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Proactively reporting is more credible than reporting passively.

The Emperor was about to summon Lu Zhaoyan when he saw him arrive on his own, he asked, "Lu Aiqing, how is the Crown Prince’s marriage proceeding?"

Lu Zhaoyan stepped forward to bow and pay respects, "Repaying to Your Majesty, this humble official has observed the night sky over the past few days, and found that the Sirius star is aligning with the East Palace. Today’s assassination attempt on the Crown Prince also indicates that His Highness should not take a Crown Princess. "

The Emperor furrowed his brows at this, "Then when can he marry a Crown Princess?"

Lu Zhaoyan bowed his head slightly, "Repaying to Your Majesty, after calculating, it would be most suitable for the Crown Prince to marry a year from now."

The Emperor’s eyes darkened; could Princess Xueyan wait a year?

A year is neither too long nor too short.

After Lu Zhaoyan had left, the Emperor went to Fengyi Palace.

The Empress had just returned from visiting the Crown Prince and ran into the Emperor.

Thinking about what happened last night, the Empress was so angry she was itching to bite.

The damned Emperor, who clearly despised her, was hugging and nibbling on her last night.

"Why has the Emperor come?"

The Emperor let out a sigh, "Lu Aiqing just came to the Imperial Study Room and has left."

The Empress pursued, "What did Lu Aiqing say?"

The Emperor said, "Lu Aiqing observed the stars at night, with Sirius aligning with the East Palace, saying that the Crown Prince should not marry a Crown Princess; today’s assassination attempt on the Crown Prince is related to this."

The Empress showed concern, "This consort just visited the Crown Prince, his injuries are quite serious, and the hidden weapon was extremely poisonous. If not for the timely rescue, his life would have been in great danger."

The Emperor: "It looks like we really can’t take a Crown Princess for now, we have to wait for a year."

The Empress pondered for a moment, "Then this consort will go talk to Princess Xueyan."

The Emperor nodded, "Hmm."

Princess Xueyan’s complexion looked somewhat unpleasant after hearing the Empress’s words.

"Empress Niangniang, if what Lu Daren says is true, then don’t I have to wait a year?"

A year, and the autumn flowers will have faded.

With a somber tone, the Empress said, "This palace’s idea is that you first enter the East Palace as a side consort to the Crown Prince; it is the best plan for now."

Princess Xueyan hesitated; she was after all a noble princess, and a concubine was not what she wanted.

But she also could not bear the thought of not marrying Xiao Jinyan.

After much deliberation, Princess Xueyan finally nodded.

Seeing Princess Xueyan nod, the Empress finally said, "The Crown Prince has been assassinated; once his condition has stabilized, you will be appointed as Concubine and move into the East Palace."

Princess Xueyan nodded, "Empress Niangniang, I will go visit His Highness."

The Empress said, "Then go ahead, the Crown Prince is severely injured."

Princess Xueyan stood up, eager to visit the East Palace straight away.

Hehuan Hall

Shen Chuwei was fuming with anger, "The assassin was too wicked, using such viciously poisonous substances, all of which were lethal."

Imperial Doctor Wen was somewhat ashamed, "It is thanks to Lady Shen this time; otherwise, His Highness would have been in danger again."

Shen Chuwei also felt a sense of relief that she had the Spiritual Spring Water; otherwise, no matter how skilled she was in medicine, she would need time to prepare a remedy.

And that poison doesn’t give you the time to concoct an antidote; it kills before that.

"The assassin is someone skilled in poison."

"The assassin is highly skilled in kung fu and adept at using poison; it seems they came prepared." Xiao Jinyan clenched his fist; if it were not for the fact that he had been sent away as a hostage to another country at the age of eight, his martial arts would not have been neglected.

More than that, he had lost six years of memories.

The six years of memories as a hostage in another country were gone.

After returning to Daxia, many attempts had been made, but his memories had not been recovered.

"It’s still most important to catch the assassin as soon as possible; if they were to take us by surprise next time, I fear..." Liu Xi was extremely worried.

At this moment, a little eunuch came in to report, "Your Highness, Princess Xueyan has arrived."

As soon as she finished speaking, Princess Xueyan entered, clothed in a white gauze dress. Seeing Xiao Jinyan, she looked somewhat worried, "Your Highness, is your wound better now?"

Xiao Jinyan replied with a cold and distant tone, "It’s much better already."

Princess Xueyan took out a small emerald-green bottle from her sleeve and offered it to Xiao Jinyan, "This is our Xueyue Country’s Muscle Cream; it is very effective in healing wounds."

Xiao Jinyan glanced at the Muscle Cream in Xuetuan’s hand, "Thank you, Princess Xueyan, Liu Xi."

Liu Xi stepped forward two paces, extending his hand to receive the Muscle Cream from Princess Xueyan.

Princess Xueyan hesitated for a moment, then handed the Muscle Cream to Liu Xi.

Liu Xi took the Muscle Cream and stepped aside.

Princess Xueyan’s gaze returned to Xiao Jinyan, "Your Highness, would you like to go for a walk? I can accompany you."

Shen Chuwei said, "Your Highness has sustained a severe injury and has just been detoxified; you need to rest in bed."

Xiao Jinyan agreed, "This palace is exhausted and would like to rest for a while."

Princess Xueyan appeared a bit disappointed but soon her eyes and brows curved upwards, "All right then, I’ll accompany you for a walk once Your Highness feels a little better."

Lu Zhaoyan arrived when Xiao Jinyan woke up from a nap.

There were only Shen Chuwei and Xiao Jinyan in the room.

Shen Chuwei sat at a low table mixing medicine.

Lu Zhaoyan came forward to greet them and then approached the bed, seeing that Xiao Jinyan’s complexion seemed unhealthy, as if the injury was quite serious.

It is said that good and bad fortune are linked; this statement is not false at all.

It was precisely because of Xiao Jinyan’s recent assassination attempt that his words now carried more persuasion.

However, his remark about the Wolf Star facing the East Palace was indeed not false at all.

"Your Highness, the Emperor has believed this servant’s words."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Princess Xueyan was royalty; if she could not become the Crown Princess, she might give up on entering the East Palace.

He could feel that his father, the Emperor, was gradually delegating authority, and within two years, he would be able to control everything.

Lu Zhaoyan hesitated for a moment before reporting truthfully, "However, upon examining the stars at night, this servant saw that the Wolf Star was facing the East Palace, and Your Highness might confront a life-and-death calamity."

A life-and-death calamity—if one could not escape it, it would mean death.

Xiao Jinyan was shocked; he hadn’t expected that he would face a life-and-death calamity.

Shen Chuwei, who was mixing medicine, heard this and looked up at Lu Zhaoyan with confusion, "Mr. Lu, what is a life-and-death calamity?"

Lu Zhaoyan replied, "A life-and-death calamity means taking a turn around Ghost Gate Pass."

Shen Chuwei pressed further, "Is there a way to avoid it?"

Lu Zhaoyan said, "There is one method."

"What method?" Shen Chuwei set down the medicine in her hands and walked over, halting in front of Lu Zhaoyan.

Lu Zhaoyan said, "Lady Shen naturally carries luck, which could help Your Highness avoid the life-and-death calamity."

This was what Lu Zhaoyan had divined from examining Shen Chuwei’s facial features.

He was skilled not only in reading palms but in reading faces as well.

Upon hearing this, Shen Chuwei was taken aback. Mr. Lu truly had divine abilities, to know even that she carried luck.

Indeed, she was blessed with luck, but that luck had its limits.

For instance, during last autumn’s imperial hunt, she effortlessly obtained a blood phoenix, only to end up being shot with an arrow.

Xiao Jinyan asked with a steady gaze, "You mean to say that this palace should keep Shen Chuwei by my side at all times?"

Lu Zhaoyan looked at Xiao Jinyan, "That would be the best course of action."

Xiao Jinyan probed further, "But if this palace encounters danger, wouldn’t she be in danger as well?"

Lu Zhaoyan was momentarily startled, "...this, this servant has not considered this point."

Xiao Jinyan stated icily, "Couldn’t you have calculated more thoroughly beforehand?"

Shen Chuwei raised her hand to indicate, "Your Highness, I can do this."