Su Ruanruan took a small step forward, her beautiful eyes gently sweeping over Fu Xinrou's pretty face.
She slowly began to speak, "This is what happened, Mrs. Huo. Someone said you chased me to the lakeside, but the lake wasn't completely frozen yet because the ice had just been broken for fishing. And then, unfortunately, I pushed you into the water..."
At this point, Su Ruanruan deliberately paused, then continued, "Look, this jade pendant is the evidence we found by the lake! Now, please tell everyone in front of them whether I pushed you in or not?"
Su Ruanruan raised her eyebrows slightly and stared straight at Fu Xinrou. Not only her, but everyone else around her also looked at Fu Xinrou, waiting for her to give an answer.
You should know that there were quite a few people at the scene who were waiting to see Su Ruanruan make a fool of herself! If only she could have a husband like Huo Yan to support her.
Even if it wasn't Su Ruanruan who pushed the person into the water, they could easily claim it was her or vaguely say they didn't see who it was.
After all, almost everyone knows that Su Ruanruan and Huo Yan had a past relationship. Although it ultimately ended without a clear conclusion, the thought of it still makes anyone uncomfortable. Isn't this the perfect opportunity to cause trouble for Su Ruanruan and make her suffer?
Fu Xinrou was slightly taken aback, and then explained, "Brother Huo, it really wasn't the county princess who pushed me into the water, I fell in by accident."
Fu Xinrou took a deep breath and continued, "I was feeling a bit dizzy inside the palace, so I came out for some fresh air. As I was walking, I saw the county princess heading towards the lake in the distance, so I thought I'd say hello to her."
"But when I caught up, I couldn't find the county princess anywhere. I accidentally stepped on a jade pendant, and when I bent down to pick it up, I suddenly felt dizzy and my body involuntarily leaned forward, and I accidentally fell into the lake."
Fu Xinrou looked at Su Ruanruan with a face full of apology and said softly, "Princess, I'm so sorry, I've made you suffer..."
However, Huo Yan merely glanced coldly at Su Ruanruan, his tone indifferent, "Xinrou is kind-hearted, which is why she doesn't want to stoop to your level. As for whether you are good or evil, whether you are intentional or unintentional, only you yourself know best."
After saying this, Huo Yan, holding Fu Xinrou, left with the imperial physician without looking back.
Seeing that there was nothing exciting to see, the group headed to the palace banquet.
Su Tinghan said gently, "Big brother believes you didn't do this. You are definitely not the kind of person who harbors malicious intent or has ulterior motives."
However, Su Ruanruan remained indifferent in response to Su Tinghan's words, saying, "I am just an orphan, where would I get an older brother? I would never dare to presume upon the status of the Duke of Su's family."
"Besides, the Crown Prince and I are not well acquainted, so how can he assert that I am a kind-hearted person?"
"Don't call me 'sister' anymore. If Her Highness the Princess finds out about this, she might blame me."
After saying these words, Su Ruanruan nodded slightly, then quickly turned and left.
As soon as Su Ruanruan entered the palace, she saw two people kneeling on the ground being dragged away by guards. Judging from their faces, it was hard not to guess what they had just done.
The woman's hair was loose; she was the palace maid she had knocked unconscious. She didn't recognize the man.
The palace maid's gaze lingered on Su Ruanruan for a moment, her mouth opening and closing a few times before closing again, but she didn't reveal that she had knocked her unconscious.
But the man kept protesting his innocence.
After the two were dragged out, Huo Yan arrived with Fu Xinrou, who had changed her clothes. He then took his leave from Emperor Shun at the head of the table, citing his wife's illness.
In an instant, everyone's attention fell on Su Ruanruan again. Needless to say, what happened by the lake earlier had already been revealed by some gossips.
Su Ruanruan twirled a silver needle as thin as a cow's hair hidden in her sleeve, secretly thinking to herself that this aphrodisiac was far more ferocious and troublesome than she had anticipated.
Not long ago, while she was in the pavilion, she had to harden her heart and let her fingertips bleed in order to suppress the surging passion within her. But now, that burning sensation was quietly returning.
Consort De turned her gaze to Su Ruanruan, asking with concern, "Princess Yongning, I noticed your face is flushed. Are you feeling unwell?"
Faced with Consort De's inquiry, Su Ruanruan smiled calmly and replied softly, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am merely a little tipsy due to my low alcohol tolerance, but it is nothing serious."
Consort De smiled and said, "That's very good. Just now, a palace maid and a guard dared to do illicit things in the side hall. After the imperial physicians diagnosed the situation, they lit aphrodisiac incense that can arouse desire in the side hall."
"I suddenly remembered that the person I saw leading you out to change clothes was her. I was worried that you might have met with misfortune. Since you are safe and sound, that's all the better."
Su Ruanruan nodded respectfully to indicate that she understood, and then explained, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Originally, she was indeed the one who took me to change my clothes, but because I was feeling unwell after drinking, I changed my mind halfway and went to the pavilion to stop for a while and get some fresh air to sober up. As for that side hall, I did not step into it at all."
Su Ruanruan's gaze slowly moved, finally settling on Chu Ran, and she said softly, "Luckily I didn't step into it, otherwise I would probably be the one who angered the emperor today."
Chu Ran's lips curled into a barely perceptible sneer. This smile sent a chill down Su Ruanruan's spine, and she struggled to stay alert.
She already knew in her heart that the sleeping potion was most likely made by Chu Ran. However, who was responsible for the jade pendant found by the lake?
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
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