Chapter 273

Chapter 273 Xie Run added, "Send someone to Qingsong Courtyard to check on the situation and see how the Princess Consort is doing now." Within the prince's household, the only person Xie Run could discuss matters with was the Princess Consort. Xie Run didn't even dare send someone directly to deliver a message. She was afraid of disturbing the Princess Consort and incurring blame for no reason. Guard Jin Yuan was the first to arrive at Chunshan Courtyard. Xie Run had the servants light all the candles in the room and got straight to the point: "On your way here, the servants should have mentioned the situation to Guard Jin?" Jin Yuan's face was grim. "This subordinate also feels something is amiss." "The Imperial City Guard is directly under His Majesty's command. Without His Majesty's orders, how could they act on their own?" "His Majesty is still ill, and the Prince is far away in Qiangwu. I fear some are beginning to stir." Xie Run appreciated speaking with intelligent people. "Does Guard Jin know whose man Lu Tong, the commander of the Imperial City Guard, is?" Everyone knew the Imperial Guard were the Emperor's trusted men. But the question Xie Run was asking now was clearly about which side the Imperial City Guard truly stood with! Jin Yuan hesitated. "This subordinate is not entirely clear on such matters." Seeing the disappointment on Xie Run's face, he quickly added, "But this subordinate can be certain—he is definitely not the Prince's man!" As long as something was nominally under the Emperor's control, Prince Jing would never reach out to touch it. Xie Run lowered her gaze. "The ones who can compete now are Prince Wei and Prince An. It can only be one of their men." "Guard Jin, I must trouble you to lead the front courtyard guards in securing the main gate of the prince's residence." "The safety of everyone in this household tonight rests on your shoulders." Jin Yuan understood the gravity of the situation and immediately clasped his hands in salute. "This subordinate will not disappoint Consort Xie!" The scout returned with another report. "The curfew has already been imposed, but there aren't only Imperial City Guard troops on the streets—there's another contingent as well." "It was dark and they were far away, so this subordinate couldn't see who was leading them, only that they seemed to be heading toward the Imperial City." "Damn it!" Xie Run shot to her feet. Even Jin Yuan's expression changed. "Someone is attempting to repeat Prince Su's rebellion?!" At that very moment, a maidservant rushed in urgently. "Mistress, something terrible has happened!" Everyone turned to look as Xie Run demanded sharply, "What's happened at Qingsong Courtyard?!" This girl was the one she had sent to Qingsong Courtyard to gather information. The messenger's face was panicked. "Mistress, the Princess Consort is bleeding... The household physician tried acupuncture, but the bleeding won't stop." "We may need to summon an imperial physician!" "This servant only stood in the main courtyard of Qingsong for a moment and could faintly hear the Princess Consort's cries—she seemed to be in extreme agony..." The maidservant dared not speak of ill omens, or she would have said that the Princess Consort's pregnancy might not be saved. In a flash of lightning, Xie Run's thoughts became clear. She pulled a token from her bosom. "Jin Yuan!" Seeing the token, Jin Yuan immediately saluted. "This subordinate is here!" He was stunned inwardly, extremely surprised that Prince Jing would have entrusted the token to Consort Xie. Xie Run said, "Tonight you have only two tasks. One is to send men to guard the main gate of the prince's residence—anyone who dares to force their way in, kill without mercy!" "The other task is to go and bring someone back for me!" A flicker of surprise showed in Jin Yuan's eyes, but he still asked respectfully, "May I ask who?" Xie Run: "Xie Jiang, the mistress of Xiaoyun Lane in Jiangnan Ward of the capital." "There's chaos outside now, and the Princess Consort is unwell—it's too late to summon an imperial physician." "Xie Jiang's medical skills are superb, and Xiaoyun Lane isn't far from the residence. Go quickly and bring her here!" Jin Yuan didn't know the relationship between Xie Run and Xie Jiang. He simply followed Xie Run's orders, understood Xie Jiang's importance, and immediately went to arrange the men. Of course, Xie Run didn't dare place all the risk on Xie Jiang's shoulders. She still sent a servant to the home of a nearby physician to look for someone. Xie Run also had Dantao and Xiaoshu instruct the servants of every courtyard that no matter what sounds they heard tonight, no one was to step outside their courtyard gates. After arranging everything, Xie Run prepared to go see the Princess Consort. After thinking for a moment, she suddenly said, "Dress Taotao in his clothes and carry him along with me." The attendants were somewhat surprised but dared not speak, simply following her instructions. Xie Run didn't trust anyone. Only by keeping Taotao by her side, watching him at all times, could she feel at ease. When Xie Run reached the entrance of Qingsong Courtyard, she could clearly sense that the maidservants' expressions were off. She quickened her pace and walked to the door of the main hall. Tingshuang was waiting for her at the door, her face full of anxiety. "Consort Xie, you've come." "The imperial physician? Have you summoned the imperial physician?" Xie Run said, "I've already sent someone to fetch one." She didn't bother explaining to a maidservant that with chaos outside and possible upheaval at the palace, no imperial physician could be summoned at all. Xie Run asked, "How is the Princess Consort?" Tingshuang's tears fell in a rush. "Consort Xie, please go in and see for yourself!" She was about to take Xie Run's hand to lead her inside when she caught sight of Taotao being carried nearby. She forgot her tears entirely. "Why has Consort Xie brought the Fifth Young Master here?" Xie Run said calmly, "Let's go inside first." "I'll trouble Tingshuang to take Taotao to rest with the Second Miss." Though the Princess Consort had been unwell throughout her pregnancy, Xie Run was not a cold-blooded person—she wouldn't neglect the other children just because she had a child of her own. During this period, the Second Miss had been staying in the side chamber of the main courtyard, looked after by those close to the Princess Consort. Time was pressing, so Tingshuang didn't ask too many questions, only saying, "This servant will make arrangements at once." Xie Run had Zihu carry Taotao to the side chamber while she led the others directly into the bedchamber beyond. The moment she entered, she faintly detected a scent of blood. Having frequently come and gone from Jiang Baobao's qin room during this period, Xie Run had become quite familiar with that smell. Upon entering, the manor physician was still seated to one side, applying acupuncture to the Princess Consort. Xie Run stood to one side and took a look—the Princess Consort's face was pale, devoid of any trace of color. An exquisitely embroidered quilt covered her, concealing the barely visible swell of her belly. Xie Run stepped closer and said in a low voice, "I fear there may be upheaval in the palace tonight—not only have the imperial guards been seen moving at night, but others have spotted additional troops." "Your servant feared she would be unable to summon an imperial physician, so she sent for her elder sister, Xie Jiang." Xie Jiang's reputation had already spread beyond the capital. Yet in the eyes of the powerful and noble, she ultimately couldn't compare to the seasoned imperial physicians with years of experience in the palace. Nanny Li, standing nearby, had already seen her expression shift, but out of consideration for the Princess Consort, she refrained from asking. Though the Princess Consort was weak and in poor spirits, she was at least still lucid. "I am aware of Consort Xie's kindness." "The name of Divine Healer Xie is known throughout the capital." "If I manage to survive this ordeal, I will surely repay you handsomely!" "If not... then it is simply my fate, and no one is to blame." Having said this, the Princess Consort glanced at Nanny Li and Tinghe. "Remember my words." Nanny Li, Tinghe, and the others responded, "This servant will bear it in mind." The Princess Consort was a clever woman, and precisely for that reason, she understood just how great a risk Xie Run—who ordinarily never involved herself in anything—was taking by bringing her own elder sister here tonight to treat her. Regardless of the outcome, this debt of gratitude was one the Princess Consort had to acknowledge! Xie Run asked the manor physician, "In your judgment, how is the Princess Consort's condition?" "Do not conceal anything!" The government physician gave a bitter smile. "This subordinate's medical skill is lacking. Based on this subordinate's understanding... the Princess Consort cannot keep this child." "Even if there is no danger today, as the fetus grows larger, the incessant bleeding she suffers now will only worsen." "The further along the pregnancy, the more danger the Princess Consort faces." "Surely the imperial physician has already spoken of this to the Princess Consort..." Xie Run's heart sank. She looked at the Princess Consort, not knowing what to say, and could only reply, "Let us wait until Divine Healer Xie arrives before making a decision." The Princess Consort glanced at Xie Run, a hint of gratitude in her eyes. Xie Run understood—the Princess Consort still wished to keep this child. Xie Run suddenly felt a bitterness at the tip of her tongue. Was having a child truly so important? Was it that the Princess Consort loved the child in her womb, or that as Princess Consort, she simply could not afford to be without it?