Chapter 269

Chapter 269

Cefei Sun brought people to corner Jiang Baobao in her bed and insult her?

Xie Run: "..."

Now that was an interesting statement.

Everyone in the household knew that two days ago, Jiang Baobao had nearly suffered a hemorrhage from anger.

Tonight, Cefei Sun deliberately brought a group of maids and matrons to her door to insult her, taking control of the situation and deliberately picking a time when Jiang Baobao was confined to bed and couldn't move.

There wasn't a soul in Prince Jing's mansion who didn't know Jiang Baobao's temper.

After that kind of humiliation, anyone with a shred of pride wouldn't just hemorrhage from rage—they'd be more likely to hang themselves.

Everyone in Prince Jing's mansion also knew Cefei Sun's temperament.

For someone who was always so composed to act so recklessly, if she tried to claim it wasn't deliberate, Jiang Baobao would be the first to call her out on it.

Xie Run said sternly, "Send someone to fetch Cefei Sun."

Just as she finished speaking, Xie Run thought of something and said to Xiaoshu, "Go round up more maids and matrons. If Cefei Sun won't come willingly, tie her up and drag her here if you must!"

Xiaoshu hurriedly obeyed.

Maids were bustling in and out of the room, and the mansion physician kept going in to administer acupuncture and check on her, urging people to check whether the imperial physician had arrived yet.

He explained, "The imperial physicians in the palace who specialize in gynecology each have one or two secret acupuncture techniques that are extremely effective for stopping bleeding."

"We'll need the hemostatic acupuncture along with medication to stop Jiang Shufei's bleeding."

Before long, someone shouted from outside, "The imperial physician's here! The imperial physician's here!"

The imperial physician was rushed in carrying his medicine box, his forehead drenched in sweat.

Since everyone had to leave the room during the acupuncture, the mansion physician and the others were also shooed out.

Xie Run asked in a low voice from the side, "Now that the imperial physician is here, after losing all that blood, can Jiang Shufei still recover?"

The mansion physician bowed to Xie Run and said with some hesitation, "Given Jiang Shufei's condition, just surviving would be the best possible outcome."

"From now on, her health will likely be far worse than before, and as for having children... that's even less likely."

Xie Run understood.

After this ordeal, Jiang Baobao would be bedridden for the rest of her life, reliant on herbal medicine, and would never be able to bear children again.

For a woman in the inner quarters to end up like this was one of the most tragic fates imaginable.

Cefei Sun had landed a killing blow in a single move!

After one round of acupuncture from the imperial physician, the bleeding finally stopped.

Xie Run said with a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness, at least her life is saved."

Just then, a maid announced, "Cefei Sun is here."

As the words fell, Cefei Sun appeared in plain clothes, all her hair ornaments removed, looking like someone coming to confess her guilt.

"I have done wrong, and I beg Cefei Xie to punish me."

A veil covered her face, and faint scars with blood scabs were visible on it.

Her eyes were lowered, her expression cold and detached, as if she had already resigned herself to her fate.

Xie Run glanced at her and asked, "Did you hear that Jiang Shufei nearly had a hemorrhage from anger two days ago?"

Cefei Sun was silent for a moment. "I heard."

"So you deliberately brought people to insult her in the middle of the night, just waiting for this moment?"

"Did you want to see her bleed to death, or ruin her health so she'd be bedridden for life and never conceive again?"

Cefei Sun explained, "I did go to her door to insult her, but I never meant to harm her!"

"I was just overcome with anger for a moment. In the middle of the night, I looked in the mirror and just couldn't hold back my resentment, so I brought people along to vent."

"Who would have thought Jiang Shufei had such a fierce temper that she'd actually make herself hemorrhage like that."

Xie Run looked at her coolly. "Cefei Sun has always been clever. Can you really claim you couldn't guess Jiang Shufei would anger herself into a hemorrhage?"

Cefei Sun lowered her head, a hint of stubbornness showing. "I didn't know."

"Even though I didn't intend to harm Jiang Shufei, her hemorrhage is still my fault, and I'm willing to accept punishment."

Xie Run smiled. "Don't bother."

"We're both Cefei. What right do I have to punish you?"

"Cefei Sun, head back for now. Wait for the Princess Consort's orders tomorrow." Xie Run paused, then deliberately added, "In case Cefei Sun hasn't thought things through, let me remind you of two things."

"The Princess Consort is unwell right now, so of course her health and the child in her womb come first. You must not suddenly barge into Qingsong Courtyard and upset her into some kind of accident."

"These are troubled times. If Cefei Sun truly wants to atone, then stay put in your own courtyard."

Cefei Sun gave Xie Run a long, hard look. "It's still Cefei Xie who thinks most carefully on behalf of the Princess Consort."

Xie Run smiled modestly. "Now that the Prince isn't in the mansion, the Princess Consort is the only one who can shield Prince Jing's mansion from wind and rain."

"Cefei Sun comes from a noble family and should know that the honor and shame of the concubines in the inner quarters all rest on the mistress of the household."

"There are some principles Cefei Sun understands even better than I do."

Cefei Sun curled her lips into a smile that didn't reach her eyes, then turned and left.

Xie Run's words just now had also been driven by fear of Cefei Ning's ruthlessness.

She had originally thought Cefei Sun was clever and sharp.

But looking at how she dealt with Jiang Baobao, it was a killing blow with no way out left for Jiang Baobao.

From the very start, Cefei Sun's move was meant to take Jiang Baobao's life.

Why else would she pick the middle of the night of all times? That was when it was hardest to get an imperial physician.

If Jiang Baobao's life hadn't been so tough, she would have already bled to death and become a corpse.

The tactics Cefei Sun used against Jiang Baobao could equally be applied to the Princess Consort.

If she charged into Qingsong Court to "confess,"

the Princess Consort, already a high-risk pregnant woman, would face a double tragedy—losing both mother and child.

Though Cefei Sun probably wouldn't be dumb enough to do that, what if she did?!

Xie Run couldn't take that risk.

Xie Run had zero interest in becoming Princess Consort; she just wanted a quiet life.

If the Princess Consort died, her peaceful days would be over for good!

Though Jiang Baobao's life was saved, she was still unconscious.

Xie Run made arrangements and returned to her own courtyard at first light.

She pushed everything aside and had her son brought to her bed.

Holding Taotao in her arms, she crashed out!

No matter how great the crisis, nothing could disturb their time together, mother and son.

Xie Run assumed Jiang Baobao would wake up and demand revenge against Cefei Sun.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Baobao was surprisingly calm.

Dan Tao reminded her, "Mistress, don't forget—Shufei Jiang may seem tough, but she's all bark and no bite."

"Her past loudmouth behavior came from either her status and favor or having kids."

"Now she has nothing—her health is ruined, and she can no longer conceive. Where would she find the nerve to make waves?"

Xiaoshu set down a plate of freshly washed fruit. "I think, after staring death in the face, Shufei Jiang should have settled down by now."

Xie Run just said, "Hope so."

Xiaoshu also mentioned another matter. "Mistress, you really know how to read people."

"Xing'er actually managed to soothe Shufei Jiang. Shufei Jiang spared her life and even protected her, not holding the betrayal against her."

"She's still serving Shufei Jiang now."

Xie Run said, "Xing'er is clever and sharp."

"If Jiang Baobao truly settles down, she'd do well to listen to Xing'er's advice from time to time. They can look out for each other down the road."

Xiaoshu peeled a fruit and handed it to Xie Run. "Isn't that so? If they'd done this earlier, those two wouldn't have ended up where they are today."

Xing'er had taken a huge risk by betraying Jiang Baobao back then.

Besides Jiang Baobao's violent temperament, there was also her controlling nature—she never listened to advice.

Xing'er feared that following such a mistress, she'd get caught up in some huge mess and end up dead.

With Jiang Baobao so subdued, the whole household seemed to quiet down.

The Princess Consort did not punish Cefei Sun, only stripped her of her power to run the household and locked her in Songfeng Court until Prince Jing returned to decide her fate.

With Cefei Sun out of the picture, Xie Run had even more on her plate.

Still, she let out a sigh of relief.

At least she was busy with household affairs, not with sorting out who tried to kill who.