Chapter 305: The source of the poison appears, and suspicions linger
The golden glow of the setting sun filtered through the carved window lattices, casting an eerie blood-red hue on the east courtyard's blue brick floor. The wind rustled the petals of the crabapple tree, mingling with the bitter aroma of medicinal broth, which permeated the air.
"Poisoned?" Yongqi's voice was like a frozen icicle, trembling with disbelief. "Doctor, are you sure?"
Doctor Li knelt on the ground, sweat dripping from his forehead, his medicine box barely clenched. "Your Highness, the young prince's pulse is irregular, and his lips are cyanotic. He has indeed been poisoned... by the 'Qian Ji Yin' poison. Although the dose is small, it's... very dangerous."
"Qian Ji Yin?" Xiao Yanzi repeated these three words, feeling a chill rising from her feet to her head. She had heard of this poison in her previous life. When it attacked, her limbs convulsed as if pulled by a machine, causing excruciating pain. She subconsciously clutched her abdomen, her fingertips cold—the enemy hadn't spared even one child, so would her unborn child be the next target?
"My son!" Zhihua suddenly let out a shrill cry, rushed to the bed and wanted to hug Mian Yi, but was stopped by the imperial physician.
"Concubine, you absolutely cannot do this! The little prince needs to rest and cannot be moved!"
Zhi Xianghua didn't hear anything, but turned around and glared at the trembling old woman, the hatred in her eyes almost overflowing: "It's you! It must be you! What did you feed Mian Yi?!"
The old woman knelt on the ground with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly: "Please spare my life, Concubine! I really didn't do anything! The snacks were made in the kitchen, and I was just responsible for delivering them!"
"It was made in the kitchen?" Xiaoyanzi sneered, her eyes slashing across the old woman's face like a knife. "Which kitchen? Who made it? Who was involved? Tell me clearly!"
The old woman trembled all over when she looked at her, and stammered, "It was... it was made by Aunt Zhang from the kitchen in the west courtyard. I took the food box from her and came straight here. I didn't dare to delay..."
"No delay?" Xiaoyanzi stepped forward and looked down at her. "Then what were you whispering to that eunuch at the door just now? Don't think I didn't see it!"
"I... I didn't..." The old woman's eyes flickered, and she was obviously lying.
"You still dare to quibble!" Yongqi shouted angrily, the jade pendant on his waist shaking violently with his movements. "Xiao Zhuozi, go to the west courtyard and bring that Zhang Ma to me! Also, arrest everyone who came into contact with Mian Yi and that plate of snacks today. No one is allowed to leave!"
"Yes!" Xiao Zhuozi took the order and immediately rushed out with several guards.
Little Bug came up to Little Swallow and whispered, "Princess, that old woman was acting so sneaky just now. I saw some white powder on her cuffs. I didn't pay much attention to it at the time, but now I think about it..."
Xiaoyanzi's heart sank: "What kind of powder?"
"It's white and thin, a bit like... like the alkaline noodles on the stove, but seems to be a little smoother." The little bug tried hard to recall.
"Alkaline noodles?" Ziwei frowned. "Who would get alkaline noodles on their sleeves?"
Zhihua suddenly stopped crying. She raised her head and looked at Yongqi with tears in her eyes: "Your Highness, there must be someone who wants to harm us mother and son! In this mansion, except... except..." Her eyes swept over Xiaoyanzi meaningfully, but she didn't dare to continue.
How could Xiaoyanzi not understand her thoughts? She sneered, "Besides me? Chen Zhihua, are you trying to say that I was jealous of Mian Yi and poisoned him?"
"I... I didn't say anything..." Zhihua lowered her head, her voice aggrieved, "But Mianyi was fine the whole time. Why did she become so..."
"What do you mean by that?" Xiaoyanzi's anger instantly rose. "Are you saying that I poisoned Mian Yi in the East Courtyard?"
"Enough!" Yongqi interrupted them harshly, his face livid. "Mian Yi is still unconscious, and you're arguing here! Xiaoyanzi, you're pregnant, don't get angry. Zhihua, Mian Yi is your son, you should be calm!"
He took a deep breath and said to Doctor Li, "Doctor, no matter what, you must save Mian Yi's life! If you need any herbs, just let me know!"
"Yes, Your Highness." Doctor Li responded quickly and began to instruct the palace maids to prepare the antidote.
Xiaoyanzi looked at Yongqi's exhausted face, and her anger gradually subsided. She knew now was not the time to argue; the most urgent task was to find the source of the poison and determine who had done it. She walked to the bedside and looked at Mianyi's face, which was wrinkled with pain. She felt a mixture of emotions. No matter what happened to Zhihua, the child was innocent.
"Yongqi," Xiaoyanzi's voice softened. "I don't think this is that simple. That old woman's behavior is suspicious, and then there's that sudden appearance of Eunuch E. Could there be any connection between the two?"
Yong Qi was stunned for a moment, obviously not thinking in that direction. He pondered, "You mean... E Min? Why would he attack a child?"
"I don't know," Xiaoyanzi shook her head, "but Emin is a scheming man who is capable of anything. His coming to you today might just be a pretext to distract you so he can take action."
Ziwei also nodded in agreement: "I find it strange too. Mian Yi was fine the whole time, how could she suddenly be poisoned? And it happened right after Eunuch E passed away."
When Zhihua heard this, she couldn't care less about crying. She raised her head, a trace of fear flashing in her eyes: "Your Majesty, is what the princess said true? Did Lord E really do it? Why did he do this?"
Yongqi's expression grew increasingly serious. He turned to Xiao Dengzi and said, "Xiao Dengzi, immediately check Eunuch E's whereabouts. Besides coming to the palace, where else has he been today and who has he come into contact with?"
"Yes!" Little Dengzi immediately took the order and left.
At that moment, Aunt Zhang from the west courtyard was brought in. She was a plump, middle-aged woman in gray clothes. She was so frightened by the scene that her legs went limp. She plopped down on her knees as soon as she entered the room, "Your Highness, spare me! I know nothing!"
Xiaoyanzi looked at her and spoke slowly, "Auntie Zhang, let me ask you, did you make the snacks for Mian Yi today by yourself? Did anyone else touch them?"
Aunt Zhang said tremblingly, "Yes...I made it all by myself, in the small kitchen in the west courtyard. Halfway through...Miss Lanxiang, who was with the concubine, went in once and said...she said she wanted to see if it was done."
"Lanxiang?" Zhihua was stunned. "What did she go in for?"
"I don't know either," Aunt Zhang shook her head. "She just stood at the door and took a look. She didn't touch the snacks."
Xiaoyanzi's eyes sharpened. "She stood at the door and took a look? Did she do anything unusual? Like... drop something in there?"
Aunt Zhang thought for a moment and shook her head: "No, she just took a look and left."
"Where do the ingredients for the snacks come from?" Xiaoyanzi continued to ask.
"They are all... they are all from the west courtyard warehouse. Flour, sugar, and oil are all commonly used. I don't know how they could be poisonous..." Aunt Zhang started crying.
Xiaoyanzi looked at Yongqi and said, "It seems that Lanxiang is also a suspect."
Yongqi nodded and said to Xiao Zhuozi, "Go and bring Lanxiang here."
Just as Xiao Zhuozi was about to leave, a maid ran in in a panic, "Your Highness, this is bad! Miss Lanxiang... Miss Lanxiang has hanged herself in her room!"
"What?!" Everyone was shocked.
Yongqi's expression darkened completely: "It seems that there is indeed someone behind this!"
Xiaoyanzi's heart sank. With Lanxiang's death, the clues were gone, which only made it clear that things were not simple. She subconsciously stroked her belly, her eyes determined - no matter who dared to poison Prince Rong's mansion and even wanted to harm her child, she would never let them go!
The sun had completely set, and night was falling. Prince Rong's mansion was shrouded in tension and unease, the scent of the crabapple blossoms even tinged with the scent of blood. A greater storm was quietly brewing.
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