Chapter 264

Chapter 264 After a long moment, she said in a low voice, "Before, I thought no one would dare betray me. Now... I feel like everyone in this courtyard has betrayed me." Xie Run: "..." Seeing Xie Run's displeased expression, Jiang Baobao quickly added, "I'm being serious." She muttered, "Just like how everything you say now sounds reasonable, but I don't understand it." "It's the same as Wan Linlang back then—she could spin a whole story, and who knows whether you two are scheming against me or not." Xie Run took a deep breath to calm herself. She thought to herself that she really couldn't hold too high expectations for Jiang Baobao, or she'd likely be led astray by her. "Which maid in your courtyard is the cleverest?" "And who, when you were agonizing over Wan Linlang's words, casually gave you a hint or two?" At the first question, Jiang Baobao couldn't think of anyone. But at the second, she answered without hesitation, "Xing'er!" "Xing'er?" Xie Run raised an eyebrow. "I do remember that girl—she's indeed clever and quick-witted." "But I haven't seen her around you much lately?" Jiang Baobao said, "She's clever, but I don't like the things she says, so I've been ignoring her." "But there's no one else in this courtyard who can give me advice, and even if they did, I wouldn't trust them. Only Xing'er came with me from my family home, and she occasionally offers me a suggestion or two." Jiang Baobao's expression changed. "It definitely can't be Xing'er who betrayed me!" "Her whole family's contracts are in my household's hands—how would she dare betray me?!" Hearing this, Xie Run felt it was almost certainly this Xing'er. Of course, she couldn't say so with absolute certainty. "Have someone investigate this Xing'er first." Xie Run went out and asked Dantao, who mentioned, "Xing'er's room was searched along with the others, but nothing was found." "These past few days, she's been serving in Consort Jiang's small kitchen and hasn't come to the front often." Xie Run leaned close to Dantao's ear and said quietly, "She's more suspicious than Guiyuan. We need to investigate her thoroughly." Dantao also said, "I also feel Guiyuan wouldn't dare betray her mistress." "She's like Consort Jiang—spineless. Scare her a little and she'll confess everything." "With someone like her, how would Concubine Wan dare use her?" Xie Run nodded. "I also think she's a decoy placed in plain sight. Wan Linlang gave her silver precisely for today." Dantao asked, "Then shall I send someone to interrogate Xing'er?" Xie Run nodded. "But I suspect interrogating Xing'er won't yield much either. We have no evidence right now, and that girl doesn't seem stupid... Let Consort Jiang question her herself first." "Yes!" After seeing Jiang Baobao, Xie Run hurried off to see the Eldest Young Master. She made a round of the front courtyard but found nothing unusual. The Eldest Young Master still hadn't woken up, so there was nothing to be gleaned. Xie Run felt somewhat vexed. The next day, another victory report arrived from Qiangwu. At the same time, news of the Red Lotus Army's rise reached the capital. Prince An seized the opportunity to slander Prince Jing, suggesting that while Prince Jing was in Qiangwu, he'd allowed the Red Lotus Army to rise right under his nose. Either Prince Jing had failed in his duties, or he had deliberately allowed it. Discussion grew increasingly heated in the court and among the public. Also arriving was news that Prince Jing had been injured and had fallen unconscious while aiding disaster relief. Chunjuan said, "The Prince, out of compassion for the people, personally led the soldiers to the disaster relief efforts. Who would have thought Qiangwu would still have aftershocks?" "A half-collapsed building gave way, and the Prince was struck while saving a little girl." Xie Run remained fairly composed. "The Prince isn't seriously hurt, is he?" Chunjuan was taken aback. "This servant doesn't know either." "But the Prince is blessed with great fortune—surely nothing will happen to him." Xie Run truly wasn't worried about Prince Jing. If Xie Jiang could freely traverse between the Great Yu Dynasty and the Great Xia Dynasty relying on her Female Lead Halo, she refused to believe Prince Jing didn't have some Male Lead Halo of his own. Her primary task now was to settle the affairs within the Prince's residence first. Otherwise, when Prince Jing returned in triumph and saw the mess in the residence, the first person he'd blame would be Xie Run. Suddenly, a young maid rushed in, exclaiming joyfully, "Mistress, wonderful news—the Eldest Young Master has woken up!" Not just Xie Run—everyone in Spring Mountain Courtyard had joy written across their faces. Since Taotao's birthday banquet, not a trace of happiness had been seen in the entire residence. Now, finally, there was good news to hear. Xie Run stood up. "Dantao, help me change. Let's go see the Eldest Young Master." Dantao rose with a smile. "Finally, some good news." Arriving at the front courtyard, Xie Run keenly noticed that the maids and matrons wore unusual expressions—a strange mix of cowering and solemnity. Just then, a maid announced, "Consort Xie has arrived!" No sooner had Xie Run entered the room than Nanny Mu led a group of people kneeling before her. The smile on Xie Run's face vanished, and her expression darkened. "Nanny, the Eldest Young Master waking up is a joyous occasion. What is the meaning of this?" Nanny Mu was trembling all over. She said softly, "Reporting to Consort Xie, the Eldest Young Master has woken up, but..." "But what?" Nanny Mu instinctively turned her head to look at the Eldest Young Master on the bed. Xie Run followed her gaze and saw the Eldest Young Master playing with a tasseled ornament, grinning widely, with what appeared to be... drool at the corner of his mouth. Dantao exclaimed in shock, "Has the Eldest Young Master gone simple-minded?!" Nanny Mu, along with the maidservants and older women below her, wept together, "Please spare our lives, Consort Xie! Please spare our lives, Consort Xie!" "The moment Eldest Young Master opened his eyes today, he couldn't speak or recognize anyone... This servant panicked for half the day and truly had no other choice." Xie Run curled her lips into a smile, one tinged with a hint of sarcasm. "Nanny Mu, you truly wield absolute power in this front courtyard. So you originally intended to keep this from me?" "And now that you can no longer hide it, you've decided to tell me?" Nanny Mu knelt on the ground, kowtowing. "This servant knows she was wrong. I only beg Consort Xie to spare my life!" "This servant still has young children at home. I only beg Consort Xie to spare this servant's life. Whatever punishment you deem fit, I will accept willingly." Dantao brought a stool for Xie Run to sit on. Xie Run asked the household physician standing nearby, "Is Eldest Young Master truly become a fool?" The household physician nodded cautiously. "This subordinate is incompetent. At this point, we can only have the imperial physicians from the palace come to take a look." Xie Run asked again, "Tell me the truth." "If the imperial physicians come to treat him, what are the chances of success?" The household physician was silent for a long moment before saying, "Illnesses of the head are the most difficult to predict." "If the right treatment is found, perhaps he could recover by tomorrow. If not, it may be incurable for the rest of his life." After hearing his evasive answer, Xie Run said, "So you're saying it's nearly impossible to cure him?" The household physician hastily clasped his hands in salute. "It is all this subordinate's incompetence..." "Enough!" Xie Run glanced at Nanny Mu and the others kneeling below. "First, place Nanny Mu and the others under guard. I will decide what to do with them after I consult with the Princess Consort."