Chapter 115 Even if it's about to be washed, you still have to eat.

Lin Ruoxue brought her red lips close to the Third Prince's ear and whispered, "Don't you want the throne? Kill her, kill Xie Mianmian, and with your unique luck, you'll have everything."

Her tone was seductive and ambiguous, like the song of a mermaid in legend, stirring up the deepest desires in people's hearts and bewitching the Third Prince.

The third prince swallowed hard. He was both cowardly and ruthless. He feared authority and dared not do anything out of line, but for the sake of power, he was extremely ruthless in managing his subordinates.

He trampled the common people into mud, while they looked up to the imperial power and wealth.

The Third Prince remained silent, ignoring Xie Mianmian's pleas for help, and walked silently to the side.

"Third Prince, you!" I knew he was a bad person, but I never expected him to actually stand by and watch someone die.

Upon seeing their true master arrive, the two Tibetan mastiffs immediately cowered like quails, their chests hunched in timidity.

Seeing that all obstacles had been cleared, Lin Ruoxue grinned wickedly and stretched out her devilish hand to grab Xie Mianmian.

"Ah!" The black crane suddenly pecked at her with its beak.

Even you betrayed me!

"Clack clack clack!" That's what I'm pecking at.

Lin Ruoxue reached out to grab its neck, but the black crane became fierce.

I'm sorry, I'm no longer the white crane I used to be. I am now—Niohuru Black Crane!

The black crane protected the child behind it, raised its broad wings, and with a "smack!" slapped Lin Ruoxue hard across her fair cheek.

I'll make you feed me poison and turn me into a monster.

She was forced to turn her head away, her fingers touching her slightly flushed face. "Ah! You stinky bird, I'm going to kill you, pluck all your feathers!"

Her face, her face that had just recovered from the bee sting!

Hearing this, Black Crane was furious. It gathered its strength and slapped Lin Ruoxue's face from left to right.

The sharp edge of the feathers left a bloody mark on her face.

Seeing the bloodstains on her hands, Lin Ruoxue was so enraged that she almost lost her mind. She gritted her teeth and charged at Xie Mianmian without thinking, intending to push them into the lotus pond.

Just as Lin Ruoxue's hand was about to knock Xie Mianmian and the others down, the child, along with the black crane, nimbly dodged to the side.

With a loud splash, Lin Ruoxue fell into the lotus pond, thrashing about in a sorry state, crying out, "Help! I can't swim!"

Xie Mianmian breathed a sigh of relief, as if she had escaped a disaster, and ran out with Heihe, but was blocked by a figure—the Third Prince.

Xie Mianmian blinked, then suddenly called out excitedly to the Third Prince, "Seventh Prince, you've arrived!"

What? The Third Prince turned around abruptly, only to find no one behind him.

He took a step forward and blocked Xie Mianmian's path again.

The child's eyes lit up again, "Uncle Huang, you're here!"

The third prince hurriedly stood up, turned around, and found that there was still no one behind him.

He clenched his fists, making a cracking sound. "Kid, is it fun to mess with me?"

"Oh, Seventh Prince, you've finally arrived! Waaaaaah..."

"Heh, this time I will definitely not be fooled by you again..."

"Mianmian, are you alright!" The Seventh Prince's voice came from behind, and the Third Prince's vision went black.

This time, it's for real; someone has come to rescue Xie Mianmian.

She rushed over and, like a bird returning to its nest, threw herself into the Seventh Prince's arms, whimpering softly.

The Seventh Prince took out a handkerchief and wiped away the tears on Xie Mianmian's face.

The child sniffed, inhaling the pleasant sandalwood fragrance, feeling calm and serene, as if he had returned to the solemn Buddha statue at Fohua Temple, and his whole being gradually settled down.

"What's going on?" It was the majestic voice of the emperor.

The Third Prince's vision went black again, his knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground.

Upon seeing the person who arrived, Xie Mianmian flew away like a little bird, pounced on the emperor, raised her little face, her eyes brimming with tears, and gesticulated wildly as she complained.

"You scoundrels!" The emperor was furious. He ordered his men to pull Lin Ruoxue out of the lotus pond and imprison the two of them. He would collect evidence and then deal with them accordingly.

Lin Ruoxue, soaking wet, was lifted up and muttered to herself, "It's over, it's completely over now, but it's worth it to let the Lady of Destiny die with me!" Then she burst into maniacal laughter.

Upon hearing the child say that Lin Ruoxue had given her a bowl of unknown poison, the Seventh Prince felt as if his heart had been clenched tightly.

"Quickly summon the Imperial Academy Master!"

The seventh prince bowed to his father, the emperor, and then had Eunuch Li carry Xie Mianmian onto the sedan chair and take her back to his palace.

Inside the understated yet luxurious bedroom, Xie Mianmian lay on a large bed. The bed was extremely simple and neat, with nothing superfluous. She felt it and realized that the bed beneath her wasn't soft enough.

Xie Mianmian reached under the pillow and felt around, but there was nothing there.

A slightly larger hand grabbed her wrist. "Let the physician take your pulse properly. Don't move around."

Xie Mianmian grabbed the Seventh Prince's sleeve with her other hand, "Mianmian is fine, I don't feel anything bad at all, maybe she's lying."

The seventh prince pursed his lips until they turned white, remaining silent.

"It's really nothing, Mianmian is so hungry..."

Halfway through her speech, Xie Mianmian paused, as if her internal organs were suddenly throbbing with pain, as if someone was frantically pounding inside her stomach.

The little child was hunched over, his face was pale, and a bead of sweat the size of a bean appeared on his forehead.

The Seventh Prince's hands trembled. "Imperial Physician, please take a look at her! She's in so much pain! What happened? How should she be treated? All the medicinal herbs in my private treasury are available for her..."

The academy doctor carefully took Xie Mianmian's pulse, his brows furrowing deeply. He remained silent for a moment, then inserted about ten silver needles into Xie Mianmian's head.

Gradually, the pain in her abdomen subsided. Xie Mianmian smiled faintly, but her voice betrayed her weakness, "Mianmian is alright now, don't worry."

The abbot said, "This poison is very strange. It has only temporarily relieved the symptoms. I need to go and read that ancient book so that I can prescribe the right medicine. In the meantime, the princess must not move around recklessly."

Seeing the Seventh Prince nod, the head physician removed the silver needles from the child and hurriedly left.

Feeling better, Xie Mianmian started acting up, "Seventh Prince, Mianmian's stomach is growling. The pain I felt earlier must have been from hunger."

The Seventh Prince was amused by her, "Even in this state, you're still craving food."

A short while later, Eunuch Li brought over a small bowl containing papaya stewed with snow fungus. To suit Xie Mianmian's taste, milk and sugar were added.

Xie Mianmian stared intently at the small bowl, her mouth watering uncontrollably. After all that commotion, how could she not be hungry? The battle of wits was exhausting; she needed to eat to feel better.

A pair of hands helped her up, and Xie Mianmian, flattered, leaned against the bed, watching as the Seventh Prince thoughtfully placed a soft pillow under her lower back.

Heaven knows, even the seventh prince's pillow was rock hard.

Eunuch Li picked up the small bowl, intending to feed Xie Mianmian, but the Seventh Prince took it away.

The small, white porcelain spoon scooped up the pale yellow snow fungus and, when it wasn't so hot anymore, gently brought it to Xie Mianmian's lips. "Open your mouth."

Xie Mianmian opened his round eyes in surprise. Usually, only his family would feed him like this. He was a prince who was always served with utmost respect.

Surprisingly, she felt something was amiss.