Around dusk, Nan Chengyao returned to his room. When he saw him coming in, he bowed slightly and retreated from the room.

  When there was no one in the house, he opened his mouth and asked softly: "How does the princess feel?"

  I smiled slightly: "After taking medicine and sleeping for an afternoon, I'm much better now."

  He nodded, and I looked at the faint blue color at the bottom of his eyes, and couldn't help but speak softly: "It's you, Your Highness, who should take a good rest."

  He smiled, suddenly leaned in close to my ear and whispered ambiguously, his voice slightly husky, making it even more enchanting: "This is what the princess said, later on, don't regret it."

  As he spoke, his fingers trailed along the curve of my long hair and neck, slowly stroking downwards.

  Although I understand that he is teasing me again, I still can't help but slightly blush and turn my body to the side: "Your Highness, I'm telling the truth."

  He smiled and looked at me: "I'm also telling the truth, what's wrong, doesn't the princess believe it?"

  I felt a bit helpless and immediately decided to change the subject: "Your Highness went out early this morning, have you taken care of everything?"

  It was an unintentional remark, but as soon as the words left his mouth, his own heart sank suddenly.

  He went out early in the morning, mostly for Dong Ming's affairs.

  He grunted a response, didn't say much else, but the smile on his lips gradually faded.

  I took a deep breath, looked straight into his eyes and asked softly: "Your Highness, what do you plan to do with Dong Ming?"

  He quietly looked at me and said only four words, his voice devoid of any emotion: "Treason will be punished."

  My heart chilled and my voice couldn't help but tremble: "Your Highness means that he has already..."

  It's gotten to the point where there's nothing more to say.

  He glanced at me faintly and then spoke: "Not yet, but it's only a matter of time, the crime is unforgivable."

  I nodded slightly, lowered my eyes and stopped talking.

  He looked at me for a long time, finally got up and came to my front: "The law is like a mountain, the plot should be punished, it has nothing to do with you, don't think too much, the military doctor also said that you can't think too deeply."

  I forced a smile and nodded, putting my hand in his outstretched palm, letting him wrap his arm around my waist as we walked to the room together.

  "The princess has retired for the night; I'll summon someone to attend you to bed."

  "I couldn't help but turn my head and look at him: 'Your Highness isn't resting yet?'"

  He smiled: "I'd like to, but the princess is injured, I don't want to."

  I was in a melancholy mood that was hard to dispel, but he interrupted me like this and I couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

  Without saying a word, he smiled faintly and leaned over to kiss me on the cheek: "I'm going to take someone to explore the northern desert road tonight, I won't be back until tomorrow."

  I was taken aback, intending to say something, but suddenly changed my mind and stopped myself, forcing a calm smile as I looked up at him and said softly: "Be careful, Your Highness."

  I watched his back disappear into the night, then listened to the sound of horse hooves fading away. I closed my eyes, calmed myself for a moment, and turned to face the little maid who had been serving me: "I have a bit of a headache, would you trouble yourself to get some wine for me? Also, bring over one dose of the medicine from the prescription the military doctor wrote out during the day. No need to decoct it."

  The little girl went out at the sound of her voice and soon brought it back. I thanked her, chatted with her for a few words, and then sent her off.

  I closed the door, and slowly opened the medicine package. I remembered that among them were Nan Yang Jin Hua and Gui Zhi Xiang, which, if ground into powder and mixed with warm wine, would make a very good anesthetic.

  I cast aside all distractions from my mind, warm wine and grind medicine, not allowing myself to think too much.

  At this moment, I only need to remember the care and maintenance of all kinds on the long road from Shangjing to Mo Bei, only need to remember the warmth of the hand warmer under the city wall of Ye Cheng, only need to remember that he saved my life, that's it.

  When everything was ready, it was already mid-month. The wound on my palm hurt and throbbed with pain, but I couldn't care about these things. After a moment of contemplation, I called out to the little maid waiting outside: "Today's weather is extremely cold, and there are still many soldiers on duty at the government office. Go get some wine and bring it with me to warm them up."

  That little servant was very efficient and soon brought several people carrying wine jars over. I picked up the warm wine that had been mixed on the table, smiled warmly and said: "Nowadays, the imperial court's most wanted criminals are being held in the great prison, and the guards are working hard, so let's go there with me first."

  As we settled in at the government office of Ye City, the dungeon was right underneath us. We walked past it from our room and didn't waste too much time.

  At this moment, the prison only held Dong Ming alone, so there were only two guards standing guard. Seeing me bring a group of maids in, they hastily stood up and saluted: "Your humble servants have seen the Third Princess!"

  I smiled warmly: "Dong Ming is a wanted criminal of the imperial court, please be more vigilant. It's cold and frosty today, you two have worked hard. I brought a pot of warm wine to keep you warm."

  I personally placed that jug of wine on the table in front of them, and those two attendants naturally declined with a look of being honored. I smiled slightly: "It's just a thin wine, compared to your dedication to the imperial court, it's nothing. Don't decline, Your Highness still has to send wine to other generals."

  In this way, the two of them gratefully accepted it. I lowered my eyelids to cover up the guilt inside and turned around to leave, continuing to have the maids distribute the wine in their hands to other guards.

  After walking around the government office in Ye City, I returned to my room and estimated that the medicine should be taking effect soon. I told the little maid that I wanted to calm down and read a book, and sent her off to sleep first.

  It wasn't until I heard her footsteps fade away for a while that I got up, took the wine jug from the table and pushed open the door.

  The wine jug was actually empty, but with this prop in hand, the guards outside the gate did not raise much suspicion due to my previous act of sending wine, and they couldn't ask or block me because of my identity, so I was able to go all the way down to the dungeon without any obstruction.

  Those two bailiffs had already fallen to the ground and lost consciousness, I slightly closed my eyes, but since it was a matter that had already been decided, any further hesitation would be futile. With a determined heart, I stepped forward and took down a whole string of prison door keys from one of them.

  As he walked on, in a cell at the corner was Dong Ming.

  He sat with his eyes closed, looking arrogant and proud, not even opening his eyes when he heard the sound. I let out a soft sigh in my heart, but didn't call out to him, instead quietly trying the keys one by one.

  The sound of the lock opening had been going on for a while, and it finally startled him. He suddenly opened his eyes, saw me, and was shocked, blurting out in surprise: "Is that you?!"

  At this very moment, the key in my hand "clicked" and opened the lock, and the prison door creaked open.

  I looked at him, didn't go forward, just calmly smiled and opened my mouth: "Dong Ge, it was you who saved Murong Qing's life on the city wall of Ye Cheng, now it's my turn to save you."

  Dong Ming stood up, walked over with big strides, but suddenly stopped at a distance of two or three steps from me: "You came secretly with Nan Chengyao, didn't you? If I let you go, how will you explain it to him?"

  I was taken aback, Nan Chengyao is the enemy who killed his father and destroyed his family, he naturally should hate him, but, Nan Chengyao is also my husband, however at this moment he is facing me, although his expression is complex, there is no hatred, the words he spoke are not suspicious, and even have a few hints of consideration for me, I was momentarily unsure of how to face him.

  He glanced at me, turned his head and spoke with a complex tone: "It was originally my Dong family who owed you first, and the blame is on ourselves. But understanding is one thing, I just can't help but not hate you at all."

  I took a deep breath and then spoke softly: "Brother Dong, you don't need to say anything else, I understand. If Brother Dong still trusts me, let's go with me."

  He smiled wistfully: "Even Chen San is dead, I'm just a worthless life, what's worth the princess making fun of me? If it weren't for Father's heartfelt hope that the Dong family could at least leave behind a breath of bloodline, even if I died here, there would be nothing to worry about."

  As he spoke, he stepped out of the door.

  I'm in a difficult situation, but I forced myself to speak warmly: "Dong brother, the guards outside are unconscious now. If you put on their clothes and follow me out, there will be some risk involved, but I've already set up a plan to minimize that risk. And after all, I am still the third princess of the imperial court. Even if the guards outside have doubts, they shouldn't dare to cause trouble. However, Dong brother, although I say so, I don't dare guarantee the final outcome."

  He stared at me for a long time, then slowly opened his mouth: "If the princess can hand over to Nan Chengyao, in this big prison, I know there is a secret passage that can directly lead to the outside of Ye City government office."

  I felt a sense of relief and immediately spoke up, "Since Brother Dong has said so, he must have a way to get out, so I can rest assured. You don't need to worry about me, I've already made some arrangements, no one will suspect me. Besides, even if they find out, I'm the princess consort of the third prince and the daughter of the current prime minister, nothing will happen to me."

  He looked at me deeply, then said nothing, turned around and walked towards the depths of the cell, fiddled with a seemingly ordinary wall corner for a while, and then on that wall, a small door was pushed open, only enough for one person.

  He didn't turn his head, only a low voice came: "The Third Princess followed without any precautions, aren't you worried that I'll use you as a hostage to save my own life, or take advantage of you to seek revenge against Nan Chengyao?"

  I saw his hand leaning against the wall, faintly restrained and forceful, with blue veins all over, I knew that not a single thought had flashed through his mind.

  At such a moment, one thought can make you become Buddha, and another thought can make you become devil.

  I was very clear that I absolutely could not retreat a single step, nor show even half a hint of panic or regret. So I simply opened my mouth softly, with a calm and peaceful tone, carrying a faint persistence: "If you were such a person, then at the beginning in Ye City's city tower, you would not have left Mu Rong Qing alive. Today, I also wouldn't have had the opportunity to do something for you. But... even if Big Brother Dong really did that, Mu Rong Qing will absolutely not regret what he has done today."

  After a long silence, he still didn't turn around, and I remained standing in place, not retreating a single step.

  Then, he finally let go, turned his back to me and spoke in a hoarse and tired voice: "Third Princess, we part ways today, probably never to meet again in this life. Great kindness doesn't need thanks, Princess, take care!"

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