Chapter 20

Chapter 20 The next morning, Xie Run didn't get up either. By the time she woke, Prince Jing had already left for the morning court assembly. She ate her meal lazily, pondering whether to practice calligraphy to pass the time. Xiaoshu hurried in. "Mistress, I'm afraid something has happened." Xie Run set down the ink stick in her hand, puzzled. "What happened?" She remembered that Xiaoshu had requested leave today, saying she needed to go home to fetch some things. She shouldn't be at Linxuan Pavilion right now. Xiaoshu's forehead was beaded with sweat, as if she had run all the way here. "My mother works in the main kitchen. Today, the kitchen staff were suddenly all summoned by the Princess Consort to the main courtyard. It's said that Concubine An suddenly claimed she ate something wrong and had a stomachache. When the mansion physician examined her, it turned out she's pregnant." Before Xie Run could speak, Yuli couldn't help but exclaim, "Concubine An is pregnant?!" After shouting, seeing everyone looking at her, Yuli quickly explained, "I'm just surprised. She only served the Prince once, and she's already..." Xie Run glanced at her and said flatly, "You remember quite clearly." Yuli's face turned pale in an instant. "Mistress, this servant didn't..." Xie Run sighed. "Quiet down first. I want to hear what Xiaoshu has to say." Yuli stepped back, aggrieved. "Yes." Xie Run then asked, "How is Sister An doing?" Xiaoshu shook her head. "This servant doesn't know. When my mother was called away, she had someone tell me to bring the news to you quickly, so you could prepare in advance and avoid being innocently implicated." "The Princess Consort has never liked making a big fuss. Sister An might not have just eaten something bad—she might have been... poisoned." Xie Run took Xiaoshu's hand and patted it gently. "Thanks to your news. You're a good one—I'll remember this kindness." Xiaoshu lowered her head. "This is what this servant ought to do." Xie Run said, "Go fetch your Sister Dantao. Have her guard the gates tightly and make sure no one comes or goes freely. I'll reward you later." "Yes." Xiaoshu bowed and hurried off to carry out the task. Xie Run wasn't actually too worried. Not long ago, she had people search Linxuan Pavilion thoroughly and found nothing suspicious. Moreover, she had been keeping to herself lately, not even stepping out of the courtyard. How could Concubine An's poisoning possibly implicate her? Xiaoshu's mother sending her to deliver the news was probably just trying to curry favor. If it truly involved her, this news likely wouldn't have reached her at all. Xie Run calmed herself and continued practicing calligraphy. In the afternoon, Nanny Li from the Princess Consort's side arrived with two matrons. Nanny Li said with a smile, "We received a few baskets of hairy crabs today. The Princess Consort has ordered them distributed to all the masters and mistresses, so everyone can enjoy a taste of something fresh." Xie Run smiled. "The Princess Consort is so kind. To have such a good mistress is truly a blessing we servants have cultivated over eight lifetimes." Seeing Xie Run praise her mistress, Nanny Li was pleased as well. Xie Run said, "It's still early in the day. Why not stay and have some tea here with me, Nanny, and rest a while?" Nanny Li smiled and declined. "How could I presume?" Declining was all about the back-and-forth, and in the end, she couldn't escape the tea. When tea was mentioned, it naturally had to be accompanied by melon seeds, fruits, and a bit of idle gossip. The old nannies by the Princess Consort's side were used to the finest things in their daily lives—anything slightly inferior, they probably wouldn't even look at. Xie Run had someone set up a small table beside the couch. Nanny Li sat to the side, drinking tea and cracking melon seeds. Xie Run reclined on the couch, her face young and alluring, carrying an air of innocent, worldly naivety and liveliness. Nanny Li had been around for decades. She could somewhat understand why the Prince had been doting on this new Concubine Xie lately. Quiet and composed yet not lacking in liveliness, charming and alluring yet not noisy or irritating. If she were a man, she would love a woman like this too. Xie Run, relying on her youthful face, shamelessly played the part of innocence. "Nanny Li, I heard Sister An is pregnant? Will there be another joyous occasion in the courtyard soon?" Nanny Li paused mid-crack of a melon seed and smiled mysteriously. "That's indeed the case." Xie Run leaned forward, brows slightly furrowed, looking like she was about to share a secret. "Nanny Li, I heard Sister An ate something bad. Now that she's with child, is she in any danger?" Nanny Li smiled and shook her head. "This, I'd only dare tell you, Mistress Xie." Xie Run responded with a light laugh, but inwardly thought, Probably not just me. Likely the matter had already been settled, and the Princess Consort had deliberately let these people spread the news. She still put on a curious expression. Nanny Li said, "Mistress An was harmed by someone. Someone knew she was pregnant in advance and put cold-natured things in her food. Fortunately, Mistress An had a poor appetite and only ate a little." "But even so, she still showed signs of bleeding. She'll probably have to stay in bed for a few months to protect the pregnancy." Xie Run covered her mouth, feigning shock. "Who could be so vicious as to harm the Prince's child?" Nanny Li glanced toward the southeast. "The little maid who did the poisoning insists it was Zhenzhu from Orchid Fragrance Courtyard who made her do it. Unfortunately, there's no evidence, so the matter can't be investigated further." Orchid Fragrance Courtyard—that would be Concubine Ning. After speaking, Nanny Li sighed. "Who knows what heaven-cursed wretch would dare reach out against the Prince's offspring, dragging our Princess Consort into it for no reason." "Enough, enough, no more of this," Nanny Li quickly rose to her feet. "Look at this old servant's mouth! If the Princess Consort found out I was running around gossiping, she certainly wouldn't let me off lightly." Xie Run hastily said, "Nanny, rest assured. What was said today, everyone will simply hear and not take to heart." "Yuli, see Nanny out. And give Nanny Li a handful of melon seeds." These "melon seeds" referred to silver seeds, each the size of half a fingernail. Xie Run had just had them cast a few days prior, specifically for rewarding people. Yuli: "Yes." Only after Nanny Li had been seen off did Dantao speak: "Mistress, is Nanny Li implying that Concubine Ning harmed Concubine An? That makes sense—the household currently has only Eldest Young Master as a male heir. If Concubine An were also to bear a son, it would be only natural for Concubine Ning to grow anxious." Xie Run glanced at Dantao, then leaned back again, letting out a light laugh. "Do you think Nanny Li truly came today just for idle chat?" Dantao paused. "This servant doesn't think so." "Nanny Li said the little maid who administered the drug pointed to Zhenzhu of Orchid Fragrance Court, only there was no evidence. But matters in the inner quarters don't always require evidence—it all depends on whether the Prince believes it." "Today, Nanny Li made her rounds under the pretext of delivering crabs. Before long, word that Concubine Ning plotted against the Prince's offspring will spread throughout the courtyard. Yet it's only rumor, and Concubine Ning has no way to defend herself." Xie Run sighed. "The Prince's inner quarters... truly never rest for a moment." As for whether Concubine Ning had actually done it, Xie Run had no way of finding out. Suddenly, Xie Run recalled the words Prince Jing had whispered in her ear the night before. Could it be that Prince Jing had already foreseen the unrest in the inner quarters? She went back and forth with her guesses until her head ached. Raising a hand to rub her temples, she said to Dantao, "From now on, change the monthly search of the quarters to once every seven days." If she couldn't figure it out, the only option was to take precautions in advance. Dantao was slightly taken aback. "Mistress, isn't this being a bit overly cautious?" Xie Run nodded seriously. "I can't help it. I'm afraid of dying." Dantao gave a helpless smile. Xie Run waved a hand. "Never mind all that. The Princess Consort sent crabs today—at least I get to enjoy a treat." Back in the modern world, Xie Run had been frail and couldn't so much as touch crab, being such a cold-natured food. Now that she had a healthy body, why not seize the chance to savor it properly? At the evening meal, Yuli returned with Yueya'er from the main kitchen, carrying the crabs. They also brought back a major piece of news. Concubine Yun was pregnant too—already two months along.