Hearing Princess Anqing criticize his lack of etiquette, Feng Yuan suddenly stepped forward, his nostrils flaring slightly, the bloodshot in his eyes gradually intensifying as he said coldly: “Etiquette? Doesn’t the Princess know that from childhood, no one taught me etiquette?”

Princess Anqing paused for a moment, her tone softening somewhat: “Zhanxue passed away early, so I don’t blame you. But you truly shouldn’t use His Majesty’s guilt toward you to behave so willfully and recklessly!”

The educational palace lady’s urge to lecture was about to erupt, completely unaware that her words were precisely hitting all of Feng Yuan’s triggers for madness.

As Princess Anqing came closer, the swaying of her skirt made the fragrance even more potent.

Xiaoying twitched her nose, suddenly remembering what that medicinal scent mixed in the fragrance was!

It was the smell of that packet of madness-inducing drug Feng Yuan had given her before!

However, the scent seemed slightly different from the madness drug, appearing more potent.

This drug probably needed to be ingested to take effect.

After all, when she had smelled it before, there hadn’t been any adverse effects…

Thinking of this, Xiaoying involuntarily looked back to observe Feng Yuan’s reaction. His expression remained unchanged, his sword-like eyebrows still, his demeanor calm.

But looking carefully, Feng Yuan’s throat was swelling slightly, and his clenched fists revealed protruding blue veins…

Since being confined in the Barren Palace, Feng Yuan had been forced to eat food mixed with the madness-inducing drug.

Xiaoying had heard him say that consuming it for a long time could be addictive and difficult to control.

So while this scent might not affect normal people, could the strong smell trigger the dormant agitation and madness within Feng Yuan?

How could Princess Anqing’s perfume contain such a deadly substance?

Xiaoying unconsciously fixed her gaze on the sachet hanging at Anqing’s waist and deliberately moved closer to her, gently sniffing.

Yes, the scent was indeed coming from Princess Anqing’s clothing.

Before such banquets, noble persons’ ceremonial attire would be scented as customary etiquette. And the sachet hanging from her waist also emitted this scent.

Xiaoying couldn’t help but recall that when A’ruo was twelve years old, he nearly strangled the Crown Prince during a fit of madness, and it was Princess Anqing who was present to stop him in time.

Could it be that the person who caused Feng Yuan’s madness back then was this poisonous woman, Anqing?

She looked up at the tea room with its tightly closed doors and windows, where the scent lingered without dissipating. Making a quick decision, she picked up a nearby teacup as if to drink, but deliberately tilted her wrist, splashing it toward Princess Anqing and hitting her directly on the chest.

Xiaoying quickly put down the teacup, took out a silk handkerchief to help the Princess wipe it, while insincerely apologizing: “Oh my! I couldn’t hold it steady. This concubine apologizes to the Princess!”

In this moment, she stealthily pickpocketed the sachet from the Princess’s waist, concealing it in her sleeve before slipping it into her bosom.

The Princess, caught off guard by the splash and then having Xiaoying wiping her collar with a silk handkerchief, naturally stepped back uncomfortably, raising her eyes to glare at Xiaoying.

The oppressive fragrance also dispersed somewhat with the Princess’s retreat.

Mu Hanjiang hadn’t expected the lady to suddenly act like this, and couldn’t help but frown as he scrutinized Xiaoying.

And under the Princess’s glare, Yan Xiaoying suddenly covered her forehead and gracefully fainted against Feng Yuan.

Feng Yuan, with the lady embracing him, tensed his entire body as usual, but finally came to his senses and caught Xiaoying in time.

Xiaoying weakly said in a soft voice: “This concubine feels the room is stuffy and can’t breathe. Please carry me out quickly…”

As she spoke, her slender hand pinched Feng Yuan’s waist forcefully. Before she could even release her grip, Feng Yuan had already picked her up and turned to stride out of the hall.

Just as they turned, a servant was entering the hall carrying a platter of walnut cakes and fruits. On the platter was prominently displayed a knife for cutting fruit, which gleamed with a coldness disproportionate to its size in the sunlight…

Feng Yuan walked quickly, and all along the way, the lady in his arms continuously whimpered, sobbing and crying out: “Your servant was wrong, I shouldn’t have angered Princess Anqing.”

Whenever there were people around, her sobbing grew louder; when no one was present, she cried less.

Those unaware might think Xiaoying had been somehow wronged by Princess Anqing.

This path of loud and soft sobbing continued until they entered the carriage, when it finally ceased completely.

Once inside the carriage, Xiaoying reached out to touch Feng Yuan’s face: “How are you? Did you smell something just now that made you uncomfortable?”

Feng Yuan closed his eyes without speaking. Xiaoying was about to pour him a cup of water when, looking down, she discovered spots of blood on her waist.

She hurriedly opened Feng Yuan’s palm and found that he had slashed it with a dagger hidden in his sleeve, with fresh blood continuously seeping out.

He had been carrying her out, with no time to cut his hand, so it must have happened in the tea room!

Feng Yuan must have detected the unusual scent and immediately pierced his palm, struggling to suppress the madness triggered by that scent.

Xiaoying briefly examined the wound – he truly didn’t know restraint, nearly severing his hand tendons!

As Xiaoying leaned closer, the blue veins on Feng Yuan’s forehead bulged, and he couldn’t help covering his nose and pointing at her inner bosom.

Xiaoying understood and quickly found a box to throw the sachet into.

Just then, the carriage curtain was suddenly lifted – it was Mu Hanjiang who had pursued them all the way.

But the scene in the carriage startled him as he looked at Feng Yuan’s bloody palm and asked: “What… happened?”

Xiaoying unceremoniously pushed him, forcing him off the carriage.

Mu Hanjiang hadn’t expected the lady to suddenly turn hostile, as if he had committed some grave error, and couldn’t help raising an eyebrow to ask: “I thought you were at least a steady lady, why are you stealing? Return my mother’s sachet!”

So he had seen the lady’s sleight of hand earlier, and seeing them leave in such a hurry, had chased after them to investigate.

Xiaoying, not wanting to engage with him, took the sachet out of the carriage, then poured some of the herbs onto her handkerchief, returning the rest to Mu Hanjiang.

Mu Hanjiang couldn’t understand her intentions and asked: “What are you doing?”

Xiaoying wrapped up the herbs and was about to say something when a large hand extended from behind the carriage curtain, yanking her back inside. Then the driver was ordered to move forward.

The drug-amplified agitation was mixed with irrepressible jealousy.

Seeing Xiaoying talking with Mu Hanjiang, Feng Yuan couldn’t tolerate it at all and pulled the lady back into the carriage, holding her firmly in his arms.

Xiaoying knew he was behaving abnormally, but showed no fear. She struggled only to seal the herb-filled handkerchief in a box and put it away, then stroked his chest, just as she had done during their first night sharing a bed in the palace, comforting him.

Feng Yuan didn’t speak again, listening to Xiaoying’s soft, gentle voice as the drug’s effect gradually subsided.

When he first smelled that drug, his initial thought wasn’t anger, but an unprecedented fear.

He knew clearly that if he couldn’t control himself and truly went mad, people would mistakenly think he was besotted and standing up for his beloved concubine.

If he harmed anyone, Xiaoying would inevitably be implicated, with no good outcome.

So he immediately slid out the dagger from his sleeve and pierced his palm, using the intense pain to force himself to stay conscious. Even if his hand was mangled, it was worth it.

Meanwhile, the lady was still muttering: “I didn’t recognize that scent in time. It’s all my fault. If I had realized earlier, you wouldn’t have had to cut your hand…”

As clever as she was, she must have realized the danger they had just faced, yet instead of being afraid, she was blaming herself for not protecting him better!

Feng Yuan knew that in the lady’s eyes, she never considered herself the fragile one needing protection.

Once she included someone in her circle, she would fight like a small tiger, standing fiercely in front, unafraid even of dragon pools or tiger dens.

And today at the Mu family’s birthday banquet, despite its extreme danger, she had insisted on accompanying him.

Did that mean, in her eyes, he, Feng Yuan, was also under her protection?

Thinking of this made his whole body heat up, even more than when the lady had casually comforted him earlier with what seemed like a lie, saying she “loved him.” Right now, the way she looked at him with tears in her eyes was even more heart-stirring.

After Xiaoying efficiently bandaged his wound with medicine and bandages from the carriage, she touched his cheek again, asking like she was soothing a sick child: “Do you want some water?”

Feng Yuan closed his eyes silently for a moment, then softly said he did, but turned to cup Xiaoying’s face and kissed her firmly.

Xiaoying couldn’t ask what kind of water he wanted to drink; she only felt herself entwined by someone parched in a desert, greedily sucking the sweet spring hidden in her mouth.

After the long kiss ended, Feng Yuan held Xiaoying in his arms, nuzzling her neck with his cheek, closing his eyes and saying in a deep voice: “The drug scent on Anqing was extremely potent. That drug’s strength was several times what I used to consume. I could barely move just now and almost couldn’t suppress it…”

Just as Xiaoying had guessed, this scent-triggered drug was indeed targeted at Feng Yuan.

Because he had consumed that madness drug for a long time, he was more susceptible to the scent. And when enveloped by the scent, all his willpower was devoted to resisting the drug’s effect, leaving him immobilized.

Xiaoying held him compassionately. Today’s danger was more than just the drug’s effect; it also included the previous trigger.

That letter from Ye Wang妃 had already stoked Feng Yuan’s hatred for Princess Anqing, and today’s hostile atmosphere further ignited his antagonistic emotions.

In the end, if Feng Yuan hadn’t controlled the drug’s effect in time, combined with the sharp blade brought by the servant, it would have resulted in a bloody massacre that would have shocked the entire court!

Feng Yuan was no longer the twelve-year-old child of years past. With his skills, if he went into a frenzy, no one present could have stopped him.

If he had truly killed or injured Princess Anqing in such a gathering filled with noble families, even if His Majesty wanted to cover for his mad son, he couldn’t silence the multitude of voices.

Feng Yuan’s fate would be more miserable than confinement in the Tianlu Palace!

How malicious was the master’s intent!

His calculation was to make Feng Yuan wish he were dead! To fall back into the jar of insect nurturing, perhaps never to see daylight again!

Fortunately, not everyone was helpless against a madman.

The master’s only miscalculation was not anticipating that a lady outside the chessboard would appear beside Feng Yuan to disrupt the game.

Xiaoying not only discovered the unusual scent but also cleverly defused the situation, allowing Feng Yuan to leave the Mu residence early.

But what was puzzling was what role Princess Anqing played in all this. Could she truly be so intolerant of Feng Yuan? Or was she afraid of Feng Yuan investigating Fu Ansheng’s trail, to the point of risking herself as bait to trigger Feng Yuan’s madness?

It’s worth noting that if Feng Yuan wanted to, even unarmed, he could snap Anqing’s neck. Even if Anqing had people lying in ambush around the tea room, they might not be able to save her in time!

Thinking of this, Xiaoying rose to get paper and brush, asking Feng Yuan to write a note.

“Ask Princess Anqing if she knows what’s special about the fragrance she wore today?”

Feng Yuan’s eyebrows furrowed, clearly averse to any contact with Anqing, whom he despised intensely.

Remembering that Feng Yuan’s hand was injured, Xiaoying didn’t bother to persuade him. Instead, she simply leaned against the small table in the carriage, took out paper, ink, and a box, and began to imitate Feng Yuan’s usual handwriting.

“You’re so bold, writing a fake letter right in front of me?” Feng Yuan, having calmed down, raised an eyebrow at Xiaoying while casually pushing her elbow.

Xiaoying’s note was streaked with ink, and she complained: “Ah! How could you! I was almost finished!”

Feng Yuan reached out to lift her and move her aside, then picked up the brush with his injured hand, quickly wrote two lines, and lifted the carriage curtain to instruct a guard to deliver it to Princess Anqing.

Xiaoying tilted her head, looking at Feng Yuan: “Why did you change your mind?”

“The one who has been trying to understand me from the shadows naturally knows my temperament and how I deal with people. So I might as well listen to you and change my approach, perhaps catching him off guard!”

Feng Yuan wrote two notes, one for Princess Anqing and one for Mu Hanjiang.

If Princess Anqing had planted the drug, then the note would inform her that the Grand Prince had seen through her scheme and was ready for a confrontation.

But if Princess Anqing herself was being used, then this note would serve as a warning, using her to trace the person who had drugged her.

As for the note to Mu Hanjiang, Feng Yuan had his considerations.

Truly deserving of being the dark-hearted prince who had escaped the Barren Palace alone, he had understood everything without Xiaoying having to explain much.

Xiaoying found this kind of lover quite appealing, so she couldn’t resist wrapping her arms around his neck, narrowing her eyes seductively: “Is the Grand Prince still thirsty? Would this concubine provide relief for Your Highness?”

In this scenario, it wasn’t clear who was thirsty.

Feng Yuan was naturally perceptive and readily kissed the little vixen seeking affection.

But this kiss was no longer driven by thirst; it was filled with deep tenderness and cherishment.

Feng Yuan had observed the banquet scene today, and Mu Hanjiang’s words had indeed reached his heart.

Merely obtaining a prince’s residence to treasure her wasn’t enough. Without sufficient power, Xiaoying would continue to face ridicule while by his side.

With the reputation of a madman, he couldn’t enter the central court politics, let alone counter that insidious master and make him retract his claws.

Since war had been declared, how could he not respond? Let’s see how long that master could remain behind the curtain!

Although they had left early that day.

Thanks to Chu Yu, who was like a female spy gathering information, Xiaoying knew every detail of what happened afterward.

Now they were in Prince Ruixiang’s garden, feeding fish. Chu Yu scattered fish food while saying: “After you left that day, Princess Anqing didn’t come out to see anyone for half a day, and even Young Master Mu didn’t emerge. It was a pity for all those beautifully dressed unmarried ladies.”

Xiaoying listened with a smile and asked: “So the Princess never came out again?”

“The banquet was almost over when the Princess finally appeared. But my carriage driver heard from their gatehouse that many people were dragged from her back courtyard that day, as if there had been thieves. Even the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards entered directly through the back gate, quite a few people, and some servants were directly tied up and dragged out through the back door!”

Chu Yu’s carriage driver was truly talented to be able to gather such intelligence. While admiring this, Xiaoying also felt reassured.

Just as she had guessed, how could a noble lady like Anqing, who cared so much about her reputation, use herself as bait during such an important occasion as hosting guests at home, deliberately provoking Feng Yuan’s madness?

It seemed she didn’t know about the secret of the fragrance on her body, so after receiving Feng Yuan’s note, she immediately sealed off the back courtyard, strictly investigating the servants who had contact with her clothing.

This was good; let the dogs bite each other. Whether they tore at fur or flesh, one only needed to watch coldly from the sidelines.

After sharing the gossip, Madam Chu also chatted with Xiaoying about business for quite some time, asking if she was interested in the timber business and suggesting they invest together.

Xiaoying, with the Grand Prince as her financial backer, agreed without hesitation, deciding to invest a few shares with Madam Chu, which would also create more income sources for Feng Yuan.

Seeing that she agreed to such a large sum without even consulting the Grand Prince, Madam Chu harbored some doubts and probed: “You don’t need to ask the Grand Prince? Or do you have your private funds?”

Xiaoying smiled gently and shyly: “As a humble concubine from the countryside, how could I have private funds? But money is a small matter, not like court affairs. The Grand Prince would surely approve. If I were to ask, wouldn’t that show I distrust your business acumen, Madam? Don’t worry, if the Grand Prince doesn’t agree, this servant will just have to whisper sweet words in his ear at night!”

Madam Chu, once again flattered, felt content and grew even more impressed with Lady Ying.

How could this be a woman from the countryside? It was such a waste that those noble ladies were mocking and ridiculing this lady’s background behind her back.

They truly hadn’t recognized this lady’s extraordinary eloquence and presence!

Based on Chu Yu’s interactions over these few days, she increasingly felt that this lady had seen the grand world. Her manner of dealing with people and her conversation carried an air of composure.

Especially at the banquet that day, despite being in such a setting where everyone around treated her unkindly, which would have made any other woman feel like sitting on pins and needles, this Lady Ying remained smiling gracefully from beginning to end, without any hint of self-consciousness.

Just now, Chu Yu had been discussing business that involved thousands of taels of silver with the lady.

An inexperienced person would have been overwhelmed by such large sums.

But this lady maintained a calm smile throughout, unfazed by honor or disgrace. In just a few words, she asked about the most treacherous checkpoints in timber shipping and even pointed out errors in Chu Yu’s occasional misinformation with pinpoint accuracy. She also laid out her conditions for becoming a shareholder and at which junctures she would need to place her people.

After Chu Yu agreed to all of this, Lady Ying finally sealed the deal, agreeing to represent the Grand Prince in the investment.

That kind of composure came from someone who had done major business or was accustomed to overseeing large operations – a feeling of pressure from someone looking down from a high position.

People with such presence unconsciously control the situation, making you unwittingly follow their rhythm.

To say something disrespectful, though this small lady resembled the Crown Prince in appearance, she was far superior to that effeminate Crown Prince!

Along with her admiration, Chu Yu also gained a new respect for the Grand Prince: people called him a madman, but his sharp eye for talent in finding such a woman as his concubine truly showed his astuteness!

It was said that for this concubine, the Grand Prince had even humiliated Madam Jing, angering her so much that she barely ate at the banquet before huffing away.

Chu Yu couldn’t help but reciprocate the kindness by warning the lady: “Lady Ying may not know, but Madam Jing has never been very magnanimous. Although the Empress is currently bedridden, the currently favored Consort Yi in the palace is also a Tang family lady. With the Grand Prince offending Madam Jing that day, this matter is likely to reach the palace. You should remind the Grand Prince!”

Xiaoying smiled, leading Madam Chu back to the pavilion for tea: “If that’s the case, shouldn’t Madam also avoid suspicion and not come to Prince Ruixiang’s residence?”

Chu Yu laughed, unconcerned: “I have business with every residence in the capital, including quite a few with members of her Tang family! If I were to avoid this suspicion and that suspicion, half my business would be impossible. Money is the cleanest; it bears no mark of factional disputes!”