Chapter 246

Chapter 246

When she opened her eyes again, Dan Tao said, "Milady, there are already three stewardesses waiting under the corridor, and Concubine Wan's people have also come over—there should be news to report."

"Nanny An from Concubine Jiang's courtyard has also arrived."

Xie Run couldn't help but sigh at the thought of dealing with so many matters the moment she opened her eyes.

The more she thought about it, the more she admired the Princess.

After handling the matters brought by the stewardesses, Xie Run finally met with the maid from Wan Linlang's side.

Sui Yu said, "It's nothing major, Secondary Consort Xie."

"It's just that a maid in my mistress's courtyard has caught a cold and has been coughing for days without improvement. The house physician said her illness is contagious and she can no longer stay in the courtyard."

"My mistress wants to send her back home to recover, and once she's better, she can return to serve in the courtyard."

Such matters were usually decided within each courtyard, and once handled, they were reported to Xie Run or Secondary Consort Sun as a formality.

Xie Run nodded slightly. "As long as she's settled, that's fine."

"But doesn't that leave Concubine Wan's courtyard short of a servant?"

Sui Yu replied respectfully, "My mistress only said she's being sent out to recover. Once she's well, she'll return to her duties as before, so there's no need to bring in replacements."

"Alright, I've noted this."

Sui Yu then raised another matter. "My mistress wishes to visit the Sixth Young Master in the front courtyard."

"After all, my mistress was close to Concubine Lian in the past and even cared for the Sixth Young Master for a time... My mistress always thinks of the Sixth Young Master and only wishes to catch a distant glimpse, just to see that he's healthy and well."

Xie Run smiled. "Other matters may be negotiable, but this one, I'm afraid, won't work."

"For matters in the inner courtyard, Secondary Consort Sun and I can still work something out, but the Sixth Young Master now lives in the front courtyard, cared for by the Prince's people."

"If Concubine Wan wishes to see the Sixth Young Master, she'll have to go to the front courtyard herself and plead with the Prince."

Xie Run refused too quickly, leaving Sui Yu at a loss for words.

Sui Yu looked distressed but couldn't push the issue further.

Now that the Sixth Young Master was well cared for in the front courtyard, there was no way Xie Run would let Wan Linlang anywhere near him.

Prince Jing was also about to leave the estate again. If anything happened to the Sixth Young Master at this time, both Xie Run and Secondary Consort Sun would be held responsible.

So Xie Run not only refused, but she also secretly sent word through a maid to the old nanny who looked after the Sixth Young Master in the front courtyard, telling her to keep a close watch and not let anyone with ill intentions exploit any opportunity.

After Sui Yu left, Xie Run asked Dan Tao, "What's going on with the maid in Concubine Wan's courtyard?"

If even a single blade of grass went missing from Wan Linlang's courtyard, Xie Run would grow suspicious.

This maid suddenly falling ill, Wan Linlang sending her out of the estate, and even keeping her position open for her return... that was truly strange.

Those sent out of the estate due to illness were usually not expected to come back.

Even if they did return, their original mistress wouldn't want them back, for fear of lingering illness.

Dan Tao said softly, "I asked the house physician, and the maid has indeed been ill for a long time, coughing constantly."

"Originally, Concubine Wan had a separate room prepared for her, but as a servant, coughing day in and day out in the mistress's courtyard wasn't proper."

"Concubine Wan said she'd send her out to recover, but the maid refused, afraid she wouldn't be allowed to return. So Concubine Wan agreed not to hire new servants and to bring her back once she's better."

Xie Run thought for a moment. "When that maid leaves the estate, have someone keep an eye on her."

"Since it's contagious, make sure she takes precautions and doesn't come into contact with others."

"Yes."

Xie Run then met with Nanny An.

Nanny An wore a stern expression and first paid her respects to Xie Run.

Then she said, "Secondary Consort Xie, last night Concubine Jiang suddenly claimed she felt unwell and made a fuss demanding to see the Prince, but we had people stop her."

"We suspect one of her maids accidentally revealed that the Prince stayed in your courtyard, which is why Concubine Jiang started making a scene."

"We later called the house physician to take her pulse, and both Concubine Jiang and the child in her womb are perfectly safe."

Xie Run was at a loss for words.

Prince Jing had been extremely busy lately, staying only a few nights at Songfeng Pavilion, spending his days in the front courtyard or away from the estate.

He truly seemed to despise Jiang Baobao.

Since Jiang Baobao became pregnant, Prince Jing hadn't gone to see her even once.

Now Jiang Baobao was causing a ruckus in the middle of the night—did she think it was Xie Run who was keeping the Prince from visiting her?

Xie Run considered this and then asked.

Nanny An said, "From what Concubine Jiang was shouting yesterday, it seemed to imply exactly that."

Xie Run laughed in exasperation.

This inner courtyard was ultimately a man's world. If Prince Jing truly wanted to see Jiang Baobao, could Xie Run cling to his leg and prevent him from going?

Jiang Baobao didn't dare blame Prince Jing, so instead she pushed all the responsibility onto Xie Run.

Xie Run wasn't about to take this lying down. She lowered her eyes and suddenly smiled.

She glanced at Dan Tao beside her. "Dan Tao, since Concubine Jiang says she feels unwell, go to the pharmacy and ask the house physician to prepare a prescription for stabilizing the pregnancy. Brew several bowls of it and send them all to Concubine Jiang."

"Instruct the house physician that from now on, whenever Concubine Jiang claims to feel unwell, he should brew her a few bowls of pregnancy-stabilizing medicine that's harmless to her health."

Dan Tao lowered her head, struggling to keep from laughing out loud.

Then Xie Run looked back at Nanny An. "Please make it clear to Concubine Jiang that it's her own past misdeeds that have earned the Prince's disgust, which is why he refuses to see her."

"If she keeps pushing it, the Prince may only grow more annoyed."

Nanny An bowed. "I will do as you say."

Xie Run then asked, "Is Concubine Jiang behaving herself now? She hasn't sent anyone to Songfeng Pavilion to plead to see the Prince again, has she?"

Jiang Baobao had announced her pregnancy on the day Secondary Consort Sun entered the estate and then called the Prince away, all to steal Secondary Consort Sun's thunder.

But that night, the Prince stayed at Huayu's courtyard, and afterward, he spent every night in Secondary Consort Sun's courtyard.

Because of these two incidents, Jiang Baobao had it out for both of them.

A few days ago, when she found out Prince Jing had spent the night at Cefei Sun's courtyard, she sent someone over to call for him.

Fed up, Cefei Sun finally snapped and gave Jiang Baobao a piece of her mind.

After that, Jiang Baobao was quiet as a mouse—totally out of character.

Nanny An: "Now Shufei Jiang can't stand to hear the name Cefei Sun. She's already told us not to say a word about anything to do with Songfeng Courtyard."

Xie Run smiled and nodded. "So she's been coming here to give me grief instead?"

Nanny An just sighed, not daring to say more.

"Just do what you need to do to keep Shufei Jiang in line. For every ten things you say, she'll do one—that's plenty."

"Yes, my lady."

Once that was settled, Xiaoshu came back with a maid, carrying the breakfast.

Xie Run made a point of telling Dan Tao, "The Prince is heading out of the capital on business in a few days. Later, go to the storeroom and pick out some fabric for me. I want to sew him a few spring outfits."

Dan Tao hesitated. "My lady, you're going to sew them yourself?"

Xiaoshu chimed in, "When's the Prince leaving? Can you even finish in time if you start now?"

Xie Run: "..."

It was obvious neither of them trusted Xie Run's sewing skills or her speed.

Dan Tao smiled. "Why don't we cut the fabric first, and you just do a few stitches at the end? It's the thought that counts, right?"