Hong Qiao pointed at Chu Youqi without hesitation: “Three hours ago, the Prince, for some reason, brought the Cefei to Linglong Ge. Without any explanation, he ordered Wangfei to kneel in punishment, with dozens of guards beating her with clubs. Wangfei, being a delicate woman, was no match for them and was nearly beaten to death.”
“You little wretch, what nonsense are you spouting!” Chu Youqi’s eyelids twitched violently as he snapped angrily, “When did This Prince order anyone to beat Wangfei?”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan’er immediately looked at Nanny Lin, who shook her head. She had indeed used the whip a few times, but it had been specially treated and would definitely not leave scars on the body.
So, there was no way this blame could be pinned on her.
“This maid is full of lies. First, she blocked This Wangfei from entering, and now she’s twisting the truth here. If it weren’t for San Wangye’s kind heart, This Wangfei would have long had her beaten to death with a single blow.”
Princess Qing put on a full display of her authority, her face filled with disdain.
“Cefei, could it be that Wangfei isn’t even in the residence, and this maid is just making things up?”
Nanny Lin whispered her speculation, but her voice was loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. Jiang Yan’er turned her head and scolded, “Don’t talk nonsense. Although Wangfei is often not in the residence, we did see her three hours ago.”
This remark was meant to remind everyone that Jiang Yunxu frequently went out.
Princess Qing sneered, “Third Princess Consort’s reputation for ferocity is indeed well-deserved.”
Meanwhile, Madam Mu said seriously, “Since we’re already at the door, whether she’s severely injured and unable to get up or simply not in the residence, won’t we know once we go inside?”
“This maid…”
Nanny Lin pointed at Hong Qiao, but this time, Hong Qiao actually stepped aside without hesitation. For some reason, this action made Nanny Lin’s eyelids twitch.
“This Wangfei will go take a look first.” Princess Qing entered first, with the others following closely behind.
As soon as they entered, everyone smelled a strong odor of blood mixed with the thick scent of medicinal ointment. Princess Qing rushed forward, pulled open the bed curtains, and upon seeing the person on the bed, her pupils instantly contracted.
Madam Mu also leaned in and, after seeing clearly, exclaimed, “Heavens, how could she be injured like this?”
The reactions of these two made Chu Youqi’s eyelids twitch violently. Unable to contain his curiosity, he glanced at the bed and immediately sensed that something was wrong.
“Nanny Lin!” Chu Youqi shouted. He had indeed wanted to teach Jiang Yunxu a lesson, but he had never intended to resort to violence, let alone beat her so severely.
Her face was bruised and swollen, and she looked extremely weak, as if she could stop breathing at any moment.
Nanny Lin glanced over and immediately cried out in protest, “Prince, even if you gave this servant ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare to beat Wangfei like this!”
She couldn’t understand how Jiang Yunxu had ended up in this state. She had only used the whip a few times.
“Nanny Lin, this is your fault. How dare you be so bold? Someone, gag Nanny Lin, drag her out, and beat her to death!”
Jiang Yan’er reacted quickly. At this moment, she had to find a scapegoat to avoid being held accountable when questioned later.
“Cefei?” Nanny Lin panicked, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing to Jiang Yan’er, but Jiang Yan’er stopped her with a sharp glare: “After all these years of serving me, I’ve always treated you like family. Yet you harmed Wangfei like this, betraying my trust in you.”
Jiang Yan’er tightly clung to the word “family,” intending it as a threat. Nanny Lin, of course, understood. Her eyes suddenly turned dim as she looked up at Princess Qing, who remained indifferent, and Madam Mu, who was filled with righteous anger. In her heart, she knew she had become a dead pawn.
As Nanny Lin was dragged away by two guards, she continued to shout loudly, “That’s right, this matter was done by this servant! I only sought revenge for my severed hand. Moreover, Wangfei repeatedly bullied you, and I simply couldn’t stand it any longer.”
After being dragged away, the sound of wooden boards soon echoed from outside the door. Not long after, a guard came to report that Nanny Lin had stopped breathing.
Jiang Yan’er breathed a sigh of relief. Holding a handkerchief, she stepped forward and sat on the couch, taking Jiang Yunxu’s hand as she choked back tears. “Sister, it was all Nanny Lin’s fault. Who would have thought she could hold such a grudge?”
“Yan’er, this matter has nothing to do with you. It was all that old wretch’s idea alone. Besides, if Jiang Yunxu hadn’t been so cruel and ruthless in the first place, Nanny Lin wouldn’t have sought revenge later.”
Chu Youqi felt no sympathy for Jiang Yunxu, who lay half-dead on the bed. Instead, his heart ached for Jiang Yan’er, who was shedding tears. “Your health is weak; don’t harm yourself.”
“She’s not dead yet, so don’t rush to mourn.” Jiang Yunxu couldn’t bear to watch any longer. She opened her eyes, blood trickling from the corner of her lips. Struggling to sit up, she coughed weakly, her gaze filled with disappointment as she looked at the two before her. “My position as Wangfei was bestowed by the Late Emperor. If you want it, just take it. Why go to such lengths to plot against my life?”
Jiang Yan’er frowned.
“You wretch, what nonsense are you spouting again? Yan’er has already severely punished Nanny Lin to seek justice for you. What more do you want?” Chu Youqi glared down at Jiang Yunxu with contempt.
He wished Nanny Lin had finished Jiang Yunxu off directly. To uproot the grass without removing its roots—what a careless mistake.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yunxu covered her chest, coughing incessantly. Then, unable to catch her breath, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
“Wangfei!” Hong Qiao cried out.
Chu Youqi was stunned. Since when had Jiang Yunxu become so fragile?
At this moment, Princess Qing felt as if she had swallowed a fly—disgusted and nauseated. She had originally intended to support Jiang Yan’er, but she never expected the two of them to be so foolish as to provoke Jiang Yunxu to death at such a critical moment.
Now, she felt neither able to leave nor stay, caught in an awkward position.
Madam Mu untied the waist token from her waist and handed it to her maid. “Quickly, summon an Imperial Physician.”
“Wait!” Jiang Yan’er suddenly called out to stop them. She said awkwardly, “There’s no need to trouble Madam Mu. Wangfu has its own physician on hand.”
If news spread to the palace, Sanwangfu would have no way to explain.
Hearing this, Madam Mu didn’t press further and recalled her maid. Sighing, she said, “Since Wangfei is unwell, I shall visit another day.”
With that, Madam Mu turned and left, eager to make a trip to the palace. Princess Qing also departed alongside her, abandoning her original purpose for coming and leaving in haste.
Once they were gone, Jiang Yan’er’s face tightened. Her eyes scrutinized Jiang Yunxu up and down, feeling as though she had been outmaneuvered.
The arrival of Princess Qing and Madam Mu had been too coincidental.
“Prince, this matter cannot be concealed. Killing a nanny won’t settle it.”
Jiang Yan’er dug her fingernails into her palm. After this commotion, she felt herself drifting further and further away from the position of principal wife.
“What should we do now?” Chu Youqi looked at the person on the couch with disgust, wishing he could strangle her to death. Troublemaker, why won’t she just die?
“The Prince should enter the palace to plead for forgiveness.”
Rather than being exposed by others, it is better to take the initiative to plead for mercy, which may lead to lenient treatment.
“This Prince will go now.”
Chu Youqi left, and Jiang Yan’er stood by the bed, looking down at Jiang Yunxu from above. She took a deep breath and probed, “Sister, stop pretending, everyone has left.”
However, the person on the bed showed no reaction at all. Jiang Yan’er wondered, had she really fainted from anger?
No, she didn’t believe it.
Soon, the physician arrived. Under Jiang Yan’er’s indication, the physician took the pulse and said, “Wangfei, she is indeed severely injured.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan’er wished she could whip Nanny Lin’s corpse—what a fool, to have injured someone so badly!