When Lanqin fell, she felt a buzzing in her head and her ears started ringing. Then she heard Song's scream, followed by Cui Niang and Nianxue's exclamations. In the instant she fell, she instinctively used her hands to protect her abdomen, so when she hit the ground, her hands braced herself against the ground before she fell sideways to the ground.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my palm and wrist, but otherwise I felt fine and didn't feel much pain.
"Qin'er, Qin'er, how are you? Answer your sister quickly, don't scare her!" Song's anxious voice came from above!
"Master, Master, how are you? How are you?" Cui Niang's voice was slightly anxious, but she still maintained her composure.
"Princess, Princess, how are you?" Nianxue was so panicked that she even called out Lanqin's private address.
"Secondary Consort, Secondary Consort!" Finally, voices in various accents came from other places as well.
"It's nothing, I just can't get any strength in my wrist. Cui Niang, help me up." Lanqin lay on the ground, trying to figure out how what had just happened had happened, but clearly none of them wanted her to lie there thinking like that.
Hearing Lanqin's relaxed tone, the people surrounding her finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Lanqin was helped up by Cui Niang and Nianxue, one on each side, and everyone gathered around.
"How is Consort Lanqin? How could she have fallen like that?" Consort Lanqin asked with concern and worry. Heaven knows how heavy her disappointment was when she saw Lanqin being helped up unharmed.
"It was you, it was you who pushed me! Madam, Consort, it was Wu who pushed me from behind!" Madam Song couldn't wait for Lanqin to say anything, and angrily said to Wu, who was still looking frightened.
“I didn’t push you. I just accidentally bumped your calf. There was a small stone there, and I bumped into it. Perhaps Yehe’s zither music was too beautiful, and I didn’t notice the stone on the ground, which is why I bumped into Sister Song. Please punish me, Your Highness.” Wu said apologetically as she half-squatted down.
This explanation seems reasonable, meaning that what just happened was indeed an accident?
At this moment, Cui Niang walked to the spot where they had been earlier and examined it. Sure enough, there was another small, gradually emerging stone from the gap between the two blue stones. Lingxiu, who was beside the Fujin, also went over to check the spot.
"Your Highness, there is a rock that has protruded over there," Lingxiu said as she approached the princess.
"You were so careless. The concubine is pregnant. If she had hurt the baby in her womb when she fell, you would be held responsible!" The princess seemed to have accepted this explanation and reprimanded her sternly.
"I was careless for a moment, please punish me, Consort," Wu said hurriedly, bowing to Lanqin.
"I'm fine, but Princess Wu should be careful next time she gets so engrossed in the music," Lanqin said calmly.
"Consort, how are you feeling now? Should we hurry back and have Doctor Wu take a look?" Madam Geng asked Lanqin with concern as she walked to her side.
Her question immediately drew everyone's attention.
"I'm fine. I braced myself with my hand just now, and I didn't hurt the baby in my womb. My hand just hurts a little now; it's probably a sprain." Lan Qin glanced at everyone's expressions and gave a faint smile.
"Master, let's go back and have Doctor Liang take a look," said Cui Niang.
"Then I shall take my leave. I have truly spoiled Your Highness's enjoyment of chrysanthemum viewing," Lanqin said.
"Sister, go back and check your injuries first. Song and Wu, come back to the main courtyard with me. Although the concubine won't pursue this matter, I still need to get to the bottom of it." The princess clearly had no intention of continuing to admire the chrysanthemums. "The rest of you, if you're interested, can stay and continue admiring the chrysanthemums."
Lanqin smiled at Madam Song, indicating that she was really alright, and then left with the help of Cui Niang and Nianxue.
"Sigh, what a fine chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, and it's over just like that. What a waste of all the pastries that the kitchen prepared so carefully." Madam Nian glanced at Madam Wu and Madam Song and said casually.
The Fujin glanced at Nian Shi, then turned and helped Lingxiu walk in another direction. Wu Shi and Song Shi followed, each supported by their respective maids.
The chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, which was just going well, has now been almost completely over. Only Nian Shi, Yehe Shi, and Geng Shi, along with their maids and servants serving wine, fruit, and melons, remain.
"This is so boring, Cuiling. Come on, let's go for a walk by the lake over there. The sour smell here is so strong it's making me sick." Madam Nian took off the handkerchief from her chest and waved it in front of her nose.
As if she hadn't heard, Yehe gestured for Taohua to put away her guqin and said to Gengshi, "I want to go see the concubine. Would you like to come along, sister?"
Madam Geng naturally wanted to see Lanqin, so she nodded. The two of them, each supported by their own maid, went to catch up with Lanqin.
The remaining servants looked at each other, noticing that the snacks on the table remained untouched. Several of them then took the snacks away to enjoy themselves at their leisure; after all, the snacks would spoil if left uneaten.
Meanwhile, the Fujin was already sitting upright on the couch in her main room, with Wu and Song standing on either side, without being asked to sit down.
"Song, you said you were pushed, but Wu clearly said you bumped your calf." The Fujin seemed somewhat distracted. As the primary Fujin, she definitely needed to find out the truth before reporting to the Fourth Prince. Lanqin's lack of pursuit didn't mean she could let it go, so she had to get to the bottom of it.
"I felt someone push my back, and I fell forward. As for what Consort Wu just said about bumping my calf, I definitely felt it on my back," Madam Song said solemnly.
"Wu Shi, what do you say?" the Fujin asked, narrowing her eyes.
Wu remained calm. Ever since she appeared at the Chrysanthemum Banquet today, she had seemed unusually composed. Even when everyone was casting suspicious glances at her just now, she didn't appear particularly flustered.
"I bumped into a stone and naturally fell forward. I suppose my hand involuntarily pushed Sister Song," Wu explained.
"Reporting to Your Highness, I just checked, and there is indeed a stone protruding between the two blue stones. If the bottom of the flowerpot kicks it, it should fall forward," Lingxiu said.
After pondering for a moment, the Fujin said to the two women, "Fortunately, the Consort is not seriously injured, otherwise you two would both be to blame. Wu and Song, go back and each copy three volumes of Buddhist scriptures as a small punishment. Although it was not intentional, it was still suspected of being unintentional. Although Song was implicated by Wu, you were too close to the Consort. Next time, you must not be too close to a pregnant woman."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
