Consort Chi arrived a little later than Huo Yiyun, followed closely by the remaining concubines.
The Empress Dowager is old, and Consort Chi said it was not good to ask her to move around and worry, but Empress Dowager Zhou still asked Consort Zhou to come and see what had happened. At this moment, Consort Zhou was almost overtaking Consort Chi.
So Consort Chi decided to take the initiative: "What on earth happened...?"
Before she could finish speaking, Consort Zhou's startled scream rang out.
"Oh dear, who fell into the water?" Consort Zhou exclaimed in surprise, covering her mouth.
Anyone could hear the gloating in her words. Huo Yiyun turned around and gave her a cold look: "Your Highness, I will take Consort Huo to the side hall first, otherwise Consort Huo may catch a cold."
Right now, Huo Qinghe in her arms was still shivering.
Consort Zhou twitched the corners of her mouth, then her eyes suddenly lit up as she asked, "So it was Consort Huo who fell into the water. And who is that over there?"
Consort Zhou was clearly just looking for trouble.
Huo Yiyun paused, which was something she found rather strange.
Why is Consort Fu here all of a sudden? And even now, Huo Qinghe, who is unconscious, is still clinging tightly to Consort Fu, who is also unconscious.
Such an incident occurred during the otherwise pleasant Dragon Boat Festival family banquet, so Consort Chi's expression was naturally not pleasant. She waved her hand and said, "How were the servants who were serving Consort Huo? And where are those who were serving Consort Fu? How could their mistress have fallen into the water?"
The palace maid who served Consort Fu was already kneeling down, trembling like a leaf: "Your Highness, please calm down! Your Highness, please calm down! Our mistress said she wouldn't let me serve her when she changed her clothes, and then she said her clothes were dirty and told me to go back to the main hall to get clean clothes. I really didn't know anything..."
The crowd looked in that direction and, sure enough, saw clean palace clothes on a tray in front of the palace maid.
Wang Mama had also returned by this time. She knelt with Lü Huai and was more composed in comparison: "This servant has failed in her duty. Please punish me, Your Highness."
Upon seeing this, Consort Chi first gave her confidante a look.
Immediately, palace maids dragged the one who kept shouting away.
"Are you here to serve Consort Huo? What happened?"
Green Locust bowed her head and said, "Your Highness, our lady was just changing her clothes when she saw Consort Fu fall into the water. Our lady told us to go and call for help, but when we returned, our lady had already gone into the water."
When she was halfway through her sentence, Granny Wang, who was also hanging her head, suddenly nudged her with her elbow. The slight movement seemed to be just out of fear and did not attract much attention.
Huo Yiyun, who was listening from the side, didn't know what to say. At this moment, Cuiqiao had already forcefully pried Huo Qinghe's hand off Fu Guiren.
She was somewhat anxious: "Your Highness, we will only know the truth of this matter after Consort Fu and Consort Huo wake up. Let's go and invite the imperial physician to treat them first."
Consort Chi frowned, but finally agreed with Huo Yiyun's suggestion: "It's getting late. Go find a sedan chair to take Consort Fu and Consort Huo back to their respective residences. Also, send someone to fetch the imperial physician. The pond water is still cold in spring, and the delicate young ladies should not harm their health."
It's unclear which word stung Huo Yiyun, but she suddenly stood up, startling Consort Zhou in front of her.
"Your Highness, I am worried about Consort Huo, so I will take my leave now." She gave a proper bow.
Consort Chi, however, remained unperturbed. Her gaze lingered on Huo Qinghe and Consort Fu, who were still unconscious, before finally letting out a sigh: "There are still some suspicious points in this matter. The rest of you should remain in the Chuigong Hall for now. All those who were responsible for serving today should be detained and thoroughly questioned. Alright, everyone, go back to the Chuigong Hall now, so as not to keep the Empress Dowager waiting."
Consort Zhou's trip was in vain. Her gaze lingered on Huo Qinghe and Huo Yiyun before she finally smiled faintly and said, "Yes, you've caught a cold and hurt your health."
Huo Yiyun took a step forward with a "whoosh," startling Consort Zhou again. This time, Consort Zhou was so frightened that she clutched her chest and took several steps back.
"Consort Zhou, your own face hasn't fully healed yet, and you still have the leisure to meddle in other people's affairs?" Huo Yiyun stared at the veil on Consort Zhou's face, as if she would raise her hand and tear the veil off her face at any second.
Consort Zhou instinctively raised her hand and pulled at her veil, showing a rare hint of embarrassment: "You, you, you dare!"
Consort Zhou thought that Huo Yiyun might actually do that.
"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is still waiting for me. I'll head back now." With that, Consort Zhou turned and left quickly.
Huo Yiyun naturally wouldn't chase after them. She turned around and glared at Wang Mama and Lühuai: "Alright, why aren't you helping your wives up? Put the cloak around your wives."
As for Consort Fu standing to the side, Huo Yiyun's face flashed with impatience. She waved her hand and said, "Aren't you going to help Consort Fu?"
She glanced at the palace maid standing beside her, not caring whether she was serving Consort Fu.
Huo Yiyun flicked her sleeves, feeling both anxious and irritable: "Go and invite Physician Xia to Yanxi Palace first, then prepare hot water. Where's the sedan chair?"
It was rare to see the usually dignified and proper Consort Yi so flustered.
Cuiqiao dared not delay and immediately set off herself.
Those below the rank of concubine were naturally not allowed to ride in sedan chairs, but they couldn't exactly carry people back, especially since they had already fallen into the water and would inevitably be exposed to the wind. The others could understand why they were sent in sedan chairs.
...
When Huo Qinghe woke up again, it was already dark outside.
She was awakened by the heat; her whole body seemed to be enveloped in heat, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
She managed to open her lips, but after a long while, all she could manage was a broken cough.
Green Locust and Green Cloud, who were guarding outside, moved at the sound: "Madam is awake? Quickly bring some hot soup, and go and fetch the imperial physician to examine Madam."
Green Locust's voice quickly approached, and Huo Qinghe was trying to get up when she came in.
"My lady, don't move. You'll lose your strength." Green Locust slid forward and helped Huo Qinghe up.
Green Clouds then poured some hot tea, and the two maids fed Huo Qinghe the hot tea to soothe her throat.
"What time is it? Has the banquet started?" Huo Qinghe cleared her throat.
Hearing this, Green Locust felt even more guilty: "My lady... it's already past 7 PM, and the banquet in the Chui Gong Hall has been going on for a while. However, the Imperial Concubine has already sent word that you don't need to go to the banquet, and told you to rest well."
Huo Qinghe coughed for a while, feeling that her throat was uncomfortable ever since she fell into the water.
Under the candlelight, her face was frighteningly pale, which made the two maids feel a lump in their throats. They fed her two more cups of hot tea, and Huo Qinghe waved her hand and lay down again.
"Go and call Granny Wang in," Huo Qinghe said to Lüyun.
Seeing this, Green Locust stayed.
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