With her deceased husband as her dowry, would Your Highness dare to marry her?

"I think it would be more appropriate for me to address Your Highness as Prince Jing'an."

Lin Ci was very tactful, but Pei Jinxuan felt a little unhappy and vaguely disappointed. Others would have been eager to get close to her and show her goodwill, but she clearly understood the situation.

"Whatever you want." Pei Jinxuan's tone hardened a bit, without even realizing it himself.

"The chickens are here!"

Zhang Niang's voice preceded her arrival.

Before long, she brought her signature dish into the house.

Golden-brown chicken pieces with skin are served on a plate, accompanied by the original broth for dipping, and a small jar of wine is also provided.

Zhang Niang deftly ladled out a bowl of wine and presented it with both hands.

Pei Jinxuan thanked her and handed the wine to Lin Ci, saying, "This osmanthus wine was brewed by Zhang Niang herself. I loved drinking it when I was a child... And this golden chicken, she makes the best in the world."

Zhang Niang smiled and poured another bowl of wine for Pei Jinxuan, "It's my blessing that you like my cooking. Come on, eat more."

Zhang Niang looked at Pei Jinxuan as if he were her own child, her face beaming with smiles.

Lin Ci observed this and asked softly, "May I ask who Zhang Niang is...?"

"Oh, she's my wet nurse." Pei Jinxuan smiled. "My mother passed away early, and Zhang Niang raised me and treated me like her own son."

Zhang Niang waved her hand, her eyes slightly reddening, "It is His Highness and the Empress Dowager who truly treat me well and have never mistreated this woman."

As she spoke, Zhang Niang seemed to remember something and asked again, "Is His Majesty in good health?"

"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and is naturally blessed by Heaven."

Zhang Niang believed it to be true and put her hands together, saying, "If the Empress Dowager is watching from heaven, she will surely protect His Majesty."

After saying that, she stood up, supporting her back. "I just picked some vegetables, I'll cook a few more. You two chat."

"Thank you for your trouble, Zhang Niang."

Pei Jinxuan smiled, but the smile froze as soon as Zhang Niang left.

He was so worried about the Emperor of Yan that he couldn't eat.

He put down his chopsticks and looked at Lin Ci very seriously, saying, "It's not convenient to talk in the temple, so I brought you here. Tell me the truth, how many days does His Majesty have left?"

Lin Tzu frankly stated, "I barely managed to hold on until the summer solstice."

"Then... is it possible to perform a resurrection technique before the summer solstice?"

"Too late."

Pei Jinxuan's face darkened. "We have to make it in time, otherwise... what's the point of contacting you?"

His amiable and approachable demeanor just moments ago seemed like an illusion at this moment.

Lin Ci recalled Pei Jinxuan's ruthlessness when he ordered the massacre of Zhangjia Village; his kindness these past few days was only because she was useful.

Lin Ci lowered her head and smiled faintly. She knew very well how much she meant to Pei Jinxuan. To stay by Pei Jinxuan's side, she had to make him understand her value. Otherwise, without this backer, how could she revive Song Xuan?

"What if I could delay His Majesty's illness?" Lin Ci stared intently at Pei Jinxuan, his eyes as dark as deep wells, unable to reflect any light.

Pei Jinxuan's heartstrings trembled slightly. He naturally hoped that the Yan Emperor would be free from illness and disaster, and that being alive was better than anything else.

"How long can it drag on?" he couldn't help but ask.

"I need to check His Majesty's daily prescription before making a decision, otherwise you won't believe me even if I tell you."

Lin Ci deliberately kept everyone in suspense.

Pei Jinxuan fell for her act and, after much hesitation, nodded in acquiescence.

Lin Ci breathed a sigh of relief and picked up a piece of golden chicken and put it in her mouth.

In truth, she had no confidence in either the Emperor Yan's illness or the method of bringing him back to life, but given the current situation, she had to stabilize Pei Jinxuan before making any further plans.

Lin Ci ate a bite of chicken and a sip of wine, thinking as he ate.

When her wine bowl was empty, Pei Jinxuan refilled it for her without her noticing.

After finishing their meal at Zhang Niang's house, Pei Jinxuan left some silver and took Lin Ci back to the temple.

Lin Ci was a little full and kept burping the whole way.

Pei Jinxuan would slow down when she heard her hiccup, turn her face slightly to the side, and secretly glance at her.

Lin Ci blushed at his gaze, her eyes darting around as she found a topic of conversation, saying, "Aunt Zhang's cooking is really good; no wonder you love her dishes. By the way, does Aunt Zhang live alone?"

"She has two sons," Pei Jinxuan said, parting the sprawling bamboo leaves to make a path for Lin Ci. "They are both fighting in the war."

As soon as he finished speaking, Pei Jinxuan suddenly stopped. Lin Ci almost bumped into his back. She looked up sharply, and the birds in the forest were startled and fluttered over her head, scattering into the depths of the bamboo forest.

"What's wrong?" Lin Ci asked in confusion, looking ahead to see several more guards standing guard near the temple.

"Go wait for me in the car," Pei Jinxuan said in a deep voice.

Although Lin Ci didn't understand the reason, seeing his serious expression, she didn't ask any further questions. She nodded, went around to the side gate of the temple, and got into the carriage.

Pei Jinxuan turned and walked into the temple gate. As soon as he entered the Buddhist holy land, a chilling aura hit him. In the small backyard, four rows of guards stood neatly, each one tall and burly.

They bowed deeply to Pei Jinxuan, their armor clanging.

Pei Jinxuan took a deep breath and asked, "Who let you in?"

The lead guard cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, I have come to protect you on the orders of Prince Liang."

"Get out." Pei Jinxuan turned his head and glanced at the door. Several young monks were hiding by the door, watching tremblingly.

The head guard, his face cold, said, "This humble general is serving Prince Liang..."

Before he could finish speaking, a short blade was placed against his neck.

Pei Jinxuan gave a slight smirk. "The plum blossoms in the courtyard have mostly fallen; Buddha will surely be displeased. How about offering you as a sacrifice?"

The lead guard dared not move. He remained silent for a moment, then bowed respectfully and gestured for everyone to leave the Buddhist temple.

Pei Jinxuan tucked the dagger back into his waistband, turned and entered the meditation room. As soon as he lifted the curtain and entered, he saw a man standing arrogantly in front of the Yan Emperor.

He was the Prince of Liang, the youngest brother of the late emperor, and the uncle of the Yan Emperor and Pei Jinxuan.

King Liang was in his thirties, with high eyebrows, deep-set eyes, and a prominent nose, giving him a somewhat exotic appearance. Due to years of fighting abroad, he was tall and strong, with broad shoulders and back, and his crimson riding attire with arrow-sleeved sleeves made him look even more dashing.

Upon hearing the sound, the King of Liang turned around and saw Pei Jinxuan. His eyes narrowed slightly, his pupils like the night before darkness, black with a hint of blue.

"Ah, it's Prince Jing'an."

Pei Jinxuan lowered his eyes, suppressing some of his arrogance, and bowed deeply in a seemingly respectful manner, "Greetings, Imperial Uncle."

King Liang remained unmoved.

Pei Jinxuan added, "Uncle, you have such refined tastes, having the leisure to come here to appreciate plum blossoms. If I had known this, I should have gone to your residence to fetch you."

The King of Liang jokingly said, "Good nephew, I'm not old enough for you to come and fetch me. It's just that His Majesty's complexion has been rather poor these past few days. I'm ashamed that I can't share His Majesty's burdens."

Emperor Yan could no longer hide his exhaustion, but he still smiled amiably at King Liang and said, "Uncle, what are you saying? If it weren't for you leading the troops, the Tiele tribe would have already extended their claws."

"Your Majesty, we are family, why speak like strangers?" King Liang raised his chin slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his dark blue eyes. He appeared respectful, but his mind was a complex and scheming place.

The King of Liang's ambition was clearly etched in his eyes, yet the Emperor of Yan was powerless to stop it.

Pei Jinxuan stood like a barrier in front of the Yan Emperor, showing no fear despite being younger than the Liang King.

Seeing that the Emperor Yan's complexion was even worse than before, Pei Jinxuan cupped his hands in a salute and said, "Your Majesty, it's getting late, let's return to the palace."

Emperor Yan nodded and covered his mouth with his sleeve, but he still coughed and accidentally let it leak out.

"Your Majesty, please escort me back to the palace," said King Liang with an air of self-righteousness. "I have found a physician who is the legendary apprentice of the 'Ghost Hand,' capable of miraculous cures. Perhaps he can heal Your Majesty's incurable ailment."

Pei Jinxuan was surprised, but he didn't show it. He smiled and said, "Ghost Hand's disciple? Uncle, may I see him?"