The daughter of the Marquis is too delicate, the abstinent prince pinches her waist and loves her

Chapter 151 Amidst the Clinking of Glasses

As soon as Ye Jinchen finished speaking, a cup of wine was placed on Ye Jingnian's table. Pei Xuan respectfully said, "Your Highness, please have some."

Ye Jingnian's eyes darkened, and his fingers tightened suddenly on the armrest, his knuckles turning white.

A white jade wine glass was handed to him, and as the wine swayed, it reflected Ye Jingnian's instantly gloomy face.

Damn...

He stared at the glass of wine. The snow cabbage was colorless and tasteless. Anyone who drank it would die instantly, but Ye Jinchen drank a glass and was unharmed.

But this cup presented to him...

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Duke Bai, who was sweating profusely and tapping his fingers haphazardly on the armrest.

"What?" Ye Jinchen raised an eyebrow. "The Crown Prince doesn't dare to drink?"

All eyes of the guests turned to him.

"Your Highness," Zhi Xing suddenly spoke softly, gazing at the fine wine in her cup, and bowed gently, saying, "It's not poisonous."

A fleeting glint of darkness flashed in Ye Jingnian's eyes.

"Uncle, you jest." He suddenly revealed that unruly yet dangerous smile he used to have, took the wine cup, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

The moment the wine entered his throat, Duke Bai's heart leaped into his throat.

"Clang." The wine glass was placed back on the table. Ye Jingnian's fingertips caressed the rim of the glass as he said, "It is indeed good wine."

Seeing a few beads of sweat on Ye Jingnian's temples from nervousness, Ye Jinchen couldn't help but sneer.

He was probably unaware that word of the poisoning had already leaked out, and that the wine pot that Prime Minister Li presented to him was secretly concealed.

The musicians in the hall played the "Rainbow Feather Dress Dance," and twelve dancers dressed in moon-white gauze dresses gracefully entered the stage.

As her flowing sleeves fluttered, the butterfly pattern embroidered with silver thread shimmered under the candlelight, making her appear like a fairy descending from the moon palace.

Bai Muling slowly rose, supported by her maid's hand. The gilded hairpin shimmered with a luxurious light under the candlelight.

She carried a jade cup filled with dew and walked gracefully to Sheng Yunqing's desk.

"Miss Sheng," she said with a smile, her fingertips lightly stroking her protruding belly, "I've heard that Sansheng Hall has recently acquired a century-old snow ginseng, which is extremely nourishing. I've been feeling short of breath lately, I wonder..."

"Your Highness is joking. That snow ginseng is very potent and should not be taken during pregnancy." Sheng Yunqing raised her eyes, a smile that did not reach her eyes, and said, "You mustn't harm me."

As soon as she finished speaking, Bai Muling gritted her teeth and said, "Miss Sheng, what are you thinking? I am not proficient in medical skills, and this is the first time I have heard that pregnant women cannot eat snow ginseng."

Sheng Yunqing smiled faintly, touched his sleeve, and said, "If Your Majesty trusts Yunqing, when we return to Sansheng Hall, Yunqing will get you some medicine to help with your pregnancy."

Bai Muling's eyes turned cold: "Thank you for your trouble."

She extended her hand in front of her and said, "May I take your pulse?"

Sheng Yunqing nodded slightly, without refusing, and gently placed his hand on her wrist to check her pulse. After a moment, he said, "Your Majesty's pregnancy is stable, and there is nothing to worry about."

Upon hearing this, Bai Muling gave a cold snort, her eyes flickered, and she looked as if she was about to slam her hand on the table.

Sheng Yunqing stood up alertly, coldly supporting Bai Muling, and said, "Your Highness, please be careful."

Their gazes clashed in the air until the Empress Dowager coughed lightly in displeasure.

"This is my birthday banquet, can't you all just keep quiet?"

After he finished speaking, the two stood apart and bowed respectfully.

After Bai Muling returned to her seat, Sheng Yunqing was also sullen and angry.

The thought of the Empress Dowager's favoritism towards Bai Muling made her furious.

"Yunqing." A slender hand covered the back of her hand. Sheng Yunqing turned her head, and Li Zhiwan beside her smiled gently, saying, "It feels a bit stuffy here. I heard that the peonies in the Imperial Garden are in bloom. Would you like to come with me to admire the flowers?"

Upon hearing this, Sheng Yunqing nodded and left with her.

Duke Bai glanced at Bai Muling and pushed the wine pot off the table.

The guard beside her understood and presented it to Bai Muling.

Bai Muling glanced at the familiar-looking guard, then looked at Duke Bai, who subtly pointed his gaze at the wine pot.

Bai Muling looked at the note hidden on the wine pot, unfolded it, and read: "Respectfully addressed to the Empress Dowager."

She understood, put the note back into her sleeve, picked up the wine pot and stood up. She walked slowly to the Empress Dowager with her head down and said with a smile, "Grandmother, this is a fine wine brewed by the Duke's Mansion using flowers from a hundred different plants. I am presenting it to you at the birthday banquet."

Seeing her obedient appearance, the Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction.

Ye Jinchen paused slightly in his cup, then looked up and said, "According to ancestral rules, when the Crown Princess offers a toast, the Crown Prince should taste it first."

The room fell silent instantly.

Ye Jingnian abruptly stopped playing with his wine glass, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.

He knew all too well the meaning behind this ancestral rule—if there was anything unusual in the wine, it would mean that he, the crown prince, would die first.

"Seventh Imperial Uncle is overthinking it." He suddenly smiled. "Given the relationship between the Crown Princess and the Empress Dowager, is such a complicated matter really necessary?"

Ye Jinchen raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Ancestral rules cannot be followed."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager withdrew her hand from the wine cup and looked at Ye Jingnian with her cloudy eyes: "Your seventh uncle is right."

Bai Muling felt a chill in her heart, and her curled lips slowly fell. Did he suspect her?

She exhaled softly and said with a smile, "Yes, Your Highness, I will have it tasted right away."

When Bai Muling walked up to Ye Jingnian, he stared at the swaying wine and frowned slightly.

He glanced at Ye Jinchen, who was staring at him. Why was he so insistent on making him drink this wine?
There was no poison in Ye Jinchen's wine, so could it be that the cup in front of him...?

"Your Highness, is there a problem?" Ye Jingnian's hesitant appearance displeased the Empress Dowager.

Ye Jingnian glanced at Zhi Xing beside him. With the Empress Dowager watching, she dared not pass on any more messages to him.

He snatched the wine jug and, amidst gasps of surprise, tilted his head back and drank it down. As his Adam's apple bobbed, some wine slid down his neck and into his collar.

"boom!"

The empty wine pot slammed heavily onto the table. Ye Jingnian licked the wine stains from his lips, a bloodshot glint in his eyes: "Good wine."

Everyone stared at his collar, which was soaked with wine. If it were poison, it should have taken effect by now.

Ye Jinfeng chuckled lightly, trying to smooth things over, and said, "Your Highness, this is the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. You mustn't be so arrogant. If you finish your drink, what will the Empress Dowager drink?"

Bai Muling turned around, and on the tray sat a wine glass that had just been filled.

"Grandmother, His Highness was indulging in wine. Look, he even left a cup."

After Bai Muling finished toasting the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager's expression softened considerably. She raised her hand to stroke Bai Muling's belly and said, "Take good care of yourself. I can't wait to hold my great-grandchild."

Bai Muling nodded and smiled, "Yes."

Back in his seat, Ye Jingnian said coldly, "Go for a walk."

Bai Muling raised her beautiful eyebrows: "What?"

Ye Jingnian's voice was low and deep, revealing his undisguised displeasure: "Don't let the Empress Dowager become suspicious of you. Are you just giving her something to hold against you by sitting here? Get out."

Bai Muling bit her lip in annoyance, raised her chin slightly, and said, "Fine, I want Zhixing to accompany me."