“Cousin has returned?” Hearing the message from the maid Princess Consort Jing sent, Qi Shuo thought for a moment, changed his outer robe, and went to the main courtyard.

Upon seeing Qi Shuo, Sun Xiuhua stood up. “Cousin brother.”

“Cousin has come.” Qi Shuo’s lips curved in a smile as he greeted Princess Consort Jing. “Mother.”

Princess Consort Jing pointed to a chair beside her. “Quickly, sit. Xiuhua specially left the palace to celebrate Qiong’er and the others’ birthdays. Those two have run off to play, so let’s share a meal together.”

Qi Shuo sat as instructed, looking toward Sun Xiuhua. “Second brother and little sister’s birthdays aren’t major ones. It’s inconvenient for cousin to leave the palace—you really needn’t have troubled yourself.”

“I missed Aunt as well, and it’s rare to have a chance to leave the palace.” Sun Xiuhua smiled gently.

After exchanging pleasantries, Qi Shuo quietly ate his food.

Sun Xiuhua picked up the teapot set to one side and poured a cup of tea for Princess Consort Jing. “I know I made Aunt angry. Today, let me use tea in place of wine to offer you a cup. Please forgive me. Here, I only have you…”

Hearing Sun Xiuhua’s words, Princess Consort Jing felt somewhat pained.

Her twin sister had died young, and being from a minor household, it was inevitable that her niece would become confused for a time, yearning for power and status. If she simply ignored her, leaving her to rely on no one in the palace, she would likely face a terrible fate in the future.

When that time came, she would feel guilty toward her departed sister.

So be it—look forward.

Seeing Princess Consort Jing pick up the teacup and drink, Sun Xiuhua felt somewhat dazed.

Was Aunt no longer angry?

Thinking of what she had to do, her heart clenched tightly with a tremendous sense of panic, yet she couldn’t refuse.

The Crown Prince’s implication was that the poison wouldn’t take effect immediately. If she followed through, she could at least escape. But if she didn’t, what future could she have in the Eastern Palace?

I’m sorry, I just want to survive.

Sun Xiuhua silently convinced herself, gently picked up a cup, poured tea, and handed it to Qi Shuo.

“I haven’t yet congratulated cousin brother on his auspicious union with Second Miss Lin.”

Qi Shuo’s eyes lowered to the cup for a moment before he smiled and accepted it. “Thank you, cousin.”

Sun Xiuhua raised her cup and drank, her gaze unconsciously falling on the person across from her.

Qi Shuo raised his cup, but just as it reached his lips, he suddenly began coughing.

Seeing him set the cup down, Sun Xiuhua’s eyes tightened, her grip on her own cup involuntarily tightening.

“My apologies, I caught a chill some days ago.” Qi Shuo explained apologetically.

Sun Xiuhua forced herself not to look at the cup by Qi Shuo’s hand, revealing an expression of concern. “Is cousin brother better now?”

“I’ve recovered. Occasionally my throat feels a bit itchy—please excuse me.” As Qi Shuo spoke, he picked up the cup again.

Sun Xiuhua stared directly at him as he drank the tea, so nervous she forgot to breathe. Only when she confirmed with her own eyes that the cup returned to the table was more than half empty did her suspended heart finally settle.

It’s done!

Her heart pounded violently, and she could barely sit still.

What if the Crown Prince had deceived her? What if Qi Shuo directly vomited blood and died?

She took a sip of tea to calm the suffocating feeling, wishing she could immediately flee back to the Eastern Palace.

“Is cousin feeling unwell?” The person who had drunk the tea showed no signs of anything amiss, looking at Sun Xiuhua with concern.

Sun Xiuhua dared not meet those clear, water-like eyes, lowering her gaze to stroke the teacup. “No, it’s just that I’m always in the palace and rarely speak with people. Coming back, I finally feel like I’m home, and there’s an indescribable feeling in my heart.”

Hearing this, Princess Consort Jing grasped her hand. “Xiuhua, this has always been your home.”

Qi Shuo sat with them a while longer before setting down his chopsticks. “Mother, cousin, I’ve finished eating. I won’t disturb your intimate conversation.”

“Cousin brother, go ahead with your business.” Sun Xiuhua said urgently.

Princess Consort Jing also smiled. “Go on.”

Qi Shuo gave Sun Xiuhua a long, penetrating look before rising to leave.

That look made Sun Xiuhua’s heart jump with alarm. She sat as if on pins and needles through the afternoon, finally enduring until it was time to take her leave.

She had barely returned to the Eastern Palace when the Crown Prince came over.

“How did it go?”

“This concubine put the poison in the tea. He drank it.”

“You’re certain he drank it?”

Sun Xiuhua nodded. “This concubine saw him drink it with her own eyes.”

The Crown Prince smiled. “I knew I chose the right person. Hua’er, you’re truly clever.”

Sun Xiuhua produced a bitter smile, her face pale. “Your Highness, this concubine worries—”

“What are you worried about?” The Crown Prince’s face showed impatience. “Didn’t I tell you? This poison won’t take effect for two or three days. When he has diarrhea then, who would think to suspect you?”

“It truly won’t take effect for two days?”

“Would I deceive you?”

Seeing the Crown Prince’s face darken, Sun Xiuhua wisely stopped pressing. “Then this concubine is reassured. This concubine fears Aunt might suspect me, making things difficult in the future.”

The Crown Prince smiled dismissively. “You’re in the Eastern Palace year-round without needing to go out—why worry about that? Alright, put your heart back in your belly. This matter is finished.”

Having obtained the result he wanted, the Crown Prince didn’t stay long before leaving.

Sun Xiuhua sat in a daze, motionless for a long time.

The palace maid who entered changed to fresh tea and presented it.

Sun Xiuhua recoiled as if stung by a bee, hissing, “Take it away!”

In Prince Jing’s residence, the teacup Qi Shuo had used had barely been cleared by the maid before the servant Changning, who had been waiting there, took it.

“What do you want this for? These cups are all on the inventory—if even one is missing, the count won’t match.” The maid asked curiously.

Changning directly pressed a silver ingot into her hand. “Sister, use this to buy yourself a hairpin. Our Heir has need of it. Please don’t mention this to anyone—I’ll return it shortly.”

The maid smiled as she clutched the silver ingot. “Then return it quickly.”

Something the Heir wanted—of course she, a mere maid, wouldn’t refuse.

Changning hurried back to Qi Shuo’s quarters, clutching the teacup.

“Heir, I’ve brought it.”

Qi Shuo accepted the teacup and set it on the table, staring at the remaining tea inside, lost in thought.

“Heir, is there something wrong with this cup?”

“Bring me a silver needle.”

Changning’s expression jolted. Only after Qi Shuo glanced at him did he react, swiftly retrieving a silver needle.

“Test it.” Qi Shuo lifted his chin toward the teacup.

Changning drew a sharp breath, pinching the silver needle and carefully placing it in the tea. After a moment, he withdrew it. Seeing the needle’s color hadn’t changed, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

“Heir, look.”

Qi Shuo frowned in thought for a moment, then picked up the teacup and walked to the windowsill.

On the windowsill sat a fish bowl with two small fish swimming merrily inside.

Several drops of tea fell into the bowl, creating small ripples. The startled fish swam away, but soon returned.

An hour later, Changning’s eyes widened as he cried out in alarm, “Heir, both fish are dead!”

Qi Shuo, who had been quietly reading, set down his book and walked over.

The small fish that had been lively and spirited not long ago now floated belly-up, motionless in the water.

“Go fetch Doctor Zhu.”

Doctor Zhu was a renowned physician from another region. Last year, Prince Jing’s residence had invited him to treat Qi Shuo’s heart condition, and he had remained since.

Changning hurried out and soon returned with Doctor Zhu.

“What does the Heir need from this old physician?”

Qi Shuo pushed the cup before Doctor Zhu. “I would like to ask Doctor Zhu to examine what poison is in this cup.”

Hearing these words, Doctor Zhu’s expression didn’t change in the slightest as he picked up the water cup.