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The sudden illness of the Crown Prince caused chaos, and no one was more panicked than Consort Lan Yu. Her marriage into the royal family had been arranged as a desperate attempt to bring good fortune and heal the prince's condition.

But for the Crown Prince to fall ill so soon after the wedding ceremony...

Was this not a sign of bad luck?

Without hesitation, she tore off her bridal veil, rushed over in just a few quick strides, and called out to the Crown Prince. The prince was quickly carried into the inner chambers.

The imperial physicians arrived shortly to attend to him.

The Emperor, Empress, and everyone else stood silently, waiting anxiously.

Su Li observed the crowd in the hall. Everyone appeared as though the sky was about to collapse on them.

But upon closer inspection, some eyes gleamed with hidden excitement, others showed indifference, while a few genuinely reflected worry.

After nearly half an hour passed, the Emperor grew impatient and ordered someone to summon the physicians for an update.

The chief physician entered, his face pale with despair. "Your Majesty, please forgive me! This lowly servant is powerless!"

He fell to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

The Empress slumped back into her seat, her face drained of color. She muttered in disbelief, "How could this happen? My son was smiling at me just moments ago!"

The Emperor spoke sternly, "How is this possible? The Crown Prince consumed theShenggu Flower—why has this happened?"

The physician replied, "Your Majesty, after careful examination, we have determined that His Highness has been poisoned."

The Empress immediately shot up, pointing accusingly toward the envoy from Beiyan.

"You! You poisoned theShenggu Flower! Princess Wan Yan Xue, I demand you pay with your life!"

Wan Yan Xue stood up defiantly. "I did no such thing! Do not slander me with baseless accusations!"

The Chancellor of Beiyan also rose to his feet. "Our nation has always acted honorably. We offered the medicine in goodwill, yet you accuse our princess unjustly. Do not think Beiyan can be bullied so easily!"

The physician hastily interjected, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, you misunderstand. The issue does not lie with theShenggu Flower. This poison is slow-acting—it has been coursing through His Highness's body for at least half a year. It cannot be detected until it manifests, and by then, it is often too late."

The Beiyan Chancellor roared furiously, "Now what do you have to say?! We only arrived in Tianqi recently!"

Though deeply troubled by the Crown Prince's condition, the Emperor recognized the Empress's rashness and turned to address the Beiyan delegation. "Princess, Chancellor, the Empress acted out of desperation. Empress, apologize to Princess Wan Yan Xue."

Falsely accusing someone of poisoning the Crown Prince could easily spark a war if mishandled.

But the Empress, overwhelmed by grief and the physician's grim prognosis—"It is already too late"—could hardly hear the Emperor's words. Her gaze swept across the palace women with suspicion burning in her eyes.

Who dared harm her beloved son!

The Crown Prince had long been frail due to illness, and now this... Such cruelty deserved nothing less than death!

Wan Yan Xue waved dismissively. "Let us overlook this misunderstanding, Your Majesty. The Empress's reaction is understandable given the circumstances."

The Emperor praised her magnanimity immediately.

Su Li glanced toward Wan Yan Xue.

This woman truly inspired admiration from the depths of one's heart.

The Emperor glared at the trembling physicians, his voice filled with rage. "Useless fools! What good are you if you cannot even save my son, the Crown Prince?"

"If you cannot find a cure, then prepare yourselves to follow him into the afterlife!"

The group of physicians knelt in the center of the hall, trembling like leaves in the wind.

At that moment, a palace attendant rushed in.

"Your Majesty! Terrible news! The Crown Prince seems to be nearing the end!"

The Emperor sprang to his feet and strode toward the door.

Su Li, who had been watching the distraught Empress with concern, suddenly saw Jun Mo approach her.

"Please save the Crown Prince! Name any condition, and I will grant it, whatever it may be!"

Everyone present froze in shock.

Is Prince Jing losing his mind? Could he be overwhelmed with grief?

Why would he turn to Miss Su for help?

Even if Miss Su were vastly different from the rumors, medicine was not something learned overnight. And this was the Crown Prince they were talking about!

If the imperial physicians couldn't save him, how could she possibly succeed? Should the worst happen, the entire family would pay with their heads.

Su Li herself was taken aback. Wasn't Jun Mo placing her in an impossible situation?

As if sensing her hesitation, Jun Mo reassured her. "There is no time to waste. I know I am asking much, but I assure you—even if you fail, Father and Mother will hold no grudge against you."

Looking into his anxious eyes, Su Li realized how deeply he cared for the Crown Prince.

She nodded. "Very well."

Not only could she not refuse his plea, but for the sake of her alliance with the Empress, she felt compelled to try.

Just as the Emperor was about to exit the hall, he turned back. "Mo'er, does Miss Su possess medical skills?"

"She does! I've seen her save lives myself. Her skill surpasses anyone I've ever known!"

Jun Hui stepped forward to intervene. "Seventh Brother, don't act rashly out of desperation. How old is Miss Su? Even the imperial physicians are helpless. What makes you think she can succeed?"

Jun Mo countered, "At this critical moment, should we simply stand by and watch our brother...?"

Lord Su, finally snapping out of his daze, hurried forward from the crowd.

"Your Majesty, reconsider! My daughter's knowledge of medicine is entirely self-taught. She must not treat the Crown Prince!"

This statement gave the Emperor pause.

At that moment, another frantic cry echoed through the hall. "Help! The Crown Prince is vomiting blood! Someone, please hurry..."

The Empress stood abruptly and addressed Su Li. "Child, tell me honestly—how skilled are you in medicine?"

Su Li responded confidently. "Better than the Chief Physician of the Imperial Medical Institute."

Her tone left no room for doubt; she wasn't exaggerating in the slightest.

The physicians exchanged skeptical glances but remained silent, unwilling to speak up at such a precarious moment.

They were secretly relieved to pass this scorching responsibility onto someone else.

Inwardly, they sneered:Young and reckless, indeed. If she fails to save the Crown Prince, she'll lose her life along with him—and regret won't come until it's far too late.

A flicker of hope lit up in the Empress's eyes.

Turning to the Emperor, she urged, "Your Majesty, let Miss Su try! Perhaps there is still hope for our son!"

Consort Yun stepped forward to object. "Your Majesty, please reconsider! Miss Su is only fourteen years old. No matter how skilled she might be, can she truly surpass the imperial physicians?"

The Emperor looked toward Jun Mo, who gave him a firm nod.

With a deep sigh, the Emperor declared solemnly, "Miss Su, do your best to treat the Crown Prince. Even if... I promise you shall bear no blame!"

Lord Su tried once more to stop her, but Su Li met his gaze and said calmly, "Father, allow me to try. The Emperor and Empress have assured me of their forgiveness. Please do not worry."

Lord Su fretted so much that blisters almost formed at the corners of his mouth. This foolish child! The Emperor and Empress's promises were merely to get her to agree. If she failed and the Crown Prince perished, though she might not face public punishment, they could easily eliminate her under any pretext.

Yet he could not explain these dangers directly to his daughter.

Su Li turned to face the Emperor. "Your Majesty, I swear I will do everything in my power to save His Highness!"