Princess Consort Jing collected herself. “How should I test her?”

“Send someone to the palace with a message saying you suddenly dreamed of Aunt and feel uneasy in your heart, wanting to see her. Watch whether cousin refuses or agrees.”

“Alright, I’ll have someone deliver the message tomorrow.” Princess Consort Jing agreed readily, though her mood could no longer be light.

“Mother, I’m back.” Qi Huan strode in. Seeing both Qi Shuo and Qi Qiong present, he gave an embarrassed smile. “Elder brother, little sister, you’re all here.”

From his experience, he was definitely about to get scolded.

Princess Consort Jing had no mind to scold her son at the moment, forcing out a smile. “Now that you’re back, let’s have dinner. Zhenzhu, go invite the Prince over.”

The senior maid Zhenzhu went to carry out the order. Qi Huan winked at Qi Qiong.

What happened? He was scared!

Qi Qiong silently looked away.

She didn’t know if elder brother would tell second brother.

Qi Huan: ?

Unable to hold back any longer, he looked eagerly at Princess Consort Jing. “Mother, is something wrong at home?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” Princess Consort Jing instinctively denied it.

Even if she believed her eldest son’s words and was thoroughly disappointed in her niece, having such a maternal relative was too embarrassing for her—naturally she didn’t want to speak of it.

Qi Huan wanted to ask more, but Qi Qiong pulled him back.

Before long, Prince Jing arrived. The family gathered together for a meal, and when the sky had completely darkened, they dispersed.

Having just left the main courtyard, Qi Huan couldn’t wait to ask Qi Qiong, “What exactly happened?”

It couldn’t be that Mother had found out about him secretly going to play at Jinshui River with a few friends, could it?

No, no. If that were the case, even if it was his birthday, he wouldn’t escape a beating.

Qi Qiong looked toward Qi Shuo.

Qi Huan: “…” So he was the only one who didn’t know again?

Qi Shuo had no intention of hiding it, saying flatly, “It’s nothing major. Cousin put poison in my tea. After I detected it, I told Mother.”

Qi Huan stumbled and nearly fell, staring at his brother with wide eyes.

Nothing major?

Qi Shuo patted his shoulder. “I know you have many questions. Actually, you just need to remember one thing—stay away from the Crown Prince.”

His brother’s gaze, profound as the night itself, kept Qi Huan from asking further. He nodded, putting away his usual casual playfulness. “I understand.”

“Elder brother, I have another question.”

Qi Shuo looked at his sister. “Speak.”

“When Sun Xiuhua offered you tea, how did you fool her eyes?”

Qi Shuo smiled slightly. “Speaking of which, it’s thanks to Ah Hao—”

Qi Qiong had a sudden realization. “I understand!”

Ah Hao’s fish bladder pouch truly had miraculous effects. She shouldn’t have refused it back then.

“Wait a moment, why does this involve sister-in-law? How do I not know anything…”

Qi Huan kept asking questions as the three siblings’ figures disappeared into the ink-black night.

Princess Consort Jing didn’t sleep all night. The next morning, she sent someone to deliver a message to Sun Xiuhua.

When Sun Xiuhua heard someone from Prince Jing’s residence had come, her first reaction was that Qi Shuo had been poisoned. She didn’t believe a single word of the reason given for calling her back and hastily made an excuse to politely decline.

Hearing the report, Princess Consort Jing’s heart, which had been clenched all night, finally fell—fell into an icy abyss.

She had truly loved her niece dearly. Even without doubting her eldest son’s words, throughout the night she had tossed and turned countless times, unable to suppress a glimmer of hope that her niece hadn’t done such a thing.

In the end, no miracle occurred.

Princess Consort Jing smiled bitterly as she reached for her teacup. Her trembling hand didn’t grasp it firmly, and some tea spilled out.

Qi Qiong worriedly grasped Princess Consort Jing’s hand. “Mother—”

Princess Consort Jing looked at Qi Shuo. “Shuo’er, what do you plan to do about Xiuhua?”

“I don’t plan to do anything to cousin.”

Princess Consort Jing couldn’t help but be stunned.

Qi Qiong was even more upset. “Elder brother, are you just going to let people harm you?”

Qi Shuo smiled nonchalantly. “The one who truly wants to harm me is the Crown Prince. As for cousin, staying beside someone like the Crown Prince, she’ll likely have no good end. I told Mother what she did only because I don’t want Mother to grieve for her in the future.”

Qi Qiong blinked, understanding her brother’s meaning.

When the Crown Prince fell, that would be the greatest punishment for Sun Xiuhua. And if Mother recognized Sun Xiuhua’s true face early on, she wouldn’t grieve or be used by that ungrateful wretch.

Elder brother didn’t conceal this matter—ultimately, it was for Mother’s sake.

“But the Crown Prince—” A tremendous unease rose in Princess Consort Jing’s heart, overwhelming the hurt brought by her niece.

“Leave the Crown Prince’s matter to me. Mother needn’t worry.”

Princess Consort Jing nodded, but how could she truly be at ease? “I haven’t told your father about Xiuhua yet.”

“For now, there’s no need to mention it to Father.”

The Emperor was meticulous in thought. For Father, who often dealt with him, not knowing might actually be better. As for the Crown Prince—courtesy demanded reciprocity. It was time to give his self-destruction a little push.

“Alright.” Princess Consort Jing unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

She truly had no face to speak of her niece’s actions.

After leaving the main courtyard, Qi Qiong was full of worry. “The Crown Prince has murderous intent toward elder brother. Now we can guard against and avoid his underhanded methods, but what about later?”

Qi Huan also lost his usual vitality. “Right, he’s going to be Emperor in the future.”

Qi Shuo looked at the two, his expression growing serious. “I’m telling you this so you’ll be aware, but if you show it outwardly, you’ll instead harm the Prince’s residence. Understand?”

Both nodded in unison.

“We understand. We’re just worried about the future—”

The corner of Qi Shuo’s mouth curved slightly as he gazed at the clear, cloudless sky. “The Crown Prince lacks virtue. His Majesty has already grown dissatisfied. Who can be certain what the future holds?”

Qi Huan and Qi Qiong looked at each other, both seeing alarm in the other’s eyes.

The next day was clear, with bright, gentle sunlight falling on streets and alleys as the roads began to bustle with activity.

Qi Shuo arranged to take Lin Hao to view a flower field.

The flower field was in the outskirts of the capital. When Lin Hao saw the endless sea of rose flowers, she was so shocked she forgot to speak for quite a while.

“Ah Hao, look—these roses are of decent quality. They should work fine for making floral dew.” Qi Shuo casually plucked a deep red rose and handed it to Lin Hao.

Lin Hao looked at the brilliantly colored, richly fragrant rose and nodded. “The quality is better than what we could purchase outside.”

She stood in the flower field looking left and right, as if in a dream. “How did you discover this flower field?”

Qi Shuo smiled. “This is one of Prince Jing’s residence’s properties.”

Seeing Lin Hao’s surprise, he offered an explanation. “Mother loves roses. When we first came to the capital, Father bought this flower field and planted it exclusively with roses. When they bloom, the finest ones are selected and sent to the residence to be placed in vases.”

Lin Hao: “…” What should she do when she suddenly found the person before her disagreeable?

On the Crown Prince’s side, he had arranged for people to watch Prince Jing’s Heir’s movements since yesterday. Thus the Crown Prince received reports: “Prince Jing’s Heir took Second Miss Lin to view flowers.”

Another day passed.

“Prince Jing’s Heir took Second Miss Lin to pick flowers.”

Another day passed.

“Prince Jing’s Heir took Second Miss Lin to go shopping.”

Waiting left and right for Prince Jing’s Heir to die—and he wouldn’t die—the Crown Prince flew into a rage and stormed off to Sun Xiuhua’s quarters.