CHAPTER 433: CHAPTER 433 DETOXIFICATION

Princess Nanzhang was supported as she returned.

As she left, her face was deathly pale, her body limp like a puddle of mud.

She, an illustrious Commandery Princess, being conferred as a concubine, could not withstand such humiliation.

But not being able to bear it didn’t change anything.

The imperial decree was obtained by the Prince; they couldn’t just request another one right after proclaiming it, could they?

At the very least, they had to wait ten days to half a month.

The Prince’s promise to seek her elevation six months later must be his limit.

The Prince took the decree to the ancestral hall.

Xie Jingchen helped the Old Prince to his feet.

The Old Prince was physically weak, and he had forced himself to come accept the decree.

When Xie Jingchen and Su Jin exited the Old Prince’s residence, they saw the Prince walking towards the outer courtyard from afar.

His steps were noticeably faster than usual.

"Father seems to have urgent business outside the estate," Xie Jingchen said.

"Let’s ask about Lady Chi’s matter in a couple of days."

Su Jin had no objection.

Today, she especially paid attention to Princess Nanzhang’s hand.

The scar was very faint.

Even if she used ointment, there would be no reaction within five or six days.

Lady Chi’s matter was not that urgent.

In Qingqiu Garden.

Being a concubine, Lady Chi wasn’t even informed about such events as receiving decrees.

However, with Duke Zhen Country Mansion conferring on Prince Zhenbei Mansion, and Xie Jingchen even becoming the Princely Heir, Xique was thrilled and specifically ran to the front courtyard to join the excitement, then shared the good news with Lady Chi.

Lady Chi rarely left Qingqiu Garden, but Xique sensed that if there was anyone in the mansion that Lady Chi cared about, it was only the Eldest Young Master and the Prince.

Xingxing treated her well and often brought her treats.

The joy at Agarwood Pavilion was shared by all.

Lady Chi couldn’t speak.

Besides, this wasn’t really news to her.

Lady Chi was doing some needlework.

Xique chattered on, "The Prince didn’t confer Princess Nanzhang as the Princess Consort, only as a concubine."

Lady Chi’s hand faltered, pricking her own finger.

A drop of blood welled up from her fingertip.

Xique let out a small cry, but Lady Chi just looked at Xique with anxiety, yet Xique had no idea what she was trying to express.

Xique brought over pen, ink, paper, and inkstone. Lady Chi wrote: Why?

Xique was momentarily bewildered, then realized what Lady Chi was asking and hurriedly replied, "The Prince said today was the day he met the mother of the Young Master. He could not confer someone else as Princess Consort on this day."

Tears suddenly welled up in Lady Chi’s eyes.

She used her handkerchief to wipe her fingertip.

Xique wondered why on earth her lady was crying for no apparent reason?

Could she be moved by the Prince’s deep emotions?

But the Prince’s deep feelings were not for her.

Just as she thought this—

She saw that the tears in Lady Chi’s eyes had stopped, her brows knotted tightly.

Xique furrowed her small brows.

How could she possibly guess what her lady was thinking with reactions like these?

Even with a frown, she couldn’t fathom it, yet Lady Chi smiled again.

Tears sparkled in her eyes as she smiled.

Xique, "... ."

She could no longer figure out what her lady was thinking.

Peony Garden.

Princess Nanzhang was assisted back.

Her steps were unsteady.

Barely hanging on.

But despite being so frail, she had a strong outburst of energy.

She lunged forward and smashed the teacups and pastries on the table to the ground.

The sound of shattering gave her a wild sense of destruction.

Looking at the mess on the floor, Mrs. Zhao sighed, "How did it just happen to be the day the Prince met the Young Master and Young Mistress’s birth mother?"

Princess Nanzhang let out a wretched smile.

"How could there be so many coincidences in the world?!"

"It’s merely an excuse to humiliate me!" The look on Princess Nanzhang’s face twisted with anger.

Using such an excuse to refuse to elevate her as a concubine, no one would sympathize with her.

Cold rage flickered in Princess Nanzhang’s eyes.

The Prince Zhenbei Mansion belongs to her son; no one should dare to take it!

Mrs. Zhao watched, her heart seized with fear.

The Prince had truly hurt the Commandery Princess’s heart this time.

...

In front of Prince Zhenbei Mansion.

The Prince was just stepping out of the mansion.

Elder Yong Cheng happened to stop his horse at the mansion’s front.

The Prince’s brows furrowed slightly.

He was about to go to Yongcheng Bo Mansion but hadn’t expected him to arrive.

Elder Yong Cheng worriedly dismounted, exchanged quick greetings with the Prince, and hurriedly entered the mansion.

He was a frequent visitor at Prince Zhenbei Mansion.

A decade ago, the Old Madam went on a pilgrimage at Guanyin Temple and was attacked by plundering refugees, but it was Elder Yong Cheng who saved her.

Since then, the Old Madam had taken excellent care of him.

Even when Elder Yong Cheng asked to marry the niece of Duke Chong as his wife, it was the Old Madam who arranged the marriage.

One could say that Elder Yong Cheng owed his current status to the support of the Old Madam.

A guard brought the horse over, just as the Prince turned around, he called out, "Prince, the horse is ready."

"It’s not needed," the Prince replied.

The guard, "... ."

The guard was bewildered.

He seemed in such a hurry just now, so why the sudden lack of urgency?

In Qihao Hall.

The Old Madam was sitting on the Arhat Couch, sipping tea.

The steam covered the expression on the Old Madam’s face.

Mrs. Wang, standing nearby, could clearly feel that the Old Madam was in a much better mood.

If the Old Madam was happy about the Prince conferring Princess Nanzhang as a concubine, then why had she earlier criticized the Prince in the front courtyard, taking a stand for Princess Nanzhang?

These thoughts were giving Mrs. Wang a headache, and she couldn’t make sense of it.

Outside, a young maid came in and said, "Old Madam, Elder Yong Cheng is here."

The Old Madam’s face lit up with joy.

"Please, let him in."

The young maid had not yet left when Elder Yong Cheng entered.

Upon seeing him, the Old Madam greeted him warmly, "What brings you here today?"

Elder Yong Cheng, with urgency, said, "Jiaojiao is in trouble."

The smile on the Old Madam’s face froze.

"What happened to Jiaojiao?" the Old Madam asked anxiously.

Jiaojiao.

It was the nickname for Elder Yong Cheng’s treasured daughter, Chen Jiao.

Elder Yong Cheng said urgently, "Jiaojiao’s hand has ulcerated and turned purple. The Imperial Physician diagnosed it was caused by poison in the ointment she used."

The ointment was something the Old Madam had sent for his daughter to use not long ago.

He could ensure the ointment hadn’t been tampered with.

There were no concubines at Yongcheng Bo Mansion, and Elder Yong Cheng had only one son and one daughter.

The ointment could only have been poisoned before it reached his daughter’s hands.

The ointment was very effective; her hand had mostly healed after using it.

Who would have thought that last night, Chen Jiao was in unbearable pain, tossing and turning on the bed?

Elder Yong Cheng hadn’t slept all night, and with worry for his daughter’s comfort, he was even distracted from attending the morning court assembly.

Doctors couldn’t determine the cause, and finally, it took the Imperial Physician to find out the ointment was the issue.

After considering it for a long time, he decided to approach the Old Madam.

Elder Yong Cheng handed over the ointment.

Only a little remained.

The Old Madam looked at the ointment, her face turning ashen.

Mrs. Wang furrowed her brows deeply.

She had no idea the Old Madam sent ointment to Elder Yong Cheng’s eldest daughter.

Also—

Wasn’t Princess Nanzhang supposed to have procured Bihun Ointment from the imperial palace for Elder Yong Cheng’s daughter?

To choose to use this ointment over Bihun Ointment.

There could only be one explanation: This ointment was better than Bihun Ointment.

With these thoughts, Mrs. Wang’s heart sank to the bottom.

She thought about Princess Nanzhang instructing Mrs. Li to steal the ointment sent by the Eldest Young Master and Eldest Young Madam to Lady Chi.

Afterward, the Old Madam had sent her and Hongxiu away, ordering Lv Xiu...

Mrs. Wang looked at the ointment in the Old Madam’s hand.

Could it be... that this ointment also belonged to Lady Chi?

Elder Yong Cheng said urgently, "Please, Old Madam, help identify who poisoned the ointment. The Imperial Physician says the poison can’t be neutralized, and within half a year, Jiaojiao’s hand will become useless."