My Lord, the princess doesn't want you anymore.

Mei Xueer had not stayed in Shoukang Palace for long when Cui Qimo came and asked her to talk in a side hall.

Cui Qimo took a sip of tea, put it down gently, and looked at her for a moment before speaking: "I have not yet rewarded you for deposing the crown prince. Just tell me what you want."

Mei Xueer was stunned for a moment before she realized that he was talking about her asking Wen Jia to go to the palace to report the news.

"That is what I should do. Anyone would do the same. Therefore, I do not need any reward."

Cui Qimo originally thought that she would use this opportunity to ask for forgiveness for the crime of chopping down the osmanthus tree in Prince Jing's mansion, but she did not even try to take credit for it.

He stopped being pretentious and asked directly, "What's the Eighth Prince's illness?"

Even without Concubine Shu's reminder, Mei Xue'er had no intention of hiding it from him.

If there is anyone in this palace who truly wishes the best for the Eighth Prince, the only ones Mei Xueer can think of and be sure of are the Emperor and the Queen Mother.

No matter how much he spoils her, he is still her youngest son.

"The Eighth Prince has autism, which is a mental illness. It can also be understood as what we often call a mental illness. But what's more terrifying is that he has been poisoned by a chronic poison. This poison won't kill a person, but long-term use can make a person lose their mind and become weak. Eventually, they will become lifeless like zombies, commonly known as the living dead!"

Since coming to this world, Mei Xueer has been reading various medical books of this era. She remembered that in one of the torn copies she bought from the street, there was a brief record of this poison.

She didn't dare mention these things in front of the Queen Mother because they were too vicious and the Queen Mother would not be able to bear it.

It was precisely because of this poison that the Eighth Prince became as eerie and terrifying as the little ghost in a horror movie.

But the Eighth Prince was already so autistic that he refused to communicate with anyone. Who on earth would want to attack such a seven-year-old child?

"I asked the Concubine Shu, and she said that the last time the imperial physician went to Anyu Garden was a year ago. When I saw the Eighth Prince in Shoukang Palace more than three months ago, at least on the surface, he should have been in much better condition. In other words, at least at that time, the toxicity had not yet manifested. Therefore, based on the medicinal properties of this poison, I speculate that the Eighth Prince should have started taking this poison about two months ago, and he would take a little bit every few days. So from the surface, it is not easy to be noticed."

Cui Qimo listened to Mei Xueer's words, and his breathing became more and more rapid. His hands on his knees tightly grasped the hem of his clothes. Because he was holding too tightly, the veins on the back of his hands were exposed.

He looked very bad, with guilt that he couldn't hide.

Although, he would not cry like ordinary people, nor would he shout to vent his emotions.

Yes, he feels guilty.

He thought about the day when he saw the Eighth Prince in Merlin, he didn't even recognize that he was his son.

He had almost forgotten that he had such a son.

That day, the eighth prince was dressed in rags and looked like he was living a worse life than the children from poor families outside the palace.

At that moment, his heart was hit hard, bleeding, and he felt guilty.

That was his son, only seven years old!

After a long while, he finally recovered his breath and asked, "Who else knows about this?"

"Your Majesty, I have not told anyone."

"Even Concubine Shu doesn't know?"

Mei Xueer shook her head gently, "Empress Shu didn't ask either."

Cui Qimo glanced at her and said, "You are a cautious person. Let me ask you again, is there an antidote to this poison?"

Mei Xueer looked gloomy and shook her head again. "This poison is made of multiple poisons in a certain proportion. If you don't know the specific proportion of the formula, no one can detoxify it. If you use the medicine carelessly, it will accelerate the poison to penetrate into your internal organs, and your life will be in danger immediately. Therefore, to detoxify this poison, you must find the person who poisoned it."

In fact, Mei Xueer felt that the miracle doctor in Yunzhou who saved Wen Ding's life might be able to give some advice on this matter. But she was not sure, and she did not want to give the father in front of her false hope.

Cui Qimo's eyes, full of expectation, slowly lost their luster. "Remember, this matter must be kept to yourself. I am doing this for your own good."

"I understand and know what to do! I will also secretly think of other ways to help the Eighth Prince detoxify."

Cui Qimo stared at Mei Xueer for a long while, and suddenly sighed in his heart: Why did I assign such a girl to the third brother? Could it be that I am really old and confused?

The moment he stood up and left, Mei Xueer saw that his body swayed.

As night fell, the snow stopped.

The Zhengyang Hall was brightly lit, with the lit palace lanterns extending from the hall gate to the palace gate.

All officials above the third rank in the court had taken their seats with their families.

Just waiting for the Queen Mother and the Emperor.

There is no shortage of gossipers in any era.

Everyone was privately speculating, as the Queen had been sentenced to death, and they wondered which concubine would sit next to the Emperor at this year's palace banquet.

"It must be Concubine Wan. She is the highest-ranking concubine in the harem and is also the biological mother of Prince Xiao."

"But for so many years, Concubine Wan has never been favored. Even when his son was made a prince, the emperor would not go to her palace."

"I think so too. After all, Concubine Wan has devoted herself to worshipping Buddha and has lived in seclusion for many years."

"Don't guess, you'll know soon."

"Hey, have you heard? Today, the third daughter of Prime Minister Mei's family will attend as the wife of Prince Xiao..."

"Yes, yes, yes. I heard that Prince Xiao went to the Prime Minister's residence in person to pick up Miss Mei San this afternoon."

"The situation in Prime Minister Mei's family is really lively. This concubine's daughter is riding on the head of the eldest daughter."

"Speaking of the Mei family, it's really hard to describe. Let's talk about Princess Jing, for example. I'm afraid she is embarrassed to come tonight. How can a woman like this have the face to face Prince Jing?"

"That's right. But then again, this Prince Jing is also a cruel man. He divorced her and even said in front of the emperor that she had lost her virginity and could not have children. Although it was all true, how can a girl deal with it? It is impossible for her to get married again."

"I heard that Prime Minister Mei was very angry with Prince Jing because of this. Some time ago, the two of them almost came to blows in the court."

"Prime Minister Mei, who is so cautious, would also take action?"

"It was almost there, but we didn't fight yet, did we? Besides, even rabbits bite when they are angry. Isn't Prime Minister Mei extremely angry? Who can tolerate this?"

……

Cui Hongjing sat there quietly. These words faintly reached his ears, and he had no expression.

Shen, who was sitting next to Prime Minister Mei, felt a little awkward. She was really not used to this kind of occasion, so she kept her head down, hoping that the palace banquet would end soon so that she could return home earlier.

But from time to time, she looked up again.

Mei Xueer entered the palace in the afternoon, and she hasn't been seen yet. She doesn't know if anything unexpected happened.

Prime Minister Mei patted the back of her hand and soothed her softly, "Don't listen to those people's nonsense. In short, try to speak less, and when others ask you something, just answer that you don't know."

"I said I couldn't come because I was afraid of embarrassing the master." Shen said, biting her lip.

"What are you thinking about? Don't worry, I'm here."

Shen looked up at her man and calmed down a little.

Just before entering the palace, Aunt Li, who had not made any noise for a long time, suddenly showed up and asked Prime Minister Mei to bring her and her daughter into the palace as well.

Prime Minister Mei said bluntly, "This is a palace banquet, how can a concubine enter the hall? And your daughter, is she still thinking about showing up in public? Are you afraid that others will not remember that she is colluding with the deposed crown prince?"

After saying that, he added, "It's misfortune in the family."

The master rarely spoke so harshly. Aunt Li's teeth were bleeding from biting her teeth, but there was nothing she could do.

All of this was caused by that little bitch Mei Xueer. Everything changed since that little bitch married into Prince Jing's mansion.

Humph, bitch, just wait and see!