ahead and you'll find the Yuelai Inn. It may not be as bustling as the capital, but it's clean and safe, and it's the only place to stay within dozens of miles."

"Why don't you stay the night, sir? When it's light tomorrow, I'll find some laborers to help you clear the road. Wouldn't that be more convenient?"

Seeing the farmer's sincere attitude, Jiang Fushi instructed Liu Zi to do as he suggested and inquire about the matter.

After a while, Liu Zi returned and reported, "Your Highness, there is indeed an inn ahead. We have conducted a preliminary inspection and found nothing unusual. Given the current situation, resting for now is the safest option."

Jiang Fushi nodded slightly, signaling Qingdai to take some loose silver as a reward for the farmer.

The farmer accepted the reward money with profuse thanks: "Thank you so much for the generous reward! I'll show you the way!"

The Yuelai Inn has a small storefront and looks quite old. It is located on a major thoroughfare for travelers from the north and south and caters to wandering merchants.

Liu Zi had made prior arrangements with the innkeeper, booking all the superior rooms on the second floor of the inn and assigning guards to strictly guard all passageways.

After a long and tiring day, Jiang Fushi was indeed a little tired, so she was helped upstairs by Zisu to rest.

The hillside behind the inn.

The farmer strode toward the richly dressed man who had his back to him, stopped respectfully behind him, and said, "Second Young Master, everything is ready and has been done according to your plan. Princess Yuhe and her entourage have checked into the Yuelai Inn."

"good!"

Cao Zhang turned around with a sinister grin, his eyes filled with resentment.

This bastard princess of unknown origin dared to be so arrogant in front of him. If they hadn't been in the streets of the capital, under the watchful eyes of everyone, he would never have swallowed this insult!

Aunt and Yuyao always regarded that slut as a thorn in their side.

If he can kill Yuhe here this time, it will surely be a great achievement when he returns.

My aunt might speak well of my grandfather and father to His Majesty, and if my grandfather is pleased, it could secure a better future for him!

Thinking of this, Cao Zhang felt extremely pleased, as if he could already see his grandfather patting him on the shoulder and praising him.

He said to the farmer with a smug look on his face, "Go on, do it cleanly, and don't leave any loopholes."

"yes!"

Inside the side room.

Steam rose and mist filled the air. Jiang Fushi soaked in the bathtub, closing her eyes to rest.

On the rooftop, a figure standing with a sword in his arms blended into the vast moonlight.

Several furtive figures moved silently along the base of the inn wall. A moment later, a faint smell of kerosene wafted into Zhan Xiao's nostrils. His eyes suddenly sharpened, and he vanished from the spot in an instant.

"Quick, quick, you stay here and guard this place. Don't let Princess Yuhe have a chance to escape," one of them urged in a low voice.

The farmer nodded and threw the torch onto the board. Instantly, a fierce fire snake shot up.

The leaping flames caught Zhan Xiao's eye. He moved like the wind, leaping up from the stone bench in the courtyard and swiftly scaling the second-floor eaves. He grabbed a terracotta flowerpot from under the eaves and smashed it hard against Jiang Fushi's window.

The sound of shattering windowpanes broke the silence.

Liu Zi, Qingdai, Zisu, and the others were all startled by the sudden loud noise. After discovering that there was a fire downstairs, Liu Zi shouted, "Fire! Protect His Highness!" and led the guards to fight the fire and rush to the second floor.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, there's a fire! Open the door quickly!"

Jiang Fushi was startled by the loud noise and her long eyelashes fluttered. She suddenly opened her eyes and looked in the direction from which the sound came, and heard a chaotic noise outside the door.

Her heart tightened, and she quickly put on her coat, not even having time to tie up her wet hair, and ran towards the door.

Ah! The Crimson Heavenly Mango is still on the table!

Jiang Fushi suddenly paused.

Is it... is it a human figure?

That spot seemed to be directly opposite the place where she had just taken a bath.

"Your Highness, come out quickly! There's a fire downstairs!"

"This servant will take you to an open area in the courtyard to take shelter."

Without thinking twice, Jiang Fushi stuffed the brocade pouch containing the Crimson Heavenly Light into her bosom, then turned and rushed toward the door again. Qingdai handed her a damp handkerchief to cover her mouth and nose, and pulled her downstairs.

Upon arriving at the center of the courtyard, flames leaped up to the eaves of the second-floor corridor, turning the night sky blood red. The guards struggled to draw water from the well to extinguish the fire, creating a chaotic scene.

Unexpectedly, the princess's guards were alerted so quickly, and the henchmen who had originally intended to block the exit immediately turned and fled.

Almost instantly, everyone ran away. The farmer, who had been secretly observing the situation, sensed something was wrong and was about to give chase when Zhan Xiao struck him hard on the side of the neck with the hilt of his sword, knocking him unconscious.

Before leaving, Zhan Xiao glanced at the princess from afar. He saw that she, with her wet hair hanging down her shoulders, was being protected by maids on either side of her. Apart from her pale face, there were no obvious injuries.

He then used his lightness skill to catch up with the few henchmen who had just fled. They practically tumbled and crawled up the hillside, panting as they said to Cao Zhang, "Second...Second Young Master...It's terrible! The princess's guards reacted too quickly, and our plan has been exposed!"

Cao Zhang, who was still smugly admiring the fire, was furious upon hearing this: "Useless! You can't even handle such a small matter! You've wasted such a good opportunity, you idiots!"

"Young master, we can't delay any longer, let's run!"

"I have already prepared fast horses at the crossroads. As long as we escape immediately, Princess Yuhe will not be able to find out anything later."

Cao Zhang was furious, but he knew he shouldn't stay there any longer, so he turned to leave.

Hidden among the shadows of the trees, Zhan Xiao snapped off the top of a willow tree beside him and raised his hand slightly.

Cao Zhang immediately lost his balance and rolled down the hillside.

He screamed in terror, tumbling dozens of times down the slope before crashing into a thicket of bushes, a sharp, withered branch piercing right through his arm.

"Second Young Master!"

Cao Zhang was in excruciating pain, his mind was blank, and he couldn't even stand up. Bright red blood soaked through his sleeves.

With retreat being the priority, the servants didn't care about anything else and hurriedly lifted him up, then, under the cover of night, rushed off in the direction of the fast horse.

One hour later.

The fire was finally extinguished, and Liu Zi, covered in soot, dragged a man in and threw him to the ground.

“Your Highness, it must be this fellow’s doing! When I found him, he had a large bump on the back of his neck with bloodstains. I guess he was knocked unconscious by falling beams or rubble during the chaos of the fire.”