Concubine Min was secretly shocked. Over the years, Concubine Li had never had any conflicts with her. Concubine Li knew that Mrs. Peng was hers, but she went against her usual practice and ordered Mrs. Peng to be locked up.
Obviously, Concubine Li recognized the eldest lady.
The eldest daughter Duan Xinning has always been a thorn in Concubine Min's side. She disappeared without a trace back then, and she has never felt at ease, always feeling that something bad will happen sooner or later.
Prince Yong had originally proposed to the Emperor that he marry his youngest daughter as his concubine, and requested that the Emperor decree that Prince Pingnan make her his concubine. However, due to unrest on the northern border, just when the Emperor needed Prince Pingnan, he learned that he had no intention of making a concubine, and rejected Prince Yong's request.
As soon as she learned that there was no hope of establishing her as a concubine, the Grand Tutor asked to see the princess and brought news about Jian Ning. This led to her brother, Manager Wang, pretending to be General Geng and hiring someone to assassinate Jian Ning and her son.
Shopkeeper Wang, a medicinal herb merchant and well-versed in medicine, had long advised his sister to get rid of the princess. Concubine Min had been hesitant, unwilling to make things difficult for others. If Li, also a concubine, were to become the successor, she would rather spare the ailing princess's life.
At least this way she can still be the mistress of the palace.
Because Concubine Li was the daughter of a general, and Prince Pingnan had once served under Concubine Li's father as a captain, he was promoted by General Li. During a fierce battle, General Li was tragically wounded by several arrows while trying to save the trapped Prince Pingnan. Before his death, he entrusted his daughter to the Prince of Pingnan. Therefore, Concubine Min, the heir to the throne, had no confidence that she would be able to defeat Concubine Li.
The reason she was able to take charge of the palace's internal affairs was only because Concubine Li was idle by nature and was unwilling to take charge of all the miscellaneous affairs in the palace. It did not mean that she did not have the ability.
Over the years, Concubine Li has never interfered in any affairs in the mansion, and the two of them have always kept to themselves. But today, she actually ordered the imprisonment of Mrs. Peng. Concubine Min was shocked and angry, and could no longer sit still.
She stood up and bowed to Prince Yong, "I'm sorry, something happened in the palace, I have to excuse myself."
"What? Are you ordering me to leave?" Prince Yong looked displeased. He didn't want to leave. Although he couldn't hear what the maid and Concubine Min said, he could guess that something probably happened in the backyard.
"I have said that I wish to see the princess. Does Concubine Min think that I am not worthy of seeing her?"
Huo Jincheng and Ding Youtian exchanged a glance, then said, "I haven't paid my respects to the princess for many years. Now that I'm here, I have to pay my respects as well. Please report this to her as well."
Concubine Min was upset and could only say, "Let me go and see if the princess is awake. Please wait."
After saying that, she went straight there with her maid.
Concubine Min brought people to Feiyunju and heard crying from inside the princess' bedroom. When she went in, she saw Jian Ning and the princess hugging each other and crying.
When Jian Ning followed Concubine Li into the princess's bedroom, the princess was still asleep. After her personal maid brought a soft stool to Jian Ning and gently lifted the smoky-colored curtains, the princess opened her eyes as if by telepathy and turned to look at Jian Ning.
Their eyes met, and the word "mother" came out of Jane Ning's mouth without warning. As early as when she followed Concubine Li into the bedroom, every table and chair in the bedroom made her feel particularly familiar and intimate.
The furnishings in the princess' bedroom were exactly the same as her residence when she was guarding the border. Although simple, it exuded warmth. When Jane Ning first stepped in, she felt a sense of déjà vu, as if she had played in this room many years ago.
This feeling came from her, not Xiao Xinning. When the princess turned her head and she met the princess's gaze, she saw her mother's grievance and her joy burst out like a flood that broke through the dam, and she could not control it at all.
Maybe it was because Xiao Xinning was too dependent on her mother that it invisibly affected Jian Ning, making her feel that the tired and sickly woman in front of her was her own mother.
She cried out "Mother", put down the medicine box, threw herself into the princess' arms, hugged her and burst into tears.
The princess was at a loss at first, as if frightened. Her maid tried to pull Jian Ning away, but was stopped by Concubine Li. Concubine Li and Old Madam Huo stared at the princess, not daring to blink. But when the princess slowly lifted Jian Ning's head and stared at her, her expression gradually changed.
Although still confused, her eyes were focused. She gently wiped the tears from Jian Ning's face with her fingers and coaxed her softly, "Don't cry, An'er, don't cry. An'er, be good. Daddy is going to ask the doctor. You will be fine after drinking the medicine."
Her voice was extremely soft, with the tenderness of a Jiangnan woman. Duan Xin'an was her eldest daughter. When Mrs. Huo heard her call her An'er instead of Ning'er, she couldn't help but wipe away her tears and look at Concubine Li.
"Although my sister is sometimes lucid and sometimes confused, she hasn't called Miss Xin'an by her name for a long time. What happened today? She actually called Miss Xinning by her name."
Madam Huo said, "No matter how peaceful she is, at least one of them has returned, which is a great joy."
"If An'er cries again, mother will cry too..." The princess seemed not to hear what Madam Huo and Concubine Li said. Seeing Jian Ning crying, she hurriedly hugged her in her arms and patted her back gently as if coaxing a child. Tears rolled down like beads from a broken string.
When Concubine Min came over and saw this scene, her heart sank to the bottom. She was unwilling to watch the mother and daughter recognize each other and let all her years of efforts go to waste.
"Sister, what's wrong? Why are you crying while hugging the female doctor?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Mrs. Huo angrily said, "You are also an old woman in this mansion. Are you blind or do you have something wrong? Can't you see that the eldest daughter of the mansion has returned?"
Concubine Min was still somewhat wary of Madam Huo, but for the sake of her own daughter, she steeled herself and said, "Madam, didn't you hear that Sister Princess was calling the late eldest daughter's name? Ever since Miss Xinning went missing, Sister Princess has been worried day and night, and even lost in thought, often mistaking people for each other. Besides, there are people who look alike in the world. I mean, we should be cautious. If we make a mistake, wouldn't it only add to Sister Princess's troubles?"
Madam Huo had a hot temper, and hearing her words like that, she could no longer bear it. She was about to step forward and lecture her, but Concubine Li held her back, "Madam, calm down. I remember Miss Xinning has a red mole in the middle of her vest, and a crescent-shaped scar on her forehead. Just one look and you'll know whether it's true or not. Why bother arguing about it in vain?"
"Indeed, I'm so angry I'm beside myself." Madam Huo then said to Jian Ning, "Ning'er, this room is full of women, you don't have to be shy. Take off your shirt quickly so that those with bad intentions can see, and you can shut her up!"
Jane Ning raised her head from the princess's arms. The princess grabbed her hands and prevented her from getting up, as if she was afraid that she would disappear.
"Mom, I learned medical skills from my master. Can I take your pulse later? Can you see if I have learned any skills?"
The princess looked at her, as if reluctant to look away, but still nodded softly.
"Then let me go first, mother, I will take down the medicine box."
The princess then released her hand and let her stand up.
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