“Not yet.”

Chu Baihan’s tone was cold as she responded.

A sinking feeling gripped Wei Jia’s heart.

The Princess Consort’s displeasure…seemed to have something to do with the Prince.

At that moment, an apprentice from Qianling Pavilion walked in from outside.

“Princess Consort, there is a letter from the Chu Family,” he said in a hushed voice.

Everyone at Qianling Pavilion knew her real identity and were accustomed to addressing her as Princess Consort.

The Chu Family?

That’s right, Chu You was soon to marry Su Yuan; surely, the Jiang family could not sit still.

Which meant Nan Xing could soon be rescued.

“Ruolan, let’s go,” Chu Baihan nodded at Ruolan.

“Princess Consort, your health…” Ruolan knew what Chu Baihan was about to do and was worried about her health.

“It’s nothing, saving Nan Xing is what’s important,” Chu Baihan said firmly.

Confused, Wei Jia could not help but ask, “Princess Consort, what’s wrong?”

“This matter does not require Doctor Wei’s concern.

You should return to the residence first,” Chu Baihan said before briskly walking away.

What is going on?

After hesitating for a moment, Wei Jia decided to hurry back to the Prince Residence to report the matter.

On the other side, as Chu Baihan and Ruolan stepped out, a servant from the Chu Residence spoke up, “Princess Consort Yan Lin, the Madam and the Second Young Mistress have been waiting for you.

Please get into the carriage first.”

From his tone, it seemed like Madam Jiang wasn’t arranging to meet her at the Chu Residence.

Could it be…dangerous?

A flicker of concern crossed Chu Baihan’s heart.

She looked up back towards Qianling Pavilion.

Seeing Feng Le there, she hurriedly conveyed with her lips, “If I don’t come back after a long time, go find someone at Prince Yan Lin’s Residence, or seek out Uncle Tang.”

Feng Le knew where Uncle Tang was.

After giving her instructions, Chu Baihan then turned and got into the carriage.

The carriage swayed along the road, and when they passed through the bustling area, the voices of the commoners outside could be heard.

Apart from the cries of the vendors, there were also the gossipy murmurings of the people.

“Have you heard?

His Majesty issued another decree today, bestowing another marriage on Prince Yan Lin.”

This sentence entered the carriage, making both Chu Baihan and Ruolan’s expressions change.

A bestowed marriage?

What exactly is going on?

Chu Baihan clenched her skirt.

Before she could think clearly, another voice outside made its way in.

“Doesn’t Prince Yan Lin already have a Princess Consort?”

“Shh, I heard that the Princess Consort was brought in from the countryside of Jiangnan.

Despite being a legitimate daughter, she definitely can’t compare with a true born legitimate daughter.”

“See, His Majesty has now bestowed a concubine on Prince Yan Lin.

This one is also a legitimate daughter; guess which family’s daughter she is?”

“Which legitimate daughter would be willing to be a concubine…”

Everyone else’s curiosity was piqued.

Who would be willing to marry a powerless Prince who is blind and become a concubine?

“You may not believe this.

It’s the legitimate daughter from the Liu Family, Miss Liu!”

Chu Baihan forcefully tore her handkerchief apart with a “rip.”

“Pri-, Princess Consort, are you alright?” Ruolan was terrified and asked with concern.

Chu Baihan’s expression remained placid, so much so that Ruolan couldn’t discern even the slightest bit of abnormality.

She spoke softly, “It’s nothing.

I just used a bit too much force just now, which probably frightened you.”

“P-Princess Consort, you shouldn’t pay attention to what those people say.

Before, the Emperor has also granted concubines to the Prince, but the Prince has always refused them.

It must be the same this time.”

Ruolan kept comforting Chu Baihan.

But Chu Baihan let out a cold laugh, “Those women were rejected because the Prince didn’t love them.

What if he happens to fancy Liu Shuxin?”

Ruolan’s small face crumpled; she felt sorry for the Princess Consort but didn’t know what to do.

“But isn’t Miss Liu the predetermined Crown Princess Consort?”

“Alas, they say Miss Liu has her heart set on Prince Yan Lin and has cried and begged Grand Tutor Liu to ask the Emperor for a marriage decree.”

“Sigh, you say such an outstanding woman as Miss Liu, why wouldn’t she choose any other Prince, but insists on becoming a concubine to Prince Yan Lin.”

“It might not necessarily be as a concubine, that Princess Consort of Yan Lin may seem useless, but anyone with a mind would choose Miss Liu.

I reckon it won’t be long before the Prince will divorce the lady from the Chu family and elevate Miss Liu to the main wife.”

Many among the common folk agreed with this viewpoint.

After that, whatever else those people slandered, Chu Baihan couldn’t hear anymore because the carriage had moved far away, and she didn’t wish to hear any more of those words.

The atmosphere inside the carriage remained oppressive, and in this manner, they arrived in front of a temple.

Seeing it was a temple, Ruolan breathed a sigh of relief: “This is a buddhist sacred land, they shouldn’t dare to do anything.”

Is that so?

Chu Baihan frowned, the wariness within her heart still unabated.

Together with Ruolan, she walked slowly into the temple.

Inside the temple, there were a few young monks.

Seeing people around made Ruolan breathe another sigh of relief.

Chu Baihan still remained silent, scrutinizing her surroundings.

“Amitabha, is the visitor the Princess Consort of Prince Yan Lin?

Master Jiang has been waiting for you,” one of the monks approached.

“Okay.”

Chu Baihan nodded to the monk, but her eyes quickly turned cold.

Because as the monk was guiding her, she noticed calluses on the palm of his hand.

She had also seen such calluses on the hands of Yan Lin.

Those were from years of wielding a sword!

How could a guard be wielding a sword for so many years?

Her heart began to tighten.

But since she had already arrived here, she probably couldn’t escape even if she wanted to; she could only press forward.

They reached the door of a room and pushed it open.

The Jiangs and Chu You were present.

A woman about the same age as Chu Baihan, with big watery eyes, was Nan Xing.

Nan Xing had become much thinner, indicating she hadn’t been treated well at the Chu Residence.

“Wu wu wu…” Her arms and legs bound, and her mouth stuffed with cloth, Nan Xing shook her head urgently, as if trying to convey a message to Chu Baihan.

“Release Nan Xing.

I will go with you to the Su Residence to treat Su Yuan right now,” Chu Baihan said coldly.

“There’s no need to rush since there are still a few days until the wedding.

We have a few days to think of a solution…”

Madam Jiang suddenly gave Chu Baihan a tender smile.

Seeing her like this, not just Chu Baihan’s alarm bells were set off, even Ruolan started to feel something was amiss.

But Chu Baihan couldn’t afford to worry about so much anymore; she wanted to rescue Nan Xing!

“Youyou, let this servant go,” Madam Jiang continued to speak.

Chu You promptly pushed Nan Xing over towards them.

No sooner had Chu Baihan unbound Nan Xing, than Nan Xing pulled her and Ruolan to run outside quickly.

After taking the cloth out of her mouth, Nan Xing urgently said, “Miss, they’re up to no good.

A servant has seen a person named Liu Shuxin come to see them.

They planned to hurt you.”

What?

Liu Shuxin had visited them?

Chu Baihan’s expression grew somber; indeed, her worries had come true.

The three of them quickly got on the carriage, with Ruolan taking the reins.

But not long after they started on their way, suddenly a group of people clad in black dropped from the sky and surrounded them.

“Ruolan, Nan Xing, you two escape,” Chu Baihan tried to push them out.

But the aggressors appeared ferocious, and they didn’t have the chance to escape.