Chapter 261

Chapter 261 Xie Run narrowed her eyes. She was quite familiar with this item. Back then, Concubine Han had faked a pregnancy and tried to frame her for it. Xie Run had exposed the scheme in time, and Prince Jing had ordered an inspection, which uncovered exactly such a blood bag. Xie Run lifted her gaze to look at Nanny An. "So Jiang Baobao was faking her pregnancy?" Nanny Yan kept her head lowered. "This servant does not know either." "However, based on this servant's many years of experience in the palace, Jiang Mistress's condition... does seem like a genuine miscarriage." As Xie Run was listening, Zihu also came out and whispered in her ear, "Mistress, Consort Jiang did have a real miscarriage." "But she likely also took medication to simulate pregnancy." Xie Run: "..." After a while, Xie Run went to check on Eldest Young Master and Consort Sun. The invited imperial physician examined Eldest Young Master first. No fractures or injuries were found on his body, only a lump on the back of his head. Even the imperial physician dared not casually apply needles to the head. "This old minister has taken Eldest Young Master's pulse—there is nothing serious." "There are no visible wounds on his body either." "All we can do now is wait for Eldest Young Master to wake up, then ask him if he feels any discomfort anywhere." Fortunately, Eldest Young Master had been breathing continuously, confirming he was still alive. So Xie Run was not too worried. Of the three injured people, Consort Sun appeared to have the lightest injuries, but she was also the one most affected. Xie Run looked at the wound on her face—it was half a palm's length long. It would definitely leave a scar. She had only just entered the prince's household, and at just seventeen, her face had been ruined... The days ahead would likely be difficult. No matter how much Prince Jing valued inner qualities, he was ultimately an ordinary man. Without a beautiful appearance, he would not have the patience to explore Consort Sun's inner self. Even if Consort Sun was capable. In the future, in Prince Jing's eyes, she would probably be someone useful but not favored. Xie Run offered Consort Sun a few words of comfort. Consort Sun was completely dazed, as if she had not yet snapped out of the shock of having her face ruined. She did not even notice when Xie Run left. The moment Xie Run stepped out of Consort Sun's room, Concubine Lu looked over with a worried expression. "Consort Jiang seems to have gone mad." "She's been in her room screaming and cursing." "She also said her child was harmed by Wan Linlang, and she's calling for you to come and seek justice for her." Xie Run: "...She has always done whatever she pleased, and now she actually knows the word 'justice.'" Though she found it somewhat ironic, the matter still needed to be clarified. When Xie Run went to see Jiang Baobao again, the abortion medicine had already been brewed and just been forced down Jiang Baobao's throat. Jiang Baobao was howling and cursing Wan Linlang with all sorts of profanity. Dantao found it unbearable to listen. "Mistress, why don't you go rest in the main hall for now?" "With that bowl of medicine down, this won't be over anytime soon." Xie Run shook her head. "No need. I'll stay here and listen." Only by hearing more of others' pain could she remain constantly vigilant and cautious, lest she repeat the same mistakes in the future. Basin after basin of bloody water was carried out of the room. Jiang Baobao first cursed out all the anger in her belly, but later she could no longer hold on. She rolled on the bed, crying and screaming, even begging her personal maidservants. She had always been arrogant, never paying any attention to those beneath her. Seeing her now, tears and snot streaming down her face as she begged people, was a rare sight. The Princess Consort received word and simply told Xie Run to handle everything as she saw fit, without worrying too much. However, she emphasized Eldest Young Master. She also sent a personal maidservant to look after Eldest Young Master. After all, Consort Sun and Jiang Baobao were merely Prince Jing's women—no matter how important they were, they could not compare to Prince Jing's eldest son. After the bleeding on Consort Sun's face was stopped, she left with her people. Xie Run hastily had dinner at Qingfeng Courtyard before going to see Jiang Baobao. She lay half-dead on the bed, her face paler than rice paper, her eyes somewhat unfocused. Dantao moved a stool to the bedside, and Xie Run sat down slowly. "I heard you had something to say to me. Now that I'm here, go ahead." After a pause, Xie Run added, "At Feihe Pavilion, everyone saw with their own eyes that you jumped off the rockery." "You can't push this onto anyone else." "When the Prince returns, you should go and beg his forgiveness yourself." Jiang Baobao's consciousness slowly returned, and her swollen red eyes looked at Xie Run. She did not take in Xie Run's words—her mind was filled entirely with hatred for Wan Linlang. "It was Wan Linlang who harmed me, it was Wan Linlang who harmed me!" "That bitch, she'll die a horrible death!" Even though her voice was already hoarse beyond recognition, Jiang Baobao continued to curse Wan Linlang. The fire in her heart was still burning strong. Xie Run said calmly, "Tell me what happened." Jiang Baobao's breathing grew rapid. "Back then, I was punished by the Princess Consort to be confined in the small Buddhist hall. Day after day, I could only be locked in that wretched place—couldn't walk, couldn't move, and could only eat pickled vegetables and steamed buns every day." "Then one day, someone secretly brought me food by the corner of the wall." Xie Run lifted her eyes. "Wan Linlang?" Jiang Baobao nodded. Xie Run thought to herself, Wan Linlang truly had skill. She and Fang Yuan'er had both posted people to watch, yet Wan Linlang had the ability to slip past everyone and deliver food to Jiang Baobao at the small Buddhist hall. Xie Run asked again, "Was it Wan Linlang who taught you to fake a pregnancy to deceive people?" Jiang Baobao suddenly became agitated. "I wasn't faking the pregnancy—I really was pregnant!" "I was deceived!" "That bitch Wan Linlang was playing me for a fool!" Xie Run said, "The imperial physician did confirm that you truly had a miscarriage." The basins upon basins of bloody water couldn't be faked. Xie Run's words were both lethal and soul-piercing, like a sharp sword stabbing into Jiang Baobao's heart. Jiang Baobao felt suffocated, unable to catch her breath. Jiang Baobao said weakly, "She first came to the small Buddhist hall to bring me meals, then tried to curry favor with me several times, saying she was bullied and looked down upon in the manor, and dared not hope for anything more—she only wished to attach herself to someone of high status so she could have an easier life." "For the sake of an easier life, I agreed to her request." "One day, she brought me a roast chicken. After smelling it, I retched... She suddenly said she had a way to get me out and make my life even better." As expected, this was when Wan Linlang told Jiang Baobao about the fake pregnancy. "She said she had a medicine that could make one's pulse appear as though pregnant, and it wouldn't be exposed for three months." "I could first claim I was pregnant, get out of the small Buddhist hall, and then find a way to induce a miscarriage..." Xie Run's expression was indifferent. "And during the miscarriage, you could frame someone—me, for instance?" Jiang Baobao was choked by the remark. She turned her head away, not responding to Xie Run, and continued, "I listened to her." "She arranged everything for me—when to announce the pregnancy, when to prepare for the miscarriage..." Xie Run suddenly sat up straight. "Are you saying that today's framing incident at Feihe Pavilion was a path Wan Linlang paved for you?" Jiang Baobao nodded. Xie Run said, "I thought so." "If you were faking a pregnancy, you'd eventually have to stage a miscarriage scene. No wonder there was nothing in your room—it turns out someone else arranged everything for you." Jiang Baobao had no mind to argue with Xie Run about having her room searched at this point. Jiang Baobao said, "She told me that the Fifth Young Master's birthday would be the perfect opportunity."