Before Hanxiang walked step by step towards the other side, looking at the person coming towards her, Mardan's attention was also entirely on Hanxiang, and the hand that was pressed against Shen Nian's neck was gradually loosening.

Taking advantage of Hanxiang drawing Mardan's attention, Ertai gave a hand signal to the two people in the shadows. Fu Yuxing and Yongxuan, who were hidden behind layers of guards, were ready and nodded to Ertai.

Having received their answers, Ertai threw a pebble hidden in his hand, which struck Mardan's hand holding the dagger with pinpoint accuracy.

"hiss--"

The stinging pain in his hand made Mardan instinctively loosen his grip.

This also gave the two people behind them a chance to save the person.

After the two subdued Mardan, Ertai stepped forward and tightly embraced the still unconscious Chen Nian, his eyes filled with lingering fear.

Seeing the two embracing each other, Fu Yuxing silently looked away.

"Hiss, what's wrong?"

Despite being drugged by Mardan, the stinging pain in her neck didn't wake her up. But being held tightly in his arms, she could feel the panic in her heart, and the pain in her neck finally brought Shen Nian back to her senses.

"It's alright, it's alright, let me apply the medicine for you."

Hearing Chen Nian's voice, Ertai comforted her, took out the medicine and gauze he always carried, and bandaged Chen Nian's wounds.

He was incredibly relieved that Mardan had drugged the girl; otherwise, if she had been kidnapped, the little princess would have been terrified.

Why is your face so pale?

Shen Nian's mind was a little slow to work. She was awake, but the strong drug Mardan had given her made her react slowly.

I don't know what kind of medicine Ertai used, but apart from the pain in my neck when I first woke up, the pain disappeared immediately after the medicine was applied.

Feeling Ertai wrapping something around her neck, Chen Nian turned her head blankly to look, but when she turned her head, she met Ertai's pale face due to blood loss, and instantly became much more alert.

"It's alright."

Ertai shook his head, carefully tied the bandage on Chen Nian's neck into a pretty little bow, and then bent down to bandage himself.

The injuries I sustained in those years were much more serious than this; this is just a minor one.

The others, seeing what the two were doing, silently stepped back.

They're eating dog food every day, it's so sweet it's almost sickening them.

"You're injured! Who injured you?!"

Seeing Ertai's actions, Chen Nian's dazed mind immediately cleared up, and he angrily asked loudly.

"Be good, it's okay now. I'll tell you more after I bandage your wound."

Seeing the impatient person, Ertai freed his hand, which was still wrapped in gauze, and patted Chen Nian's head gently to coax him.

"Hahaha, so what if you saved Chen Nian? You can't save your Consort Xiang. Hanxiang, only I have the antidote for the poison in your body."

"Hahaha, if you kill me, your Consort Xiang will be doomed."

Mardan was grabbed by Fu Yuxing and Yongxuan and forced to kneel on the ground. His face was ashen, but he laughed loudly with his head thrown back.

He came here today prepared to die. All his relatives are gone, and his only obsession has fallen for someone else.

"What?! Hanxiang, you have poison in your body? What kind of poison? Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Imperial physician, imperial physician—"

Mardan's words alarmed the emperor, who shouted anxiously.

"I'm fine, Mardan. It's my pleasure to tell you that the poison in my body has been cured, Your Majesty the Queen—"

Hanxiang looked at Mardan, who still wanted to use her to threaten the emperor, with a mocking look in her eyes. She raised her hand and patted the emperor, who was standing beside her with worry in his eyes, and called out to the empress standing to the side.

Nian Nian was rescued, and she no longer needed to pretend to be a snake with Mardan.

Over the years, Mardan claimed to love her, yet he poisoned her; he claimed to love her, yet he used benefits to negotiate with her father; he locked himself in a room, trying to force himself on her.

He claimed to love her, yet he had people monitor her every move, forbidding her from contacting anyone else. If he discovered she had contact with another person, he would come to her room and torment her…

Those were dark years she didn't want to recall.

The Queen nodded, and Jin Lingzi and Yin Lingzi were brought up. Upon seeing the two of them, Mardan's last glimmer of hope vanished.

"The antidote... Her Majesty the Empress and I have already figured it out. It's Ningxiang, isn't it?"

"So what if it is? No, you used Ningxiang, didn't you? Hahaha, Hanxiang, you're going to die with me."

Seeing the lively and angry Chen Nian, a hint of madness appeared on Mardan's ashen face.

"What do you mean? Where is the imperial physician? Why hasn't he arrived yet!"

The emperor, who had initially breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Hanxiang's words, was once again alarmed by Mardan's words and angrily shouted at the surroundings.

"You used the medicine on Chen Nian, didn't you? I heard that Princess Chen was critically ill but was saved. You must have used Ningxiang Pill, right? Hanxiang, you still have poison in your body."

Mardan's words silenced everyone, because Hanxiang had indeed used the Fragrance-Gathering Pill on Chennian.

"So what? I have plenty of time. There are so many skilled imperial physicians in the palace. How could they not be able to cure me?"

Feeling the Emperor's grip on her hand tighten, a warm feeling washed over Hanxiang.

"Hanxiang, you make it sound so easy. Ningxiang is a rare find, only a tiny amount left. If you give it to Chennian, you will die."

The sight of their clasped hands stung Mardan's eyes, and he bluntly uttered words that caused everyone to panic and worry.

"Who said that—"