In her previous life, Jiang Si had died during a visit to the White Cloud Temple with Prince Qi’s wife. She could never forget the out-of-control carriage, the fierce wind at the cliff’s edge, and most vividly, the cold smirk on that woman’s face as she pried Jiang Si’s desperate grip from the cliff, letting her plummet into the abyss.
Jiang Si had experienced the ugliness of human nature and the venom of the human heart through Prince Qi’s wife. What she hadn’t been certain of was how much influence Worthy Consort had in this matter, or if she was involved at all.
With these thoughts, Jiang Si looked towards Worthy Consort.
Today, it seemed many of her suspicions might be confirmed.
Noticing Jiang Si’s gaze, Worthy Consort coughed lightly and said in a weak voice, “Go with your Fourth Sister-in-law. Consider it as praying for blessings for the Seventh Brother. The south is quite unstable…”
At these words, Jiang Si inwardly sneered.
Very well, she was now certain that in her previous life, her death involved not only Prince Qi’s wife but undoubtedly Worthy Consort as well.
Listen to Worthy Consort’s words, even dragging A Jin into it. Was she afraid Jiang Si would refuse Prince Qi’s wife?
Jiang Si gazed coolly at Worthy Consort, pursing her lips.
Perhaps Worthy Consort was the true mastermind.
Of course, whether Worthy Consort or Prince Qi’s wife was the mastermind didn’t matter to Jiang Si. Neither of them would escape; she’d deal with them both.
Seeing Jiang Si’s ambiguous expression, Worthy Consort frowned slightly and said weakly, “Seventh Son’s wife, if you don’t want to go out, that’s fine. Praying for blessings is about sincerity; there’s no need to force it.”
Jiang Si smiled faintly, “To pray for Your Highness’s blessings, of course, I’m willing.”
She watched the other closely, catching a fleeting smile of relief in Worthy Consort’s eyes. Jiang Si couldn’t help but feel some emotion: these two, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, were so eager for her to take the bait.
“When does the Fourth Sister-in-law plan to go?” Jiang Si’s gaze shifted to Prince Qi’s wife.
The Prince Qi’s wife, caught in those clear, glass-like eyes, inexplicably felt exposed. Her heart raced uncontrollably.
Then came deep regret.
Why was she feeling guilty? The main person who wanted to kill Prince Yan’s wife was her mother-in-law, not her. Moreover, someone like Jiang Si wasn’t fit to occupy the position of Prince Yan’s wife. Even without her mother-in-law’s scheming, she wouldn’t have lasted long. This was just expediting the inevitable.
With this thought, Prince Qi’s wife’s slight guilt dissipated. She smiled gently at Jiang Si, “Why don’t we go in two days? Or whenever is convenient for Seventh Sister-in-law.”
Jiang Si smiled, “I have no inconvenience. To pray for Your Highness’s blessings, we should go as soon as possible. Two days from now is fine.”
The Prince Qi’s wife nodded, suppressing her excitement, “Seventh Sister-in-law, then it’s settled. I’ll wait for you at the gate of Prince Yan’s mansion in two days.”
She had thought convincing a stubborn person like Jiang Si would require more effort. She hadn’t expected her to agree so easily.
With this thought, Prince Qi’s wife became even more confident about her plans two days later.
Such a smooth start was undoubtedly a good omen.
Seeing Jiang Si agree, Worthy Consort also breathed a sigh of relief. She rubbed her brow and said, “I’m tired as well. You may leave now.”
The Prince Qi’s wife curtsied to Worthy Consort, “Then your daughter-in-law will take her leave. Mother-in-law, please take care of your health.”
Worthy Consort nodded slightly, glancing at Jiang Si.
Jiang Si curtsied slightly and walked behind Prince Qi’s wife. Just as they were about to reach the door, she suddenly turned back, startling Worthy Consort.
“What is it?”
Jiang Si smiled, “I’m so careless. I forgot to ask what illness Your Highness is suffering from.”
Worthy Consort’s face darkened slightly. Suppressing the urge to twitch her mouth, she said flatly, “It’s nothing serious. The Imperial Physician said it’s just a cold.”
“Oh, may I ask what symptoms Your Highness has?”
Worthy Consort felt uneasy at Jiang Si’s questioning, thinking her feigned illness had been seen through. She carefully examined Jiang Si’s face, and seeing no unusual expression, she relaxed and said, “Just fever and headache, cough cough—”
“I see. Then Your Highness should rest well. I’ll come to visit you again tomorrow,” Jiang Si said with a smile.
Worthy Consort coughed once and hurriedly said, “There’s no need. Wait until after you and your Fourth Sister-in-law have prayed at the temple.”
She had achieved her purpose of feigning illness and didn’t want Jiang Si to make an extra visit to the palace. Jiang Si was quite clever; if she discovered the illness was fake, their planned temple visit might be jeopardized.
Moreover, pretending to be ill in public was tiring—Worthy Consort thought as she finally managed to send off her two daughters-in-law.
The fever and headache, of course, didn’t exist. The Imperial Physician who had diagnosed her was a regular visitor to Yuquan Palace and had been bought off by her.
With some benefits, these Imperial Physicians wouldn’t be so unwise as to refuse to tell some harmless lies.
“Hong Ye, bring me a cup of water,” Worthy Consort sat up halfway, instructing her personal palace maid.
Hong Ye immediately brought a cup of hot water.
Worthy Consort took the cup and brought it to her lips for a sip. Suddenly, her whole body stiffened as if an iron rod had stirred her brain.
The sudden, intense pain caused her hand to loosen, dropping the cup. It fell by the bed, wetting the bedding and her clothes.
Hong Ye gasped softly, covering her mouth, and quickly asked, “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”
Worthy Consort’s face turned pale, “My head, my head hurts—”
Hong Ye hesitated, unconsciously observing Worthy Consort’s expression.
As the personal palace maid, she naturally knew that her mistress was feigning illness. The official explanation was that she had caught a cold with a fever and headache. She had just heard Worthy Consort give this explanation to Prince Yan’s wife.
“Your Highness, Prince Yan’s wife has already left—” Hong Ye reminded gently.
Worthy Consort, who was in agony, became furious upon hearing this. She slapped Hong Ye hard, shouting angrily, “Wretched slave, quickly summon the Imperial Physician!”
She was about to die from pain, yet this slave thought she was pretending. What a witless thing!
Hong Ye finally realized Worthy Consort was in genuine pain and hurriedly sent someone to fetch the Imperial Physician.
Soon, the Imperial Physician arrived hurriedly with his medicine box, finding Worthy Consort lying pale-faced on the couch.
After a bout of severe headache, Worthy Consort was now covered in cold sweat, too weak even to speak.
“Imperial Physician, quickly examine what’s wrong with me. My head hurts terribly…”
The Imperial Physician’s expression was somewhat strange. He thought to himself that Worthy Consort was overacting; it was fake, yet she was pretending so convincingly… Ahem, women are truly frightening.
With these thoughts, the Imperial Physician’s movements became sluggish.
“Imperial Physician, why are you dawdling? Our mistress is truly in severe pain!” Hong Ye urged.
The Imperial Physician was startled and looked at Hong Ye.
Hong Ye nodded vigorously, hinting to the Imperial Physician that this time, Worthy Consort wasn’t pretending.
The Imperial Physician hurriedly began his examination of Worthy Consort. After a while, he said with a peculiar expression, “It seems Your Highness’s cold has worsened. The fever is more severe than before.”
How strange, Worthy Consort had a fever!
Hearing the Imperial Physician’s words, Worthy Consort was also stunned. She couldn’t help but raise her hand to feel her forehead.
It was burning hot.
Worthy Consort was completely bewildered.
What on earth was happening?
A slight cold with headache and fever—this was originally the illness she had fabricated. But why was she now truly experiencing headache and fever?
As she pondered this, another wave of sharp, unbearable headache struck.