Eavesdropping on Fu Bao's inner thoughts, emptying the stored grain and fleeing the famine

"Where are the musicians? Where did your mother hide them?"

The old emperor searched everywhere but couldn't find where the music was coming from, so he decided to cheat and secretly ask Fu Bao.

But Fu Bao raised her head arrogantly and said with a mischievous smile, "It's a secret, I can't tell you!"

"You little rascal!" The old emperor affectionately tapped Fu Bao's forehead and didn't press the matter further.

At this moment, everyone's attention fell on the two female teachers in the center of the hall.

The two ladies were composed and elegant, and in no time, several plates of sushi and Black Forest cake were ready.

Moreover, the two ladies used their exquisite carving skills to sculpt the food into the shape of a flying dragon.

"What are they doing? Weren't they supposed to be showcasing their cooking skills?"

"This looks a bit like the cake that Princess Qi gave us for the Empress Dowager's birthday."

"It does look somewhat like it, but what's that next to it?"

The crowd's discussions gradually shifted from criticism to curiosity.

The music stopped, and the food for the two ladies was also ready.

"Grandmother, Father, and Imperial Concubine, the first performance of the Mingyue Hall has concluded. Please enjoy."

Lian Rongrong gently raised her hand, and a maid came forward to bring the already cut sushi and cake to their respective tables.

"Grandfather, please try it! It's delicious!" Fu Bao's mouth was watering, but she still urged the old emperor to try it out of filial piety.

The old emperor picked up a piece of sushi with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. It was just ordinary rice, but it seemed to create different layers of flavor in his mouth.

"This is not only exquisite, but it also tastes quite unique," the old emperor couldn't help but praise.

The people inside the hall nodded in agreement.

"Try that one too." Fu Bao raised her chin. "That one is so sweet and delicious."

The old emperor found it amusing to see his grandson swallowing so hard. He held Fu Bao in one arm and fed the little guy a piece of Black Forest cake with the other.

The sweet taste finally satisfied Fu Bao's craving. Fu Bao chuckled, his face full of contentment.

The old emperor himself picked up a piece with his chopsticks, and the smooth texture was truly delicious. No wonder little Fu Bao didn't even look down on the palace snacks.

So it turns out his mother spoiled him with her food.

"The food is delicious, and the performance is delightful! Let's enjoy it!" The old emperor's booming voice rang out in the hall.

The two ladies thanked them happily and then turned and left.

Meanwhile, Hua Ling, sitting next to the Empress Dowager, had a sly look on her face. Last night, Hua Ling had added special ingredients to the food she had prepared in advance.

If we wait a little longer, everyone will be suffering from severe stomach cramps. Just imagine how ridiculous it would be if everyone in the hall got up to go find a latrine.

In the end, the imperial physician will definitely find out that the problem lies with the ingredients that Lian Rongrong brought in.

The more smug Lian Rongrong is now, the more embarrassed she will be later.

To avoid arousing suspicion, Hua Ling even ate a couple of bites of cake. However, to avoid embarrassment, she controlled the amount she ate.

What followed was waiting—waiting for Lian Rongrong to lose face completely, and waiting for everyone to hold this Princess Qi accountable.

However, the result of waiting was that Hua Ling herself suffered from unbearable abdominal pain, while everyone else seemed to have no reaction.

"What's wrong? Why can't you sit still in public?"

The Empress Dowager noticed Hua Ling's embarrassment and her expression showed a hint of displeasure.

"Your Majesty, Ling'er felt a sharp pain in her stomach after eating that cake. There must be something wrong with the cake."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager glanced at the cake still on the table. Before she could speak, Hua Ling couldn't hold back and let out a foul fart.

The stench quickly reached the Empress Dowager, who frowned and covered her mouth and nose.

"Get out of here right now, don't embarrass yourself!"

Hua Ling's face flushed red. She had never been so humiliated in front of others, especially in front of the Empress Dowager.

Hua Ling slowly got up, afraid that if she made any big movements, something even more embarrassing would happen.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Hua Ling bowed and left the hall. As she passed by Lian Rongrong, Hua Ling clearly saw the triumphant smile on Lian Rongrong's face.

In the instant the two locked eyes, Lian Rongrong even deliberately showed the paper package in her palm to Hua Ling.

Hua Ling recognized the paper package; it was the one she used when adding croton powder to the ingredients.

Hua Ling stared wide-eyed in shock, realizing that Lian Rongrong had seen through everything she had done.

Moreover, instead of exposing her, Lian Rongrong used an even more embarrassing method to humiliate her.

"Oh, Miss Hua, what's wrong? Is your stomach hurting?"

Lian Rongrong deliberately raised her voice, drawing the attention of those who hadn't been paying attention to this area.

Hua Ling's face turned even redder, and her stomachache intensified. Even so, she tried her best to stand up straight and replied:

"It's alright. Perhaps the princess's cake wasn't to my liking, which is why I felt a little uncomfortable."

"Miss Hua's constitution is really different from others. Everyone else is fine, but you are the only one who is feeling unwell."

It seems the things from Mingyue Hall aren't quite suitable for Miss Hua. What? Would you like me to accompany Miss Hua to the restroom?

"No need, Xiao Tao is taking care of me. Xiao Tao, let's go!"

The master and servant left in a hurry, and this little incident obviously did not cause any great uproar.

Li Yuanqi lazily toyed with the cup in his hand, and said to Lian Rongrong as if by accident:

"Madam, you still left some room for maneuver! If it were me, I would have simply replaced that croton powder with arsenic!"

"Your Highness doesn't understand. Such sporadic torture is the most interesting! Besides, you can taste the poison in things, and it doesn't taste as good as croton powder."

As Xiaobai listened to the couple's nonchalant conversation, he couldn't help but shiver.

This couple is truly inhuman!

Since Hua Ling had prepared croton powder, she wouldn't leave herself no way out. After relieving herself twice, Hua Ling mixed the medicine with water and drank it to stop the diarrhea.

"Miss, what do we do now? Should we still perform the dance as planned?" Xiao Tao asked cautiously, looking at Hua Ling's unfriendly expression.

"Offer it! Why wouldn't I offer it? I've prepared for a whole month, I can't let all this go to waste."

That bitch Lian Rong wants to see me make a fool of myself? No way! Watch how I turn the tables with a single dance!

"Of course, Miss's dancing skills are unmatched in the entire capital."

"It's almost time, let's go change our clothes!"

"Yes!"

The master and servant walked one after the other towards the side hall for changing clothes.

Just as the two were about to reach the side hall, they saw Yan Mingyue, who was also there to change her clothes, walking towards them from afar.

"What a small world! How did we run into her again? Miss, let me stop her."

Xiao Tao made a move to step forward, but Hua Ling stopped her.

"He is the chief disciple of Mingyue Hall. We can't be rude to him."

Xiao Tao glanced at her young mistress's confident expression and then retreated knowingly.

As Yan Mingyue's figure disappeared in front of the side hall, Hua Ling's lips curled into a triumphant smile:

Lian Rong, since you admire this chief so much, then I'll give her a big gift!