In Li Wan’er’s mind, memories flooded back like a tide. She recalled nervously applying medicine to his wounds as he smiled and comforted her, "It’s just a small scratch. Nothing to worry about."
Back then, sunlight streamed through the latticed window, falling upon his face. His eyes were as bright as stars, making her cheeks flush.
"Your Highness..."
Li Wan’er murmured unconsciously, her fingertips gently tracing the old scar.
This subtle gesture concealed a lingering affection she wouldn’t even admit to herself, and emotions she had never managed to resolve.
She composed herself, took a deep breath, and continued her probe.
Her Qi Blood slowly coursed toward his chest. Through the thin fabric of his inner shirt, she could feel the faint throb of his heart.
Her palm pressed closer unconsciously, as if trying to feel the vibrant life force he once possessed.
The Celestial Water Essence seemed to be taking effect, improving Xia Wuyang’s condition slightly.
Her movements caused the collar of his inner shirt to fall slightly open, revealing his gaunt collarbones and a small patch of his chest.
His skin was pale and slack, devoid of the taut muscles and formidable presence he had back when he practiced martial arts.
Li Wan’er’s gaze lingered on that patch of skin for a moment, a flicker of sorrow in her eyes.
Once, long ago, she had accidentally stumbled upon him as he was bathing and changing after his practice.
Back then, he had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. The lines of his muscles were fluid and graceful, glowing with a healthy sheen in the sunlight. Every part of him was breathtaking.
She had fled, beet red, but the image was seared into her memory. Even after several decades, she had never forgotten it.
And now... he was like this.
She closed her eyes, suppressing the roiling emotions within her, and slowly withdrew her Qi Blood.
The results of her probe were undeniable. His condition was the same as before—or perhaps, even worse.
The elder Crown Prince was truly crippled. Utterly and completely, with no sign of recovery.
His meridians, Dantian, and internal organs... none were intact. Everything was on the verge of collapse, like a lamp running out of oil.
In his current condition, forget recovering his Cultivation; it would be a struggle for him to even live much longer.
Li Wan’er withdrew her hand and gazed silently at the sleeping man on the bed, not speaking for a long time.
The candlelight cast flickering shadows across his face. His deep wrinkles looked especially bleak in the dim light.
She suddenly recalled what he had told her many years ago: "Wan’Er, this Deep Palace is like a prison, but someone has to stand guard over certain things, protect certain people."
She hadn’t understood back then. Now, it seemed she did, but she wished she didn’t.
"Your Highness, take care."
She whispered the words, her voice so soft it was nearly inaudible, yet Xia Wuyang heard them clearly.
Then she rose and left the Sleeping Palace as silently as she had arrived, as if she had never been there at all.
What she didn’t know was that the moment she turned around, the "sleeping" Xia Wuyang on the bed frowned slightly, the taste of the Celestial Water Essence still lingering in his mouth.
Meanwhile, the night outside was deep. A much larger storm was brewing in silence, threatening to erupt at any moment.
Ciping Palace was the residence of the Second Princess, Princess Jinping. After the recent turn of events, she could no longer remain hidden.
The palace was located in the remote southwest corner of the Imperial Palace, its decorations far less luxurious than those of the other Princes and Princesses. In the past, no one knew better and simply assumed such a residence was all she deserved.
But now, everyone knew that this Princess’s greatest talent was feigning incompetence.
At this moment, inside the study of Ciping Palace, Princess Jinping was sitting formally on a Meditation Mat. A yellowed scroll of the Poison Scripture lay open before her.
She looked to be in her late twenties, nothing like a woman over seventy. Her features were delicate and refined, her expression gentle. She wore a simple, elegant, moon-white blouse and skirt.
Her hair was simply tied in a bun, secured with a single wooden hairpin. She completely lacked the haughty air of a Princess and looked quite unremarkable.
But if one were to look closely, they would find that the fingers turning the scroll were exceptionally steady. A faint cyan Qi Blood flowed at their tips—the Cultivation of an Upper Third Grade Martial Artist!
Princess Jinping, the Second Princess who had once been barely noticed among the many Princes and Princesses, was in fact one of the most deeply Hidden. Unfortunately, Xia Wuyang had ruined everything, forcing her to reveal her true colors.
"Your Highness, I have returned," a gentle voice called from outside the door.
"Enter," Princess Jinping said without looking up.
The door was gently pushed open, and Li Wan’er walked in.
"How did it go?" Princess Jinping finally looked up, her gaze calm as she met Li Wan’er’s.
Li Wan’er approached and bowed. "Your Highness, I have completed my examination. The elder Crown Prince’s life force is indeed spent. He does not have long to live."
"Tell me the details," Princess Jinping said.
Li Wan’er spoke softly, "Yes. I used the Pulse Inquiry Skill to probe him carefully. I discovered his meridians are withered and his Qi Blood is in decay. His Dantian is like a punctured leather sack, its Qi Blood almost completely dispersed, leaving behind only the dregs of the Dragon and Tiger Elixir. All of his internal organs have hidden damage, especially his kidneys and heart meridian. They are a spent force. In this condition, he can hold on for a few more months at most."
Princess Jinping fell silent for a moment. "Is there no possibility it’s a Disguise?"
"Essentially, no. The Pulse Inquiry Skill probes the very foundation of one’s Qi Blood and meridians. Common Disguise Techniques and the Concealing Breath Technique can mask one’s aura, but they cannot fake the true decay within the body. The elder Crown Prince’s body is truly crippled," Li Wan’er said gravely.
Princess Jinping seemed lost in thought and did not appear suspicious.
She had ordered him checked many times before, and the results were always consistent. A result like this was to be expected.
Still, thinking about everything that had happened recently, she couldn’t help but retain some suspicion. One must always account for the unexpected.
"Are you certain it’s foolproof?" she asked, confirming once more.
Li Wan’er nodded emphatically. "I swear on my life. The elder Crown Prince’s body has no chance of recovery. He’s merely drinking poison to quench his thirst, relying on potent, damaging drugs to maintain his vigor. In reality, he is only accelerating his own demise. His body is already in ruins."
Only then did Princess Jinping nod, not asking any more questions.
’Since my elder brother is truly crippled, this game of chess has one less variable.’
’I can now proceed with my plans in peace and take the next step. It’s a shame I was exposed earlier; otherwise, I could have acted with much more security.’
"You’ve worked hard. You may go and rest," she said warmly, some of the worry fading from her expression.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Li Wan’er bowed and exited the study.
But what she didn’t know was that the very instant she left the study, an imperceptible fluctuation of Spirit left her Sea of Consciousness, as well as that of Princess Jinping.
This was, without a doubt, a ripple from the Soul Enchantment Technique, which could probe a target’s surface thoughts without alerting them, implant suggestions, or even cast an Illusion Technique to influence them.
Li Wan’er only felt a slight chill, as if touched by a wisp of night air. She paid it no mind, completely unaware that she had just been subtly influenced.

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