In the palace hall, Tang Qingwan's consciousness was gradually blurring. Before falling into a stupor, she gripped Cui Yunchu's wrist tightly. "Quick... send someone to notify my uncle."
She was already drenched in sweat from the agonizing pain.
Although Cui Yunchu had watched her take the poison with her own eyes, seeing her in such agony now still made her burn with anxiety.
She immediately went out and instructed Yun'er to leave the palace at once and return to the Cui Manor.
Before long, the palace servants brought the imperial physician to the hall to check Tang Qingwan's pulse. Just a moment after placing his fingers on her wrist, the physician's face instantly turned pale.
Cui Yunfeng asked, "Why is my cousin's dress covered in blood?"
The imperial physician replied, "The Crown Princess has been poisoned with a highly toxic substance. The child in her womb cannot be saved."
The physician's words were like a bolt from the blue. Both Cui Yunchu and Cui Yunfeng stood frozen in shock.
Their cousin was pregnant? Since when? Did she know?
She definitely didn't know. Their cousin had gone through so much trouble to conceive; how could she sacrifice her hard-won child just to scheme against the Liu family?
Cui Yunfeng slumped weakly against the bed.
Cui Yunchu looked at the unconscious Tang Qingwan, her red lips pressed tightly together. She couldn't articulate the complex emotions swirling in her heart.
"You two Miss Cuis, please step aside quickly. The poison the Crown Princess ingested is extremely potent. I must administer the antidote immediately, or her life will be in grave danger."
Cui Yunfeng didn't even know how she managed to unsteadily get to her feet.
She only felt cold, as if her entire body had been plunged into the freezing snow of the bitterest winter, the chill piercing deep into her very bones.
The imperial physician said that Tang Qingwan's condition was extremely critical.
Soon, many more imperial physicians arrived, packing the palace hall to the brim. Cui Yunchu and Cui Yunfeng had no choice but to wait by the door.
Outside the door, beneath the corridor pillars, Xiao Yi stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His profile was hidden in the shadows, his brows slightly furrowed, carrying a rather gloomy air.
Hearing the commotion, he turned his head to look over, his expression softening slightly. "Yunfeng."
Cui Yunchu couldn't even hold her back. The moment Cui Yunfeng saw Xiao Yi, she was like a lit powder keg, charging forward in just a few strides.
A crisp, resounding slap echoed throughout the entire palace.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, the surrounding palace servants immediately grabbed their belongings and fled this place of trouble with the fastest speed of their lives.
Cui Yunchu stared at Xiao Yi's slightly turned head and the cheek that was rapidly turning red.
"..."
She suddenly felt that he was a little bit pitiful.
Just a tiny bit, and only in this very moment.
Cui Yunchu approached quietly, grabbed Cui Yunfeng's wrist, and pulled her back.
"You're crazy."
Slapping someone's precious, noble son on his own parents' turf—was she tired of living?
Cui Yunfeng remained silent. Tears fell like broken beads as she glared fiercely at Xiao Yi.
Cui Yunchu just wanted to clutch her head, squat on the ground, and sigh.
This slap was probably the most unjust beating the Prince of An had ever received in his entire life.
Cui Yunfeng's brain...
Cui Yunchu was afraid that even evaluating it would make her stupid too.
She wasn't smart when she needed to be, yet she acted tough at all the wrong times.
With the shrewdness of the Prince of An and Consort Liang, it probably wouldn't take them long to guess the twists and turns of this situation. When that time came, they would likely need their cooperation to put on a show.
"Yunfeng," she nudged Cui Yunfeng's arm, gritting her teeth. "Apologize to His Highness the Prince of An."
Cui Yunfeng gave a sound of acknowledgment, raised her arm, and looked as if she was about to deliver another slap.
Cui Yunchu was about to explode.
Fortunately, the slap did not land; her wrist was caught by Xiao Yi.
"What happened today has nothing to do with me. I didn't do it. I swear it upon my grand ambitions."
Cui Yunfeng twisted her wrist but couldn't break free. Her eyes were red, but she said nothing.
Xiao Yi shifted his gaze to Cui Yunchu.
"..." Cui Yunchu released Cui Yunfeng's other hand, and Xiao Yi pulled her, intending to walk out.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to stay with my cousin. Xiao Yi, if anything happens to my cousin, I will fight you to the bitter end."
Cui Yunchu, "..."
Could you keep your voice down?
If Consort Liang hears you, are you complaining that you're not dying fast enough?
Not far away, Consort Liang, who was hurrying over, saw the commotion and slowly came to a halt. She whispered something to the person beside her.
Cui Yunchu didn't know when she had arrived or if she had seen Cui Yunfeng slap Xiao Yi.
Lady Zhao said, "Your Highness, the Second Miss Cui has gone too far. She has absolutely no regard for hierarchy."
"That is a minor issue," Consort Liang frowned deeply. "It's just... don't you feel she seems even more foolish than when she was a child? Her brain is getting worse. If she is married in, will it negatively affect my future grandchildren?"
Her intellect was truly worrisome. What prince vying for the throne would marry a simpleton?
The disgust in Consort Liang's eyes could no longer be hidden.
But she was even more suspicious that there was something wrong with her son. Did he have some bizarre fetish?
Cui Yunfeng forcefully shook off Xiao Yi's hand. "I only look at the results. If you say it wasn't you, then prove it to me."
Consort Liang suppressed the myriad of thoughts in her mind and walked up the steps. "Yunfeng, Yunchu, don't worry. I have already summoned all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Academy of Medicine. We will absolutely not let anything happen to the Crown Princess."
Cui Yunchu said, "Thank you, Consort Liang."
Consort Liang continued, "Today's incident happened suddenly. At my own banquet, I have no reason to poison the Crown Princess. I have already reported this matter to His Majesty, and His Majesty has entrusted full authority to Lord Shen of the Department of State Affairs. Lord Shen handles cases like a god; I believe the truth will come to light very soon."
Cui Yunchu thought: Shen Xiabai again. Why is it that every matter involving the Cui and Tang families cannot bypass him?
The Emperor clearly knew the grudges between the three families. What were his intentions in making such a move?
Basin after basin of bloody water was carried out of the room. The stench of blood and the blinding red made it hard for the two Cui sisters to catch their breath, as if an invisible hand was tightly squeezing their hearts.
For the sake of their family, their cousin had sacrificed everything she had.
Half an hour later, the Crown Prince rushed over. Without speaking to anyone, he charged straight into the palace hall.
Before long, they could hear his trembling voice, as well as the sound of him losing his temper with the imperial physicians.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess's pregnancy is still in its very early stages. If it weren't for the poisoning, even taking her pulse might not have revealed it. Furthermore, the poison Her Highness ingested is too fierce. Being able to save her life is already a blessing amidst misfortune. Even if you kill this old subject, this old subject truly cannot save the child."
"The child is already gone!"
The last few words fell like a heavy hammer on Xiao Chen's head. He closed his eyes, his stance swaying slightly as he struggled to remain upright.
"Qingwan."
He knew she blamed him. Since their marriage, they had shared a bed almost without interruption. Like her, he had exhausted all means in the hope of having a child together, to give her a shred of comfort and ease the tension between them.
Now the child had come, but before they could even rejoice, it was gone.
He sat on the edge of the bed, exuding a dark and agonized aura. He tightly gripped Tang Qingwan's hand, his head slightly bowed as tears crashed down onto the woman's smooth, delicate skin.
Tang Qingwan seemed to finally awaken, her voice terribly hoarse. "You're here."
"Xiao Chen, my stomach hurts so much." Tang Qingwan curled up, her face full of agony. "What's wrong with me?"
Xiao Chen leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead, his eyes bloodshot. "Yes, I am here. Rest well. Your husband is here, and I will seek justice for you."
Tang Qingwan's consciousness was extremely weak. Her lips barely moved before she fell back into a deep slumber. The Crown Prince carefully stroked the top of her head and tucked her arms under the quilt before slowly standing up.
"Cure the Crown Princess."
He did not utter any threats, but the aura surrounding him was enough to terrify the imperial physicians into silence.
The Crown Prince had always been gentle; this was the first time they had seen such a cold and ruthless side to him.
Stepping out of the palace doors, his gaze swept over everyone present, his eyes dark and chilling. "Is no one going to give me an explanation?"
Xiao Yi said, "Does Imperial Brother think I would be stupid enough to poison my royal sister-in-law—her own sister—on my own turf, right in front of my betrothed?"
Consort Liang said, "I also have some matters I need to discuss thoroughly with the Crown Prince."
The Crown Prince glanced at Consort Liang and, without another word, followed her into a side hall.
Before entering, Cui Yunchu warned Cui Yunfeng, "For the rest of this, we just need to watch. Don't do anything crazy."
Cui Yunfeng nodded. "Eldest Sister, I am not as stupid as you think."
She knew everything, but her heartache and panic for her cousin were real.
"That slap he received was not unjust."
"Bring them up," Consort Liang ordered in a deep voice, sitting upright in the seat of honor.
The gentle and bright demeanor she usually wore had completely faded, leaving only a majestic and imposing presence.
Before long, Lady Zhao walked in, leading a palace servant who kept her head bowed and eyes lowered.
Consort Liang said, "His Highness the Crown Prince should know that I have some past grievances with Her Majesty the Empress. Today is my birthday, and the Empress sent someone to deliver gifts and even had Side Consort Liu attend the banquet. Naturally, I would be somewhat on guard."
Her gaze fell upon the palace servant kneeling below. "Tell the Crown Prince what you saw."
"To answer Your Highness and His Highness the Crown Prince, this servant... this servant was instructed by Lady Zhao to keep watch in the imperial kitchens. I saw with my own eyes the old maidservant beside Side Consort Liu tampering with the grapes bestowed by the Emperor."
These days, Tang Qingwan had a preference for melons, fruits, and cold foods. The Crown Prince had even sent the steward to purchase a large amount for the estate, a fact known to everyone in the Crown Prince's residence.
Tang Qingwan might not touch other foods, but she would definitely taste the grapes.
The Crown Prince said, "Since Consort Liang discovered this early on, why didn't you stop it?"
Consort Liang, "..."
How did he know she hadn't stopped it? The poison was intercepted, but she couldn't stop the incident from happening.
"That plate of grapes is currently sitting in my palace, yet the Crown Princess was still poisoned."
Her gaze swept imperceptibly over Cui Yunchu.
As for Cui Yunfeng, she skipped over her entirely, not even sparing her a glance.
Cui Yunchu asked, "Does Consort Liang mean that the poisoned food was not just the grapes, but possibly something else?"
