Zhuang Xin pursed his lips, his face full of pain. He looked down at Mi Rao and said, "As long as the inspection proves that this midnight snack is not poisoned, you will be innocent, and even the Crown Princess cannot slander you!"

He pronounced the words very tightly and heavily.

Even now, he still held onto a sliver of hope for Mi Rao, hoping that things weren't as Ye Qingxue had described.

He fell in love with a woman for the first time.

In his mind, Mi Rao was perfect in every way, and no one could compare to her.

But, but, how could she be that kind of person?

Zhuang Xin refused to believe it; even if he were killed, he would not believe it until the very last moment.

“His Highness the Crown Prince is a reasonable person. If he is truly certain that they have misunderstood you, he will definitely ask the imperial physician to treat your arms and legs.”

After Zhuang Xin finished speaking, he pulled his legs out of her hands with a very firm attitude, as if not even nine oxen could pull him back.

He walked step by step toward the large sandalwood table.

The lily soup and warm rice wine placed on top had already cooled down.

He placed the box on the table and was about to open it when Mi Rao suddenly spoke up: "No need to check anymore, that midnight snack is poisoned!"

Zhuang Xin's fingertips had just touched the silver needles when he suddenly trembled, almost knocking over the entire box of needles.

But he quickly regained his composure and continued to retrieve the silver needles, insisting on examining them, seemingly disbelieving Mi Rao's words and the words of anyone present.

Yun Zhuo had already stood next to Ye Qingxue, wiping her hands with a handkerchief, disgusted that her hands had just touched Mi Rao.

I really dislike it, and it even feels a bit disgusting.

"Lord Zhuang! I've already admitted the midnight snack was poisoned, what more do you want?" Mi Rao's voice rang out again:

"Not only was His Highness the Crown Prince's midnight snack poisoned, but the midnight snack sent to the Crown Princess tonight was also poisoned. I poisoned it! It was me! You really don't need to check anymore!"

"Now that things have come to this, I have already admitted everything. It's one thing for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess not to let me go, but must Lord Zhuang also humiliate me?"

Zhuang Xin paused again while inspecting the items.

Dong Bai had been secretly following Ye Qingxue. Ye Qingxue gave her a wink, and Dong Bai strode in, grabbed Zhuang Xin's hand, and inserted the silver needle into the lily soup and warm yellow wine.

Everything turned black!

Zhuang Xin witnessed it with his own eyes!

When Dongbai came in, he was carrying a small cage with a little mouse inside. Dongbai fed the mouse with lily soup, and soon the mouse died in front of them.

The silver needle in Zhuang Xin's hand fell to the ground. He took a small step back. This time, even if he wanted to believe Mi Rao, he didn't have a chance.

Dong Bai said, "Lord Zhuang, the woman you absolutely trust wants to kill your master! Do you want me to kill her for you, or will you do it yourself?"

Everyone looked at Zhuang Xin.

Zhuang Xin then looked at Mi Rao.

Mi Rao slumped to the ground, her face pale and her appearance disheveled.

She never expected that her foolproof plan would end in failure. She thought that Yun Zhuo, who was suffering from severe hallucinations due to poisoning, and Ye Qingxue, who was likely pregnant, would be easy to deal with.

She thought that with Yun Zhuo's trusted confidant Zhuang Xin at her disposal, she would be able to use this knife and would not fail.

She stared longingly at Zhuang Xin. This man loved her so deeply; surely he wouldn't bear to kill her?

Seemingly sensing Zhuang Xin's reluctance, Ye Qingxue said, "Lord Zhuang, Mi Rao was someone that Yun Xun and his wife planted in the Jing Prince's residence some time ago."

"On the night of my wedding to the Crown Prince, she appeared in the woods, both to find the Crown Prince and to kill him, but she failed because we arrived in time!"

Mi Rao: "..."

Ye Qingxue knows!

Ye Qingxue actually knew!

She stared blankly at Ye Qingxue, but saw no sign of weakness or discomfort on Ye Qingxue's face.

Could it be that Ye Qingxue's acid reflux and the possibility of her being pregnant these past few days were all false?

Is the purpose to provoke her into making a move so that I can capture her?

Ye Qingxue ignored her and continued, "After the wedding, the Xuan King and his wife personally dealt with us, and Mi Rao, this pawn, was temporarily hidden by them."

“The Prince Xuan and his wife have now been demoted to Liangzhou. Mi Rao is their most useful pawn. As long as we are eliminated, the Emperor will not have an older prince to guard him, and the Prince Xuan and his wife can be summoned back to the capital!”

Zhuang Xin walked step by step toward Mi Rao, feeling as if he had fallen into hell, his whole body covered in ice and snow, the pain almost numbing him.

"Is this true?" he asked, his heart heavy with sorrow.

Dong Bai rolled her eyes, annoyed, and added insult to injury: "Lord Zhuang is truly deeply in love with Miss Mi Rao. He's still asking her if it's true. How ridiculous."

"Lord Zhuang, don't forget, your sweetheart was just in this study, wanting to become His Highness the Crown Prince's woman! She never thought of marrying you! There should be a limit to wishful thinking, otherwise it will become a huge joke!"

Mi Rao: "..."

Dongbai is such a despicable person. She completely shattered all of Zhuang Xin's prepared excuses and the last bit of pity he had for her!