After becoming pregnant, the cold-hearted nobles all went mad.

When Wei Chengrui came out, he was still a little uncomfortable. There seemed to be something amiss between his legs. When he thought about the stupid trick Shen Lingyi had used against him, the tips of his ears turned red. He was both ashamed and angry.

He then added sarcastically, "I wondered why you were so nervous, but it turns out the Crown Prince has arrived."

"What are you being so sarcastic about? Do you want His Highness the Crown Prince to see you like this?" Shen Lingyi said, while subtly pointing to a certain part of his body that he was feeling uncomfortable about.

Wei Chengrui gritted his teeth.

He was determined to find out who was so audacious as to drug him at the palace banquet!

"I learned acupoint sealing from Qing Le, but I only learned the basics. If Prince Wei doesn't want to lose face later, he should quickly leave the palace to find someone to treat him."

Wei Chengrui was wearing a black round-necked robe with silver embroidered crane patterns at the hem. There should have been a proper belt, but it was hanging crookedly on the waist, and even the dagger hanging on it was nowhere to be found.

He figured he must have left it on the bed when he was playing a prank. He wanted to go back and look for it, but under Shen Lingyi's teasing gaze, he just wanted to leave as soon as possible and didn't want to embarrass himself any further.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, Wei Chengrui snorted and left with a sullen face without asking Shen Lingyi what her plans were.

"Miss!" Peony hurriedly came over. When Shen Lingyi left her seat, she went to Jiang's place and was unable to help.

Shen Lingyi disappeared later, and the agreed place was not there either. She was so anxious that she searched for her everywhere, but she overheard Shen Tingjiao talking to His Highness the Crown Prince.

She angrily exclaimed, "What happened today must be related to the young lady!"

"Oh dear, can't she just behave herself? All she does is think about harming people. Now people are saying that the young lady is bullying her. She's really being wronged."

Shen Lingyi scoffed, not surprised at all. She already knew when Shen Tingjiao brought people to catch them in the act, but she was just wondering how Shen Tingjiao could actually do it at a palace banquet.

She looked up and saw that the moon was already half-hidden by clouds. Calculating that the time was approaching, she became increasingly anxious and instructed Peony beside her, "Go and check on the palace servants at the banquet to see who has had contact with Shen Tingjiao."

"And what about the young lady?"

"I have something important to do later, so I'll leave Mother's affairs to you."

Upon hearing this, Peony looked resentful: "When Miss was still with Prince Wei, she always made me do things to cover for her. I thought that after separating from the prince, she must have improved a lot."

"I never imagined that I would end up doing the same old thing again."

Shen Lingyi raised an eyebrow and said in a feigned fierce tone, "So, you even dare to talk about your own master now, don't you?"

Peony didn't really have any complaints; the master and servant joked around for a few moments and then parted ways.

Shen Lingyi put on the cloak and hurried into the most conspicuous and noble hall in the palace, braving the wind and snow. The fox fur made her face look fair and white as jade. Her breath sprayed on her face, and the warmth made her cheeks blush. Her long eyelashes drooped obediently, like a girl next door.

Seeing this, Fu Quan, the gatekeeper, softened his stance and stopped the guard who was trying to stop him. He even glared at the guard, saying, "You clueless idiot."

"Do you think you can stop the Princess of Pingyang? She's here on important business; if you delay her, see how many heads you have!"

The guard retreated hesitantly, secretly memorizing Shen Lingyi's appearance.

To be able to enter and leave the palace and be treated so well by His Majesty's chief eunuch, one must be no ordinary person.

Fuquan accompanied Shen Lingyi inside, explaining Pei Heng's situation along the way. Upon reaching the door, he couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Second Miss, could you possibly help His Majesty?"

"Judging from what Eunuch Fuquan said, he knows what illness His Majesty has."

Shen Lingyi was actually being tactful. In the palace, Pei Heng's monthly irregularities were described as some kind of illness, but in reality, only those close to him knew that it wasn't an illness at all.

Fuquan obviously knew about it, but he didn't know much about it.

He chuckled dryly and explained, "After all, it's to take care of His Majesty... but we servants dare not say too much about our master's affairs."

After saying that, he sighed and said, "His Majesty is truly suffering, and this old servant cannot bear to see it. If Miss Shen really has a way, I beg you, at least to make His Majesty feel a little more at ease."

He pushed open the palace door, stepped back, and said that accompanying them this far was enough; the rest was not something a eunuch like him should do or see.

There was no incense burning in the Zichen Palace, yet a faint, cool fragrance permeated the air. The drowsy environment, coupled with a few low groans, made the atmosphere even more enigmatic.

Shen Lingyi's footsteps were not concealed as she walked in, so the person noticed her as soon as she entered.

"Come here." Pei Heng was no longer wary or defensive. He simply lifted his eyelids slightly, raised his hand which was soaking in the medicinal soup, and made a beckoning gesture.

Shen Lingyi walked over, but instead of going to the place he expected, she stood neither too close nor too far.

When he looked up, through the haze, he saw the emerald hairpin with pearls in Shen Lingyi's hair, its tassels swaying gently on her fair face, like a weeping willow swaying on the water.

The allure she exuded without uttering a word was enough to stir up endless fantasies.

Shen Lingyi remained motionless, so he lowered his hand. Thinking of the terrifying incident at the banquet that night, he wondered, "Are you still angry with me?"

"How could I dare to argue with Your Majesty? The Crown Prince Wei insisted on making things difficult for me, and Your Majesty couldn't stop him. Besides, Your Majesty did stand up for me and made the Crown Prince lose face in public."

Pei Heng chuckled softly, her voice gentle and sweet, but it was actually a barb that was actually pricking him. Yet, her soft and sweet tone made it hard for him to be ruthless and argue with her.

That aggrieved look was just like a child trying to get attention from their elders.

He could only explain, "Rather than letting him keep holding a grudge, it's better to let him vent his anger. After what happened today, I think the defender Cheng Rui won't dare to make things difficult for you again in the future."

Actually, there's more to it than that. One reason is that he was considering her feelings, and the other is that Pei Heng didn't really believe Shen Lingyi's previous lies.

He needed to verify for himself what their relationship was like after the engagement was called off.

Pei Heng called to her again, "Come here to me."

This time, his tone softened, and he didn't give orders like he had before.

Shen Lingyi then moved gracefully behind him, her face showing reluctance. "Your Majesty has calculated things well. Have you considered that if that arrow had been more accurate, it could have taken my life?"

Pei Heng was speechless; he really hadn't thought about that.

He was convinced that he could protect her.

Pei Heng never does anything he's not confident about. Even if Wei Chengrui were to make a move, or even if Shen Lingyi offended eighty percent of the people in the capital, he was confident he could cover for her. However, he forgot to consider her feelings.

Perhaps this is the downside of being an emperor.

People who are used to looking down on others from a high position often neglect the feelings of those below them.

"It's my fault. How do you want me to make it up to you?"