Chapter 275

Chapter 275 Xie Jiang had strong control, directing the entire room full of people in a flurry of activity, even putting the experienced old imperial physician to use. With the two of them working together, the Princess Consort's bleeding was stopped. This display of skill earned her a measure of trust from Nanny Li and the others, who no longer dared harbor any other thoughts. The Princess Consort had repeatedly cautioned them earlier precisely because she feared that if something happened to her, these loyal servants might blame Xie Run. The two of them debated the diagnosis back and forth in the bedchamber, their discussion growing quite heated. The maids and matrons didn't dare breathe too loudly. Soon, the abortifacient was prepared. The Princess Consort drank it with an expressionless face. Perhaps she had been waiting for this bowl of medicine for a long time. The Princess Consort reacted quickly. Xie Run didn't linger in the room to be in the way; she went to the adjoining chamber to check on Taotao and the Second Miss. Since they weren't far apart, she could faintly hear the Princess Consort's cries. Forcibly aborting a child nearly four months along—the pain, both physical and mental, was beyond description. Xie Run lowered her eyes, gazing at the sleeping faces of the two children. The two little ones were close in age, both plump and fair. Upon closer inspection, there was even some resemblance between their brows. One might believe they were twins. These children, born and raised in this household, had weathered who knows how many storms. And who knew how many children, like the one in the Princess Consort's belly, had perished halfway along the way. Before long, someone from the front courtyard brought news. "Reporting to the mistress, a man claiming to be the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard says he has come on the Emperor's orders to search the Prince's residence!" Xie Run whipped her head around. "What did you say?!" She glanced at the two children, then pulled the messenger aside to the outer room for questioning. The messenger repeated himself, adding: "Guard Jin Yuan is leading the men holding the front courtyard. For now, he's saying he needs to consult the Princess Consort's opinion to buy time." The Princess Consort had just taken the abortifacient; only her cries of pain could be heard—how could she possibly attend to matters outside? Xie Run paced back and forth, then suddenly looked up: "Tell Guard Jin Yuan to demand they first produce the Emperor's edict or warrant!" "Not just anyone can search a Prince's residence." "If they refuse to back down, say the Princess Consort has been disturbed and is showing signs of miscarriage—the Imperial Guard absolutely cannot be allowed inside!" "Under no circumstances are these people to be let into the residence!" "If it truly comes down to it, there's no avoiding a clash of blades!" The messenger acknowledged with a "yes" and hurried off to relay the message. Xie Run lifted the curtain and went to the adjoining chamber, speaking bluntly: "Something has happened in the palace. Someone has forged the Emperor's decree and is coming to search the residence." The maids and matrons tending to the Princess Consort all started in alarm. "Who would have such audacity, daring to search a Prince's residence?!" Xie Run's words were meant for the servants of the Green Pine Courtyard, and also for the Princess Consort herself. The Princess Consort was biting down on a thick handkerchief, drenched in sweat. Upon hearing this, she tremblingly removed the handkerchief and said in a deep voice: "Don't let them in!" "Have the residence guards stationed at the gates. If anyone dares to force their way in, kill without mercy!" "Unless His Majesty comes in person, any decree or oral order is a forgery!" Even in the midst of crisis, the Princess Consort could still make calm decisions—indeed, she had even more sharpness and resolve than Xie Run. "If those above blame us, the Prince and I will bear the responsibility... Ah!" The Princess Consort suddenly cried out in agony, her whole body seeming to lose strength. Xie Run made a formal bow and said with a grave expression: "This concubine knows what to do!" "The Princess Consort need only focus on her treatment—this concubine will handle everything outside." The Princess Consort nodded with difficulty: "The household relies on you now." At this turn of events, the maids and matrons' hearts were thrown into chaos. They all vaguely sensed that something momentous was about to happen tonight. Among the crowd, only Xie Jiang's expression remained unchanged, wholly focused on observing the Princess Consort's condition, calmly and steadily applying acupuncture. Even if the sky were to fall outside, it wouldn't affect her in the slightest. The Imperial Guard arrived with overwhelming force—there was no way they would give Jin Yuan any chance to stall. In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, they had already resorted to force. By the time the news reached Xie Run, the maids and matrons attending her were all panicking. Even Dantao couldn't help but say: "Mistress, they've drawn their blades—does this mean blood will be spilled?" Xiaoshu added: "Could these people be planning a rebellion?!" Xie Run looked at the girl. "Perhaps you've hit the mark." Xiaoshu and Dantao's faces went pale. Rebellion? That was a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family! Xie Run said with a solemn expression: "They've come for this residence. I fear there will be a bloody battle tonight." Dantao said softly: "Mistress, if that's the case, should we send someone to escort the young master out of the residence first..." "No!" Xie Run's gaze was calm and steady: "These people came knocking at midnight, targeting the Prince's wife and children!" "We don't yet know the situation outside. Sending them out hastily would only put them in greater danger." Prince An and his people weren't fools. If they truly intended to strike at Prince Jing, they would have already posted guards at every gate. Anyone who went out now would be walking straight into a trap. The night was heavy, and even separated by two gates, Xie Run in the rear courtyard could almost hear the clash of blades from the front. Xie Run sat in the main hall, his expression calm and composed, betraying not a trace of panic. The attendants around him, influenced by his demeanor, moved about with the same unhurried composure. —Songfeng Courtyard Consort Sun had barely finished weeping when a maid came to report, "The Qingzhu Courtyard has suddenly lit up with many lamps—it seems something has happened." Consort Sun dismissed it with indifference. "The Principal Consort's pregnancy has been difficult; she calls for the imperial physician every few days. Is it any wonder something's gone wrong?" Before long, another messenger arrived. "Mistress, something isn't right." "Consort Xie has taken her people to the Princess Consort's courtyard, and someone vaguely saw her carrying a child." Consort Sun was somewhat startled. "Carrying a child? The Fifth Young Master?!" "Most likely. The child was wrapped up tightly, and with the night so dark, we couldn't see clearly." Consort Sun lowered her gaze in confusion. "At this hour, why would she bring the child to the main courtyard?!" Tao Yao leaned in and said, "Mistress, the Princess Consort's pregnancy has been so unstable, and Consort Xie shows up in the middle of the night with the Fifth Young Master—could she be planning some scheme to harm the Princess Consort's pregnancy?" "Even though she's always sided with the Princess Consort before, who knows if she's just putting on an act." "I don't believe she has no designs on the position of Principal Consort!" Consort Sun clearly took Tao Yao's words to heart. "Send someone to investigate further—see if Xie Run has left the Qingzhu Courtyard." But no sooner had she dispatched someone than a maid came running in, gasping for breath. "Mistress, something terrible has happened!" "I learned from Granny Ma at the second gate—something's happened in the front courtyard!" "The deputy commander of the Imperial Guard suddenly showed up in the middle of the night with his men, demanding to search our residence. Guard Jin Yuan blocked them at the gate, and the two sides actually came to blows!" Consort Sun pushed herself up from the tea table, rising abruptly. "Beneath the emperor's very feet, such audacity?!" Even if the commander of the Imperial Guard himself had come, he would have no right to search a prince's residence at will. For a deputy commander to be so brazen clearly meant something was wrong. Before entering the residence, Consort Sun had heard her grandfather, the Duke, analyze the current political situation at court. She knew that with Prince Jing and the others vying for succession, chaos was inevitable sooner or later. In an instant, Consort Sun guessed that someone was likely making their move tonight. "If swords have been drawn, their true target is probably within the imperial city." "The entire capital will be restless tonight..." Mama Du stepped forward to support Consort Sun. "Mistress, do you think Consort Xie suddenly taking her people to the Princess Consort's courtyard has something to do with this?!"