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The man in black was taken aback.

"Why are you crying? You’re not dead yet, are you?"

"As a dignified Concubine, my personal maid has been locked up, and I don’t even have anyone to pour me tea or water, so I have to rely on a stranger like you to bring me water." Concubine Xu felt so aggrieved that she couldn’t catch her breath between sobs.

Already frail and weak, she now seemed even more delicate.

The man in black initially thought it was something serious; she’s crying over this trifle?

"What’s this about? Drink your water quickly."

Concubine Xu wiped away her tears with difficulty and said weakly, "I’m already this miserable, and you still scold me?"

"I’m not scolding you, just drink." The man in black handed the teacup to Concubine Xu’s lips, softening his voice slightly.

Lacking the strength in her hands, Concubine Xu drank a few sips of water with the assistance of the man in black.

Not until Concubine Xu pulled away did the man in black ask, "Had enough?"

Concubine Xu nodded.

Only then did the man in black put the teacup back on the table.

Right now, Concubine Xu was extremely afraid of being alone, terrified that if she died, no one would discover her; she couldn’t count on Xia He.

"Are you going to leave or not?"

The man in black found it amusing, "If I don’t leave, do you expect me to stay here instead?"

Concubine Xu tentatively voiced a request, "Then, can you wait until I fall asleep before you go? I’m afraid I’ll suddenly die, and no one will notice."

The man in black paused in his steps, looking at the frail and pitiful figure of Concubine Xu, and unexpectedly felt a twinge of sympathy, "As a dignified Concubine, how could no one care for you? Don’t think nonsense."

"Having contracted the plague, to outsiders, it’s no different from being dead." Concubine Xu was overwhelmed with distress, "I want to go home; I miss my father and mother."

"I’m worried about Lady Shen, whether she’s been infected. She’s also carrying..." Suddenly, Concubine Xu stopped herself, almost letting something slip.

The man in black looked at Concubine Xu, who was truly pitiable, and suddenly thought of Jinyu. With no parents or brothers by her side, he wondered if she would cry as miserably as Concubine Xu when feeling aggrieved.

"I’ll go have a look later."

"Then you go. Come back later," Concubine Xu said, currently terrified of being without company.

"Hmm." The man in black was also planning to check on Xiaoxiang Pavilion anyway, since Lady Shen bore some resemblance to Jinyu.

Meanwhile, at Xiaoxiang Pavilion

Shen Chuwei couldn’t find Qin Xiao to help, nor could she tell anyone outside that she had Spiritual Spring Water that could cure the plague.

She could only rely on herself to find a way.

Shen Chuwei placed a cup filled with Spiritual Spring Water into a bundle, tied it up, and slung it over her back.

Chun Xi was extremely worried, "My lady, you’re pregnant, how can you climb walls? Let Little Rabbit do it."

Little Rabbit said anxiously, "My lady, allow me to do it, please?"

Shen Chuwei expressed doubt, "Can you handle it?"

Little Rabbit said, "I’ve learned some kung fu, I can climb walls without problems."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chuwei untied the bundle from her back and handed it to Little Rabbit solemnly, "Then be careful, and don’t get caught."

"I understand." Little Rabbit took the bundle, fastened it to herself, stepped out, and arrived at the top of the wall. She climbed nimbly and then jumped down.

Shen Chuwei saw this and couldn’t help but give a thumbs up, "You really weren’t bragging."

Chun Xi comforted her, "Rest easy, my lady. Little Rabbit will surely deliver the antidote safely to Yixiang Hall."

Shen Chuwei nodded.

What Shen Chuwei didn’t know, however, was that soon after Little Rabbit left, she was discovered by the Imperial Guard and locked up in prison.

The man in black sneaked into Xiaoxiang Pavilion under the cover of darkness to find Shen Chuwei sitting in the corridor, looking spirited and not at all like someone afflicted with the plague.

After watching for a long time, the man in black silently left Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Being able to move freely in and out of the sealed East Palace was enough to testify to the man in black’s high martial skills.

Pregnant Shen Chuwei naturally felt sleepy, and she had already fallen asleep long ago.

Chun Xi stood guard for half the night, without seeing Little Rabbit return, and became extremely worried.

The next day

When Shen Chuwei woke up, her first words were, "Has Little Rabbit returned?"

Chun Xi shook her head, "My lady, not yet."

"She hasn’t come back all night." Shen Chuwei wasn’t foolish; she guessed that something might have happened.

At that moment, a sound of a heavy object landing suddenly came from behind her.

Shen Chuwei, lifting her skirt, hurried over to the sound.

Seeing this, Chun Xi was startled and quickly followed, "My lady, please slow down."

Shen Chuwei arrived at the corner of the wall, where the flower seeds she had previously scattered had now sprouted and blossomed, creating a particularly charming sight.

She parted the flowers with both hands and saw a shiny bald head gleaming in the sunlight.

Eagerly, she went to help him up, "Wu Tan, what are you doing here?"

Wu Tan joined his hands together, "Hearing that the East Palace was struck by the plague, and as I have a past with Lady Shen, I came to check on her."

"The manner of your arrivals always so hard on you." Shen Chuwei looked up at the over two-meter-high wall and winced just thinking about it.

Wu Tan laughed it off indifferently, "How is Lady Shen? Are you all right?"

Shen Chuwei shook her head, "I’m fine."

Inspecting Shen Chuwei and noting her healthy complexion, Wu Tan finally felt at ease, "Then, the monk is relieved."

"Don’t wander around recklessly. It would be bad if you caught the plague," Shen Chuwei warned, knowing how serious the plague was throughout the East Palace.

Wu Tan replied, "Thank you for your concern, Lady Shen. I came here in a hurry and didn’t bring any food."

Shen Chuwei waved it off nonchalantly, "It doesn’t matter; I still know what’s most important."

Just like his arrival, Wu Tan left by climbing the wall, this time fortunate not to fall as he did the last.

Shen Chuwei went to inquire about Little Rabbit from the Imperial Guard at the gate.

The result she received was that Little Rabbit might have been locked up in prison.

Meanwhile, at Fengyi Palace

"Mother, send an Imperial Doctor to check on Lady Shen, just in case," Xiao Jinyu earnestly implored.

The Empress was already concerned about the plague in the East Palace and knowing that no information could escape from Xiaoxiang Pavilion, which was designated by the despised Emperor, heightened her worry.

"I will take the Imperial Doctor to Xiaoxiang Pavilion to check on her."

Xiao Jinyu finally breathed a sigh of relief, hoping his sister-in-law was all right.

"I want to go too," he said.

The Empress instructed, "You stay here, and wait for my news."

"...But, Mother,"

Before Xiao Jinyu could finish his sentence, the Empress threatened, "If you say more, I won’t go."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyu immediately shut his mouth.

Satisfied, the Empress led the Imperial Doctor and a grand entourage to Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Upon entering the East Palace, the smell of burning mugwort filled the air.

The palace maids and servants were carrying out regular disinfection.

Xiaoxiang Pavilion, being somewhat out of the way, had few visitors, making it less likely to be affected by the plague.

As the Empress approached Xiaoxiang Pavilion with her imposing group, it stirred up those inside.

Chun Xi, hearing the commotion, peeked out the doorway, saw the Empress coming with the Imperial Doctor, and bolted back inside.

"My lady, the Empress is here," she announced.

Shen Chuwei, who was dozing off, was jolted awake by Chun Xi’s urgent voice.

"Why is the Empress here?"

"This servant doesn’t know. And the Empress has brought the Imperial Doctor," Chun Xi said.