Chapter 650 Madam Helan Causes Trouble
Helan Yanran ran away just like that, leaving her family heartbroken and in tears.
If she weren't pregnant, she could still have some room to maneuver in the palace. But the longer it drags on, the more likely her pregnancy will be discovered, and she won't be able to stay in the palace any longer.
This is bad for both her and her lover, and the emperor has also been cuckolded, which is quite embarrassing. The key is that the Shang family is considered Xie's confidant. Faced with this situation, should Xie Shang kill Shang Hong or let him go?
Helan Yanran was destined to die if she stayed in the palace.
He Lanjue then asked, "Where did Yanran fall off the cliff? I'll take people to find her right away."
Jiang Fenghua said, "There are soldiers searching. Young Master Helan is not in good health and has been poisoned. It would be better if he didn't travel. Young Master should recuperate first."
"I know my own body; I'm not going to die," Helan Jue said.
Luo Ziqiong also advised, "Young Master Helan, you should listen to the Empress. If you fail to find your sister and ruin your health, won't that make your family even more worried?"
After Luo Ziqiong's persuasion, He Lanjue finally stopped insisting on going to find his sister.
Jiang Fenghua asked in confusion, "Young Master, did you not believe it was an epidemic from the very beginning?"
"Although the symptoms were very similar to those of an epidemic, I took some medicine and felt some relief. My intuition told me it wasn't an epidemic, so I only took the medicine for the symptoms and didn't treat it like an epidemic. For example, I took painkillers and antidiarrheals for abdominal pain and diarrhea, anti-vomiting medicine for vomiting, and anti-itch medicine for itching. I treated the area that was uncomfortable."
Throughout history, there have been many epidemics, and many people have died. It's almost impossible to find a true cure. I only discovered in the last couple of days that the medicine I'm taking is effective for my symptoms..."
He handed the record of his medication to Jiang Fenghua, saying, "Your Majesty, please take a look."
"Have you shown it to Physician Mei?" Jiang Fenghua asked.
"Not yet, I'm not sure either. If I die from it, that's fine, but what if it harms other patients?"
Luo Ziqiong said, "Let me try it. I'm not afraid of dying."
She lifted her sleeves and neck, “I’ve started getting rashes all over my body, and soon my skin will slowly rot like those dead people, and I’ll die.”
"Speaking of which, Young Master Helan is still my savior. If I test the medicine and it works, it will be as if Young Master Helan saved my life again." She was referring to the time when she was framed for having an affair with Helan Jue in the palace, and Jiang Fenghua and Lu Xuefei, along with Helan Jue, saved her.
However, before they could come up with a plan, people from the Marquis of Changping's residence arrived.
Lady Changping's eyes were swollen from crying, and the Jishan Hall was heavily guarded by soldiers who wouldn't let her in.
"I want to see my son. Why won't you let me in? I am the wife of the Marquis of Changping."
The officers and soldiers were also in a dilemma. "It's not that we don't want the lady to go in, but there's an epidemic in Jishantang right now."
Upon hearing this, Lady Changping could no longer hold back her tears. "Jue'er, my child, if God wants to take a life, take mine. Why take my child's life? If my child is dead, what do I have to fear from the plague?"
She collapsed at the entrance of Jishantang.
At this moment, Helan Jue received the news and rushed out. Seeing his mother crying loudly, he quickly helped her up, saying, "Mother, why are you here?"
“Jue’er, if I hadn’t come soon, I would never have seen you again. Your sister… something has happened to her.” Lady Changping’s voice choked with sobs. “Someone from the palace has come to report the death. They said your sister encountered assassins outside the palace and fell off a cliff along with her carriage…”
“Mother, my sister is very lucky and will definitely be alright. We still haven’t found her, have we?” Helan Jue quoted Luo Ziqiong’s words.
Jiang Fenghua and Luo Ziqiong followed closely behind and happened to hear He Lanjue's voice. Looking at the swollen eyes and haggard face of Lady Changping, she also felt bad. Every mother loves her children, let alone when both of her children have had accidents one after another. What parent could bear it?
However, she couldn't reveal Helan Yanran's true whereabouts. She had warned Helan Yanran long ago that if she died, what would happen to her family? Her parents would be heartbroken. But she still chose to give birth to the child without an identity.
At this moment, Lady Changping saw Jiang Fenghua's figure and recognized her as the Empress at a glance.
At this moment, she disregarded the possibility of disrespecting the Empress and sternly addressed Jiang Fenghua, "I heard that the assassin wanted to kill Her Majesty the Empress. Why should Yanran die while Her Majesty stands here unharmed? Your Majesty is kind-hearted. You have helped the elderly, women, and children in Jishantang. Please, have mercy and save my son and daughter. They were all in trouble because of Your Majesty!"
Seeing that she was too shrewish, Granny Wang and her men quickly stopped her, saying, "How dare you! Not bowing to Her Majesty the Empress and speaking disrespectfully! What about the etiquette of the Lady of Changping Marquis!"
"My daughter is dead, what do I need etiquette for? At worst, Your Majesty can take my life too! I don't want to live anymore!" Lady Changping was furious, throwing a tantrum and demanding that Empress Jiang pay for her daughter's life.
"You..." Granny Wang was furious.
Granny Wang tried to stop her, but Jiang Fenghua suddenly spoke up, "All of you, step back. I understand Lady Helan's grief over the loss of her beloved daughter, and I forgive her."
She added, "Young Master Helan is kind-hearted and did good deeds at Jishantang, which is why he suffered this undeserved misfortune. As long as Madam Helan can vent her anger, she can complain if she wants!"
Instantly, Lady Changping stopped crying and making a fuss. She stared at Jiang Fenghua's face with resentment, "Yanran died so tragically. She was so pitiful. She suffered so much injustice and died without knowing why. What mother could bear to see her child die? My poor daughter!"
"Mother, please don't cry." Helan Jue quickly stopped her. Jishantang was on the edge of the city, and fortunately there weren't many people there, but Helan Madam's commotion still attracted quite a few onlookers.
The people in Jishantang and Physician Mei were also alarmed.
Jiang Fenghua never imagined that she would encounter a scene where He Lan Yanran's mother stopped her and demanded justice for her.
She thought of Zhang Jingjing's mother, whose eyes were also red from crying. They both regretted letting their daughter enter the palace. Because of her status, no one dared to point fingers at her. In fact, everyone bowed to the Empress. She knew that they shared the same thoughts as the Lady of Changping.
Helan Jue had his mother put on the carriage before coming over to apologize, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. My mother is not usually like this. She is just too sad and cannot accept Yanran's sudden departure."
"I understand. Have someone escort Madam back to her residence. I'd like to discuss the Jishantang matter with you." Her voice was calm and composed, her back straight, her gaze cold and dignified.
Jiang Fenghua knew that only by finding the murderer could she give the best account to the dead.
She stood at the main gate and saw the academy next door, with the four characters "Feng Hua Academy" written on the plaque above the gate.
Xie Shang wanted to prove that the academy was established for Jiang Fenghua, but he couldn't directly write "Fenghua", so he simply wrote "Fenghua".
The academy's door was half-open, and pairs of innocent little eyes peeked out from inside. They were all girls, and they all looked in Jiang Fenghua's direction. Jiang Fenghua glanced back at them, and they quickly shrank back in fright.
As soon as Jiang Fenghua turned around, they crowded at the doorway to look outside. Many of them didn't know that they were able to study entirely because of Empress Jiang.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
