When Yinzhen walked towards his wife's courtyard, he also instructed Gao Wuyong to have someone invite Lady Li and Lady Nian to his wife's place.
"Tell me, what exactly happened?"
"Reporting to Your Excellency, that day when Lady Geng delivered some snacks to Sister Niu Hulu, she started bleeding shortly afterward. Fortunately, she didn't eat much, so neither the adults nor the children were harmed."
"Are you saying that Princess Geng deliberately wanted to harm Princess Niohuru?"
The princess gave a dry laugh and did not continue to answer.
“Ms. Li, what are your thoughts?”
"Your Majesty, I find that Consort Geng's mind is far too cunning. She gets along so well with Sister Niohuru, I never imagined she would harbor such harmful intentions."
“Ms. Nian, you speak.”
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the servants at Niohuru's place said that when Consort Geng arrived, only Niohuru and her maid Huangli were in the room. Later, the eunuchs in the courtyard heard Huangli's panicked voices and went into the room to find that Niohuru had already fainted."
As Yinzhen listened, he lowered his head and sipped his tea, so no one could see the expression on his face.
"So, you've convicted Princess Geng based solely on the words of a mere eunuch, is that it?"
Nian was somewhat unconvinced. What they had just said was clearly the truth, so why did the prince's tone suggest that he was trying to exonerate Geng Youran?
"My lord, we have both witnesses and physical evidence. What I and my two sisters said is the truth."
Yinzhen did not answer, but directly summoned Gao Wuyong:
"Gao Wuyong, bring your men and bring Geng Gege and her head maid Xinyi here."
"Yes, sir."
The other three people had expressions of confusion, feigned composure, and some started twisting their handkerchiefs while still trying to appear calm.
However, less than half an hour later, Gao Wuyong came running in, panting heavily.
"Your Highness, Princess Geng has fainted and is unconscious. Please go and take a look at her."
Yinzhen hurriedly put down his teacup, the spilled tea leaving water stains on the table.
The Fujin (principal wife) and her two concubines also went to Geng Youran's courtyard to see what tricks Geng Youran had up her sleeve.
Before long, the imperial physician arrived.
"Your Highness, great news! Consort Geng is pregnant!"
"What!"
Yinzhen was overjoyed, never expecting that two of his concubines would become pregnant in just a few months, while the other three wives and secondary wives were somewhat embarrassed.
Li Jingshu spoke up at this moment:
"Master, what about Niohuru, my sister?"
To her surprise, Yinzhen ignored her and immediately inquired with the imperial physician.
"How is Princess Geng's health?"
"Your Highness, Princess Geng is in good health, but because she hasn't eaten rice or noodles for several days, her pulse is a little weak. She will recover after taking some medicine and getting plenty of rest."
"Okay, then go and write the prescription."
"Yes, sir."
Not long after the imperial physician left, Xinyi shouted loudly from inside the room:
"Your Highness, the princess is awake!"
Yinzhen quickly got up and walked to the bedside in the inner room. He saw Geng Youran slightly open her eyes, her lips trembling slightly, as if she had something to say.
"You should focus on getting better first. We can talk about this once you've recovered."
Geng Youran shook her head and waved to Xinyi, signaling for Xinyi to help her up.
"My lord, I have never harmed Wanru. Someone added something to the ingredients I used, which is why Wanru started bleeding."
Yinzhen frowned.
"What is that?"
"Sir, please have them bring the snacks that Sister Wanru ate the other day."
Geng Youran spoke haltingly, not because she was dizzy, but because she was too hungry.
But with so many people staring at her in the room, she felt embarrassed to ask them to bring her food.
Not long after, a young eunuch walked in, trembling, and said in a shaky voice:
"Your Highness, that plate of pastries has already been thrown away."
Yinzhen was furious:
"Nonsense! Who threw that?"
Nian Yunrong stepped in to smooth things over:
“Master, Niohuru’s sister bled after eating that stuff. The servants probably thought it was poisonous and threw it away. Please don’t take it to heart.”
“What Consort Nian said makes sense. I happen to have some of the exact same pastries here.”
Hongshi's voice suddenly came from outside the door, followed by a eunuch carrying a food box.
"Hongshi? What brings you here?"
"Your son greets his father. May your father be blessed."
"Get up. You haven't told your father what happened yet."
"Reporting to Father, Princess Geng made two portions of pastries. One portion was given to Princess Niohuru, and the other portion was given to me."
Upon hearing this, Consort Li hurried over and anxiously asked:
"You ate too? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
Hongshi simply replied:
"My son is alright."
Then he walked up to Yinzhen and said:
“Father, your son had it checked, and the pastries made by Geng Gege are indeed not poisonous.”
"They are dried flowers."
Geng Youran, who had been watching all this from the bed, spoke up at this moment. Seeing everyone turn to look at her, she repeated herself:
"It's dried flowers sprinkled on desserts. Someone mixed in 'fake jasmine'."
"'Fake Jasmine'?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
After receiving a look from Geng Youran, Xinyi went to the eunuch, took the snacks, and presented them to Yinzhen.
“Your Highness, look. Although the leaves of this ‘fake jasmine’ are very similar to those of jasmine flowers, the color of the leaves is darker and the brightness is also higher. This dessert itself is not poisonous, but Princess Niohuru had been taking tonics for a while. Presumably, this ‘fake jasmine’ was incompatible with one of the tonics and produced toxicity, which is why Princess Niohuru bled.”
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