As November progressed, the weather grew increasingly cold.

Even though Song Xibai isn't particularly afraid of the cold, she doesn't like to go outside and spends most of her time indoors.

The finest silver charcoal runs day and night, adding a touch of warmth to the room.

Song Xibai sat outside the small study, with Fuliu standing beside him in attendance.

"Du Chenghui sent someone to tell me that he caught a cold last night and felt dizzy and lightheaded when he woke up today, so he won't come over, for fear of passing on his illness to the master."

Song Xibai hummed in agreement: "Take out the medicine bottle marked 'one' from my medicine box and send it to Du Chenghui. That medicine is quite effective at dispelling cold."

Since that fall into the water, Du Chenghui has been prone to illness.

Although it's just a common cold, it shouldn't be underestimated in this day and age; it needs careful care.

Fu Liu quickly returned with the medicine bottle, and Song Xibai thought for a moment before calling her back.

"Summon two young palace maids to take turns looking after Du Chenghui. The maids around her are new; we don't know what kind of people they are."

Fu Liu gave a crisp "Yes" and then hurriedly left.

Now she exudes the air of a head palace maid. As soon as she steps out the door, her gaze sweeps across the room, and the junior palace maids outside immediately fall silent, too terrified to utter a sound.

"You, and you, come with me to see Du Chenghui."

Fu Liu accepted the mission and left, leaving Song Xibai with only Wei Hong by her side.

Wei Hong rarely speaks, and most of the time, Song Xibai forgets her existence.

Is this a required skill for anyone working as a spy?

Song Xibai was propping her head up with one hand, and just as she was about to fall asleep, the familiar voice of a palace attendant suddenly rang out from outside.

"Your Highness, His Highness has sent someone to deliver to you."

To give away?

It took Song Xibai a couple of seconds to remember this.

"Come in!"

It wasn't Feng Jia who arrived; it was another round-faced eunuch named Jin Xiang.

He brought in a young woman dressed in plain clothes, and upon seeing Song Xibai, he immediately pulled the woman to bow.

"This is someone His Highness specially found outside the palace."

Song Xibai was stunned when he saw the young girl.

"clove?"

After the young woman finished bowing and stood up, she smiled sweetly at Song Xibai, revealing a playful expression.

"Why are you in the palace? What happened? Where is Old Man Ding? How could he bear to let you come to the palace?!"

Song Xibai rushed over, grabbed Dingxiang's arm, and hurriedly asked her questions.

When Song Xibai was disguised as a man to treat patients, the old doctor in the small clinic she worked at was surnamed Ding, and Song Xibai was used to calling him Old Man Ding.

Dingxiang is his granddaughter.

Song Xibai had known Old Man Ding for quite some time. When she was young, she often disguised herself as a boy and went out to play. In order to practice her medical skills, but not wanting to go to familiar places, she could only go to the south of the city. One day, she accidentally saved someone, which led to her acquaintance with Old Man Ding.

Old Ding was eccentric and not particularly skilled in medicine, yet he always thought of himself as a miracle doctor. Song Xibai couldn't stand him and would always mock and ridicule him. Unexpectedly, over the years, the old man and the young man became closer.

When the Song family ran into trouble, only Old Man Ding secretly took Song Xibai in.

Dingxiang was Song Xibai's best friend since childhood.

It was because of Song Xibai's existence that Old Man Ding changed his rule of passing on medical skills only to sons, and allowed his granddaughter Dingxiang to also begin learning medicine.

However, Ding Xiang mainly specializes in gynecology and pediatrics, which is different from Song Xibai's specialty.

Dingxiang affectionately took Song Xibai's hand, showing no awareness of her role as a palace maid.

"After you entered the palace with His Highness the Crown Prince, I've been trying to find a chance to contact you, but I haven't been able to. A few days ago, I finally found out that His Highness the Crown Prince was looking for someone, so I volunteered!"

Song Xibai stared at her.

"Are you out of your mind? Isn't it better to stay in the clinic? Why did you run into the palace... Do you know that entering the palace means selling yourself?! Once you're in, you can't get out!"

Dingxiang wasn't scared by her.

"Don't try to fool me. I've heard that palace maids can choose to leave the palace when they reach twenty-five. My parents have been pressuring me to get married lately, and they've even found someone they like. I don't want to get married, so entering the palace is a good idea. Once I leave at twenty-five, I'll be past the age for marriage, and I won't be afraid!"

Dingxiang said happily.

Song Xibai was completely defeated by her.

I've never seen anyone sell themselves to escape an arranged marriage.

Isn't that stupid?

Not to mention her, even Eunuch Jin was dumbfounded after hearing these words.

Fortunately, he remembered his mission. Seeing that the two of them had started talking to themselves, he quickly seized the opportunity to speak.

"Your Highness, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave now."

Song Xibai was then surprised to realize that there were outsiders in the room!

She patted her head and called to Wei Hong.

"See Eunuch Jin out."

Wei Hong then stepped forward, slipped a purse into Jin Gonggong's hand, and saw him out the door.

Song Xibai dragged Dingxiang directly into the bedroom.

Dingxiang looked at the luxurious bed, clicking her tongue repeatedly.

"It seems His Highness treats you quite well! You're dressed in gold and silver, and you have quite a few servants around you. Grandpa was worried you'd be bullied! I think he was worrying for nothing."

Song Xibai sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her temples, feeling a terrible headache.

Because of my frequent contact with lilacs when I was young, I was unconsciously influenced and became obsessed with pursuing my career. I didn't want to get married because I felt that "men would slow down my acupuncture."

She looks even more like a time traveler than Song Xibai!

Song Xibai regretted it!

Back then, I was young and naive, and I said a lot of nonsense to Dingxiang, leading her astray. Well, now I'm in trouble.

"Old Ding must be cursing me to death at home."

Song Xibai muttered to herself, she could already imagine Old Man Ding jumping up and down in anger.

Dingxiang leaned closer: "Then you're wrong. Grandpa was the only one in the family who supported me coming here. Otherwise, do you think I could have contacted His Highness the Crown Prince on my own? It was Grandpa who took the initiative to go to him."

This truly shocked Song Xibai.

"Has Old Man Ding lost his mind? Sending his own granddaughter to the palace? Doesn't he know how dangerous it is there?"

"That's precisely why I came! Grandpa and I are worried about you being alone."

Dingxiang sat down comfortably next to Song Xibai, then naturally took her hand and began to take her pulse.

"I'm in good health, so I didn't waste my time. Oh, and Grandpa even specially collected a few secret recipes for conceiving a son and gave them to me!"

As Dingxiang spoke, she winked at Song Xibai.

Song Xibai's face immediately darkened.

"You old lewd man!"

Dingxiang laughed heartily: "That's what I said to him too. Don't you think that our Divine Physician Song is in such good health, and His Highness is in the prime of his life? How could he not have a son? Who needs his secret formula for having a child!"

Song Xibai's eye twitched.

She wanted to explain to Dingxiang that her relationship with the Crown Prince was not that kind of relationship, but simply a doctor-patient relationship.

But the Crown Prince had warned us beforehand that no third person should know about this.

For Dingxiang's sake, Song Xibai took a deep breath and swallowed her words.