The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Yun Jin didn't ask any more questions. She quickly changed into a neat set of night clothes and followed Xiao Jingyan out the back window.

The two leaped onto the roof one after the other, silently gliding across several courtyards on the green tiles, and soon arrived at the back alley of the Yun Mansion.

Jin Hu was already waiting there in his unassuming blue-curtained carriage. The two got in, and the carriage sped off along the quiet street.

Seeing Xiao Jingyan's anxious expression, Yun Jin took his hand and whispered, "Can you tell me what happened now?"

Xiao Jingyan squeezed her hand back and sighed, "The Empress Dowager's condition has deteriorated rapidly these past two days, and she fainted twice tonight. The imperial physicians are helpless, saying that the accumulated damage over the years is too great, and she is on the verge of death. They don't even dare to prescribe any medicine, and just tell us to prepare for her funeral."

As he said this, his Adam's apple bobbed as he suppressed his surging emotions. "When I was a child, I was alone in the capital, and everyone else isolated me. She was also angry with my biological father, the king, and didn't pay much attention to me either. But she arranged for someone to protect me. Although she didn't say it, I knew it was her."

Yun Jin looked at him quietly without interrupting, but squeezed his hand tightly.

"I don't want her to die." Xiao Jingyan looked up at her, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. "At least she can't die before we get married."

Yun Jin nodded vigorously: "I will do my best."

Xiao Jingyan took a deep breath, nodded, and then said, "There's one more thing. I brought you here to see the Empress Dowager, and I don't want anyone to know. Your name cannot be recorded in the Imperial Medical Academy's medical records, and the palace historians cannot record your entry into the palace tonight."

Therefore, I can only come at night and leave quietly. When you get there, don't think about anything else, just help me see if the Empress Dowager is truly on her deathbed, or if someone has done something to her."

Yun Jin's heart sank suddenly; he hoped it wouldn't be as he thought.

The carriage stopped outside the wall on the side of the palace. The two got out of the carriage, and Xiao Jingyan explained, "Going in from here leads to the Cold Palace, where there are very few guards."

Yun Li nodded and followed Xiao Jingyan over the wall, dodging the guards, and made her way to Kangning Palace.

A middle-aged nanny bowed to the two as they entered, lowered her voice, and said anxiously, "Your Highness and the Empress Dowager have fainted again just now, and no matter how I try to wake them, I can't. The imperial physicians all say they can't do anything. Princess, Your Highness says you have a way. Please, I beg you, save the Empress Dowager. I kowtow to you..."

As she spoke, she began to kneel on the ground.

Yun Jin quickly reached out to support her, lowering her voice and saying, "No need for such formalities, Granny. I'll go with the Prince to take a look first."

Xiao Jingyan had the old woman stand guard outside the door and led Yun Jin into the Empress Dowager's bedroom.

The Empress Dowager lay on the bed, covered with a thick brocade quilt, her figure so thin that it was almost invisible under the covers.

Her face bore a resemblance to Xiao Jingyan's, except that she had more wrinkles etched by time.

Xiao Jingyan glanced at Yun Jin, who nodded and sat down on the edge of the couch, gently placing her fingers on the Empress Dowager's wrist.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she withdrew her hand, looked up at Xiao Jingyan, and carefully spoke:

"Ayan, the Empress Dowager's condition is indeed as you thought. Someone must have tampered with her food. It was a slow-acting poison that she had been taking for a long time. The dosage was extremely small, but it gradually depleted her vital energy, which is why she is showing signs of exhaustion."

Xiao Jingyan's face turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "It must be him!"

Yun Jin guessed who he was talking about, but neither of them said it aloud.

The rift between the emperor and the empress dowager began when the crown prince was appointed. In recent years, the empress dowager has stayed at home, eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures, partly because she was disheartened and partly to avoid trouble and protect herself.

Even so, that person still refused to let her die peacefully.

Xiao Jingyan composed himself and looked at Yun Jin, asking, "Do you have any ideas?"

Yun Jin sighed and said, "I will try my best. But there are two things that must be done. First, if the Empress Dowager recovers, she must continue to feign illness and not let anyone see that she has recovered. If the person who poisoned her finds out that she has recovered, they will only become more ruthless."

Secondly, all the palace servants responsible for the Empress Dowager's food must be thoroughly vetted. If poison could be smuggled into the Empress Dowager's food year after year without being detected, there must be a traitor within her ranks.

Xiao Jingyan nodded and said, "Okay, later you can help me see who has a problem."

Yun Jin nodded, then took a bottle of spatial spring water from her bosom and fed it to the Empress Dowager.

After feeding the Empress Dowager with spring water, Yun Jin took out silver needles and applied them to several key acupoints.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Empress Dowager's eyelids suddenly twitched, her lips moved slightly, and she let out a very soft and delicate groan.

Xiao Jingyan quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Grandmother, Grandmother, you're awake?"

The Empress Dowager slowly opened her eyes, and it took her a long time to see that it was Xiao Jingyan in front of her. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something.

Then her gaze passed over Xiao Jingyan and landed on Yun Jin. After a long pause, she suddenly spoke, tentatively asking, "You are... Princess Ninghai?"

Yun Jin was slightly taken aback, then respectfully bowed and said, "Your Majesty, it is indeed your humble servant."

The Empress Dowager stared at her for a long while, then suddenly snorted, "You are not worthy of Ayan."

Xiao Jingyan's expression changed, and he was about to speak when Yun Jin smiled first: "The Empress Dowager is right. This humble woman also feels that she is not worthy of Ayan."

The Empress Dowager hadn't expected this reaction and didn't know how to respond. After a long while, she finally uttered a few words: "At least you have some self-awareness."

Xiao Jingyan stepped forward and took Yun Jin's hand, defending her, "Grandmother, Jin'er is very good. If anyone is unworthy, it is I who am unworthy of Jin'er."

The Empress Dowager looked at his protective attitude and then at Yun Jin's composed demeanor, snorted, and said nothing more.

She shifted her gaze to the canopy above her head, lost in thought.

After a while, just when both of them thought she wouldn't speak, she suddenly asked, "Did you save me?"

Yun Jin was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and said, "Your Majesty, I did nothing wrong. It is Your Majesty who is blessed with good fortune."

The Empress Dowager gently shook her head: "There's no need to comfort me. I know my own body well. If it weren't for your intervention, I'd probably be meeting the late Emperor tonight."

After she finished speaking, she turned her gaze to Xiao Jingyan, remained silent for a long while, and then asked, "Ayan, tell your grandmother, did he do it?"

Xiao Jingyan hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded and squeezed out a single word: "Yes."

The Empress Dowager showed no surprise or anger, only a long sigh: "I have been living a secluded life, not even leaving the palace gates. What else could he possibly worry about? What more does he want? Does he have to die before he can sleep peacefully?"

Xiao Jingyan stepped forward and took her hand, comforting her, "Grandmother, you will be alright. Jin'er is a very skilled doctor; she will definitely be able to cure you."

The Empress Dowager slowly shook her head: "I've always known what he's worried about. Ayan, move your grandmother to the bed. There's something in the hidden compartment under her bed. Take it out."