She lingered at the back of the group. When they reached the turning point, a sudden loud bang from above-startled everyone, causing them all to look up simultaneously. Even the guards at the front immediately raised their weapons alertly toward the sky.

Bu Shulin reacted swiftly, handing out the food box and quickly receiving another one in return, all happening in the blink of an eye.

A kickball rolled down from the tree trunk, and they realized someone outside had been playing cuju and accidentally kicked the ball inside.

Sure enough, children’s faces soon appeared at the round window, their eyes wide with innocence and trepidation as they peered inside. A guard took the ball out to return it. Bu Shulin continued following the group forward, and just as they were about to reach the outside, she suddenly drew breath: “Pfft…”

The unseemly sound caused everyone to stop along with the lead eunuch. The head eunuch turned around, and Bu Shulin immediately dropped to her knees, speaking in a pitiful voice: “Please spare me, honored eunuch, please spare me… pffft…”

The lead eunuch’s eyes blazed with anger. He picked up the food box and kicked Bu Shulin: “Get out of here, you filthy thing. We’ll settle accounts with you later.”

Bu Shulin crawled away, trembling like a sieve as if terrified, still making flatulent sounds. The eunuchs were thoroughly disgusted and quickly left with the others. She scrambled to her feet and rushed toward the privy.

Cui Jinbai was already waiting in the privy, along with the young eunuch whose clothes she had taken earlier, now unconscious. Bu Shulin quickly changed clothes – she put on her own while Cui Jinbai dressed the young eunuch. The two then slipped away silently.

Bu Shulin wanted to go watch the commotion, but Cui Jinbai grabbed her firmly: “We need to appear to be meeting in secret to avoid suspicion.”

Bu Shulin: …

Being forcibly dragged away, Bu Shulin could only watch regretfully as the excitement grew more distant.

Meanwhile, as new rice balls were presented, Xiao Huayong had already received signals from his people. He discreetly turned his attention to Twelfth Prince Xiao Changgeng.

Xiao Changgeng had no choice but to stand and address his brothers: “This humble twelfth brother has never played rice ball shooting with his elder brothers. Might I request your guidance today?”

Anyone eating it would achieve the desired effect, but if a certain prince ate it, the effect would be even better.

In front of His Majesty, such a humble request from a younger brother couldn’t be easily refused, except by Crown Prince Xiao Huayong who was physically frail. The other princes had to accept. Second Prince Zhao Wang Xiao Changmin, as the eldest among them, took the lead: “Since it’s rare for us brothers to gather, let’s play together.”

Once the princes decided to participate, others naturally stepped back.

With both Xiao Changmin and Xiao Changgeng speaking up, from the Third Prince to the Ninth Prince, all except Xiao Huayong joined in for appearance’s sake.

Taking up the small bow and arrow, they proceeded by age order. Xiao Changmin shot seriously but missed, his expression stiffening slightly: “Your elder brother is getting old, I’ll leave it to my younger brothers to show their skills.”

Next was Dai Wang Xiao Changtai, who controlled his strength perfectly and hit the target in one shot, earning applause from all present.

Xiao Changgeng didn’t understand why the Crown Prince had instructed him to invite the princes to shoot at rice balls, but he sensed something was amiss. Looking at the soft rice balls, they seemed no different from deadly poison to him. He worried for Xiao Changtai but couldn’t show it, so he could only lower his head.

According to the rules, whoever hit the target would eat it. Dai Wang consumed the rice ball he had shot.

Next was Xiao Changqing. Though he had once been skilled at this game, after his late wife disliked glutinous foods, he gradually lost interest as well. He made a perfunctory attempt and completely missed it.

At some point, Xiao Huayong had also approached and, showing sudden enthusiasm, picked up a small bow: “I shall try as well.”

Xiao Changgeng watched puzzled as Xiao Huayong awkwardly handled the bow, yet somehow managed to hit a target despite his apparent clumsiness. Seeming pleased with himself, he reached for the rice ball on the arrow tip. Just as he was about to eat it, Dai Wang suddenly changed expression, foaming at the mouth as he collapsed.

Li Yanyan, who had been bored until now, abruptly stood up: “Xiao Changtai—”

Her crimson silk dress made her look like a burning butterfly as she flew forward.

Chaos erupted instantly. Xiao Huayong looked at the rice ball he had nearly eaten and gently placed it on the lacquer tray.

To avoid alarming the common people, Emperor You Ning immediately announced that Dai Wang had suffered from the summer heat and ordered him to be carried away.

Before the officials could understand what had happened, Emperor You Ning’s swift action had already quieted the matter. At the rear resting area, Shen Xihe arrived with Sui Axi and Zhenzhu. Everyone knew she had skilled physicians in her household, so her absence would have been inappropriate. When she arrived, the imperial physician was checking Dai Wang’s pulse.

The kitchen had brought green bean soup to combat the summer heat, and the Chief Imperial Physician examined the rice ball Dai Wang had eaten last, confirming it contained poison.

“Your Majesty, this is a poisonous herb from Tujue,” the Chief Imperial Physician reported to Emperor You Ning. “Ordinary people who consume it won’t face mortal danger, except…”

His gaze shifted subtly toward Xiao Huayong, implying that had he consumed it, it would have been fatal.

Shen Xihe’s expression darkened slightly upon hearing this. Unaware this was all orchestrated by Xiao Huayong himself, she suspected Twelfth Prince Xiao Changgeng first.

Meeting her gaze, Xiao Changgeng could only smile bitterly and lower his head.

If he could turn back time, he truly wished he had never met Shen Xihe. Because he had developed feelings for her, experiencing gratitude and admiration, Xiao Huayong had targeted him. Xiao Huayong kept him under close watch, making him see the insurmountable gulf between himself and the Crown Prince. From then on, he inexplicably became a pawn in Xiao Huayong’s hands.

Shen Xihe wasn’t the only one suspicious of Xiao Changgeng – since he had suggested the princes play the rice ball shooting game, even Emperor You Ning harbored doubts.

It was soon discovered that not only was this plate of rice balls poisoned, but others in the kitchen were as well. This poisoning occurred after news of Dai Wang’s poisoning reached the small kitchen when the secret meeting pair of Cui Jinbai and Bu Shulin had seized the opportunity to cause more mischief.

This development reduced the likelihood of Xiao Changgeng being the culprit. It was a wide net being cast, gambling on the chance that the Crown Prince would participate.

If others ate it, they would at most end up like Dai Wang Xiao Changtai – foaming at the mouth and fainting briefly, requiring only some detoxifying soup to recover without medicine. Only if Xiao Huayong had consumed it would it have been fatal, clearly indicating he was the target.

At this moment, Xiao Huayong perfectly displayed a dejected and lonely expression.

Shen Xihe: …

Originally not sensing anything suspicious and even feeling somewhat angry, Shen Xihe’s mood became rather complex upon seeing his expression.