“Your Highness…”

Just as Shen Xihe was about to speak, a light cough sounded from outside, signaling someone’s approach. She immediately closed her eyes.

Xiao Huayong understood and rose, leaving with Sui Axi. As soon as they exited the inner hall, they encountered Emperor Youning, and naturally performed the proper greetings.

“How is Zhaoning?” Emperor Youning asked.

Xiao Huayong glanced at Sui Axi, who promptly bowed and replied, “In response to Your Majesty, the Princess is unharmed. The poison has been neutralized, and she will fully recover after a few days of rest.”

Emperor Youning nodded, taking the medicine bottle from Liu Sanzhi’s hands. “Is this the poison Zhaoning was given?”

Sui Axi, maintaining his respectful demeanor with lowered eyes, responded, “Reporting to Your Majesty, the poison the Princess ingested was strychnine. This humble one does not know what poison is in the bottle.”

Emperor Youning handed the bottle to Sui Axi. Before entering, he had already met with the Imperial Physician who had treated Shen Xihe, who had also indicated it was strychnine, while the bottle indeed contained strychnine poison.

Sui Axi accepted the bottle respectfully with both hands and carefully examined its contents: “The bottle indeed contains strychnine.”

“Did this medicine fall from the Anling Palace maid?” Emperor Youning asked.

“Your son… did not witness it…” Xiao Huayong answered truthfully, as he had been rushing to Shen Xihe’s side at the time, with many people gathering around.

“Your Majesty, my daughter witnessed it,” Xue Jinqiao stepped forward and bowed, saying, “My daughter saw the Princess fall, and when the palace maid supported her, the medicine bottle fell from her person. The scratch mark on it came from that fall. Not only did my daughter see this, but the Second Young Lady of the Pingyao Marquis household also witnessed it.”

Yu Sangning had seen the medicine bottle being handed to Princess Anling’s maid. Yu Sangning was skilled in social grace, and since gaining Yu Sangzi’s favor, she had been brought along everywhere. Yu Sangning had integrated well with the noble ladies of the capital, but the highest-ranking ladies she could associate with were only those from marquis and duke households – princesses and imperial princesses with titles were beyond her reach to befriend.

When such a rare opportunity arose, she hadn’t realized the bottle contained poison, assuming it was some sort of perfume or cooling medicine that palace maids typically carried. So she took the initiative to hand it over.

When His Majesty summoned her for questioning, she could only respond: “Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble woman only saw the medicine bottle roll over from Princess Anling’s maid’s direction, and mistakenly assumed it belonged to the Princess’s maid. I did not personally witness it fall from the Princess’s maid.”

This explanation both justified why she directly handed over the bottle and avoided offending Princess Anling.

Shen Xihe had never intended to deal with Princess Anling, so whatever they said and however His Majesty judged didn’t matter. The more His Majesty protected Anling, the better it served as evidence that she wouldn’t dare attempt to kill the Princess.

Sure enough, after questioning everyone, Emperor Youning dismissed the matter citing insufficient evidence to determine the source of the item, making it impossible to rashly conclude Princess Anling’s involvement. Everyone expected Shen Xihe, known for her assertiveness, to make a scene – she had been quite forceful when dealing with Princess Changling and Princess Yangling before, and had even slapped Princess Anling previously.

Princess Anling, emboldened by His Majesty’s protection, lifted her chin proudly.

However, Xiao Huayong stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, might this matter… be investigated by your son… The Princess was indeed poisoned… we cannot dismiss it merely due to insufficient evidence.”

Hearing this, Anling looked at Xiao Huayong with great wariness, fearing she would be framed again.

After pondering for a moment, Emperor Youning declared: “This matter shall be thoroughly investigated by the Crown Prince.”

Anling wanted to speak but held back, and was ultimately led away by Emperor Youning. With the poisoning incident, the Spring Banquet naturally couldn’t continue, though fortunately it had already reached its end and all necessary proceedings had been completed. Everyone departed with great anticipation.

Xiao Huayong personally escorted Shen Xihe back to the Princess’s manor, then used the pretext of looking after her to linger there.

“Until when does Your Highness plan to stay?” Shen Xihe watched as Xiao Huayong, who had made himself completely at home in her residence, lounged comfortably on her banana-leaf chair, his entire demeanor radiating laziness.

“Youyou has been poisoned, and everyone knows how deeply I care for Youyou. How else would I show my profound feelings if I don’t stay until sunset?” Xiao Huayong wore a smile that made Shen Xihe want to use force against him.

“Didn’t Your Highness take on the task of investigating who poisoned me?” Shen Xihe was practically issuing a dismissal order. “Your Highness should at least make a show of effort.”

“I will certainly make a show of it, but there’s no rush,” Xiao Huayong spoke leisurely. “Youyou should at least offer me a meal as proper host etiquette.”

Shen Xihe retorted, “You consider yourself a guest?”

“Of course… not,” Xiao Huayong’s smile grew more impudent, his gaze turning suggestive. “I want to be the master.”

“Then stay hungry,” Shen Xihe tossed these words behind her as she turned and returned to her chambers.

Xiao Huayong followed shortly after. When Shen Xihe ignored him, he lingered for a while longer. Just as Shen Xihe expected him to become persistently clingy as usual, he suddenly changed his attitude: “Ah, since Youyou doesn’t welcome me, I shall take my leave.”

Shen Xihe looked at him suspiciously. He had said he would stay until sunset, and she didn’t think he was joking. This sudden change of mind inevitably made her suspicious.

Xiao Huayong wore a dejected expression: “I’ll come to visit Youyou another day.”

Watching Xiao Huayong leave, and after waiting a moment with no sign of his return, Shen Xihe went to the door and asked Zhenzhu who stood guard: “Did he leave?”

Zhenzhu immediately went to inquire at the front courtyard, confirming that Xiao Huayong had indeed passed through the main gates of the Princess’s manor: “He left.”

Shen Xihe felt something was amiss: “How did he become so… normal today?”

The Princess’s choice of words made Zhenzhu lower her head to suppress a smile -, in the Princess’s eyes, the Crown Prince was usually abnormal.

Shen Xihe pondered for a while, feeling that such unusual behavior must hide some scheme. Xiao Huayong must be plotting something.

She waited for a long time, until dinner, but Xiao Huayong didn’t return. Moreover, news came from the palace that Xiao Huayong had truly returned to the Eastern Palace.

“Could I have been too suspicious of his noble character?” Shen Xihe began to doubt herself.

This doubt persisted until she finished her evening washing and prepared for bed when she glanced at her sewing basket. It was thoroughly shattered.

She strode over and searched through it, discovering that a handkerchief was missing – the one embroidered with the immortal’s sash had disappeared!

It had been something she casually made to pass the time with Zhenzhu and the others. After embroidering it, Shen Xihe had starched, dried, and perfumed it before leaving it there. She hadn’t intended to use it, just left it there casually. She had seen it every day until now when it suddenly vanished!

Though she had already begun to guess, she was still reluctant to think of the dignified Crown Prince as a petty thief.

“Hongyu, when did you last see the handkerchief embroidered with the immortal’s sash in my room?” Since Hongyu was responsible for Shen Xihe’s chambers, she called her directly to inquire.

“Before the Princess left for Furong Garden today, this servant still saw it,” Hongyu’s memory was clear because she saw it daily. “Has it gone missing? No one would dare enter the Princess’s chambers. Could Short Life have taken it?”