Chu Qianli woke up in the afternoon of the same day.
The space beside her was empty, and she was alone in the room.
After a simple wash, she immediately went out.
"Has Prince Jing come by?" she asked the palace maids and eunuchs outside, but none of them had seen Prince Jing.
Only a guard replied, "He came several times last night. The last time was when it was almost dawn. Seeing that the princess was still busy, he didn't disturb her. After that, he didn't appear again."
"What about Prince Xuan?" Chu Qianli had recently grown accustomed to many people coming and going around her. Suddenly being left alone made her feel an inexplicable unease.
"Prince Xuan left after dawn today and has not returned since," the guard answered.
He hadn't returned? Could he still be researching the treasure map with the Fourth Uncle?
However, Chu Qianli wasn't concerned about that for the moment.
She hadn't expected to sleep for so long, having slept away half the day.
She decided to go and see her father, the Emperor.
Xiao Shunzi was still guarding the Emperor's chambers. Upon seeing Chu Qianli approach, he immediately went to greet her. "Princess, His Majesty has not woken up since last night."
"Mm."
Chu Qianli walked to the bedside and sat down, taking Chu Jiangnan's hand to feel his pulse.
"Princess, how is it?"
"Where is Liujin?" Chu Qianli asked, not answering directly.
"Mr. Liujin has personally gone to the pharmacy to fetch the medicine. He should be back soon."
Speak of the devil, there was a slight commotion outside, and indeed, Liujin had returned.
He was carrying the medicine.
It was medicine with sandalwood added.
Chu Qianli had said that although the Emperor could not wake up to take the medicine, the fumigated medicine could be absorbed into the patient's body through respiration.
This was a unique treatment method created by Chu Qianli herself. Although it was slow to take effect, its slow efficacy made it more suitable for the body's recovery.
"Princess," Liujin greeted her, a hint of melancholy in his brows.
Chu Qianli's brow furrowed slightly. Did Liujin have something on his mind?
"Xiao Shunzi, I haven't eaten yet..."
She glanced out the window, unsure if it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner she should be eating.
In any case, she hadn't eaten anything today.
"Prepare something simple for me to eat. I'm very hungry now. You... do it personally."
Who was Xiao Shunzi? Having served by the Emperor's side for so many years, he had learned a thing or two about reading people.
He knew immediately that the princess had something she wanted to say to Liujin alone.
He accepted the order and nimbly withdrew.
"Liujin, what do you want to tell me?" Chu Qianli stared at Liujin's profile.
Liujin was adding herbs to the sandalwood burner. Upon hearing her, his fingertips paused slightly before he resumed his work.
After tidying everything related to the sandalwood, he wiped his hands and took something out from his embrace, handing it to Chu Qianli with both hands.
"This is..." Chu Qianli's heart was suddenly filled with a sense of panic!
The Heaven and Earth Lock!
After she had finished drawing the treasure map today, she had handed both the treasure map and the Heaven and Earth Lock to Feng Yexuan.
But at this moment, Feng Yexuan having Liujin return the Heaven and Earth Lock to her, what did that mean?
Liujin naturally did not know what this object, which looked like a lock, truly was.
But he knew that there was another problem between the prince and the princess.
"Princess..."
"Watch over my father!"
Chu Qianli snatched the Heaven and Earth Lock and quickly walked towards the door.
As soon as she stepped out, before she could leave the imperial chamber, she saw Chu Wang rushing towards her.