Chapter 259

Chapter 259 Xie Run smiled. "If that's really the case, I'd actually have to admire Jiang Baobao." Xie Run had been keeping two palace nannies closely watching Jiang Baobao to see whether she was truly pregnant or faking it. If she was truly pregnant, then so be it. But if it was fake, then Jiang Baobao had really managed to fool the sharp eyes of both nannies all on her own. Xie Run had originally thought Jiang Baobao had been tamed by the two nannies. Now it seemed they were all just putting on an act. Xie Run concluded, "Perhaps someone wants to harm Jiang Baobao, or perhaps Jiang Baobao wants to harm someone... but this kind of thing cannot be indulged." On an ordinary day, Xie Run would have simply pretended not to see it. But not now. The political situation at court had shifted dramatically, and the rear courtyard was under her management. If more trouble arose, someone would inevitably take advantage of the chaos to fish in troubled waters. Apart from the Eldest Young Master, the only healthy son Prince Jing had left was Taotao! Xie Run said, "Report this matter to the Princess Consort, and send someone to quietly repair the rockery." "Yes!" Informing the Princess Consort was merely a routine precaution, at least to give her a sense of what was going on. Xie Run added, "At the same time, have the two nannies take this opportunity to search Jiang Baobao's courtyard." "If she intends to use that belly of hers to harm someone, she's likely hiding something there." "And if she truly is pregnant, ask the two nannies to protect her as well. They won't lack for rewards afterward." Dantao paused. "Mistress, since Consort Jiang is so good at stirring up trouble, why would you want to protect the child in her belly?" "If she loses the 'child' through her own antics, the household would have far fewer problems to deal with." Xie Run said seriously, "Dantao, the more children there are in this rear courtyard, the safer Taotao will be." "So I'm not afraid of them giving birth—I actually want them to give birth, and to give birth healthily!" If it hadn't been for the succession of problems with the children, Prince Jing's rear courtyard wouldn't have kept drawing people's attention. Prince An had a brood of children, all strong and healthy. So no one had ever set their sights on his rear courtyard. In the front courtyard, the Eldest Young Master and his wet nurse were being watched by guards, and in the rear courtyard, Jiang Baobao was also under the supervision of the two nannies. Finally, a day of peace. Soon, Taotao's birthday arrived. Xie Run now held the highest status in the household. Although she didn't plan to hold a grand celebration for Taotao's birthday, every woman of the rear courtyard who could leave her quarters personally came to Spring Mountain Court. After a lively meal, Xie Run was in the room coaxing the child. Dantao and Xiaoshu were sorting through the gifts received. Suddenly, a maid reported from the corridor: "Mistress, Consort Jiang suddenly said her stomach hurts on the way back. Please come quickly and take a look." Xie Run: "...I'm not a physician. What use would it be for me to look?" Even as she said that, since Xie Run managed the household, she did indeed need to go check. "Has the household physician been called?" "Yes, he's been summoned and is already on his way." Xie Run was cautious. "Notify Consort Sun." After walking a few steps, she suddenly asked, "Where exactly did Consort Jiang say she felt unwell?" "Near Flying Crane Pavilion." Xie Run glanced back at Dantao. So they really had underestimated Jiang Baobao. Dantao's feelings were equally complicated. The Consort Jiang who seemed to have no brains at all and was quick to anger—she too could scheme in roundabout ways? When they neared Flying Crane Pavilion, Dantao stepped forward and whispered in Xie Run's ear, "Mistress, the spot where Consort Jiang is sitting is exactly the problematic location I investigated." Xie Run was speechless. "I praised her for being clever just moments ago, and now she says her stomach hurts and sits right down on that rockery—does she think no one can see through this?" Dantao: "..." Xie Run: "Are you sure the rockery has been repaired?" Dantao nodded firmly. Xie Run walked a few steps up the staircase. "Have someone carry Consort Jiang over here. I won't go over there." She was heading toward Flying Crane Pavilion. Seeing that Xie Run was bringing people toward Flying Crane Pavilion and refusing to come to her side, Jiang Baobao grew a bit anxious. She looked at the two nannies with a pitiful expression. "Nanny Yan, Nanny An, it seems Consort Xie has gone to the wrong place?" "Would you call out to her?" Both nannies were seasoned veterans from the palace. The moment they had set out today, Jiang Baobao had been radiating something off. They had barely made it through the Fifth Young Master's first birthday banquet and left the table without incident. Before the two nannies could even breathe a sigh of relief, Jiang Baobao refused to take the main path, insisting on walking toward Flying Crane Pavilion to enjoy the scenery. Out in the open, the two nannies could only advise Jiang Baobao; they couldn't control where she went. Unable to dissuade her, they had no choice but to follow Jiang Baobao up the rockery. The further they walked, the more the two nannies felt something was wrong. You're a pregnant woman—why would you abandon the smooth, flat main path for this rugged rockery trail? Are you worried your pregnancy is going too smoothly? Sure enough, halfway up, Jiang Baobao clutched her stomach and cried out in discomfort. She sent someone to fetch the physician and someone else to summon Consort Xie. The two nannies saw through it all clearly, watching Jiang Baobao make her scene. Now that Jiang Baobao saw Xie Run wasn't taking the bait, she tried to order the two nannies to call her over. The two nannies exchanged a glance, then suddenly stepped forward, each grabbing one of Jiang Baobao's arms, and hoisted her up between them. Jiang Baobao was stunned. How were these two so strong?! Suspended with both feet off the ground, she barely had any strength to struggle. If she were to be taken away by the two nannies just like that, wouldn't all her scheming have been for nothing?! Besides, her pregnancy was fake. Wouldn't she have to come up with another plan to "miscarry" then? Jiang Baobao thought of this and struggled even harder. She looked at the rockery behind her, desperately searching for the spot where the maid said there was a crack. After searching for a long time without finding it, and seeing that time was running out, she directly kicked Nanny Yan. "You old hag, how dare you lay your hands on me!" "If anything happens to the child in my belly, how many heads do you have to pay for it?!" Even at this moment, Jiang Baobao remained extremely arrogant. Jiang Baobao's kick was vicious—she was taking the opportunity to get revenge. After all, wasn't this old woman surnamed Yan the strictest with her on ordinary days? Nanny Yan was old, and after being kicked, she fell to the ground, clutching her stomach and unable to get up for a long time. Nanny Yan looked up and saw Jiang Baobao running toward the rockery. Her foot twisted, and she tumbled down. The next second, several screams came from below the rockery. In the Flying Crane Pavilion, Xie Run and the maids watched in stunned disbelief. Xie Run glanced at Dantao and swallowed. "Are you sure the rockery has been repaired?" Dantao nodded firmly. "I'm sure!" "The marks on the rockery were even wiped away by me personally with paint!" Xie Run stood up. "This Jiang Baobao is quite ruthless." Xiaoshu had been tilting her head to look down. "Mistress, when Consort Jiang fell off the rockery, it seems she crushed someone." Xie Run nodded and walked down toward the rockery. "I did hear several screams just now." "Let's hurry down and take a look!"