“Although you’re both unmarried, your behavior is extremely inappropriate, to be in Prince Zhao’s residence…” Xiao Huayong was clearly angry, but as the Crown Prince known for his refined character, he couldn’t use vulgar words and could only say in anger, “Preposterous, absolutely preposterous!”

Bu Shulin suddenly knelt before Xiao Huayong, clasping his hands respectfully: “This subject requests Your Highness’s judgment. I was ambushed, and if not for Miss Xiao… this subject might have feared for his life!”

These words fell like thunder, shocking all those who had been discussing the matter. Everyone’s glances toward Xiao Changmin became somewhat furtive.

“What does Young Master Bu mean by this? Could it be that Young Master was drugged?” Xiao Changmin immediately spoke up.

He hadn’t drugged Bu Shulin, he had only burned some aphrodisiac incense.

“After this subject rescued the Fourteenth Prince, I was invited here to change clothes. My servant went and didn’t return, my clothes were soaked, and my appearance was disheveled. Not wanting to offend unmarried ladies, I stayed inside waiting. Unexpectedly, I gradually became feverish and confused. By the time I realized what was happening, it was already too late…” Bu Shulin said through gritted teeth.

“When the door was opened wide earlier, there was a fragrance that dispersed, containing the scent of Three-Branch Nine-Leaf Grass,” Shen Xihe added.

Three-branch Nine-Leaf Grass was an aphrodisiac. Its scent aroused desire, but only those with medical knowledge would recognize it. Most people present didn’t know this, but the few who did understand its implications.

“Tianyuan, go fetch the incense burner,” Xiao Huayong ordered.

“Why was Miss Xiao here?” Consort Su asked.

Xiao Wenxi was a lady and should have been with them, yet she came looking for Bu Shulin alone.

“Young Master Bu once saved me. When I heard he had entered the water to rescue someone, I came to express my concern…” Xiao Wenxi’s voice was soft, seeming to carry a maiden’s shyness.

But then Xiao Wenxi suddenly raised her head, hatred in her eyes: “Yet unexpectedly, I encountered someone acting suspiciously, and remarkably there wasn’t a single servant around. I followed the person into the room and found Young Master Bu weak and flushed, collapsed on the table. So I took a vase and knocked that person unconscious…”

The noble ladies who had entered the room with Shen Xihe suddenly recalled that there had indeed been a broken vase in the room, but they hadn’t seen anyone, so someone asked: “Where is this person?”

“The person… is hidden in the wardrobe,” Xiao Wenxi said softly.

“Miss Xiao, since you discovered someone plotting against Young Master Bu and struck them, why didn’t you call for help?” Xiao Changmin asked.

“When I found Young Master Bu, he was already bleeding from seven orifices. There were no servants around. If I had left Young Master Bu to seek help, and something had happened to him, I would have regretted it and felt guilty for the rest of my life,” Xiao Wenxi answered with a lowered head.

The reason, of course, was that there was no one in the courtyard. Those who had previously found Xiao Changmin’s explanation acceptable now couldn’t help but have doubts, especially when Tianyuan not only brought out the incense burner but also brought out an unconscious woman. When this woman was placed on the ground and her scattered hair was brushed aside, it turned out to be Yu Sangning’s cousin!

This cousin had the surname Yu, but her father and Yu Xiang weren’t full brothers, but rather cousins sharing the same grandfather. This person and Yu Sangning were cousins outside the five degrees of mourning.

At this point, even Xiao Changmin’s expression changed.

Just as Shen Xihe had thought, even if Bu Shulin needed to change clothes, it wouldn’t have been easy to either arrange an ambush or expose him in time, so Xiao Changmin had devised a plan to trip up Bu Shulin.

He arranged a scene to catch them in the act, burning in the room a type of incense that wouldn’t be easily noticed, and once noticed would be too late to do anything about. The incense had aphrodisiac effects, and he arranged for a maid, saying that having her serve Bu Shulin while changing wouldn’t cause any problems.

If Bu Shulin were a woman, their identity would be exposed. If Bu Shulin were a man and lustfully slept with a maid in his prince’s residence, Bu Shulin would still be in the wrong.

Who would have thought that this carefully hidden incense, which he had many perfumers examine without detecting anything, would be identified by Shen Xihe with just one sniff? Moreover, Bu Shulin had Xiao Wenxi’s help to escape the trap, and they turned the tables, replacing the maid with a distant relative from the Yu family!

“Second Brother, how do you explain this?” Xiao Huayong demanded.

Someone had been victimized in his residence, and it turned out to be his new wife’s cousin who had tried to seduce someone. At worst, he could be charged with trying to win over a border prince.

Why would an ordinary prince try to win over a border prince?

Almost everyone who thought of this point couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Huayong.

Everyone said the Crown Prince wouldn’t live past two cycles. The Crown Prince was already twenty-three, so it was only a matter of a year or two. Was Prince Zhao getting impatient?

“Oh my, what is Second Brother doing? Young Master Bu is the only heir of the Shunan Prince’s family, who will inherit the title in the future. If something were to happen to him at Second Brother’s place, how would you explain it to the Prince of Shunan?” While others dared not speak, Xiao Changying had no such reservations.

His mention of “only heir” and “future inheritance” was particularly ambiguous, leading people to various speculations.

Wasn’t it true that controlling Bu Shulin would be equivalent to gaining the support of the Shunan Prince’s family?

Xiao Changmin’s expression was quite poor, but since Xiao Changying hadn’t spoken directly, he couldn’t self-incriminate by responding. He could only say to Xiao Huayong: “I request the Crown Prince to allow me some time. I will investigate the truth and give Young Master Bu an explanation.”

Before Xiao Huayong could answer, Shen Xihe spoke first: “This matter involves Prince Zhao, General Yu’s family, the Prince of Shunan’s family, and the Princess Imperial’s family. How could the Crown Prince make decisions over His Majesty? If Prince Zhao has anything to say, he should speak to His Majesty.”

After speaking, Shen Xihe somewhat forcefully pulled Xiao Huayong away. Xiao Huayong seemed caught off guard and almost couldn’t keep up, hurriedly adjusting his steps to follow Shen Xihe.

When the Crown Prince Consort had dragged away the Crown Prince, others naturally dared not stay to watch the drama unfold. However, they didn’t need to watch anymore – it was obvious that Prince Zhao had attempted to use his wife’s sister to win over Young Master Bu. The Crown Prince was still alive, yet such ambition couldn’t be concealed!

What should have been a lively wedding feast had been disrupted like this, and even the groom had to go to the palace to ask for punishment.

Having just finished today’s court affairs and not even having had a chance to rest, Emperor Youning heard about this matter and was so angry that he threw the teacup he was holding to the ground, frightening all the palace servants and maids in Zhengqing Hall to their knees.

When people arrived, Emperor Youning’s oppressive gaze fell on Xiao Changmin: “How do you explain this?”

“Your Majesty, I had no improper thoughts. I’m not foolish enough to do such a thing during my wedding, in my residence,” Xiao Changmin naturally proclaimed his innocence.

He could only temporarily protest his innocence. He still hadn’t understood where things had gone wrong and couldn’t find any way to turn the situation around.

“What better place to act than one’s residence?” Xiao Changying said coolly. “If it succeeds, they become the victim; if it fails, they can still claim innocence.”