Princess Fuqing had suffered from an eye condition since childhood, but her kind heart and gentle nature meant she never put on air as a legitimate princess. The imperial princesses in the palace were happy to be close to her.

Even so, few were truly close friends with Princess Fuqing.

Princess Fuqing held a noble status, yet her blindness made her like a precious glass figurine. Who would dare to play roughly with her, lest they bump or upset her and face dire consequences?

However, Princess Fuqing was very familiar with this voice. It belonged to the Fifteenth Princess, who often came to play with her.

“Thirteenth Sister is amazing, guessing correctly right away!” The Fifteenth Princess smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

Princess Fuqing carefully examined the Fifteenth Princess and smiled, “Fifteenth Sister is a little beauty.”

After her eyes were healed, Jiang Si instructed her to rest quietly for two days. The Empress had ordered that no one disturb the princess, so today was the first time she was seeing everyone.

The Fifteenth Princess was delighted to hear this. She affectionately held Princess Fuqing’s hand and said with a suppressed smile, “Only the Thirteenth Sister would say that. Everyone else teases me for having a round face.”

“Not at all. Fifteenth Sister has a healthy glow. Anyone who sees you would find you pleasing to the eye.”

For Princess Fuqing, who had long been in darkness, all bright colors were appealing to her.

At this moment, maids brought fruit wine and placed it in front of each princess.

Music started playing, and a troupe of dancers began to perform in the hall.

Taking advantage of the lively atmosphere, the Fifteenth Princess leaned close to Princess Fuqing’s ear and whispered, “Thirteenth Sister, I think Seventh Sister-in-law is the most beautiful among everyone here.”

Princess Fuqing looked past the dancing palace maids to the table across from them.

The Fifteenth Princess held her cup, sipping the sweet and sour fruit wine, and asked with a grin, “Don’t you think so?”

Princess Fuqing nodded slightly, “Indeed. Fifteenth Sister, please wait a moment. I’d like to go and offer a toast to Seventh Sister-in-law.”

She picked up her wine cup, caught a faint scent of plum, then put it down and instructed a palace maid to pour her a cup of Baihua Yang wine. She stood up and walked towards the opposite table.

The Fifteenth Princess hurriedly stood up and gently tugged at Princess Fuqing’s sleeve.

Princess Fuqing stopped and looked at the Fifteenth Princess, “Fifteenth Sister, what’s the matter?”

“Thirteenth Sister, I’d like to offer a toast to Seventh Sister-in-law too. I’m so happy she cured your eyes.”

Princess Fuqing chuckled, seeing through the Fifteenth Princess’s little scheme, “I think you’re just curious.”

She had been blind for over a decade, and suddenly the Princess Consort of Yan had cured her eyes. Who wouldn’t be curious?

“Let’s go then.”

The two of them walked towards Jiang Si together.

Jiang Si was dealing with the other ladies at her table. Although she was ignoring the Princess Consort of Qi, she was patient enough with the others, maintaining a relatively harmonious atmosphere.

Seeing Princess Fuqing approach, everyone immediately stopped their chatter and looked over.

Princess Fuqing gracefully bowed to everyone, “Fuqing greets all the royal sisters-in-law.”

The Fifteenth Princess followed suit with a greeting.

The princess’s consort didn’t dare to be arrogant and immediately returned the greeting.

This was the only legitimate princess of the current reign, not only the apple of the Empress’s eye but also the Emperor’s most beloved daughter. Even as princesses consort, they couldn’t put on airs in front of Princess Fuqing.

As for the princess accompanying Princess Fuqing, well, it was impressive enough to even know her rank.

Princess Fuqing raised her cup to Jiang Si, “Seventh Sister-in-law, you cured Fuqing’s eyes. Fuqing will always remember this. This toast is for you.”

Jiang Si clinked her jade cup with Princess Fuqing’s, “Princess, there’s no need for such formality. As I said before, this must be the fate between the Princess and me.”

Several princesses consort hearing this couldn’t help but want to roll their eyes.

The Princess Consort of Yan was good at building relationships. Was she suggesting that the Old Man Under the Moon had tied a red string between Princess Fuqing and her? Talking about fate, indeed.

But despite their jealousy, they knew this was something they couldn’t hope to emulate. After all, it was the Princess Consort of Yan who had cured Princess Fuqing’s eyes.

Princess Fuqing smiled slightly, “Seventh Sister-in-law is right. Fuqing toasts you.”

They both drained their cups.

Seeing them finish their drinks, the Fifteenth Princess raised her cup with a beaming smile, “Seventh Sister-in-law, I’d like to toast you too. Thank you for curing my Thirteenth Sister’s eyes.”

This was Jiang Si’s first time meeting the Fifteenth Princess, and she quite liked this lively young girl born in the depths of the palace. She took a newly filled cup from a maid and raised it to the Fifteenth Princess, “Fifteenth Princess, you’re too kind.”

Their cups clinked, and seeing Jiang Si drink heartily, the Fifteenth Princess quickly drained her cup as well.

“Seventh Sister-in-law, there are many people today, so we won’t disturb you further. Another day, I’ll invite you to the palace for a visit. You must come,” Princess Fuqing said. Seeing Jiang Si nod, she happily pursed her lips and turned to whisper, “Fifteenth Sister, let’s go back.”

But the Fifteenth Princess didn’t respond.

Princess Fuqing sensed something was amiss and reached out to take the Fifteenth Princess’s hand, “Fifteenth Sister—”

Suddenly, the Fifteenth Princess collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain.

A palace maid close to the Fifteenth Princess cried out in alarm, “Blood! The Princess is bleeding!”

This commotion immediately caught everyone’s attention in the hall.

Hearing that a princess was bleeding, the Empress’s hand trembled, spilling all the wine in her cup onto the table.

“Fifteenth Sister!” Princess Fuqing threw herself towards the Fifteenth Princess, who was constantly convulsing and rolling on the ground.

The Empress breathed a sigh of relief as her rationality returned, and she immediately called out, “Quick, hold back Princess Fuqing! Summon the Imperial Physicians!”

The Emperor and Empress hurried over, and the scene descended into chaos.

The Fifteenth Princess didn’t survive to see the arrival of the Imperial Physicians.

Accompanied by Princess Fuqing’s faintly suppressed sobs came Emperor Jingming’s roar, “What exactly happened to the Fifteenth Princess?”

Several Imperial Physicians knelt on the ground, trembling, not daring to make a sound.

“Speak, or I’ll have your heads!”

Under the Emperor’s interrogation, one of the physicians had to answer reluctantly, “Your Majesty, the Fifteenth Princess… she died of poisoning…”

“What poison?”

The physicians were stumped by this question and looked at each other.

Emperor Jingming let out a cold laugh, “You are supposed to be the nation’s finest physicians, yet you can’t determine what poison the Fifteenth Princess ingested?”

The physicians felt bitter inside.

Different professions are like mountains apart. The Emperor might be good at being an emperor, but he shouldn’t talk nonsense about the medical profession.

In this vast world full of wonders, poisoning cases were the hardest to investigate.

But they could only keep these thoughts to themselves. Daring to say such things to the Emperor would be courting death.

One physician said, “Your Majesty, to determine exactly what poison the Fifteenth Princess ingested, we first need to find the source of the poison, such as what she ate or what she came into contact with.”

Although reluctant, Emperor Jingming turned to Princess Fuqing, “Fuqing, were you with Fifteenth just now?”

Princess Fuqing nodded tearfully.

“Did you notice anything unusual about Fifteenth?”

Princess Fuqing bit her lip lightly, remaining silent for a moment.

Princess Rongyang interjected, “Royal Brother, it was quite lively over here earlier. I happened to glance over and saw the Fifteenth Princess drinking with the Princess Consort of Yan.”

All eyes immediately fell on Jiang Si.

Emperor Jingming frowned, “Seventh Son’s wife, is this true?”

“Yes, the Fifteenth Princess did indeed offer me a toast just now, but the Fifteenth Princess’s wine came from her table.”