Shi Lingqiao was surprised that the imperial physician could discover that her wicked mother-in-law had been poisoned, and she couldn't help but feel a little flustered.
Huo Jiwen, though not personally involved, knew that Shi Lingqiao had secretly added something to his mother's food.
The two quickly exchanged a glance, concealing their expressions, afraid of being seen through.
Huo Xi noticed the change in their expressions immediately and was filled with anger.
He had come to completely loathe Huo Jiwen.
But he was more worried about his sister-in-law's health.
Unable to resist asking, "Imperial Physician, can you cure the poison my sister-in-law has been afflicted with?"
Hearing him ask that question, the others' dislike for Huo Jiwen increased again.
His own mother was so angry that she vomited blood, fainted, and was even poisoned, yet he was still flirting with that immoral woman and didn't even bother to show any concern for his mother.
They were not as good as the younger brother-in-law whom the princess had raised herself; they could tell that Huo Xi was genuinely worried about the princess's health.
The imperial physician said with difficulty, "I can only tell that the lady's pulse is abnormal, indicating signs of poisoning. However, since I do not know what kind of poison it is, I cannot provide an antidote."
Then he changed the subject, saying, "However, Master Qingfeng in the palace should be able to detoxify the lady."
Huo Xingchen naturally knew that Master Qingfeng was played by his own Youyou.
So he picked up Qingyou with a look of anxiety, "I'll take Madam to the palace right now."
Everyone quickly made way for her, which showed that the Duke of Zhenguo cared a lot about the eldest princess.
Huo Xi followed without hesitation.
Huo Jiwen noticed that the way others were looking at him was strange, filled with contempt and disgust. Then, when he saw Huo Xi running away, he suddenly realized what was going on.
He was worried that Shi Lingqiao's poisoning would be discovered, so he neglected his concern for his own mother.
He immediately put on a shocked expression, saying, "How could this happen? How could my mother be poisoned?"
"Mother!" Then he rushed out as if anxiously concerned.
Lady Pingyang pursed her lips and said, "This is just for show, isn't it? The Princess really wasted all those years of pampering him."
She was on good terms with the princess, and when she saw that the princess was vomiting blood, fainting, and poisoned, she was very worried.
Therefore, I particularly dislike Huo Jiwen's fake appearance. Now that he knows how to be "anxious," why didn't he do this earlier?
Hearing this, everyone felt that Huo Jiwen was probably faking it.
So his behavior just now didn't change people's opinion; on the contrary, it made them even more disgusted.
So much happened today that the banquet couldn't proceed.
So everyone dispersed and went home to wait for further news.
On the other side.
Huo Xingchen scolded Huo Jiwen away and brought Qingyou into the palace, startling the emperor.
He hadn't expected his sister to be poisoned, so he immediately sent someone to fetch Master Qingfeng.
At this moment, Huo Xingchen placed Qingyou in the inner room to "feel unconscious," and quickly replaced her with a paper doll, transforming her into Daoist Qingfeng.
After examining her own pulse, she looked at the Emperor and Huo Xingchen and said, "The poison in the princess is similar to the poison Your Majesty suffered before, and it originated from the same person."
"Fortunately, the poisoning isn't too severe yet. I should be able to recover after taking the antidote three times."
The emperor breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't help frowning. "Who could have attacked her?"
It's understandable that they would target him; most likely, they're after his throne.
But to attack his sister is somewhat incomprehensible.
Huo Xingchen was waiting for the emperor to raise his doubts. He pretended to think for a moment and said, "I suspect that Shi Ling did it by trickery."
The emperor was taken aback. "Shi Ling did this by chance?"
Huo Xingchen nodded and said, "I heard before that she could prepare medicine and had even given it to Ji Wen."
He looked at the emperor and said meaningfully, "Today, the Fourth Prince and Shi Lingqiao had a secret rendezvous, but Ji Wen and his men caught them."
"If Shi Lingqiao knows how to prepare medicine, then the source of His Majesty's poison can be found."
The emperor genuinely knew nothing about this. "What's the deal between the fourth prince and Shi Lingqiao?"
Huo Xingchen didn't hide anything and recounted what had happened at the Duke's mansion.
The emperor's face darkened upon hearing this. "This scoundrel is becoming more and more outrageous."
This fourth son has completely disgraced the royal family.
Not only did he have an affair with his cousin's woman, but he was also caught by so many people.
His sister was so angry about this that she vomited blood. His fourth son and nephew are no good either.
Then the emperor ordered a thorough investigation into Shi Lingqiao.
Huo Xingchen even suggested to the emperor that he visit the mother of the fourth prince in the harem, as he might be able to gain something from it.
Since becoming disappointed and disgusted with the fourth prince, the emperor has also taken his anger out on the fourth prince's mother, and has not visited her during this time.
The emperor understood Huo Xingchen's suggestion immediately.
After taking the antidote, Qingyou slowly woke up.
Unable to hold back her tears, she complained to the emperor, which made the emperor feel sorry for her and even more disgusted with Huo Jiwen and the fourth prince.
Huo Xingchen and Qingyou didn't linger and soon took Huo Xi back.
On the way, he also told Huo Xi that he would hold another banquet for him later.
Huo Xi didn't care; in his heart, his sister-in-law's health was naturally more important.
After Qingyou and the other person returned, they found that Huo Jiwen had brought Shi Lingqiao back to the courtyard where she lived and had not sent her away.
The fourth prince walked alone.
The two men didn't chase them away anymore. Instead, they planned to wait for the emperor to investigate and then give them a proper dressing down, so they could rightfully kick them out.
Qingyou pretended to be weak and needed to recuperate. Huo Jiwen came to visit her, but she didn't see him.
Huo Xingchen completely ignored Huo Jiwen and paid him no attention.
Huo Jiwen breathed a sigh of relief, as his parents didn't mention having him take Shi Lingqiao out of the mansion again.
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