Chapter 79: Closing the Net Part 1

The servants in the Prince’s Mansion did not know who the arriving guests were, but they could read the room. Seeing the steward usher the noble guests into the little princess’s Tangqing Courtyard with utmost courtesy while he himself stayed outside to wait and serve, they took note.

A servant ran to Qin Jingyu’s courtyard and reported the intelligence he had gathered. Qin Jingyu did not know who the noble guests were either, but after a moment, the steward summoned her to receive them, saying that the Wise Noble Consort from the palace had arrived.

Only then did she realize belatedly that the noble guests held high status. Her brows furrowed as she inwardly berated herself. After hurriedly making herself presentable, she brought her people to Tangqing Courtyard.

But as soon as she entered the courtyard, she ran into the Ning’an County Princess. She curtsied deeply. Wei Xiao’s status was something she had long investigated—no one in the world dared offend her, and Qin Jingyu had no intention of provoking her. Wei Xiao saw that she knew her manners and had no interest in exchanging pleasantries, so she strode straight into the room.

The servants in the courtyard all stood frozen, holding their breath. Seeing these two masters they had never laid eyes on before, they were startled anew and exchanged uneasy glances.

The Wise Noble Consort heard the sounds outside and strolled out leisurely. Her gaze skimmed over the baffled Wei Xiao and landed on Qin Jingyu, where she gave a faint smile. “This palace came incognito today, disturbing the Heir Apparent Consort—it is this palace’s discourtesy.”

Qin Jingyu kept her composure and bowed deeply to the Wise Noble Consort. “Your Ladyship jests. Your visit to the Prince’s Mansion brings Jingyu great joy.”

Zi Jin stood to the side, not even daring to breathe. The Ning’an County Princess looked quite displeased. Having followed Xun Changqing for some time, Zi Jin had gradually come to understand this master’s temperament. She shifted a little to the side now, watching as the three exchanged polite banalities.

Sure enough, after just a few words, Wei Xiao grew visibly impatient. She brushed past the two women and entered the room with the physician in tow. Qin Jingyu watched her retreating back, her fingertips in her sleeves digging into her palm uncontrollably. After a moment, she plastered on a full smile and said sweetly, “Your Ladyship, why not go to the front hall for tea? Some fine teas just arrived from Jiangnan. Jingyu knows Your Ladyship is an expert among them.”

The Wise Noble Consort smiled and nodded in agreement.

Once the others had left, Zi Jin came back to herself and walked into the room, taking the tea from a maidservant’s hands along the way.

Wei Xiao had not come to the Prince’s Mansion after Xun Changqing returned to the capital; it had been months since they last met. In her memory, Xun Changqing was still that sharp-tongued, sharp-featured spirited girl with a heroic air. Seeing her now filled her with sigh. Apart from a pair of watery peach-blossom eyes that retained a hint of liveliness, she seemed like a completely different person.

Wei Xiao gazed at the bowl of medicine that had gone completely cold and suddenly understood a little. The Wise Noble Consort held high authority; for her to intervene in a prince’s inner residence was inappropriate. But she was different—the two mansions were far apart, her own daughter was Xun Changqing’s master, making them practically family. Recalling the rumors in the Imperial Capital, a glint flashed in her eyes as she probed, “Is this medicine related to Xun Yi?”

Calling Xun Yi by name directly in front of the younger generation—Wei Xiao’s boldness and resolve were unmatched. But her thinking was indeed unconventional, and her impression of Xun Yi was utterly poor; otherwise, she would not have believed he wanted to kill her. Xun Changqing shook her head vehemently and explained, “It should have nothing to do with Father.”

“Should” meant she was not entirely sure if Xun Yi was clean. Wei Xiao glanced at her and smiled coldly. “There are many unclean things in the inner residence. Let the physician take a look at you. This is a physician from my Wei family—not comparable to the imperial physicians, but at least reliable.”

Xun Changqing saw that Wei Xiao’s expression was even colder than Wei Lingci’s, and she did not dare refuse. She nodded obediently and extended her right hand for the middle-aged man before her to check her pulse.

Her docility and compliance startled Wei Xiao. Seeing how the rumors outside had worn her down and changed her temperament these past days, Wei Xiao hesitated before consoling her, “Don’t believe the rumors outside. They’ll pass in a few days.”

Wei Xiao’s rare gentleness toward her left Xun Changqing stunned for a moment. Unsure why she had suddenly changed, she then heard the physician say, “The little princess’s constitution is a bit weak, her injury has flared up repeatedly from pent-up frustration. A few days of rest will set it right.”

Wei Xiao knew these were just perfunctory words from the physician. She picked up the medicine bowl from the low table and placed it before him. “Check if this medicine is normal.”

The physician hesitated, aware of the rules in great households. He took it, sniffed it carefully under his nose, and his expression flickered. He shook his head. “It was good medicine to begin with, but something improper was added. I’m afraid it would only backfire and worsen the injury.”