With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

On the way back to the Prince's Mansion, Shen Nannan kept thinking about Xiao Yunheng.

Xiao Yunzhao noticed her distraction and paused his hand on her lower abdomen. "Is Madam thinking about another man?"

Shen Nannan snapped out of her daze and looked up to meet his slightly jealous, yet inexplicably overflowing, expression. "What time is it? Why are you still so jealous?"

"It doesn't matter when." Xiao Yunzhao hugged her tighter. "Xiao Yunheng used to want to marry you."

Shen Nannan tapped his chest helplessly, "Isn't this all in the past?"

"But you almost married him!" Xiao Yunzhao pulled her closer to him, clearly recalling that incident and feeling extremely unhappy.

Even though he knew it was a fake marriage, he was still almost driven crazy. Now that a long time has passed and Shen Nannan has become his rightful wife, he has not forgotten her at all.

Shen Nannan reached out and pinched his cheek. The man was dressed in black, and his cold eyes made people afraid to approach him. However, he did not dodge when she pinched him like that. "Xiao Yunheng is neither like the Crown Prince nor the Sixth Prince. He knew from a young age that he would not live long, so he dared to trade anything."

"Including the marriage?" Xiao Yunzhao's eyes grew even colder.

Shen Nannan sighed helplessly, "Including his status as a prince, his reputation in the court, and his own life."

She steered the conversation back on track, saying, "If the Third Prince wasn't lying to us, such a person could indeed be the one that neither the Empress Dowager nor the Empress had taken into account."

Xiao Yunzhao looked down at her, "Madam understands him very well."

"Xiao Yunzhao!" Shen Nannan reached into his clothes and pinched him lightly on his...

The man shuddered, finally dropping the subject of his words. "Madam pinched me too hard."

"I didn't use any force at all."

"It hurts~"

He took her hand and pressed it against his chest. "Pinch me when we get back, madam. Pinch me as much as you want."

Shen Nannan knew he was doing it on purpose, and seeing that the gloom in his eyes had finally dissipated, she didn't pull her hand back. "Let's get down to business first."

"Um."

Do you believe Xiao Yunting?

"I don't believe it," Xiao Yunzhao answered without hesitation. "But the path he provided is real."

Since Xiao Yunting could recount the details of the fire back then, he wouldn't lie to him about that old road. Besides, he wanted to find a way out for Consort Yu.

Xiao Yunting will not let Xiao Yunzhao die before he sees Consort Yu.

"What about the Third Prince?"

"I don't believe it either," Xiao Yunzhao said calmly. "But he has a grudge against the Empress. Sometimes, grudges are more reliable than trust."

When the carriage stopped at the back gate of the Prince's Mansion, it was already past midnight. Mo Bai got out of the carriage first.

Xiao Yunzhao carried Shen Nannan back to the dormitory and asked Qiu Yun to prepare hot water and a midnight snack.

Shen Nannan originally had no appetite, but Xiao Yunzhao watched her finish half a bowl of chicken porridge before she was willing to take out the paper that Xiao Yunting had given her again.

The paper only contained Xiao Yunheng's name and a very small address.

It wasn't the Third Prince's palace, but the Cold Fragrance Pavilion, which had been abandoned for many years. "There's an exit on the old road near the Cold Fragrance Pavilion," Xiao Yunzhao said. "Since Xiao Yunting wrote this place down, he must have already arranged for someone to meet him for us."

"You want to go in?" Shen Nannan frowned.

"It wasn't me."

Xiao Yunzhao folded the paper carefully. "Xiao Yunheng is currently living in the palace. If I go to see him now, it will only implicate him."

He picked up his pen and wrote a very short note.

Shen Nannan sat down beside her and saw that there was only one sentence on it: "If you want to live, stop drinking the medicine sent by the Empress from tonight onwards."

Xiao Yunheng was not asked for help.

He was not told about the Empress Dowager's edict.

Xiao Yunzhao simply gave him a choice.

If Xiao Yunheng is still willing to remain the sickly and harmless Third Prince, then we can pretend we saw nothing.

If he is unwilling, Xiao Yunting's men will naturally deliver the next item to him.

"Are you sure he'll believe it?" Shen Nannan asked.

"He had already begun to suspect it."

Xiao Yunzhao blew the ink off the paper. "Someone who has been taking medicine since childhood wouldn't be unaware of whether the taste of the medicine has changed or not."

Xiao Yunheng simply lacked evidence.

He also failed to find an opportunity to avenge his mother.

Now, the opportunity has arrived.

When the note was delivered to the palace, the lights in the Third Prince's bedroom had just been turned off.

The room was filled with a strong smell of medicine.

Xiao Yunheng leaned against the headboard, one hand holding a handkerchief, suppressing one cough after another.

With each cough, his face paled a little more.

When the handkerchief was removed, a dark red patch was visible on it.

The imperial physician standing by the bedside shook his head, "His Highness's pulse is becoming increasingly weak today. If he continues to cough like this, I'm afraid..."

The imperial physician didn't finish his sentence.

Xiao Yunheng understood; it was simply a matter of not surviving tonight or not living to see the winter of this year.

He had heard such words countless times since he could remember.

Everyone says he's unlucky. They say that he's already lucky to have lived this long.

"How much longer do I have?" Xiao Yunheng leaned against the soft pillows, his voice very soft.

The imperial physician dared not speak frankly, but said, "Your Highness, please rest and take your medicine on time; there may still be a chance for improvement."

"Take your medicine on time." Xiao Yunheng lowered his eyes, and the corners of his lips seemed to curve slightly.

He has been taking medicine for over twenty years. If those medicines were truly effective, how could he have become weaker year by year?

Footsteps could be heard outside the palace gate.

Zhou, the aunt who served the Empress, entered with a group of people, carrying a medicine cup. "Her Majesty the Empress heard that the Third Prince coughed up blood again today, so she specially ordered a fresh dose of medicine to be prepared. Her Majesty said that His Highness's health is of utmost importance, and even if it is bitter, he must drink it while it is hot."

Xiao Yunheng looked at the medicine cup.

The dark, pungent herbal decoction emitted a familiar bitter smell.

Aunt Zhou has been giving them gifts for many years.

Sometimes the empress bestowed it herself, and sometimes it was delivered by the imperial physician.

He used to think it was just because his body was too weak.

Until six months ago, he accidentally spilled some medicine.

The medicine dripped into the orchid that was blooming beautifully by the window.

Within three days, the orchid's roots rotted.

From that time on, he stopped actually taking the medicine.

Even if the medication is stopped, this body, having suffered for so many years, cannot recover immediately.

He still coughs up blood and still feels cold.

It's just that it won't be like before, where even opening my eyes felt like a struggle.

"Third Prince?" Seeing that he didn't move, Aunt Zhou pushed the medicine forward a little more.

Xiao Yunheng took the medicine cup, lowered his eyes and took a sip, the bitter taste spreading on his tongue.

Aunt Zhou kept watching him until he finished the whole bowl of medicine, then smiled with satisfaction. "Your Highness, please rest early after drinking your medicine. Her Majesty the Empress will come to see you again tomorrow."

"Please convey my gratitude to the Empress Dowager on my behalf, Aunt." Xiao Yunheng handed the empty medicine cup back.

Aunt Zhou glanced at the blood-stained handkerchief again, confirming that his illness had indeed worsened, before leaving with the imperial physician.

The palace gates were closed.

The weakness on Xiao Yunheng's face did not disappear immediately.

He waited quietly for a long time.

Only after the footsteps outside had completely faded away did he turn to the side and spit all the medicine he had been holding in his mouth into an inconspicuous copper pot beside the bed.

The personal attendant, Changqing, immediately handed over some water.

Xiao Yunheng rinsed his mouth before looking at the bronze kettle.

The medicine had been accumulating in the pot for several days, and "the smell was stronger today than in the past few days."

Changqing's face was grim.

"Does the Empress not want His Highness to live past tonight?"

"Prince Zhao led his troops out of the city today, and the Crown Prince will make his move soon."

Xiao Yunheng leaned back against the headboard, his fingertips wiping away the trace of blood that remained on his lips.

"They didn't want another prince to live in the palace."

Even though he was so sickly that he never participated in politics.

Even though everyone thought he wouldn't live much longer.

As long as his surname is Xiao, he is a threat in the eyes of the Empress.

Suddenly, three soft knocks sounded outside the window.

Changqing gripped the dagger at his waist warily.

When the window was opened, it wasn't an assassin who entered.

They are people close to Xiao Yunting.

The visitor didn't say much, but simply handed over Xiao Yunzhao's note.

After reading it, Xiao Yunheng showed little surprise.

"He indeed did not leave the capital."