"Princess, I've found out, the Fourth Prince hasn't woken up yet!" A'luo whispered to Xueying, who was sitting behind a scorched-tail zither.

A trace of worry and sorrow crossed Xueying's brow. Her beautiful face had become noticeably thinner, a result of her inability to eat or sleep properly after hearing about Hongli's poisoning.

"Princess, you haven't touched your breakfast yet! If this continues, you'll fall ill." A'Luo said with some concern when she saw that the breakfast on the table was untouched.

"I can't eat. Let's go pay our respects to our aunt!" Xueying stood up and said, "His poison, isn't it?"

"Princess, do you really suspect that it was the Empress who did it?" A'luo asked when Xueying stopped halfway through her sentence.

"Why don't we go and test the waters?" Xueying suggested.

The master and servant walked out of the side hall of Jingyang Palace and along the corridor toward the Empress's main hall.

"Your niece greets your aunt, may your aunt be blessed with good fortune and peace!" Xueying and her servant walked straight into the palace, where they saw the Empress sitting in the dining room having breakfast.

"Have you had breakfast yet? Come, have some with your aunt." The Empress smiled gently when she saw Xueying. She seemed to be in a good mood; she was naturally happy that Hongli was in trouble.

"Yes, thank you for the meal, Aunt!" Xueying obediently walked to the opposite side of the Empress and sat down.

A palace maid nearby quickly served her porridge.

"Ying'er, why have you lost weight? Are you worried about that boy?" The Empress noticed that Xueying had become thinner and asked, a hint of suspicion flashing in her eyes.

"Oh, how could that be? How could I possibly worry about him? It's just that my appetite has been poor because of the hot weather, so I've only eaten a little less. I'm sorry to have made you worry, Aunt." Xueying quickly covered up the situation.

The Empress stared into Xueying's eyes for a moment before saying with relief, "Tell me what you want to eat, and I'll have them make it for you. Otherwise, if your father and mother see that you've lost weight when you go back, they'll think I've been mistreating you."

"It's all Xueying's fault. Aunt has treated Xueying very well," Xueying quickly stood up and apologized.

"Sit down, sit down. I'm in a good mood today, no need for so much formality," the Empress said with a satisfied smile.

"Aunt, what makes you so happy?" Xueying asked after sitting down.

"Naturally, it's the worry of that lady in Changchun Palace who's currently watching over her son that makes me happy. Xueying, you know, right? I'm afraid that boy Hongli won't make it. Haha, it really makes me feel good. If he dies, you won't have to marry him. You can marry Hongshi then, and that way I won't have to worry about anything," the Empress laughed.

This smile was truly from the heart; Xueying hadn't seen the Empress smile like this in a long time.

"Aunt, who poisoned him?" Xueying asked cautiously.

"Whoever did it, I have to thank her! Haha. Hmm? You're still worried about him?" the Empress laughed, but then looked at Xueying with suspicion.

"No, I was just curious. Who has such great power that Changchun Palace dares to act so easily!" Xueying quickly replied.

"Xueying, you'd better not have really fallen for that boy, or I won't allow it. You are my own niece, and my relationship with Niohuru is already a life-or-death struggle. If you are truly in love with her son, then you are making an enemy of me," the Empress said sternly, staring at Xueying.

“Aunt, Ying’er thinks that if this person can make a move against Changchun Palace, he might also make a move against Cousin Hongshi. Ying’er just thinks we need to find out the truth,” Xueying quickly added.