Chapter 11: The Silver Chopsticks are Poisonous

Mo Junming saw that his sister did not seem displeased, assuming that since the Fifth Prince was of a similar age, they were able to find common ground. Relieved, he turned his attention to chatting with Nanfeng Wuchen and Ouyang Yingrui.

Ouyang Yuanlang’s mother had originally been a commoner. When the Emperor was still the Crown Prince, he had met her while traveling incognito, married her, and brought her into the Crown Prince’s residence before she eventually entered the palace.

Perhaps because of this, Ouyang Yuanlang did not carry the airs of a prince and knew many interesting stories from the common world, so Mo Xunyan did not find his conversation annoying.

Although Ouyang Yuanlang did most of the talking while she merely nodded or shook her head, the icy coldness in her beautiful eyes had diminished, replaced by a flowing, spirited quality that made her appear even more radiant.

Ouyang Yingrui wore a faint smile, but his mind was occupied with the words Ouyang Yuanlang and Mo Junming had just exchanged.

It was said that the disciples of the Old Monster of Yunshan were not only highly skilled in martial arts but also proficient in medicine. Could Mo Yunluo not save his own daughter? Sending her to Yunshan at the age of three and enduring eight years of separation—that would be hard for anyone to accept. Was there a hidden story behind this?

Moreover, Mo Xunyan’s eyes were truly similar to the girl from last night. Was she really incapable of martial arts?

Thinking about how his investigations into Yunshan over the years had yielded no progress, Ouyang Yingrui raised his cup to drink, only to notice Nanfeng Wuchen constantly winking at him from the side.

"What is it?" Ouyang Yingrui was taken aback.

"Ah Rui, why do you keep drinking?" Nanfeng Wuchen lowered his voice. "Your wine pot is almost empty!"

"I'm thirsty!" Ouyang Yingrui replied, his expression unchanging.

"You must be jealous seeing how close they are! You won't admit it, but they say you have a 'pedophilic' streak. Whether it was last night or today, you seem particularly interested in young girls!" Nanfeng Wuchen continued to tease him in a low voice.

"Is my taste really that poor?" Ouyang Yingrui let out a cold snort.

"That’s true, your taste has always been quite sharp!" Nanfeng Wuchen chuckled, then looked up to continue discussing the autumn examinations with Mo Junming.

"Xunyan, try this. It’s a very famous dish at Youran Residence." As he spoke, the dishes had all been served. Ouyang Yuanlang actually began to serve food to Mo Xunyan himself, even calling her "Xunyan" with great intimacy. Everyone present was petrified.

"Thank you!" Ignoring the several gazes directed at her, Mo Xunyan took the begonia soup Ouyang Yuanlang offered, her expression remaining indifferent and her words as sparse as gold.

"This is also good!" Ouyang Yuanlang peeled a piece of fish and offered it to her, but Mo Xunyan frowned and swatted his chopsticks away.

"This..." Ouyang Yuanlang looked at Mo Xunyan in astonishment, not understanding.

"It's poisonous!" Mo Xunyan blinked her beautiful eyes.

Ouyang Yuanlang was stunned again. "The fish is poisonous?"

"The chopsticks!" Mo Xunyan said, picking up the silver chopsticks from the floor and placing them on the table.

"How could the silver testing chopsticks be poisonous?" Ouyang Yuanlang’s face darkened.

When he dined outside the palace, he naturally carried silver testing chopsticks, and these dishes had been tasted by others before being served. How could there be poison?

"Sister, aren't you mistaken?" Fearing that Mo Xunyan might anger Ouyang Yuanlang, Mo Junming quickly tried to excuse her.

Nanfeng Wuchen frowned and was about to speak when he saw Ouyang Yingrui pull out a dagger and hand it over.

Mo Xunyan reached out, and Ouyang Yingrui placed the dagger in her hand. His hand "accidentally" brushed against her wrist—the movement was very fast, just a fleeting touch.