With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

"Poisoning?" The Empress put down her teacup, her voice turning cold. "Poisoning in the palace? Who gave you the audacity?"

Lin Wan'er's legs went weak, and she slumped down, only to be caught by Qiu Tong by the back of her collar. Her face was as white as paper, her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a single word.

Shen Yin huddled in the corner, her face even paler than Lin Wan'er's, and she was trembling all over.

She tried to speak, opened her mouth, then closed it again.

"Your Majesty," Qiu Tong pushed Lin Wan'er forward, making her kneel on the ground, "I personally witnessed her flicking white powder into the wine. This wine was offered to Miss Shen; if she had drunk it, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

The Empress stared at Lin Wan'er, her gaze as cold as a knife: "Whose family are you?"

"Your Majesty..." Lin Wan'er's voice trembled, "I am a cousin of the Shen family..."

"The Shen family's cousin?" The Empress glanced at Shen Nannan, then looked back at Lin Wan'er. "The Shen family's cousin poisoned Miss Shen's wine?"

Tears streamed down Lin Wan'er's face as she desperately kowtowed, crying, "Your Majesty, please see the truth! I didn't do it! I've been wronged! It's...it's Miss Qiu who made a mistake—"

"Did I see wrong?" Qiu Tong sneered, pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, and wiped it on the rim of the wine glass. A thin layer of white powder adhered to the handkerchief.

She held the handkerchief up to the light. "What's this? Icing?"

Lin Wan'er fell silent.

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The Empress frowned and waved her hand: "Guards, drag this arrogant brat away and hand him over to the Censorate for interrogation."

"No—! No—!" Lin Wan'er screamed, struggling desperately. "Your Majesty, spare me! I was ordered to do this! It was—"

Before she could finish speaking, two guards grabbed her arms from either side and dragged her up from the ground.

Her shoes left two long tracks on the ground, her hair came undone, and her hairpin fell to the ground, breaking in two. The thin veil covering her face was also torn off, revealing the not-yet-fully-healed scars underneath—red, crooked, and like several centipedes crawling on her face.

The ladies around gasped and whispered among themselves.

"What happened to her face?"

"That's scary..."

"No wonder she was wearing a veil..."

As Lin Wan'er was being dragged out, she glanced back at Shen Nannan.

Those eyes were filled with hatred, as if they were poisoned.

Shen Nannan looked into her eyes. In a place like the Cautious Punishment Division, even if you don't die, you'll be crippled. But Lin Wan'er, I don't intend to let you die so easily!

Lin Wan'er was dragged out of the Imperial Garden, her screams growing fainter and fainter until they disappeared behind the red walls.

There was a moment of silence at the banquet.

Shen Yin huddled in the corner, looking completely drained, her face ashen.

Her hand trembled as she clutched the empty paper package inside her sleeve, but she dared not move, not even breathe loudly.

The Queen raised her wine glass, breaking the silence.

"Miss Shen," she smiled, a smile that was dignified and proper, "I'm sorry what happened just now frightened you. I'd like to offer you a toast to calm your nerves."

A palace maid poured a cup of wine and placed it in front of Shen Nannan. The wine was clear and had a rich aroma.

Shen Nannan stared at the glass of wine, her fingers clenching tightly inside her sleeve.

She couldn't refuse. The wine was offered by the Empress herself; refusing it would be disobeying the imperial decree.

But this wine...

She was about to reach out to take it—

A hand reached out from the side and took the glass of wine.

"Your Majesty," Xiao Yunting appeared beside her at some point, smiling, "this cup of wine, I will drink on behalf of Miss Shen."

The Empress's expression changed slightly: "Third Prince, this is a gift from me to Miss Shen—"

"I know," Xiao Yunting said, raising his wine glass with an innocent smile. "But Miss Shen was frightened just now, and her hands are still trembling. It's the same as me drinking for her."

He turned to look at Shen Nannan and blinked. "Miss Shen, your hands are shaking, aren't they?"

Shen Nannan paused for a moment, then obediently pulled her hand out of her sleeve and shook it slightly.

"...Yes, I'm shaking," she said.

Xiao Yunting nodded in satisfaction, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

The Empress's expression turned sour, but she couldn't show it in front of so many people, so she could only force a dry laugh: "The Third Prince certainly knows how to cherish women."

"I have always cherished women," Xiao Yunting said, putting down his wine cup with a smug grin, "especially a beauty like Miss Shen."

Consort Shu laughed from the side: "The way you say that, Third Prince, makes it sound like Miss Shen is someone to you."

"I would like to," Xiao Yunting glanced at Shen Nannan and sighed, "but unfortunately Miss Shen doesn't give people the chance."

Shen Nannan remained unfazed: "Your Highness is too kind. I am but a humble commoner, and cannot possibly be worthy of your presence."

Xiao Yunting raised an eyebrow, said nothing more, and sat down to the side.

The banquet continued. Singing and dancing filled the air, glasses clinked, and it seemed as if nothing had happened. But Shen Nannan's health was not right.

It was hot. It started in her chest and spread little by little to her limbs, like a fire burning inside. She tugged at her collar, a gust of wind blew in, cooled her for a moment, and then the heat returned.

She frowned. Something was wrong. She hadn't drunk that glass of wine; Xiao Yunting had drunk it for her.

She didn't eat anything anyone offered her. But where did the medicinal properties come from?

She carefully recalled every detail of what had just happened.

As the Empress spoke to her, a fragrant breeze wafted over. The fragrance was so strong it was almost pungent.

She didn't pay attention at the time, but now that she thinks about it, the scent is off—it doesn't seem like ordinary incense, it's more like something mixed in.

Her face began to burn, and her breathing became erratic. Qiu Tong noticed her unusual behavior and leaned closer, lowering her voice, "Nannan, what's wrong? Your face is so red."

"It's hot." Shen Nannan bit her lip, her voice a little unsteady. "I don't know why."

What did you eat?

"I didn't eat anything."

"How could that be—"

Before she could finish speaking, a maid carrying a wine pot came over, but she stumbled and spilled the entire pot of wine on Shen Nannan.

"I deserve to die! I didn't mean it!" The maid knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

Shen Nannan stood up, her clothes soaked through. Her pale yellow spring shirt was drenched in wine and clung to her body, barely concealing her figure.

She quickly covered herself with her hands, but the people around her had already seen it.

The crown prince sat opposite him, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Qiu Tong stepped in front of Shen Nannan and bowed to the Empress: "Your Majesty, Miss Shen's clothes are wet. I will accompany her to change."

The Empress nodded: "Go. Take Miss Shen to the side hall to rest and find her some clean clothes to change into."

Shen Nannan walked very fast, but her steps were a little unsteady. The heat was burning from inside her body, making her vision a little blurry.

The side hall is located on the east side of the Imperial Garden, not far from the banquet hall, but the walk there felt like an eternity.

Shen Nannan gritted her teeth and moved forward step by step, her nails digging into her palms, using the pain to suppress the burning sensation.

The two entered the side hall, and the palace maid who had led the way withdrew.

"Nannan, are you alright?" Qiu Tong held her arm.

"Sister Qiu Tong," she whispered, "I think I've been infected."

Qiu Tong's expression changed: "What?"

"Go find a eunuch named Zhao Quan! Quickly!"

"Wait for me! I'll be right back!" She turned to leave.

"Sister Qiu Tong," Shen Nannan called out to her.

"Um?"

Be careful.

Qiu Tong smiled, pushed open the door, and went out.

Shen Nannan leaned against the couch, her body limp, her vision blurring. She bit her lip, enduring the heat that seemed to seep into her bones.

Ah Chao's face appeared in my mind, those dark, deep eyes, and those words, "Come back soon."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

A muffled thud came from outside the door, like something falling to the ground.

"Sister Qiu Tong?" she called out.

No one answered.

She struggled to her feet, walked to the door, and pushed it open—

Qiu Tong collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"The Empress Dowager is truly brilliant; two great beauties, killing two birds with one stone."