Chapter 19

Because of the poisoned wine incident, Luo Qinghan didn't get a wink of sleep all night.

He had to investigate the source of the poison and seal the lips of everyone at the scene, to prevent the news from spreading and causing a scandal of royal brothers killing each other to vie for the position of crown prince.

As for the First Prince, Luo Yechen, as a direct party involved in the case, he was politely escorted back to his residence.

Until the truth was uncovered, Luo Yechen was not allowed to leave his residence.

By the time Luo Qinghan finished all these tasks, it was already bright outside.

Eunuch Chang advised him to rest for a while.

Luo Qinghan pinched his temples, his voice hoarse from lack of sleep.

"How is Consort Xiao?"

"The imperial physician said that the rescue was timely, and Consort Xiao is out of danger. She just needs to rest and recuperate for a while to fully recover."

Luo Qinghan decided to go see Consort Xiao.

To avoid disturbing her rest, Luo Qinghan didn't let Eunuch Chang make a sound, and they quietly entered the Qingge Palace.

When they reached the bedroom door, they just happened to hear Xiao Xixi say—

"I knew that cup of wine was poisoned, but I still drank it. It has nothing to do with the Crown Prince."

Luo Qinghan's steps paused.

Eunuch Chang, who followed closely behind, his face changed slightly. He waved his hand, and the palace maids and eunuchs immediately understood and retreated.

Inside the bedroom, Xiao Xixi was explaining to Baoqin.

"Last night, I saw the First Prince's forehead turn black, with dark clouds over his head, clearly indicating he was in for bad luck. Especially when he handed me the wine, I saw the dark clouds above his head almost dripping black. My intuition told me there might be something wrong with the wine. I grabbed the wine and smelled it, and indeed, I detected the scent of poison."

Baoqin was puzzled: "Why didn't I see the dark clouds over the First Prince's head?"

"That's because you haven't opened your third eye. I have a special destiny, and I was born with my third eye open. I can see these things with just a glance."

Seeing that Baoqin still looked confused, Xiao Xixi continued to explain.

"Think about it. If the Crown Prince had really drunk that poisoned wine last night, whether he died or not, the charge of poisoning the Crown Prince would fall on the First Prince. Even if he didn't die, he would still suffer greatly. Isn't that a major disaster?"

Baoqin suddenly understood. Dark clouds over the head meant that!

She huffed: "He deserves it, for trying to poison the Crown Prince!"

Xiao Xixi shook her head: "It's not as simple as you think. The First Prince, no matter how foolish, wouldn't dare to poison the Crown Prince in public. He's not suicidal."

"Your Highness, do you mean the First Prince was framed?"

"Maybe."

Baoqin frowned. These plots and schemes were beyond her, a mere palace maid, to understand.

She then asked: "Since you knew the wine was poisoned, why did you still drink it?"

Outside the door.

Luo Qinghan furrowed his brows, with the same confusion in his heart.

Knowing it was poisoned, why did she still drink it?

He heard the woman inside speak in her usual lazy tone.

"I had to protect him."

"My constitution is very special; ordinary poisons can't harm me, but the Crown Prince is different. He's just an ordinary person. If he had drunk that poisoned wine, even if he didn't die, he would have lost half his life."

"I can't let him get hurt. I have to protect his safety."

Baoqin was still puzzled: "You could have directly told His Highness the Crown Prince that the wine was poisoned."

"The Crown Prince wouldn't believe me."

"How could that be? You are His Highness's person; you wouldn't harm him."

Xiao Xixi shook her head: "You don't understand."

In the palace, let alone a bedmate, even parents and siblings could ruthlessly kill each other.

As the Crown Prince, Luo Qinghan was the common enemy of all the princes.

He was the target of everyone's arrows.

He couldn't trust anyone.