Huh—

What was he doing holding her hand?

Tong Su struggled twice in surprise, but couldn't get free.

She didn't know what Xiao Lingchen meant by this, but if she struggled too much, she would inevitably be noticed. Since he was holding her tightly, she had no choice but to let him hold her.

"The reason His Majesty wants to arrest me is ultimately because the Crown Prince fainted after drinking the soup I made, isn't it?"

Tong Su stepped forward with a calm expression. Facing countless angry stares, she remained composed, showing no sign of panic.

"But, has the prince really been poisoned?"

"You're not poisoned, sister? What are you still trying to deny? The young master has collapsed, and you still won't admit it?"

Xiao Qingwan released Emperor Xuanyi's arm, stumbled forward, and pointed at Tongsu with tearful indignation, seemingly unable to bear her sophistry any longer, "You're still unrepentant, and now you still want to—"

Snap!

Tong Su suddenly raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face!

"ah!"

Xiao Qingwan was suddenly slapped by her, and immediately covered her face, screamed and fell to the ground!

Her cheeks were visibly red and swollen, and she even bit her cheek flesh so hard that a tooth mixed with blood was spat out!

She fell next to Cuiyu, her face swollen even more than Cuiyu's.

The crowd gasped in shock, and Emperor Xuanyi roared, "Xiao Qingwan! What are you doing!"

Xiao Lingchen's icy gaze swept over them, and everyone shuddered and carefully shut their mouths.

“Zhu Se hit Cui Yu, so I have to help her get back at her,” Tong Su said, rubbing her wrist and sneering. “The young master only fainted. You didn’t even get close to him, yet you’re so sure he’s been poisoned and isn’t sick?”

Xiao Qingwan was shocked and cried out incoherently, "Of course he's been poisoned! Who would suddenly faint from illness? He has so many red and swollen bumps all over his body, how could this be an illness?"

"The young master has fainted and is still breathing. At this time, the imperial physician should be summoned to examine him. However, you are deliberately crying and making a scene. What are you up to?"

Tong Su stepped forward, pushed aside the guards, squatted down in front of Prince Helian, and with a flick of her wrist, tore open his collar, revealing his neck and half of his chest.

The noble ladies immediately let out low screams, covering their eyes while peeking through their fingers.

Xiao Lingchen's face darkened, and he said, "I'll do it."

He took over Tongsu's job and directly tore open Helian Shizi's collar. Tongsu was both amused and exasperated, and could only shift her attention to the redness and swelling on Helian Shizi's neck.

Upon closer inspection, she was completely relieved—indeed, the reason why Prince Helian fainted was exactly the same as she had guessed!

Xiao Qingwan shrieked, "What exactly do you want to do!"

"What do you want to do? That's what you should be asking yourself. You instigated His Majesty to arrest me, yet you show the slightest concern for the Crown Prince. I truly wonder, is your purpose to help His Majesty save the Crown Prince, or do you simply want me dead?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Xiao Qingwan's eyes darted away. "When did I stop you from letting people save the young master? It's just that the imperial physician hasn't arrived yet."

"But the imperial physician has arrived."

Xiao Qingwan's eyes widened suddenly, and she abruptly turned to look at the tent entrance. Sure enough, she saw an old man with long eyebrows standing respectfully at the door with a medicine box.

"The head of the Imperial Medical Academy pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

Emperor Xuanyi's face was ashen: "When did I send someone to summon you?"

“Your Majesty certainly didn’t send anyone,” Xiao Lingchen said, raising an eyebrow. “It was I who sent them. Judging from Your Majesty’s words, you don’t want to call the imperial physician?”

"Heh, of course not." Emperor Xuanyi waved his sleeve and said resentfully, "Go and see for yourself!"

Xiao Qingwan felt uneasy. She tried to reassure herself that in her previous life, the prince hadn't been able to determine whether it was poisoning or illness, so there was no reason why things would be different in this life...

However, seeing Tong Su's confident demeanor, her unease grew stronger.