"Ahem, Luo Han, my girl, I accept this generous gift," Consort Xian said awkwardly.
Bai Ran gave Murong Chen a look, which he understood instantly.
He slowly rose from his wheelchair and, amidst everyone's astonished gazes, calmly walked to the center of the grand hall.
"Mother, this is a spirit herb that Er Chen specially found in the Night Departure Forest," he said, presenting a box and opening it.
"Hiss! This is a hundred-thousand-year-old Green Vine Grass!"
The crowd gasped. Third Prince Murong Chen's gesture was truly extravagant!
How could this be?
Murong Chen and Murong De's moods soured because the person before them had actually stood up and could even walk!
Damn it, why didn't they kill him in the Night Departure Forest back then!
Murong Jin gritted his teeth in anger.
"Chen'er!"
Consort Xian covered her face, her eyes filled with tears.
"Your legs?" she choked out.
"Replying to Mother Consort, your son's legs have fully recovered."
Looking at his mother, whose eyes were brimming with tears, he was also filled with emotion.
"Good, good, good! This is the best birthday gift I've ever received!"
Consort Xian wiped her tears and said with great excitement.
Which parent in the world doesn't worry about their child? Over the years, Consort Xian had worried about Murong Chen incessantly.
What if, due to his childhood experiences, he became dejected?
What if, because he couldn't walk, he fell into despair?
She could only blame herself for being weak and unfavored.
But seeing Chen'er now, with his sharp gaze and restored legs, was there anything more joyful?
After presenting the gifts, the banquet entered its final stage.
Murong De raised his wine goblet and announced to everyone, "Thank you all for attending Consort Xian's birthday banquet. With this toast, the banquet will come to a perfect conclusion!"
At this moment, maids came forward to refill everyone's cups.
Holding their wine glasses, everyone bowed to Murong De and drank the wine in one gulp.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The wine cups fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
Instantly, all the guests who had drunk the wine collapsed in pain on the floor. Murong Chen was no exception, nor was the Emperor.
"Poison! There's poison! The wine is poisoned!"
Hua Heng, the patriarch of the Hua family, who had been severely injured by Bai Ran earlier, spoke up, his voice trembling.
Everyone lay on the ground, making the standing Bai family members appear exceptionally conspicuous.
Bai Ran crossed her arms with amusement, watching Hua Heng as if she were watching a play. She didn't need to guess the next turn of events.
Poison!
Who dared to be so audacious as to poison everyone here?
The others also noticed the conspicuous Bai family.
"Why is no one from the Bai family poisoned? The Bai family patriarch owes us an explanation!" Hua Heng said angrily.
Bai Zhantian's face was also pale, his expression grim.
This was clearly a trap; someone intended to harm his Bai family!
"Oh? Does the Hua family patriarch insist that someone from my Bai family administered the poison?" Bai Ran asked Hua Heng, slowly.
"Then explain why only the Bai family is unharmed!"
Hua Heng stared intently at the calm Bai Ran, hating her unfazed demeanor, her lack of reaction even when she personally killed dozens of his family's disciples.
Bai Ran pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps evil deeds invite their own retribution?"
"What nonsense about retribution! Plotting against one's family, even plotting against the Emperor, is a capital offense!"
As soon as Hua Heng spoke, all the poisoned individuals harbored resentment towards the Bai family. From the moment they were poisoned, they were on the same side.
Bai Ran ignored them and walked directly to Murong Chen, felt his pulse, and gave him an antidote pill, instructing him to rest.
"If you suspect my Bai family, why don't you suspect that person?" Bai Ran pointed at Long Jinhan.
Long Jinhan, suddenly mentioned, smiled with immense pleasure.
What a sly little fox.
Suspect him? They wouldn't dare suspect him even if they had dozens of lives!
"That person is too powerful; they wouldn't stoop to such a base trick as poisoning!" Hua Heng was almost fooled by Bai Ran.
"Then let me ask you, everyone is poisoned, yet they lack the strength to speak. How is it that you are so full of vigor and speak with such force?"
Bai Ran approached Hua Heng, smiling at him.
Indeed! They were in so much pain they could barely utter a sound, yet the Hua family patriarch, who was supposedly weaker, spoke so forcefully.
"I have a pill here that can cure all poisons. However, for those who are not poisoned, it would make them wish for death. How about it? Does the Hua family patriarch want to try?" Bai Ran said, shaking a jade bottle.
Hua Heng's face instantly turned pale. He couldn't possibly take it; he wasn't poisoned at all!
"It's just a bluff!" Hua Heng was gambling on Bai Ran trying to deceive him.
"We'll know once we try."
She walked to Qin Mu and administered the pill.
In less than a breath, everyone saw the Qin family patriarch regain his color and sit up.
She then approached Hua Heng, ignored his struggles, pried open his mouth, and forced the pill down his throat.
He couldn't even break free?
Hua Heng looked at Bai Ran, his eyes filled with terror.
"Aaaaah!"
In less than a breath, Hua Heng's body convulsed violently. Blood seeped from all over his body, and his eyes rolled back.
Everyone was too terrified to make a sound, watching as Hua Heng screamed in agony, turning into a bloodied mess.
The pill was actually effective!
"No! Don't! Please... please give me the antidote!" Hua Heng's body was already contorted, and his face was barely recognizable.
He crawled towards Bai Ran, prostrating himself at her feet, begging her.
"I... I wasn't poisoned, please give me... give me the antidote."
Bai Ran looked at him coldly, standing motionless.
She suddenly raised her head and looked at Murong De.
Upon meeting Bai Ran's gaze, Murong De was startled and guiltily averted his eyes.
A slight curve formed on her lips as she kicked Hua Heng aside and slowly approached Murong De.
"What do you say? Does Your Majesty wish to try?" Bai Ran asked him with a smile.
Hua Heng alone could not have arranged for people within the imperial court, evade multiple layers of scrutiny, and poison everyone. The only possibility was that the Emperor Murong De was also involved in this conspiracy.
"I..."
Murong De was truly in a predicament.
He had indeed not been poisoned. Today's events were merely a scheme between him and Hua Heng, a plan to ruin the Bai family.
But who knew that Bai Ran would be so sharp-eyed and possess such a potent pill.
The Emperor? Bai Ran actually dared to question the Emperor?
Was she tired of living!
Everyone looked at Bai Ran's audacious actions with disdain and contempt.
Even Bai Zhantian looked at Bai Ran with concern and asked, "Ran Ran, are you sure?"
"We'll know if we try, won't we? Besides, I rendered meritorious service by saving His Majesty, so who dares to disrespect me." As she spoke, she pried open Murong De's mouth, feigning to administer the medicine.
"No! I won't!" Murong De shoved Bai Ran's hand away, shouting.
Having witnessed Hua Heng's ordeal, why would he be foolish enough to ingest this pill?
The Emperor?
Looking at Murong De, who was moving freely, everyone understood what was happening.