When Bu Yaolian saw that the spearhead was pointed at her, she was terrified.

She simply added some croton seeds to the soup, hoping to give Yun Duoduo diarrhea for a few days so she wouldn't have the energy to keep watching over her.

This gave her the opportunity to get closer to Kim Jin-ji.

But how could I have been poisoned?

How did croton seeds turn into some kind of insect or herb?

Bu Yaolian stammered and couldn't say anything.

"It wasn't me, it wasn't me! How could it be a bug? I...I was just..."

“Hmph, Miss Bu, there’s no need to argue.” Qingdai cried from the side.

"This soup was brought by you." Qingdai had long felt that Bu Yaolian was not a proper young lady from a respectable family. She only regretted that she had not stopped the princess from drinking the poisoned soup.

“I…” Bu Yaolian didn’t know how to react.

She was so frightened by this series of events that she collapsed to the ground.

Although she didn't administer the poison, she was still wondering where the insect's poison came from.

Qingdai glanced at the other maids and noticed that the maid next to Bu Yaolian was trembling and looking flustered and evasive.

Qingdai looked closely and realized that the maid was the one she had stopped and asked to boil water.

"You poisoned me, didn't you?!"

"Tell me, what happened?" Qingdai pointed at the dodging maid, her face full of anger.

"This servant, this servant really doesn't know. It was Miss Bu who told me to go to the kitchen to get the white fungus and lotus seed soup." The maid was so frightened when she saw everyone's eyes on her that she waved her hands repeatedly and couldn't even speak properly.

"This servant is merely following orders."

“However, however…” The maid glanced at Bu Yaolian furtively.

"But what? Speak up!"

"However, after I retrieved the soup, Miss Bu gave me a large sum of money and asked me to buy some valuable jewelry, saying that she would choose some styles that the princess would like and give them to her."

"After I placed the soup on the table, I left."

"When I returned, I saw Miss Bu seemingly adding something to the soup," the maid said, trembling.

"Perhaps, perhaps it was millipede poison that was added!"

In order to clear herself of any wrongdoing, the maidservant disregarded whether it was truly Bu Yaolian who had poisoned the soup and began to point the finger at her.

"I don't know anything else, and I didn't administer the poison!"

The maidservant uttered her last words, then lowered her head and curled up.

"You, you're talking nonsense, I just... I added..." Bu Yaolian almost let slip that she had added croton seeds.

She quickly changed the subject: "I was just worried the soup would get cold, so I put the lid on the bowl! How could you say such nonsense?"

"Your Highness, we grew up together. You...you know Yaolian. Yaolian wouldn't do such a thing! Waaah, you have to believe me..."

Bu Yaolian cried with tears streaming down her face, explaining incoherently.

Jin Jinzhi looked at Bu Yaolian, who was slumped on the ground: "Miss Bu, your mother is already on her way back to the capital. She should be back tomorrow. I will have Military Advisor Cao escort you back to your residence tomorrow."

"I didn't! It really wasn't me, Your Highness, Yaolian didn't do it, sob sob sob..."

Bu Yaolian's face was pale, and she couldn't help but wonder how she had only added some laxatives to make Yun Duoduo have diarrhea for a few days, but it had turned into some other kind of poison.

"As for your poisoning..."

"In my opinion, Lord Bu has failed in his duty to educate his daughter. His Majesty will decide how to deal with you after Lord Bu returns to the capital!"

Bu Yaolian was speechless and cried alone until she fainted.

Just then, the imperial physician arrived. He was very old and walked with a limp.

"Your Highness, the imperial physician has arrived; he is the most experienced imperial physician in the palace!"

Jin Zhuangzhuang looked at the imperial physician and agreed wholeheartedly.

"Hmm, at his age, he must be the most experienced imperial physician."

"I have already examined the princess's illness and administered the necessary medication."

"Look at this guy who's passed out on the ground."

The imperial physician was initially hesitant, but then he suddenly remembered that the beautiful young woman in front of him must be Miss Jin, who lived with the princess. He had heard about her deeds and knew that she had started testing poisons on the palace maids and eunuchs when she was very young, so she must be very skilled in using and detoxifying poisons.

Looking at Yun Duoduo's complexion lying on the bed, he felt a little relieved before looking at Bu Yaolian, who had fainted on the ground.

"Your Highness, His Majesty summons you to the palace."

The imperial eunuch who came with the imperial physician conveyed Yun Beiye's imperial edict.

Cao, the military advisor, was sweating profusely.

It seems His Majesty is going to blame the Prince.

Jin Jinzhi nodded, stood up, and said to Jin Zhuangzhuang, "Take good care of her. If she wakes up, tell me immediately."

"I'll be right back."

Jin Zhuangzhuang nodded, "Brother, don't worry, I'm here. Sister Duo will be fine."

Jin Zhuangzhuang asked Qingdai to go to the kitchen to cook some light millet porridge. Qingdai responded softly and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

After explaining everything, Jin Jinzhi gave Yun Duoduo a deep look, then turned and left the bedroom.

...

Inside the Zichen Palace, Yun Beiye learned that Yun Duoduo had not only sprained her ankle at the Jibei Prince's Mansion, but had also been poisoned and was suffering from stomach pain. He threw down his chopsticks, not even bothering to eat, and without putting on his outer robe, he was about to leave.

"His Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, where are you going?!"

"Something has happened to Duoduo, I must go and see!"

Zhao Zhongquan hurriedly stood at the door and said, "Your Majesty, the palace has already sent imperial physicians over. Moreover, the princess's medical skills are extraordinary, and the others are blessed by heaven. They will surely be alright."

"Your Majesty, please have your meal first. Your health is of utmost importance!"

Yun Beiye chewed the rice in his mouth, his brows furrowed: "I'm worried. I need to go and see for myself."

Zhao Zhongquan wanted to stop Yun Beiye, but he was afraid that if he angered him, he might not even have a whole corpse left.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Jibei has arrived."

Yun Beiye's emotions calmed down slightly, and he snorted coldly, "Let him in!"

He then returned to the soft couch, picked up his chopsticks, and continued eating.

Since Jin Jinzhi was able to enter the palace, it means Duoduo is now alright.

However, it's truly hateful that Duoduo has suffered so much!

"Your Majesty, I, your guilty subject Kim Jin-ji, pay my respects."

Jin Jinzhi entered and immediately declared himself a sinful subject, kneeling before Yun Beiye.

[Hmph, so you know you're a disgraced official?]

"How is Duoduo?"

"Your Majesty, the princess's poison has been cured, and she is resting at my residence."

"Look at you! I knew you were a steady and reliable person, which is why I felt comfortable letting Duoduo stay in your residence. But what have you done? It's only been a few days, and Duoduo has already suffered so much!"

At this point, Yun Beiye's lion's head meatball tasted bitter for no apparent reason, so he simply put down his chopsticks and stopped eating.

"I am guilty, Your Majesty, please punish me!"