Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Perhaps due to the difference between main characters and side characters, Xie Run and Fang Yuaner have slightly different understanding of the book they traveled into.

In Xie Run’s "book," Shufei Yun was only mentioned twice.

Once was when she used Princess Ruyi to compete for favor with Fang Yuaner.

The second time was her miscarriage, which ultimately led to her death from hemorrhaging.

But in the "book" of Fang Yuaner, the transmigration protagonist, there was more content about Shufei Yun.

Among it, it was mentioned that Shufei Yun’s pregnancy was not very stable, with various reactions in the early stages: drowsiness, vomiting, dizziness...

In the original book, Fang Yuaner even cursed Shufei Yun.

She said it was karma for Shufei Yun using her daughter to compete for favor.

However, Shufei Yun’s reactions were not particularly severe; common in ordinary pregnancies, so no one took it seriously.

Before Shufei Yun miscarried, the estate doctor had already said that her pregnancy would be difficult to carry to term.

Therefore, when Shufei Yun showed signs of miscarriage, even she herself found it somewhat acceptable.

The only thing no one expected was that the miscarriage would lead to hemorrhaging, which directly killed her.

Many things in this life differed from the plot in the book, so Fang Yuaner had no time to bother with small details.

Now, upon careful reflection, Fang Yuaner vaguely felt she had grasped something.

Her heart sank, and she said to Qiu Xiang, "Send someone to ask Shufei Yun, inquire if she experienced any discomfort during her previous pregnancy?"

Qiu Xiang was slightly startled, "Just ask her outright?"

Shufei Yun had already miscarried and nearly lost her life; no one in the mansion dared to bring up that pregnancy.

Fang Yuaner’s voice turned cold, "I saved her life; nothing wrong with asking a few questions? Could I harm her?"

Fang Yuaner was in really bad shape, and with Xie Run’s poisoning right in front of her, she didn’t have much time for beating around the bush.

Qiu Xiang was alarmed, "Ma’am, do you suspect Shufei Yun?"

Fang Yuaner shook her head, her vision darkening, and her frail body nearly staggered.

She quickly grabbed Qiu Xiang’s hand, "Go ask! Quickly!"

As she spoke, another wave of nausea hit her stomach, and she nearly vomited.

Qiu Xiang hurriedly said, "I’ll send someone right away!"

At the same time, Fang Yuaner rallied her spirits, "Get rid of all the incense in the room, and move anything that smells outside to the yard..."

As she spoke, Fang Yuaner turned and her gaze followed out the window, landing on the distant Summer Pool Lake.

A faint lotus fragrance drifted into her nose.

It was like a bright flash cutting through the fog, then turning into a heavy hammer slamming into her heart.

Fragrance, water.

Xie Run of Linxuan Pavilion had also been set up the same way.

Fang Yuaner stared straight at the lotus flowers on Summer Pool Lake, saying word by word, "Pull out every single lotus flower and examine them one by one!"

"And the pond water!"

Qiu Xiang froze, her heart suddenly pounding.

She too thought of how Shufei Xie had been poisoned.

Qiu Xiang quickly agreed, "Yes!"

It was already the end of October, and usually, there shouldn’t be lotus flowers.

But the prince’s estate had a greenhouse, and this year they had recently installed glass, which Fang Yuaner had ‘invented,’ and managed to grow lotus flowers in winter.

To win Fang Yuaner’s favor, the greenhouse delivered a fresh batch of lotus flowers every three to five days.

Since Summer Pool Courtyard is next to Guanyue Pond, and Fang Yuaner was naturally extravagant, she had the rare new lotus flowers placed on Guanyue Pond for display.

In winter, Guanyue Pond was covered in blooming lotus flowers with a faint fragrance—a truly spectacular and rare sight.

The lotus flowers on the water were replaced every two to three days.

This extravagance also sparked a lot of gossip in the prince’s mansion’s rear courtyard.

Fang Yuaner had never taken these discussions seriously.

The prince spoiled her, the princess was afraid of her, and she spent her own money, so she could blow it however she wanted.

She never imagined it would nearly cost her life!

Soon, news came from Shufei Yun’s side.

Qiu Xiang frowned, "Shufei Yun’s last pregnancy was smooth; she didn’t have vomiting or drowsiness, she just didn’t feel like eating much."

It really was different from the book.

Fang Yuaner was absolutely certain.

In the book, Shiqie Yun was harmed, which caused various symptoms in early pregnancy.

In this life, the culprit didn’t harm Yun but went after her and Xie Run instead.

Another court physician was called in.

Fang Yuaner had him examine the lotus flowers and water directly.

This physician had already visited Summer Pool Courtyard several times.

He even wondered if Shufei Fang might be delusional, always thinking someone was trying to hurt her.

He had checked Summer Pool Courtyard five times and never found anything wrong.

Now called back again, he felt like his old bones were about to fall apart.

The physician sighed, telling himself this was just to keep the mistress calm.

Just as he caught a whiff of the lotuses, he felt something was off.

Imperial Physician: "The fragrance of these lotuses is quite strong."

Qiu Xiang: "The greenhouse said it's a new variety, especially fresh and fragrant during winter."

Ordinary lotuses don't have much fragrance.

When the greenhouse first sent the lotuses, Qiu Xiang found the scent novel and specifically asked about it.

Upon learning it was a new variety, she watched it for a few days, saw nothing wrong, and let it go.

Qiu Xiang, her heart pounding, asked, "Is there something wrong with the lotuses?"

The imperial physician took a silver needle to test for poison, but after a while shook his head, "The lotuses are fine."

Qiu Xiang immediately said, "Then please examine this water, sir."

It was already evening.

The imperial physician who went to Linxuan Pavilion had already returned to the palace; the current one had just come from the palace. He had previously taken Fang Yuaner's regular pulse readings.

Therefore, he wasn't very clear about the details of the poisoning at Linxuan Pavilion.

Now Qiu Xiang asked him to test the water, and the imperial physician found it strange.

"What is this water?"

"It's the water from Guanyue Pond, where the lotuses are planted."

The imperial physician's expression got even stranger.

Guanyue Pond is quite far from Xiachi Courtyard; even if the water is poisoned, it wouldn't poison Shufei Fang in the courtyard, would it?

This Xiachi Courtyard is really paranoid, hearing threats in every rustle.

But the moment he leaned in, his nose twitched—something was wrong.

"Why does this water have a scent?"

Qiu Xiang's heart started racing, and she leaned in to sniff, "I don't smell any fragrance..."

The imperial physician waved his hand, "My nose has always been sensitive. The scent of this water is off; it's not the fragrance of lotuses!"

As he spoke, he took a silver needle and dipped it in to test.

Pulling out the silver needle, the imperial physician looked at it closely; his expression turned to terror.

"This water is poisoned! Deadly poison!"

All the maids and matrons of Xiachi Courtyard changed their faces.

Qiu Xiang quickly asked, "What poison is it? Is my mistress ill from this poison?"

The imperial physician, too, was startled: "This poison is quite peculiar; I have never seen it before..."

Qiu Xiang interrupted him, "Sir, you probably don't know yet. Our Shufei Xie has also been poisoned—the same poison was placed in water used to water flowers, the poison seeped into the soil and emitted a fragrance, harming her without anyone knowing."

Imperial Physician: "I'm not skilled enough; I need to talk it over with my colleagues."

Qiu Xiang also nodded and immediately went inside to inform Fang Yuaner.

"Mistress, we've found it! The water is poisoned!"

Qiu Xiang said bitterly, "What a scheme—so clever and vicious!"

"The strong fragrance of the lotuses sent by the greenhouse perfectly masked the scent in the water."

"Although this poison is toxic, once diluted in water its potency is likely low, harmless to ordinary people, but dangerous to a pregnant woman like you."

Fang Yuaner's face was pale, completely bloodless. "Smelling this lotus fragrance day by day, the poison seeps in bit by bit. Even if I end up dead in my bed one day, no one would be able to find out!"

She had Xie Run to thank for uncovering the truth over there, which warned her.

Otherwise, she would have been dead for sure!

Fang Yuaner gritted her teeth. "Report this to His Highness and Her Highness. Then bind all the maids who have come into contact with the lotuses and interrogate them!"

Guanyue Pond is quite large; for the poison to be able to poison people, it must have been added frequently.

Only the maids handling the lotuses could have done this unnoticed, carrying it all out in secret.

Her Xiachi Courtyard also had a traitor!

At that thought, Fang Yuaner's eyes turned ruthless.

"Today, blood will be spilled in my Xiachi Courtyard!"

Otherwise, they'd all think they could walk all over her!