With the guards joining in, the Second Prince naturally breathed a sigh of relief. He ordered that they leave some alive and then asked about the incident involving the You Family.

The You Family said that Li Xiang intended to poison the Second Prince and forced her to become an accomplice.

Because the wine wasn’t something Li Xiang could access, and from the main kitchen to this courtyard, there were a total of three eunuchs who changed shifts during the process.

These eunuchs had to be searched to ensure they weren’t hiding any poison before they were allowed to proceed, so Li Xiang could not find an opportunity to poison.

Finally, outside the last door had to be another eunuch using a silver needle to test before confirming no poison, only then could it be taken inside.

Throughout the process, Li Xiang could not approach the food; she could only watch the handover process from the side.

Only when she entered the room did Li Xiang find an opportunity. She wanted to take advantage of the You Family’s inattentiveness to put poison into the wine flask.

Unexpectedly, the You Family suddenly turned around and discovered Li Xiang’s intention. Li Xiang was helpless, afraid that the You Family would call it out, at that time not only would the plan fail, but she would have to sacrifice her own life.

Hence, Li Xiang drew a dagger, intending to threaten the You Family to cooperate.

This was the claim of the concubine You Family at that time, although he felt as if there was something amiss. But having survived the calamity, and touched by You Family’s sincerity towards him, he did not have time to think it through.

After capturing Li Xiang, Li Xiang stubbornly refused to speak. The Second Prince thought for a moment and decided to take a risk himself.

He could only drink down the crane’s beak red in the wine flask, to lure the snake out of its hole and capture the master behind Li Xiang.

But soon he felt something was wrong; there were many loopholes in the concubine You Family’s statement.

Firstly, why would Li Xiang draw a dagger to threaten after You Family discovered her poisoning? Wasn’t she supposed to kill to silence?

Because You Family wouldn’t remain silent and watch him drink the poisonous wine.

If something happened to him in this courtyard, You Family couldn’t escape the relation and would inevitably be implicated.

Secondly, if he hadn’t drunk the wine but instead let You Family drink first. Knowing there was poison in the wine, You Family would naturally not dare to drink, wouldn’t it then be exposed, rather, You Family became Li Xiang’s accomplice?

Thirdly, this was the most crucial point. Li Xiang could only threaten You Family with the dagger. If he came out of the cleanroom, how could Li Xiang still threaten You Family with the dagger?

No matter how Li Xiang thought of a plan, he would surely notice something wasn’t right.

Of course, You Family was just a frail, delicate woman. Faced with such an incident, it was understandable that in a moment of panic she didn’t ponder Li Xiang’s intention.

Who knows, maybe Li Xiang wanted to take the opportunity to rid of You Family, just threatening verbally, wanting You Family to lower her guard!

The Second Prince didn’t rashly ask these questions, though he harbored suspicion towards You Family in his heart, it wasn’t the right time to interrogate.

Suddenly he recalled when he came out of the clean room, seeing Li Xiang’s bewildered look at the dagger, the Second Prince’s doubts grew.

Were the circumstances really as You Family described? He felt that perhaps what he saw wasn’t the truth, at least not the whole truth.

Thus, he steadied You Family, had her taken to another courtyard to rest.

At the same time, he had people closely monitor You Family to see if she would reveal any flaws.

Subsequently, he drank some of the poisonous wine.

"Yesterday received news that You Family might be an undercover agent of my brother!"

The Second Prince’s words startled the three people present, afterward, the adviser Su Yilian exclaimed, "But did she contact with the Eldest Prince Mansion? Never expected, there’s quite a few undercover agents in our mansion, just a pity that in usual times it’s hard to notice. If it weren’t for this incident, how would we have thought that these two weak women were actually undercover agents from the other mansions?"

"Therefore people cannot be judged by appearances, the sea cannot be measured with a bushel!" Jiao Ling also said with a feeling of sentiment.

"Then why did she shout out Li Xiang then? Why not let Li Xiang poison, isn’t it reaching her goal the same?" Lu Haifang thought of the crux of the problem.

"Right! If You Family is an undercover agent from another mansion, then her purpose must be the same as Li Xiang’s, why didn’t she turn a blind eye? After Li Xiang succeeded, she instantly found a way to leave the mansion, wouldn’t it be easier than now?"

"This leads to clarifying what was the exact situation then, who knows whether the crane’s beak red was planted by Li Xiang? Previously, those words were all one-sided from You Family, we all know her words are unreliable."

The Second Prince shook his head, apart from Li Xiang and You Family, who else could know the situation then?

Perhaps You Family framed Li Xiang, yet Li Xiang indeed was an undercover agent from another mansion. Anyway, both of them came to plot against him.

Especially You Family, my brother can really endure! You Family has been in the mansion for over five years. I met her at the temple, a daughter from a poor family.

At that time, You Family was being teased by several ruffians, he rescued her. Afterward, seeing You Family’s beauty, he sent someone to her home to ask her parents’ intentions and brought her into the mansion.

In these years, You Family served him wholeheartedly, and usually competed for favor with other concubines, there was no apparent abnormal behavior.

Who would have thought the person lying beside him for five years turned out to be an undercover agent sent by others.

After capturing You Family, then went to You Family’s home to capture her parents, yet found nothing. This time, the Second Prince could more surely determine You Family’s motives weren’t pure.

Five years down the line, to say there was no bond is misleading. You Family’s good looks, usually used to being subtle in flattery, he was a man, how could he possibly be above such?

He shook his head, tossed these all behind.

Since You Family entered the mansion with motives, those previous bonds towards him were all insincere. This woman was truly hateful; he must not soften his heart.

"Your Highness! Caught one person, does Your Highness want to go interrogate now?" Wang Canling came to the door of the study, reporting softly.

The Second Prince was immediately pleased, "Great! Came really fast! Confirmed he doesn’t have accomplices?"

The Second Prince excitedly stood up, thinking if only one person was caught, then it is a unilateral action, what about the other mansions?

"It’s just him alone; he’s come to deliver a message to Li Xiang." Wang Canling had already obtained some confessions, the rest still required the Second Prince to personally interrogate.

The Second Prince calmed down somewhat, turned around to look at the hourglass on the table. To his surprise, it was almost 3 a.m., causing some disappointment.

"Seems that this person and Li Xiang are in league, it’s almost 3 a.m., I’m afraid tonight can only yield this much information."

"Having this much is not bad; you’ve just been established as the Crown Prince by the Emperor and enacted such a large-scale operation, afraid those unclear on the truth will maliciously speculate behind your back. Even the Emperor might be displeased!"

Lu Haifang felt the matter should not be rushed; now even the official ceremony for the Crown Prince hasn’t been held, and the Second Prince is eagerly seeking to eliminate dissent, inevitably making people think the Second Prince is ruthless, unable to tolerate his siblings.

Although this was their own fault, the world is so ignorant. If there were those with malicious intentions spreading damaging rumors about the Second Prince saying he is ruthless, unable to tolerate his brothers right after becoming Crown Prince, that previously honest and straightforward demeanor were merely a facade.