Zhuang Xin was very angry with Ye Qingxue!

But we can't directly confront Ye Qingxue!

If he were to ask, Yun Zhuo might punish him. He could only endure it for the first time, but he hoped that Ye Qingxue would not do such a thing again. Otherwise, he would definitely demand an explanation from Ye Qingxue no matter what!

“Since it was us who caused the Crown Princess to misunderstand and get slapped for delivering the midnight snack, then next time you shouldn’t deliver midnight snacks to His Highness the Crown Prince anymore. Leave it to me. From now on, the Crown Princess will have no reason to bully you.” Zhuang Xin said, both angry and tender.

“The first time I delivered snacks to His Highness the Crown Prince in the morning, the Crown Princess saw me, so I’ve been handing them to you ever since,” Mi Rao said, sobbing. “Next time I won’t deliver midnight snacks, I’ll deliver them to you.”

I can't believe such a thing actually happened!

Zhuang Xin then recalled that a few days ago, after he returned, Qiu Shen had subtly asked him if he had asked Mi Rao to send some snacks to the Crown Prince.

I see!

He became even angrier, and felt that Ye Qingxue was too petty!

It's one thing for her not to care whether the Crown Prince will go hungry while he's out and about, but she even blames Mi Rao for preparing snacks for them!

"Alright, from now on, I'll deliver all the snacks and late-night meals you prepare. Just don't show up in front of His Highness the Crown Prince!" Zhuang Xin said.

Mi Rao hummed in agreement and nodded. "Brother Zhuang, I feel much better after talking to you. Thank you for listening to me ramble on for so long. Please don't tell anyone else about this, or the people in the manor will laugh at me."

Seeing her cautious and tearful appearance, Zhuang Xin felt extremely sorry for her. He quickly swore, "Don't worry, I will not reveal a single word of what you told me tonight."

Mi Rao smiled through her tears: "Then, Brother Zhuang, have some snacks. I'll head back now, otherwise it won't be good if someone sees me late at night."

She turned and left. Although Zhuang Xin was reluctant to let her go, he was too embarrassed to ask her to stay. She was a decent young lady and shouldn't stay in his room for too long.

Starting the next day, every morning Mi Rao would hand over the snacks she had prepared in advance to Zhuang Xin and say goodbye to Zhuang Xin and Yun Zhuo at the door.

But for some reason, rumors began to circulate in the Crown Prince's residence that His Highness the Crown Prince had feelings for Mi Rao and would take her as his concubine sooner or later.

A few days later, Zhuang Xin also heard this, and was greatly shocked, not believing it to be true at all.

He was about to go and ask Mi Rao about the situation when he learned that Mi Rao was sick. When he arrived at the door of Mi Rao's room, he heard a violent cough coming from inside, as if she was about to run out of breath.

"You seemed perfectly fine these past two days, how did you suddenly become so ill?" Zhuang Xin barged into her room without a second thought.

Mi Rao was lying on the hospital bed, her face pale and her appearance haggard. She was about to speak when she coughed a few times. When she removed the handkerchief, there was blood on it.

Zhuang Xin was terrified and immediately squatted down beside Mi Rao's bed: "Quickly get on my back, I'm taking you out to find a doctor now, we can't delay any longer."

Mi Rao said weakly, "Brother Zhuang, I felt unwell a couple of days ago. The Crown Princess has already had the royal physician examine me and prescribed medicine, so I don't need to go out to see a doctor anymore. The medicine is in the medicine pot; could you please pour it for me?"

After Zhuang Xin turned around, he saw the medicine jar on the table. He took a bowl and went over to fill it with medicine, but then he noticed a few dead ants on the table.

The ants were soaking in the water stains; it must have been because Mi Rao accidentally spilled her medicine on the table, and the ants came attracted by the smell...

But why are the ants dying? The death of one or two could be considered an accident, but now more than one or two are dying.

With his back to Mi Rao, Zhuang Xin secretly took out a silver needle and used it to test for poison in the medicine. The silver needle turned black.

With a soft tinkling sound, the silver needle fell from his hand.

Mi Rao had somehow gotten out of bed and walked to his side. She picked up the blackened silver needles from the table and examined them. Her face drained of color instantly, and her body trembled.

"This medicine is poisoned!" Mi Rao said. "Why would it be poisoned? This is medicine prescribed for me by the physician invited by the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess would never harm me!"

She was terrified and collapsed onto the stool: "Could it be that because of the rumors circulating in the manor that the Crown Prince wants to take me as his concubine, the Crown Princess wants to get rid of me?"

Zhuang Xin swayed slightly, and after regaining his senses, he gritted his teeth and said, "I'll go ask the Crown Princess!"