Chapter 246

Chapter 246 When she opened her eyes again, Dantao said, "Mistress, three steward women are already waiting under the corridor. Concubine Wan's people have also come—they should have news to report." "Nanny An from Consort Jiang's courtyard has also arrived." The moment Xie Run thought about having to deal with so many matters upon waking, she couldn't help but sigh. The more she experienced this, the more she admired the Princess Consort. After handling the matters of the several steward women, Xie Run finally received the maidservant from Wan Linlang's side. Suiyu: "Reporting to Consort Xie, it's nothing major." "It's just that a maidservant in my mistress's courtyard has caught a chill. She's been coughing for days without improvement, and the government physician said her illness is contagious—she can no longer stay in the courtyard." "My mistress wants to send her home to recuperate first, and after some time, she can return to serve in the courtyard." Matters like this were usually decided within each courtyard, and once handled, they were simply reported to Xie Run or Consort Sun as a formality. Xie Run nodded slightly. "As long as the person is properly settled, that's fine." "But won't Concubine Wan's courtyard be short a serving maid?" Suiyu replied respectfully, "My mistress only said to send her out to recover. Once she's well, she'll return to her post as before, so there's no need to arrange for new people to come in." "Alright, I've noted this." Suiyu then raised another matter, "My mistress wishes to go to the front courtyard to visit Sixth Young Master." "After all, my mistress was close with Concubine Lian in the past, and she once cared for Sixth Young Master for a period of time... My mistress is always thinking of Sixth Young Master. She only wants to take a distant glance—just to see that he's healthy and well." Xie Run smiled. "Other matters might be negotiable, but I'm afraid this one won't work." "For matters of the inner courtyard, Consort Sun and I can still deliberate and decide. But Sixth Young Master now resides in the front courtyard, where he's cared for by the Prince's people." "If Concubine Wan wishes to see Sixth Young Master, she'll have to go to the front courtyard herself and beg the Prince for his mercy." Xie Run refused too quickly, leaving Suiyu at a loss for words. Suiyu looked pained but couldn't press the matter further. Sixth Young Master was being well cared for in the front courtyard now—there was no way Xie Run would allow Wan Linlang to have any contact with him again. Prince Jing was also about to leave the residence again. If anything happened to Sixth Young Master at this time, both Xie Run and Consort Sun would bear the responsibility. Therefore, Xie Run not only refused but also secretly sent a message through her maidservant to the old nanny in the front courtyard who was raising Sixth Young Master, telling her to keep a strict watch and not let anyone with ill intentions exploit any loopholes. After Suiyu left, Xie Run asked Dantao, "What's going on with the maidservant in Concubine Wan's courtyard?" If even a single blade of grass went missing from Wan Linlang's courtyard, Xie Run would have to suspect something. For a maidservant to fall ill for no apparent reason, and for Wan Linlang to send her out of the residence while keeping her position open for her return... that was truly strange. Those sent out of the residence due to illness were generally understood to never return. Even if they did return, their original mistress wouldn't want them back, fearing lingering illness. Dantao said softly, "I asked the manor physician." That maidservant has indeed been ill for a long time, coughing constantly." "Originally, Concubine Wan had a separate room arranged for her to stay in, but as a servant, coughing day after day in her mistress's courtyard wasn't appropriate." "Concubine Wan said she wanted to send her out to recover, but the maidservant refused desperately, afraid that once she left, she'd never come back. That's why Concubine Wan agreed not to add new people and to bring her back once she recovered." Xie Run thought for a moment. "When that maidservant leaves the residence, have someone keep an eye on her." "Since it's contagious, they should be careful in their movements and not let others come into contact." "Yes." Xie Run then received Nanny An. Nanny An wore a stern expression and first respectfully paid her respects to Xie Run. Only then did she speak: "Consort Xie, last night Consort Jiang suddenly claimed she felt unwell and made a fuss demanding to see the Prince, but we had people stop her." "We suspect one of her maidservants let something slip, mentioning that the Prince was resting in your courtyard, which is why Consort Jiang suddenly started making a scene." "We later called the manor physician to take Consort Jiang's pulse. Both Consort Jiang and the child in her womb are perfectly fine." Xie Run: "..." Prince Jing had been extremely busy these past days, only resting at Pine Wind Pavilion for a few nights, spending his days in the front courtyard or outside. He truly seemed to detest Jiang Baobao. Since Jiang Baobao became pregnant, Prince Jing hadn't gone to see her even once. Now Jiang Baobao was making a fuss in the middle of the night—could it be that she thought Xie Run was the one stopping Prince Jing from visiting her? Xie Run thought about it and asked as much. Nanny An said, "From what Consort Jiang was shouting yesterday, that did seem to be the implication." Xie Run was angered into laughter. In the end, this inner courtyard belonged to men. If Prince Jing truly wanted to see Jiang Baobao, could Xie Run possibly hold onto his feet and stop him? Jiang Baobao didn't dare blame Prince Jing, so instead she was shifting all the responsibility onto Xie Run. Xie Run had no intention of swallowing this grievance. Her eyes lowered, and suddenly she smiled. She glanced at Dantao beside her. "Dantao, since Consort Jiang says she feels unwell, go to the pharmacy and ask the imperial physician to prescribe a pregnancy-stabilizing formula." Brew several bowls and send them all to Consort Jiang." Instruct the imperial physician that from now on, whenever Consort Jiang claims to feel unwell, he should brew her several bowls of pregnancy-stabilizing medicine that won't harm her health." Dantao lowered her head, barely suppressing the urge to laugh out loud. After saying this, Xie Run turned to Nanny An: "Please make it clear to Consort Jiang that it is her repeated offenses that have earned the Prince's disgust, which is why he refuses to see her." "If I were to mention more, the Prince would only grow more annoyed." Nanny An bowed, "This servant will certainly carry out Consort Xie's instructions." Xie Run then asked, "Is Consort Jiang well-behaved now? She hasn't sent anyone to Pine Breeze Court to request an audience with the Prince, has she?" On the day Consort Sun entered the residence, Jiang Baobao announced her pregnancy and then called the Prince away, all in an attempt to steal Consort Sun's limelight. But that very night, the Prince stayed at Hua Yu's courtyard, and afterward, he lodged exclusively at Consort Sun's courtyard. Because of these two incidents, Jiang Baobao came to hate both of them. A few days ago, upon learning that the Prince was staying at Consort Sun's courtyard, she sent someone there to summon him. Consort Sun, having reached her limit, took action to teach Jiang Baobao a lesson. After that, Jiang Baobao became so well-behaved it was almost unnatural. Nanny An: "Consort Jiang cannot even bear to hear the name Consort Sun now. She has already forbidden us from mentioning anything related to Pine Breeze Court." Xie Run nodded with a smile, "So she came to make trouble at my place instead?" Nanny An sighed, not daring to explain anything. "Nanny, just use your methods to discipline Consort Jiang. If she follows even one out of every ten words you say, that's enough." "This servant obeys." After handling the matter, Xiaoshu had already brought back the morning meal with the maids. Xie Run also made a point to remind Dantao: "The Prince will be leaving the capital on business in a few days. Open the storeroom later and pick out some fabric for me. I should at least sew a few spring garments." Dantao paused, "Mistress, you intend to sew spring garments yourself?" Xiaoshu chimed in as well, "When does the Prince leave the capital? Will you have enough time if you start now?" Xie Run: "..." Clearly, neither of them had much faith in Xie Run's craftsmanship or speed. Dantao smiled, "Why don't we do the cutting first, and you can put in a few stitches when the time comes? The thought is what counts, isn't it?"