Wenlan also felt that Xiuzhu’s obsession had gone too far, but these words weren’t appropriate for her to say, so she could only say, “I believe Sister Xiuzhu is just stuck in a dead end for now. Sooner or later she’ll come to understand. The Princess Consort has been exhausted all day today. Let this servant help you to bed to rest.”

“I’m fine.” Saying this, Zhangsun Shi continued, “Go to the kitchen and pass along the word that from today onward, for one full year, all meals for Laiyi Hall shall be changed to vegetarian fare.”

Not long after Wenlan returned from delivering the message to the kitchen, Duan Zhihong entered with Yunyi. After dismissing Duan Zhihong, Zhangsun Shi rose and walked before Yunyi. After looking at each other for a moment, she suddenly performed a deep bow, “Please forgive me, younger sister!”

Yunyi, who was already full of doubts, was even more shocked and puzzled upon seeing Zhangsun Shi’s appearance. She stepped aside and said, “Princess Consort, what do you mean by this?”

Zhangsun Shi handed the prayer slip in her hand to Yunyi, “Do you still remember this, younger sister?”

Seeing the all-too-familiar handwriting, Yunyi nodded, “Naturally I remember. This is the prayer slip I wrote for the Princess Consort half a year ago. This item should be hanging on the wishing tree now – how is it in the Princess Consort’s hands?”

Zhangsun Shi said with emotion, “Perhaps it truly is heaven’s will. Today when I went to Daxing Shan Temple to establish a rebirth memorial tablet for the child, I was stopped by that elderly gentleman I had seen before. In the end, I spent five wen coins to buy a prayer slip, wishing for the child’s early rebirth. After I threw up the prayer slip, the topmost branch of the wishing tree suddenly broke and fell in front of me.”

Hearing this, Yunyi quickly said, “Was the Princess Consort injured? Are you all right?”

The unfeigned concern in her words warmed Zhangsun Shi’s heart, and she said gently, “Look at me now – am I not perfectly fine?”

“That’s good to hear.” Actually, after saying those words, Yunyi realized she had asked something rather unnecessary. If something had truly happened, how could Zhangsun Shi be standing before her so calmly?

“This prayer slip was what fell before me at that time. Seeing it, I realized that younger sister’s wish back then was made for me. Since younger sister wholeheartedly cared for me, how could you harm my child?” Saying this, she bowed again, saying guiltily, “Yet I judged a gentleman’s heart with a petty person’s mind. I truly feel ashamed before younger sister. Fortunately, no great disaster was caused, otherwise I would regret it for the rest of my life!”

“Princess Consort speaks too seriously.” Yunyi helped her up, saying, “The Little Prince died so suddenly. In the Princess Consort’s grief, suspecting this concubine was reasonable. If it were me in such a situation, I fear I would have been even worse.”

Hearing these words, Zhangsun Shi breathed a sigh of relief, “I’m glad younger sister doesn’t blame me.”

After they had both taken their seats, Zhangsun Shi said to Jixiang, who was standing behind Yunyi, “Last night Xiuzhu was rude. I apologize on her behalf, and I hope Jixiang won’t take it to heart. She was only overly anxious on my account and didn’t mean to offend.”

Though Jixiang was still indignant, since Zhangsun Shi had spoken to this extent, she couldn’t keep harping on it. She nodded, “This servant understands. Please rest assured, Princess Consort.”

Yunyi said slowly, “Though Xiuzhu’s words last night were somewhat excessive, she wasn’t wrong about one thing – the Princess Consort’s sudden premature birth must have been caused by someone secretly administering medicine. Does the Princess Consort have any idea who might have harmed you?”

Zhangsun Shi shook her head, “I have no leads yet, but I think someone must have infiltrated the kitchen and secretly administered medicine. It’s just… I can’t think of who would want to harm me.”

Yunyi pondered for a moment, then said, “There’s something I don’t know whether I should tell the Princess Consort.” As she spoke, she quietly glanced at Wenlan.

Zhangsun Shi understood and said to Wenlan, “It’s hot today and I’m thirsty. Go brew a cup of sour plum soup.”

After Wenlan left, Yunyi recounted in detail how Ruyi had followed Xiuzhu and discovered her meeting with Ding Yang, as well as her inquiry about light bamboo leaves at the medicine shop.

After hearing her words, Zhangsun Shi’s expression became extremely unpleasant. After a long while, she finally said, “Is younger sister suggesting that my miscarriage is related to Xiuzhu?” Without waiting for Yunyi to speak, she had already denied it, “It’s impossible. Xiuzhu has followed me for over ten years and never abandoned me even in my most difficult times. She would never do such a thing.”

Yunyi understood her feelings and said quietly, “This concubine also hopes I’m mistaken, but from what we currently know, Xiuzhu’s suspicion is indeed the greatest.”

Zhangsun Shi said excitedly, “In any case, it won’t be Xiuzhu. You must have gotten it wrong.”

Jixiang interjected, “These were all things Ruyi saw with her own eyes – how could they be false? Though Xiuzhu was loyal to the Princess Consort before, that doesn’t mean she’ll never change throughout her life.”

Zhangsun Shi gripped her hands tightly and raised her head, “What about the reason? What reason would she and Ding Yang have for harming me?”

“Perhaps it’s because of me.” Having said this, Yunyi changed the subject, “If you want to know whether Xiuzhu is the culprit who caused the Princess Consort’s miscarriage, there is a way. It just depends on whether the Princess Consort is willing to try?”

“I…” Zhangsun Shi wanted to say she was willing, but just before the words left her mouth, an inexplicable fear rose in her heart. She was afraid… afraid that all this was truly Xiuzhu’s doing. If so, not only would over ten years of master-servant affection turn to nothing, but she would have to personally deal with Xiuzhu, even… kill her!

Thinking of this, Zhangsun Shi’s hands resting on her knees couldn’t stop trembling. The fear lingered in her heart, impossible to dispel, but… the thorn couldn’t remain stuck in her throat forever!

Yunyi knew this was a difficult decision for Zhangsun Shi, so she didn’t press her. She quietly drank tea and waited until the tea in her cup had grown cold before Zhangsun Shi finally made up her mind, struggling to utter three words: “I’m willing!”

In June weather, even at night there wasn’t much coolness. Xiuzhu lay on her bed, fanning herself continuously with a round fan. She had been lying like this for a long time. Whether due to the heat or something on her mind, though she was extremely tired, she couldn’t fall asleep.

After the second watch, she finally dozed off drowsily, but before long, she was awakened by urgent knocking at the door. Irritably, she called out, “Who is it?”

“Sister Xiuzhu, it’s me!” Wenlan’s exceptionally panicked voice came from outside the door, “Something’s happened! Something’s happened to the Princess Consort!”

Hearing this, Xiuzhu immediately woke up, quickly got out of bed, put on her shoes, and opened the door. “What happened to Miss?”

Wenlan said with a crying voice, “I don’t know either. She was fine just now, then suddenly she fainted and no matter how we call her, she won’t wake up. I’m so scared, Sister Xiuzhu, what should we do?”

“Don’t panic first!” Xiuzhu tried to calm herself down, saying, “Has the physician come?”

Wenlan quickly nodded, “As soon as the Princess Consort had the incident, I immediately had someone fetch him. He should be here soon.”

“That’s good.” Saying this, Xiuzhu pulled her along, “Come on, let’s hurry over.”

When they reached the sleeping quarters, the physician had already arrived and was taking Zhangsun Shi’s pulse. The latter’s face was deathly pale, her eyes tightly closed, looking very bad indeed.