Chapter 132: Concern

Chapter 132: Concern

Jiang Hui glanced at Sun Guiren, walked into the inner chamber, and seeing Wan Cairen still unconscious, asked the physician, "How is Wan Cairen?"

The physician quickly greeted her and responded, "My Lady, Wan Cairen's pulse is deep, smooth, and weak. Her tongue is pale with a thin white coat. I've prescribed medicine to strengthen the liver and kidney, and to secure the fetal qi. She should recover after a few doses."

Autumn Kui stepped forward and inquired, "Does this mean Wan Cairen is indeed pregnant?"

"Yes," the physician wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Wan Cairen has been pregnant for over two months."

Over two months?

Jiang Hui nodded, instructing him to prepare the prescription. She then asked Xiaodie, the maid attending Wan Cairen, "Tell us exactly how Wan Cairen fell."

Xiaodie, tearful, knelt down and replied, "My Lady, Sun Baolin pushed Wan Cairen because she knew Wan Cairen was also performing a dance at the Mid-Autumn Festival, fearing that Wan Cairen would outshine her."

Before she could continue, Jiang Hui showed no interest in hearing more and left the chamber. Sitting back outside, she said to Sun Qingyun, "Sun Baolin, since you claim that any maid present can witness, pick anyone to testify. If she says you didn’t push Wan Cairen, I’ll believe you."

Surprised, Sun Baolin looked up at Jiang Hui and hastily pointed to a maid behind her, quickly saying, "My Lady, let Xiangqiao speak. I truly didn’t push Wan Cairen on purpose!"

Needless to say, this maid named Xiangqiao must be one of Sun Baolin’s trusted senior maids.

The maid Xiangqiao, pointed out by Sun Baolin, stepped forward and knelt down before Jiang Hui. After performing a grand salute, her face pale with hesitation, she stammered, "My Lady, at that time, both Sun Guiren and Wan Cairen were standing by the shore. My mistress saw them and went forward to greet them, but then…"

She glanced at Jiang Hui, fear evident in her eyes, and struggled to continue speaking.

"Just what? Xiangqiao, speak up! I never intentionally pushed Wan Cairen!" Sun Baolin urged anxiously.

"It's just that…" Xiangqiao lowered her head, her voice trembling, "Perhaps walking too fast on the pebbled path, she lost her balance and unintentionally pushed Wan Cairen..."

"Xiangqiao?!" Sun Baolin's face changed drastically as she grabbed Xiangqiao's arm, "What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Xiangqiao, still not daring to look up, pleaded, "My Lady, my mistress didn't do it on purpose, it was an accident…"

"Slap—"

Sun Baolin slapped Xiangqiao, cutting off her words.

Sneering, she looked around, her gaze lingering on Sun Guiren before turning back to Xiangqiao, angrily accusing, "What did Sun Manyun promise you? She's just a disgraced, disfigured woman. Why betray me for her? Since you've already betrayed me, don't pretend it was an accident, coward!"

"How can you speak like that, sister?" Sun Guiren stepped back, her tone tinged with a sense of being wronged, "My Lady only asked you to pick any maid to speak. Xiangqiao was your choice. How can you blame this on me?"

"Hmph! Wretch!" Sun Baolin spat out bitterly, turning to kneel before Jiang Hui, and said, "I have nothing more to say. Please punish me as you see fit, My Lady."

Jiang Hui gently blew on the tea in her hand, took a sip, and then set down the cup, saying indifferently, "Since the maid claimed it was an accident, let's punish Sun Baolin with three months of confinement and a year's salary deduction. Sun Baolin, do you object?"

Sun Baolin bowed her head and replied, "I have no objections, My Lady."

"As for Sun Guiren…" Jiang Hui glanced at everyone in the room and smiled slightly, "For her role in protecting the imperial heir, reward her with double salary for one month and ten rolls of Yuehua silk."

Concubine Sun quickly hid the disappointment in her eyes and respectfully said, "I thank Noble Consort Zhao for her grace."

Jiang Hui hummed in acknowledgment, suddenly remembering something, and said to Qiu Kui, "Since Wan Cairen is pregnant, the servants attending to her in Jiaxue Xuan are not quite suitable. Go to the Internal Affairs Department and have Quan Xi bring some people for Wan Cairen to choose."

"Yes," replied Qiu Kui, helping Jiang Hui to stand, clearly indicating it was time to return to Yaohua Palace.

"Farewell, Noble Consort Zhao," a group of people immediately bowed to send her off.

Just as Jiang Hui left Chonghua Palace, she met Consort He, hurriedly descending from her palanquin at the gate, who regretfully said, "Ah! Noble Consort Zhao, why are you leaving? I'm late! I'm late!"

She approached Jiang Hui, sighing, "Why did I choose to be lazy today and not go to Taiye Pool!"

"Not late," Jiang Hui said quietly, seeing Consort He's eyes light up, "Unintentionally, Wan Cairen's sister Sun Baolin, who lives in Yufu Palace, was pushed. Though I have punished her with confinement, once she's out, sister, you might find some amusement too."

"Ah!" Consort He clapped her hands and laughed, "That's true indeed!"

At Jiaxue Xuan, after everyone dispersed, Concubine Sun went to the inner chamber, sat beside Wan Cairen's bed, took the medicine brought by Xiao Die, and gently said, "Sister Feng, they've left. Get up and drink this medicine. After all, you're carrying a child."

Hearing this, Wan Cairen opened her eyes, sat up, hurriedly took the medicine bowl, and drank it, then anxiously asked, "Sister Sun, how did it go? Noble Consort Zhao didn’t notice anything, did she?"

Concubine Sun paused, thinking to herself that since her arrival at the palace, none of the favored consorts had lasted long. Even Queen Wang, who once stood equal to Noble Consort Zhao, had dug her own grave and ended up without a complete corpse. With these examples, if she thought Noble Consort Zhao couldn't see through their ploy, she would be as foolish as Sun Qingyun!

However, for consorts like them, as long as they didn't directly confront Noble Consort Zhao, would she really bother with those who fell for their tricks?

Indeed, this time Noble Consort Zhao showed some mercy to Sun Qingyun, not imposing severe punishment, but also didn’t reveal their scheme, clearly indicating indifference.

These thoughts flashed quickly, and Concubine Sun comforted with a smile, "Sister Feng, don’t worry. Sun Baolin has been punished with confinement and can’t come out for three months. By the time she’s out, the Emperor will have long forgotten her, and she can't compare to you, who is now pregnant."

Wan Cairen shook her head, placing the medicine bowl on the wall table under the "Child-Giving Guanyin" painting, and said with concern, "Sister Sun, we’ve wronged her, but since her mother harmed yours, it’s karma. Have you vented your anger?"

Sun Guiren paused, her fingers curling slightly in her sleeve, then suddenly smiled, "Sister Feng, I know you care about me."