"What's the rush? You're giving away this precious sword reluctantly, aren't you?" Li Zhaoxian looked at the couple with an ambiguous expression.

"No, Your Highness, I am willing to die for you, let alone for a mere sword." Song's father received a look from Song's mother and broke out in a cold sweat.

What is he doing? This isn't the Song residence, yet he's causing trouble here!

That would be best.

Haitang, who came to the Crown Prince's residence to take care of Shen Zhaozhao, hid in the shadows and witnessed the whole scene. When she came to Shen Zhaozhao, she vividly described it: "Miss, you don't know, the faces of everyone in the Song family were very ugly."

"Heh, who told them to always covet what doesn't belong to them?" Song Tangxue sneered, then appeared carrying a bowl of medicine: "Miss Song, it's time to take your medicine."

"There was another question yesterday that I didn't quite understand. Could you please explain it to me, Miss Song?" She took the opportunity to ask, her face slightly flushed.

Song Tangxue was his savior, and he already held her in high esteem. Moreover, Song Tangxue was adept at treating many difficult and complicated diseases.

That gratitude quickly turned sour, heading towards a bottomless abyss.

Song Tangxue naturally agreed.

Seven days later, Song Tangxue lifted her ankle to take a look. The wound on her ankle had healed to about 70-80%, and the twisted scar was now just a light pink layer.

The ointment on the table was opened, and a delicate fragrance wafted to my nose.

"This is truly excellent medicine. Did Doctor Xie give it to you?" Haitang carefully applied the ointment to Song Tangxue and put it away.

Song Tangxue lowered her head and did not answer.

He came in carrying the bowl of medicine, and seeing her ankle, he breathed a sigh of relief: "This is the last bowl of medicine. You can leave after drinking it."

A small dish of dried fruit was thoughtfully placed next to the medicine bowl.

Ever since Song Tangxue frowned and drank the medicine on the first day, every time the pills were brought in, they were accompanied by candied fruit.

"Hey, isn't this the dried fruit shop with the longest queue?" Haitang recognized the source of the dried fruit: "Many ladies and young misses love to eat it."

She pursed her lips tightly and said, "My younger brother loves to eat this. I noticed that Miss Song seemed to find the medicine bitter, so I just grabbed some."

After finishing her medicine, Song Tangxue picked up a piece of candied fruit and put it in her mouth. The sweet and sour taste overpowered the bitterness. Her words were muffled: "You've been so kind. Thank you for your hard work in treating me these past few days, which prevented the poison from spreading."

**’s eyes shone like stars, reflecting Song Tangxue: “It’s what I should do. You are my savior, and it is I who should thank you.”

With Song Tangxue gone, the most important person in the room was suddenly missing. The little palace maid chattered as she tidied the bed: "Hey, isn't this Miss Song's handkerchief? Miss Song hasn't gone far, has she? Go get it for her."

Looking at the door, he turned back and said, "Give it to me; I need to go back for my work report."

The young palace maid, unsuspecting, handed the handkerchief to the palace maid.

"Miss, as we bid farewell today, we are likely to go to see the Empress," Haitang whispered a reminder.

Song Tangxue nodded. Due to etiquette, she should go and see her. The Empress had a lot of opinions about her, and she was afraid that she would be made difficult if she went.

"You can wait for me here." Song Tangxue stopped at the entrance of the Empress's palace. She was, after all, the Crown Princess. If Haitang were caught again, the Empress would not be able to protect her.

Haitang, aware of the implications, nodded and said softly, "Then Miss, please be careful."

It was early morning, the time when the concubines of the six palaces came to pay their respects. The palace maid beside the Empress led her to the palace gate.

Inside the room, one could hear a woman's charming laughter.

"You wait outside, I'll go report to the Empress." The palace maid haughtily raised her head and went inside.

Song Tangxue took a deep breath, but no one came to see her. The palace maids and eunuchs in the corridor looked at her with pity when they saw that she was all alone.

The sun was getting stronger, and Song Tangxue wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Wasn't the Empress supposed to be fetching Miss Song? Why didn't I see her come in?" Consort Lin asked with a smile as she looked at the head palace maid who had entered alone.

The Empress raised her eyes and looked at the obtrusive pregnant belly: "Tang Xue must have been delayed by something."

Lin Guifei's maids entered one after the other, and Song Tangxue, who was waiting outside, could no longer keep it a secret. The Empress's expression began to betray her.

"Have you seen Miss Song?" Consort Lin asked lazily, supporting her pregnant belly, a bright and beautiful smile blooming on her face.

"Miss Song is right outside the door," the palace maid whispered, then stood behind Consort Lin.

The Empress felt like tearing her heart out of the wood.

"That's not right of the Empress. Miss Song is supposed to be your daughter-in-law, but she hasn't even entered the family yet. Why are you setting rules for her?" Consort Lin picked up a piece of pastry and ate it. "This pastry is too greasy. This morning the child was fussy and my stomach was very upset. Yesterday His Majesty said that the child was very energetic."

"Is Miss Song also mischievous?" This wasn't the first or second time that Consort Lin had openly challenged the Empress.

Especially recently, she would argue with the Empress at the slightest disagreement. Even though Consort Lin was pregnant, the Empress had to temporarily avoid her.

The concubines in the palace kept quiet. The one they dared not offend most in the harem was Consort Lin, who was six months pregnant.

"How could that be? Perhaps the little palace maid didn't explain clearly. Quickly go and invite Tang Xue in."

When Song Tangxue entered the room, everyone in the harem was somewhat stunned by her face. Song Tangxue knelt down and bowed respectfully.

Empress Cheng seemed not to hear, looking at the branch that had squeezed in from outside: "It's summer now, and these branches are growing very lushly."

"Oh dear, is the Empress getting old and her hearing failing? Should we summon the imperial physician to examine Her Majesty?" Consort Lin pushed the pastries away with disdain.

"Why do you say that, Sister Lin?" the Empress replied to Consort Lin.

"I thought the Empress couldn't hear me. Isn't Miss Song bowing here?" Consort Lin looked at Song Tangxue, who was kneeling.

The Empress bit her lip slightly: "Yes, I was a little distracted just now. You may rise."

No one would have guessed that Consort Lin and Miss Song had any connection; she was simply going against the Empress. The two had only met for the first time today.

Song Tangxue stood up and glanced at Consort Lin with a hint of gratitude.

"If there's nothing else, you may leave." The Empress was annoyed by her appearance, and even more annoyed by Consort Lin's arrogant and domineering manner.

I've had too many worries lately, and I just managed to get my family to petition the Emperor to lift my confinement. Now I have to deal with these two.

"This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress."

The nanny from the Empress Dowager's side came over, also because she was afraid that the Empress would make things difficult for Song Tangxue. So the Empress Dowager asked this nanny to bring Song Tangxue over.

"Is Miss Song leaving? The Empress Dowager has something to discuss with you. Please come to Kunning Palace." The old nanny said respectfully.

Song Tangxue left with the nanny.

The hall fell into an even deeper silence. Consort Lin smiled faintly, stood up, and said, supporting her belly, "I've been out for a long time today, and my stomach is a little uncomfortable. I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he ignored the Empress's words and left, surrounded by palace maids.

The Empress took the opportunity of drinking tea to give a fierce look at the doorway.

The entrance was already empty.

Upon arriving at Kunning Palace, the Empress Dowager was coughing, and the nanny beside her hurriedly went up to her and gently patted her back.