Most of his robes had been removed; beneath the half-wet white garment were strips of white silk stained red, and his whole body carried the scent of medicinal ointment.

“This daughter-in-law entered the palace precisely to plead guilty; how could I not know my sin?” Lin Yuanjin said, lowering her brows obediently.

At her reminder, the Empress grew even more furious, because not only had the Emperor absolved her of guilt with his golden word, he had also protected her at every turn!

“The Chief has just said, the Crown Prince suffered the cane punishment, his body is abnormally weak, as if he had been affected by tiger-wolf medicine, and there are also clear traces of incense on his body.” The Empress spoke sternly, “Your Lin family has great audacity, daring to drug the Crown Prince?!”

Lin Yuanjin suddenly raised her eyes and met the Empress’s gaze, her eyes filled with surprise, as if completely unaware of the matter: “Mother Empress, please speak with caution.”

In that instant, she realized what the Empress intended to do. Whether the incense had been placed by Lin Weiyin or not aside, that tiger-wolf medicine was also to be blamed on her??

“This palace knew the Crown Prince has never been fond of women—how could he lose control at the mere seduction of your good elder sister? Now it seems it is the scheming of ill-intentioned people!” The Empress held the Crown Prince’s hand, sorrow in her eyes, “My Fuyi has suffered slander and endured so much.”

Lin Yuanjin was momentarily at a loss.

How could she not know what incense was? At most, it was like wine in a man’s mouth—a catalyst. If there truly existed incense that could completely muddle one’s mind, the world would have long fallen into chaos.

“This matter is not yet clear. This daughter-in-law also does not know where the incense came from, nor what effect it has.” Lin Yuanjin looked at the Empress in confusion, not accepting the blame at all, instead asking, “The Crown Prince’s weakness—is it from the cane injuries or from the medicine? Will there be lasting consequences?”

As the Crown Princess, her concern for the Crown Prince’s health was only natural, yet these words happened to strike at the Empress’s unease.

When taking the pulse earlier, the Chief had been astonished, and only after a long while did he conclude that while the external injuries were easy to treat, the yang essence seemed damaged. Not only had he been affected by potent medicine, but under the influence of the incense last night, he had indulged excessively, and would require careful nourishment.

The Chief’s diagnosis yesterday at the banquet and today’s diagnosis were completely different, almost like two entirely different people. In just one night of indulgence, the impact had been immense—truly puzzling. But he did not dare say these words to the Empress.

He left behind a prescription and, upon hearing the Empress’s instructions, hurried away without pause.

The Empress had not expected that he would immediately leak it to the Emperor.

“The Crown Prince’s qi and blood are deficient; he should not exert himself in the coming days and should recuperate in the residence.” The Empress stared at Lin Yuanjin, irritation filling her heart.

Beside Lin Yuanjin stood an obvious spy of the Emperor. The crisis of yesterday’s banquet had only just passed; she did not dare exaggerate the Crown Prince’s condition, fearing that if Lin Yuanjin were careless, it might arouse suspicion again.

Had she known this earlier, it would have been enough to let that substitute enter the palace—why had the Crown Prince needed to come personally?

The Empress lost her composure, not yet recalling that she had previously been unwilling in every way to let the substitute appear before the Emperor. Now lowering her standards, she unexpectedly felt it did not matter much.

“That would be for the best.” Lin Yuanjin knew the Empress did not dare speak the truth and let out a relieved breath.

Lin Yuanjin did not know whether the Emperor’s anger would affect the Lin family, but regarding what Lin Weiyin had done, she would send a letter to the Lin residence.

“This palace, in a mother’s heart, was momentarily angered just now and spoke improperly; it is this palace’s fault.” The Empress softened her tone, a look of fatigue on her face, speaking earnestly, “You are now the Crown Prince’s principal wife, and the matters you must bear are many. This palace entrusts the Crown Prince to you—take good care of him, can you?”

“This daughter-in-law will bear it in mind.” Lin Yuanjin replied softly.

The Empress was skilled in this method of alternating stick and date, but unfortunately she had encountered someone who did not fall for it at all.

Just as the Empress was about to speak further with Lin Yuanjin from the heart, a palace maid hurried in from outside, took out a piece of yellow paper from her sleeve, and handed it to the Empress, on which a single line had been hastily written.

The Empress took it with suspicion. The moment she opened it, her expression changed abruptly; the hand supporting the table swayed, and the teapot at the edge nearly fell.

Damn it!

“Where is that nanny at your side?” The Empress suddenly turned her head and questioned Lin Yuanjin, actually failing to keep her own people in check.

“This daughter-in-law entered the hall alone just now, so I let Nanny Zhang go rest.” Lin Yuanjin looked at the Empress in confusion, “What is it?”

What is it? That nanny had turned around and gone straight to the Emperor’s study!

The Empress’s greatest worry had come to pass. She did not think further about how Lin Yuanjin could possibly control whether the nanny went to seek the Emperor, only staring at the yellow paper delivered by the spy in the study, her eyes bloodshot, her head throbbing.

At the side, the Crown Prince opened his eyes at the right moment, took the paper from the Empress’s hand, and saw that it stated the Chief who had just examined him had immediately gone to the study to see the Emperor, reporting, in relatively veiled terms, that his yang and blood were deficient.

The Chief had originally been someone supported by the Cui family.

“Mother Empress, do not panic.” The Crown Prince supported himself against the table and sat upright, first waving his hand to dismiss the palace maid, then placing the paper onto the candle stand at the side.

The warm golden flame flickered; the yellow paper darkened in the wavering firelight, and in the end turned to ashes.

Nanny Zhang was the Emperor’s spy; knowing was only a matter of time.

The Emperor had always been suspicious by nature. After the disturbance at yesterday’s banquet, it was unclear whether he had fully set aside his suspicions, but with today’s development, even if trouble arose, it would not be as grand and forceful as yesterday.

The paper made it clear: the Emperor had ordered Nanny Zhang to monitor the Crown Prince couple’s marital relations, to determine whether the Crown Prince was capable in that regard.

It was only unclear to what extent Nanny Zhang would go.

“Crown Princess.” The Crown Prince spoke gently, as if unable to suppress his weakness, coughing twice. His eyes were warm as he looked at Lin Yuanjin, beckoning to her, “I have a matter in which I wish to ask for your assistance.”

Lin Yuanjin walked over. The next moment, her fingers were taken by the Crown Prince, gathered into his palm and held, sending a wave of goosebumps across her body; she used all her strength to suppress the feeling of resistance and asked curiously, “What matter?”

“Last night, I spent the night with your elder sister. It was not entirely because of the incense, but neither was it out of affection for her.” The Crown Prince spoke softly to Lin Yuanjin, his hand resting over the back of hers, “She said you had just recovered from a serious illness and were physically weak. I did not wish to disturb you. Seeing that she bore a faint resemblance to you, and the moonlight was beautiful, I lost myself.”

Lin Yuanjin fell silent.

She felt she should cooperate with the Crown Prince’s performance, but for a moment did not know what to say. Although she had never been in a relationship because of her studies, it did not mean she would be coaxed by such words.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince did not need Lin Yuanjin to pick up his act.

“Now I am indeed physically weak and require rest. The physician has also said that in the coming days I should not approach women again, lest my qi and blood become unsettled.” The Crown Prince’s expression carried some regret, as though he lamented not being able to spend a fine night with the one he loved, “But after yesterday’s matter, Father Emperor has still not dispelled his suspicions toward me. I fear he will therefore monitor you and me.”

Lin Yuanjin connected their earlier words and actions in her mind and understood.

“Would the Crown Princess be willing to perform a play with me in the residence?” The Crown Prince looked deeply at Lin Yuanjin, his tone slightly lowered, “If I had not been harmed by villains, I would not have resorted to such a measure.”

He lifted his gaze, his smile gentle, carrying meaning: “When I recover in the future, I will surely live in harmony with the Crown Princess.”

“A performance?” Lin Yuanjin’s eyes showed confusion, “This concubine…”

“The Crown Princess need not be nervous.” The Crown Prince looked at her with tenderness, “Before your marriage, the instructing nanny already taught you.”

“It is merely the matter of the bedchamber behind lowered curtains; it will not take much effort.”

“On the day of our grand wedding, I was unable to consummate the marriage with the Crown Princess due to my condition—truly a regret.” The Crown Prince looked steadily at Lin Yuanjin, his tone solemn and serious, “Second Imperial Brother is deeply scheming, the Pei faction harbors wolfish ambitions; I must be all the more vigilant and dare not make the slightest mistake.”

“You and I now share honor and disgrace as one. Once this matter is settled, you and I will bear offspring. I will certainly not treat you and your child poorly. The Imperial Eldest Grandson, and even the future Crown Prince, can only be our child.”

As he spoke, he lowered his eyes, a shadowy darkness in his gaze, his hand lightly, with pointed intent, resting upon Lin Yuanjin’s abdomen.