Chapter 523: Not dead? The poison is on them!

Half an hour?

Li Qingluo looked toward Jin Yun beside her.

That's enough.

However, Jin Yun also did not find any poisoned food on the table before the princess.

She shook her head at Li Qingluo.

Li Qinglo looked at Princess Changning—who else could it be?

No, it must be Princess Changning!

Before drinking the sobering soup, Li Qingluo repeatedly urged the shopkeeper to keep a close watch on the somewhat unusual Princess Changning today.

And she indeed noticed some oddities in Princess Changning.

On the way here, the shopkeeper said that while dining, Princess Changning's expression had been somewhat evasive.

Moreover, she went back and forth several times right in front of the princess.

If the poison wasn't administered at the teahouse, could it really have been taken before arriving?

It just so happened that the poison took effect inside the teahouse!

But such a method is far too unreliable.

First, if the princess left her seat early, or decided midway not to come to the Huaxie Teahouse, wouldn't her plan be thwarted?

More importantly, as long as the imperial physician identifies what poison the princess has been afflicted with, we can determine how long the poison's onset will take.

Thus, we could also infer that the poison was taken before arriving at the teahouse.

Therefore, the poison must have been administered inside the teahouse!

Seeing Li Qingluo trapped by the circumstances, Princess Changning couldn't help but reveal a smug smile.

The depths of her eyes were filled with mockery toward Li Qingluo.

Although she couldn't speak, her expression seemed to have already condemned Li Qingluo to death.

Li Qinglo looked at Jin Yun: "Senior sister, please trouble yourself to first go help the princess take another look, see if you can detoxify her."

I think this medic is also useless.

After all this time, she's still there taking the pulse.

She hasn't even gotten a single bird out.

Li Qingluo stepped forward impatiently, "Are you capable or not?"

Isn't it rumored that the medics of the Imperial Medical Institute are the top female healers in the whole country?

You've been looking for half a day and can't even utter a sound. Since you're helpless, why not step aside!

She was about to lift the medic away with one hand.

The medic hurriedly said, "No no no!"

I just…… find it strange…… the princess's pulse looks……

How does it seem like……

A chill. Then a surge of fire……

This, this seems like poisoning, yet it also seems……

Li Qingluo rolled her eyes.

There's really no time to waste.

She quickly summoned Jin Yun over.

Jin Yun understood as soon as she felt the pulse: "The Luo Shen Doctor's medicine is somewhat overbearing."

After saying that, she took down a bamboo basket from her waist.

Then she poured out a purple centipede from inside.

Amidst everyone's shocked gazes, Jin Yun made a small cut on the princess's wrist.

Then she placed that purple centipede on the wound, and it continued to gulp down the princess's blood mouthful after mouthful.

You—you guys!

You still haven't hurried to stop!

The princess is of noble birth; how can you behave recklessly here?

Our bodies and hair are gifts from our parents; the princess's person is something even she herself dares not lightly bump, yet you lowly commoners dare to wantonly harm her!

The princess's maid shouted and was about to rush forward.

Li Qingluo didn't even turn her head: "Stop them!"

Seeing that there were no other hands available, Cai Jiu Niang personally led her maidservant to charge forward.

This is to save the princess's life!

If the princess lives, then all of us today can live too. You haven't seen, is that medic really helpless?

They will surely be able to save the princess; trust them.

Exactly, once the princess awakens, we will all together apologize to her.

Other noble ladies, seeing this, also surged forward.

At this moment, everyone earnestly hoped the princess would wake up soon.

So this could be considered a final desperate effort, and also a united cooperation.

The maid was so anxious she kept wiping her tears, yet Li Qingluo had no leisure to turn back and look at them.

She stared fixedly at the purple centipede.

Amazingly, she saw the centipede change from purple to deep purple, then gradually turn completely black.

Then the centipede's body swelled larger, and finally it collapsed headfirst onto the ground.

Jin Ying hurriedly picked it up.

Then she took out several thick, long silver needles, and amidst the maid's startled cries, she swiftly inserted them.

But soon, the princess's eyelashes twitched.

Jin Ying was about to speak when Li Qingluo winked at her.

Jin Ying instantly understood and nodded secretly.

Li Qingluo suddenly said: "Senior sister, could you please check again whether there is poison on the table before Princess Chang Ning?"

She saw Princess Chang Ning's complexion suddenly change uncontrollably.

Her heart became even more clear.

Indeed, it was so.

Jin Ying's movements were quick.

She only smelled a few items, and then detected poison on a stack of pastries.

"It is indeed this poison."

"This poison causes incessant abdominal pain; when it flares up, life feels worse than death, and an overdose can even endanger one's life."

The other noble ladies exclaimed in alarm upon hearing this.

"How could it be on Princess Chang Ning's table?"

"Exactly, she isn't the biggest suspect? How could her pastries have poison?"

"Could it be that the princess accidentally ate her pastries?"

"What accidental eating? Those pastries were clearly delivered by her personally for the princess to taste, and she said the flavor on her plate was unusually delicious! I saw it with my own eyes!"

"She, she did it on purpose, right?"

Li Qingluo pretended not to hear anything, instead covering her mouth in surprise: "Did the princess consume an excessive amount?"

"It's been this long and she still hasn't regained consciousness."

"Just now I also felt the princess's pulse, and she seems close to losing consciousness."

Senior sister, could my tavern really be doomed? Today I actually have to risk the princess's life!

"Everyone else will be ruined as well……"

"Who knows who it is, with such a ruthless heart! They even schemed to involve themselves and also harm me!"

Li Qingluo angrily scanned the surroundings, and finally her gaze fell upon Chang Ning.

Chang Ning looked shocked.

Li Qingluo had Que'er remove the cloth stuffed in her mouth.

Then she stepped forward herself: "Surely, it really isn't Your Highness, is it?"

"After all, no one would be so cruel as to put poison in their own dish."

"If Your Highness accidentally ingested it, the person lying there now would be you."

"It's just that fate toyed with people; the Seventh Princess, who has been like a sister to you since childhood, took the disaster in your place……"

"What a pity, Princess, at the prime of your youth, to depart this world in such a stifling manner……"

Chang Ning's face turned deathly pale as she murmured: "How could this be possible?"

"No, it won't be like this……"

"It's just a bit under the fingernail…… it clearly would only hurt for a moment!"

"I don't want to kill anyone……"

Suddenly, a voice shouted: "Chang Ning! It turns out you wanted to harm me!"

Zong Zheng Xingyao opened their eyes, heartbroken and furious, pointing at Chang Ning.

Princess Chang Ning stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.

"You, you actually woke up!"

"Xingyao, you're not dead?"

"No, it wasn't me!"

"I was just spouting nonsense! It's Nangong Qingluo who deliberately set a trap for this princess, intending to harm me!"

"I didn't administer poison, Xingyao, really it wasn't me!"

"If you don't believe me, you can search my person and examine my hands——"

She eagerly extended her hand to defend herself, her face deathly pale as she tried to explain.

Li Qingluo: "You certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to administer poison yourself."

"Senior sister, please check her personal maid."

"The poison must be on them."

"If not on their bodies, there might still be residue under their nails."