The next day, Ji Zhuo did not arrive at the Lin residence as promised.

Fortunately, Tangbao was too busy playing during the day to sleep much, and after whimpering a few times, she fell into a deep sleep at night.

The person who arrived was Lang Feng. He was acting on Ji Zhuo's orders to convey the situation in the palace to Lin Xihe: During the morning court session this morning, His Majesty suddenly vomited blood and fainted in the main hall. All the ministers were left in the palace to await orders, and Ji Zhuo was naturally unable to leave as well.

Xiao Yu is only in his thirties and usually seems to be in good health, so why would he suddenly vomit blood?

Lin Xihe's first reaction was that it was Mu Ruoyan's doing, but Mu Ruoyan was also in the palace at the moment. Wasn't he afraid of being exposed?

Lin Xihe was filled with unease, but the palace kept information tightly under wraps, and she had no way of knowing more details.

Ji Zhuo didn't arrive until the afternoon of the following day.

After he coaxed Tangbao to sleep, he explained the whole story to Lin Xihe in detail.

"His Majesty has been secretly taking elixirs. Yesterday, he suffered poisoning from the elixirs, and several imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital were helpless. In the end, it was Mu Ruoyan who took out her own medicine and saved His Majesty." Ji Zhuo's tone was solemn, and his eyes were filled with doubt.

"Mu Ruoyan saved him?" Lin Xihe was taken aback upon hearing this.

She clearly remembered that Mu Ruoyan had said he was going to kill Xiao Yugan just a few days ago, so how come he saved him in the blink of an eye?

“Yes. At first, the Imperial Medical Academy had doubts about Mu Ruoyan’s medicine, and the Empress, Grand Commandant Song, and other ministers also strongly opposed it. But Mu Ruoyan took the medicine on the spot and produced the prescription, and only then did the Empress agree to take it. Half an hour later, His Majesty woke up, and his condition was even better than before.” Ji Zhuo said, his brows furrowed, clearly puzzled by all of this.

“Something’s not right…” Lin Xihe murmured softly.

Something's definitely not right.

Ji Zhuo nodded and continued, "The elixir His Majesty took was made from... the blood of young girls. He has a courtyard outside the city where he keeps hundreds of young girls. It is said that hundreds of people die from it every year. Therefore, His Majesty's coma was not caused by Mu Ruoyan. His Majesty's princes are young, the oldest being no more than eight years old. If something were to happen to His Majesty suddenly, it would only benefit the Northern Territory, and the Northern Territory should be happy. Mu Ruoyan's act of saving people is truly perplexing."

Lin Xihe was terrified as she listened, and her face showed disbelief because of Ji Zhuo's words, but her focus was not on Mu Ruoyan's actions.

"This dog emperor is using a young girl's blood to concoct medicine? What is he trying to do?"

"He wants to stay young forever and live forever." Ji Zhuo's voice was low and tinged with disgust.

"This is outrageous! He's a complete madman, capable of such a thing! Who's helping him do this heinous act?" Lin Xihe was furious, then looked nervously at Ji Zhuo, "Wait, Zhuo, you...you knew about this all along?"

"I only found out today." Ji Zhuo shook his head, his tone firm.

Hearing Ji Zhuo's answer, Lin Xihe breathed a sigh of relief, patted her chest, and showed an expression that said, "Thank goodness it wasn't you."

She had always heard Mu Ruoyan refer to Ji Zhuo as a "lackey," and she couldn't help but worry that Ji Zhuo would aid and abet evil and help Xiao Yugan do such an unforgivable thing.

Lin Xihe's appearance startled Ji Zhuo slightly, then he smiled helplessly: "Xi'er, is this the kind of person I am in your eyes?"

Lin Xihe immediately shook her head, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him, her tone sincere: "How could that be! In my eyes, you are the most outstanding person, the best person in the world." Although her words came out off the cuff, they came from the bottom of her heart.

Ji Zhuo seemed satisfied with the answer. Although the two were destined not to be together, their feelings for each other never changed.

Ji Zhuo's expression gradually turned serious, and he continued, "I know about this because His Majesty sent people to that manor today and arrested the pharmacist who was refining pills there. And this matter was investigated by Mu Ruoyan's man, Xu Si, along with my men."

As he spoke, his gaze was fixed on Lin Xihe, as if observing her reaction.

"Xi'er, do you know what Mu Ruoyan is planning to do?"

Lin Xihe shook her head, her tone calm: "He said he wouldn't tell me, saying it was so I wouldn't worry."

"You trust him that much?" Ji Zhuo raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone tinged with a hint of probing.

“Ah Zhuo, I believe in him. Although I have many doubts, I believe in him.” Lin Xihe’s tone was firm, and there was no wavering in her eyes.

Ji Zhuo was silent for a moment before speaking again: "I don't want to find out anything from you. He sent me a message asking me to wait for him here today. I didn't trust him at first, but since you do, I'll listen to what he has to say."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xihe's eyes lit up. She, who was originally sitting on the other side of the stone table, couldn't help but move closer: "You two are so harmonious now?"

Seeing her like this, Ji Zhuo couldn't help but reach out and gently tap her on the head, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and warning: "Stop thinking about those little things. Don't even think about it."

Lin Xihe covered the spot where she had been hit, looking completely innocent: "Did I say anything?"

"Do you even need to say it?"

Ji Zhuo glared at her: "Why didn't you learn your lesson last time I hit you? No man can accept something like this..." He paused here.

Two days ago, he decided to let go. The current entanglement is only because of Tangbao...

Besides, even if he were willing to back down, how could Mu Ruoyan, with her temperament, possibly get along with him peacefully?

Suddenly, Ji Zhuo snapped out of his thoughts, inwardly annoyed, feeling that he had been utterly ridiculous.

What am I thinking? I've actually considered such an absurd thing.