Chapter 275 Rewarding Ten Thousand Taels of Gold
"This set of bedding was just changed; it was a gift from my older sister to my aunt."
"My sister just said that these bedding only passed through the hands of Granny Chang. Granny Chang is an old and loyal servant of my sister's. How could she possibly do such a thing?"
Song Zhuran's words were well-chosen; seemingly protecting Song Zhuyi, they actually directed all suspicion towards the Empress.
"Your Majesty is wise, this humble subject would not dare to lie," Physician Han immediately knelt down and said.
The Empress looked at Jiang Wan Ning and said, "Ning Ning, don't worry, I will find the real culprit in this matter."
"Granny Chang, explain carefully who touched these beddings!" Empress Song Zhuyi asked coldly.
Granny Chang immediately knelt down, "Your Majesty, this bedding has never been handled by anyone else. This old servant has been in charge of it all by herself, following your orders."
"Granny Chang, are you implying that my sister poisoned me? What are you up to?" Song Zhuran shouted. "My sister is the kindest of all, how could she be so cruel? Don't you dare frame me!"
"Your Majesty, please investigate. That's not what I meant, but I really didn't entrust this thing to anyone else."
Song Zhuran walked up to Empress Song Zhuyi and said, "Sister, I think it would be better to interrogate Granny Chang. That way, we can give Sister Jiang an explanation."
"This is no small matter."
"We should give Sister Jiang an explanation, don't you think, Sister?"
Empress Song Zhuyi looked at Jiang Wanning and saw that Jiang Wanning looked sad and listless. She opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.
Finally, she spoke up, "Now is not the time to interrogate people. I will definitely give Princess Langya an explanation for this matter. The current priority is to cure Madam Jiang."
By this point, Song Zhuyi knew that this was definitely a trap set by her good sister, Song Zhuran, in order to use her to kill Zhou Shi.
This could lead to a misunderstanding between Jiang Wan Ning and herself, but since Zhou's life was at stake, the Empress couldn't guarantee whether Jiang Wan Ning would have thought of it.
"Imperial Physician Han, I ask you, what is needed to cure Lady Jiang's illness?"
Physician Han raised his head slightly, glanced at Song Zhuran, and then said, "Your Majesty, Madam Jiang is currently only clinging to life. At this critical moment, there is only one thing that can completely cure Madam Jiang."
"That is the Nine-Leaf Resurrection Grass, but upon examining Lady Jiang's pulse, I found that while the medicinal effects of the Nine-Leaf Resurrection Grass are present in her body, the results seem weak. I wonder..."
“Our lady’s previous dose was missing a leaf,” Peony explained.
Physician Han nodded. "I see. Originally, the Nine-Leaf Resurrection Grass, now missing a leaf, could have kept Madam Jiang going for a while longer. But after this poisoning, the effects of the Nine-Leaf Resurrection Grass in her body are almost gone."
"The only way to completely cure the poison is to find a nine-leaf resurrection herb and give it to Madam Jiang before sunset today."
"Ningning, is what he said true?" Empress Song Zhuyi still believed Jiang Wanning more.
Jiang Wan Ning seemed to have lost her soul. It was only after Shao Yao reminded her that she came back to her senses. "Your Majesty, Physician Han is right."
"This is all my fault for being careless. Don't worry, I will do my best to find a new Nine-Leaf Resurrection Grass for you," said Empress Song Zhuyi. "Someone, convey my decree to post notices that anyone who can find the Nine-Leaf Resurrection Grass and deliver it to the Jiang residence before sunset will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold."
Since becoming empress, Song Zhuyi has always acted in a proper and disciplined manner, never overstepping any boundaries, and she herself has also practiced diligence and thrift.
This was the first time such a generous reward had been bestowed and the exercise of the rights of a ruler in such a grand manner had been undertaken.
"Sister Jiang, don't worry, I will definitely find a new resurrection herb for you," Song Zhuran said 'concernedly' from the side.
Jiang Wan Ning forced a weak smile. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Sister, you stay here with Sister Jiang for now. I'll take Granny Chang back to the palace and have my brother-in-law interrogate her personally. If this matter isn't handled properly, wouldn't it break the hearts of the Prince and Sister Jiang?"
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Miss Song."
Before the Empress could speak, Jiang Wan Ning spoke first.
Seeing Jiang Wan Ning's reaction, the Empress could only nod. After Song Zhu Ran left, Jiang Wan Ning returned to her usual self and instructed Shao Yao, "Go and keep an eye on things."
"yes."
"Save Granny Chang if necessary," Jiang Wanning added.
"Your Highness, rest assured, His Highness has already made all the arrangements and is just waiting for the fish to take the bait." After saying this, Peony turned and left.
Empress Song Zhuyi looked shocked. "Ningning, this is..."
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I had no choice but to keep it from you earlier."
The Empress shook her head repeatedly, "Tell me quickly what exactly happened?"
“The Prince’s guards saw Miss Song enter the palace last night, and I guessed that something like this might happen, so I made preparations in advance. There was indeed something wrong with the bedding today.”
“But my mother took my antidote beforehand, and this kind of antidote cannot be detected in her pulse within an hour.”
"The bedding was changed after I went in."
The Empress looked shocked. "So, Lady Jiang is alright?"
Jiang Wan Ning shook her head, "Not entirely, but there are still a few days left, and we still need new Nine-Leaf Resurrection Grass."
The Empress glanced around and asked, "Is all of this Ranran?"
Jiang Wan Ning looked calmly at Empress Song Zhu Yi without saying a word, and Empress Song Zhu Yi already understood what she meant.
"But those bedding were indeed taken care of by Granny Chang. Could it be that Granny Chang also..."
“If a particularly loyal person betrays his master, it must be because the other party has some weakness in his hands. In my opinion, that Granny Chang will definitely die.”
The cause of death was suicide.
"Ranran wouldn't do that. Wouldn't she get herself into trouble if she did?"
“Song Zhuran already knows that I know her identity. Besides using my mother’s life to sow discord between us, I suppose next it will be Her Majesty the Empress’s life.”
"And the child in Your Majesty's womb."
The Empress subconsciously touched her abdomen, "I have never mistreated her, why must she put me to death?"
“I’m afraid only Miss Song herself knows the truth,” Jiang Wanning said.
"I don't believe it. Could it all be a misunderstanding, Ningning?" Empress Song Zhuyi still refused to believe it.
Before she could finish speaking, Shaoyao returned and said, "Your Highness, when I was almost at the palace gate with Miss Song's carriage, Granny Chang got off the carriage."
“I followed him into an alley and he disappeared. The prince’s men finally found him by the river, but he had already drowned.”
"Was Miss Song aware of the whole process?" Jiang Wan Ning asked.
“Miss Song got off the carriage and went to a shop. It was around that time that Granny Chang ran away.”
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