Chapter 269

Chapter 269 Consort Sun brought people to block Jiang Baobao on her bed and curse at her? Xie Run: "..." That was quite interesting. Everyone in the rear courtyard knew that Jiang Baobao had nearly suffered a hemorrhage from rage two days ago. Tonight, Consort Sun deliberately brought a group of maidservants and matrons to curse at her doorstep, restraining her, specifically choosing the moment when Jiang Baobao lay in bed unable to move. Everyone in Prince Jing's manor knew Jiang Baobao's temperament. After such humiliation, anyone with even a shred of pride would not merely suffer a severe hemorrhage—they would likely hang themselves. Everyone in Prince Jing's manor also knew Consort Sun's temperament. For someone who was always steady and composed to do something so unsteady—if she claimed it wasn't deliberate, Jiang Baobao would be the first to refuse to accept it. Xie Run said sternly, "Send someone to summon Consort Sun here." Just as she finished speaking, Xie Run thought of something and said to Xiaoshu, "Go call more maidservants and matrons. If Consort Sun refuses to come, tie her up and drag her here if you must!" Xiaoshu quickly acknowledged the order. Maidservants bustled in and out of the room, and the manor physician periodically administered acupuncture and checked on the patient, urging people to see if the imperial physician had arrived. He explained, "The imperial physicians in the palace who specialize in gynecology each possess one or two sets of exclusive secret acupuncture techniques, which are greatly beneficial for stopping bleeding." "Currently, we need the hemostatic acupuncture technique combined with medication to stop Consort Jiang's bleeding." Before long, someone outside shouted, "The imperial physician is here! The imperial physician is here!" The physician, carrying his medicine box, was hurriedly brought in, his forehead covered in sweat. Because everyone had to be dismissed during the acupuncture session, the manor physician and others were also ushered out. Xie Run asked quietly from the side, "Now that the imperial physician is here, Consort Jiang has lost so much blood—can she still recover?" The manor physician bowed to Xie Run and said hesitantly, "For Consort Jiang to survive this at all would already be the greatest fortune." "In the future, her health will likely be far worse than before... and as for bearing children... that would be even more inadvisable." Xie Run understood. After this ordeal, Jiang Baobao would be confined to a sickbed for the rest of her life, dependent on medicinal broths, and would never be able to conceive again. For a woman in the rear courtyard to fall to such a state was one of the most tragic fates imaginable. Consort Sun had struck a killing blow! After the imperial physician administered a round of acupuncture, the bleeding was finally stopped. Xie Run remarked with emotion, "Thankfully, her life is still preserved." At that moment, a maidservant announced, "Consort Sun has arrived." As the words fell, Consort Sun appeared dressed in plain clothing, all her hair ornaments removed, in the posture of someone coming to confess her guilt. "I have erred. I beg Consort Xie to punish me." Her face was veiled, and faint scars with dried blood could be seen beneath it. Her eyes were cast low, her expression cold and detached, seemingly resigned to her fate. Xie Run glanced at her. "Did you hear that Consort Jiang nearly suffered a severe hemorrhage from rage two days ago?" Consort Sun was silent for a moment. "I heard." "Then you deliberately brought people to curse at her door in the dead of night, hoping for this very moment?" "Did you want to see her bleed to death, or damage her body so she'd be bedridden for life, never able to conceive again?" Consort Sun offered an explanation. "I did go to curse at her, but I did not deliberately intend to harm her!" "I was momentarily overcome with anger. Looking in the mirror at midnight, I simply couldn't contain my fury, so I brought people along to vent my anger." "Who would have thought Consort Jiang would be so quick to rage that she brought on her own severe hemorrhage." Xie Run looked at her coolly. "Consort Sun has always been clever. Can you truly claim you couldn't have predicted Consort Jiang would rage herself into a severe hemorrhage?" Consort Sun kept her head lowered, a hint of stubbornness showing through. "I did not know." "Though I did not intend to harm Consort Jiang, I cannot deny my connection to her hemorrhage. I am willing to accept punishment." Xie Run smiled. "Please, don't." "You and I are both Side Consorts. What right do I have to punish you?" "Consort Sun should return for now. Await the Princess Consort's orders tomorrow." Having said this, Xie Run added deliberately, "In case Consort Sun hasn't thought things through fully, let me offer you a word of reminder." "The Princess Consort is unwell at present, so naturally her health and the child in her womb take precedence. You must not suddenly barge into the Green Pine Courtyard and upset the Princess Consort into some misfortune." "These are troubled times. If Consort Sun sincerely wishes to admit her fault, then stay properly in your own courtyard." Consort Sun gave Xie Run a deep look. "It seems Consort Xie is the one who thinks most thoroughly on behalf of the Princess Consort." Xie Run smiled modestly. "With the Prince away from the manor, the Princess Consort is the only one who can shelter Prince Jing's manor from wind and rain." "Consort Sun comes from the Duke's household. Surely you know that the honor and disgrace of all the consorts in the rear courtyard rest upon the principal wife." "Some principles, Consort Sun understands even better than I do." Consort Sun curled her lips in a smile that didn't reach her eyes, then turned and left. Xie Run's words just now had been prompted by her fear of Consort Ning's ruthlessness. She had originally thought Consort Sun was clever and perceptive. But looking at her methods against Jiang Baobao—it was a killing blow, leaving Jiang Baobao no path of retreat. From the very beginning, Consort Sun's move had been meant to take Jiang Baobao's life. Why else would she choose midnight of all times? That was when it was hardest to summon an imperial physician. If Jiang Baobao's life weren't so resilient, she would have bled out long ago and become a corpse. The methods Consort Sun used against Jiang Baobao could just as easily be turned against the Princess Consort. If she recklessly charged into Qingsong Court to "confess her crimes," the Princess Consort—already a high-risk pregnancy—would surely die along with her child. Though the odds of Consort Sun seeking her own death were slim, what if?! Xie Run couldn't afford to gamble on that. She had no ambition whatsoever for the position of Princess Consort; she only wanted to live her days in peace. If the Princess Consort died, her peaceful days would be gone for good! Though Jiang Baobao's life was saved, she had fallen into a deep sleep. Xie Run made the necessary arrangements and, under the light of dawn, returned to her own courtyard. She delegated all matters aside and had her son brought to her bed. Holding Taotao in her arms, she fell fast asleep! No matter how great the crisis, it could not disturb mother and child! Xie Run assumed that when Jiang Baobao woke, she would raise a fuss demanding revenge against Consort Sun. To her surprise, Jiang Baobao was unusually docile. Dantao reminded her, "Mistress has forgotten—Consort Jiang appears tough, but she's nothing more than a paper tiger." "Before, she made her noise either relying on her status and favor, or relying on her child." "Now she has nothing—her body is ruined, she can't even conceive again. Where would she find the courage to stir up trouble?" Xiaoshu set down a plate of freshly washed fruit. "This servant believes that after going through life and death, Consort Jiang should have settled down as well." Xie Run: "Let's hope so." Xiaoshu also brought up another matter. "Mistress truly has an eye for people." "Xing'er actually managed to soothe Consort Jiang. Consort Jiang didn't take her life—instead, she protected her and let go of her betrayal." "Now she still serves by Consort Jiang's side." Xie Run: "Xing'er is a clever one." "If Jiang Baobao truly settles down, she should listen to Xing'er's advice more often. In time, the two—mistress and servant—can support each other." Xiaoshu peeled a fruit and handed it to Xie Run. "Isn't that so? If they'd been like this from the start, this pair wouldn't have ended up in today's situation." Back then, Xing'er had risked everything to betray Jiang Baobao. Besides Jiang Baobao's violent temperament, there was also her autocratic rule—she never listened to advice. Xing'er feared that following such a mistress, she'd one day be dragged into a great disaster and lose her life. With Jiang Baobao's newfound docility, the rear courtyard seemed to quiet down as well. The Princess Consort didn't punish Consort Sun, only stripped her of household management authority and placed her under House Arrest in Songfeng Court, to be dealt with when Prince Jing returned. Without Consort Sun's help, Xie Run became even busier. But she also breathed a sigh of relief. At least she was busy with the household management, not with dealing with who had harmed whom.