"First Prince, I am definitely right. That is Ghastly Tear Gra.s.s!" Hua Xiaoyi shouted, not afraid to show off her knowledge.

Hua Qiyue was all smiles. "Third Sister, how do you know what that is? Have you seen Ghastly Tear Gra.s.s before?"

Hua Xiaoyi's expression changed as she stuttered. "I... I accidentally smelled it before!"

"First Prince, this fragrance resembles that of a normal spice." At this time, Imperial Physician w.a.n.g opened his mouth to talk, holding up the leaf resembling that of Ghastly Tear Gra.s.s. "Ghastly Tear Gra.s.s produces a strange fragrance that entices people. Its poison requires six hours to take effect, but First Prince had only been seating here for less than two hours. Furthermore... there is a light white stripe on this gra.s.s, see... No such white stripes exist in the middle of Ghastly Tear Gra.s.s. This type of gra.s.s is the Sword Leaf Gra.s.s, a gra.s.s with similar fragrance and appearance to that of Ghastly Tear Gra.s.s. However, this gra.s.s is not poisonous, instead inducing one to sleep peacefully."

Hua Xiaoyi was stunned. She stared at the leaf inside Imperial Physician w.a.n.g's hands, and indeed saw that pale white stripe.

One needed to pay attention to see the white mark.

"Since Ghastly Tear Gra.s.s is poisonous, no one likes this type of gra.s.s, and the similar Sword Leaf Gra.s.s is misunderstood at all. As most people are unable to differentiate Ghastly Tear Gra.s.s and Sword Leaf Gra.s.s, we no longer used these two type of gra.s.s for safety purposes."

Imperial Physician w.a.n.g explained and everyone understood.

Sipping on tea, Hua Qiyue said, "Third Sister, I have told you that my sachet contained no poison. The First Prince must be unwell because of the food?"

Hua Xiaoyi's face turned pale white, "Impossible, impossible!"

She had asked Bingqing to bribe Qiuyun into exchanging Sword Leaf Gra.s.s to Ghastly Tear Gra.s.s. How can this be the case?

First Prince's face turned gloomy. "Imperial physician, if not for the sachet, why am I uncomfortable?"

Imperial Physician w.a.n.g was confused too, "Your Highness, some poisons are undetectable by silver needles."

He implied that the food eaten by the First Prince was poisonous, and Hua Xiaoyi shouted in defence, "Imperial physician, I will not dare to poison the First Prince even if I have ten lives!"

Imperial Physician w.a.n.g frowned as he was unsure of what to do. Everyone stared at each other, unsure of how to solve the problem.

"Your Highness, I remembered something." At this time, Yun s.h.i.+mo slowly said as he placed down his cup casually on the table. "The pa.s.sion fruit is cold and cannot be overconsumed." "Furthermore, the Tuhua Fish is cold in nature too. These two foods are too rare for commoners to discover their coldness. If we only consume one of the two, there will be no poisonous effect. However, consuming both of them together causes an acute stomach ache, one that will be resolved in two hours' time."

"What?" First Prince exclaimed. Why did Yun s.h.i.+mo not tell me about this earlier?

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. I was drunk and confused before remembering this. Please punish me for my negligence!"

Yun s.h.i.+mo said patronizingly.

Hua Qiyue smirked at Yun s.h.i.+mo's malice. He was not scared of the First Prince and only explained after he ate both food...

His opponent was indeed miserable!

The First Prince's face turned red and pale. Hua Xiaoyi trembled as she did not expect her good intentions to be destroyed by an accident!

However, the First Prince could not blame her as she had good intentions.

"If that is the case... I will not punish the ignorant, or Third Miss... Prince Nan, any ways to reduce this coldness?"

"No solution. The cold is too heavy and cannot be hastily reduced or it will cause other symptoms. We have to wait for six hours." Prince Nan said quietly.

Bingyi smiled in secret. First Prince deserved it for pampering to Hua Qiyue.

The First Prince's face turned even more disturbed as he felt an acute stomach ache. He had to hastily walk to the toilet!

As the coldness was severe, First Prince had to continuously use the toilet in this six hours...

Within the s.h.i.+p, everyone heaved a sigh of relief. Even though Hua Qiyue was too dazzling, many still liked her.

Many childes had high hopes as Hua Qiyue rejected marriage proposal just now. Perhaps... they could marry a woman like Hua Qiyue?

"Alright, please enjoy your meal. The compet.i.tion for the Four Great Families will start after an hour." Prince Nan explained lightly as he stared at Hua Qiyue.

Hua Qiyue looked at Hua Xiaoyi, ignoring the matter just now. However, Lv Xin and Youshui were unable to swallow this anger.

It's indeed infuriating that Hua Xiaoyi refused to let their master off even though they were all one big family.

"Third Miss, didn't you say that you will kowtow to my master if there is no poison in her sachet?" Lv Xin exclaimed loudly.

Her words reminded everyone of Hua Xiaoyi's promise.

Her face turned green and red at the reminder. "Lv Xin, how dare you shout at me in front of your master! You are just a servant!"

Lv Xin was not afraid of Hua Xiaoyi's furious eyes, "Third Miss, you are wrong. Lv Xin did not mean to be rude. I merely wanted to remind you. Furthermore, Third Miss is an aristocrat that made a promise!"

"Outrageous, how dare you servant chide me!" Hua Xiaoyi shouted loudly before Hua Qiyue placed her teacup down. "Lv Xin, be respectful to Third Miss. Third Sister, don't be agitated, my servants are too protective of me."

Hua Qiyue explained, "As a family, let's just ignore whatever happened just now."

Hua Qiyue's words made her seem extremely generous, and Hua Xiaoyi childish and petty. If Hua Xiaoyi did not kwotow, she would be shamed.

Hua Xiaoyi walked in front of Hua Qiyue, "I will hold my promise!"

As she spoke, she was about to kneel down. Even though she was furious and dissatisfied, she was helpless.

Hua Qiyue's fingers flicked as a stream of light was emitted, stopping Hua Xiaoyi in her place. "Third Sister, there is no need to be angry. Women have gold under their knees, please do not kneel so easily."

Hua Xiaoyi could not even kneel and became even more angry. She slammed her sleeves and left unhappily.

Her plan had failed and it would be useless for her to stay. Furthermore, it was because of her that the First Prince had gotten a cold.

For an instance, everyone cast a complicated look at Hua Qiyue.

This terrifying woman could stay calm and relaxed in any situation, saving herself.

Huangfu Shenglin could not help but smile at Hua Qiyue, for which she returned the gesture. The exchange of the two was seen by Huangfu Xuan.

He paused as he thought about his past as Hua Qiyue's fiance. But now, he had her in his heart as her every action affected his emotions.

If this goes on...

Huangfu Xuan ground his teeth. Seeing that the First Prince was not back yet, he went to Hua Qiyue and whispered. "Princess Jinghua, why did you return First Prince's gift. Do you not know it represents the gift to a concubine?"

Hua Qiyue blinked, pretending to be confused, "What? What gift are you referring to?"

Huangfu Xuan frowned. Could she really not remember? But she did seem mad before, perhaps she was like that?

At this time, First Prince and Xiao Zhouzi came out accompanied by two Qi Artists. Xiao Zhouzi was holding on the First Prince. He seemed to have his vitality absorbed and was extremely weak.

Even though he was not feeling well, First Prince refused to leave. He would not leave as long as Huangfu Shenglin was here.

Huangfu Shenglin stood up and showed his concern. "Your Highness, are you better?"

First Prince alerted himself, "I am very well. Thank you for your concern, Brother Eleven."

"If that is the case, I am relieved." Huangfu Shenglin said. After he sat back down, he drank calmly.

The First Prince was full of hatred. You are here to show concern? You wanted me dead, right? However, Huangfu Shenglin, don't bother, my place will never be yours!

At this time, the dancers came into the cabin to dance. Musicians walked in, playing wooden flutes. Suddenly, laughter outside the cabin erupted. "Hahaha, the princess is here, I am here!"

Hearing the voice, the rest saw a purple shadow stumbling in, carefully supported by two young maidservants.

That was Princess Huiling.

Ever since Princess Huizhen was killed, there were a few more Qi Artists besides Princess Huiling as they were afraid that another similar matter like that of Princess Huizhen would happen.

Seeing that Princess Huiling came, all stood up to talk to her. Princess Huiling walked like a drunkard towards Hua Qiyue. "Princess Jinghua, do you mind... do you mind if I seat?"

Hua Qiyue stood up and replied. "Of course, Princess."

Her att.i.tude was humble yet dignified, making Huangfu Shenglin nod repeatedly. He had not judged the woman wrongly.

Princess Huiling sat down unceremoniously, as her maidservant Mo'er pa.s.sed her a cup of sobering tea. "Princess, your tea."

"Oh... my sobering tea... come, Hua Qiyue, feed me!"

Princess Huiling mumbled.

Hua Qiyue stood up, receiving the sobering tea from Mo'er. Lv Xin and Youshui looked at each other, with a slight sorrow in their eyes.

They knew that Princess Huiling was very bad-tempered and extremely difficult to deal with. Furthermore, she seemed to have a freud with their master. They had no idea what would occur from this.

Sigh, another scene after one had ended. They were all nervous.

In the sight of all, Hua Qiyue gracefully poured tea for the princess to drink, with no mistake in the process.

This time, what would Princess Huiling do to bully her? Hua Qiyue smiled in antic.i.p.ation.

If enemies wanted to kill me, striking first is the best solution.