Inside the east wing of the Shen residence, Shen Yunjiao slowly opened her eyes, the morning light dancing on her eyelashes.

Fu Xia, who had been busy all night, was excited to see her young lady finally wake up and nudged Lin Mama, who was dozing off beside her.

"Girl! You're finally awake!"

Shen Yunjiao tilted her head slightly, her face full of puzzlement and confusion. "What's wrong with me?"

She was just talking with Shen Zhizhang in the Liuli Hall, how come she's suddenly lying in bed?

"Girl, you've been poisoned."

Fu Xia truthfully told Shen Yunjiao about the wild raspberries.

Shen Yunjiao frowned. Why would the herbalist Li Ping poison her when they had no grudge against each other?

There must be some misunderstanding here.

Shen Yunjiao struggled to get up and touched her meridians with her hand.

The pulse was normal, without any particularly large fluctuations.

Shen Yunjiao breathed a sigh of relief, but she still felt hot and itchy on her face. "Fuxia, bring me the bronze mirror."

"yes."

After taking the mirror, Shen Yunjiao examined it carefully and immediately frowned, "Where is Li Ping?"

Fu Xia quickly replied, "I'm being guarded by the Shen family's guards."

"Bring him in, I have some questions for him," Shen Yunjiao said slowly.

She had just looked at herself in the mirror and saw many tiny red spots on her neck and face.

Her intuition told her that the poison in her body had not been cured.

Li Ping was quickly brought up by the guards. As soon as he saw Shen Yunjiao, he knelt down and explained, "Miss Shen, I swear, I really didn't poison it. I picked these wild fruits from the mountain and put them in the courtyard without touching them."

Shen Yunjiao asked, "Has anyone been to your courtyard?"

After thinking for a moment, Li Ping said, "Besides the neighbor's kids bringing over pancakes, only Aunt Liu, who just moved in, came over to take a look. She wanted to buy wild raspberries, but I politely declined."

"Did you ever say that this basket of fruit was meant for me?" Shen Yunjiao interrupted him and asked.

Li Ping paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "I told her this was to be sent to the Shen residence, and then I went back inside to get the herbs. Does the young lady suspect that Aunt Liu poisoned it?"

Li Ping felt like crying; he should have known better than to send the fruit, as it had caused him a lot of trouble for no reason.

After pondering for a moment, Shen Yunjiao instructed the Shen family guards to go to Aunt Liu's house to see if she was there.

"Li Ping, the truth is still out, so you'll probably have to stay in the manor," Shen Yunjiao replied calmly, her eyes still dark and she seemed not to have fully recovered.

Li Ping hurriedly kowtowed and replied, "Miss, once we catch Aunt Liu, you will know that I am innocent."

Shen Yunjiao leaned back on the bed, looking somewhat dejected. Seeing this, Lin Mama had someone take Li Ping back to the stable.

"Granny, I have a feeling of unease. When did Father leave?"

After taking a sip of warm water, Shen Yunjiao rubbed her temples and said.

"She left yesterday evening," Lin Mama said in a low voice to comfort her. "The master said to rest assured, young lady, and to take good care of yourself. He will be back today."

Shen Yunjiao nodded, feeling weak and dizzy. Yingchun rushed into the room and said loudly, "Miss, the palace has secretly summoned you to the palace. The carriage is already waiting at the door."

She immediately came to her senses and hurriedly asked, "Did he say anything?"

Why was she suddenly brought into the palace?

Has Xiao Huaijin already succeeded?

Shen Yunjiao was overjoyed, but her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

She glanced at the overcast and rainy sky, and her bad premonition grew stronger.

After quickly tidying up, Shen Yunjiao hurriedly walked towards the courtyard gate. Fortunately, she saw that familiar face when she arrived at the gate.

Upon seeing Miss Chen, Zhu Ye bowed and said, "Miss Chen, please get into the carriage."

Shen Yunjiao was anxious and couldn't help but blurt out, "Is Xiao Huaijin alright?"

Zhu Ye was taken aback, then lowered her eyes and said respectfully, "Master is well, please get in the carriage."

Shen Yunjiao obediently got into the carriage, which sped along the main road. The road was bustling with traffic and people, but she had no interest in lifting the curtain to look.

When they finally arrived at the palace, she was led by Zhu Ye as soon as she got out of the carriage, passing through palace gates without anyone stopping them.

Shen Yunjiao's heart pounded like thunder. Along the way, there were many palace maids sweeping and cleaning up the bloodstains on the floors, pillars, and walls.

It was quite obvious that the entire palace had experienced a fierce battle last night.

But Shen Yunjiao didn't dare to ask Zhu Ye, and just followed him quickly, hoping to see Xiao Huaijin soon.

As they approached the Flying Flower Palace, she finally saw the person she had been longing for standing in the courtyard through the red-lacquered gate.

After Zhu Ye pushed open the door, Shen Yunjiao couldn't help but run to the eaves. Seeing Xiao Huaijin's heavy face, her tone, which should have been joyful, changed slightly, "Xiao Huaijin..."

Xiao Huaijin stepped forward in a few strides and pulled Shen Yunjiao into his arms. "Jiaojiao, you've finally come."

Upon smelling the familiar and refreshing scent of pine and cypress, Shen Yunjiao's eyes instantly reddened. "Xiao Huaijin, tell me, are you safe?"

Xiao Huaijin gently responded with a "yes," then kissed her forehead before releasing her from his embrace.

It was only then that Shen Yunjiao noticed her brother, Shen Qinghuai, standing on the other side of the eaves.

"Brother???"

Shen Yunjiao was still confused. She looked at Xiao Huaijin in bewilderment and asked, "What's going on? Why is my brother here too?"

Xiao Huaijin's expression was grave, and a hint of reluctance flashed in his eyes. He said in a low voice, "Go with your brother to the side hall."

Hearing this, Shen Yunjiao felt even more uneasy.

Shen Qinghuai slowly walked over, bowed to Xiao Huaijin, looked at his younger sister, his throat tightened, and his voice even carried a sob.

"Yun Jiao, Father passed away this morning."

After saying this, Shen Qinghuai closed his eyes tightly, and when he opened them again, his eyes were bloodshot.

Shen Yunjiao's head exploded with a loud bang, and an expression of disbelief immediately appeared on her face.

She asked, trembling, "Brother, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Shen Qinghuai stood in the courtyard, looking at her confused and uneasy eyes, and said sadly, "Yunjiao, yesterday Father and Consort Shu attempted to force the palace in rebellion, but their plot was exposed, and this morning they committed suicide out of fear of punishment."

A light drizzle suddenly began to fall from the sky.

The rain and mist were as hazy as gauze, and Shen Yunjiao felt a chill all over her body. She stood there blankly, unable to move.

A warm feeling came from behind. Xiao Huaijin silently took her hand and said softly, "Jiaojiao, Prime Minister Shen passed away peacefully without any pain."

Overwhelmed with grief, Shen Yunjiao's legs went weak and she almost couldn't stand up.

Her eyes were filled with tears as she turned back to Xiao Huaijin with pleading eyes, "I...I want to see Father, is that alright?"

Xiao Huaijin nodded, then said to Shen Qinghuai, "Lord Shen, why don't you go with Yun Jiao?"

He didn't want to leave Shen Yunjiao alone, but right now, she needed her family more.