Imprisoned (1)

Some time had passed since Ping'er's death, yet there was still no progress. For one thing, it was indeed difficult to investigate; for another, I spent most of my time taking care of Han Feiyue, leaving me with truly no way to spare a moment to look into the matter.

I glanced at the two items hanging in front of my chest: one was a sachet containing a peace talisman, and the other was the sachet Ping'er had given me. Both rested against my heart at that moment.

I tucked them away properly, smoothed my collar, and then looked over at the pot of pigeon meat simmering beside me. I had added wolfberries and red dates to it, which was per Imperial Physician Gu's instructions to help build up Han Feiyue's strength.

Seeing that it would still take a while to be ready, I waited nearby.

At that very moment, I saw Jiang Chen walking over from outside the kitchen.

I stepped out and bowed to Jiang Chen, saying, "This servant greets the Sixth Imperial Prince."

"Are you preparing the evening meal?" Jiang Chen asked me.

I nodded. "Is the Sixth Imperial Prince here to see the Crown Princess? She is inside her chambers. This servant will go in and announce your presence."

"There is no need." Jiang Chen stood outside the courtyard and said to me, "During these days, you have not only taken care of the Third Sister-in-law, but I imagine Consort Mother has also received your care. Little Xiaozi, let me say thank you to you."

In my eyes, Jiang Chen had always been a refined, gentle, and courteous person. He had consistently tried to reconcile the relationship between Jiang Yun and Jiang Xuan, but unfortunately, because of the Empress, Jiang Yun had already embarked on a path of complete estrangement from Jiang Xuan.

During these days at the Huayang Palace, Jiang Chen had helped me quite a bit, and I felt deeply grateful to him.

I said, "The Sixth Imperial Prince makes this servant feel quite unworthy. This servant is merely fulfilling his own duty. For the Sixth Imperial Prince to specially offer thanks to me is something this servant truly cannot accept."

Jiang Chen smiled and said, "Very well, look at that serious look of yours. This Prince won't say it in the future then. This Prince smells something like squab soup, are you cooking it?"

I nodded and said, "The Sixth Imperial Prince's nose is truly sharp."

"Then this gift from this Prince has arrived just in time." With that, Jiang Chen took out a box, handed it to me, and said, "This is blood bird's nest given to me by someone else. Since I am not a woman, I naturally have no use for such things. Next time you make bird's nest and squab soup, let Consort Mother share in the benefit as well."

"This servant—"

"Little Xiaozi, quickly accept it. This is not given to you by me, but offered in filial piety to the Third Sister-in-law, and also for Consort Mother's benefit. You have no reason to refuse this Prince."

With Jiang Chen putting it this way, I truly had no way to refuse. I took it and said to Jiang Chen, "Then this servant will thank the Sixth Imperial Prince on behalf of the Crown Princess first."

"Mm. By the way, have you returned to the Cuiwei Palace recently? Not long ago, I even ran into the Ninth Younger Brother, and he asked me to try to find people to help you. This is not the first time the Ninth Younger Brother has said such words."

Jiang Xuan had said such things to him? For a moment, I remained silent.

Jiang Chen thought for a moment and said, "Come to think of it, it was half a month ago. It was very late at that time, and the Ninth Younger Brother suddenly came to find me. We chatted for a long time within the palace, and the Ninth Younger Brother did not return until late in the night. During our conversation, he also mentioned having this Prince send people to help you. But as for this courtyard, you know as well that this Prince cannot enter at will, nor can I arrange for people to be placed here. This Prince originally thought you would come to find me if you encountered any difficulties, but who would have thought that you haven't come even once. It seems the Ninth Younger Brother worried in vain."

"The Sixth Imperial Prince said half a month ago?"

"Mm," Jiang Chen said. "It's not because I remember it clearly, but rather because the very next day this Prince learned that a palace maid who had served His Majesty had been murdered. His Majesty was in poor spirits, and since the matter left a deep impression, I remembered that date."

Suddenly, a certain memory flashed through my mind.

When I went to Jiang Xuan's palace last time, Jialin had mentioned to me that Jiang Xuan had once stayed out very late without returning. That was also the day Ping'er died. And Jiang Xuan had later spoken to me in the room, saying he knew about the cause of Ping'er's death. Could it be because of this that Jiang Xuan also came to the Huayang Palace that late night, only he did not come to see me, but instead asked Jiang Chen to find someone to help me?

No, no, I must not think about Jiang Xuan anymore. Perhaps all of this could not be connected at all.

"Do not space out, the pigeon soup might be done," Jiang Chen reminded me with a smile.

Hearing this, I snapped back to reality and hurriedly said, "Then this servant will be going back inside. Many thanks to the Sixth Imperial Prince for the bird's nest."

I hurriedly took the blood bird's nest and ran into the kitchen.

That evening, I attended to Han Feiyue as she consumed some of the squab soup.

Everything was fine, but in the dead of night, I was suddenly jolted awake by the sounds of Han Feiyue's groans of pain.

I rushed over hurriedly, quickly lit the lamp, and saw Han Feiyue curled up on the bamboo bed, her forehead covered in a fine layer of cold sweat.

"My Lady, what is wrong with you?"

"My stomach hurts so much... Go, quickly go call the imperial physician!"

"Yes! My Lady, hold on, this servant is going for the physician right now!" As soon as I stepped out of the door, I ran straight into the Virtuous Consort.

"This servant greets—"

"There is no need for formalities," the Virtuous Consort's tone was more urgent than usual. "Go fetch the imperial physician, I will look after things here first."

"Many thanks, Virtuous Consort." Without daring to delay for even a second, I hurried toward the Imperial Hospital.

The physician on duty that night happened to be Imperial Physician Gu. When he followed me back and we entered the room, I suddenly noticed some bloodstains on the bamboo bed.

Imperial Physician Gu was also startled and quickly stepped forward to examine her.

Because I was a eunuch, my presence posed many inconveniences. Perhaps the Virtuous Consort had already notified Jiang Chen, for just as Imperial Physician Gu and I arrived, several palace maids entered.

Given the urgency of the situation, this was necessary.

I stood outside the door waiting anxiously, and Jiang Chen was standing right outside as well.

Presumably, Jiang Chen had also sent word to the Eastern Palace, for Jiang Yun, Gong Wu'e, and the Empress arrived very shortly.

"Sixth Brother, what on earth is going on here? How long has Imperial Physician Gu been inside?" Jiang Yun asked anxiously outside the courtyard. He tried to step inside, but was blocked by Jiang Chen.

"Third Brother, do not worry, Imperial Physician Gu hasn't been inside for very long. With Imperial Physician Gu's supreme medical skills, the Third Sister-in-law will be fine. Third Brother, please wait patiently for a moment."

"How could her stomach suddenly start hurting for no reason? Didn't Imperial Physician Gu say her condition had stabilized? He said Feiyue's health was getting better and better!" Jiang Yun paced back and forth in anxiety.

"Perhaps she craved something she shouldn't have eaten? She didn't want this child at all, did she? Who brandishes weapons and acts recklessly right after finding out they're pregnant? It's glaringly obvious she didn't want Your Highness's child. Or perhaps her own guilty conscience made her afraid to give birth to this vile spawn conceived through illicit relations with another man!" Gong Wu'e chimed in from the side with a sarcastic tone.

"Gong Wu'e, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?" Jiang Yun roared at Gong Wu'e. "Do you simply not want this child to be born? What on earth are your intentions? I originally thought you were a pure and kind-hearted woman, how did you become like this after entering the palace? Had I known this earlier, I would never have married you under any circumstances."

It was clear that Jiang Yun was truly enraged. The Empress glanced at Gong Wu'e, then said to Jiang Yun, "Crown Prince, what kind of talk is this in a place like this? Wu'e speaks without thinking, but she has no malicious intent. Do not bicker with her at a time like this; Feiyue's health is what's most important."

"Empress Mother, your son—"

"Alright, Wu'e, you say less as well. That matter was laid to rest long ago, and even the Crown Prince believes Feiyue, why must you refuse to believe her? Do not stir up trouble here, can't you see the Crown Prince is worried?"

"Aunt, I merely spoke the truth, she originally—"

"Are you still going to speak?" Jiang Yun raised his hand as if to strike Gong Wu'e.

Gong Wu'e ran behind the Empress in fright and cried out, "Look, the Crown Prince is actually hitting me! Aunt, look at him—"

"Sigh... how could I have married someone like you?" Jiang Yun sighed and lowered his hand.

I had no heart to watch their bickering; my only concern right now was Han Feiyue's health.

Finally, Imperial Physician Gu walked out from inside, knelt before the Empress, and said, "This old servant has failed in his duty; the Crown Princess has lost the child. I beg the Empress and the Crown Prince for punishment!"

"What?" Jiang Yun rushed up to Imperial Physician Gu and asked in disbelief, "What did you say? How could a perfectly fine child be gone? Wasn't it just feeling unwell? Imperial Physician Gu, are you certain you diagnosed her correctly?"

Imperial Physician Gu replied, "This old servant has diagnosed her clearly. Her Highness has started bleeding, and the child is already gone. Her Highness has fainted from the shock, but she will wake up after a while. This old servant will write out a few prescriptions—"

"Write prescriptions for what? I order you to save that child, do you hear me?"

Jiang Yun's emotions were spiraling out of control, and Jiang Chen hurriedly pulled him back, saying, "Third Brother, matters have reached this point, you can only accept it. You and the Third Sister-in-law haven't been married long; there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. The most important thing now is to recuperate the Third Sister-in-law's health. Imperial Physician Gu, go write the prescription."

"Thank you, Sixth Imperial Prince!"

Just as Imperial Physician Gu was about to withdraw, he suddenly heard the Empress call out, "Imperial Physician Gu, wait!"

Imperial Physician Gu asked respectfully, "Does the Empress have any further instructions?"

"I ask you, why did the Crown Princess suffer a miscarriage?"

"This... this old servant has not yet investigated the cause."

"Why don't you hurry and investigate?"

"Yes!"

"Aunt," Gong Wu'e stepped forward and said, "Since the child is gone, it's gone, why bother investigating? Wu'e suspects I was right all along; she didn't want this child at all. Aunt, why must you force her? If she cannot give birth, isn't there still Wu'e? Wu'e will certainly strive to add an imperial grandson to the imperial family as soon as possible."

"Wu'e," the Empress said, "mind your words now. Before the matter is investigated, no conclusions can be drawn. Even if she truly did not want this child, it is not up to her to decide. Can we allow a child of our imperial family to be discarded simply because she says so? If it truly was her doing, I will not spare her!"

Upon hearing this, Gong Wu'e immediately said, "Then Aunt has even less reason not to investigate! Does Aunt not remember when she confessed herself that she harbored another man in her heart?"

"Gong Wu'e, things have come to this, must you keep bringing that up?" Jiang Yun shouted.

The Empress placated him, saying, "Yun'er, we must maintain some suspicion in all matters. Although Wu'e's words sound harsh, what she says is not entirely unreasonable. Hearing what happened that day alongside today's events, it indeed seems rather suspicious. If Feiyue did not intentionally cause this, Mother will naturally take good care of her. But if Feiyue indeed did it intentionally, then I cannot easily forgive her. Willfulness must have its limits; this is no longer just a matter between her and you."

Jiang Yun was clearly persuaded by the Empress. He lowered his gaze slightly and said, "Very well, let this matter be handled according to Mother's wishes."