Gu Jin, being the closest, immediately spotted the pale patch of scalp and nearly choked on his tea. He coughed lightly and set down his cup.
Soon, others noticed the bald spot on Jiang Meier’s head, and everyone began whispering among themselves.
Houye and Hou Furen gasped in shock. Houye, both embarrassed and angry, quietly demanded of Hou Furen, “What is going on?”
Hou Furen was frantic and at a loss, “I don’t know! She was perfectly fine before leaving for the wedding.”
Jiang Suihuan, standing nearby, lowered her head and covered her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
Just then, a child stood up and pointed at Jiang Meier, shouting, “Mother, look! The bride is bald!”
The child’s mother quickly covered his mouth and apologized sheepishly, “A child’s words carry no harm, a child’s words carry no harm.”
Hearing the commotion, Jiang Meier, who had been kneeling on the ground, finally realized her bridal veil had fallen off. She covered the back of her head with one hand and frantically searched for the fallen red veil with the other, but it was too late—Chu Jue had already seen her.
Chu Jue was stunned. “Mei’er, what happened to your head?”
Jiang Meier had never been so humiliated. Panicked, she covered her head with both hands and sobbed, “I don’t know! It was fine before I left. Later, my scalp started itching, and when I touched it, a clump of hair fell out.”
“Could she have caught some disease?” someone among the guests blurted out.
The scene instantly descended into chaos. Guests near Jiang Meier hurriedly shuffled backward in fear, and even Chu Jue unconsciously took a step back.
“Why didn’t you say something earlier?” Chu Jue’s tone held a hint of reproach.
Jiang Meier wept pitifully, “Prince, today is our wedding day. I didn’t want to upset you with such a matter.”
Chu Jue’s heart softened, and he sighed helplessly, “Never mind. Let a physician examine you first.”
Jiang Meier was torn with indecision. Having suffered such public humiliation, she desperately wanted to flee, but how could she leave before completing the wedding rituals?
“No!” Hou Furen stood up and protested, “How can she leave before the ceremony is finished? It’s against tradition!”
Jiang Meier, as if grasping at a lifeline, looked up at Hou Furen. When she noticed Jiang Suihuan standing beside Hou Furen, she suddenly remembered something and pointed accusingly at Jiang Suihuan, shrieking, “It’s her! She’s the one who did this to me!”
Jiang Suihuan’s striking attire had already drawn attention, and now all eyes turned to her, some filled with astonishment.
“I understand you’re anxious, sister, but you can’t just accuse people without cause,” Jiang Suihuan said innocently, blinking her eyes. “I’ve been by Father and Mother’s side all along. What does your baldness have to do with me?”
“Ah! Shut up!” Jiang Meier screamed hysterically. “You were the one who did my hair! After you finished, my hair ended up like this! If it wasn’t you, then who?”
Jiang Suihuan spread her hands. “What an unjust accusation! There were people all around when I did your hair, even Mother was there. If I had done anything suspicious, they would have seen it. If you don’t believe me, ask everyone present.”
Jiang Meier grew increasingly agitated. “Then it must have been the comb you used!”
“Although the comb was used by me, it was brought by you. It seems you need to investigate those around you.” Jiang Suihuan appeared quite calm and logical, in stark contrast to Jiang Meier who seemed like a madwoman.
“It could also be you who poisoned the comb! In any case, it must be you!” Jiang Meier tightly grasped Chu Jue’s arm: “Your Highness, quickly order someone to search her! The poison must still be on her person!”
Jiang Suihuan sneered inwardly. Did they think her foolish? The used poison would have been put away long ago—why would she carry it with her?
Just as Chu Jue frowned deeply and was about to order a search of Jiang Suihuan, Gu Jin, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke in a tone as cold as deep water.
“How long do you plan to continue this farce?”
The wedding hall instantly fell silent. Gu Jin lifted his eyelids to look at Chu Jue, “I specially came to attend the wedding banquet. Is this how you receive me?”
Chu Jue dared not speak. Though he was only three years younger than Gu Jin, he had always harbored an inexplicable fear of him since childhood.
Gu Jin turned his sharp gaze to Jiang Meier, “As Chu Jue’s future Princess Consort, you falsely accused someone without any evidence. In my opinion, your virtue does not match your position.”
Jiang Meier was too terrified to breathe heavily, filled with regret. In her earlier emotional outburst, she had forgotten Gu Jin was present.
Jiang Suihuan, sitting among the guests, felt surprised. Was Gu Jin speaking up for her?
“Coincidentally, I have time today and can help you investigate.” Gu Jin instructed the guards behind him, “Go to the palace and fetch two Imperial Physicians to examine Nanming Wangfei.”
Seeing things had reached this point, the guests didn’t dare leave without permission and could only wait together.
Chu Jue felt utterly humiliated, sitting aside with a livid expression, not comforting the trembling Jiang Meier. Knowing she was in the wrong, Jiang Meier silently picked up the red bridal veil from the ground and stood behind the screen.
Soon two Imperial Physicians arrived and examined Jiang Meier behind the screen.
Gu Jin sat in the Grand Tutor’s chair, his slender fingers lightly tapping the armrest, “Well, physicians? Has this Nanming Wangfei been poisoned or fallen ill?”
The two physicians exchanged glances before one spoke, “Reporting to Beimo Wang, there are no signs of poisoning on Nanming Wangfei.”
The other physician continued, “However, based on the pulse reading, Nanming Wangfei is already three months pregnant. The hair loss is likely caused by blood and qi deficiency due to pregnancy.”
Jiang Suihuan was astonished. Jiang Meier was also pregnant, and like her, three months along.
“Mei’er is truly pregnant? And already three months?” Chu Jue was overjoyed, his dissatisfaction with Jiang Meier vanishing completely as he stood up and grabbed the physician’s arm to ask.
“Correct,” the physician nodded.
This answer completely surprised Jiang Meier, who exclaimed delightedly, “Wonderful, Your Highness! We’re having a child!”
“Someone! Quickly escort Nanming Wangfei to her room,” Chu Jue called out.
Gu Jin coldly interrupted, “Wait. The truth has been uncovered. Shouldn’t Nanming Wangfei apologize to the wrongly accused person?”
Jiang Meier’s expression stiffened. The thought of apologizing to Jiang Suihuan in front of so many people was worse than death to her.
But she had indeed wrongly accused Jiang Suihuan earlier. If she didn’t apologize, it could become a subject of criticism later.
She reluctantly walked up to Jiang Suihuan, tears welling up in her eyes, “Sister, I was too emotional just now. You’re so kind-hearted, you won’t blame me, right?”
“Of course not.” Jiang Suihuan curled her lips slightly, “But this is already the second time you’ve wronged me, sister. I hope you’ll use your brain in the future and always think twice before acting!”
“…I understand.” Jiang Meier clenched her fists tightly.
Hou Furen was very happy upon learning that Jiang Meier was pregnant. She stood up and said, “We’re all family here. Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, that’s what matters. Mei’er, you should return to your room. The Imperial Physician said you have deficient qi and blood, so you need proper rest. I’ll have someone bring the Houfu’s Millennial Ginseng over later.”
“The Houfu has Millennial Ginseng?” Jiang Suihuan looked at Hou Furen, “Mother, why didn’t you bring it out when I was so severely injured before?”