Even the crown prince is getting a marriage of convenience? Why are you in such a hurry to stop bein

Xiao Lie's cheeks were slightly flushed from drinking, his eyes were half-closed, but his eyes were clear and there was no sign of drunkenness.

He casually tapped his fingers twice on the table and gave a low command.

"Follow her and see what Lin Wan'er is up to."

Sixteen silently responded, took a few steps back, and quietly left the banquet when no one was paying attention.

A secluded corner of the garden.

Lin Wan'er's eyes reddened slightly as she nestled into the man's arms, her heart filled with longing and tenderness.

"Your Highness, Wan'er thought she would never see you again."

"How could that be? Wan'er, don't worry. Just bear with it for a little longer. When I find an opportunity, I will definitely bring you out of that hellhole of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion."

"really?"

"That's absolutely true. Would I lie to you?"

Having received the man's promise, Lin Wan'er finally smiled. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed herself closer to his chest, intimately close as if they were one. However, the man frowned slightly at her actions, his body stiffened slightly, and a hint of irritation and disgust flashed in his eyes.

Xiao Lie was deeply in love with Lin Wan'er, and having spent so much time with her, it was inevitable...

Noticing the man's stiffness, Lin Wan'er tilted her head slightly and parted her red lips.

"What's wrong, Your Highness?"

Her body was supple, and her soft breasts pressed against the Prince of Kang without reservation, a boldness and unrestraint never seen before.

Prince Kang's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth. "Wan'er, you've been with him in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion for so long, could it be...?"

If that's the case, he can no longer bring Lin Wan'er into his household. He is of noble birth, and even if he likes her, he shouldn't be enjoying someone else's secondhand goods.

Lin Wan'er's body stiffened, and she panicked. She could only lower her eyes hastily to hide the expression in them.

"How could that be? Wan'er and he are completely innocent and have never overstepped any boundaries. Your Highness, have you heard some rumors? Otherwise, why would you doubt Wan'er?"

Her words were sweet, but Prince Kang stared intently at the faint, ambiguous red mark on her neck, unable to recover for a long time. The man's hand, which was holding her waist, tightened.

He pulled Lin Wan'er into his arms, rested his chin on the top of her head, and stroked it a few times, his tone becoming increasingly heavy.

"Wan'er, rest assured, I naturally trust you."

This scene was witnessed by the dark figure lurking in the crevice of the rock.

Soon, the shadowy figure quietly returned and told Xiao Lie everything he had just seen.

Xiao Lie raised an eyebrow, not too surprised by Lin Wan'er's secret meeting with Prince Kang. What surprised him was that Lin Wan'er, after being taught a lesson by him so many times, still had the audacity to conspire with Prince Kang to poison him.

His eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of coldness flashing in them.

"It seems... the lesson she learned wasn't profound enough."

Otherwise, how could she still not have learned the meaning of "obediently listen"?

……

"Your Highness, this is a white fungus and pear soup that the Crown Princess personally prepared. It's excellent for soothing the throat, relieving coughs, nourishing yin, and moisturizing the lungs. Please try it."

The little maidservant held the pear soup, her voice crisp and clear. If Xiao Lie hadn't known about their scheme beforehand, he probably would have been completely fooled.

The young man picked up the soup bowl, his fingertips lightly tracing the inside of the bowl. He stared at it for a moment, then suddenly smiled, his tone flippant.

"This pear soup is indeed very well made, but I don't like sweets, so I'll give you this bowl of pear soup."

The maidservant trembled, her face turned deathly pale, and the next second she knelt down in panic, prostrating herself on the ground, shivering.

"This servant is of lowly status and dares not touch the things that my master enjoys."

Xiao Lie frowned slightly, his displeasure evident. "If I say you can drink, then you can drink."

Seeing that the maid was about to speak again, his displeasure became even more apparent.

"You're making such a fuss over a bowl of pear soup? Is there something added to it that makes you so disgusted?"

The young maid trembled even more violently and quickly kowtowed.

"Your Highness, this servant had no such intention. I beg... I beg Your Highness to see the truth."

"Look at you. I was just joking with you, and you're already so frightened. It makes me look like some kind of man-eating demon. Since you don't want to, then take the pear soup back."

"Send...send it back?"

The young maid stammered, looking bewildered.

Xiao Lie's smile deepened. "Yes, since the Crown Princess is so thoughtful, let her enjoy it. Otherwise, she might focus all her attention on me and neglect herself."

The maidservant was trembling uncontrollably. After a long silence, the young man at the head of the table clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"If you can't even handle this small matter, you're truly useless."

He summoned Sixteen and asked him to make the trip himself.

"Make sure you watch the Crown Princess finish drinking it."

A bead of cold sweat slid down the maid's forehead, making her tremble even more violently.

In Qingzhi Courtyard, Lin Wan'er was incredulous.

"What do you mean?"

"The Crown Prince said that the Princess Consort works hard and takes care of the Prince wholeheartedly, so she may neglect herself. The Crown Prince instructed his subordinates to watch over you and make sure you drink every last drop."

Lin Wan'er trembled and staggered, collapsing into a chair. Sixteen, however, approached silently with a bowl in hand, as if he would force her to drink it if she refused.

Lin Wan'er's face was deathly pale, and she forced a smile.

"I...I don't really feel like drinking sweet soup lately."

"What a coincidence, His Highness hasn't wanted sweet soup lately either. If neither of you wants it, then someone has to drink it. Why don't you make do with it, Princess Consort?"

Even if Lin Wan'er was slow to realize, the person who came today was not friendly.

She stared coldly at Sixteen, trying to appear calm.

Why?

"Why? Why?"

"I was merely worried that Your Highness was unwell, so I specially brought you a bowl of sweet soup. Why must Your Highness embarrass me like this?"

"Then you'll have to ask the Crown Princess what she did... Under the artificial hill, by the lotus pond, does Your Highness want me to explain further, make it even clearer?"

Lin Wan'er's questioning was merely a show of bravado; now that she had been exposed, all her strength vanished, and she slumped into her chair, drenched in cold sweat.

"Please, Your Highness, Princess Consort."

Lin Wan'er glared at him with tears in her eyes, then gritted her teeth and drank the soup in one gulp.

After she finished drinking, a while later, Lin Wan'er slumped weakly in her chair, nothing had happened. Sixteen scratched his head, somewhat unsure what had occurred. Xiao Lie, however, vaguely understood.

"Find a physician from the prefecture who is good at keeping quiet, and have him examine her."

Before long, the royal physician arrived and examined her, but he was covered in cold sweat and dared not utter a sound.

"explain!"

The royal physician wiped the sweat from his brow and spoke with difficulty, "Your Highness, the Crown Princess has been poisoned. This soup contains several incompatible herbs. Its effects are weak; one or two bowls won't harm her, but if she drinks it for a long time, she will definitely become weak and frail, and suffer from chronic illnesses."

"Is this drug lethal?"

"Well... judging from the medicinal effects of this soup, it needs to be drunk for three to five years. But if the dosage is increased later, it can be done in three to five months."

Xiao Lie's eyes were icy cold. "Poisonous woman!"

"Starting today, Qingzhi Courtyard will be under strict guard. Not even a mosquito will be allowed in. In addition, all servants in the courtyard will be dismissed."