Shang Ruoyi and the others were sitting on the low couch, eyes closed to rest. Every now and then, the coughs of the old princess could be heard.

After a while, Concubine Qin opened her eyes. Looking at He Jingheng's leg not far away, a trace of heartache flashed in her eyes. Then, thinking of her husband whose life and death were uncertain, she could no longer hold back her tears and began to cry softly.

Shang Ruoyi, who was a light sleeper, woke up immediately upon hearing Concubine Qin's sobs.

Guessing the reason for her crying, Shang Ruoyi furrowed her brows slightly. She wanted to offer words of comfort but didn't know how. Her previous - life occupation had made her accustomed to relying on herself. Whether it was hardship or pain, she dealt with all emotions on her own. So, consoling others was really something she wasn't good at.

Just as she was about to wake He Jingheng up, she noticed that his forehead was covered in large beads of sweat, his face was deathly pale, and his lips were faintly purple.

This was poisoning!

Shang Ruoyi quickly got up and rushed to He Jingheng's side. Grabbing his wrist, her face changed abruptly.

She couldn't feel a pulse!

His body was as if frozen.

She filled a water bag with spiritual spring water and fed him a few sips.

After a moment, his body seemed less cold, and his pulse gradually returned, though it was beating extremely slowly.

He Jingheng fell into a coma.

Shang Ruoyi's movements were not large and didn't wake the others, but Concubine Qin saw everything clearly.

"Ruoyi, what's wrong with Heng'er?" She wiped away her tears and asked softly.

"Judging from the situation, he should have been poisoned," she said, placing her hand on his wrist. Her brows knitted tighter. Judging from the pulse, there were no signs of poisoning.

However, if it wasn't poisoning, how could he suddenly become like this?

"Poisoned?" Concubine Qin covered her mouth in horror, and her tears flowed even more profusely. "What should we do? My Heng'er."

"Mother, don't cry. For now, it seems there's no danger to his life. Let's wait until he wakes up and then ask him," Shang Ruoyi said. While taking his pulse, she could feel that his body was gradually recovering. Presumably, he wouldn't be unconscious for long.

Upon hearing this, Concubine Qin gradually stopped crying and nodded. "Ruoyi, your mother has never been one to make decisions since she was a child. In her parents' home, she listened to her parents. After getting married, she listened to your grandmother and the prince. Now that the Dingguo Prince's Mansion is in trouble, your mother doesn't know what to do. Your mother sees that you're a decisive person. From now on, this family will be in your hands."

Shang Ruoyi smiled. "Mother, before getting married, I was just a concubine - born daughter. The First Lady, my step - mother, never taught me about household affairs. So, I know nothing about managing a family. Besides, there aren't any household affairs to deal with at the moment. Mother, you should still be in charge of the family."

Concubine Qin nodded. "All right. Then, when we reach the place of exile, I'll hand over the power of managing the household to you." Concubine Qin looked at He Jingheng, her eyes filled with deep concern.

The journey ahead was long, and whether the people of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion could reach the place of exile alive was uncertain.

Shang Ruoyi didn't respond. When they reached the place of exile, she was even less likely to take over the power of managing the household. She had told He Jingheng that they would get divorced when they arrived there.

Concubine Qin held her hand and talked for a long time. Only when sleepiness came over her did she gradually fall asleep.

Late at night, when He Jingheng slowly woke up from his coma, he found himself leaning against Shang Ruoyi. Warmth radiated from her body. No wonder the pain this time was much less than before.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

As soon as He Jingheng made a slight movement, Shang Ruoyi woke up.

"Sorry for waking you."

"It's all right." Shang Ruoyi looked at his appearance and expression and could tell that he was aware of his poisoning. She said in a deep voice, "What kind of poison did you get?"

"Years ago, when attacking a small border country, I was poisoned by their national teacher. The poison is called Ice Bones. On the first night of each month, all the bones in my body feel as if they're being frozen. I'll lose consciousness briefly. Usually, at this time of the month, I would go outside to avoid worrying my father and mother. But in the current situation, I seem to have nowhere to go. You need to cover for me in front of my mother," He Jingheng said, looking at Concubine Qin and the old princess. "Although I'm my mother's biological son, I grew up in the military camp and didn't spend much time in the prince's mansion. I'm not very close to my mother."

"She already knows," Shang Ruoyi said softly. "She saw you when the poison attack."

He Jingheng's brows furrowed briefly. "If she asks you, just say it's not serious."

"Okay."

He had just said they weren't close, but actually, he didn't want her to worry.

Shang Ruoyi, who had planned to rest in the space, unconsciously fell asleep leaning against He Jingheng.

Early the next morning, before dawn, Shang Ruoyi was awakened by the mechanical voice in the space.

"Number of living beings increased. Space upgraded."

Upgraded again?

Shang Ruoyi's consciousness immediately entered the space. The white tiger quickly ran over and circled around her. She stroked its tiger head and smiled. "Have you grown taller in just one day?"

The space said the number of living beings increased. Could it be that the rabbit gave birth?

Sure enough, when she pushed aside the grass, several small rabbits were sleeping under the mother rabbit's belly. They were soft, tiny, and extremely cute. So, this could also make the space upgrade.

I wonder what new function has been added this time?

Suddenly, the crowing of a rooster was heard in her ears.

Chicken?

She hadn't raised any chickens in the space.

Could it be...

She quickly walked forward. The space had actually added a livestock area.

A dozen chickens and ducks were eating inside.

There were also a few eggs in the nest.

With these, there was no need to worry about food.

She picked up the eggs. Perhaps due to the space's influence, she found that these eggs were much larger than those outside. There was no pot in the space, otherwise, she would have liked to boil one immediately. She couldn't remember how long it had been since she last ate an egg.

Just then, she sensed that people in the room were waking up one by one. She quickly left the space and slowly opened her eyes. He Yunyi walked up to her and smiled. "Sister - in - law, you woke up the latest today."

"I might be a bit tired these days."

As soon as she finished speaking, the door was pushed open from the outside.

"You inside, come out quickly," the post - station guard said with a frown and a deep voice. "I really don't know what Zhang Hu was thinking. They're just prisoners, yet he gave them a separate room."

When they walked out of the post station, the other prisoners were already in the courtyard. The second - branch of the He family looked at them coming out and felt extremely resentful.

Zhang said with a dark face, "Look at them, all looking refreshed after a good sleep. We're all prisoners, but we had to sleep in that dirty and stinky place while they got to sleep separately. I really don't know what Shang Ruoyi did to make those guards so bewitched."

Her voice was not low, and the surrounding prisoners heard her clearly. They began to suspect that there must be some improper relationship between Shang Ruoyi and the guards. Otherwise, why would the guards give the He family special treatment?