Luo Qinghan only felt a surge of hostility churning in his chest.
Since they failed to kill him during the hunt last time, did they switch to poisoning this time?
Did they truly want him dead that badly?!
Xiao Xixi lay in Luo Qinghan’s arms, her small face deathly pale, her breath as weak as gossamer.
She looked as though she might stop breathing at any moment.
Luo Qinghan wanted to scold her for why she had to be so greedy to drink that cup of wine, but seeing her current pitiful state, he couldn’t bring himself to say a single word.
The imperial physician quickly rushed over.
He felt Xiao Xixi’s pulse, checked the residual liquid in the wine cup, and said solemnly.
“This wine contains a highly lethal poison, but it is currently unclear which type of poison it is. I will first prescribe some emetic medicine for Virtuous Consort Xiao to help her vomit out the poisonous wine in her stomach.”
Upon learning that the wine was indeed poisonous, everyone present turned their gazes in unison toward the Eldest Prince, Luo Yechen.
Luo Yechen was completely panicked now.
He only wanted to make things difficult for Third Brother; he had never thought of poisoning him to death.
But everyone had seen it—that cup of poisoned wine came from his hand.
Even if he jumped into the river now, he wouldn’t be able to wash himself clean!
The imperial physician brought over the medicinal decoction for Xiao Xixi to drink.
The medicine looked pitch-black, emitting a strong, bitter aroma.
Xiao Xixi buried her head into Luo Qinghan’s embrace, refusing to drink the medicine.
Luo Qinghan directly took the decoction from the imperial physician’s hand. With one arm around her neck, he secured her chin to force her mouth open, while his other hand tipped the decoction to pour it down her throat.
His movements were swift and decisive, showing no intention of tenderly protective feelings toward the fairer sex.
Suddenly forced to swallow a huge gulp of the bitter decoction, Xiao Xixi was so bittered she almost fainted.
She felt a surge of sour water rush up her chest, and a wave of nausea hit her throat directly.
Turning her head and opening her mouth, she let out a loud retch and vomited.
After she finished vomiting, the imperial physician fed her two more medicinal pills.
Subsequently, she felt her head grow dizzy, and she involuntarily fell into a deep sleep.
When she woke up, she found herself lying on a bed with a thin quilt covering her, her throat feeling somewhat dry.
Baoqin had been guarding by the bedside all along. Seeing her open her eyes, she cried out in pleasant surprise.
“Mistress, you are finally awake!”
Seeing that Baoqin’s eyes were red, clearly from having just wept, Xiao Xixi comforted her, “Don’t worry, I am fine now.”
Baoqin sobbed, “When this servant saw you spitting blood last night, I was almost scared to death. In the future, please don’t eat random things again, alright? If there is anything you want to eat, just tell this servant and I will make it for you. Don’t eat outside anymore. The outside is too dangerous, woo woo!”
Xiao Xixi was amused by her.
“Last night was just an accident. Besides, aren’t I fine now?”
She propped herself up on the bed to sit up.
“Is there any water? I am a bit thirsty.”
Baoqin quickly poured a cup of warm water and fed it to her.
Her dry throat felt much more comfortable. Leaning back against the soft cushion, Xiao Xixi relaxed her body and reverted back to her salted fish state.
She asked lazily, “How long have I been unconscious?”
Baoqin wiped her tears. “For a whole night.”
“What happened after I lost consciousness?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince personally carried you back to Qingge Palace. The imperial physician and this servant guarded here all night, and the imperial physician only left after confirming you were no longer in grave danger.”
“Where is the Crown Prince?”
“After he put you down and spoke a few words to the imperial physician, he left.” Speaking to this point, Baoqin’s tone couldn’t help but reveal a bit of complaint again.
She said indignantly, “Last night, you were poisoned because you drank the Crown Prince’s wine. You suffered this ordeal in place of the Crown Prince, yet he left so swiftly and didn’t even spare you a second look. He is too heartless!”
Xiao Xixi, however, gave a smile. “Don’t blame the Crown Prince. I brought this upon myself. I knew long beforehand that the cup of wine was poisoned, yet I still drank it. It has nothing to do with the Crown Prince.”
Baoqin was dumbfounded.
Thinking she had misheard, she asked again in disbelief.
“What did you say? You knew long beforehand that the wine was poisonous? How is that possible?!”