In noble families, the tableware often had silver decorations.

For example, before the age of ten, all the food that Qi Xiao ate was served in silver utensils. That entire set of exquisite silver-carved small plates and bowls was still kept in the palace now.

At that time, Princess Dunsu told others that the crown prince was young and had little strength, always dropping bowls and plates, so it would be a waste to use those good things. It was better to use all silver utensils for him and let him smash them as he pleased. The emperor and Empress Feng laughed and agreed. The deeper meaning behind this, they understood in their hearts even without Princess Dunsu saying it.

Even for princes like Qi Hua, although the bowls and plates they used were not as luxurious as Qi Xiao's, many had a layer of silver wrapped around the rim of the bowl, the bottom of the plate, and the tip of the chopsticks. These chopsticks were the most particular, because pure silver chopsticks were really too heavy and extremely prone to tarnishing and turning black.

Therefore, the palace mostly used silver-wrapped ones, which were light and easy to hold. Even if they got dirty, replacing them would not cause too much loss. And for the sake of appearance, there were many kinds of silver wrapping, some with hollow carvings, some with coiled dragon patterns, and some with engraved poetry. The silver chopsticks that Qi Xiao used in his manor now were like this.

In the warm main hall of Fenghua Palace, Qi Xiao inconspicuously examined the exquisite silver-wrapped carved chopsticks in his hand. If he hadn't known in advance, he really wouldn't have been able to tell that they were not actually silver.

Empress Feng attentively had someone bring the dish of vinegar fish in front of her to Qi Xiao, smiling and saying, "I remember you loved eating this flavor the most. When you were little, you could eat almost half a fish in one go. Haha... At that time, the emperor told me that the crown prince had a good appetite and his body would definitely not be bad in the future. He would be someone capable of taking on responsibilities. The emperor's words were indeed not wrong."

Qi Xiao silently watched Empress Feng bustle about. He raised his eyes and glanced at Concubine Xue at the other table. Concubine Xue's face was pale. When no one was paying attention, she secretly shook her head at Qi Xiao. Qi Xiao laughed lightly in his heart. That day, after Concubine Xue tipped him off, he didn't fully believe it.

It was only until that night when the palace's Xi Xiang sent someone to deliver a message that Qi Xiao truly confirmed that Empress Feng wanted to take his life with this extremely stupid method.

Sometimes Qi Xiao really couldn't understand why Empress Feng could believe again and again that she could still turn things around. Even the Feng family's old master had already given up. How could she not be tired? Qi Xiao sighed in his heart. It was probably just as Princess Dunsu said - smart people could never figure out what foolish people were thinking.

Today was the third day since Qi Xiao learned of the news. It happened to be the fifteenth day, a proper occasion. After everyone paid their respects to the emperor, it was still early. Empress Feng then arranged for everyone to come to her palace to eat a "reunion meal".

Qi Xiao smiled faintly. Empress Feng could be considered to have not mistreated him, actually presenting more than a dozen good dishes. A farewell meal was a farewell meal. It was indeed different from usual.

Qi Xiao habitually lightly stroked the life talisman at his waist. He had told Bairen everything about the palace. Before leaving the manor today, Bairen insisted on following along, wanting to disguise himself as a little eunuch and sneak in after changing his appearance.

Qi Xiao smiled, and in order to put his mind at ease, he had gone to quite a bit of trouble. In the end, he even specifically wore the life talisman properly. Only then was Bairen barely able to set his mind at ease.

The talisman was life, and life was the talisman. Bairen knew that he would not risk Qi Xiao's life.

Seeing that Qi Xiao was only lost in thought and not using his chopsticks, Empress Feng was anxious in her heart. She forced a smile and said, "Crown Prince... what's the matter? Are the dishes not to your liking? Sigh... Your imperial father's illness has never been good, so I haven't had the energy to arrange these things. I've let you all down."

The princes and concubines sitting in the inner room heard this and quickly stood up, saying they didn't dare. Only Qi Xiao remained seated. Empress Feng found it a bit hard to step down. She laughed awkwardly and said, "Alright, alright, a family eating a meal together, how can there be so many formalities? Quickly sit."

Everyone took their seats. Qi Xiao picked up his chopsticks and lightly stirred the vinegar fish in front of him. The silver chopsticks were still shining. Empress Feng secretly let out a sigh of relief. Who knew that Qi Xiao would put down his chopsticks again? Empress Feng had arranged this for many days and was now going all in.

She was very anxious in her heart. Seeing Qi Xiao like this, she couldn't help but say, "What is the matter with the crown prince today? Not eating a single bite, are you feeling unwell?"

Qi Xiao raised his eyes and silently looked at Empress Feng without speaking. Empress Feng felt guilty under Qi Xiao's gaze and desperately squeezed out a smile, "This child... isn't eating anything, just looking at me?"

Qi Hua was very flustered in his heart. His face turned pale as he glanced at Qi Xiao. His gaze collided with Qi Xiao's. He quickly lowered his head, not daring to look anymore.

Empress Feng wasn't much better off than Qi Hua. After being stared at by Qi Xiao for a while, she couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't help frowning and turned to look at her trusted old maid. The old maid understood and frowned, "Your Highness, the empress is talking to you. You don't answer a word. What kind of piety is this?!"

Qi Xiao smiled faintly, "Empress, forgive me. I was just curious. From my time in swaddling clothes to fifteen years old when I left the palace to establish my own residence, there were so many times I dined with you. But out of all those times... this is the first time you have so attentively urged me to use my chopsticks. I am overjoyed and overwhelmed in my heart, which is why I forgot to answer."

Empress Feng was pained by his words and became even more flustered. She dryly laughed and looked around, saying, "Look... what is this child saying? As if I haven't properly doted on you all these years."

Qi Xiao shook his head and smiled, "I absolutely did not mean that. How Empress has doted on me and treated me well, I remember every single thing in my heart."

Empress Feng's heart started pounding. She thought to herself that she had done it flawlessly this time, from the scheming to the poisoning. She had considered every detail. It was impossible for anything to go wrong. Empress Feng forced herself to steady her nerves. She shook her head, laughed, and said, "What kind of words are these... I am your mother. Doting on you and treating you well is only natural."

Qi Xiao let out an "oh" and smiled, slowly saying, "My mother... speaking of this, there has always been one thing I'm unclear about. Please enlighten me, Empress."

Empress Feng's face turned pale. She uneasily used a handkerchief to dab the sides of her forehead and said in a low voice, "Ask then."

"I... was born on the twenty-seventh day of the eleventh month in the gengzi year," Qi Xiao said lightly with a faint smile. "This is something everyone knows. It can't be fake, right?"

Empress Feng's heart skipped a beat. In front of so many people, what exactly was Qi Xiao trying to do?! Empress Feng's heart was pounding. Could it be that he wanted to bring up old scores?

She thought for a moment and put her mind at ease. She had married the emperor in the wuxu year, with a year in between. If she said Qi Xiao was her own child, the timing would match up!

Empress Feng coughed and said impatiently, "What is written on the jade genealogy record is truly real. Naturally, it won't be fake."

Qi Xiao smiled again, unhurriedly saying, "I have also heard people say that because I hold the position of the eldest legitimate son, I was conferred the title of crown prince as soon as I was born. This is also correct, right?"

Empress Feng frowned, feeling that something was amiss but unable to pinpoint it. However, faced with the facts, she could only nod reluctantly.

Seeing this, Qi Xiao laughed, "This is what I don't understand. According to the ancestral rules, the Jade Register is compiled every ten years. Last year, when it was being compiled, I happened to be free and took a look. I didn't look at anything else, only paying attention to the time when the Empress was conferred her title. It was... hehe, I'm sure the Empress still remembers, right?"

Empress Feng suddenly understood and her face turned deathly pale. She stammered in panic, "You... forget it, why bring this up? Let's just eat in peace..."

Qi Xiao was still puzzled and looked at Empress Feng with furrowed brows. A hint of a cold smile appeared on the corner of Qi Xiao's mouth. Only now she realizes how embarrassing it is? Only now she realizes some things can never be covered up?

Qi Xiao chuckled and said word by word, "The Empress' coronation ceremony was on the 16th day of the 2nd month in the Xinchou year, while the Emperor's ascension ceremony was on the 28th day of the 1st month in the Xinchou year."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Xue laughed mockingly and looked at Empress Feng as if watching a good show. Everyone was stunned at first, then immediately understood. They fell silent, looking at each other, not knowing what to say.

Qi Xiao appeared nonchalant and looked at Empress Feng with a soft laugh, "This is what I've never understood. I, as the Crown Prince, was actually conferred before my imperial parents. It really makes no sense."

Qi Xiao stared straight at Empress Feng, whose face was ashen, and laughed eerily, "Before the Emperor even ascended the throne, I was already the Crown Prince. How can this be?"

Empress Feng was like a fish out of water, rendered speechless by Qi Xiao's questioning. She could only pale and gasp for breath. Back then, when Emperor Wu conferred the infant Qi Xiao as Crown Prince, the imperial edict was issued a few days before Emperor Wu passed away.

Only after that did the matter of the Emperor forcing Empress Xiaoxian to abdicate occur. Although they had tried their best to erase those scandalous events, Qi Xiao's birth date and the date he was made Crown Prince were clearly recorded in the Jade Register and could not be altered.

Empress Feng clenched her fists tightly, hating that the Emperor had not been thorough enough, leaving such a huge handle in others' hands!

If Qi Xiao used this as a reason to dig up the past events, it would mean the Emperor's claim to the throne was illegitimate, let alone her own son's succession!

Empress Feng glared at Qi Xiao resentfully. Despite all her scheming, she never imagined Qi Xiao would seize upon this matter and cause trouble at this critical juncture. Empress Feng suppressed her anger several times, wishing she could pounce on Qi Xiao and perish together with him!

In contrast to Empress Feng's frantic state, Qi Xiao was like a cat toying with a mouse, calmly savoring Empress Feng's ugly expressions with a smile. He drawled, "Can the Empress not explain it?"

Empress Feng gritted her teeth, filled with hatred. She abruptly stood up and shouted, "Someone! Seize this..."

"Empress, calm your anger..." Qi Xiao smiled faintly and leisurely picked up his chopsticks to take a piece of fish in vinegar. He said softly, "It's just a small matter from the past. If it can't be explained, then so be it. Why get angry?"

Empress Feng had thought Qi Xiao knew something and thus refused to eat. She didn't expect him to start eating now. Empress Feng was stunned for a moment, nervously watching the plate of fish, not daring to say a word, as if afraid that if she said something, Qi Xiao would suddenly stop eating. Qi Xiao smiled mockingly and slowly, very slowly, ate the fish in vinegar. He gave her a faint smile.

Empress Feng's heart settled like a huge rock had been lifted. She collapsed into the carved chair, exhausted. She looked at the composed Qi Xiao with trepidation, wondering if there would be... no more issues?

Empress Feng panted heavily, her eyes occasionally sweeping over Qi Xiao, just waiting for the poison to take effect. But then, Qi Hua, who was sitting to the side, suddenly dropped his chopsticks, rolling to the ground!

"Ugh, ugh..."

In a flash, Qi Hua, who was curled up on the ground, suddenly vomited a mouthful of food and started coughing violently. Empress Feng instinctively looked over and saw Qi Hua coughing as if someone was strangling his neck. Empress Feng rushed over in a panic, hurriedly patting Qi Hua's back.

But the more she patted, the worse Qi Hua's coughing became. Finally, he bent over and vomited a puddle of dark, thick blood. Empress Feng was shocked and screamed, "Hua'er! Hua'er!! Quick, summon the imperial physician, hurry!! Hua'er, Hua'er..."

The change happened too quickly and the palace servants were all stunned on the spot.

Only when Empress Feng started hitting and yelling at them did they react, stumbling out to summon the imperial physician. The hall was in chaos for a while, with only Qi Xiao still sitting in his original place. Empress Feng abruptly turned to look at Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao had a smile on the corner of his mouth. He took a handkerchief to wipe his hands and said in a deep voice, "Jiang Deqing..."

Jiang Deqing had been serving outside the hall. Upon hearing this, he hurriedly entered. Qi Xiao casually threw the handkerchief on the table and slowly said, "Go summon the imperial guards to come in. Strictly guard Fenghua Palace. No one is allowed to enter or leave. No one is allowed to touch a single cup or dish in this hall. No one is allowed to disturb a single blade of grass or tree in this palace. No one in this palace is allowed to move about freely."

"Summon what imperial guards! This is my palace!" Empress Feng had now understood most of it and was extremely terrified. She said sternly, "Without my imperial edict, who dares to act recklessly?!"

Qi Xiao acted as if he didn't hear Empress Feng's words and continued coldly, "After everything is taken care of, go summon the people from the Imperial Clan court. Tell them to carefully investigate for me, to find out clearly... who dared to harm the imperial descendant!"

Qi Xiao turned to look at Empress Feng and smiled, "I suppose the Empress also wants to know who tried to harm Qi Hua, right? If the Empress still wants to stop it, I'll have to think more about it. Just what reason... does the Empress have to protect that person."

Empress Feng broke out in a cold sweat, her makeup smearing and hair sticking to her face. She collapsed to the ground in a wretched state...