Chapter 1006 Madam Jiang Out of Control
“I’m afraid not. We have to work out what has happened. After all, it’s related to Princess Chen. We can’t keep Princess Chen’s people out of it, can we? None of us here can decide for Princess Chen!” Infanta Yuan’an reached out and dragged in all the Madams present.
The few madams who started to panic nodded repeatedly. This kind of thing was no longer idle gossip now.
Since they could not leave, they hoped this tumult would subside soon.
Infanta Yuan’an’s words were very reasonable, so they could only nod in agreement.
If Madam Jiang was a kind elder who sincerely cared for Princess Chen, she could speak on behalf of Princess Chen. But in the current situation, Madam Jiang was not above suspicion. Therefore, no one dared to say that she could represent Princess Chen.
Before Zhao Xiran could say anything else, Infanta Yuan’an asked the imperial physician, “Princess Chen would behave abnormally after smelling this medicine and lose her mind temporarily. What if there was a man beside her at that time?”
As soon as she said that, everyone’s faces changed dramatically. A timid Madam holding a cup shivered with fear, making the cup cover sway with a light clash.
Then the room eerily quieted down.
Qiu Yu? Qiu Yu from the Ministry of Justice was there at that time, but he declared that he was there for a case. If there was something malicious, did it mean that some people planned to ruin Princess Chen’s reputation?
Since Prince Chen had left the capital city, ordinary people couldn’t deal with Princess Chen this way. This matter must have something to do with the royal family.
It was still unknown who would be the crown prince. The current political situation was changeable, and many forces were plotting against each other in the dark. So, was the matter happening today part of it?
“Doctor, this matter is of great importance. Princess Chen must have become a target for someone. In the shadow of conspiracy, she might act squirrelly and make a fool of herself, or greater trouble would happen after her reputation was ruined. Since Prince Chen is not in the capital city, we must report such a severe matter to Empress Dowager. Please enlighten us about what would happen if the medicine took effect!”
Infanta Yuan’an understood that the imperial physician wanted to avoid trouble, so she affirmatively put everything on the table and spoke with curt finality.
After her speech, the imperial physician knew that he couldn’t muddle through, so he could only summon up his courage to say, “If… if a man approached Princess Chen at that time, she might do something out of control.”
For example, she might hug that man, or…
Cold sweat began to break out on the imperial physician’s forehead, and he felt a chill on his back. Political struggles were too complicated to understand for an imperial physician.
Looking at the imperial physician with sweat all over his face, Infanta Yuan’an suddenly smiled and waved her hand. “Please write out the prescription!”
“Yes, yes, thank you, Your Highness!” The imperial physician nodded repeatedly and immediately trotted to leave. He looked as if he was fleeing in panic.
“The Empress Dowager will know this matter.” All the Madams sat up straight in a panic and didn’t dare to slack off a little.
At this time, they had no choice but to intervene. It was obvious that someone was plotting against Princess Chen. They had just been sitting here to watch the show and didn’t help Princess Chen. When the Empress Dowager asked about it and found out the truth, she would definitely reprimand them.
How important was Princess Chen? Prince Chen cared about her the most, while Prince Chen was the Empress Dowager’s favored grandson whom she had doted on for more than ten years. It was said that before Princess Chen went abroad on a diplomatic mission, he entrusted Princess Chen to the Empress Dowager. At present, something had happened in the Marquis Xing’s Mansion. If they did not help, they couldn’t justify their negative attitude before the Empress Dowager.
“Madam Jiang, why would your handkerchief have a smell of medicine? You can’t say that you are in poor health and have been using such a handkerchief all the time, can you?” A Madam looked at Madam Jiang and Zhao Xiran. Finally, her eyes fell on Madam Jiang, who was the most likely one to do wicked things.
Zhao Xiran was a kind-hearted person. Just now, they had seen her serve Madam Jiang carefully. Before she did anything, she would consider Madam Jiang. Therefore, she couldn’t do such a thing.
In comparison, Madam Jiang was a notorious criminal.
“The Madam of Marquis Xing, who do you think wants to harm Princess Chen?”
“The Madam of Marquis Xing, how could Lord Qiu hide in the mourning hall that Princess Chen would go? Everyone knew Princess Chen would be there.”
“The Madam of Marquis Xing, if Princess Chen’s maid didn’t wear such a sachet by chance, would something worse happen to her?”
“The Madam of Marquis Xing…”
“The Madam of Marquis Xing…”
The Madams questioned Madam Jiang one after another, repeatedly calling her the Madam of Marquis Xing. They did put all their doubts on Madam Jiang.
Blue veins stood out on Madam Jiang’s forehead. “The Madam of Marquis Xing” called out by different voices played over and over again in her ears. The call used to be her favorite. Whenever she heard it, she would feel good and free from anxiety. But now, she saw it as a humiliation. With a headache, she seemed to have slid into madness. Since she held the handkerchief in her hand the whole time, the medicinal smell had been working her up into a frenzy.
Her head throbbed, and the blue veins on her forehead seemed ready to pop. The intangible noise in her ears got on her nerves, but she could not eliminate it no matter how hard she tried. It was as if countless insects were screaming high and low in her head…
Madam Jiang stood up abruptly with a fierce look in her eyes. She reached out her hand and violently slapped Zhao Xiran, who was standing beside her with an extremely awkward smile.
The thunderous slap silenced everyone. No one expected that Madam Jiang would fight at this time, not knowing she would even hit her daughter-in-law.
Zhao Xiran staggered back a few steps and bumped into a corner of the table on one side. Many people staring at them were too startled to react in time.
Zhao Xiran uttered a heartrending cry and squatted down with her hands on her belly.
Only then did someone realize what was happening. The person pointed at a patch of blood running slowly on Zhao Xiran’s skirt and screamed, “Blood… blood…”
After several shrieks in the outer hall, Zhao Xiran was taken to a room aside to rest. Several servants of the Prince Chen’s Mansion stayed here to guard Shao Wanru.
The decoction of herbal medicine was soon served. Shao Wanru took the decoction to help settle her nerves and put it aside after a few sips. “How is it going?”
“Eldest Young Madam lost her baby! If she wants to be pregnant in the future, she has to take good care of herself!” Yujie said.
The serious disturbance over there even alerted Old Madam, who was accompanying Zhao Xiran in the room aside. Old Madam knew Zhao Xiran was pregnant. But this crash killed the baby in her belly.
It was quite a stir. When Yujie was taking the decoction outside, she also heard the noise. Now all of them were in the same courtyard.
“Let’s go!” Shao Wanru said.
“Leave?” Yujie was stunned for a moment. “My Lady, it’s inappropriate for us to walk away at this time, isn’t it?”
The Marquis Xing’s Mansion was in a mess now. It sounded not a good idea for Shao Wanru to leave at this time.
“I can’t even protect myself here, let alone help others. Moreover, they’ve messed up big time, so I have to report the ins and outs of the matter to Imperial Grandmother! I guess Old Madam must be anxious to see me leave on my own!” Shao Wanru said calmly, her eyes falling on the people coming and going outside the window. Old Madam was here, and the whole Marquis Xing’s Mansion had been alarmed. “I can’t do anything to help them here, and I don’t feel well. I’d better go back and try not to cause any trouble for the Marquis Xing’s Mansion!”
“Old Madam is too partial to Zhao Xiran! I don’t believe she didn’t know you passed out!” Yujie curled her upper lip unhappily and complained while looking out of the window.
Princess Chen had been in trouble for so long, but Old Madam didn’t show up to see her. At this time, as Eldest Young Madam had an accident, Old Madam came fast with a large group of people. Yujie didn’t believe she knew nothing about what had happened to Princess Chen.
“So what if she knows it or not? She was waiting for us to make big trouble here at that time. How could she come over? With her high status, she couldn’t just come here to watch the fun!” What Shao Wanru said was significant.
“My Lady, do you mean that Old Madam did not dare to come back then?” Yujie rolled her eyes and asked.
“If she was here, she had to be the person in charge of this matter. But if she stayed away, she wouldn’t be involved in it,” Shao Wanru said coldly. She knew Old Madam’s character the best. When there was trouble, she would avoid it and might even lay on the bed, pretending to be sick. But now, she had to face reality.
“Go and tell Old Madam that although I’m awake, I’m still not feeling well and must go back to my mansion first!” Shao Wanru ordered Yujie.
Yujie nodded and left. After a while, she came back with Nanny Yu.
Nanny Yu bowed to Shao Wanru and said, “Your Highness, our mansion is in a mess now, and Old Madam doesn’t have time to entertain you. You can go back first and come back when you are a little better. The religious service will last for three days!”
In other words, Shao Wanru would have to come back here in three days. Since it was a religious ritual for her parents, Shao Wanru had no excuse to neglect it!
Old Madam knew for sure that Shao Wanru would come again, so she didn’t stop her from leaving.
“Sorry to trouble you, Nanny Yu. I will come back tomorrow!” Shao Wanru nodded and said softly.
“Okay, okay, I will inform Old Madam later!” Hearing Shao Wanru’s promise, Nanny Yu nodded repeatedly and replied with a smile.
Eldest Young Madam had an accident and was next door. It was inappropriate to keep Princess Chen here at this time. After all, Princess Chen was newly married, so she should avoid the ominous scene where Zhao Xiran lost her child. It would bring her bad luck. The Marquis Xing’s Mansion couldn’t bear the responsibility of leading bad luck to the royal family. If the Empress Dowager investigated the matter, she would scold them.
Shao Wanru went back with her servants after they tidied the room up.
When they reached a turning in the road, a servant girl rushed out and accidentally bumped into Yujie. Before Yujie could do or say anything, the servant girl stumbled backward and almost fell to the ground. Then she hurriedly bowed sideways to Yujie and ran away in a panic.
She left behind a letter in Yujie’s hand.
Yujie noticed the maid ran away to the outer court.
Without turning an eyelash, Yujie stuffed the letter into the pocket inside her clothes, caught up with Shao Wanru, and went to the parking lot.
When they arrived at the parking area, Yujie helped Shao Wanru get on the carriage and climbed up it herself. When they sat down and the carriage moved, Yujie took out the letter from the pocket inside her sleeve and handed it to Shao Wanru. “My Lady, the maid gave me this!”