Chapter 99 Detention

The news that Consort Nian had an accident and that the Qilan Courtyard had invited the royal physician spread throughout the entire Prince's mansion in an instant.

Rou felt a surge of panic, her hand trembling uncontrollably as she held Xueqin's. "Xueqin, how could this be? How could Consort Nian be in trouble?"

Judging from her words, she seemed to care a lot about Nian Shilan. But in reality, Rouze just didn't understand why Nian Shilan had gotten into trouble so quickly and was afraid of being implicated.

Xueqin was also puzzled. She hadn't used any potent medicine, so it shouldn't have taken effect so quickly. Suppressing her unease, she reassured her, "Princess, it has nothing to do with us. Maybe someone else did it, or maybe Consort Nian accidentally tripped and fell. In any case, it has nothing to do with us."

"Yes, yes, it has nothing to do with us." Rou nodded, still shaken, trying to control her emotions. It wasn't their fault; it must be that Nian Shilan was too arrogant and attracted the attention of others. It was her own problem.

"What are you doing? Who gave you permission to come in?"

Suddenly a commotion came from outside, and before Rouze could react, a group of people burst in.

"How dare you! Who are you people?" Xueqin stood in front of Rouze, confronting the newcomers with an angry expression.

"This servant is Zhou Ninghai of Qilan Courtyard. Princess Rouze has been plotting against the concubine. This servant is here to arrest Princess Rouze." The lame eunuch in the lead had a sinister look on his face and stared intently at Rouze.

Rou was startled and hid behind Xueqin, not daring to make a sound.

"Nonsense! How could our princess harm the concubine? Do you have any evidence? What right do you have to arrest her?" Xueqin was not afraid at all and loudly refuted Zhou Ninghai's words.

"The concubine just met with Princess Rouze and then this happened. Princess Rouze is naturally a suspect. Enough with the nonsense, just come with me to Qilan Courtyard."

Zhou Ninghai was still worried about the condition of his concubine, so he naturally didn't want to say anything more and waved his hand to let the little eunuch behind him come forward.

"How dare you arrest people without any evidence? If you have the guts, go and confront the Prince!" Xueqin tried her best to stop them, but she was no match for the many hands and was soon restrained by the eunuchs.

"Don't worry, when you get to Qilan Courtyard, you'll have your chance to see the Prince." Zhou Ninghai sneered, looking at the frightened Rouze and threatening, "Rouze, please, do not have anyone help you?"

"No need, the innocent will clear themselves, and this princess is naturally not afraid." Rouze suppressed her panic and, with Xueqin under Zhou Ninghai's supervision, went to Qilan Courtyard, leaving behind a courtyard full of uneasy servants.

Unlike the other servants who knew nothing, Xuewen, who had some understanding of the plan despite not being involved in it, was already filled with despair. Princess Rouze had ultimately embarked on a path of no return...

The other people in the mansion also rushed over upon receiving the news.

This was Yixiu's second time stepping into Qilan Courtyard. The first time was when she was arranging the wedding for the Prince and Nian Shilan, when everyone in the courtyard was beaming with joy. But this time, everyone was in a state of panic, as the mistress of Qilan Courtyard was lying silently in bed receiving treatment from the royal physician.

Yixiu couldn't quite describe the feeling in her heart, only a sense of relief. Nian Shilan had finally fallen for it...

Knowing the people of Qilan Courtyard were wary of her, Yixiu didn't want to get involved in any trouble. She stood aside, waiting for the doctor's treatment results, and didn't interfere in other matters in the courtyard.

Suddenly, a commotion came from outside the courtyard. Yixiu frowned and turned around. She saw Rouze and her maid being brought in by the servants of Qilan Courtyard. Rouze was fine, but her maid was escorted in by two eunuchs.

"What's going on?" Yixiu wasn't completely indifferent. Qilan Courtyard belonged to Nian Shilan, and she could entrust it to Nian Shilan's servants, but that didn't mean they could interfere in the affairs of the inner courtyard.

"Reporting to Your Highness, Consort Rou is suspected of plotting against the secondary consort, so this servant has brought her back." Zhou Ninghai wasn't stupid; he became much more respectful towards Yixiu.

“Rou Ze…” Yi Xiu frowned, glancing at the helpless Rou Ze and her resentful maid, her eyes darkening.

"Xiaoyi, I didn't..."

"Your Highness, they are just relying on your power as a concubine to spout nonsense. They have no evidence whatsoever. Your Highness, please stand up for the Princess!"

Rou looked at Yixiu expectantly, while Xueqin struggled desperately and cried out for justice, attracting the attention of many people.

Yixiu, impatient, scolded, "Enough! No matter what, who gave you the right to kidnap people from other courtyards? You shut up too. The condition of the concubine is unclear. Is this the time to talk about this? Take her into the side room and keep her under guard for now."

"Yes." Zhou Ninghai immediately agreed, not caring even when Yixiu scolded him, and dragged the two of them towards the side room.

"My lady, my lady, you can't do this... mmm..."

Before Xueqin could finish speaking, a young eunuch covered her mouth and dragged her away.

Yixiu couldn't let things go unpunished, and since the matter of Nian Shilan involved Rouze, she absolutely couldn't get involved. Anyway, she hadn't done anything wrong, so she should leave everything to the Prince to decide.

Just as I was thinking about it, Yinzhen arrived in a hurry.

"What happened? How is Shilan?"

"Greetings, Your Highness..." Yixiu felt a pang of sadness upon hearing Yinzhen's anxious question. "The royal physician is examining Nian-meimei."

"Yixiu, then I'll go in and take a look first." Yinzhen habitually helped Yixiu up, but before Yixiu could even feel happy, she felt her hand go empty. Yinzhen walked into the house without looking back.

"..." Your Highness, have you really fallen in love with Nian Shilan? Suddenly, Yixiu felt a sense of emptiness in her heart.

Lost in thought, she waited outside. Before long, the others arrived. Seeing the Fujin standing outside, they dared not ask any questions or go in, and all stood behind Yixiu waiting.

A short while later, the door was pushed open, and Su Peisheng came out. Looking at everyone present, he said, "His Highness has instructed that all of you masters may go back to rest and need not wait here."

"How is the concubine?" Yixiu stirred and looked towards the house behind Su Peisheng, asking softly.

"Reporting to the Madam, the Consort has just recovered but is still unconscious, and the Prince is with her. It is getting late, and the Prince cannot bear to see the Madam and the other masters working too hard. So he sent me to tell them that they can go back and rest."

Su Peisheng finished speaking with a smile. His words sounded nice, but everyone could tell that the prince was only interested in accompanying his concubine and didn't want to see them.

Seeing the princess's expression, no one dared to say anything more and obediently took their leave.

Yixiu waited at the door for a while, opening her mouth but not knowing what to say. She still couldn't see Yinzhen's figure, so Yixiu finally chose to leave.

Watching his wife's forlorn figure, and recalling the prince's worried expression towards his concubine inside the room, Su Peisheng couldn't help but sigh. Love and affection—he, a rootless man, truly couldn't understand them.

The affectionate are often troubled by the heartless, but fortunately, he doesn't have such troubles...