After Lin Wanyue finished eating and drinking, she handed them several talismans that she had prepared beforehand.
Qi Xiao was very happy and even prepared some gifts for her.
Lin Wanyue thought that she might as well take it, and if Qi Xiao really put something inside, she could keep it as evidence, so she happily accepted it all.
Even Xiao Yuehan couldn't help but twitch when she saw these things.
The finest Hetian jade from the Western Regions, the crown inlaid with rubies the size of pigeon eggs, and the seven-colored glass pendant—each of these items alone is priceless treasures. To give them all to Lin Wanyue, a mere girl who can barely wear two pounds of hairpins, is such a waste.
However, she was not the kind of person who was easily swayed. Although she was a little unhappy, she did not say it on the surface. Instead, after Lin Wanyue left, she earnestly advised the eldest prince, "Xiao'er, do you also know that you are a kind-hearted person, and that you care about even that little girl who has no blood relation with you?"
"But such valuable things, if you give them to her now, she won't even know their value. Wouldn't that be a waste for her? You should keep these things for yourself, or give them to your wife to make her happy. That way, she'll be devoted to you."
Of course, Qi Xiao couldn't say that he had put even more poison in these things, just in case.
He had made thorough preparations. Even if Lin Wanyue did not eat the pastries containing the Gu worms, she would still be unable to avoid the small insects hidden in these exquisite jewels!
Qi Xiao smiled and said to Consort Xiao, "Mother, the little princess did help me after all. If I can use this talisman to do my job better, it will be more useful than these treasures."
Empress Dowager Xiao muttered a few words to herself, but considering her son's feelings and the logic in his words, she didn't say anything more.
Qi Xiao was, after all, an adult prince, and even if he came to the palace under the pretext of visiting Consort Xiao, he could not stay in the palace for long.
Not long after Xiao Yuehan saw Qi Xiao off, she felt a series of dizzy spells. Her body swayed and her eyes rolled back.
Jinzhu, the head palace maid standing nearby, saw this and was startled. She quickly reached out to support the person and asked anxiously, "Your Highness, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Should we call the imperial physician?"
"No need, it's just a small matter. I'll go back and rest." Xiao Yuehan felt that she still had the talisman on her, so there shouldn't be any problems. It's just that she didn't rest at noon, so she was probably a little tired.
She just wanted to go back and get a good night's sleep; things should be better later.
...
On the other side, Lin Wanyue sat in the carriage leaving the palace and called Laifu over: "What were you doing, winking at Grandpa just now? Did you do something naughty again?"
"Wanwan, you're really accusing me! No, how can you even accuse a ghost?" Laifu cried out that he was being wronged.
"Then what did you mean by exchanging glances with Grandpa just now? I don't believe you were flirting! Grandpa is completely loyal to Grandma, he would never do something like accepting you," Lin Wanyue said deliberately.
Although her voice was soft, Lin Xiangwu, who was guarding on the roof of the car, heard it. He immediately searched the area and climbed into the carriage.
"Wanwan, stop overthinking." Lin Xiangwu was afraid that Lin Wanyue would complain to Liu Junlan, and that she would make up stories, exaggerating and embellishing them, so he came over to explain himself.
However, Lin Wanyue was still very curious about what they had just done and insisted on asking.
Lai Fu could only say, "Wanwan, don't worry, I didn't do anything. That eldest prince is definitely the one behind it all. I saw him hiding a lot of tiny insect eggs under his fingernails. Although they were too small for most people to see, I was watching him closely, so I noticed his every move. I saw him put those tiny insect eggs into some pastries. Those were the ones that were specially sent to you! But don't worry, I've already disposed of all those insect eggs."
Lin Wanyue looked confused, feeling that there seemed to be no problem with what she said.
The thought of Laifu saying that the eldest prince Qi Xiao used his fingernails and probably even put the contents of his fingernails into the snacks she was given made her feel nauseous.
But now that she'd already eaten it, she was too lazy to throw it up and feel nauseous again.
Lin Wanyue continued, "Then why did you make that funny face just now?"
"Wanwan, actually he didn't kill the insect eggs directly, but put all the insect eggs into Consort Xiao's pastries," Lin Xiangwu couldn't help but say.
Lin Xiangwu was, after all, someone who had been raised under the ideology of loyalty to the emperor for many years. In his mind, members of the royal family, including women in the harem like Consort Xiao, also needed to be respected.
Moreover, since the eldest prince Qi Xiao poisoned himself, even if something happens, it can only be considered retribution.
However, Consort Xiao was somewhat different. After all, she was a woman, and she lived deep within the palace. Even though she had a sharp tongue, she never intentionally did anything that would truly hurt anyone.
If she gets involved and is also poisoned by the Gu worms, wouldn't she also die?
Lin Xiangwu did not support Lai Fu's approach, and his tone subtly implied a sense of accusation.
Laifu jumped up and said, "What's there to pity about her? This is her son after all. Her son did something wrong, and she didn't teach him well. It's just that she has to suffer the consequences. Besides, if her son doesn't want to activate those insect eggs, she'll just feel a little disgusted by what she eats, but it won't be a big deal."
However, if the eldest prince Qi Xiao wants to use those Gu worms to achieve his goal, then in the end, only his own mother will be harmed.
In that case, you can't blame anyone else.
After hearing this explanation, Lin Wanyue remained silent for a moment before saying, "Then let's leave it at that. This is only a matter for their family, so there's no need to involve more people."
Lai Fu immediately revealed a smug look, raised his chin and said, "As expected, it was me who didn't harm anyone else!"
Lin Xiangwu still disagreed, turning his face away and saying in a low voice, "Then you could just put the insect eggs into his own snacks and let him suffer the consequences, why involve the Empress Dowager?"
"Hehe, General Lin, you wouldn't happen to have taken a fancy to that Imperial Concubine, would you? Otherwise, why are you always thinking about her?" Lai Fu teased. But no matter what Lin Xiangwu said, he still had his own reasons: "Besides, the First Prince can use Gu himself, so he must know a lot about Gu worms. If he can detect it, then all our efforts will be in vain."
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