Chapter 89

Chapter 89 Xie Run, heavy with child, couldn't properly support Xiaoshu's limp body and could only kneel down beside her on the ground. Xie Run called out, "Physician! Call the physician quickly to stop the bleeding and save her!" Prince Jing's steady, powerful voice rang out, "Help Concubine Xie up—don't let her get hurt!" "Everyone else, return to your positions!" "Jing Wu, dispose of the body." "Yes!" Jing Wu and his men swiftly and efficiently removed Feihua's corpse, and also took Xiaoshu to see the physician for treatment. Prince Jing's gaze turned to Concubine Li. "Regarding Feihua—what do you have to say for yourself?" Concubine Li's face went pale. "This servant... this servant had no idea she even knew martial arts." Realizing her situation was dire, tears welled up in Concubine Li's eyes as she knelt. "My Prince, this matter has absolutely nothing to do with this servant!" "She was hiding it so deeply—the musk in my trunk was probably placed there by her!" "And now she suddenly attacks Concubine Xie—she must have received orders from her mistress, wanting to kill Concubine Xie before everything was exposed, trading one for two." "Or perhaps she was afraid that Concubine Xie's methods would trace back to her mistress, so she deliberately exposed herself to protect her master!" As she spoke, Concubine Li's mind grew clearer. She stepped forward two paces. "I beg the Prince to continue the investigation—surely you will find whose hands this bracelet passed through!" Prince Jing glanced at her. "What you say does make sense." "Then continue the investigation!" With Prince Jing's order, the others had no choice but to steel themselves and continue. Consort Yun, Concubine Li, and Concubine An each dipped their hands into the water one after another. Wan Linlang pursed her lips off to the side. Though she was merely a medical woman, she was quite skilled in medicine, and she had never heard of the substance Xie Run had described. Still, she dipped her hands into the hot water with practiced ease. Concubine Han, standing behind her, took in every expression on Wan Linlang's face, her heart pounding wildly, nearly leaping from her chest. She stiffened, dipped her hands into the warm water, then withdrew them. Several pairs of hands showed no change after soaking. Meanwhile, the physician had taken Xiaoshu to stop the bleeding. Xie Run's garments were stained with a bit of blood as she was helped into a chair, silently watching the concubines and consorts as they performed their actions. Only after they had all finished soaking their hands did Xie Run speak slowly, "My Prince, there's no need to investigate further." Everyone turned to look at Xie Run in unison. Xie Run said with a somewhat numb expression, "There is no so-called medicinal powder." "Those were all stories I made up to deceive people." "I was only gambling—gambling that whoever stole the bracelet would feel guilty. If they heard my words and feared their identity would be exposed, they would inevitably make a move." "As it turns out, I won the bet." Even as she said this, Xie Run felt regret inside. She had only lost Feihua, without implicating the master behind Feihua in the slightest. The group exchanged bewildered glances. Thinking of how Feihua had suddenly lunged during the warm-water test, they looked at Xie Run with strange expressions. Among them, Concubine Han's gaze was especially complicated, as if she were struggling to suppress something. Xie Run lifted her eyes, and through the crowd, her clear black-and-white gaze landed on Concubine Han. Their eyes met, and invisible sparks seemed to fly between them. Xie Run wanted to gamble big once more! She suddenly said, "I would trouble the physician to examine Concubine Han as well—we mustn't disturb the child in her womb." Concubine Han started, immediately masking the emotion in her eyes and replacing it with a look of lingering fear. "This concubine is fine. Thank you for your concern, Sister." "Are you truly fine?" Xie Run asked again. Concubine Han clenched her teeth. "Truly, there is nothing wrong." Xie Run suddenly turned to Prince Jing. "My Prince, I have a very presumptuous request, and I beg your permission!" "What request?" "I ask that the Prince order a search of Concubine Han's person!" Prince Jing raised an eyebrow, while Concubine Han started in alarm. "What?!" Xie Run lowered her eyes. "I suspect Concubine Han is faking her pregnancy!" "Everything done today was merely a play Concubine Han staged herself, because her false pregnancy could no longer be concealed." "If she jumped into the water, she could feign a miscarriage, then rescue Princess Ruyi from the water, and frame me in the process—a scheme to kill three birds with one stone!" "If a blood pack for the miscarriage is found on Concubine Han's person, it should prove that everything I've said is true." Having said this, Xie Run lifted her gaze and stared hard at Concubine Han. "Sister Han, do you dare let yourself be searched?" Concubine Han took a step back, the rouge on her face unable to hide its pallor. "Sister Xie, what do you mean by this?" She wore an expression of being insulted. "When Sister Fang suspected I was faking pregnancy, she specially sent a physician to feel my pulse." "Isn't one humiliation enough? Now you want to do it a second time?" Concubine Han seemed deeply mortified, her voice hoarse as she looked at Prince Jing. "My Prince..." Prince Jing suddenly rose from his seat, looking down at Concubine Han from above. He said coolly, "Princess Consort, have someone search her." He gave Concubine Han not even the slightest chance to argue. Xie Run slowly let out a breath. The dangers today had been many, and yet she had won another gamble! Concubine Han's face was as white as snow. She wanted to struggle, but dared not. She had calculated everything, except that Xie Run would so bluntly expose her in such a setting. The blood pack hidden on her body now had nowhere to hide. She stepped back step by step, intending to take the chance to collide with the pillar behind her and induce a miscarriage, then put on a dying struggle. But she saw Xie Run, gentle and composed in appearance, yet spitting out words as cold as frost. "If Concubine Han miscarries at this moment, then a body search is even more necessary!" "There are many coincidences in this world, but when they all converge on one person, that is no longer coincidence." Just as Xie Run finished speaking, Concubine An's startled cry rang out: "Blood! Concubine Han is bleeding!" Everyone's gaze gathered on the hem of Concubine Han's skirt. The bright red blood slowly bloomed like plum blossoms on the exquisite skirt. Yet at this moment, no one worried about the child in her belly. Everyone stared at Concubine Han's stomach with meaningful looks. Anticipating the exposure of Concubine Han's false pregnancy. Prince Jing said in a deep voice: "I'll trouble the Princess Consort to send someone to attend to Concubine Han." Though it was called attending to her, it was actually to prevent Concubine Han from pulling any more tricks. The Princess Consort's words were full of concern: "Nanny Li, take Tinghe with you to look after Concubine Han, and be sure to wash away Concubine Han's grievances." Nanny Li was full of fighting spirit, her eyes gleaming as she stared at Concubine Han's belly. "Rest assured, Prince and Princess Consort, this old servant will not let Concubine Han or the child in her belly suffer the slightest grievance!" Several matrons followed Nanny Li and forcibly escorted Concubine Han to the bedroom in the back. Before long, Nanny Li rushed out furiously, tossing out a blood pack: "Concubine Han truly deceived the Prince and Princess Consort, attempting to use a false pregnancy to contend for the position of Concubine Consort!" Not the slightest surprise! Someone exclaimed in shock: "It really was a false pregnancy!" "Concubine Han is far too audacious!" Prince Jing's eyes darkened, and the pressure in the room dropped to a terrifying low. He silently turned the jade thumb ring on his thumb, his imposing aura extremely oppressive. Another imperial physician lifted the curtain and came out, wiping sweat with a handkerchief: "Reporting to the Prince, Concubine Han's pulse... indeed indicates a miscarriage." Prince Jing's hand paused mid-motion, a cold smile curling on his thin lips. Suddenly he grabbed the teacup beside him and smashed it to the ground. Bang! The fine tea set shattered into countless pieces on the floor, leaving only wreckage behind. "Excellent!" Prince Jing was nearly laughed out of anger. "Everyone in this entire household is a fool, spun around by a mere concubine!" Concubine Han suddenly rushed out of the room, kneeling miserably before Prince Jing: "Please spare my life, Prince! Please spare my life!"