The second prince suddenly got up and kneeled on the ground with a thud, "Lord Bai, please save my mother. I know she has been disrespectful to you many times, but that was not her true intention. She is controlled by a poisonous insect. Please save her."

Bai Ruozhu did not refuse to save Empress Yazi, especially since it would benefit Xiaomao. However, having saved the second prince, the other party must have been alerted, making it difficult to manage later.

"Go see His Majesty first and tell him about your situation. When I told him earlier, I had no evidence, so he might not have believed me. Now, with your personal experience, it will be easier to explain." Bai Ruozhu said.

The second prince suddenly became nervous, "Do you think my father could also be under the influence of a poisonous insect? If my mother could use it on me, might she not use it on my father too?"

The thought sent a chill through him, but he couldn’t blame Empress Yazi. After all, he was uncontrollably affected by the poisonous insect himself and didn’t know what he had been doing.

At this moment, a servant who had fainted from acupoint sealing woke up. He looked at Bai Ruozhu in panic and then glanced at the unharmed second prince, asking, "Second prince, are you alright? Did they not hurt you?"

"I’m fine, they saved me. What have I done these past two days? Come with me to see Father, and tell me on the way." Said the second prince.

"Yes, yes." The servant, trembling, found the second prince now speaking much more gently, as if he had returned to his original self.

Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun followed, listening to the conversation between the servant and the second prince.

"Speak truthfully, don’t be afraid. I won’t blame you." The second prince said.

The servant cautiously observed him, as if trying to judge the truth. Bai Ruozhu added from the side, "He was previously controlled by someone, but now he is awake, so speak freely."

Hearing this, the servant burst into tears, "It is such a relief that the second prince is alright. We were terrified these past few days; your temper was so foul and you would punish us for nothing. We are all injured now."

Jiang Yichun unceremoniously said, "We saw the bruises on your servant’s body."

The second prince called out incredulously, "Just in these two days, did I punish you all?"

The servant rolled up his sleeve, "Yesterday, you said the tea was too hot and whipped me and the person who brewed it ten times with a rattan stick. This morning, we were slightly late when you called, so you punished everyone. And then..."

He paused, then bravely continued, "Today, when you sent Yayoi to invite Lord Bai and he initially refused, you cut a piece of flesh from his leg with a dagger when he returned."

"What!" The second prince cried out, "Did I really do that?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Bai Ruozhu was flabbergasted. The faint bloody scent she noticed wasn’t a minor injury; the servant had a piece of flesh cut off!

She regretted not entering the palace with the servant in the afternoon, preventing this suffering.

Jiang Yichun tugged at her hand, signaling her not to overthink it. It wasn’t their responsibility; if anything, it was the second prince’s fault for being careless and falling victim to the poisonous insect.

The second prince’s eyes reddened, "I did such a thing? No wonder you were so afraid of me; Yayoi has always been loyal, but he must be utterly disappointed with me now."

"No, no. Yayoi said perhaps you were ill-tempered because of sickness, he doesn’t blame you." The servant hurriedly said.

The second prince felt even more guilty, "I will send medicine to Yayoi later and allow him a few days’ rest to heal."

"My wife already sent medicine; how can a master not protect his people?" Jiang Yichun retorted bluntly.

"I..." The second prince couldn’t argue and shamefully lowered his head.

By this time, they had reached the Emperor’s sleeping palace. The second prince instructed Otani to announce them, only for Otani to say, "His Majesty has been feeling unwell these past two days and has already retired."

"What discomfort does Father have? Has the Imperial Doctor been consulted?" The second prince asked anxiously.

Otani looked puzzled, answering, "He has been checked, but the Imperial Doctor found nothing, only saying perhaps His Majesty was too overworked and was advised to retire early."

"Has Father exhibited any unusual behaviors these past two days?" The second prince pursued further.

"No strange behavior. Why is the second prince asking such things? Is there something happening?" Otani looked at him with some confusion.

The second prince replied with difficulty, "It’s complicated; it’s urgent. You’d better wake Father up."

"Well..." Otani hesitated to disturb the Emperor but couldn’t resist the second prince’s desperate gaze, so he quickly went into the Emperor’s sleeping palace.

Soon, Otani returned, allowing them to enter and speak.

Entering, Bai Ruozhu and the others saw the Emperor wearing casual clothes, evidently just dressed, his eyes heavy with exhaustion.

"Why have you all come together? What’s the urgent matter?" The Emperor asked, even yawning as he spoke.

For someone of his standing, yawning in front of others was rare due to maintaining imperial dignity, but he did so without restraint now, showing genuine weariness beyond control.

"Father, I’ve been acting violently towards servants these past few days but have no knowledge of it. I last remembered drinking something strange and then being uncontrollable." The second prince urgently explained, "Luckily, I briefly regained clarity today and sent a servant to invite Lord Bai, who discovered the poisonous insect on me, so now I am clear-minded."

"Poisonous insect? Are you saying the bad words you told me about Lord Bai a few days ago were due to being under the insect’s control?" The Emperor asked in shock.

The second prince was now awkward, his pale face turning red, "Not then, I was misled by Mother’s situation, misunderstanding Lord Bai, leaving me defenseless and drinking her tainted tea."

"Your mother..." The Emperor was even more surprised.

The second prince hurriedly explained, "Mother must also be controlled; her temper has worsened, and her behavior has been very bizarre, much like mine. I remember the day she gave me tea, I vaguely saw a red glint in her eyes, very eerie, but I had already drunk it by then and realized the mistake too late."

"Thank goodness Lord Bai treated me before, leaving residual medicine in my body which occasionally restored my consciousness; otherwise, I dread to think what I might have done!" The second prince said painfully.

Bai Ruozhu also spoke, "His Majesty doesn’t currently appear as if afflicted by a poisonous insect, but for safety’s sake, allow me to examine him."

"Alright, alright, the palace is already in such chaos." The Emperor was extremely angry yet utterly helpless.