Su Youran looked uncertain. "Master's poison skills are superb. Perhaps we should wait for Master to return before making a decision..."
Chu Heng shook his head. "No, Yueyue's poison skills are inherited from Doctor Gu, so the diagnosis may be biased. Tell me your opinion."
Su Youran looked around and frowned, saying, "The Eastern Palace has no fragrance, nor any flowers or plants. I can't think of anything that could trigger the remaining poison in your body."
Chu Heng's eyes turned cold. "Who said the Eastern Palace has no fragrance?"
Su Youran looked at him in surprise, "What is it?"
There isn't even tea; it's likely that nothing with a smell will be allowed into the Eastern Palace.
He glanced at the candlestick by the wall.
Su Youran was silent for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Someone has put something poisonous into the candles?!"
That's a brilliant idea! Candles are everyday items, and when they burn, they always produce a faint scent. Even if they're mixed with other smells, you wouldn't normally be able to detect it.
Chu Heng sighed, "Years ago, when my poisoning worsened and I couldn't sleep at night, Doctor Gu once mixed sleeping incense into the candles. Doctor Gu knew this method, but how could others not know it?"
Having said that, he summoned Ford and ordered him to remove the candles.
But then I'm faced with another dilemma: what kind of candle to use?
The candles in the palace were all distributed uniformly, and the Crown Prince could go out and purchase them himself, but it was unknown where the traitor was hiding or whether anyone would tamper with the newly purchased candles.
Su Youran asked, "Has Your Highness considered leaving the palace for a while?"
Chu Heng's eyes lit up. "What a great idea!"
It's a good opportunity to investigate the Crown Prince's Palace as well.
The candle is just a guess; perhaps the Eastern Palace is hiding something else.
Seeing that Chu Heng had a plan, Su Youran didn't want to ask any more questions, so she asked, "Grandmother's birthday is in a few days, and I haven't finished embroidering the birthday gift for her yet. Now that Your Highness has recovered and wants to change your residence, may I return to the manor first? If Your Highness has any further instructions, please just send someone to call me."
Chu Heng smiled slowly, "Of course."
Su Youran was overjoyed, quickly curtsied, lifted her skirt, and ran outside.
As she ran, she thought to herself, "Sure enough, everything is good when you're in a good mood." She used to think the Crown Prince's face was terribly pale, but just now, when he smiled like that, she found him quite handsome. She was slightly stunned before leaving.
After she left, Fude stepped forward, both surprised and delighted, "Your Highness, this servant has not seen you smile so contentedly in a long time!"
Chu Heng's expression turned serious. "I'm not laughing for you!"
Fu De chuckled, "Your Highness should smile more; the county princess was completely dumbfounded just now."
Chu Heng struggled to suppress the urge to curl his lips into a smile. "You insolent brat, how dare you spout such nonsense! Hurry up and pack your things, I'm going to stay at the Duke's mansion for a few days!"
Ford was shocked. "Wh...what?"
"Go and invite Mother Consort."
...
Back at her residence, Su Youran slept soundly, thinking to herself that she had finally escaped the burden of being the Crown Prince, and that she hadn't failed her senior brother and master's expectations.
Who knew that just after breakfast the next day, Zhao's mother rushed in and pulled her outside.
"Aunt Zhao, what happened?"
Zhao's mother was both anxious and flustered. "Hurry up and go greet the emperor!"
Su Youran was even more confused, "What kind of entourage are you picking up?"
"Oh dear, His Highness the Crown Prince has come to our Duke's mansion to recuperate!" Zhao Mama stamped her foot.
Su Youran stopped and swayed slightly.
This...this persistent ghost!
She told him to move somewhere else, but she didn't tell him to move into the Duke's mansion!
And to do it so ostentatiously, what will outsiders think of her?
She decisively turned back, saying, "Just tell them I'm sick too!"
Zhao's mother couldn't stop her, and watched helplessly as her young mistress went back to her room, slammed the door shut, and declared, "Unless you're about to die, don't call me to take you to the doctor!"
Zhao's mother: ...
No matter how noisy it was outside, Su Youran didn't want to hear a word. Anyway, she went back to her room and went straight to sleep.
In the following days, Su Yue would hesitate to speak, and Su Youran would stop her and turn to think about the new menu for her Fuxi Restaurant or busy herself with the birthday gift for her grandmother.
As for Chu Heng, since he was an outsider, even though he was temporarily staying at the Duke's mansion, he could only stay in the outer courtyard. She always went in and out through the side gate of the back courtyard, so she never encountered him.
That day, she had just returned from her elder sister's embroidery shop when she heard from the old woman guarding the side gate that the former young master's wife had returned.
She paused, then confirmed, "Wu Xinxin?"
The old woman nodded.
She asked, "What is she doing here?"
The old woman shook her head. "She came in crying."
Su Youran's gossip-loving nature was ignited, and she headed straight for the reception hall.
Once outside the door, they heard Wu Xinxin sobbing.
When Madam Su saw her come in, she quickly waved her in. "You tell me, Xin Xin said that since Wen Xia is also a victim, and the perpetrators are all in jail, she doesn't want to pursue the matter anymore. She brought back the divorce papers today and wants to go back to the Yun family. What do you think?"
Su Youran said with a smile, "Mother, since she has divorced my elder brother, whether she comes back or not is not up to her, nor is it enough for you to agree. She has to ask my elder brother, right?"
Madam Su nodded, "That's what I just said too. But..."
She looked at Wu Xinxin with difficulty, "Xinxin, the situation is urgent right now. I know that lives are at stake, but I'm afraid I really can't make the decision on this matter."
Su Youran asked curiously, "How come it's a matter of life and death?"
After saying that, he couldn't help but turn his gaze to Wu Xinxin's stomach.
She remembered that Wu Xinxin wasn't pregnant!
Wasn't Wu Xinxin seeking Qianjin Pills to treat her cold uterus?
Wu Xinxin sobbed, "You Ran, the Wu family has committed a serious crime. I went to the estate to recuperate a few days ago... Now the entire Wu family is in prison. If the Yun family doesn't take back the divorce papers, I will be beheaded and exiled as well! Please, Mother, have mercy on me!"
In her last sentence, she turned to the Su family and kowtowed to them.
You Ran's eyes widened. "You've committed a serious crime? What serious crime?!"
Madam Su glared back, annoyed. "You went to the Imperial Preceptor's residence that day, didn't you see her brother?"
You Ran said blankly, "Who is her brother? I don't know him!"
Wu Xinxin collapsed to the ground and wept bitterly.
You Ran thought for a moment, "Ah... I heard there's a guy surnamed Wu who follows behind Prince Rong, is that your brother?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Xinxin cried even louder.
No wonder his whole family was imprisoned; they were involved in the rebellion with Prince Rong, and their entire clan was exterminated.
Thinking about it, she was startled. "No way! What if your Wu family is sentenced to be executed along with nine generations of your family? If you go back to the Yun family, the Yun family will also be executed!"
Su was also startled.
His Majesty is so benevolent that he has not executed nine generations of a criminal's family for many years. He has almost forgotten that rebellion is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of a family!
She said, "Xin Xin, I'm afraid the capital is still searching for any stray rebel family members, right? You should leave, and I'll pretend I never saw you."
Upon hearing this, Wu Xinxin collapsed to the ground, unable to cry anymore.
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