“Yuxin, if something happens later, hide behind Mother.”

Zhao Hanya had no time to think about anything else.

So many ministers, even the Emperor, seemed to have been poisoned.

That meant this was a serious matter. She didn’t want Yuxin to be in danger.

“Mother, don’t worry. We’ll be fine. The Regent had already made arrangements. Take this first.”

As Lin Yuxin explained, she took out a pill and handed it to Zhao Hanya.

Zhao Hanya swallowed it without hesitation.

In just a short while, she regained her strength.

Seeing that her mother was fine, Lin Yuxin turned to look at Li Xiaocheng, worried that he might have also fallen victim to the poison.

And sure enough, something was off about him.

He was poisoned?! Was he really that useless? Lin Yuxin glanced at him with a bit of disdain.

But then, she quickly realized that he wasn’t unaffected—he was simply exerting incredible self-control, managing to suppress the effects of the poison.

In other words, he could endure it.

She looked at him in surprise, blinking as her gaze met his. She froze for a moment.

[Did Li Xiaocheng just look at me? Is he asking for help? No way! But now isn’t the time for this! Those dancers… some of them have applied a hallucinogenic substance on their bodies, and as they dance, the drug is released through their sweat.]

[This was the same drug Jun Chenxi used earlier during the tiger-taming competition. And now, the dancers have it too. If Xia doesn’t have a traitor, I wouldn’t believe it even if you beat me to death.]

Lin Yuxin turned to look toward the Qi Kingdom’s delegation.

As expected, the Third Prince of Qi, Qu Shubai, lifted his gaze toward her, raised his wine cup slightly, and smirked in blatant provocation.

[Qu Shubai, you bastard! Trying to provoke me, huh? Fine! Let’s see whose poison is stronger tonight.]

Lin Yuxin then glanced at her elder brother.

As she expected, he and the others were all mesmerized by the beautiful dancers. But she needed their help now.

Since she was close to them, she wasted no time.

She stepped forward and stuffed an antidote pill into each of their mouths.

They quickly regained their senses, blinking in confusion at her.

Their jaws hurt, though they had no idea why.

Lin Yuxin ignored their questions and handed another pill to her eldest brother. Leaning in close, she whispered:

“Take this to the Regent.”

Lin Chenglie saw the serious look on his sister’s face.

Remembering the strange sensations he had felt moments ago, he glanced around and quickly understood the situation.

Without hesitation, he discreetly slipped out of the hall, circling around to the back, disguising himself as a eunuch to approach the Regent.

He tried to hand the pill to Li Xiaocheng, but the Regent was not so easy to approach.

He was in a battle of willpower, wary of anyone coming near him.

Li Xiaocheng immediately shoved Lin Chenglie’s hand away, frustrating him.

Lin Yuxin, watching from across the hall, scowled darkly and gritted her teeth.

[What the hell is Li Xiaocheng doing? I had my brother deliver the antidote, and he refuses to take it?! Does he want to die?! Doesn’t he realize that this is likely aimed directly at him? Idiot! If you don’t take the medicine and end up powerless, I’m not saving you.]

Li Xiaocheng, having heard Lin Yuxin’s inner thoughts, realized that the antidote came from her.

He no longer resisted, reached for the pill, and swallowed it.

After a while, he began to recover.

Looking at Lin Chenglie, still in his eunuch disguise, he muttered a quiet “thank you.”

Lin Chenglie responded in a low voice, “If you want to thank someone, thank my sister. She’s the one who sent me with the medicine. Since the Regent is fine now, I’ll take my leave.”

With that, Lin Chenglie turned and walked away.

“Lin Gongzi…”

Li Xiaocheng called out to him, whispered a few words, and handed him something.

Lin Chenglie was surprised but accepted the item without question.

He nodded and left.

After Lin Chenglie was gone, Li Xiaocheng turned his gaze toward Lin Yuxin, his eyes flickering with thought.

He knew now that she had been the one to save him.

Lin Yuxin, seeing her brother leave safely, knew that Li Xiaocheng should be fine now.

She shifted her attention to the Third Prince of Qi, Qu Shubai, and Jun Chenxi.

[This dance is almost over. Jun Chenxi will definitely make her move. I just hope that now, with his mind clear, Li Xiaocheng is prepared. I’m only one woman—there’s only so much I can do!]

It wasn’t that Lin Yuxin doubted Li Xiaocheng’s abilities, but in the original storyline, he had been described as a terrifying figure who struck fear into people’s hearts—a man who could make children cry just by being near.

[Unfortunately, he died too early. If he had survived, he could have protected Xiaohao after he ascended the throne, preventing him from becoming a cruel and unpredictable ruler.]

[Still, considering how powerful Li Xiaocheng was supposed to be, it was surprising that he had nearly fallen for such a trap.]

[But then again, this poison only induced hallucinations—it wasn’t lethal.]

Li Xiaocheng, having heard Lin Yuxin’s thoughts, felt a rare moment of unease.

He had prepared for this, but he hadn’t expected such a creative method of poisoning—one that was nearly impossible to guard against.

Finally, the dance ended.

Jun Chenxi, having recovered from her earlier failure, gracefully stepped forward and addressed the Emperor in an alluring voice:

“Your Majesty, I have long admired the Regent. Today, I humbly request Your Majesty’s approval for my marriage to him. Such a union will surely bring everlasting peace between our nations.”

But the Emperor, already heavily under the influence of the hallucinogenic drug, was incapable of rational thought.

In his current state, anyone could manipulate him with the right words.

This was what Lin Yuxin feared the most.

She hadn’t expected the Qi Kingdom to be so bold, using such underhanded tactics in the middle of a state banquet. If they succeeded, Xia might wake up tomorrow under new rule.

Without hesitation, Lin Yuxin raised a bamboo flute to her lips and began to play.

A fresh, serene melody filled the grand hall.

Jun Chenxi’s expression darkened. This woman… she’s unaffected? How is that possible?!

Realizing the urgency, she growled, “Stop her!”

Qi Shubai reacted immediately.

As soon as Lin Yuxin started playing, he sprang to his feet and rushed toward her.

“Stop her!” Jun Chenxi barked.

Lin Yuxin couldn’t stop playing.

She couldn’t move either. If she hesitated for even a second, it would be too late.

Just as Qu Shubai was about to reach her, a hand suddenly grabbed her and yanked her aside.

Lin Yuxin stumbled into a broad, strong chest.

For a moment, she was dazed.

This felt… oddly familiar.

But there was no time to dwell on it.

When she looked up and recognized the person holding her, she immediately turned and said:

“You take care of this. I’ll go detoxify the others.”

Without another word, she ran off to find her second and third brothers.

Li Xiaocheng stood there, watching her leave. Not even a thank you?

He then turned his cold, sharp gaze toward Qi Shubai, his voice dangerously low.

“Third Prince, your methods are truly impressive. This ‘gift’ you’ve brought to Xia is certainly… surprising.”

Qi Shubai smirked. “A gift? The Regent surely jests. I simply found Lady Lin’s music enchanting and wished to seek her guidance.”

Since their scheme had failed, he immediately feigned ignorance.

After all, if they admitted to their crime, they wouldn’t be leaving Xia alive tonight.