Chapter 92

Chapter 92

"Thanks to your quick reaction, mistress, using the eldest young lady's name to fabricate such a potent poison and excuse out of thin air," Xiaoshu said with a smile. "Even I was frightened at the time."

Xie Run: "...Actually, it wasn't entirely fabricated. I just happened to have read about this method in a book before."

Xiaoshu: "Still, you had to be calm enough to make Feihua believe it."

Xie Run laughed. "Now we've become a mistress and servant flattering each other."

Xiaoshu also laughed, her crescent-shaped eyes especially endearing.

Xie Run lowered her voice. "Everything today—from spotting inconsistencies in Sang Cao's story to exposing Concubine Han's fake pregnancy—was a gamble at every step, winning by the skin of our teeth."

"But we can't win every gamble." Xie Run looked down. "We'll have to be even more cautious in the future."

This incident also taught Xie Run a lesson.

Even if she didn't scheme against others, she had to seize the initiative.

Rather than waiting for others to harm her and then reacting at the last moment.

She was still inexperienced and far too lenient.

Xiaoshu's brow also knitted with worry.

Xie Run gently rubbed her belly. "Concubine Han is meticulous and bold. If she wants me dead, there's no way she'd stop at just the Sang Cao affair."

Xiaoshu asked, her voice full of worry, "Do you mean Concubine Han might have arranged other things to harm you?"

Xie Run pointed out, "Don't forget, that missing jade pendant still hasn't turned up."

Xiaoshu, who had just calmed down, grew anxious again.

She said, "Today's trouble began with the kite string snapping, followed by the rabbit going wild. Neither of those has been properly investigated."

Instead, it was Concubine Han jumping into the water that set off this chain of events.

Xie Run's face also darkened. "We have to brace for the worst."

"What?" Xiaoshu was slightly surprised.

"I might end up being blamed for both incidents." Saying this, Xie Run actually laughed.

She said sincerely, "If it really was all arranged by Concubine Han, I'd have to admire her for her craftiness."

Xiaoshu: "...Mistress, you're still laughing?"

If that's true, shouldn't she be panicking?

"Why panic? I'll cross that bridge when I get to it."

The hardest part is over; what's there to fear from the little stuff?

Xie Run's composure also rubbed off on Xiaoshu.

After chatting with Xiaoshu for a bit, Xie Run couldn't bear to let her be too tired, so she left with her attendants.

When she got back to her courtyard, Dan Tao had already brewed tea and was waiting.

As soon as Xie Run came back, she instructed, "Send Yueya'er to Qiufeng Courtyard to look after Xiaoshu. Have her bring clothes and bedding; she'll probably stay there for a few days."

Dan Tao served the tea and, not seeing Xiaoshu, asked, "Mistress, what happened to Xiaoshu?"

Xie Run took a sip of tea, sat silently thinking for a long time, then let out a deep sigh.

She recounted what had happened today.

Dan Tao's expression shifted repeatedly, finally settling into a look of lingering fear.

"Thank goodness you and Xiaoshu reacted quickly; otherwise, today would have been a disaster."

Xie Run nodded. Although she had escaped one calamity, her mood was still heavy.

She also warned Dan Tao, "Many things about today haven't been clarified yet. I'm afraid they will all implicate us. We need to take precautions early."

Dan Tao nodded. "I'll have people clean the storeroom and check what's missing. Then have the maids inspect each other..."

Just as she was speaking, Yueliang'er suddenly rushed in, sweating profusely.

"Mistress, two major events!"

Xie Run put down her teacup, very composed. "Give us one thing at a time; we're all ears."

Yueliang'er: "Concubine Li fell on her way back and started bleeding. After the household doctor was called, he said she needs to stay in bed to prevent a miscarriage."

Xie Run suddenly had a bad feeling. "How did Concubine Li fall?"

"The princess made sure to send maids and matrons to go with her. With so many people, how could she still fall?!"

"If it wasn't an accident, then somebody did it on purpose!"

Xie Run's heart started beating faster.

Yueliang'er nodded vigorously. "They say she tripped over a pebble, but they found out that kind of pebble is only found in our courtyard."

Xie Run suddenly thought of something. "Is it the Northern Xinjiang golden silk jade from the small hill?"

At the time of renovating Chunshan Courtyard, the steward, seeing Xie Run was pregnant and favored, was eager to ingratiate himself.

There was originally a pebble path on the small hill, but the steward leveled it and specially purchased a kind of Northern Xinjiang golden silk jade stone to pave the path.

This jade is light yellow, and when paved on the road, it shines brightly under the moonlight.

When Xie Run took evening walks, she could see more clearly.

Buying this jade in bulk cost a fortune; in the entire prince's mansion, only Xie Run's courtyard had this Northern Xinjiang golden silk jade.

So when Yueliang'er mentioned a pebble, Xie Run immediately thought of it.

Yueliang'er nodded, her eyes full of anxiety. "Mistress, Lady Li's pregnancy is at risk now. Will you be implicated?"

Xie Run said coolly, "It's no big deal. Tell me the other matter."

Yueliang'er's heart immediately relaxed, and she spoke of the second matter. "The prince had people investigate the kite string being cut at Zhishui Boat. It led back to Ju Zi, one of Concubine An's maids."

"Ju Zi adamantly claimed that Concubine An ordered her to tamper with the kite string. Before they could even torture her, she bashed her head against the wall and died."

Xie Run frowned. "Ju Zi? Why is that name familiar?"

Dan Tao reminded softly, "Master, back then when Concubine Lu stole coal from Concubine An, she was colluding with this Juzi, who was an insider."

Xie Run raised an eyebrow. "I remember now. Juzi was punished with thirty strokes, and Concubine Lu even voluntarily took ten strokes for her."

This matter was passed around as a joke in the rear courtyard.

Xie Run had also happened to overhear it, which was why she vaguely remembered.

Yueliang'er asked in confusion, "Could Juzi’s troublemaking be linked to Concubine Lu again?"

Xie Run frowned. "I don't know. But this matter is so confusing—how does it involve Concubine An?"

Yueliang'er said, "Master, I'll go out and ask around!"

Xie Run waved her hand. "Go on."

After that day's turmoil, she was indeed tired.

Soon, all the eunuchs and maids in Chunshan Courtyard learned of everything that had happened that day.

The first to come see Xie Run was Chun Juan.

Xie Run had already undone her hair bun and was about to sleep when she heard Dan Tao say, barely containing her excitement, "Master, regarding the stone matter, Chun Juan has something to report."

Xie Run thought for a moment, put on an outer robe, and said, "Let him in."

The room was amply heated with charcoal, smoke-free and cozy.

When Chun Juan entered, he looked a bit excited.

Xie Run asked softly, "What do you have to say?"

Chun Juan said, "Reporting to Master, last time Master was nearly tripped by a stone, you commanded me to investigate. But I was useless and could never find the culprit."

Xie Run seemed to catch on. "You continued investigating afterward?"

Chun Juan lowered his head sheepishly. "The first task you entrusted to me—I have to complete it well for you, to live up to your trust."