Chapter 40

Chapter 40 When Xie Run opened her eyes, she felt her mind had become much lighter. Like a mirror surface covered in ash, after wiping it clean, her view of the world became much clearer. She revealed a smile at Xie Jiang, like the first red plum blossom blooming in early winter. Pure yet alluring, hanging on the branch, extraordinarily captivating. "Elder Sister..." Xie Jiang could sense that Xie Run had a pure dependence on her. Meeting that wholehearted smile, Xie Jiang said without thinking, "Don't worry, as long as I'm here, you won't be in danger." The moment she said it, Xie Jiang regretted it. She inwardly sighed—beauty could truly lead one astray. Xie Run smiled sweetly. "Elder Sister, I believe you." You're a woman holding the Female Lead Script! Xie Jiang: "..." Xie Jiang actually didn't have much feeling for this younger sister, Xie Run. But since she had taken over Xie Jiang's body, she naturally had to bear a portion of the responsibility. Since she happened to be heading to the capital to find the man from that night, she took the opportunity to visit her younger sister, who was serving as a concubine in the Prince's residence. She never expected Xie Run to trust her so completely. She considered herself cold-hearted and indifferent, but when she heard Xie Run smile and say "I believe you," that heart of hers inexplicably softened a few degrees. "Keep resting. I'll go take a look around your courtyard." Before Xie Run could even speak, Xie Jiang had already risen. There was a hint of fleeing in her manner. Xie Run felt that this elder sister of hers was quite interesting. Xie Run: "Dantao, Xiaoshu, help me up." She was also curious about how exactly she had been schemed against. Xie Run changed her clothes and draped an extra white rabbit-fur-lined cloak over her shoulders. Her hair was half loose, and she hadn't put on any makeup, which only made her delicate little face look even more charming and fresh. As soon as she stepped out, Xie Run saw Xie Jiang standing by her flower bed. Xie Run approached, her tone soft and warm. "Elder Sister, is there something wrong with these flowers?" Xie Jiang's voice was cold. "It's not the flowers that are the problem—it's the soil." "The soil?" Xie Run was taken aback. That was a direction they had never even considered. "But this soil has been here all along... How could there be a problem?" Xie Jiang: "This soil has a fragrance. Someone has poisoned it. It's just that the floral scent in your courtyard is too strong, masking the smell of the soil." Xie Run suddenly remembered seeing Granny Ma and Yueya'er watering the plants that day. She immediately asked, "Could it be that the water used for watering is the problem?" Xie Jiang rose, her deep eyes fixed on her for a moment. "That's also possible." Xie Run remained very calm. Perhaps having seen too much, she wasn't all that surprised anymore. She only said to Dantao, "The Prince went out to a banquet today and probably hasn't returned yet. Go invite the Princess Consort over, and have Lüzhi and Hongxi separately question Granny Ma and Yueya." Xie Run wasn't sure which of the two had betrayed her. Xie Jiang observed for a moment before speaking. "The toxicity in the soil isn't strong—it dissipates over time. It must have been watered daily for the effect to be this significant." "If one were to inhale this poison for a long time, what would the consequences be?" Xie Jiang paused in thought for a moment before answering, "This poison is a type of psychotropic drug. Its harm to pregnant women is ten times that of an ordinary person. The early symptoms are drowsiness; in the middle and later stages, it's mental confusion or madness. If accidentally ingested, it could cause fetal deformities." Dantao's face turned pale as she listened, her lips trembling. She didn't understand what a psychotropic drug was, but she was frightened by the dire consequences Xie Jiang described. "My mistress has never fought or snatched for anything. How could someone use such a vicious method to harm her?!" Xie Jiang said a fair word. "The rear courtyard is a place where a group of people compete for resources. If you can live well without fighting or snatching, it means you've already occupied a considerable share of resources. Others are bound to be envious and jealous." Xie Run smiled helplessly. "I had long prepared for someone to scheme against me, but I never expected it to be such a refined and vicious method." The osmanthus fragrance had drifted through the courtyard for over a month, combined with the other floral scents—how could she possibly have detected that the soil had a smell? Even if Xie Run was careful beyond careful, how could she guard against this? Soon, the Princess Consort was invited over. The imperial physician came along as well. Xie Run greeted her with a bow, and her eyes instantly turned red. But she didn't start crying and complaining first. Instead, she had the imperial physician examine the soil in the flower bed. The Princess Consort sat in the main hall, quite imposing. "Your maidservant couldn't explain things clearly—she only said you invited me. What exactly has happened?" The Princess Consort had also been busy with her feet barely touching the ground these past few days. She had to manage the mundane affairs of the rear courtyard, deal with Consort Fang's vomiting of blood, and tend to the Eldest Young Master's illness. If she managed well, it was her duty; if she managed poorly, it was her dereliction. The Princess Consort hadn't slept well for days, and two pimples had even popped up on her face, so her patience wasn't at its best. Xie Run: "Once the imperial physician finishes his examination, you will know, Princess Consort." Just as she finished speaking, they suddenly heard the imperial physician's exclamation, "This soil is poisonous!" For a moment, everyone in the room's attention was drawn to the imperial physician. Only then did Xie Run, supported by Dantao, recount everything that had happened that day. "Your subject heard that Consort Fang suddenly vomited blood and was frightened, so I called my elder sister to the residence. Who would have thought that after an examination, this poison in the soil would be discovered." "The one who planted this poison is ruthless beyond measure—they want the death of both me and my child!" "If I hadn't been cautious enough, after another month or half a month of smelling it, I would have gone mad beyond recognition. By then, the poisoner would have stopped immediately, and after some time, the poison in the soil would have evaporated—there wouldn't even be a trace left to investigate!" As Xie Run spoke, tears began to fall. She was truly frightened. What kind of demons and ghouls were lurking in the Prince's mansion? If it hadn't been for her elder sister, she feared she would have died without a proper burial. The Princess Consort and the others felt a chill run through their hearts as well. The room was warm with blazing charcoal, yet they only felt a cold draft shooting from the soles of their feet to the backs of their heads. What a vicious scheme! The Princess Consort took a deep breath. "Have you found out who administered the poison?" Xie Run shook her head. "The ones responsible for watering the flowers are Granny Ma and Yueya'er. I didn't dare resort to private punishment, so I only sent a maid to coax information out of them." Both of these people had originally been bestowed by the Princess Consort. At that thought, a foreboding feeling suddenly arose in the Princess Consort. Last time, when Consort Yun had a miscarriage, the investigation ultimately pointed to someone in her own courtyard—how many people had laughed at the Princess Consort for slapping her own face back then? If it happened again, not to mention being implicated in Xie Run's poisoning, her dignity and reputation would be utterly ruined. A cold glint flashed in the Princess Consort's eyes. "Nanny Li, take people and pry their mouths open!" "I'd like to see who's stirring up trouble in the rear courtyard!" At this moment, the Princess Consort was no longer the indifferent spectator sitting high on the platform. She revealed her hidden sharpness and displayed the authority befitting Princess Consort Jing. Before long, Yueya'er and Granny Ma were both dragged before the crowd. Nanny Li also brought a package wrapped in oil paper. "Princess Consort, this was found in this little girl's trunk!" The imperial physician took the package and sniffed it—his expression changed drastically. "This is the substance. A single whiff makes one dizzy and numb—what a potent poison!" Nanny Li's brows furrowed fiercely as she said to Yueya, "Speak quickly! Who instructed you to harm Concubine Xie?!" "At such a young age, daring to harm a concubine consort and the imperial grandson—even if you're beaten to death, it would be well deserved!"