If Worthy Consort had spoken up at this moment, Princess Rongyang could have saved face and let the matter drop. However, Worthy Consort had no intention of intervening.
She had been dissatisfied with this daughter-in-law for a long time but refrained from making a scene due to her reputation. Now that Princess Rongyang had taken the lead, she was content to watch the drama unfold. Later, when things became tense between the two, she could step in to smooth things over, making Prince Yan’s wife understand that the palace was different from elsewhere, and without the protection of elders, she would suffer.
Everyone present was stunned by Jiang Si’s boldness.
Wasn’t Prince Yan’s wife afraid that Princess Rongyang would report this to the Empress Dowager or the Emperor?
Even if Princess Rongyang didn’t say anything, based on her status as an elder, if she wanted to teach Prince Yan’s wife a lesson, what could Prince Yan’s wife do but endure it?
As everyone watched the situation unfold, Jiang Si, preempting Princess Rongyang’s outburst, suddenly frowned and clutched her belly. “Your Highness, I’m feeling unwell. I’d like to rest somewhere for a while.”
Princess Rongyang laughed, “Just a moment ago, Prince Yan’s wife was chatting with me, looking radiant. How did you suddenly become unwell?”
Jiang Si smiled, “Indeed, I’ve suddenly become unwell.”
Princess Rongyang was infuriated by Jiang Si’s thick skin but suppressed her anger and said to Worthy Consort, “Your Highness, Prince Yan’s wife is with child. Her discomfort shouldn’t be taken lightly. Why not summon an imperial physician to examine her?”
Hah, when the imperial physician arrives and takes her pulse, finding nothing wrong with Prince Yan’s wife, let’s see where this vixen puts her face.
Thinking of this, Princess Rongyang’s lips curved into a smile.
Worthy Consort, also wanting Jiang Si to taste some bitterness, hesitated briefly before nodding, “It would be good to summon an imperial physician to take a look.”
Jiang Si said, “Your Highness, today is your birthday. There’s no need to disturb your mood by summoning an imperial physician. Just have a palace maid escort me to rest for a while.”
Seeing this, Princess Rongyang became even more convinced that Jiang Si was guilty of something. She said coolly, “Why is Prince Yan’s wife making excuses? You’re carrying an imperial grandchild, not some cat or dog. Of course, an imperial physician should be summoned if you’re unwell.”
Worthy Consort nodded, “Princess Rongyang is right. Having an imperial physician examine you will put everyone at ease.”
Jiang Si pressed her lips together and stopped insisting.
“Fourth daughter-in-law, why don’t you accompany Seventh daughter-in-law to wait inside?”
Qi Wang’s wife was delighted.
Mother Consort was indeed thinking of her and the Prince, knowing she wanted to befriend Prince Yan’s wife. This was an opportunity for her.
“Seventh sister-in-law, take it slow,” Qi Wang’s wife said gently to Jiang Si.
Jiang Si stood up, nodded coldly, and walked ahead, her sleeves swishing.
With the two princesses’ consort gone, the hall suddenly seemed less interesting.
Princess Rongyang played with her teacup, saying neither warmly nor coldly, “Your Highness, I don’t mean to criticize, but your younger daughter-in-law is too sharp-tongued. It’s only because of your good nature…”
Worthy Consort smiled.
After maintaining her virtuous reputation for so many years, was she now supposed to fall out with her daughter-in-law and become a laughingstock?
Rather than that, she preferred to watch others fall out with her daughter-in-law.
In the side room, seeing Jiang Si ignore her and recline on the chaise lounge to rest, Qi Wang’s wife inwardly cursed but outwardly showed concern, “Seventh sister-in-law, are you alright?”
Jiang Si glanced at Qi Wang’s wife and then looked away.
Qi Wang’s wife felt embarrassed.
Prince Yan’s wife was going too far. Even with palace maids present, she wouldn’t even speak to her.
What was this woman thinking? Had she offended her somehow?
Jiang Si noticed Qi Wang’s wife’s barely suppressed anger and confusion, and the corner of her lips curved upward.
She could never show a good face to Qi Wang’s wife, who had directly caused her death in her previous life. Not in this lifetime.
As for Qi Wang’s wife’s confusion, heh, it would be best if she choked on it.
Thinking this, Jiang Si’s smile grew colder, which appeared as utter disdain to Qi Wang’s wife.
Unable to bear it any longer, Qi Wang’s wife asked Jiang Si, “Seventh sister-in-law, have I offended you in some way?”
Jiang Si thought for a moment and shook her head, “No.”
In this life, she hadn’t had the chance to offend her yet.
“Then why does Seventh sister-in-law treat me so coldly every time we meet?” Qi Wang’s wife finally asked the question that had been lingering in her mind for so long.
If Prince Yan’s wife had a cold personality, then why did she chat and laugh with Ji Fanghua, whose position was awkward, during that visit to Duke An’s mansion? Why was she so picky and critical only towards her?
Jiang Si reclined on the chaise lounge, adjusting to a more comfortable position, and said coolly, “Why is Fourth sister-in-law so fixated on this question? There isn’t always a reason for everything in this world.”
Having already asked the question, Qi Wang’s wife wasn’t satisfied without an answer. She pressed her lips together and said, “But this question should have an answer.”
Looking at that aggrieved and virtuous face, Jiang Si felt a deep sense of disgust welling up inside her.
To say that Qi Wang’s wife had done anything particularly wrong to her in this life, of course, she hadn’t yet.
But Jiang Si knew very clearly that it wasn’t that this woman wouldn’t do such things, it was just that the time hadn’t come yet.
Should she put aside past grievances just because she hadn’t had the chance to do anything yet, and then hate her after she did?
She didn’t have such a saintly heart.
Jiang Si glanced at Qi Wang’s wife, her lazy smile identical to Yu Jin’s: “Actually, the answer is very simple. I just feel nauseous whenever I see my Fourth sister-in-law. I don’t want to be like this, but I just can’t control it…”
“Seventh sister-in-law, you, you’re going too far…” Qi Wang’s wife never expected such an absurd and merciless answer. In her anger and shock, her vision began to blur.
Through her hazy vision, she could only see the exceptionally beautiful woman’s crimson lips standing out vividly.
Qi Wang’s wife opened her mouth and suddenly vomited.
The palace maids accompanying them immediately panicked.
One of them rushed over to support Qi Wang’s wife, repeatedly asking, “Princess, are you alright?”
The other palace maid hurriedly returned to the main hall.
The imperial physician who had just arrived and paid respects to Worthy Consort and the others saw the palace maid enter in a panic. Worthy Consort asked, “What’s wrong?”
The palace maid quickly reported, “The Princess suddenly vomited and felt dizzy—”
Princess Rongyang was momentarily stunned.
Was Prince Yan’s wife truly unwell?
After the initial shock, she felt a secret joy: If something were to happen to Prince Yan’s wife’s child, that would truly be satisfying.
Hearing this, Worthy Consort became genuinely worried: “Quickly, lead the imperial physician to examine Prince Yan’s wife.”
No matter how much she disliked this daughter-in-law, if something were to happen to the pregnant Prince Yan’s wife during her birthday celebration, it would be extremely inauspicious.
The palace maid quickly clarified, “It’s Qi Wang’s wife.”
Everyone was stunned for a moment.
Worthy Consort decided to accompany the imperial physician to the side room, with Princess Rongyang following.
By this time, Qi Wang’s wife had recovered somewhat, but her face was extremely pale.
On the way, Worthy Consort had learned from the palace maid that the two daughters-in-law had not gotten along well. Although the maid didn’t dare say much, it was clear that the Seventh daughter-in-law had upset the Fourth daughter-in-law.
Upon entering and smelling the sour odor in the room, Worthy Consort’s face immediately darkened. She said coldly, “Seventh daughter-in-law, do you always have to be at odds with everyone? Are you satisfied now that you’ve brought misfortune to others?”
Faced with Worthy Consort’s direct accusation, Jiang Si smiled and asked in return, “Why does Your Highness say I’ve brought misfortune to others? Couldn’t it be that others have caught some of my good fortune?”
Worthy Consort was about to sneer when she heard the imperial physician say, “Congratulations, Your Highness. The Princess is with child.”