Fateful Love – Zhang Han, Zhu Xudan

At the border of Country M, Han Ziqing (played by Zhu Xudan) was leading a team in search of biological resources. Along the way, they accidentally encountered a large snake, which made them even more cautious. As they moved forward, the signal suddenly strengthened, suggesting the presence of a cave. Han Ziqing decided to go inside alone to investigate. Inside, she discovered a dagger, and as she carefully opened it, a bright light flashed, and she suddenly fainted.

When Han Ziqing woke up again, she found herself surrounded by a group of people, all dressed in ancient clothing. Before she could figure out what was happening, a woman rushed over, shouting and calling her "Han Ziqing," accusing her of being improperly dressed and embarrassing herself, insisting on taking her away. Although Han Ziqing was confused, she instinctively fought back and quickly subdued the people who came at her.

Suddenly, a basin of water was thrown at her, and she instantly recalled something. She clearly remembered that last night, Xuanyuan Zhaoxi had helped her into a room before leaving. When she woke up again, she was in her current situation. She thought she was dreaming, but she wasn’t about to let herself suffer, even in a dream.

So, she stripped off the outer robe of the woman in front of her, put it on herself, and then dragged her home, demanding to see Xuanyuan Zhaoxi! The onlookers were shocked, as the old Han Ziqing would never have dared to speak loudly, let alone act like a completely different person! Soon, Han Ziqing dragged her stepmother to the entrance of the Xiangfu.

Xuanyuan Zhaoxi had already heard the commotion, but she was worried that the selection of the concubine couldn’t proceed, so she kept everyone outside. As more and more people gathered to watch, Han Ziqing remained unfazed, stating that everything would be clear once Xuanyuan Zhaoxi came out. Shortly after, the master of the house returned. Seeing the situation, he asked Han Ziqing to let go of the stepmother, saying it was unseemly. Han Ziqing wasn’t afraid at all.

When the master picked up a whip to punish her, Han Ziqing grabbed the whip and resisted, insisting on seeing Xuanyuan Zhaoxi. The master had no choice but to call her out. Xuanyuan Zhaoxi immediately played the innocent, acting as if everything was Han Ziqing’s fault. She claimed that after escorting someone to the upper room last night, she had left, and she had no idea why things had turned out this way.

In the crowd, the manager found an opportunity to rush out and kneel, apologizing, saying that last night, Young Master Chen had specifically requested an upper room, and due to some mix-up, things ended up like this. He hadn’t seen the Second Miss’s face clearly this morning, so he threw her out. As soon as he finished speaking, Young Master Chen ran out to apologize, even saying he was willing to marry her.

The master couldn’t believe it, but Han Ziqing clearly remembered that the person she saw last night was not this man. The master then dismissed the crowd, but in the distance, several people were discussing why someone who had been poisoned with Mo Xunzhi’s venom could still be unharmed and decided to investigate Han Ziqing. Han Ziqing glanced at the two people kneeling on the ground and then said she was hungry and wanted to eat!

The master stayed by her side, worried about what had happened, but Han Ziqing remained silent. Seeing this, the stepmother suggested marrying Han Ziqing into the Chen family, but Han Ziqing flatly refused. She vividly recalled all the things this stepmother and Xuanyuan Zhaoxi had done to her and made up her mind that from now on, she would take control of her own life!

Even when Xuanyuan Zhaoxi poured her tea, begging for forgiveness, Han Ziqing coldly poured it out on the ground! On the way back to her room, Han Ziqing passed by a luxurious house, but Yunxi reminded her that the shabby room next door was actually hers. Han Ziqing was shocked by the state of her room.

After Yunxi went off to find her something to eat, Han Ziqing realized that Yunxi might be the only person in the entire residence who truly cared for her. As she wandered around the room, memories from Han Ziqing's childhood suddenly resurfaced. She recalled that in her mother’s chest, there was a dagger exactly like the one she had seen, but when she opened it, there was nothing inside. Later, Yunxi brought her some noodles.

Everyone in the house was waiting for the Fourth Prince, except for the Second Brother, who knew that he had been poisoned and wouldn’t be coming. However, to their surprise, the Fourth Prince appeared, unharmed! Neither the Second Brother nor the mother knew what had gone wrong.

At this moment, a girl brought news that there was a big commotion at the Xiangfu’s gate and that there were rumors that Xuanyuan Zhaoxi had framed her half-sister to marry the Fourth Prince. The Second Brother and the mother immediately came up with a plan: they absolutely could not let the Fourth Prince marry into the Xiangfu!

Han Ziqing carefully recalled her situation and realized that returning to the real world might be related to that dagger. She returned to her room to search for it but found nothing, and even Yunxi didn't know where it was. All of her mother's belongings had been thrown away by her stepmother, so there was no way to find them now. Yunxi thought that the Second Miss was acting very strange today.

Han Ziqing even encouraged Yunxi to be more assertive, telling her to stop being so timid as her maid. Yunxi advised that it was fine to act this way inside the house, but once outside, it would be better to be more restrained, especially since marrying into the Chen family without her maternal family's support would be pitiful.

Han Ziqing knew she wouldn’t marry into the Chen family, but she also realized that she needed to investigate Young Master Chen to understand what Xuanyuan Zhaoxi was plotting. So, she instructed Yunxi to investigate her mother’s belongings and find out where Young Master Chen was living. That night, Han Ziqing changed into night clothes and went to Young Master Chen's house, only to witness two black-clad figures forcing him to sign a statement accusing Xuanyuan Zhaoxi before killing him.

Han Ziqing realized their target was the Xiangfu but didn’t dare make a sound. Later, another black-clad figure appeared, and the two sides started fighting. Han Ziqing’s position was exposed, and she also ended up fighting one side, but the difference in strength was too great, forcing her to retreat. Early the next morning, the Second Brother hurriedly went to find their mother, panicked because the two people who had gone with him last night were missing.

The mother advised him that they couldn’t leave any evidence behind and that they must find the bodies, even if the men were dead. As for the accusation letter, she said to hold onto it for now. Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince’s men reported back to him, stating that the Second Brother’s two men were already dead and had been buried.

The Fourth Prince then inquired about Han Ziqing, to which his subordinate replied that she was no different from any other noblewoman. The Fourth Prince was shocked because he had seen Han Ziqing’s skills the previous night, and she was definitely not an ordinary woman! News of Young Master Chen's death quickly spread, causing Xuanyuan Zhaoxi to panic, fearing that Han Ziqing might participate in the selection process. However, when Han Ziqing heard the news, she wasn’t surprised at all.

Soon after, someone brought clothes for Han Ziqing, urging her to participate in the selection. Han Ziqing was not very interested, but Xuanyuan Zhaoxi came in soon after, trying to intimidate her, claiming that there was no way Han Ziqing would be chosen. Han Ziqing could clearly see that Xuanyuan Zhaoxi was trying to scare her into not participating, so she did the opposite and immediately grabbed Yunxi to leave.

The selection was about to begin, and the ministers had arrived, along with the candidates. Han Ziqing walked at the back of the line, causing quite a stir among the others. Soon, the Fourth Prince arrived and went straight to Xuanyuan Zhaoxi, asking her what skills she had. Xuanyuan Zhaoxi presented herself as the perfect noble lady, as rumors had already spread that she was the predetermined choice.

However, the Fourth Prince then asked her if she could kill someone, leaving Xuanyuan Zhaoxi stunned. The Fourth Prince then walked over to Han Ziqing, who casually saluted him, saying she had no skills at all. To everyone’s surprise, the Fourth Prince announced that he would choose her. Even Han Ziqing was momentarily stunned. Voices of doubt quickly arose, with some saying Han Ziqing was unfit and others claiming that choosing her would make the people laugh.

The Fourth Prince rebutted all the criticisms, stating that from now on, how they treated him would be how they treated Han Ziqing! He then took Han Ziqing’s hand, preparing to leave together. Initially, Han Ziqing wanted to refuse, but then she noticed the dagger at the Fourth Prince’s waist! So, when the Fourth Prince asked her, Han Ziqing immediately agreed.

On the carriage ride back, Han Ziqing kept staring at the Fourth Prince and even asked him why he chose her, to which the Fourth Prince simply replied, "Because it’s interesting. "After arriving at the prince’s residence, the Fourth Prince was called away, and Han Ziqing was arranged by a servant in red to stay in the West Garden.

The Fourth Prince was summoned by his father, who indeed brought up the matter of choosing a consort. The Fourth Prince knew his father was asking something he already knew and responded that he had followed his father’s wishes by forming an alliance with the Xiangfu. However, as for which lady he would choose, he wanted to make that decision himself.

Outside, the Fourth Prince’s subordinates were all worried about him, and even those close to him couldn’t understand why he insisted on choosing Han Ziqing. They thought that even if she had been poisoned because of the prince, that was not a reason to make her his consort. Some smart individuals noticed that there must be something wrong since the Fourth Prince knew Han Ziqing had been poisoned but was still in good health, so they decided to investigate thoroughly.

Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince was playing chess with his father, who hinted that the move he was making was incorrect and that if he didn’t change it, he would surely lose. However, the Fourth Prince stuck to his strategy, angering the King, who ordered that the Fourth Prince be locked up and starved for a few days. On Han Ziqing’s side, the Queen sent someone to invite her to the palace for tea.

Hongyi knew that the Queen didn’t get along with the Fourth Prince’s residence, but she also wanted to use the Queen’s hand to get rid of Han Ziqing, so she arranged for a carriage to take Han Ziqing to the palace. Han Ziqing, knowing that the invitation was not well-intentioned, entered with caution.

Inside, she found a room full of noblewomen chatting, and Han Ziqing couldn’t help but think that she had expected something grand, only to find it was just a group of gossiping women. After greeting the Queen, some who understood the Queen’s intentions began to point out Han Ziqing’s flaws. The Queen then asked about her sister at home, and someone timely reminded the Queen that Han Ziqing was that sister.

The Queen feigned disbelief and deliberately led the conversation toward Han Ziqing’s past disgrace, implying that the person the Fourth Prince chose must be virtuous and talented. She demanded that Han Ziqing admit whether the rumors about her beauty were true. Han Ziqing calmly confirmed that they were. The Queen then ceremoniously served Han Ziqing tea. Although Han Ziqing noticed that the tea was poisoned, she didn’t expose it and drank it, deciding to play along with the act.

The Queen believed the poison would take effect in seven days and that Han Ziqing wouldn’t survive until the day the imperial edict was issued. After saying a few more polite words, the Queen dismissed Han Ziqing. Upon leaving, Han Ziqing found Hongyi waiting for her in the carriage. The first thing Han Ziqing did after getting in the carriage was to force the poison out of her body.

Hongyi was shocked by what she saw and began to admire Han Ziqing, admitting her mistake and promising not to repeat it. Han Ziqing said she forgave her but insisted that today’s events must not be disclosed to anyone. After all, the relationship between the Fourth Prince and the Queen was already strained, and further conflict could cause serious trouble. After returning to the residence, Han Ziqing’s life became much easier, but she still had to drink medicine.

Han Ziqing explained that she was still useful. The sisters from the General’s residence came to visit, and Han Ziqing knew they were the Queen’s people. She decided to test whether her medicine was effective, so she appeared weak before them. The Han sisters made a few harsh remarks, and Han Ziqing suddenly spat blood on one of them, scaring them out of their wits. A physician was then summoned, who diagnosed her with tuberculosis.

The Han sisters were pleased, as they had confirmed Han Ziqing’s condition and happily returned to report. As soon as they left, Han Ziqing praised everyone’s acting skills before confidently returning to her room in high spirits. Meanwhile, two individuals were secretly testing poisons, seemingly trying to find the person immune to all poisons. They began to suspect Han Ziqing!

Following the Queen’s suggestion, the King released the Fourth Prince on the sixth day, announcing that someone would be sent to the Fourth Prince’s residence to deliver an imperial decree. The Fourth Prince was very happy, but on his way back, he heard from his subordinate that shortly after he left, the Fourth Princess Consort had been invited by the Queen for tea and had returned with tuberculosis!

The moment the Fourth Prince returned, Han Ziqing immediately pretended to be ill. Seeing this, the Fourth Prince quickly ordered his people to check her pulse. At first, Han Ziqing didn’t want to be examined, insisting that the imperial physician had already treated her and that it was nothing serious. However, the Fourth Prince persisted, so Lao Guo went ahead and checked her pulse. After the examination, he confirmed that it was indeed tuberculosis.

Han Ziqing, fearing that the Fourth Prince might touch her, tried to avoid being alone with him. But when she noticed the dagger at the Fourth Prince’s waist, her expression changed immediately. She straightforwardly asked if she could take a look at the dagger, saying that she liked it very much and that she seemed to have seen it when she was a child. The Fourth Prince refused outright, explaining that the dagger was a keepsake from his mother.

He added that if she wanted to see it, she would have to wait until she officially became the Fourth Princess Consort. Han Ziqing inwardly sighed, realizing that she had to continue playing her role. Lao Guo actually suspected that Han Ziqing might have been poisoned by the Queen, but now there was only a little residual poison left in her body. He wondered who had been helping her detoxify the poison during this time.

If she had the ability to detoxify poisons, then could it be possible that she had detoxified the Mo Xun poison herself? Lao Guo dismissed the idea, reasoning that the Fourth Prince's poison had been transferred to the Princess Consort, who had surely died as a result. Another possibility was that the Princess Consort had never been poisoned in the first place! During the days when the Fourth Prince wasn’t around, Han Ziqing ate and drank well.

But as soon as the Fourth Prince appeared, she would become extremely weak. Then, the Fourth Prince informed Han Ziqing that she needed to return to the Xiangfu to receive an imperial decree. Han Ziqing was secretly overjoyed, but the Fourth Prince suddenly entered and, putting his arm around her shoulders, said he would accompany her back! A large crowd had gathered at the gate of the Xiangfu to welcome them.

Han Xier thought Han Ziqing had come back to show off, but the stepmother noticed that Han Ziqing appeared seriously ill, and the Fourth Prince had to support her as they returned inside. The eunuch who was supposed to deliver the imperial decree was delayed, but many onlookers arrived. The Ouyang sisters didn’t take long to arrive, and soon after, the Second Prince also showed up, claiming he was there to pick up his Princess Consort.

In reality, he sat down to enjoy the spectacle. The Fourth Prince didn’t hold back, publicly humiliating the Second Prince and telling him to go back to his mother and learn how to speak properly. Infuriated, the Second Prince left with the Second Princess Consort. Finally, the eunuch arrived to deliver the decree. He paid close attention to Han Ziqing's condition, while the Fourth Prince kept urging him.

To everyone’s surprise, the moment the imperial decree was announced and Han Ziqing received it, she instantly recovered from her illness. The Fourth Prince laughed, remarking that the Princess Consort’s recovery was remarkably swift. Now, everyone in the Xiangfu knew that Han Ziqing had been faking her illness. The Queen and the eunuch who delivered the decree both went to the King to confess their mistakes.

The Queen herself couldn’t understand why, despite Han Ziqing having clearly consumed poison, she was unharmed when the decree was delivered at precisely the right time. Now that the imperial decree had been issued, there was no reason to retract it, especially since the King still needed the Fourth Prince. However, the King mentioned that the Queen should keep an eye on the case involving Young Master Chen.

The Queen understood the King’s intentions and ordered the Second Prince to bring out the previously drafted lawsuit. The Second Prince exclaimed that this move would kill two birds with one stone. Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince’s subordinates made new progress, connecting the dots to the islanders who were immune to all poisons! Years ago, the islanders had mutated, and it was the Nan Zhao royal family who had driven them out.

Recently, there had been efforts to find the orphaned descendants of the islanders. The Fourth Prince returned to Han Ziqing, immediately lying down beside her. Knowing she could no longer pretend to be asleep, Han Ziqing got up and asked to see the dagger. The Fourth Prince, however, replied that she could only be considered the true Fourth Princess Consort after they consummated their marriage!

At that moment, someone outside reported urgent news from the border, so the Fourth Prince left. Han Ziqing knew she couldn’t sit idly by any longer and decided to take the initiative to steal the dagger! Just as Han Ziqing was searching, the Fourth Prince suddenly returned. Han Ziqing quickly hid under the bed, but the Fourth Prince walked straight to the bed and lay down!

Han Ziqing didn't know how long she had been hiding under the bed, but she finally couldn't hold out any longer and emerged. To her surprise, the moment she got out, the Fourth Prince woke up, grabbed her, and asked what she was doing. Han Ziqing stammered and said she was hungry, but when the Fourth Prince offered to have someone prepare food for her, she refused. In a panic, Han Ziqing hurriedly fled the room.

The Fourth Prince then opened his box and found the dagger at the very bottom. Early the next morning, after waiting for Han Ziqing to get ready, the Fourth Prince was about to head out with her when they encountered Lord Jiang from the Li Shen Si (Judicial Review Office) waiting at the gate with a large group of people.

Upon seeing the two of them, Lord Jiang informed them that the Li Shen Si was investigating Young Master Chen’s case and had come to escort the Princess Consort. He presented a royal arrest warrant, explaining that it had been urgently processed overnight for an audience with the Emperor. Just as the Fourth Prince was about to refuse, Han Ziqing spoke up, saying she would cooperate to avoid appearing guilty.

The Fourth Prince asked if she knew what kind of place the Li Shen Si was, and Han Ziqing replied that the truth would eventually come to light and that she trusted Lord Jiang. Lord Jiang nodded in agreement, and the Fourth Prince assured her that he would protect her no matter what. The Fourth Prince quickly went to the palace to see his father.

The Emperor brought up the matter, mentioning that the envoy would soon arrive, and it would not look good for the Princess Consort to be a suspect. He subtly suggested that the Fourth Prince should resolve the issue quickly, even hinting at the possibility of deposing the Princess Consort. The Fourth Prince made it clear that unless the Princess Consort confessed and signed a statement admitting to the crime, he would not discuss deposing her further.

He also mentioned Ouyang Jingshi, candidly stating that she had intentionally caused trouble during the announcement of the imperial decree the previous day. He said that Ouyang Jingshi was now detained at his place, and he was awaiting the Emperor’s instructions on how to deal with her. After leaving the palace, the Fourth Prince ordered his men to keep a close watch on Ouyang Jingshi.

He knew that his father was trying to use the two factions to check each other’s power. He then had his men leak information about the two men in purple who had been buried earlier, so that the common people would discover it and report it to the authorities. Han Ziqing was alone in her cell when a shadowy figure appeared, revealing a black-clad man—the same silver-masked person she had fought with before.

The man expressed concern for Han Ziqing's well-being and mentioned that the two black-clad men had been buried in the outskirts, and the information would soon be leaked. He added that he was helping her this time. Han Ziqing tried to ask who he was, but the man pushed her down. Han Ziqing fought back and even bit his neck! After leaving a message, the man departed.

Later, Hongyi came to bring food to Han Ziqing, and Han Ziqing asked her for a favor. After the black-clad man returned, he removed his mask—it was actually the Fourth Prince. He looked in the mirror at the bite mark Han Ziqing had left and seemed pleased. The next day, the Chen family murder case was publicly tried, with the Emperor himself attending.

Han Xier and Han Ziqing were both brought forward, and the complaint written by Young Master Chen played a crucial role. However, Han Ziqing requested a re-examination of the body, and as a result, the first coroner, Xie Zhe, was called in—this was the favor Han Ziqing had asked Hongyi to arrange the previous night. After examining Young Master Chen's wounds, Xie Zhe concluded that the crime had been committed by an adult male.

As for the suspects, the two newly discovered men in purple outside the city were highly suspicious. Their identities were quickly uncovered, and it turned out they were people from the palace, leading the Emperor to immediately punish the relevant individuals. Han Ziqing then mentioned that the case wasn't over yet, as Han Xier had conspired with the shopkeeper to frame her. The Emperor stated that there was insufficient evidence and that further investigation was needed.

Han Ziqing expressed that she looked forward to the truth being revealed. After the trial, Han Ziqing couldn’t find the Fourth Prince, but she noticed a black-clad figure and chased after him, asking why he had helped her, but received no response. Upon returning home, she found the Fourth Prince there, dressed in high-collared clothes! She thought to herself that he was always out of sight, claiming to protect her, but in reality, men are all liars!

The Fourth Prince then instructed Hongyi to take Han Ziqing to buy high-collared clothes. Han Ziqing asked Hongyi if Xie Zhe had truly been summoned in the name of the Fourth Prince. Hongyi explained that it was as if someone had notified him in advance, as Xie Zhe was already there waiting when she arrived.

Han Ziqing and Hongyi were out shopping when they encountered a beggar being chased and beaten by a woman. It sounded like the child had stolen something. Hongyi didn't want the Princess Consort to get involved in such matters, but Han Ziqing still stepped in. After spending ten taels of silver to solve the issue, the child ran away.

Hongyi chased after the child, and the two of them arrived at the child’s home, where they found that he was taking care of a whole house full of children. It turned out they were all sick, and only the little girl in front of them was caring for the others. Han Ziqing expressed that she understood how difficult it was for the girl, but stealing was not justified.

So, Han Ziqing gave her the name Shiliang and took the little girl back with her. However, by the time the three of them returned, it was already late. The servant at the door reminded her that the Fourth Prince had been waiting for her for a long time. Han Ziqing immediately replied, "Why is he waiting for me? Does he expect me to feed him? " After saying that, she walked inside.

As a result, the Fourth Prince straightforwardly said that he had already eaten and suggested that Han Ziqing, who returned late, must have eaten as well, so he ordered the food to be taken away. Han Ziqing, feeling indignant, thought she would prepare a midnight snack for herself. So, she pulled Hongyi and Shiliang along to eat hotpot. Seeing this, the Fourth Prince secretly ordered his men to prepare a portion for himself too!

The next day, Han Ziqing was asked to change her clothes early in the morning, as she was to enter the palace to express gratitude. She followed the Fourth Prince into the palace. During the audience with the Emperor, Han Ziqing performed very well. Then the Emperor wanted to play chess with the Fourth Prince, so Han Ziqing wandered off to explore the imperial garden. While there, she heard the sound of a qin being played.

Although Han Ziqing wasn't musically inclined, memories of her mother teaching her to play the qin began to surface in her mind. Listening to the music, she seemed to intuitively grasp the melody of the piece. Absorbed in the music, she was startled when the Second Prince suddenly opened a fan to cool himself. Han Ziqing recalled that one of the men in black she had seen at Lord Chen's residence that night used a fan just like this!

At a crucial moment, the Fourth Prince appeared and pulled Han Ziqing away. What Han Ziqing didn’t know was that upon seeing her face, Xuanyuan Lige, the one playing the qin, was reminded of his master! The Fourth Prince informed Han Ziqing that he would be leaving for a while and instructed her to learn horsemanship and archery during his absence, expecting to see results when he returned.

Han Ziqing asked Hongyi about the Second Prince, knowing he was not simple, but more pressing matters demanded her attention. Without even eating, she headed to the training grounds. However, upon arrival, no one came to greet them. Hongyi directly sought out the leader, Sima Xun, but he showed no interest in teaching the Princess Consort. He casually assigned a low-ranking soldier to instruct her and sent them off to the post station.

That evening, Han Ziqing and her companions visited the group of little beggars. Han Ziqing declared her intention to change their current situation, giving them a set time to climb to the mountain's peak and return. Her goal was to form a battalion so that they could survive on the Longyuan Continent even when she wasn’t with them. In the end, everyone completed the task successfully, which greatly impressed Han Ziqing.

She even gave one of them, who showed concern for his companions, the name Guxi, because he reminded her of someone from the real world named Guxi! All the while, someone had been keeping an eye on the Princess Consort for the Fourth Prince. Hearing about her recent actions, the observer became puzzled and tightened the surveillance.

Meanwhile, the people in the shadows had finished preparing the poison they intended to use on Han Ziqing, but they accidentally poisoned themselves instead. The crucial point was that the antidote was not within reach! Soon, the Fourth Prince returned. Han Ziqing bluntly stated that Sima Xun had no intention of teaching her, so she went to the post station herself, thinking it was the right thing to do. Unexpectedly, the Fourth Prince immediately put her on a horse. Then, the two of them galloped across the plains!

The Fourth Prince and Han Ziqing finished their ride and returned together. The Fourth Prince praised Han Ziqing for her impressive horseback riding skills, to which Han Ziqing, without modesty, remarked that she might have a natural talent for it. At this moment, one of the Fourth Prince's subordinates reported that someone from the palace was looking for him, saying that the envoy from Xiling would arrive tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the spy from the Second Prince's side reported that the Fourth Prince had gone to the palace. Suddenly, a man in black appeared and lured the Second Prince outside. The man immediately asked if the incident involving the "Guo Se Tian Xiang" was his doing. The Second Prince quickly deduced that the person was Han Ziqing! Han Ziqing also confirmed that it was indeed the Second Prince who caused the trouble that night.

The two engaged in a fierce fight, with the Second Prince sustaining serious injuries. He also noticed that the techniques Han Ziqing used were not ordinary. Just as the Second Prince's reinforcements arrived, he managed to injure Han Ziqing's leg! Both were wounded, with the Second Prince's injuries being more severe. However, Han Ziqing, being in good health, didn't let the minor injury trouble her.

The next day, the Fourth Prince was at the city gate to welcome the envoy from Xiling, while Han Ziqing waited in the watchtower. The entire day passed without any sign of the envoy, and Hongyi had already noticed the suppressed anger within the Fourth Prince. It wasn't until nightfall that the Xiling envoy finally appeared. However, the Fourth Prince did not take the initiative to greet them.

Only after the envoy greeted them first did the Fourth Prince invite them into the palace. The palace banquet began, and everyone seemed joyful, except for Chu Tiange, who seemed preoccupied. Not long after, news arrived that the princess had reached the entrance of the hall. Chu Tiange seized the opportunity to invite the princess in. Shortly after the princess took her seat, she started talking about the marriage alliance, directly asking if the Fourth Prince found her unworthy.

The Emperor quickly denied this, stating that Jun Beiyue should speak for himself. Jun Beiyue skillfully redirected the question to Han Ziqing. Chu Feiyan then bluntly stated that there could only be one princess consort, so they should simply dismiss the one currently in the position. Before the Fourth Prince could speak, Han Ziqing loudly agreed.

However, the Fourth Prince quietly whispered in Han Ziqing's ear that if this woman entered the mansion, Han Ziqing would never see that dagger again! After a brief moment of hesitation, Han Ziqing tearfully left her seat and knelt before the Fourth Prince, asking why he wanted to discard her! Jun Beiyue denied having such an idea, and the two put on a convincing display of marital harmony, which even Chu Feiyan found hard to watch.

Chu Feiyan then suggested a literary and martial competition with Han Ziqing. Although Jun Beiyue thought the competition unnecessary, the Emperor strongly supported it, leaving Han Ziqing with no choice but to accept. That night, Jun Beiyue's subordinate approached Han Ziqing, sincerely wishing for her victory, as Xiling's intentions were malicious, always aiming to seize the lands of the Three Realms.

The Emperor was pleased with the competition because it could weaken the Fourth Prince's power, so he earnestly requested the princess consort to do her best in the competition. Han Ziqing seemed to understand the situation. Hongyi also hoped for her victory, as failure would result in everyone becoming Chu Feiyan's maidservants! Later that night, Jun Beiyue also visited Han Ziqing. Han Ziqing asked him if Chu Feiyan would marry into the mansion if she lost.

She knew Jun Beiyue didn't want that, but he also understood that it might be inevitable. Han Ziqing then said that as long as she won, everything would be fine, but she had one condition: she wanted the dagger, not to keep it, but just to borrow it temporarily! Jun Beiyue agreed. The next day, the martial competition began. The contest included two parts: horseback riding and archery.

Chu Feiyan even raised the stakes, declaring that if she won, she would take Han Ziqing's hands; if she lost, she would give away ten thousand treasured horses. Han Ziqing accepted the challenge and raised the stakes further, stating that if she won, Xiling would never be allowed to set foot in the Three Realms! The Xiling envoy hesitated, but Han Ziqing used reverse psychology to force them into agreeing, and the competition was on!

At first, both sides were evenly matched, but soon, Han Ziqing's leg injury began to flare up. Although she managed to overcome it in time, she still fell behind, and everyone believed that Chu Feiyan was destined to win!

Han Ziqing fell far behind in the first half of the race. Her leg injury was still causing her trouble, and everyone present believed that Chu Feiyan would be the final winner. However, Han Ziqing quickly adjusted her condition, gradually closed the gap with Chu Feiyan, and even caught up to her. Then, as they crossed the obstacles, she surpassed Chu Feiyan.

Everyone was astonished, but Han Ziqing continued to spur her horse and ultimately secured victory in the first round! Everyone was happy for her, but only Jun Beiyue noticed Han Ziqing's leg injury. He brought her back to the tent, sent everyone else away, and then questioned her about the injury. Han Ziqing claimed it was from a bump while riding, but Jun Beiyue could tell it was a wound from a fight.

Han Ziqing avoided the topic, but cold sweat continued to drip from her forehead. Finally, Han Ziqing fainted, and Jun Beiyue immediately called for Old Gu to treat her. To his surprise, he discovered that Han Ziqing had already bandaged the wound herself. The Fourth Prince realized that Han Ziqing had been hiding many things from him. Just then, Eunuch Yin arrived to announce the content of the night's written exam, which involved shooting incense sticks while riding.

Jun Beiyue asked Han Ziqing if she could do it, and Han Ziqing said she couldn't. Jun Beiyue responded that he would closely watch to see what else she was hiding from him! On the other side, at the introduction of the Tenth Prince, the King listened to Xuanyuan Lige's qin playing and praised it repeatedly. Following the Second Prince's instructions, the Tenth Prince claimed in front of the King that he was the one who had invited Xuanyuan Lige.

The King was pleased, and later the Queen arrived. The Tenth Prince withdrew, and the Queen presented the iron arrows commonly used by the Xiling people, suggesting they be used in the competition. Initially, the King was concerned that Jun Beiyue might find it unfair, but the Queen subtly suggested that this could temper Jun Beiyue's sharpness, so the King agreed.

The Queen then whispered something else into the King's ear, calculating that this time, she would definitely strike a blow against Jun Beiyue. The competition arrived quickly. Unexpectedly, the King changed the rules, stating that instead of shooting at incense sticks, they would shoot at copper coins, and whoever hit the smallest coin would win. Chu Feiyan was shocked. As the competition officially began, both participants gave it their all.

Han Ziqing was the first to hit a copper coin, but just before her arrow struck the target, Chu Feiyan's arrow also landed, knocking Han Ziqing's arrow aside. In the end, the results on the target determined the outcome, and despite some people speaking up for Han Ziqing, Chu Feiyan still emerged victorious! Next came the written exam, and Han Ziqing genuinely lacked confidence, so she sought help from Jun Beiyue.

Jun Beiyue offered to teach her how to write poetry, but Han Ziqing, unable to grasp it, brushed it off and left. When the exam began, the Tenth Prince suggested that Xuanyuan Lige should set the topic, and the King agreed. The final test involved musical skills, with Xuanyuan Lige playing a new piece that the two contestants needed to perform together. Xuanyuan Lige's skills were exceptional, and neither contestant kept up in the first round.

In the second round, Chu Feiyan played blindly, impressing everyone with her ability to follow along. However, Han Ziqing still didn't start playing, though memories of her mother teaching her to play the qin kept surfacing in her mind. Han Ziqing began to suspect that she knew how to play this piece. In the third round, Han Ziqing finally began to play, and everyone marveled at the Fourth Princess's mastery of the qin.

Chu Feiyan wasn't fazed, as she had already made up her mind about the outcome, but Xuanyuan Lige declared Han Ziqing the winner. The first round was a tie, but Han Ziqing won the second and third rounds. Xuanyuan Lige explained that the second round wasn't suited for a duet, so Han Ziqing was correct not to play! Jun Beiyue then urged the King to announce the final result, declaring the Fourth Princess the winner!

The Xiling siblings were frustrated and prepared to leave, but Han Ziqing promptly reminded Jun Beiyue to fulfill his promise. Chu Tiange, suppressing his emotions, wrote the contract, and Jun Beiyue made sure he left his seal on it! The Second Prince quietly approached Xuanyuan Lige and questioned him about why he didn't judge the competition as instructed. Xuanyuan Lige replied that he only judged based on musical skill.

What no one knew was that the previous night, the Second Prince had met with Chu Tiange and promised that the Xiling ironclad soldiers could enter the city through a secret passage!

Han Ziqing sought out Shi Liang to inquire about the training of the battalion and learned that Gu Xi had been the most diligent in training and had fully mastered the method of using fire explosives. Han Ziqing was very pleased, inwardly hoping that Shi Liang and Gu Xi could become her trusted aides! Just then, Jun Beiyue arrived and asked her if this was what she meant by not knowing how to play the qin.

Han Ziqing couldn't explain it herself, but the moment her hands touched the qin, she could play. Jun Beiyue hadn't expected that Han Ziqing would use the wager to help him resolve the troubles of the Three Realms, but Han Ziqing was clear about her goal and directly asked Jun Beiyue for the dagger.

Jun Beiyue assured her that he would keep his promise and would present the dagger to her as a reward during the autumn hunt the next day. Han Ziqing was very satisfied, and the atmosphere between them was quite harmonious. However, they were unaware that the Second Prince had secretly summoned his uncle back to the royal city and was conspiring with Chu Tiange to execute a plan during the autumn hunt.

The next day during the autumn hunt, Han Ziqing was in a good mood, her eyes frequently glancing at the dagger on Jun Beiyue's waist, thinking that she could finally return to the real world today. However, the autumn hunt suddenly encountered trouble—an ambush! Jun Beiyue and Han Ziqing immediately joined the battle.

Han Ziqing noticed that Jun Beiyue was in a bad situation and thought to herself that she couldn't let anything happen to him, or she wouldn't get the dagger. So, when Jun Beiyue was surrounded, Han Ziqing intervened just in time to help. The two were forced to the edge of a cliff.

After obtaining the dagger, Han Ziqing didn't hesitate to open it, and then the two of them leaped off the cliff together, with Jun Beiyue protecting Han Ziqing the entire time! When Han Ziqing woke up, she fantasized that she had returned home, but when she turned around, she saw Jun Beiyue. Han Ziqing was very disappointed. Jun Beiyue thanked her for helping him, and Han Ziqing admitted that she had her own selfish reasons—it was to return home.

Jun Beiyue asked her if the home she was referring to was the royal residence or Xiangwang Mansion. Han Ziqing initially didn't want to say anything, but remembering how Jun Beiyue had protected her, she told him that her home wasn't in the Longyuan Continent. She had thought she had found a way back, but it didn't seem to work, which made Han Ziqing very upset.

Jun Beiyue told her that since she was here, she should make the best of it, and then he went to sleep. Han Ziqing thought that maybe after a night's sleep, things would be better, but the next day, nothing had changed. However, thinking that she should make the best of her situation, she felt more at ease. Jun Beiyue then gave her the dagger, asking only that she not hide anything from him in the future.

Han Ziqing, happy to be able to study the dagger, directly pledged her loyalty to the Fourth Prince. Jun Beiyue smiled, but in his heart, he had already accepted that she might be from the isolated island, given that there were too many suspicious points about Han Ziqing. Before Jun Beiyue could return, the Second Prince demanded control of the troops to confront the ironclad soldiers. The King hesitated, and the ministers also disagreed.

But at the critical moment, the enemy attacked again, and under the pressure of the situation, everyone sided with the Second Prince. The Second Prince secretly smirked. Chu Feiyan was displeased with her brother's actions, insisting that a marriage alliance was the best solution. Chu Tiange knew that she was doing this for Jun Beiyue, but he had his own grand plans and didn't want his sister to interfere.

Moreover, their father only wanted a result, leaving Chu Feiyan at a loss. Jun Beiyue's subordinates found him and informed him that the Second Prince was about to head to the military camp. After ensuring Han Ziqing was safe, the Fourth Prince immediately mounted his horse. By the time he reached the camp, the Second Prince had already arrived, but Sima Xun firmly refused to relinquish control of the troops. At the crucial moment, Jun Beiyue arrived just in time.

The Second Prince was shocked, and Jun Beiyue exposed his schemes. The Second Prince tried to claim it was by their father's order, but Jun Beiyue insisted they should settle the score properly! Meanwhile, Han Ziqing encountered an ambush by Chu Tiange. Chu Tiange burst into her carriage, but he underestimated her—he never expected Han Ziqing to stab him directly!

Chu Tiange underestimated his opponent, resulting in an injury. However, Han Ziqing was outnumbered, and in the end, she fell. At the critical moment, Xuanyuan Lige suddenly appeared and helped Han Ziqing repel Chu Tiange. His qin seemed to have a magical power; with just a few strums, he managed to control the enemy. Chu Tiange realized that this was the legendary sound-based killing technique!

Chu Tiange and Chu Feiyan continued their journey, but they encountered the Fourth Prince's men conducting a routine inspection. Chu Feiyan tried to stop them, but the soldiers insisted on checking. In the end, Chu Tiange pretended to be asleep, forcing the Fourth Prince's men to let them go, though they couldn’t help but wonder why the Fourth Princess was not in the carriage.

Meanwhile, the Second Prince was complaining about the Fourth Prince to the King, who was shocked that Jun Beiyue dared to defy his orders. Just then, Jun Beiyue entered and frankly stated that there was no great enemy at the border. He presented solid evidence and questioned why the Second Prince tried to seize his military power, revealing that his uncle had falsely reported military intelligence from the border.

The Second Prince panicked and hastily explained that he was only nervous upon hearing the alarming news and didn't know any better. The King, in his fury, declared that Ouyang should be beheaded as a warning to others! On Han Ziqing's side, Xuanyuan Lige rescued her and, while applying medicine, accidentally discovered that Han Ziqing had been poisoned with Mo Xun's poison! Seeing that the poison was taking effect, Xuanyuan Lige immediately used cold water to suppress it.

He began to suspect that Han Ziqing might have a body immune to all poisons, which made him think of the people from the isolated island. The Fourth Prince had yet to find Han Ziqing, and he inquired about Xuanyuan Lige's whereabouts. His subordinates reported that Xuanyuan Lige had already left the city, making it difficult to track him down.

They didn't find anything suspicious, but Lao Gu was worried that Han Ziqing's immunity to poisons could be exploited by someone with ill intentions. However, the Fourth Prince was confident in Han Ziqing's intelligence and believed she wouldn't be easily manipulated. The Queen and the Second Princess both pleaded with the King and the Fourth Prince, but the King refused to see them.

The Fourth Prince declared that if Han Ziqing couldn't be found, he would take everyone down with him! The King summoned the Fourth Prince, hinting that Ouyang had already been executed and that he claimed sole responsibility for the plot, exonerating the Second Prince. Understanding the King’s intentions, the Fourth Prince expressed his belief in the Second Prince, but pointed out that with the Fourth Princess still missing, it was clear that the visitors from Xiling had ill intentions.

He then volunteered to lead an expedition to Xiling, insisting that the Second Prince accompany him, which the King approved. When Han Ziqing awoke and saw Xuanyuan Lige, she immediately wanted to leave, but Xuanyuan Lige insisted on teaching her to play the qin. Han Ziqing was reluctant but couldn’t find a way out. She also realized that Xuanyuan Lige's qin could influence people's minds.

In the end, Han Ziqing agreed to learn the qin on the condition that for each song she mastered, Xuanyuan Lige would answer one of her questions. Xuanyuan Lige agreed. As Han Ziqing listened to him play, she was reminded of memories of her mother playing the qin, though she didn’t understand why. The Second Prince was preparing to set out and discussed with the Queen the possibility of using Nanzhao’s forces to eliminate Han Ziqing.

Meanwhile, Han Ziqing continued learning the qin, and Xuanyuan Lige kept his promise by answering her questions. This was how Han Ziqing first learned that Xuanyuan Lige was her mother's disciple and heard for the first time about her immunity to poisons and the isolated island people. Xuanyuan Lige promised to reveal more if she learned another song.

The Second Prince secretly arranged to meet Xuanyuan Lige, demanding Han Ziqing, but Xuanyuan Lige refused, revealing that he was the Crown Prince of Dongling. Their conversation was overheard by the Fourth Prince’s men! After receiving this information, the Fourth Prince ordered the Second Prince to lead the troops against Xiling. The King soon received news of the Second Prince’s defeat and retreat, causing him great anxiety, as he couldn’t figure out what Jun Beiyue was planning!

Meanwhile, Han Ziqing had a dream about her mother warning her not to remove a mask. She awoke in shock and discovered a totem on her face, identical to the one on the dagger. What could this mean?