The princess regretted it.

Chapter 296: Visiting Concubine Chun at Lanxin Palace

After breakfast, Jin'an took Hanshuang and Ziyun to the Lanxin Palace, Concubine Chun's current residence. As soon as he entered the palace, he was acutely aware of the stark contrast to the chaotic and miserable scene of the previous night. Within the palace walls, unfamiliar yet capable servants shuffled by, some sweeping the floor with whisks in hand, others hurried by with implements in hand. They appeared to be performing their duties, but in reality, their eyes shone with vigilance, quietly guarding the grounds. Outside, the Imperial Guards, standing tall as pine trees, their armor gleaming coldly in the morning light, patrolled in unison, their steps steady and powerful, each step a touch of human strength, a deterrent to potential miscreants.

Looking further inside, Doctor Fang had already been properly settled in a corner of the palace. All kinds of rare medicinal materials were neatly stacked, and medical instruments were arranged in order. He himself never left for a moment. It seemed that the emperor was worried that someone would find flaws from the doctor, which would be detrimental to the fetus in Concubine Chun's belly.

Han Shuang quietly approached Jin An's side, lowered her voice, and whispered, "Princess, there are still many masters hiding in the dark. Their auras are concealed very skillfully. If it weren't for my keen perception cultivated over the years, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to detect them at all."

Jin An nodded slightly, secretly admiring his father's meticulous arrangements. But at the same time, the long-forgotten string deep in his heart was quietly plucked, and a trace of unspeakable bitterness emerged.

Her thoughts seemed to travel back in time, back to those difficult days. When her mother and brother were bedridden, her father, though worried, was far less attentive and attentive than he is now. Back then, the palace always felt somewhat cold and lonely, medical supplies were often delayed, and the attendants were inevitably a bit lazy.

At that moment, an indescribable strange emotion surged in her heart, and she couldn't help but think to herself: If my father had been so attentive and caring, wouldn't my mother and brother have been struck down by the disease so easily? Perhaps the trajectory of their fate would have been changed because of this?

But the thought was fleeting, like a meteor streaking across the night sky. She then gently shook her head, as if to completely dispel this inappropriate thought. She had witnessed the pain her father had endured over the years. Furthermore, his love for her was genuine. Concubine Chun was also her own choice for him after careful consideration. Therefore, protecting Concubine Chun and her unborn child was the top priority, and no distraction was allowed.

At that moment, Concubine Chun leaned weakly against the headboard of the bed, her face, pale as a sheet, made even more so by the plain brocade quilt she wore. Her delicate fingers gently grasped the porcelain bowl, having just finished a difficult gulp of the abortion-preserving medicine. She then passed the bowl to Gan Cao, who waited nearby with a look of concern on his face.

Compared to the frightened look of last night, Consort Chun's complexion had improved slightly, but she still couldn't hide her haggard appearance. Her eye sockets were sunken, dark circles beneath them, and her eyes were filled with fatigue and panic, like a frightened deer still recovering from a nightmare. It was obvious that she must have slept very restlessly last night.

Just as she was in a trance, Concubine Chun looked up and saw Princess Jin'an walking in. She tried hard to pull the corners of her mouth, forcing a slightly far-fetched smile, and her voice was soft and a little weak: "Princess, you are here!"

Seeing this, Jin An quickly responded with a warm and gentle smile. He walked lightly to Chun Guiren's bedside and said softly, "Are you feeling better today, Guiren?"

The excitement in Gancao's eyes was evident when she saw Princess Jin'an. If it weren't for Princess Jin'an and Ye Yi, they and their master might not have escaped safely last night. After escaping, she felt especially grateful to the princess who had saved her life. She bowed respectfully to Jin'an and then left to make tea for him.

"Much better!" Concubine Chun bowed slightly, wanting to sit more upright to show respect, but she was too weak, so she had to give up. Her tone was still gentle, "Princess, please sit down!"

Jin An sat down gracefully on the chair beside the bed. She had thought it through last night. She came here today to ask Concubine Chun and the people around her if they had found any suspicious people or unusual things around the courtyard recently, so as to find out the mastermind as soon as possible and maintain peace in the harem.

So, after sitting down, Jin An exchanged a few pleasantries, his eyes filled with concern, like the warm spring sun. "My dear, are you used to living here? Something happened suddenly last night, and Concubine Cen had no choice but to temporarily place you here. If you need anything or have any inconveniences, please have Nanny Su contact the Ministry of Internal Affairs directly and have them make appropriate arrangements. Your health is very important now, so you must not let yourself suffer any injustice."

"Thank you for your concern, Princess." Concubine Chun gently took Jin'an's hand, her eyes full of gratitude, as if she had found support. "His Majesty has made all the arrangements. Now the imperial physician only allows me to rest in bed. Even if I move to another palace, I will just lie in bed." Although there was a bit of self-mockery in her words, trying to ease the solemn atmosphere, the loneliness and fear in her eyes still quietly revealed.

Although she had calmed down somewhat after last night's terrifying life-or-death experience, the fear etched in her heart was not something she could dissipate overnight. The heat and smoke of the fire haunted her, terrifying her as if she were trapped in a sea of inferno, unable to escape. Furthermore, the thought of someone so cruelly wanting to kill her and her child sent chills down her spine.

Seeing that she seemed to be lost in thought again, Jin An quickly spoke again, "Did your Excellency hear or see anything special last night?"

"Special?" Concubine Chun frowned slightly at Jin'an's words, her eyes straining as she recalled the events. After a moment, she gently shook her head, a hint of resignation in her eyes, and whispered, "The weather's getting colder, so I usually retire early. Last night... I didn't hear or see anything unusual."

At this moment, Gancao walked in with a cup of brewed tea. The teacup contained neither the usual scented tea nor the carefully prepared medicinal tea. Because the courtyard was still blocked and inspected by the Imperial Guards, many items were difficult to retrieve for the time being. Naturally, there was no way to go back and sort out the things in the palace or prepare the medicinal tea that Concubine Chun always loved.

When Concubine Chun saw Gancao, she asked casually, "Gancao, did you hear or see anything unusual last night? This matter concerns everyone's safety, so you must tell the truth."

Gancao placed the teacup in his hand steadily on the table next to Jin'an. After hearing Chun Guiren's question, he paused, stood aside, frowned, and fell into deep memories.