Chapter 40

Chapter 40

After Xie Run opened her eyes, she felt her mind was much clearer.

It was like a mirror covered with ash—wiping it off made everything look clearer.

She smiled at Xie Jiang, like the first red plum blossom in early winter.

Pure and enchanting, it hung on the branch, especially alluring.

“Sis…”

Xie Jiang could feel that Xie Run had a pure, trusting dependence on her.

Touched by that wholehearted smile, Xie Jiang blurted out, “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, you’ll be safe.”

After saying that, Xie Jiang regretted it a little.

She sighed inwardly—beauty really messes with people.

Xie Run smiled gently. “Sis, I believe you.”

You’re a woman holding a badass heroine’s script!

Xie Jiang: “…”

Honestly, Xie Jiang didn’t really care much about her younger sister Xie Run.

But since she had taken over Xie Jiang’s body, she naturally had to take on some responsibility.

Just as she was about to enter the capital to find the man from that night, she stopped by to see her sister, who was a concubine in the prince’s residence.

She hadn’t expected Xie Run to trust her so much.

She considered herself a cold-hearted person, but hearing Xie Run say “I believe you” with a smile made her heart soften a little.

“You rest, I’ll go check your yard.”

Before Xie Run could speak, Xie Jiang had already stood up.

Almost like she was running away.

Xie Run thought her sister was quite interesting.

Xie Run said, “Dan Tao, Xiaoshu, help me up.”

She was also curious about how she had been set up.

Xie Run changed her clothes and put on an extra cloak trimmed with white rabbit fur.

Her hair was half undone, and she hadn’t put on any makeup, which made her small face look even more charming and delicate.

As soon as she came out, Xie Run saw Xie Jiang standing by her flower bed.

Xie Run approached, her tone soft and warm. “Sis, is there something wrong with these flowers?”

Xie Jiang said coldly, “It’s not the flowers. It’s the soil.”

“Soil?”

Xie Run was taken aback.

This was something they’d never even thought of.

“This soil has always been here… How could it be problematic?”

Xie Jiang said, “This soil has a fragrance. It has been poisoned. But the strong floral scent in your yard masked the smell of the soil.”

Xie Run suddenly remembered that day she had seen Old Lady Ma and Yueya watering.

She immediately asked, “Could the water itself be the problem?”

Xie Jiang stood up and gave her a steady look with those deep eyes. “It’s possible.”

Xie Run was very calm.

She’d seen a lot, so she wasn’t that surprised.

She just told Dan Tao, “The prince went to a banquet today, he probably isn’t back yet. Go invite the princess, and also have Lu Zhi and Hong Xi question Old Lady Ma and Yueya separately.”

Xie Run wasn’t sure which one had betrayed her.

After observing for a while, Xie Jiang said, “The poison in the soil is not strong—it will dissipate over time. It must be the daily watering that did the damage.”

“If one inhales this poison for a long time, what will the consequences be?”

Xie Jiang pondered for a moment before saying, “This poison is a kind of mind-altering drug. Its harm to a pregnant woman is ten times that to an ordinary person. Early symptoms include drowsiness, then later stages lead to confusion or madness. If swallowed by accident, it could cause birth defects.”

Dan Tao’s face turned red and her lips quivered.

She didn’t understand what a mind-altering drug was, but she was terrified by the horrible consequences Xie Jiang described.

“My mistress never fights for anything. How could someone use such a vicious method to harm her?!”

Xie Jiang made a fair point, “The inner courtyard is a place where a group of people compete for resources. If you can live well without competing, it means you’ve already taken up quite a few resources. Others are certainly jealous and envious.”

Xie Run gave a helpless smile. “I was already expecting someone to scheme against me, but I didn’t expect such a subtle and vicious method.”

The osmanthus scent had been in the yard for over a month, and with other floral scents, how could she possibly notice the soil smelled?

Even if Xie Run was super careful, how could she prevent it?

Soon, the princess was invited over.

The imperial physician came along as well.

Xie Run bowed to her, and her eyes instantly reddened.

However, she didn’t start crying right away but instead asked the physician to check the soil in the flower bed.

The princess sat in the main room in a commanding tone. “Your maid couldn’t explain things well, only said you invited me. What exactly happened?”

The princess had been swamped these past few days.

She had to manage the mundane affairs of the back courtyard, handle Shufei Fang spitting blood, and also look after the eldest young master’s sickness.

Managing well was her duty; mismanagement meant she was failing.

The princess hadn’t slept well for several days, and two pimples had popped out on her face, so she was losing patience.

Xie Run: "Once the imperial physician finishes testing, you'll know, Princess."

Just as she finished speaking, the imperial physician suddenly exclaimed, "This soil is poisonous!"

Instantly, everyone in the room turned their attention to the physician.

Xie Run, leaning on Dan Tao, then told them everything that had happened today.

"Lady Fang suddenly spat blood, and I was terrified, so I invited my sister into the manor. Who would have thought that an inspection would reveal this soil is poisoned."

"The poisoner is utterly ruthless; they aimed to kill both me and my unborn child!"

"If I hadn't been careful and kept inhaling the poison for another two weeks or a month, I'd have gone insane. By then the poisoner would have stopped, and after a while the poison in the soil would evaporate without a trace!"

As Xie Run spoke, tears began to fall.

She was genuinely terrified.

What kind of monsters were lurking in the prince's manor?

If it weren't for her elder sister, she would have died without a burial place.

Hearing this, the princess and the others felt a chill run down their spines.

Even though the room was warm with charcoal, they felt a cold rush from their feet to the back of their heads.

What a vicious plot!

The princess took a deep breath. "Has the poisoner been found?" she asked.

Xie Run shook her head. "Old Lady Ma and Yueya'er are responsible for watering the flowers. I didn't dare to punish them myself, so I just sent my maids to subtly pump them for information."

Both of these servants had originally been given to her by the princess.

Thinking this, the princess suddenly had a bad feeling.

Last time when Lady Yun miscarried, the blame ended up falling on someone in her own courtyard. How many people had laughed at the princess for slapping her own face back then?

If it happened again, not only would she be implicated in Xie Run's poisoning, but her dignity and reputation would be completely destroyed.

A cold gleam flashed in the princess's eyes. "Mama Li, take some people and make them talk!"

"I want to see who's stirring up trouble in the inner courtyard!"

At this moment, the princess was no longer an aloof observer sitting high on a platform.

She showed her hidden edge and displayed the authority worthy of Princess Jing.

Soon after, Yueya'er and Old Lady Ma were brought out in front of everyone.

Mama Li also brought a packet wrapped in oilpaper.

"Princess, I found this in that girl's trunk!"

The imperial physician took the packet, sniffed it, and his face changed drastically.

"This is the stuff. One sniff makes you dizzy and numb. What a potent poison!"

Mama Li glared fiercely at Yueya. "Spill it! Who ordered you to plot against Lady Xie?!"

"You're so young but you dare to harm a lady and a royal grandson—you deserve to be beaten to death!"