Chapter 274 Can't Survive Until Midnight
“I appreciate Miss Song’s kindness, but my mother has just given birth and is quite weak. The newborn baby cannot be exposed to strangers.”
"Please forgive me, Miss Song."
Song Zhuran smiled and said, "In that case, I'll come back another day."
"Sister Jiang, my sister and I have prepared a birth gift for the child. Please accept it on behalf of your aunt."
As Song Zhuran spoke, she slightly turned her head to indicate that the maid behind her had come forward with a gift box. Song Zhuran opened the box herself and said, "Inside is a pure gold lock, which I am giving to the child."
"What my elder sister gave me was a set of mattresses. These mattresses are warm in winter and cool in summer, and they are very comfortable. They were brought back from overseas by the Prince of Jin."
"There are only two sets in total. My sister keeps one set for herself, and the other set is a gift for my aunt and the children."
Song Zhuran's smile froze. Her younger sister had truly disappointed her time and time again. She wondered what her sister was planning this time, insisting that she be sent this mattress.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Miss Song."
"Sister Jiang, you don't need to be so polite. You saved my life, so these things are nothing. Not to mention these, I would be willing to give you even the most precious things."
Song Zhuran said with a smile, "I'll have someone go and change the bedding for your aunt."
"Let's wait a couple of days until Madam Jiang feels better," Song Zhuyi said.
"That's why I need to change as soon as possible, because I'm not feeling well." Song Zhuran insisted on changing now. "Oh, by the way, let Sister Jiang check me first before I change."
"Sister, of course I don't doubt you. I'm just worried that if any of the servants are careless or not paying attention, they might accidentally stick something sharp inside."
Song Zhuran ordered someone to display the bedding in front of Jiang Wanning so that Jiang Wanning could carefully inspect it, and also inspect the gold lock she had given her.
"That puts my mind at ease. Sister Jiang, please don't blame me for being cautious, but it's always good to be safe. My sister and I certainly won't, but it's unavoidable that some people might be bribed."
“These things have always been kept by Granny Chang and have never been entrusted to anyone else,” Song Zhuyi said. “Ranran, you are being too cautious.”
Granny Chang was the most loyal nanny by the Empress's side, and in many cases, Granny Chang's decisions represented the Empress herself.
Song Zhuran smiled sweetly, "Sister, don't be angry. I'm only thinking about all of us. After all, you and Sister Jiang have such a good relationship, and I don't want to be taken advantage of by people with ulterior motives."
"And my sister is pregnant now, and Sister Jiang's mother just gave birth. It wouldn't be good if any of you got hurt, would it?"
"At times like this, those with ill intentions will definitely try to frame you. Didn't my elder sister tell me yesterday that Sister Jiang and the Grand Princess had a fight outside the palace gates?"
"That Grand Princess is the most annoying."
"Ranran, when did you start paying attention to these things? When did I ever tell you about these things?" Song Zhuyi's expression was rather unpleasant.
Song Zhuran's mouth gaped open and her eyes widened. "Did Ranran remember it wrong?"
"Sister, I'm sorry. Ranran didn't rest well yesterday and misremembered. That shouldn't be what you said."
Although Song Zhuran said this, anyone would know that if the Empress hadn't spoken up, who would dare to gossip behind her back?
"Your Majesty, it's cold outside. Let's go inside and talk," Jiang Wan Ning said with a light smile to Song Zhu Ran, though her words were directed at Empress Song Zhu Yi.
Song Zhuyi nodded, and Song Zhuran, holding Song Zhuyi's arm, instructed Granny Chang and the others, "Go and help Auntie change the bedding."
Then, smiling, she said to Jiang Wan Ning, "I wonder what kind of fine tea Sister Jiang has prepared for us."
Jiang Wan Ning ignored her and followed the Empress inside from the other side. The three were drinking tea when Shao Yao rushed in, shouting, "Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"
"Madam...Madam...she vomited so much blood, black blood."
Jiang Wan Ning practically jumped up from her chair. "What happened?"
"When I went to check, the lady had already started vomiting blood. I don't know what happened. I just went out to get some millet porridge."
Upon hearing Shaoyao's report, Jiang Wanning hurriedly said to the Empress, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, I will go and take a look."
"Don't worry about me, go and see what's going on," Empress Song Zhuyi said hurriedly.
Jiang Wanning hurried to Zhou's room, checked it over, and when she came out of the room, the Empress and Song Zhuran had been waiting outside for a long time.
"Ningning, how is Madam Jiang?" the Empress asked anxiously.
Jiang Wan Ning looked disappointed and remained silent.
"Sister Jiang, have you figured out what the reason is? What do you need? Let me get it from the palace," Song Zhuran said.
"Yes, Ningning, you don't need to be polite with me if you need anything."
Song Zhuran said, "Sister, let's call the imperial physician. The one I recommended before is very skilled."
"Ningning knows medicine on her own, why does she need another imperial physician?" Empress Song Zhuyi said.
“Sister, Ranran is just worried that Sister Jiang might get flustered out of concern and treat Auntie badly... It would be better to ask another imperial physician to take a look.”
Empress Song Zhuyi pondered for a moment. Whatever Song Zhuran's schemes might be, what she said made sense. "Granny Chang, take my waist token and go fetch the imperial physician."
The Empress did not heed Song Zhuran's advice and asked her to recommend the imperial physician. If she remembered correctly, the imperial physician recommended by Ranran was surnamed Han.
Granny Chang replied, "Yes."
"Ningning, don't worry, Madam Jiang is very lucky and will be alright," Empress Song Zhuran gently comforted her.
A short while later,
Granny Chang arrived at the Jiang residence with the imperial physician.
The Empress frowned slightly when she saw the visitor. Granny Chang said softly, "Today, all the doctors on duty at the Imperial Hospital have left because of other matters, leaving only Physician Han here."
Empress Song Zhuyi was amazed. She never expected that her younger sister's influence was so far-reaching. Over the years, she had done quite a bit of work in and out of the palace.
"Take good care of Lady Jiang. If there are any problems, I will not forgive you," said Empress Song Zhuyi.
Physician Han immediately bowed his head and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."
About an incense stick later, Physician Han came out, looking grim.
"How is it?" Empress Song Zhuyi asked.
After hesitating for a moment, Physician Han said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, Madam Jiang's condition is caused by poisoning. The source of this poison is... that bedding."
"Your Majesty, I have already taken Madam Jiang's pulse and treated her. However, Madam Jiang was already weak, and now this poison has taken the opportunity to enter her body. I'm afraid she won't survive past midnight today."
"What did you say?!" The Empress was shocked.
"You're talking nonsense, Physician Han. Don't think that just because I recommended you to the Imperial Hospital you can frame others at will. How could the poison be on the bedding?"
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