CHAPTER 434: CHAPTER 434 MISUNDERSTANDING

The hand being crippled is the least of the worries; it might even be hard to keep her life.

The Imperial Physician saw Chen Jiao crying so bitterly, he did not dare to say these words.

If the hand can’t be saved, she, a gentlewoman who has been pampered since childhood, won’t last until the poison consumes her internal organs before her life ends.

His beloved daughter, whom he cherished since young, was writhing on the bed in pain. Elder Yongcheng, thinking the poison came from the Prince Zhenbei Mansion, hurried over impatiently.

He only wanted the antidote and never wondered how the ointment came to be.

The Old Madam looked at the ointment in her hand, her face growing darker than ever.

Her hand clutching the Buddha beads tightened, her entire body shaking with anger.

Even if the Old Madam was foolish, she should know by now—

This time, she fell into a big pit in the sewer.

Lady Chi had used the ointment. Just because she used it, Mrs. Li learned of its efficacy and reported it to Princess Nanzhang.

It was then that Princess Nanzhang developed a desire for it.

The two boxes of ointment were switched, and Lady Chi’s face hadn’t improved all these days; could she really be unaware?!

The ointment was given by that female bandit; if someone stole it, as long as you told her, she would never stand idly by.

So many days passed with no word from Qingqiu Garden; she almost forgot about this matter.

Now it seems!

It wasn’t that there was no movement.

It was that they knew from the start that someone would steal the ointment, setting a trap specifically for them to fall into.

The one who was supposed to fall into the pit was Princess Nanzhang, but she intercepted the plan.

The more the Old Madam thought about it, the angrier she became.

Her lips even turned pale blue.

Seeing the Old Madam so angry, Elder Yongcheng was also startled.

"I know the Old Madam loves Jiaojiao, but please don’t harm yourself in anger," Elder Yongcheng advised.

No one answered him.

Mrs. Wang’s expression turned dull.

Since she guessed the origin of the ointment, she naturally understood the Old Madam’s rage.

The pit dug by the Eldest Young Madam, how easy is it to climb out?

As the Old Madam, to steal a concubine’s ointment, if this spreads, it would be utterly disgraceful.

If the Old Prince hadn’t returned to the Capital, it would be different; the Old Madam was the highest elder in the Prince Mansion, and no one could punish her.

But now, the Old Prince returned. Committing such a shameful act, the Old Prince will not condone it.

But if she doesn’t expose the matter, she won’t be able to get the antidote from the Eldest Young Madam to save the young lady of the Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s life.

Furthermore, once the matter is exposed, it will inevitably involve Princess Nanzhang...

Princess Nanzhang used the ointment for a longer time but showed no signs of poisoning, indicating that the ointment she stole should have no problem.

With this mess blown to such proportions, it’s hard to know how the Old Madam will resolve it.

Mrs. Wang sighed inwardly.

Elder Yongcheng was extremely anxious, yet found it inappropriate to urge the Old Madam to quickly find the poisoner and seek justice for his daughter.

Outside, the Prince entered.

"What happened?" he asked.

Elder Yongcheng stood up, about to speak, but the Old Madam spoke first, "You should leave now."

Elder Yongcheng was momentarily taken aback, then bid farewell to the Old Madam.

As he turned to leave, the Prince said, "I have something to discuss with you."

This time, it wasn’t just Elder Yongcheng who was stunned, even the Old Madam frowned.

"What happened?" the Old Madam asked.

"Just a minor matter to inquire with Elder Yongcheng," the Prince replied.

The Prince invited Elder Yongcheng outside to talk.

Clearly, he didn’t want the Old Madam to know.

The Old Madam felt choked with anger, furious about the ointment, and angered by the Prince’s detachment.

Outside Qihao Hall, with no one around, Elder Yongcheng looked at the Prince, "What does the Prince wish to ask me?"

The Prince looked at him and said, "The painting sent for framing by the Yongcheng Bo Mansion is in my hands."

Elder Yongcheng was taken aback.

"What painting?" he asked.

A month had passed, and he had already forgotten about the painting.

The Prince slightly furrowed his brows and said, "The painting depicts a woman."

"The painting the Prince is referring to," Elder Yongcheng raised his voice slightly.

"That painting was sent for framing by my wife. How did it end up in the Prince’s hands?"

Elder Yongcheng was a bit surprised.

The painting was bought by a servant on his behalf.

One day, while passing through a bustling street, a crowd was fighting over paintings.

The servant thought it was something valuable and snatched one.

The painting had exquisite techniques, worth a hundred taels, but more importantly, it portrayed a woman of exceptional beauty, breathtakingly enchanting.

Upon returning, he admired it in his study, only to be caught by Lady Yongcheng.

Lady Yongcheng was immediately overcome with jealousy.

To keep the painting, he lied, saying it was a gift for Duke Chong.

But lying got him into trouble with Lady Yongcheng, who said, "If you gift such a painting to my elder brother, aren’t you afraid my sister-in-law will skin you alive?!"

Then, Lady Yongcheng took the painting away.

Afraid Lady Yongcheng would destroy it, he claimed it was purchased at a high price.

Lady Yongcheng considered tearing it up but couldn’t bear to waste the money, so she sent it to Ansheng House for framing.

Seeing the Prince inquire about it, Elder Yongcheng assumed he too was interested in the beauty in the painting.

Such a beautiful woman, how could one not be enchanted?

Elder Yongcheng looked at the Prince, "My wife sent the painting but did not retrieve it; she must no longer want it."

"Recently, she also told me that people from Prince NanAn Mansion are searching for the woman in the painting, that Prince NanAn has his eyes on her and advised me not to harbor any thoughts," Elder Yongcheng said.

"It’s just a painting bought on the street, yet my wife misunderstood."

The later words of Elder Yongcheng, the Prince did not hear, as his mind was fixated on the earlier statement.

The woman Prince NanAn fancied?

The Prince’s brows furrowed into a dead knot.

"Does the Prince have any other matters?" Elder Yongcheng asked.

"No more."

Elder Yongcheng took his leave.

After Elder Yongcheng left, the Prince returned to his study.

He stared at the painting for a long time, finally rolled it up, and left the mansion with it.

Inside Qihao Hall.

The Old Madam sat quietly on the Arhat Couch for a moment.

The Buddha beads in her hand moved swiftly.

After a while, the Old Madam’s hand stopped. She looked at Mrs. Wang, "Go to Peony Garden and see how Princess Nanzhang is doing."

Mrs. Wang bowed and agreed.

As she walked to the screen, she turned back for a glance.

If her prediction was correct, Mrs. Li’s life might be in jeopardy.

That disloyal woman deserved it, but the Old Madam’s actions became increasingly puzzling to her.

No matter how much the Old Madam cherished the young lady of the Yongcheng Bo Mansion, would she really stoop so low as to steal a concubine’s ointment?

This unfamiliar side of the Old Madam made her feel uneasy.

Mrs. Wang lifted her feet towards the courtyard gate.

After walking a few steps, she turned towards the small kitchen.

She instructed a maid to prepare porridge for the Old Madam. Upon exiting, she saw Lv Xiu going out.

Hongxiu approached her.

She said nothing.

Mrs. Wang said, "You shouldn’t feel upset either; what Lv Xiu went to do isn’t a good thing."

Hongxiu was a bit confused.

She wasn’t upset at all.

Mrs. Wang said one sentence, then left.

As she exited, she called for a little maid to accompany her.

Hongxiu was left puzzled.

A nearby maid blinked and, pretending to be nonchalant, followed.

Qingqiu Garden.

Lady Chi sat by the shaded window doing needlework.

Xique was by her side fanning.

Finding it uninteresting, Mrs. Li stepped out.

The hot weather made people uneasy, and her heart was pounding unpleasantly.

Following a master who was not favored indeed brought more hardship.

She stepped out and saw a maid approaching; at a glance, she recognized her as a maid from Qihao Hall.

She hurriedly went up to her, saying, "Lv Xiu, what brings you here?"

"Did the Old Madam have instructions?"

"Shh!"

"Why speak so loudly? Come with me!" Lv Xiu said.

Mrs. Li quickly followed.

Lv Xiu led Mrs. Li down a path, becoming cooler as they went, with a well not far away.

Who knows how many years that well had been there.

"I’m a bit thirsty," Lv Xiu said.

"There’s well water ahead, I’ll fetch some for you," Mrs. Li eagerly replied.

Lv Xiu followed her there. While Mrs. Li was drawing water, Lv Xiu gave her a push, sending her falling into the well.