The concubine was charming and alluring, and the ruthless prince coaxed her day and night.

Chapter 38 Multiple People Poisoned

Hearing the princess praise it, several more girls stepped forward.

"Could you serve me a bowl too?"

"I want to eat, too!"

I'd like to try these taro balls too.

I want to try double-skin milk pudding!

"..."

The Princess's reputation was indeed useful. Xu Jiaojiao stood up, flattered, and said, "I didn't bring that many bowls. If the ladies don't mind waiting, I'll have my maid borrow some bowls and spoons from the steward of the Marquis's residence."

Since they were idle anyway, and since they were being fed, they naturally didn't make any demands, and everyone agreed.

Before long, Lianye came with a basket of bowls and spoons and distributed some to each of the girls present. Soon, the food she brought out was all distributed.

Seeing everyone's high praise, Xu Jiaojiao and Jia Rong exchanged a smile.

The product sales were very successful, so the store needs to be set up urgently tonight so we can open first thing tomorrow morning!

After enjoying double-skin milk pudding and taro balls, everyone chatted for a while before it was time to start the meal.

Midway through the meal, a girl suddenly clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.

Xu Jiaojiao glanced at her from the side.

The girl was in the garden just now, and I even shared some taro balls with her, so I have some impression of her.

The girl's face was deathly pale, her lips were bluish-purple, and her forehead was covered in cold sweat.

This face looks like it's been poisoned.

The incident caused quite a commotion at the banquet, and Lady Ningde immediately sent her servants to fetch a doctor.

But before the doctor arrived, one after another, people started complaining of stomach aches, including the eldest princess.

The girl who first complained of stomach pain vomited a mouthful of black blood and fainted.

Xu Jiaojiao glanced around and found that almost all of the people complaining of stomach aches had just eaten taro balls and double-skin milk.

Her heart tightened.

Oops!

Someone is trying to harm her!

Lianye and Jiarong, who were following behind her, also noticed something was wrong.

Jia Rong frowned slightly.

How dare they frame Xu Jiaojiao right under her nose!

This person is despicable; if she finds out who it is, she will not be let off lightly!

Jia Rong raised his hand and gently patted Xu Jiaojiao's shoulder.

The latter glanced over, and Jia Rong gave Xu Jiaojiao a look that said, "Take it easy."

Xu Jiaojiao remained calm, ready to meet any challenge head-on.

She was slightly taken aback when she saw Jia Rong's serious and sharp gaze.

Throughout their day and night together, she had always treated Jia Rong as an innocent and naive child, forgetting that Jia Rong, being from the royal family, had long seen through the ugliness of human nature and was not naive at all.

In that instant, she saw the authority of a superior in Jia Rong.

This frame-up might turn out to be a turning point, and could even lead to a closer relationship between her and Jia Rong.

Thinking of this, Xu Jiaojiao obediently nodded.

The doctor arrived quickly and, after taking everyone's pulses, determined the poison: "This is the poison of 'Heartbreak Powder'! Ingestion can cause abdominal pain and death! Quickly, order someone to prepare charcoal ash to induce vomiting!"

The servants quickly began to act.

At the same time, the doctor took out a pen and ink and quickly wrote down a prescription: "Take this prescription to get the medicine and decoct it. After inducing vomiting, give it to the poisoned nobles! Be quick!"

Seeing many people fall, Lady Ningde was sweating profusely with anxiety.

What was supposed to be a wonderful first birthday party turned out like this!

Everyone here is either rich or noble. If something goes wrong at her residence, then we're doomed!

Lady Ningde, having given birth at an advanced age, had already weakened her body. Now, in her anxiety, she suddenly felt dizzy and was about to collapse.

Upon hearing the news, the Marquis of Ningde and his heir arrived and stabilized the situation.

Marquis Ningde had his servants help his wife back to the main house to rest, and then had his servants clean out many guest rooms for the poisoned guests to stay temporarily.

As for the others, his sharp gaze swept across the entire banquet hall, and after a moment, he ordered in a deep voice: "Investigate!"

Li Mingyu, the heir of the Marquis of Ningde, stood discreetly behind his father, his wise eyes silently observing everyone in the banquet hall.

Suddenly, he saw a veiled maid looking at him with deep affection.

Li Mingyu was slightly taken aback.

He glanced at the maid's mistress, a young and beautiful woman dressed as a married woman, presumably a new bride from some family, but Li Mingyu did not recognize this lady.

He was somewhat confused as to why the maid was looking at him like that.

But then he thought that there were many women in the capital who admired him, and it was not impossible that this maid had fallen in love with him at first sight. So Li Mingyu looked away and did not take this person to heart.

For Jia Rong, her heart began to pound wildly the moment Li Mingyu appeared.

The moment their eyes met, Jia Rong felt as if his heart was about to leap out of his chest.

But after just one glance, Mingyu looked away.

That unfamiliar and indifferent gaze caused Jia Rong a pang of pain in her heart.

Mingyu's brother didn't recognize her...

Jia Rong looked somewhat disappointed and silently lowered her head.

Inside the banquet hall, amidst the hustle and bustle of everyone, a maid stepped forward: "Reporting to the Marquis, this servant knows who poisoned him."

The crowd in the banquet hall immediately fell silent, all turning to look at the maid who had spoken.

Xu Jiaojiao looked up.

The one speaking was the same maid who had caused trouble in the pavilion earlier.

This maid is from the Cheng family!

Although she guessed who was responsible, Xu Jiaojiao never expected that Cheng Shi would be so foolish as to dare to openly harm someone in another person's home.

Marquis Ningde demanded sternly, "Speak! Who is it?"

The maid pointed at Xu Jiaojiao: "It's her! These nobles were poisoned because they drank the milk tea she gave them!"

The Marquis of Ningde looked at Xu Jiaojiao, following the maid's hand.

This beautiful woman was dressed in fine clothes, but she looked unfamiliar, and it was unclear which noble family she belonged to.

Everyone in the banquet hall looked over, and a flurry of discussion ensued.

Many people saw Xu Jiaojiao serving milk tea, which led to her being identified by the maid, and onlookers had various opinions.

Marquis Ningde, unsure of his intentions, cleared his throat and tentatively asked, "May I ask who the lady is?"

Xu Jiaojiao rose calmly and bowed slightly to Marquis Ningde: "I am Xu Jiaojiao, a concubine of Prince Chen. I greet you, Your Highness."

Prince Chen?

Concubine?

Marquis Ningde was momentarily taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure.

Everyone in the hall was taken aback.

I never expected a concubine to be at such an event!

Many people who were initially neutral have turned to contempt, and some have even become convinced that this is the poison Xu Jiaojiao has given them.

Marquis Ningde subconsciously looked at Princess Consort Chen, only to find her expression indifferent and silent, seemingly having no intention of intervening in the matter. Marquis Ningde was somewhat perplexed.

Although this woman was just a concubine, Prince Chen was someone he couldn't afford to offend. He couldn't decide right or wrong in this matter; all he could do was try his best to find out the truth.

Thinking of this, he asked again, "May I ask, Madam Xu, is what this servant girl said true?"

Xu Jiaojiao readily admitted, "I did indeed serve these noble ladies milk tea, but I did not poison them."

Jia Rong, standing behind Xu Jiaojiao, also said, "Yes, our master didn't poison her! I can testify to that!"

How dare a servant speak so carelessly, and even so rudely refer to himself as "I"!

Marquis Ningde frowned slightly without realizing it.

Li Mingyu's body trembled, feeling that the voice was particularly familiar.

He unconsciously looked at Jia Rong and scrutinized her closely.

Suddenly, his pupils dilated, his eyes filled with disbelief…