Chapter 212

Upon Xia Zhimeng's remark, the faces of Empress Gu and Crown Prince Dongfang Qingxuan both looked somewhat embarrassed.

"Master Yi, could you have made a mistake?"

Ye Huanhuan found it hard to accept this fact, and thus looked at Master Yi with hopeful eyes.

Master Yi was never good-tempered; his tone now crackled with fire, "Mistake? What mistake?"

Without waiting for Ye Huanhuan to answer, he went on, "What poison did you think Miss Ye had? Let me tell you, when I was in contact with Luo Chun, you were still nursing at your mother's breast! What are you even? My medical skills aren't for you to question!"

When had Ye Huanhuan ever received such treatment? Her face instantly turned pale.

"Those who just slandered Ye Qingran, now all step forward and apologize!" the National Master's cold voice allowed no rebuttal. Everyone hearing it was shaken, especially those who had just spoken rudely and insulted Ye Qingran; their faces turned ashen, yet not one dared to be the first to step forward and apologize.

Fu Sanduan laughed, "You all had better hurry, otherwise my master will get angry, and your fate could be grim."

Hearing Fu San's words, those who were still hesitating no longer wavered; they all bowed to Ye Qingran, offering various apologies.

Ye Qingran ignored those people, instead lifting her gaze to the domineering and cold man beside her, a faint warmth stirring in her heart.

The National Master seemed a little angry with her; when she looked at him, he gave her a sideways glance, then turned his gaze away, leaving her a perfectly chiseled profile.

Ye Qingran rolled her eyes.

This man is truly unpredictable!

"It's just a misunderstanding; it's My Palace's fault for not checking properly earlier and wronging you, Ye Qingran—don't take it to heart, My Palace apologizes here."

Empress Gu wore a smiling visage, trying to gloss over the matter, but Ye Qingran was obviously not of that mind.

"I was poisoned with Spring Poison at the Crown Prince's residence; Empress, as the Crown Prince's birth mother, shouldn't you give me an explanation?"

Empress Gu's smile gradually stiffened, her eyes narrowing slightly as a flash of coldness appeared.

This damned Ye Qingran, truly ungrateful! She has lowered her stance, yet she doesn't know when to stop!

She gave Dongfang Qingxuan a look; he instantly understood, turned his head, and sternly shouted at Lin Xing, "Lin Xing, how could you do such a thing? I treated you like a brother, yet you hid this vile act from me—I'm utterly disappointed!"

Lin Xing went dumbfounded at once. But seeing Dongfang Qingxuan's expression, he realized the Crown Prince was pushing the blame onto him. He didn't retort, thinking perhaps this was the best way to handle it.

Thus he knelt before Crown Prince Dongfang Qingxuan and confessed, "Your Highness, it was my own decision to invite Miss Ye to the banquet and then drug the wine, trying to bring you two together… all of this is my fault."

"You, Lin Xing, how can you be so stupid? How am I supposed to talk about you… Ye Qingran and I are already impossible, and yet you… sigh!" Dongfang Qingxuan kept shaking his head, his face full of disappointment.

His gaze swept over the crowd, then lingered on Ye Qingran: "Ye Qingran, this matter arose because of me; how you deal with Lin Xing is up to me—I'll have no objections."

Who among those present doesn't know this is the Crown Prince's expedient plan?

But what does it matter?

Ye Qingran didn't expect Crown Prince Dongfang Qingxuan to admit it, so she said, "Naturally, we'll handle it however it should be handled."

Lin Xing stiffened all over.

Does Ye Qingran's words mean she wants to go through official channels?!

If Ye Qingran insists on blowing this up, even just the charge of framing a martyr would be enough to make him drink a pot!

"Ye Qingran, although Lin Xing was in the wrong, aren't you fine as well? Why not, for my sake, just let this go?"

"Forget it? Your Highness, what dream are you living in?" Ye Qingran couldn't be bothered to waste words with Dongfang Qingxuan, turned her head and said to Ling Shaoyang, "Shaoyang, I'll leave this matter to you to handle."

"Yes!"

The master has given an order; as a disciple, it is naturally one's duty to obey.

Dongfang Qingxuan's expression turned vivid once more. Lin Xing cast a pleading look at Dongfang Qingxuan, but the latter had no mind to attend to him.

"Let's go!" a cold voice sounded in her ear; before Ye Qingran could react, she found herself falling into someone's embrace again, and in the blink of an eye she had left the Crown Prince's residence…

Seeing Ye Qingran being carried off by the National Master, the most astonished was Ling Zhengrong.

The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, what a legendary existence, is being utterly dominated by the National Master of Donglin Country?

This National Master is quite something!

Ling Zhengrong stroked his beard, revealing a playful smile.

"Master Yi, since the task is done, we should be off as well."

Master Yi smiled and nodded; the two bowed to Empress Gu and the Crown Prince, then left left and right toward the outside. Ling Shaoyang, Gu Dongliu, and others followed behind.

Not long after, the bustling Back Garden fell quiet.

"This damned Ye Qingran!"

When everyone had mostly left, Empress Gu finally revealed her true face. Her delicately made-up visage was full of ferocity, like a poisonous woman!

"Empress Mother, please calm your anger!"

"Calm down? How can I calm down? Today I not only failed to deal with that lowly wretch, but she even turned the tables on me!" Empress Gu said through gritted teeth, her chest full of anger with nowhere to vent.

"What's wrong with Ye Huanhuan? A perfectly fine matter, and she's blown it up like this?"

Upon mentioning Ye Huanhuan, Dongfang Qingxuan's brow furrowed as well. He now truly feels less and less fond of Ye Huanhuan.

"Your servant will discipline her properly!"

"That would be best; if such things happen again in the future, this Crown Princess might as well not exist."

Having said that, she sternly instructed Dongfang Qingxuan, "You must protect Lin Xing's side; he's different from Lin Yue—although both are born of concubines, the Lin family still values him greatly!"

Dongfang Qingxuan nodded in agreement.

Ye Qingran watched the scenery recede beside her, struggling to break free from the National Master's embrace, but this man seemed mad, holding her captive tightly.

She simply stopped struggling.

"National Master, are you comfortable?"

Comfortable?

Fu Hanxiu lowered his gaze; the woman in his arms had eyes like silk, full of allure, his body tensed tight.

This damned woman, is she a demoness?

"With warm fragrance and soft jade in your arms, National Master, don't you have any lascivious thoughts?"

Her slender fingers traced circles over Fu Hanxiu's chest muscles.

Hiss~

A wave of numbness spread through the whole body.

That feeling…

Going crazy!

Fu Hanxiu felt like he was going crazy!

"What are you doing?!" His voice was hoarse, with a slight pant.