If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

When Lingxian returned to the table, Shen Qingdai asked anxiously, "Where did you go? I was going to look for you, but Her Majesty the Empress suddenly pulled me aside to talk, which is why I only managed to get away now."

Each step is interconnected; it truly shows great care and effort.

"It's alright. Just wait and see what happens."

The moment Empress Yu saw Xi Lingxian appear, her expression changed drastically, and she clenched her hand in her sleeve.

What is she doing here?

She must have been out of her mind after drinking that tea, and the Crown Prince must have already succeeded, making it a fait accompli.

But Xi Lingxian is sitting here perfectly fine, dressed neatly, and doesn't look like she's been through anything at all.

Could something have gone wrong?

Where is the Crown Prince? Where did the Crown Prince go?

Empress Yu took a deep breath, suppressing her surging anger and panic, and once again put on a dignified and proper smile.

Don't panic.

The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, and she is the Empress. As long as they deny it to the death, how can the Xi family possibly turn the world upside down?

The Empress put down her teacup, her face showing just the right amount of concern: "Miss Xi, you don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I encountered some trouble on the veranda just now. I would like to ask Your Majesty to help me resolve this matter."

The Empress's voice remained gentle: "I heard from Miss Shen that you were just going out for some fresh air. What could have happened? You children are spoiled and always make a fuss over nothing."

Xi Lingxian quietly watched the Empress.

The Empress picked up her teacup, intending to take a sip to conceal her embarrassment.

Just then, a commotion broke out among the guests.

Before long, Xi Jian and his son Xi Rui appeared at the table.

The father and son stood one in front of the other. Xi Jian looked down at his daughter, his gaze moving from her face to her hands.

The hands were still trembling slightly, with dried, dark red marks remaining under the fingernails.

Xi Lingxian walked to her father's side, her eyes red, "Father, someone gave me an unclean drug with the intention of humiliating me."

"The one who intended to humiliate me is the Crown Prince; and those involved in poisoning me are probably countless."

Xi Jian walked with heavy steps; Xi Rui followed behind him, his face cold and his eyes sharp as knives.

The father and son walked one after the other to the main table. Xi Jian stopped, and every word he uttered sounded like muffled thunder rumbling from his chest:

"Your Majesty, shouldn't you give me an explanation?"

Empress Yu looked pale. She could still maintain her empressly demeanor to comfort herself when facing Xi Lingxian, but when facing Xi Jian…

"It's all a misunderstanding. The Crown Prince told me the other day that he felt Lingxian looked familiar and wanted to get closer to her; they are also cousins. I think the Crown Prince was in a moment of joy and forgot his sense of propriety, which caused Miss Xi to misunderstand."

"Your Majesty, please don't treat everyone like fools. Do you think I wouldn't know I was drugged? My maid and I witnessed the Crown Prince and his eunuchs blocking our path; how could it be false?"

Xi Yao and Lady Yu both walked to Empress Yu's side.

Xi Yao comforted her, "Sister, your cousin the Crown Prince likes you very much. It must be because he drank some wine today. He couldn't control himself and that's why he acted this way. Today is a banquet at the Prince of Huainan's residence. If things get ugly, it won't look good for the Princess Consort either."

"Shut up!" Xi Jian interrupted angrily. "Your sister was almost smeared, and you're quick to defend the murderer. Are you actually surnamed Xi or Yu?"

Xi Yao's face turned pale, and she moved her lips but could not speak.

Madam Yu embraced Xi Yao, her heart aching. "Master, Yao'er only spoke the truth. Must we really cause such a commotion over a mere girl that even the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the Princess Consort are disturbed?"

"If you dare to do it, you must dare to take responsibility."

"If this matter is truly a misunderstanding, I will gladly apologize; but if the evidence is irrefutable, no one can escape unscathed."

Empress Yu, unable to bear it any longer, said sternly, "How dare you, Xi Jian! I am the mother of the nation, and the Crown Prince is the heir apparent. Even if he takes a liking to your daughter, it is her good fortune. How dare you be so ungrateful, embarrassing me in public? Are you planning a rebellion?"

Xi Jian remained unmoved.

"I will go to the palace immediately and report back to Your Majesty, requesting Your Majesty to make a decision."

Xi Rui immediately said, "My son has brought his personal doctor. Please ask her to examine my younger sister and also check the food and drinks she ate during the meal."

Xi Lingxian realized that the teacup she had just used was gone.

Her gaze sharpened as she pointed at the girl from a middle-ranking official's family, "She... shouldn't be innocent either."

The girl who was called out was startled, looking incredulous and slightly aggrieved. "Miss Xi, why do you say that? I have no grudges against you, and I have no enmity with you. What reason would I have to harm you?"

"Who knows what benefits the person behind you gave you?"

The doctor brought by Xi Rui was none other than Madam Lu, who first examined Ling Xian's pulse.

"The woman was indeed given a significant dose of aphrodisiac, and it was one of the most potent types."

Shen Qingdai seemed to think of something, "Just now, as soon as Fanfan went out, a palace maid came to clean up the teacup she had used. I found it strange at the time, but the palace maid said that the tea had gone cold and she was taking it away to pour another cup."

Xi Rui: "Do you remember what that palace maid looked like?"

"Of course I remember, I have a photographic memory."

Xi Jian coldly glanced at the Empress and the others, whose expressions were uneasy, and instructed his son, "I will go to the palace to see the Emperor immediately. You stay here and find out who is suspicious and bring them back for questioning."

The Princess Consort of Huainan's face turned ashen. "What do you take my palace for? You think you can just say whatever you want…?"

Xiao Jing interrupted, holding his mother's hand, "Don't worry, Lord Xi, our royal family will do everything in our power to cooperate and will not let the real culprit go unpunished."

The princess glared at her, "Are you crazy?"

Xiao Jing leaned close to the princess and whispered a few words in her ear.

The princess's expression changed instantly. "Jing'er is right. A woman's reputation is of utmost importance. We shall do as Lord Xi says."

Empress Yu's heart skipped a beat.

……

Prince's Study

"Qingyu, your chess skills are so sophisticated that even your father would be ashamed of himself."

"Your Highness is too kind."

"Knock knock knock"

The steward of the Prince's residence hurriedly entered.

The Prince of Huainan slightly lifted his eyelids. "What's the matter that you're in such a hurry?"

"Your Highness, the Xi family's daughter has been drugged in our residence. General Xi and his son have come to demand an explanation."

The King of Huainan's expression changed, while Wang Jue, standing to the side, smiled slightly, his handsome and refined face revealing a chilling smile.

"Your Highness, it seems there is constant turmoil in your residence as well."

"Do you suspect who did it?"

"What Miss Xi said herself was that the Crown Prince intended to take advantage of her."

The King of Huainan breathed a sigh of relief; as long as it wasn't his son, that was fine.

Where are the Xi family father and son now?

"General Xi has gone to the palace to meet His Majesty, while Young General Xi has stayed at the residence to interrogate suspicious individuals."

Wang Jue bowed and said, "Your Highness has family matters to attend to, so this junior will take his leave now."

The moment he stepped out of the study, the man's originally refined face suddenly turned cold and aloof.

The Empress and the Crown Prince are truly a pair of idiots.

Chang'an and Ah Hu followed their master's steps.

Chang'an: "Young Master, I just went to the backyard and heard that if it weren't for Young Master Zhou's timely rescue, Miss Xi's innocence would have been in jeopardy today."

The veins on the man's arms, which were hanging at his sides, suddenly bulged.

"What?"

"Yes, it was Young Master Zhou who rescued Miss Xi. Miss Xi was given that kind of drug that corrupts the mind. It's so pitiful. A young lady like her must have been terrified."

Wang Jue's eyes were gloomy.

Chang'an wisely kept quiet.

I almost forgot, Miss Xi is the one their young master wants. The Crown Prince is really stupid to dare to compete with the young master for her.