How could a mere woman inquire about court factions? Even if she knew, it would bring her no benefit! Intelligence is good but misapplied, even he couldn’t save her.
Did she have any sense at all?
Taohua smiled calmly, “My lord, don’t be hasty. Let’s discuss this one step at a time. After hearing me out, you can be angry if you wish.”
Suppressing his anger, Shen Zaiye said sternly, “No matter what you say, I won’t let you meddle in court affairs.”
“I have no intention of meddling. That’s your business, my lord. I’m merely asking,” she replied. “You’re too tense.”
How could he not be? Her sharp mind often saw through his thoughts. If she learned something and pieced together his entire plan…
He’d have no choice but to eliminate her!
“Tell me what you want, all at once.”
Sitting down, Taohua calmly explained, “Today, the madam sent me to Liu’s Dried Fruit Shop to buy plums as a gift for Lady Gu. I accidentally discovered that the shop has some connection to the Meng family.”
Without elaborating further, Shen Zaiye grasped the key point.
“The dried fruit shop?” he asked, startled. “The one on Yong’an Street?”
“Precisely.”
With a deep gaze, Shen Zaiye observed Taohua’s smile and pursed his lips slightly. “The madam sent you to buy them?”
“Yes,” Taohua nodded, adding subtly, “The madam has been so attentive lately. Ever since acknowledging Lady Gu’s pregnancy, she’s been busy caring for her, afraid of any discomfort.”
Their eyes met, each understanding the other’s thoughts clearly.
Shen Zaiye suddenly smiled, his tone lightening:
“Since the madam asked you to buy them, go ahead and deliver them to Lady Gu.”
“You said it, my lord,” Taohua said with a smile. “If anything happens, you must protect me.”
“Of course,” Shen Zaiye nodded, looking at her. “With your nature of never accepting a loss, if I dared to wrong you, wouldn’t you bite back?”
Taohua feigned shyness and smiled, rising to leave. “Since you’ve said so, my lord, I’m at ease. I’ll have someone deliver the plums now.”
“Good,” Shen Zaiye nodded, watching her leave, his mood considerably improved.
Returning to his desk, he erased the question mark he had previously placed on a document, along with the adjacent name.
The crucial step of firing the cannon to topple the carriage no longer required his direct involvement.
Gu Huairou was sunbathing in the courtyard when Yuetao approached disdainfully with a paper package. “Look, mistress,” she said, “how stingy of Madam Jiang to send only a package of plums.”
“Plums?” Gu Huairou opened her eyes, frowning. “Who cares for her gifts? Throw them away!”
“Yes!” Yuetao turned to leave but heard her mistress call out, “Wait, come back.”
“Mistress?” Yuetao returned, puzzled.
Gu Huairou took the package, weighing it in her hand. “Keep them. They might be useful.”
Yuetao couldn’t understand how plums could be useful but complied, standing by silently.
A few days later, judging the time was right, Qin Jieyu leisurely visited the pharmacy. Seeing the doctor and medical assistant idle, she smiled, “I happened to pass by and wanted to relay a message from Lady Gu. Please send someone to check on her pregnancy. It’s been about a month and a half now, so it should be detectable, right?”
The doctor nodded and headed to Wenqing Pavilion with the medical assistant.
Lady Gu was feeling abdominal pain and had just sent Yuetao to fetch the doctor when they arrived at Wenqing Pavilion.
“You’ve come at the right time. Please examine me quickly,” she said, frowning. “Is the child alright? My stomach has been aching yesterday and today.”
Hearing this, the doctor hurriedly checked her pulse.
As he did so, his expression changed, and he furrowed his brow.
“What’s wrong?” Lady Gu was startled. “Is something wrong?”
“Well…” The doctor carefully rechecked and looked at the others in the room. “Some things are difficult to say. Perhaps the lady should dismiss the others first.”
Slightly taken aback, Gu Huairou quickly sent everyone away, keeping only Yuetao by her side, and then looked at the doctor with a frown.
“Forgive my directness,” the doctor said, his face pale as he bowed. “My lady… you are not with a child. The abdominal pain likely indicates your monthly cycle is approaching.”
What?
Gu Huairou’s pupils constricted as she stared at him in shock. “Impossible!”
“Perhaps my skills are lacking, and I haven’t examined thoroughly enough,” the doctor quickly added. “My lady should request a doctor from Xuanhu Hall for a second opinion.”
Her heart was racing, and Lady Gu’s eyes turned red. She clutched her stomach in a daze for a while before angrily saying, “Your skills are indeed lacking! How dare you spout such nonsense! I’ll send for a doctor from Xuanhu Hall immediately. If you dare breathe a word of this outside, I’ll ensure your entire family suffers!”
Frightened, the doctor quickly knelt and bowed before hastily packing his medical kit and leaving.
Qin Jieyu was standing not far from Wenqing Pavilion. Seeing the doctor emerge, she waved for him to be brought over.
“How is the situation?” she asked with a smile.
Still shaken, the doctor’s eyes darted about as he replied, “I’m not entirely sure. Lady Gu has already sent for a doctor from Xuanhu Hall. Perhaps you should wait and ask then.”
“How could an outside doctor be more reliable than our own?” Madam Qin covered her mouth and smiled, her eyes full of meaning. “Only your diagnosis is truly trustworthy. Tell me, did you detect a pregnancy or not?”
The doctor was shocked, looking at Qin Jieyu with fear.
She knew?
“My… my skills are inadequate. I couldn’t detect a pregnancy,” he said softly, lowering his head. “Whether there is one or not, we can listen to what the Xuanhu Hall doctor says later.”
“I see,” Qin Jieyu’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled happily. “I understand. Thank you for your hard work, doctor. Go and rest now. Look at how you’re sweating.”
After bowing, the doctor quickly left with his assistant, as if being chased by monsters.
Qin Jieyu flicked her handkerchief and walked towards Linghan Courtyard, her smile unwavering and her eyes filled with satisfaction.
So there was no pregnancy. That made things easier for her. Without her having to say anything, Gu Huairou would act exactly as they anticipated.
Everything was going smoothly as if heaven itself was helping her!
Yuetao ran in and out of the side door, having summoned an elder doctor from Xuanhu Hall. Her voice trembled as she reported, “Mistress, I couldn’t find the previous old doctor. He might have returned to his hometown.”
Taking a deep breath, Lady Gu looked at the doctor before her and directly instructed Yuetao to open her cosmetics box and take out some banknotes.
“Please check my pulse,” she said. “If it indicates pregnancy, there will be a reward. If not… I will still reward you.”
The old doctor understood and nodded. After examining her for a while, he shook his head regretfully. “Madam is not with child. It seems that previous worries and improper diet have delayed your monthly cycle.”
Lady Gu clutched her chest, gasping.
How could this be happening? Hadn’t the previous doctor confidently declared her pregnant, and everyone believed it? How could they now tell her she wasn’t? How would she explain this to the Chancellor? Wouldn’t all the women in the household laugh at her?
Composing herself, Gu Huairou took out a stack of banknotes and pressed them into the old doctor’s hand.
Seeing the amount, the old doctor was startled. “Madam?”
“Just say I accidentally consumed something that caused a miscarriage,” Gu Huairou said through gritted teeth. “There will be a greater reward once this is done.”
The old doctor hesitated for a moment, looking at the banknotes in his hand. Unable to resist the temptation of money, he nodded.
At Zhengchun Pavilion, Taohua was enjoying her lunch when Qing Taireturned, exclaiming as she entered, “Mistress, Lady Gu did miscarry!”
A couple of days ago, her mistress had predicted this would happen, and it came true so quickly.
Without even raising an eyelid, Taohua beckoned her over. “Come, eat more.”
“How can I eat at the same table as you, mistress? It’s improper!” Qing Taishook her head quickly.
“If you don’t eat now, you won’t have meat for several days,” Taohua said. “Don’t regret it later.”
What did that mean? Qing Taifrowned, hesitantly sitting down and accepting the chicken leg her mistress offered. She wanted to ask but knew from experience that even if her mistress answered, she wouldn’t understand.
Better to just eat the meat!
The table was full of meat dishes, and Qing Taididn’t know how her mistress had procured them. As she was eating enthusiastically, she heard a maid rushing in.
“Madam Jiang!” the maid shouted from the courtyard. “Something’s happened at Wenqing Pavilion. The madam wants you there immediately!”
Qingta’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked at her mistress.
Jiang Taohua remained calm, swallowing her last mouthful of rice before standing up. “Lead the way.”
“Yes!” The maid outside turned to leave. Qingta, still dazed, only remembered to put down her bowl and follow when Taohua was about to cross the courtyard gate.
“Mistress?” Looking at the maid’s expression, Qing Taianxiously asked, “Lady Gu didn’t have problems eating the plums, did she?”
Taohua nodded calmly.
Wide-eyed, Qing Taiwas confused. “You knew this would…”
Before she could finish, her mistress covered her mouth. Jiang Taohua glanced at the maid ahead, then looked at Qing Tai “Follow your mistress and don’t say too much.”
Anxious and angry, Qingta’s eyes reddened. But as a mere maid, she had no power to do anything.
Entering Wenqing Pavilion, they found a full assembly. Even Shen Zaiye was present, not to mention Madam Mei, Madam Qin, Madam Meng, and others. The entire setup looked like they were about to interrogate her.
“This concubine greets my lord and the madam,” Taohua blinked, curiously scanning the crowd. “What’s happening?”
“You dare ask what’s happening!” Madam Meng beside her wiped her tears and said through gritted teeth, “Lady Gu has lost her child. Don’t you feel any guilt?”
Taohua was shocked, her face filled with dismay as she quickly inquired, “What happened? How could a perfectly healthy child be lost just like that?”
(End of Chapter)