“Has the Lord awakened?” Qian Ren brought over a cup of hot tea to moisten Pei Xiao’s throat.
Pei Xiao raised his index finger to decline. “Did the Madam still go?”
“The Madam went to the medical clinic…” Halfway through his sentence, Qian Ren sensed Pei Xiao’s implication and suddenly understood: “The Madam went to the Princess Manor?!”
Realizing his oversight, Qian Ren clasped his hands and said, “This subordinate will immediately go bring the Madam back!”
“Bring?”
“No! Invite!” Qian Ren dropped to both knees.
With just one word leisurely uttered by Pei Xiao, the entire room seemed to freeze, making everyone afraid to breathe loudly.
Yet Pei Xiao unhurriedly turned over, facing away from Qian Ren. “Let her go.”
Jiang Yu never used to wear the sleeping robe he gifted her before. Today, her vibrant appearance had long hinted to Pei Xiao that she had ulterior motives.
So, she still had Meng Qingyao on her mind.
His wife was clever and calculating, even scheming against him. If he didn’t let her see something, wouldn’t she remain restless?
Understanding the implication, Qian Ren said, “Rest assured, My Lord, I have made proper arrangements!”
Pei Xiao gave an “Mm” and closed his eyes to rest. “Leave a lamp for the Madam, so she doesn’t forget where home is.”
Outside the Princess Manor.
At a dark corner of the fork in the road, Jiang Yu quietly jumped off the carriage.
While Qingdai went to fetch Doctor Wang, Jiang Yu, draped in a black cloak, headed toward the Princess Manor.
Just as she approached the manor, faint, mournful sobs were carried away by the wind.
Two hexagonal palace lanterns at the entrance flickered on and off like ghostly shadows, failing to illuminate the path clearly.
Jiang Yu felt an eerie atmosphere and tightened her cloak.
While hesitating uncertainly, she suddenly noticed a maid in green clothes in the distance, urgently pulling a doctor toward the Princess Manor.
“Liu Er?” Jiang Yu called out softly.
Liu Er, Meng Qingyao’s personal maid, stiffened her back upon hearing her name called in the darkness.
Recognizing Jiang Yu, she let out a sigh of relief and stepped forward to bow.
Jiang Yu gently helped her up. “Has Aunt’s health improved?”
“The Princess… she fell even more ill tonight, talking nonsense. Even the imperial physician sent from the palace is at a loss. It’s already the second watch, and she’s still causing a commotion!”
Liu Er glanced toward the courtyard and shook her head slightly. “This servant truly had no other choice, so I thought of finding another doctor in the city to take a look.”
Recalling how Meng Qingyao had already shown signs of madness when she and Pei Xiao left the Princess Manor, Jiang Yu feared the worst and hurried inside.
As she approached Meng Qingyao’s bedchamber, the sound of smashing objects echoed through the night.
Meng Qingyao’s door was locked, and the window paper cast a hazy, menacing shadow of a flailing figure.
Just as Jiang Yu was about to step forward, a vase smashed against the door, tearing a hole in the window paper.
“Madam, please don’t go in yet.” Liu Er stretched out an arm to stop her, gesturing for Jiang Yu to peer through the door crack.
Inside the bedchamber, tables, chairs, benches, vases, and porcelain lay shattered across the floor.
Meng Qingyao sat amidst the wreckage, her tangled and disheveled hair covering her left eye. Though her right eye could see, it was clouded and unfocused, as if her spirit had been drained.
She cradled a blood-stained white fox in her arms, gently stroking its fur while muttering incessantly, “Who killed my son? Who killed my son?”
“It’s you!” Meng Qingyao suddenly lunged forward, frantically pushing against the door. Her bloodshot eyes fixed on Jiang Yu through the crack, wild and frantic like a beast starved for three days.
Startled by the sudden attack, Jiang Yu fell to the ground.Liu Er quickly steadied Jiang Yu, whispering softly, “Please don’t take offense, Madam. The princess is not in her right mind and no longer recognizes anyone.”
Jiang Yu leaned back against the door crack, meeting Meng Qingyao’s gaze. “Aunt, Yu’er has come to see you.”
“Pei Xiao harmed me! Pei Xiao killed my daughter!” Meng Qingyao shook the door viciously.
The maids and physicians attending to her inside came to support her, but Meng Qingyao remained completely uncontrollable, continuing to roar, “Pei Xiao harmed me! Pei Xiao harmed me!”
“And you! You also harmed me! Jiang Yu, you want to harm me too!” Meng Qingyao tapped her fingers against the window, gritting her teeth. “No! Liu Er wants to harm me too!”
“May you all die terrible deaths! All of you want to harm my Nannan! Nannan… mmm!”
The maids inside covered Meng Qingyao’s mouth and helped her onto the daybed, restraining her hands and feet.
In this state, where was the dignity befitting a princess?
“Aunt was perfectly fine when I visited at noon. How did this happen?” Jiang Yu sighed with sorrow.
Liu Er wiped away tears painfully. “To be honest with you, Madam, ever since the young princess’s wedding day, the princess has suffered from hysteria, saying all sorts of unbelievable things.””
Jiang Yu continued staring intently at the struggling Meng Qingyao. “Did Aunt just say we caused the princess’s death?””
Liu Er shook her head with a sigh. “Yes, it seems the princess misses her daughter too much. One moment she slanders Lord Pei, the next she even suspects Liu Er, and even that toothless old matron – the princess suspects everyone of harming the county princess!”
Jiang Yu looked at Liu Er with interest and nodded. “So that secret Aunt mysteriously pulled me aside to tell me in the embroidery room was probably nonsense too?”
Liu Er lowered her head. “This servant dare not comment on the princess’s words.”
This was clearly tacit agreement.
According to Liu Er’s implication, there was nothing wrong with Pei Xiao – everything was just Meng Qingyao’s madness causing rumors.
Jiang Yu pressed her lips together and remained silent for two breaths. “Very well, in that case, I’ll visit Aunt again later.”
“Please take good care of her. If such ravings are overheard by those with ill intentions, not only will Aunt’s reputation suffer, but my husband will inevitably face criticism too,” Jiang Yu instructed.
Hearing this, Liu Er readily agreed and properly escorted Jiang Yu out.
After they passed through the moon gate, Jiang Yu secretly glanced back.
When she had been alone with Meng Qingyao at noon, the princess had been speaking coherently. How could she suddenly become so mad she couldn’t speak properly?
Moreover, when Jiang Yu and Meng Qingyao had locked eyes through the door crack, Jiang Yu felt there was still a trace of clarity in her gaze, constantly looking toward the northern part of the city…
Did Meng Qingyao have words she couldn’t speak?
“Madam, watch your step on the stairs.” Noticing Jiang Yu’s distraction, Liu Er supported her wrist and subtly blocked her line of sight.
Jiang Yu came back to herself, scanning their surroundings with her peripheral vision before her gaze fell on Liu Er’s gold-inlaid jade bracelet.
The bracelet was made of pure gold, set with premium Hetian jade.
How extravagant!
Jiang Yu hooked it with her pinky finger. “Liu Er, this bracelet is quite nice. A gift from Aunt?”
“Ah?” Liu Er’s hand tightened around her sleeve as she forced a dry laugh. “Yes, yes, the princess bestowed it upon this servant.”How biased of Aunt!” When she gets nice things, she never thinks of me! When she recovers, I’ll have to ask her for one too.” Jiang Yu teased.
But Liu Er didn’t join in the laughter, merely murmuring in agreement, “Yes, let’s hope the princess recovers soon.”
“There’s no need for you to worry too much. With His Majesty’s compassion and those precious medicinal ingredients he bestowed, she’s sure to recover completely.” Jiang Yu patted Liu Er’s hand.Liu Er recoiled as if electrocuted, her eyes flickering nervously. “A cure-all medicine? I’m afraid no such miraculous drug exists.”
Jiang Yu dismissed her concerns, lowering her voice. “I’ve heard there’s a Mind-Clearing Pill in the palace that can cure all ailments. The princess is of imperial blood—how could the Emperor possibly withhold it from her?”
“R-really?” Liu Er swallowed hard. “That’s good, that’s good then. May your words prove auspicious, Madam.”
Jiang Yu nodded. “So tell the maids serving inside to be more careful. You know how my aunt is—she settles scores with swift vengeance…”
“Ah!”
Liu Er suddenly missed her step, pulling Jiang Yu down the corridor steps with her.
Meng Qingyao had such a terrible temper that countless servants who offended her had met untimely ends.
Liu Er wiped her sweat, sitting dazedly on the ground.
Jiang Yu remained seated in the grass, quietly observing Liu Er’s guilty demeanor.
It was clear Liu Er had been bribed, hence her fear of Meng Qingyao waking and seeking revenge.
Perhaps the entire Princess Manor was being strangled by an invisible hand.
Meng Qingyao would never get the chance to speak.
Was Pei Xiao behind all this?
But Pei Xiao had been raised studying sacred texts—honoring rulers above subjects. How would he dare?
The more Jiang Yu thought about it, the more unsettled she became.
Only then did Liu Er remember Jiang Yu still sitting on the ground. She hastily brushed dust off her clothes and came to help her up.
“Are you alright, Madam?” Liu Er’s face was pale as paper, her voice trembling.
Everyone in Southern Qi knew the Jiang family was cherished by the Grand Secretary—who would dare let any harm come to her?
As Jiang Yu started to rise, a sudden inspiration struck. She remained seated, inhaling sharply. “I’ve sprained my ankle—it hurts terribly. I can’t stand up right now.”
“This…” Liu Er spun anxiously before Jiang Yu. “This servant will go fetch a physician immediately!”
In her panic, she forgot about leaving Jiang Yu alone and hurried away.
Jiang Yu watched her retreat until she disappeared, then confirmed they were truly alone before gritting her teeth and standing up.
Their fall had occurred not far from the embroidery room.
It was difficult for Jiang Yu to speak with Meng Qingyao directly, but fortunately, the wedding dress Meng Qingyao had given her was still hidden in the embroidery room…