My father ordered me to kill the emperor, but His Majesty bestowed a princess upon me instead.

Putting a living person into a wooden box for funeral clothes and then sending it to the princess's villa doesn't sound like a case investigation.

Like attending a funeral.

It's more like attending a funeral for oneself.

The carriage moved very slowly.

It's not because I'm not in a hurry, it's because the people in the box can't be jostled around.

Ji Qing coughed three times inside the box.

Every time I coughed, Yan Xiaoyi would glance at me.

His eyes were very clear.

The person is dying.

I know he's about to die.

The problem is, there are so many people around me who are about to die, it's almost impossible to tell who's dying faster.

The road from Guiyipu to the Princess's villa wasn't far, but it felt like I'd walked half a lifetime.

When they reached the back alley, Qiu Tang's expression immediately changed upon seeing the wooden box.

"Lord Shen, what is this?"

I said, "Live them."

Qiu Tang glanced at the mark of the funeral clothing shop on the wooden box.

"Using a mortuary to hold living people?"

"smoothly."

Yan Xiaoyi added, "Mainly because it saves trouble."

The way Qiutang looked at us was as if she were looking at two unlucky people.

She didn't let us in right away.

This is normal.

The Princess's Residence is a separate courtyard, not the Censorate Inn.

You can't just stuff people who are about to die into the class.

I whispered, "Ji Qing."

Qiu Tang's face stiffened.

She finally stepped back.

"Come with me."

We entered the courtyard through the back door and walked around to the west wing.

I've been to this place for tea before.

At that time, the princess did not believe me.

She may still not believe me, but more and more of us don't believe me, so we have no choice but to stand together for the time being.

Xiao Lingyi arrived very quickly.

Upon seeing the wooden box, her first words were:

"Whose idea was this?"

I replied, "Your Majesty."

"You hid Ji Qing in the princess's residence?"

"temporary."

"Shen An, do you know what this is called?"

"Hiding a wanted criminal?"

"You seem to know the answer."

Her face was as cold as frost.

I felt a little guilty.

"His Majesty said that only one of Qian Rong and Ji Qing can be saved, and Ji Qing should be saved first."

"His Majesty told you to protect him, not to hide him here with me."

"I have also considered sending him to the Censorate."

"Why not send it?"

"It's too crowded there now."

Qiu Tang coughed beside her.

Xiao Lingyi looked at me.

I had no choice but to tell the truth.

"The Censorate has too many spies, the palace is too bright, and the Imperial Guard is too cold. Sending someone like Ji Qing anywhere would be like sending him into someone else's hands."

"So you delivered it to me?"

"The princess at least wants to know the truth about Aunt Lan."

This made her pause for a moment.

After a moment, she said, "Open the box."

Yan Xiaoyi opened the box lid.

Ji Qing lay inside, his face ashen, his left hand with a severed finger wrapped in cloth, the blood seeping in and turning dark.

Xiao Lingyi took a closer look and frowned.

"Is he still alive?"

"It depends on fate."

She looked at Qiu Tang.

"Go and fetch Granny Qin."

Qiu Tang was taken aback.

"Your Highness, Granny Qin has not looked after outsiders for many years."

Xiao Lingyi said coldly, "Tell her that if she doesn't take a look at the lives of the people in the old laundry department, she doesn't need to say that she owes the Empress Dowager anything in the future."

Qiu Tang went immediately.

Granny Qin arrived faster than I expected.

She was an elderly woman in her sixties with gray hair, but her fingers were very steady.

Upon entering, she didn't ask who Ji Qing was. Instead, she lifted his eyelids, examined his tongue, felt his pulse, and smelled the blood-stained cloth.

"Medicine from Lu's Pharmacy."

A thought struck me.

"Does the old woman recognize you?"

"The old prison of the Ministry of Justice, the wound ward of the Imperial Treasury, and the Lu family's pharmacy all share the same flavor."

This old lady speaks even more eloquently than He Buyi.

She took out silver needles and pricked several acupoints on Ji Qing, and then asked Qiu Tang to brew medicine.

Ji Qing coughed up a mouthful of black blood and finally regained some breath.

Granny Qin said, "It can be suspended for two hours."

I asked, "And what about two hours later?"

"Let's see if he wants to live."

This doesn't sound like a doctor's order.

It sounds like swearing.

Xiao Lingyi said, "Let him wake up."

Granny Qin glanced at her.

"Forcing yourself to stay awake will shorten your lifespan."

"If he doesn't wake up, he won't have any more days left to live tonight."

Granny Qin nodded.

"Too."

She inserted the needle.

Ji Qing jerked violently, her eyes half-open.

My teeth ache just looking at it.

The people from the Princess's residence were no less ruthless than those from the Ministry of Justice.

When Ji Qing saw Xiao Lingyi, his eyes clearly became confused.

He knew her.

Or rather, he recognized the bloodline behind her face.

"Zhao Ning..."

Xiao Lingyi stood in front of the bed, her voice calm.

"You recognize me?"

Ji Qing was panting.

"Like...the Empress..."

The room fell silent.

Xiao Lingyi's expression didn't change, but I saw her hand tighten in her sleeve.

She asked, "Where is Aunt Lan?"

Ji Qing closed his eyes.

"I can't say."

"Is she still alive?"

He did not answer.

Granny Qin said coldly, "If you don't speak now, you really won't be able to speak anymore."

Ji Qing's lips twitched slightly.

"Better dead..."

Xiao Lingyi's eyes turned slightly cold.

"Is it better for you, or for her?"

Ji Qing remained silent.

Just then, low footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Qiu Tang's expression changed slightly as she entered the room.

"Your Highness, Commander Gu has arrived."

My heart sank.

They came so quickly.

Gu Xingzhi couldn't possibly be unaware that Ji Qing was here.

But was his arrival at this time at the emperor's behest, or at the behest of the Imperial Guards themselves?

Xiao Lingyi looked at me.

"You've caused this trouble."

I nodded.

"I acknowledge it."

She turned and walked out.

"Then shut up."

I was taken aback.

That's a very assertive statement.

It's also very unsettling.

Gu Xingzhi stood in the courtyard of the separate residence.

He was still dressed in black, like a shadow that hadn't quite dissipated in the night.

He had only two bodyguards behind him.

It doesn't seem like much.

But those in the inner guard can never count only what they see.

Xiao Lingyi stood under the corridor.

"Commander Gu, what brings you to my residence so late at night?"

Gu Xingzhi bowed.

"By order of His Majesty, search for Ji Qing."

Xiao Lingyi said, "Ji Qing is here in this palace."

She actually admitted it directly.

I almost coughed up.

Gu Xingzhi also fell silent for a moment.

"Your Highness, Ji Qing is a wanted criminal."

"It is also living evidence of the Empress Dowager's old case."

"His Majesty wishes to see him."

"He can't see me now."

Gu Xingzhi looked up.

"Does Your Highness intend to defy the imperial decree?"

Xiao Lingyi looked at him.

"I must protect someone who hasn't finished asking questions yet."

Gu Xingzhi's gaze passed over her and landed on me.

I had no choice but to step forward.

"Commander Gu, Ji Qing is severely poisoned and injured. If we forcibly transfer him, he will surely die on the way."

"The Imperial Medical Academy can save him."

"The Imperial Medical Academy is located in the palace, but not everyone in the palace is from the Imperial Medical Academy."

After he finished speaking, the courtyard became even quieter.

Gu Xingzhi's gaze was like a knife.

I forced myself to continue, "His Majesty said that if only one of Qian Rong and Ji Qing could be saved, Ji Qing should be saved first. I am currently working on saving him."

Gu Xingzhi asked, "Protect her to the princess's residence?"

I said, "In urgent situations, one should act expediently."

"Where did you get this power from?"

I looked at Xiao Lingyi.

Xiao Lingyi said calmly, "Come from my side."

Gu Xingzhi remained silent.

For the first time, I felt that arranged marriage wasn't entirely without its advantages.

Although they are not yet married, when the princess is willing to stand in front of him, she is much more powerful than a seventh-rank censor like myself.

After a moment, Gu Xingzhi said, "I need to confirm that Ji Qing is still alive."

Xiao Lingyi nodded.

"Can."

Gu Xingzhi entered the house.

He glanced at Ji Qing on the bed, then at Granny Qin.

Granny Qin sneered.

"If you keep causing trouble, the person will die."

Gu Xingzhi did not refute.

Ji Qing opened her eyes and smiled when she saw Gu Xing.

"The Imperial Guards... have arrived too..."

Gu Xingzhi approached.

Where did the old Wei-character plaques come from?

Ji Qing's eyes flickered slightly.

I immediately looked at him.

Gu Xingzhi knew exactly what to ask.

Ji Qing shut his mouth.

Gu Xingzhi said coldly, "If you don't speak now, the 'Dead Man's Register' will become a reality after 1-3 PM."

Ji Qing hissed, "Too late."

"What's late?"

"They...already know I'm not dead."

No sooner had the words been spoken than a short bamboo whistle suddenly sounded from outside the courtyard.

Internal security issued a warning.

Gu Xingzhi's expression changed.

"Someone broke into the compound."

Xiao Lingyi's eyes turned cold.

"This is the princess's residence."

Gu Xingzhi drew his sword.

"So they deserve to die even more."

At that moment, I suddenly realized that Gu Xingzhi wasn't entirely unlikeable.

At least when someone broke into the princess's residence, his insults were quite pleasing to the ear.

Granny Qin grabbed Ji Qing and held him down.

"You can fight all you want, I'll keep an eye on things. Anyone who dares to come inside, I'll stab them to death."

I glanced at her.

This old woman was definitely more than just a doctor when she was young.

The sound of a knife rang out from outside the courtyard.

Xiao Lingyi stood at the door, not backing down.

I gripped the short blade hidden in my sleeve and suddenly realized how long the night was.

Those who look alike will never see the dawn.