Chapter 148 Poisoning?
lobby.
Dongfang Qi had finished his tea, cup by cup, and exchanged pleasantries with Mrs. Li.
Seeing that the men of the Li family were avoiding her, there was no way for Lin Qingyue to take any action.
Fortunately, he had anticipated this situation.
Dongfang Qi suddenly supported his forehead with his hand, pretending to be weak.
The subordinate hurriedly asked: "Your Highness, what's wrong with you?"
Dongfang Qi said, "I don't know why. I was fine just now. But after drinking a cup of tea, I suddenly felt a little dizzy."
The guard was immediately horrified: "Could it be that the tea is poisoned?"
As soon as these words came out, Madam Li's face changed. "That's impossible. This is just a pot of tea. If it's poisonous, it should kill me first!"
As she spoke, as if to verify her words, she picked up the teacup and drank all the water in it in one breath.
Dongfang Qi waved his hand and said weakly, "Madam, don't worry. I believe that the Duke's family is loyal and will never poison me."
Madam Li breathed a sigh of relief: "Of course not, the Crown Prince will understand."
Unexpectedly, Dongfang Qi added, "Madam, you wouldn't, but the Li family has so many servants, could it be... I'm feeling very dizzy right now."
Madam Li's heart began to hang in the balance again. "The Li family has strict rules and regulations. No servant in the mansion would dare to be so bold as to poison the Crown Prince."
Dongfang Qi just sat there, frowning and pressing his forehead, looking extremely painful.
The guard asked anxiously, "Your Highness, you look unwell. Someone quickly go to the palace and call the imperial physician! Then report to His Majesty that the Crown Prince is ill and can't stand up at Duke Li's house."
Madam Li couldn't help but glare at the guard. "Wasn't the Crown Prince's expression perfectly normal? Why did he become so exaggerated as if he was about to die? This guard was completely unremarkable!"
Unexpectedly, the next moment, the prince suddenly covered his chest with his hands and spurted out blood with a "puff" sound.
Madam Li screamed in shock and stood up: "Your Highness, you... "
Could it be that he was really poisoned?
Just when Madam Li didn't know how to respond, she hurriedly ordered someone to report the situation here to Duke Li.
Not long after, Li Xiu came in from the main gate with a few of his nephews and nephews in a pretentious manner.
As soon as he entered, he began to confess: "I didn't know that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was visiting. I am really sorry for the neglect. Your Highness, what's wrong?"
They hadn't wanted to leave in the first place. They'd heard the Crown Prince was suddenly unwell, though they didn't know if it was true or not. But if something truly went wrong within the Li family, then the Li family wouldn't be able to explain themselves.
After weighing the pros and cons, the men of the Li family stopped playing coward. Some pretended to be sick, while others went out to meet the guests.
Dongfang Qi had looked as if he was about to die of poisoning a moment ago, but upon seeing Li Xiu, he calmly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said, "Don't be nervous. I was just chatting happily with Madam Li and accidentally bit the tip of my tongue. It's just a small wound. I'm sorry to have frightened you."
Everyone in the Li family was speechless: Who would accidentally bite the tip of their tongue? Furthermore, the amount of blood that had just spurted out didn't seem like an accidental bite on the tip of the tongue.
But since the prince said so, they had no choice but to give in.
Li Xiu breathed a sigh of relief: "I'm glad Your Highness is alright. But since Your Highness has vomited so much blood, why not..."
"Why don't we go see Duke Li?" Dongfang Qi stood up and smiled slightly. "Lead the way."
Those who came out first were female relatives, so it was naturally not appropriate for him to let female relatives take him to the back house.
But now that the men in your family are here, there is no reason not to let him go to see Duke Li.
Unable to refuse, Li Xiu had to make a gesture of invitation and took Dongfang Qi to the back house.
At this point, all the other adult male members of the Li family also accompanied him, ostensibly out of respect. In reality, their eyes were fixed on Dongfang Qi, not daring to relax for a moment.
After a large group of people left, Lin Qingyue slipped away quietly.
If the Li family had a private prison, it would probably be in the front yard, making it easy to get in and out.
However, the buildings in the front yard are spacious and visible, and the ground is solid, with no underground space.
Could it be in the Li family’s backyard?
The back house is where the master's family lives.
Duke Li's residence is located in the most central and largest garden in the east wing, and is now crowded with people.
Duke Li sat up in shock, looking weak as if he was dying, and accepted Dongfang Qi's visit and condolences.
The west wing has three main courtyards and seven small courtyards, where the second branch of the Li family and several sons of Duke Li live.
There were fewer people here at the moment, only a few concubines gathered together to chat:
"I heard the prince is here. What a pity my daughter is too young. If she were a few years older, maybe..."
"Oh, don't let your wishful thinking go on. The Crown Prince doesn't even like our legitimate daughter, so how could he possibly be interested in your illegitimate daughter?"
"We are concubines, and our daughters can't become the mistress of a wealthy family. In my opinion, it's better to marry into a poor family as a wife than to become a concubine in the future. It's better than using your beauty to please others and then being replaced by someone else after your beauty fades."
"Who says it's not true? I heard that the second master's new concubine is very beautiful, with a pair of seductive eyes. I wonder how long this newcomer can smile?"
Lin Qingyue listened to some of the gossip and suddenly stopped in her tracks: "Fox-like and seductive, could it be referring to Hong Yao? After all, a woman as enchanting as her could easily make a man's heart flutter."
So Lin Qingyue used a magic trick, and the concubines who were sitting under the corridor basking in the sun fell asleep.
Lin Qingyue walked up to one of the concubines, flicked a finger, and used her spiritual power to explore her memory.
In her memory, there was indeed Hongyao: dressed in red, her face pale, lying motionless on the bed. The mauve mattress was completely stained with blood.
Then, a loud shout suddenly came: "Get out!"
As the owner of the memory hurriedly left, the image of Hong Yao was cut off.
"Where did you see her?" Lin Qingyue's bewitching voice entered the woman's dream.
The woman had no intention of resisting and answered blankly: "Tingxuexuan".
Lin Qingyue curled her lips and smiled: "Thank you."
She had just given the entire west wing a rough look. Tingxuexuan was the largest courtyard in the entire west wing. If she was not mistaken, it should be the residence of Li Xiu, the second master of the Li family.
Not long after, Lin Qingyue arrived at Tingxuexuan.
Avoiding the guards at the door, she easily entered the interior.
There were many houses in Tingxuexuan. Lin Qingyue searched them one by one but still couldn't find Hongyao.
It was not until she came to a study that she sensed the breath of the demon.
Hongyao is nearby!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
