Yu Jin had long noticed Prince Xiang approaching from the corner of his eye, but he paid no attention. Although he had anticipated and looked forward to this fool causing trouble, he couldn’t let the other party see it. If Prince Xiang sensed it and got scared off, what would be the point?

“Your Highness, I’d like to offer you a toast,” said the Young Prince of Kang.

They had chatted briefly when entering the palace, so Yu Jin didn’t mind showing some courtesy. He raised his cup and drank it in one gulp.

The Young Prince of Kang smiled, “Your Highness is truly straightforward. In the future, I hope you’ll honor us with your presence when we invite you for drinks.”

Prince Xiang, who had just walked over, felt quite uncomfortable hearing this. Although the Young Prince of Kang’s father was only a prince of a commandery, he still had considerable face among the imperial clan. In the past, the Young Prince of Kang had never been so ingratiating towards him.

That trace of dissatisfaction deepened, dispelling Prince Xiang’s last bit of hesitation.

He strode over and called out, “Seventh Brother.”

Everyone turned to look.

Prince Xiang raised his wine cup and smiled, “Since we parted that day, I haven’t had the chance to chat with you. Today, I’d like to offer Seventh Brother a toast.”

Yu Jin looked over with a somewhat careless smile.

“Seventh Brother wouldn’t refuse, would you?” Prince Xiang suddenly became nervous.

That bastard Seventh Brother was known for not playing by the rules. If he refused to drink this cup of wine, all the scheming would be in vain.

Just as Prince Xiang was getting anxious, Yu Jin chuckled lightly, “How could I? I’m delighted that Eighth Brother wants to drink with me.”

Prince Xiang secretly sighed in relief and beckoned to a palace maid standing nearby.

The maid immediately came forward with a tray.

Prince Xiang picked up the white jade wine pot from the tray and smiled, “Let me fill Seventh Brother’s cup.”

Yu Jin had just finished drinking with the Young Prince of Kang, so his cup was empty. Prince Xiang’s action wouldn’t draw any attention.

As he poured the wine, Prince Xiang, under the cover of his sleeve, flicked his fingertip to sprinkle the drug powder into the cup. His heart was pounding so hard while doing this that it felt like it might jump out of his throat.

“Seventh Brother, please—” After completing this, Prince Xiang handed the wine cup to Yu Jin, trying his best not to show any abnormality.

Yu Jin lowered his gaze to stare at the cup of wine.

The amber-colored wine in the jade cup was a palace wine that couldn’t be bought on the market.

He stared for a bit too long, making Prince Xiang’s heart, which had just settled, rise again.

The seventh Brother was very cunning. Could he have noticed something unusual?

Prince Xiang couldn’t help but follow Yu Jin’s gaze to look at the drugged wine.

The liquid was still amber-colored, looking no different from the wine in his cup.

It’s impossible, Seventh Brother couldn’t have noticed anything unusual.

Prince Xiang secretly reassured himself, but his back was still soaked with cold sweat.

At this moment, he suddenly realized that once you take action on many things, it’s impossible not to be nervous.

Yu Jin, seeing that he had scared Prince Xiang enough, finally reached out to take the cup of wine and raised it towards Prince Xiang.

Prince Xiang felt relieved and immediately clinked glasses with Yu Jin.

Yu Jin raised the cup to his lips with one hand and used the other to support it, then tilted his head back and drank it all in one go.

Prince Xiang stared at those lips that had become red and moist from the wine, and his heart finally settled.

It was good that he drank it. As long as the drug worked as Fourth Brother had said, Seventh Brother was destined to make a fool of himself today.

The corners of his mouth unconsciously curved up, and Prince Xiang showed a genuine smile, preparing to return to his seat.

Yu Jin gave him a meaningful look, “Eighth Brother, don’t rush off.”

Prince Xiang’s face didn’t show it, but he became alert internally.

Yu Jin picked up the wine pot that Prince Xiang had just put back on the palace maid’s tray and directly filled Prince Xiang’s empty cup.

This action was swift and decisive. By the time Prince Xiang reacted, the cup was already full.

Yu Jin then filled his cup and raised it with a smile, “Now, let your elder brother offer Eighth Brother a toast.”

Prince Xiang held the white jade wine cup, suddenly feeling a bit flustered.

Yu Jin’s face darkened slightly, and he said with displeasure, “What’s wrong? Eighth Brother doesn’t want to drink?”

Prince Xiang’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly smiled, “How could that be?”

Under everyone’s gaze, he had come to offer Seventh Brother a toast. If he refused Seventh Brother’s reciprocation, when Seventh Brother made a fool of himself later, people might become suspicious of him.

Thinking of this, Prince Xiang dared not delay any longer and hurriedly raised his cup and drank it all.

“Eighth Brother is truly straightforward,” Yu Jin chuckled lightly and drank the wine in his cup.

Only then did Prince Xiang manage to escape, secretly exchanging a glance with Prince Qi.

Prince Qi came over and also offered a toast.

Seeing that Yu Jin accepted all comers and drank several cups of wine in a short time, Prince Xiang’s heart finally settled back in his stomach. He secretly wiped the sticky sweat from his palms and, to avoid looking suspicious, quickly began drinking back and forth with others.

As he drank, he didn’t forget to secretly observe Yu Jin.

Fourth Brother had said that the drug would take effect a quarter of an hour after drinking it, but why hadn’t Seventh Brother shown any reaction?

Estimating that enough time had passed, while Yu Jin was still chatting and laughing with others, Prince Xiang became uneasy. He finally couldn’t help but approach Prince Qi and ask in a low voice, “Fourth Brother, why hasn’t there been any movement?”

Prince Qi was also a bit anxious and frowned, “Perhaps it’s related to individual physique…”

Seventh Brother was a martial artist, so his body was probably stronger, and the drug’s effect might be slower.

Prince Xiang found this reasonable and felt slightly more at ease, but he kept a close eye on the situation over there.

After a while, Prince Xiang’s expression suddenly changed. His originally clear eyes seemed to lose focus, appearing dazed and blank.

“Eighth Brother, what’s wrong?” Prince Qi noticed something amiss and hurriedly asked.

Prince Xiang suddenly stood up.

Prince Qi’s heart sank, and he quickly grabbed Prince Xiang’s sleeve, saying in a low voice, “Eighth Brother, what are you doing?”

At this time, the great hall was lively with the clinking of cups and the sound of music. No one paid attention to the commotion here for a moment, and even if some glances were cast their way, people would assume Prince Xiang was about to offer a toast.

On the high platform, Emperor Jingming considerately said to the Empress Dowager, “Mother, if you’re tired, let me escort you to rest.”

The Empress Dowager was in her seventies, and sitting for long periods might be uncomfortable for her.

Usually, on such occasions, the Empress Dowager would leave early, but this time she shook her head, “Year after year, I don’t know how many more times I’ll be able to see such lively scenes. I’m happy watching this.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it. When the weather gets warmer, I’ll have the Empress organize some flower-viewing banquets. Then it will be even livelier than now. Mother, you can see whatever kind of liveliness you want, so please don’t speak as if this is the last time.”

The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile, her gaze flitting over Yu Jin, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Was the string of agarwood prayer beads offered by the Prince of Yan a coincidence or intentional?

Just then, Prince Xiang, who had stood up, suddenly reached out to pull open his outer robe and ran towards the high platform with reddened eyes.

As he ran, he continued to pull at his clothes, and in the blink of an eye, he was left wearing only a snow-white undergarment.

Because it happened so suddenly, the people in the hall forgot to cry out in shock and also forgot to stop him. They watched with blank expressions as Prince Xiang ran towards the high platform.

Even the imperial guards standing nearby, responsible for protecting the Emperor, were momentarily stunned. Their minds raced, struggling to consider a question: Prince Xiang seemed to be committing treason… but judging by his appearance, he was preparing to streak naked. Where could he be hiding a weapon?

Never mind, even if he had no weapon, they couldn’t let Prince Xiang rush to the Emperor’s side.

Having reached this conclusion, all the guards moved in unison, restraining Prince Xiang, who had almost completely undressed.