Several days later, Consort Rou finally gave Shen Tangning a reply.

She scrutinized Shen Tangning, who was dressed as a palace maid, and repeatedly gave her instructions with concern:

"At this hour, His Majesty has the fewest people around him. Remember not to linger too long, go quickly and come back quickly, and make sure no one recognizes your face, especially the Third Prince, although he should not be here right now."

Shen Tangning nodded and took a slight breath: "Thank you."

Consort Rou curved her lips into a smile: "So you're being polite now?"

Shen Tangning didn't delay and went to the Imperial Kitchen first.

Consort Rou had people observe that at this time every day, the imperial kitchen staff would deliver the prepared medicinal soup to His Majesty. She went to great lengths to bribe that palace maid and had her take over.

Carrying the medicine, Shen Tangning walked quickly toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation with her head down. She encountered many Imperial Guards along the way, but fortunately, she escaped unharmed.

Consort Li's maid deliberately made her look ugly, drawing her eyebrows thick and black, making her skin sallow, and adding a mole to the corner of her mouth. If you weren't familiar with her, you would hardly recognize her at first glance.

Upon arriving at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she realized that despite the cold weather, her back was covered in sweat, perhaps due to excessive nervousness.

Shen Tangning took a deep breath and stepped inside.

Just as Consort Rou said, the absence of the Third Prince and Consort Li eased her tension somewhat.

Why is it a different person today?

A sudden voice startled Shen Tangning, who paused slightly. Recognizing it as Eunuch Fu, she explained softly, "Eunuch Fu, Sister Linglan has a stomachache today and asked me to make this trip for her."

Grandpa Fu nodded: "Put the things down."

Shen Tangning stepped forward and put the tray down, gently raising her face as she passed by.

The eunuch Fu's gaze, which had been casually sweeping over her, suddenly froze, his pupils dilated slightly, and he blurted out instinctively, "Chen..."

Realizing something, he stopped in time, glanced at her a few times, and said without changing his expression, "Go and serve His Majesty his medicine."

She curtsied: "Yes, Father-in-law."

As Shen Tangning carried the medicine into the inner hall, a strong ambergris scent filled the air, mixed with other aromas that made one dizzy after a while.

She frowned slightly, looked around, and saw two maids serving inside. She lowered her gaze and walked forward quietly.

Seeing this, one of the palace maids wanted to step forward and take it:

"I'll do it."

Shen Tangning paused. At this moment, Eunuch Fu walked in, his brows furrowed slightly: "You two get out. So many people standing here are an eyesore. His Majesty will be angry again when he wakes up."

The two palace maids hesitated and did not move for a moment.

Fu Gonggong raised an eyebrow and stared at the two of them with a sarcastic tone: "What, is our servant no longer someone we can order around?"

Shen Tangning knew in her heart that these two were probably spies sent by the Third Prince.

In the end, the two palace maids did not choose to go against Eunuch Fu and left the inner palace as instructed.

Eunuch Fu's expression relaxed, and he hurriedly took two steps forward, looking up at her. He lowered his voice and asked, "Miss Shen, what brings you here?"

He was one of the few who knew that Shen Tangning was still in the palace, after all, he was right there when Consort Rou's maid came to ask His Majesty for instructions that day.

But he didn't expect Shen Tangning to be so bold as to disguise herself as a palace maid and sneak into the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Worried that she might not know her place, he hurriedly reminded her, "This is not a place for you!"