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

Pei Heng was seriously injured, but he could not make it public.

The assassination of an emperor is never a trivial matter. Since the assassin has already been captured, we won't publicize it too much to avoid unrest.

Inside the tent, the imperial physician looked at the numerous knife wounds covering his body and sighed.

I've sighed more than once since just now.

"Your Majesty," the imperial physician said helplessly, "you should at least consider your own health, otherwise it will be very difficult for this old minister to treat you."

Looking at the dense scars, Shen Lingyi realized how dangerous it had been, especially since one wound had almost pierced Pei Heng's chest. It was as if he had walked through the gates of hell.

Shen Lingyi asked, "Shall I help you apply this medicine?"

The imperial physician was startled and instinctively looked at Pei Heng.

Seeing that the latter did not resist much, he suddenly understood something and secretly elevated Shen Lingyi's status, who frequently entered and left the Emperor's tent, to an even higher level.

This woman is extraordinary.

"it is good."

Pei Heng had no objections, so the imperial physician naturally didn't mind granting Shen Lingyi's request. He gave her the ointment directly and even gave her instructions on how to use it.

After everyone left, Pei Heng spoke up: "You sent my imperial physician away. If he can't cure the illness, I'll have no choice but to hold you accountable."

Shen Lingyi opened the ointment and smelled it; it had a very light medicinal scent. She said, "Your Majesty, please don't scare me. Be careful, or my hands might really shake."

The man had his back to her, and his fair back was covered with scars, both new and old, a shocking sight.

Shen Lingyi originally just wanted to show off in front of him, but this time she was genuinely frowning.

"Does it hurt?"

Pei Heng was slightly taken aback, his expression softening considerably, the faint chill that had been present since the attack vanished: "You are the first person to ask me if it hurts."

Shen Lingyi thought there would be more to the story, but there was nothing more. She couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty knows me inside and out, but I feel like I don't know Your Majesty at all."

Pei Heng retorted, "You want to understand me?"

"Of course I want to." She gently rubbed her fingers in circles, spreading a blob of ointment. The pale green ointment felt cool and refreshing when applied.

The burning sensation on the fingertips was unbearable for anyone, especially with the full moon approaching.

My hand slid down his chest to the contours of his body. Pei Heng's lower abdomen had only a thin layer of muscle, and it was the cleanest and tidiest part of his body, without a single wound.

Pei Heng acted with lightning speed, grabbing her hand in a lightning-fast grab, and said in a hoarse voice, "What are you doing?"

A sense of danger was palpable in the air.

Shen Lingyi blinked innocently: "I'm applying medicine to His Majesty."

Pei Heng chuckled: "I knew you wouldn't behave. We don't need you here. Go somewhere else."

Every time the Gu poison was about to take effect, Pei Heng would always be on high alert. After this happened many times, Shen Lingyi had a better understanding of his thoughts. She knew that once she was poisoned by Gu, she would lose control of herself, and with his level of self-control, he must have hated her.

So she knew when to stop, smiling like a butterfly flitting through a flowerbed, without a single petal clinging to her.

Pei Heng looked at her, his eyes unconsciously deepening.

At first, he thought Shen Lingyi was approaching him with ulterior motives, but later he realized that she genuinely admired him...

It is normal for an emperor to be revered; countless women secretly admire him.

However, after accidentally witnessing Shen Lingyi and Wei Chengrui interacting privately a few times, he suddenly became insecure. In terms of age, even Xu Yanqing had an advantage over him, and in terms of feelings, Wei Chengrui and she were childhood sweethearts.

Shen Lingyi didn't stay in the tent for long. After applying the medicine to Pei Heng, she went out, knowing that he had other things to take care of.

Although her parents didn't know what was happening outside, they would worry if she didn't come back for a long time.

"Your Majesty, everyone has left, why are you still looking?" Fuquan said quietly as he walked in.

Pei Heng twirled a hairpin in his hand; it was none other than the one Shen Lingyi had dropped: "I remember, her horse was injured. Have the imperial physician take a look."

Fuquan hesitated: "...I'm afraid the imperial physician won't agree."

Treating a person is one thing, but what's the point of treating a horse?

Pei Heng put away the hairpin, having already decided to give Shen Lingyi something. Upon hearing this, he was extremely indifferent: "Then what are they for?"

When Shen Lingyi went to check on Zhuxing, she found that its wounds had been mostly treated and asked in surprise, "Who called the imperial physician?"

Peony: "It seems to be His Majesty."

Shen Lingyi was taken aback: "You saw it?"

Peony nodded, indicating that she had seen it by chance when she came out just now, and she didn't tell Shen Lingyi because she wanted to give her a surprise.

"puff!"

Zhu Xing snorted, its hooves already bandaged, and the whole horse perked up at the sight of Shen Lingyi.

Even the palace servants in charge of taking care of the horse couldn't help but say, "Before the Second Miss arrived, the horse was listless and we couldn't coax it no matter what we did, even giving it food didn't work. But as soon as the Second Miss arrived, it was fine."

Shen Lingyi stroked Zhuxing's fur affectionately: "It's always been smart."

This scene came into the view of Jing Yuyan, who was not far away.

Seeing the man and horse getting along so harmoniously, she couldn't help but sneer and said to the maid, "Let's go."

Pei Heng did not publicize the assassin's actions, but more than one person sensed the unusual atmosphere; the intuition of officials and aristocratic families is always so keen.

The women all stayed indoors and didn't go out.

Jiang also instructed Shen Lingyi: "Don't go out at night, stay in the tent."

As she said this, her expression was somewhat complicated. Compared to others, Madam Jiang knew more, such as the fact that Shen Lingyi had gone out with Pei Heng.

She is no longer easily misled by Shen Lingyi's words.

Jiang had a vague idea about the relationship between Pei Heng and her daughter.

Shen Lingyi feigned ignorance: "Mother, we can leave tomorrow, right?"

"Yes."

Jiang sighed.

The hunt didn't last long, but so much happened. The general's mansion, which she usually didn't find anything special, suddenly became attractive. It was the first time she had ever wanted to go back so much.

Shen Lingyi looked slightly disappointed and said, "We didn't hunt anything this time. I'm afraid we'll have to come out again next year."

Mrs. Jiang comforted her for a few words, and the mother and daughter chatted intimately for a while before going to rest.

The next day, everyone packed their belongings.

Everything was loaded onto the carriage. Compared to what they brought, they left with even more things, especially the animal hides and fresh game carried by the palace servants.

Shen Su also obtained a tiger skin and said he would go back and make a tiger fur blanket for Shen Lingyi.

Thinking about returning to the capital soon, Shen Lingyi felt relaxed and curious about why Pei Heng had mentioned Qing Le wanted to see her.

"Miss, something terrible has happened!"

Peony rushed in in a panic.

Seeing her expression, Shen Lingyi's heart skipped a beat; a bad feeling washed over her. She still asked, "What happened?"

"Miss, Chasing Star..." Peony opened her mouth, her eyes darting away, and it was incredibly difficult for her to utter those two words, "...dead."