Chapter 279

Chapter 279 It wasn't until afterward that he learned Xie Jiang had performed surgery on the Princess Consort, and he was greatly shocked. From that day on, he held a bit more admiration for Xie Jiang. Now the household was in complete chaos. Once Prince Jing confirmed that the Princess Consort was out of danger, he went first to see the Eldest Young Master. He assumed Xie Run would follow him. But to his surprise, Xie Run lowered her brows with a very docile expression and said, "The Princess Consort has just undergone surgery." "From what my elder sister said, no one may enter or leave freely or touch her—if we're not careful, all our efforts could be wasted." "This matter concerns the Princess Consort's very life. I must personally keep watch and dare not be negligent in the slightest!" Prince Jing looked at Xie Run seriously for a few moments. "Then I'll leave the Princess Consort in your hands." Xie Run performed a salute. "This concubine accepts the order." Prince Jing was genuinely puzzled and intrigued. He knew that Xie Run was the one who least liked to have any involvement with others in the prince's household. Today, when he heard that she had invited her own elder sister to treat the Princess Consort, Prince Jing had already found it remarkable enough. After all, if anything went even slightly wrong with the Princess Consort, Xie Run would be dragged into a mess of trouble. And now she was even willing to manage matters after the Princess Consort's surgery, as if she feared the Princess Consort might suffer even the slightest mishap. Prince Jing didn't think Xie Run was trying to curry favor with the Princess Consort to scheme for something. For one, she didn't have the courage to do anything wrong. For another, she currently lacked nothing that the Princess Consort could provide. If she truly sought advantage, Xie Run should have wished for the Princess Consort's death so she could rise in her place. Prince Jing couldn't see through it. After guessing every possibility, he could only conclude that Xie Run was kind at heart and couldn't bear to watch the Princess Consort die just like that. Prince Jing's gaze toward Xie Run softened with warmth. "With you here watching over the Princess Consort, this prince can rest easy." Xie Run saw Prince Jing off. Turning back, she glanced at the maidservants and matrons around her. "Divine Physician Xie said that the human body carries Five Pathogenic Toxins, and they can spread infection through contact with one another." "The Princess Consort has just undergone surgery and is extremely weak—she absolutely cannot be exposed to these pathogens!" "From now on, aside from those tending to the Princess Consort, anyone entering or leaving her bedchamber must have the Prince's writ!" "Go to the storeroom and fetch mugwort. Burn it around the Princess Consort's bedchamber every day, to ward off the Five Toxins from invading, or at least to drive away insects and pests." ... Nanny Li and Tinghe, who had rushed over, heard Xie Run issuing order after order, all for the Princess Consort's benefit, and their hearts were filled with mixed emotions. The two stepped forward and performed salutes. Nanny Li said with tears in her eyes, "This servant and the others dare not forget Consort Xie's kindness and grace." "Once the Princess Consort's health improves, she will surely thank you in person." Xie Run smiled faintly and said with complete sincerity, "I am grateful that the Princess Consort is an excellent mistress. I have been under her care for a long time—now is the time to repay her." "For now, I only hope the Princess Consort recovers soon, so she can take over the household affairs again and let me continue my lazy, leisurely life." She spoke with such earnestness that both Nanny Li and Tinghe were moved to tears. Xie Run waved her hand. "Alright, you two should go in quickly and attend to the Princess Consort." "I'll personally stand guard at the door with my people. If you need anything, just call out—nothing will be lacking." "Divine Physician Xie is also resting in the next room. The moment the Princess Consort shows any discomfort, she can come at once." Nanny Li and Tinghe entered the bedchamber, and Xie Run took her seat in the main hall. With her there, even the maidservants and matrons who harbored other intentions didn't dare make a move. Before long, a maidservant from Spring Mountain Courtyard came to deliver news. The girl kept her head lowered and said very respectfully, "The Prince went to see the Eldest Young Master and flew into a terrible rage." Xie Run was still drinking tea to keep herself alert. Hearing this, she asked, "What happened?" Her expression showed little surprise. After all, if she went out for a while and came back to find her own son had become a simpleton, she too would fly into a rage. The maidservant hesitated. "The Eldest Young Master seems to have recovered somewhat, but his leg injury is too severe. Even if he heals in the future, he will not be able to walk properly." Xie Run paused mid-motion as she raised her teacup. "What do you mean by 'recovered somewhat'?" As for not being able to walk properly... Xie Run had weathered many storms recently; this truly wasn't a major matter. The maidservant said with some difficulty, "He seems to no longer be simple-minded. Of course, he hasn't fully recovered either!" Xie Run furrowed her brow. "What exactly is going on?!" The maidservant described it. "The Eldest Young Master is no longer like before—dull-witted and only drooling. If you ask him questions, he can answer a thing or two, though his reactions are slower than an ordinary person's." Hearing this, Xie Run found it quite puzzling. So had the Eldest Young Master been truly simple-minded from the start, or had he been pretending? Xie Run didn't want to think too deeply about it. Whether he had been pretending or genuinely simple before, it was now certain that he was no longer simple-minded. Only his reactions were slow... Xie Run pressed her palms together and murmured softly, "Amitabha. That the Eldest Young Master has recovered his wits is already a great fortune. I dare not hope for anything more." "That may be so, but the Prince is still extremely furious." Xie Run raised an eyebrow. "Is the Prince angry because the Eldest Young Master is not as clever as an ordinary person, or because his leg is injured and he cannot walk properly?" The maidservant said, "In this servant's view, it seems to be both." Xie Run lowered her gaze in thought for a moment before asking, "Did the Prince punish the wet nurse?" The maidservant nodded. "The wet nurse was given ten strokes of the rod and sent back to her hometown, forbidden from serving the Eldest Young Master any longer." "The two maidservants who accompanied the Eldest Young Master into the inner courtyard were also sent off to the estate." Xie Run nodded. "Then send a few more careful maidservants to look after the Eldest Young Master." "Yes." No sooner had she finished her inquiries than the household stewardesses all came forward to report matters. Xie Run sent them all off to Consort Sun's courtyard. She was somewhat irritated as well. "Consort Sun only injured her face, not her hands or feet—how can she be unable to handle the household affairs?" "All of you running to me like this makes it seem as though I don't hold Consort Sun in regard, and that I wish to seize sole authority." "If any of you harbor such thoughts, I advise you to abandon them at once. A Side Consort in this household is equally honored. Whoever dares to look down on anyone, beware your hides!" These words were spoken for the stewardesses to hear, but they were equally meant for Consort Sun. The Prince's residence was in complete chaos, yet Consort Sun still hid away in her own courtyard enjoying leisure—Xie Run simply could not bear it any longer. At first, when her face had been ruined, Xie Run had pitied her and taken over the entire mess of affairs, working herself to the bone without a word of complaint. But last night, with so many matters pressing upon the household—matters of life and death in both the front and rear courtyards—Consort Sun had simply holed up in her own courtyard, playing dead. How could Xie Run tolerate that? After driving the stewardesses off to Consort Sun's courtyard, Xie Run added, "From now on, I only manage matters concerning the Princess Consort. Nothing in this household, however important, outweighs the Princess Consort's affairs. For anything at all, go first to Consort Sun." "If that won't do, then go to the Prince. I imagine there is nothing you have that the Prince cannot decide." Once these words spread, Consort Sun, unwilling to tear the veil of civility, had no choice but to come out and resume managing affairs.