Li Chenjiao sat cross-legged in front of the soft couch. After listening to Qiu Ci finish speaking, she simply pointed outside and said, "Go and move the rocking chair outside. I want to get some fresh air and clear my head."
Since the Fourth Master didn't send anyone to invite her, she wasn't in a hurry to go to the main courtyard. She figured the main courtyard must be in chaos right now.
However, she was also afraid that the Fourth Master might suddenly send someone to fetch her while she was asleep, so she simply sat in the corridor to enjoy the breeze and chat with the maids.
Li Chenjiao had read many stories about wealthy families using poison to kill people when she was still a young lady in her boudoir. However, it was only after she entered the Fourth Prince's harem, or rather, after she went to the capital for the imperial concubine selection, that she realized how absurd those stories were.
When she entered the palace, she was searched by the maids, and all the items she brought into the mansion were also checked.
Furthermore, establishing connections with the imperial physicians within the Imperial Medical Academy is crucial; even taking a single blade of grass from the Academy requires meticulous documentation.
Even if someone truly has ulterior motives and wants to orchestrate a grand scheme, something capable of causing human death, it would take at least several years of planning to succeed.
Therefore, poisoning someone is an extremely difficult task.
For example, Li Chenjiao, even after becoming a concubine, was able to obtain some pills through her family's connections. Back then, Ashan was able to bring pills into the mansion only because she had cultivated relationships and favors with Su Peisheng and Fulu.
In short, poisoning the royal backyard is an extremely difficult task.
Before entering the Fourth Master's backyard, Li Chenjiao was prepared for constant conflict. However, once she actually entered the backyard, she realized that while there would be conflict, not everyone would have the courage to take someone's life.
For most royal family members, their private quarters were generally peaceful and uneventful.
For a newcomer like Liu Gege, who had only been in the household for a year or two and had never received much favor, where would she get connections...?
Li Chenjiao leaned back in the rocking chair, slowly drifting off into thought.
This whole thing looks like a trap. She has absolutely no connection with Liu Gege. Today, she only ordered two dishes from the kitchen. The pastries and cakes are all from the small kitchen now, so it has nothing to do with her.
Li Chenjiao understood that this matter had nothing to do with her, but after thinking it over, she did suspect Wu Gege once.
But she only had doubts. After having doubts, Li Chenjiao patted her face and suddenly remembered something else.
The cakes and pastries may not actually be poisonous or harmful; what if it's the problem with the princess herself?
For example, the fragrance on the Fujin's body?
Upon thinking of this, Li Chenjiao's brows immediately furrowed.
She had truly forgotten about the Second Prince. She had originally thought that the Princess Consort had used some means to keep him out of the way, but since the Second Prince lived in the main courtyard, the Princess Consort would probably visit him every day...
Li Chenjiao sat up, a hint of worry on her face.
"How is it in the main courtyard right now?" It sounds rather quiet.
Qiu Hu replied, "Princess Liu has been detained, but nothing was found in the milk cake. A young eunuch tasted it himself and didn't experience the vomiting and diarrhea that the Second Prince did... The imperial physician examined the Second Prince's food today and said it might be because the Second Prince is weak and has a poor spleen and stomach, and the milk cake couldn't digest it properly, which damaged his spleen and stomach... But the Fujin (Prince's wife) doesn't believe it and won't let go of Princess Liu..."
In the eyes of the Fujin, what was Liu Gege? She was nothing compared to her Second Prince.
So it turns out it was all a misunderstanding?
Li Chenjiao shook her head, feeling that there was still something fishy going on, but despite her many doubts, she couldn't figure it out.
It makes sense that the Second Prince was vomiting and having diarrhea, but what about the red rashes on his body?
Li Chenjiao couldn't understand it, so she leaned back in the rocking chair.
This made the maids who were standing up suddenly worry again.
Li Chenjiao squinted her eyes and gently rocked the rocking chair.
She sat for a long time, and only when it was getting dark did she groggily open her eyes and fall into a deep sleep.
"Has anyone come from Fourth Master's place?" Li Chenjiao coughed twice.
A blanket had already been draped over her by a maid. She lifted the blanket, and Qiu Hu handed her some warm tea: "Second Princess woke up earlier. She came by once earlier and, seeing that Master was still asleep, took Dongli for a walk."
Li Chenjiao lowered her head and took a sip of tea to moisten her throat: "What happened?"
Qiu Hu took the empty teacup: "The Second Prince's condition has stabilized, and he has woken up. However, the imperial physician said that this ordeal has made him even weaker, so we need to be more careful with his diet from now on. The Fujin is furious and, without consulting the emperor first, beat Liu Gege while the master was visiting the Second Prince..."
The person was dragged outside the main courtyard and flogged. Although they weren't stripped naked, all the servants coming and going watched...
Fortunately, Eunuch Su was keeping an eye on things outside and informed his master as soon as he received the news. However, in the end, Consort Liu still received seven or eight strokes of the cane...
This is quite disrespectful to Princess Liu.
Furthermore, the imperial physician had already stated that the milk cakes sent by Consort Liu were fine, so Consort Liu's beating was completely unwarranted.
In the end, the Fourth Prince had the female doctor examine Liu Gege, only instructing her to rest and recover, and also clearing Liu Gege's name that this matter had nothing to do with her.
Liu Gege was filled with remorse for this incident. When she returned to her own courtyard, she was filled with anger and resentment.
This wasn't the first time she had sent milk cakes to the main courtyard. She had sent milk cakes to the Second Prince last summer, and she knew that the Second Prince liked to eat them.
The Second Prince never reacted in the past, so why did something happen this time?
Heaven knows what else the Second Prince ate that made him sick.
The Fujin was indeed cold-hearted and indifferent. She tried to win the Fujin's favor all day long, but she couldn't change the Fujin's heart at all.
When the Second Prince, whom the Fujin loved dearly, got into trouble, she disregarded everything else.
The moment Liu was being punished, she realized that the Fujin (principal wife) was completely unreliable! Relying on anyone else was not as good as relying on herself!
Her decision to side with the Fujin (principal wife) after entering the household was a mistake!
Liu was so angry she almost ground her teeth to powder, but her back and thighs were burning with pain, and she couldn't even straighten her back. She really wished that the Second Prince was not feeling well right now.
But then she thought that if the Second Prince was really not well, she would probably have to be punished again.
Liu was furious. She lay on the couch, gasping for breath in pain. Then she heard a maid say that Juxiang, who was by Wu Gege's side, had arrived.
Liu rubbed her lower back carefully, muttering, "What's she doing here?"
She and Princess Wu had never had any contact in the past.
"Do you want to see him?" the maid asked.
Liu snorted: "See me? Why not?"
Now that she has offended the Fujin (principal wife), she naturally has to find another way.
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