Chapter 43

Chapter 43 Had she been too lenient with them all along, that they now thought of her as nothing but a lump of mud to be shaped at will? The Princess Consort lowered her gaze and asked casually, "What did Steward Chen say?" Nanny Li replied, "Steward Chen insists he knows nothing about this matter, but the household hasn't purchased any croton powder these past few days. However, a servant boy did see Steward Chen lingering near the entrance of an apothecary while he was out buying flower seedlings." The Princess Consort said, "So you're saying the croton powder and the poison might have entered the Prince's residence through his hands?" Nanny Li's face was full of difficulty. "He refuses to admit it. He only says his back hurts and that he went to ask the physician for two plasters to apply." The Princess Consort's gaze turned icy cold. "If he refuses to confess, then you go and interrogate him. If you can't get anything out of him, and the Prince finds out something first, both you and I will die without a place to be buried!" "Also send people to the apothecary to make inquiries!" Nanny Li nodded repeatedly. A moment later, the Princess Consort suddenly let out a laugh. "Nanny Li, don't you find this method of killing with a borrowed knife rather familiar?" Nanny Li was startled, and immediately thought of a certain person. "It can't be... Lady Ning has been placed under lifelong House Arrest, and she still won't stay put?" The Princess Consort said, "Her son is the Prince's only male heir. How could she possibly stay put?" She had been careless. She had assumed that once Concubine Ning was demoted to a low-ranking concubine and placed under lifelong confinement, she would no longer cause trouble. The Princess Consort said, "If you start with the people around Lady Ning, you might gain some unexpected results." Nanny Li quickly said, "This servant will go at once." The Princess Consort then asked, "As for Consort Fang, what did the imperial physicians ultimately say was the matter?" Tinghe had been keeping an eye on matters in Fang Yuan'er's courtyard, and now stepped forward to report. Tinghe said, "Reporting to the Princess Consort. Several imperial physicians came, and all said it was severe morning sickness that had injured her stomach, which is why she vomited blood." The Princess Consort raised an eyebrow. "So she wasn't poisoned?" Tinghe shook her head. "The imperial physicians couldn't find anything, but Consort Fang insists she was harmed by someone." Seeing Tinghe's brows tightly furrowed, the Princess Consort knew she had more to say. "Speak freely if you have something to say." Tinghe's tongue tasted bitter. "The imperial physicians said Consort Fang's morning sickness is so severe because mother and child are at odds. This condition is not an illness and cannot be treated with medicine. If she keeps vomiting for a few more days, it will endanger Consort Fang's life." "The imperial physicians also said that if it comes to the worst, they fear only one of mother and child can be saved." Fang Yuan'er was only three months pregnant now—saving one of mother and child would mean aborting the child. The Princess Consort drew in a sharp breath of cold air. "It's that serious?" Tinghe nodded. "After hearing this, Consort Fang flew into a rage and refused to believe it, only shouting that she had been harmed by someone." The Princess Consort pondered for a moment. "This matter should still be left for the Prince to decide." She then asked about Eldest Young Master. Another senior maidservant, Wangyue, stepped forward. "Eldest Young Master's fever has already broken. He's taking his medicine now, and with proper care for a period of time, he will recover." The Princess Consort let out a sigh of relief. At least there was one piece of good news. Before long, Nanny Li actually managed to uncover quite a bit from the side of the low-ranking concubine Ning. She hurried to the Green Pine Courtyard. "Princess Consort, Steward Chen was used as a scapegoat. He is innocent—the real culprit is someone else!" As she spoke, a tall, burly man was brought in, bound hand and foot. The Princess Consort looked at him with heavy eyes. "You've found out the truth?" Nanny Li wiped the sweat from her forehead, and her peripheral vision caught sight of the stern-faced man seated in the main hall. Her whole body stiffened, as if nailed to the spot. She stammered, "The P-Prince." Prince Jing's gaze was deep and unfathomable, his mood impossible to read. "What have you found out? Go on, this Prince will listen as well." Nanny Li stiffly looked toward the Princess Consort. The Princess Consort gave a slight nod, perfectly composed. "It would have to be reported to the Prince sooner or later anyway. You may as well speak." Nanny Li quickly weighed her options, and after confirming there was nothing unfavorable to her mistress in what she was about to say, she relaxed her heart. Nanny Li took a deep breath, her anger hard to conceal. "Reporting to the Prince and Princess Consort, this servant led people to Orchid Fragrance Garden and actually found a man hidden there!" Prince Jing said calmly, "You wish to accuse Concubine Ning of taking a lover?" Nanny Li was taken aback, then quickly shook her head. "That's not it." She hurriedly continued, "This servant thought this man looked rather familiar, and after someone reminded me, I realized his build was quite similar to Steward Chen's!" Seeing that no one interrupted, Nanny Li continued. "This servant then had him escorted to the apothecary that Steward Chen had visited, to identify him. The apothecary's head manager and apprentice both recognized this man, saying that on the day Steward Chen went to the apothecary, this man had also been there! And he had happened to buy a portion of croton powder!" The Princess Consort asked, "He didn't buy poison?" Nanny Li paused. "As for the poison that Concubine Xie was afflicted with, even the imperial physicians couldn't diagnose it. It's likely something that can't be bought at any ordinary apothecary!" This was actually a major loophole. Granny Ma had insisted to the death that it was Steward Chen who had given her the poison and the croton powder. But Steward Chen was merely a manager of the flower nursery—where would he have obtained such a potent poison? It was just that if Steward Chen couldn't clear himself of suspicion, then even if the medicine wasn't obtained by him, it would have to be pinned on him. Fortunately, by investigating from Lady Ning's side, they had uncovered the source of the croton powder, which cleared Steward Chen of suspicion and also exonerated the Princess Consort. This was, in a sense, working backward from the answer to reconstruct the process. Nanny Li added, "This thief has also confessed. Twenty days ago, it was he who slipped into Linxuan Pavilion and made contact with Granny Ma!" "That packet of poison passed through his hands and into Linxuan Pavilion!" This was the reason for Nanny Li's agitation. With the man's confession in hand, the Princess Consort could completely clear herself of suspicion. After listening for a while, Prince Jing finally asked, "So you're saying this was Lady Ning's doing?" It was unclear who the question was directed at, and Nanny Li dared not speak freely. The Princess Consort said slowly, "Everything in the princely household should naturally be decided by Your Highness. Whoever Your Highness deems guilty, that is who is guilty. A wife follows her husband—I am no exception to this custom." The Princess Consort's words were asking whether Prince Jing intended to shield Concubine Ning this once. If Prince Jing chose to protect her, the matter would end here. If not, Concubine Ning could hardly escape punishment. Prince Jing cast a meaningful glance at the Princess Consort. "Men handle external affairs, women handle domestic ones. I trust the Princess Consort—all matters of the inner court shall naturally be handled by you." This was his way of saying she should handle it with impartiality. The Princess Consort appeared troubled and asked bluntly, "If it truly is Concubine Ning, how does Your Highness think she should be punished?" Prince Jing's handsome face was covered in cold severity, without a trace of tenderness. "Repeated offenses despite warnings—sentence her to death!" The Princess Consort's heart trembled, yet she still said, "The Eldest Young Master is already aware of worldly matters. If handled this way, I fear it may leave lingering troubles and cause discord between Your Highness and the Eldest Young Master." The Princess Consort also wanted Concubine Ning dead. But no matter how Concubine Ning died, it could not be connected to her in any way. She could not even mention it, and had to offer counsel instead. Prince Jing's voice was cool. "I will send someone to handle it." The Princess Consort pretended not to hear this. "Your Highness, would you like to go see Concubine Xie? After this ordeal, she has been badly frightened." Prince Jing nodded. "Indeed, I should go see her."