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He looked up at the maid Shuiyao behind Concubine Xue, evidently addressing Concubine Xue, "The wet nurse mentioned that your maid Shuiyao is quite fond of our palace’s babies?"

Concubine Xue’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. Could it be that Xiao Jinyan was suspicious?

Shuiyao, feeling guilty, stepped forward and knelt on the ground with a thud, "Your Highness, I only thought the babies were adorable. I haven’t forgotten my place, so I did not hold the young masters."

Xiao Jinyan coldly watched Shuiyao’s guilty behavior, "I did not accuse you of anything, so what are you afraid of? I should even praise you. The flowers you sent, the babies liked them very much."

Shuiyao heaved a sigh of relief, "As long as the young masters like them, it is all that matters. I wasn’t aiming to make them happy."

Concubine Xue sighed in relief too, but at the same time, she felt unwilling. She had clearly instructed Shuiyao to release poisonous insects, which are most attracted to the scent of milk. The babies and the Crown Princess carried the scent of milk, making them the most obvious targets.

How could there be nothing wrong at all?

Xiao Jinyan heard what he most wanted to hear, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Concubine Xue had a heart of a serpent and scorpion. Could she actually bear to harm Taosu, who was so adorable?

"Before I came here, I saw the babies playing with the flowers. The two little fellows don’t know how to care for flowers at all; they’ve already torn them to tatters. Tomorrow, let Shuiyao pick two fresh flowers and send them to Hehuan Hall."

Shuiyao nodded in response, "As you command."

Qin Xiao stepped in with a report, "Master, Lord Lu is requesting to see you."

Xiao Jinyan nodded, "I understand. I will go now."

Concubine Xue had been eagerly awaiting Xiao Jinyan’s visit, originally planning to take advantage of dinner and then stay the night. How could she willingly let go of such an opportunity?

"Your Highness, you haven’t had dinner yet. Could you stay and eat before leaving?"

Xiao Jinyan replied indifferently, "Dinner can be had at any time, but important matters cannot be delayed. You go ahead and eat; I will be leaving."

Concubine Xue saw Xiao Jinyan standing up to leave. She also stood up and followed, "Your Highness, doesn’t Lord Lu know that this is dinner time? What matter can’t wait until tomorrow?"

Xiao Jinyan said coldly, "Of course it’s an urgent matter. Concubine Xue, as a princess of a nation, how come you can’t distinguish between what’s urgent and what’s not?"

Concubine Xue was at a loss for words, pitifully saying, "Your concubine merely didn’t want Your Highness to leave; I didn’t say it wasn’t important."

Xiao Jinyan said coldly, "Good that you understand. You should learn more from the Crown Princess. She is understanding, well-educated, and knows her measure, distinguishing between urgency and importance."

After that, he left with a flick of his sleeve.

Concubine Xue stood there, watching Xiao Jinyan’s retreating figure with a heart full of resentment, "To compare me with Shen Chuwei, what is she? How could she be matched with me, a princess?"

Shuiyao was also very upset, not forgetting to offer comfort, "Princess, calm your anger, don’t harm your health."

But Concubine Xue was too incensed to heed the comforting words.

"Tomorrow when you deliver the flowers, send a few more to the Crown Princess, add some more poisonous insects. I refuse to believe they can escape a second time. Once they are dead, the Crown Princess will be mine."

Shuiyao nodded, "Understood. I will send them early to Hehuan Hall tomorrow morning."

Leaving Qimeng Hall, Xiao Jinyan’s expression was grave. He looked back at Qimeng Hall as if one more glance would disgust him.

After calming the fury in his heart, Xiao Jinyan returned to Hehuan Hall and had dinner with Shen Chuwei.

In truth, Xiao Jinyan never intended to have dinner with Concubine Xue upon entering Qimeng Hall.

Qin Xiao reporting that Lord Lu had something to discuss was merely an excuse to leave, rendering Concubine Xue speechless.

After dinner, Xiao Jinyan looked at the freshly bathed Taosu, who was now playing in the small bed as if today’s events had never happened.

Xiao Jinyan waited for Shen Chuwei to finish bathing and then inspected the wound on her arm. Although it was a minor injury, only after checking it could he feel at ease.

"I just went to Qimeng Hall."

Shen Chuwei paused at his words, puzzled, "What did you go to Qimeng Hall for?"

"I have ascertained that those poisonous insects were indeed released by Concubine Xue’s personal maid," Xiao Jinyan relayed the entire incident.

Shen Chuwei, having not seen Concubine Xue for a long while, was instantly furious upon hearing it was her doing.

"It was Concubine Xue, she is truly wicked. Taosu is so adorable, how could she bear to harm her? No, I won’t let her get away with hurting my baby."

Xiao Jinyan pulled her into his embrace, a lethal coldness flashing in his eyes, "I will not let her go either, but since she is a princess of Xueyue, we must have irrefutable evidence before we can convict her."

"I understand. Still, she must taste bitterness for her actions. Taosu cried so miserably today because of the pain; she must pay for it," replied Shen Chuwei, with her heart aching for her child. She might be a salted fish, but she was not one to be trifled with.

Xiao Jinyan nodded, "Mhm."

The next morning, Shuiyao went to the backyard of Qimeng Hall to gather fresh flowers, seeds that were brought from Xueyue Country, unavailable in Daxia.

After picking, she sprinkled some water on the flowers.

As she neared Hehuan Hall, she surreptitiously inserted the poisonous insects into the petals, making them hard to detect.

Inside the house, Shen Chuwei was playing with Taosu when Chun Xi came in to report, "Master, Shuiyao from Qimeng Hall is here with flowers."

"Let her in," responded Shen Chuwei evenly.

"Yes." Chun Xi withdrew, and before long, she led Shuiyao in.

Shuiyao, holding the flowers, advanced a few steps and curtseyed, her face breaking into a smile, "Crown Princess, His Highness ordered me yesterday to pick some fresh flowers for the young masters to play with."

ps: Second update