Xiao Tao had rarely seen Qing Ming's face so ashen, let alone the Prince's expression being so grim.
Startled, Xiao Tao stammered, unable to speak clearly.
"Your servant, your servant..."
"Lord Qing Ming is asking why there was the scent of Schisandra on you the night before last. Just tell us the truth."
Yu Linglong remained seated calmly, a composure that even Chu Qianli admired from afar.
She truly knew how to keep her cool.
Hearing her mistress's voice, Xiao Tao seemed to find some reassurance.
She cautiously raised her eyes, looking at Feng Ye Xuan seated on the jade throne, and whispered, "The night before last..."
"The night before last, I felt unwell and cold, so I asked the physician. The physician said that soaking Schisandra in water could dispel the cold. So, I went to the medicine storehouse to retrieve the Schisandra."
Xiao Tao suddenly turned to Chu Qianli, her gaze firm. "Miss Chu, the physician in the manor can testify to this. If you don't believe me, summon Physician Yang to question him."
"Since you say so, Physician Yang will naturally have no flaws. Why should I bother with such a superfluous act?"
Chu Qianli said this while looking at Yu Linglong.
No wonder Yu Linglong was so calm; she had already paved a way out for herself.
"Miss Chu, why are you targeting my mistress at every turn? Are you still jealous of my mistress, just like before?"
"What is there about her that I should be jealous of? She's not as good-looking as me, nor as skilled in medicine. What am I jealous of? Nothing."
"You..."
"Silence! You have no right to speak here!" Qing Ming boomed.
Xiao Tao opened her mouth, only to realize Qing Ming's anger was directed at her.
After all, she was just a servant, while Chu Qianli, no matter what, was still the Princess Consort.
Qing Ming was also telling everyone that no matter how much the Prince disliked the Princess Consort, she was still the mistress!
At that, Xiao Tao immediately shut her mouth, daring not to utter another word.
Yu Linglong's fingers, hidden within her sleeve, tightened slightly.
Chu Qianli's words just now were too much!
But at this moment, even Concubine Jin seemed lost in thought, not as eager to defend her as before.
Yu Linglong said calmly, "So, Miss Chu already knew that when these two substances were mixed, they would produce such an effect?"
The implication was that this might have been a play orchestrated by Chu Qianli herself.
Chu Qianli laughed instead of getting angry. "My medical skills are better than yours, so why is it strange that I know? However..."
Yu Linglong was almost unable to contain her anger.
Every sentence implied she was better at medicine; this woman was utterly shameless!
But now, she couldn't find any opportunity to refute!
"However, what?" Yu Linglong suppressed her anger, clenched her fists, but her face still appeared calm.
Chu Qianli no longer looked at her, but raised her head to meet Feng Ye Xuan's gaze.
"The fact that Fourteenth Lord fainted after entering the room was definitely not solely caused by smelling the aroma of Schisandra and Yuqing Wood. I'm afraid he also drank ginseng tea before entering."
Feng Jinrui's heart tightened. "When I was waiting with my mother in Miss Yu's Wuxia Pavilion, Miss Yu sent us ginseng tea! Could it be that this ginseng tea..."
"The ginseng tea is perfectly fine. In fact, Miss Yu's ginseng tea uses excellent thousand-year-old ginseng, which is beneficial for strengthening the body."
"Then..."
"But you are at an age of vigorous youth. Ginseng tea can accelerate your blood circulation... What I mean is, it will make your blood more easily agitated."
"In this state, the medicinal properties of Yuqing Wood and Schisandra mixed together would become extremely potent for you. You fainted immediately because you couldn't withstand it, which gave her time to arrange everything."
Chu Qianli looked coldly at Yu Linglong. "Miss Yu calculated every step clearly, using excellent ingredients for everything. But when mixed together, the medicinal properties were incredibly fierce!"
Feng Jinrui suddenly turned his head, staring at Yu Linglong, his eyes filled with shock.
"Could it be that this was truly your scheme?"