Chapter 25: Strip Her Clothes Off!

The noblewomen nearby were all gloating, and while the palace servants looked sympathetic, they dared not intervene, only keeping their heads down and continuing with their own tasks.

Nan Xueyin did not need anyone to save her; before Ruan Yunchan could burst into a tirade, she took a second cup from the tray and placed it down. "That cup was too cold. How about this one?"

Ruan Yunchan was stunned, as if she had not expected there to be another cup.

But what did that matter? She furrowed her brows, touched the cup, and said viciously, "Still cold!"

Nan Xueyin then set down a third cup. "Young lady, try this one."

Ruan Yunchan was stunned again; how could there still be more?

Before she could say anything, Nan Xueyin placed another cup down. "And this one, it is warmer than the previous one."

She set down yet another. "And this one, it is warmer than all the ones before."

Ruan Yunchan looked at the row of teacups in front of her, her expression turning rather ugly.

Nan Xueyin's expression was indifferent. "If you still find something unsatisfactory, young lady, then it must be that the tea at Baoci Palace is not to your liking. Shall this servant go and invite Momo Qiutong to come and ask?"

Qiutong was the most trusted Momo by the Empress Dowager's side; if she were truly called over, there was no guarantee that the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince would not find out, and that would mean the matter had blown up.

Dou Fangchun hurriedly stepped out to play the good person. "It is but a small matter, why go to the trouble of inviting Momo Qiutong?"

She tugged lightly on Ruan Yunchan's sleeve. "Alright, Yunchan, there is no need to be angry with her; just do it for my sake."

She then glanced at Nan Xueyin. "The tea has been set down, you may go and busy yourself with other things."

Nan Xueyin smiled slightly and turned to walk away.

Behind her, Dou Fangchun picked up a cup of tea and handed it to Ruan Yunchan. "Drink some water and calm your anger."

Ruan Yunchan said, frustrated by her friend's lack of resolve, "Fangchun, your temper is just too good, that is why you are being bullied right to your face!"

Nan Xueyin understood now; so, Ruan Yunchan's deliberate targeting was instigated by Dou Fangchun.

Ruan Yunchan took the teacup, drank a mouthful, and added, "But this tea at Baoci Palace is truly good, much more fragrant than what I have at home!"

Dou Fangchun smiled. "If you like it, I will have someone bring you a packet later."

Ruan Yunchan was surprised. "May I?"

"Naturally! I love drinking this tea, and the Empress Dowager dotes on me, so she has bestowed quite a lot upon me!"

Ruan Yunchan was quite envious. "That is wonderful, you..."

She stopped mid-sentence, suddenly stuck.

Nan Xueyin heard the sound of something hitting the floor, followed by Dou Fangchun's shrill scream, "Yunchan!"

Turning back, she saw Ruan Yunchan sliding from her stool, collapsing limply to the ground, her eyes tightly shut and her lips pale.

Nan Xueyin immediately furrowed her brows.

Because of Dou Fangchun's scream, the people around them swarmed over, asking incessantly, "What happened?"

"What is going on?"

Dou Fangchun wore a look of shock. "Just now, Yunchan said she was thirsty and asked the palace maid to serve tea; this Doukou came. She felt the tea was too hot at the time and asked Doukou to change it for another cup, but Doukou inexplicably brought several cups. Yunchan did not blame her and picked one to drink, but who would have thought that not long after drinking it, she would faint directly..."

Someone in the crowd said, "How does it feel like this is a sign of poisoning?"

Once these words were spoken, the whole room was stunned.

"Poisoned?"

"Who would dare to poison someone in Baoci Palace?"

"Then what about the tea we drank? Could it be poisoned too?"

For a moment, everyone whispered to one another, each fearing for their own safety.

Yan Zhirong and Xiao Mingyu were also attracted by the commotion here and walked over one after the other.

The noblewomen consciously cleared a path for the two of them.

Yan Zhirong roughly understood what had happened from the discussions of others; coming from a great family and accustomed to grand scenes, she made a prompt decision and gave orders: "You, go quickly and invite an Imperial Physician. You, go find the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince, and tell them that Miss Ruan has had an accident. You two, help Miss Dou sit down."

Dou Fangchun, however, seemed to suddenly recall something; she raised her head and pointed fiercely at Nan Xueyin. "It is you! You are the one who put poison in the tea!"

Her eyes reddened. "Yunchan only asked you to change it for a cooler cup of tea, and you actually harbored resentment and poisoned her to death!"

Nan Xueyin now completely understood the ins and outs of the whole affair.

The gazes of the crowd were instantly cast upon her, filled with disbelief and hatred, as if she were the most hideous and abominable demon in the world.

Nan Xueyin also saw Xiao Mingyu.

There was no hostility in his gaze, merely a sense of indifference; he had no intention of intervening or speaking up, looking like an outsider, idly watching this good show.

It could not be called disappointment; it could only be said that Nan Xueyin was not surprised.

She withdrew her gaze and said, "I did not poison it."

Dou Fangchun pressed forward step by step. "The tea was brought by you, and Yunchan fainted after drinking your tea; you say you did not poison it? Who would believe that!"

She then signaled to those on either side. "Go! Search her body; perhaps the poison has not been fully poured out and is still hidden on her!"

Two Momos stepped forward in response.

Nan Xueyin did not dodge or struggle.

The Momos felt around her chest, sleeves, and waist, but found nothing. "There is nothing."

Dou Fangchun looked surprised; how could there be nothing? She had clearly instructed Songyue to take the opportunity to stuff the poison packet onto Doukou!

Nan Xueyin sneered in her heart.

At the time, Songyue had moved stealthily to stuff the item, and she had sensed it immediately; how could she possibly still have it on her person?

"It might be hidden deep," Dou Fangchun quickly reacted, having a new idea. "Strip her clothes off! Strip her and search!"

Nan Xueyin suddenly asked, "Are you certain you want to do this?"

As she spoke, she raised her wrist, revealing the Jade Bracelet bestowed by the Empress Dowager.

When the two Momos saw it and recognized what it was, they exchanged a glance and offered a fawning smile to Dou Fangchun.

"Miss Dou, stripping her clothes... I am afraid that would not be appropriate, would it?"

"Indeed, after all, this Doukou is the Crown Prince's person, and the Empress Dowager also said that she must be given special care."

Whispers of doubt also spread through the crowd: "That's right, she looks very calm; could she really have been wronged? If she was truly wronged and had her clothes stripped off just like that... wouldn't His Highness the Crown Prince be displeased?"

Soon, someone else said: "She's just a little palace maid, so what if her clothes are stripped? Miss Dou is the Crown Prince's own cousin!"

"Besides, Miss Dou is also seeking justice for Miss Ruan. Once His Highness the Crown Prince finds out, he will only praise Miss Dou for being decisive!"

"Could it be that His Highness would blame Miss Dou for a mere little palace maid? Who does she think she is!"

Hearing the discussion, Dou Fangchun became even more arrogant, her posture stern, and she said: "Just because she is the Crown Prince's person, can she poison people at will? The one she poisoned is the daughter of a court official! Miss Ruan is lying right here on the ground; do you think the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince will let her off easily when they arrive? Hurry up and strip off her clothes!"