Chapter 278 The Human Heart Cannot Be Deceived
In the evening, Pei Siyan returned very late. Dou Wenyi ordered someone to bring up the stewed chicken soup. Pei Siyan tasted a few mouthfuls and nodded repeatedly, feeling that it tasted even better than usual. "It tastes delicious and refreshing, unlike what the imperial chefs make?"
Dou Wenyi smiled and said, "Yes, it was made in the small kitchen of Wutongyuan, with fresh mushrooms in it."
Pei Siyan took another sip. "The food here is really delicious."
As he spoke, he seemed to have thought of something, and his brows furrowed slightly.
"What's wrong?"
Pei Siyan's face showed a hint of worry. "Grandmother's condition has suddenly worsened, and I'm afraid she doesn't have much time left. Would you like to come with me to see her tomorrow?"
“Okay.” Dou Wenyi nodded. Madam Wen was the mother of Empress Wen and one of the people Pei Siyan respected the most. Naturally, she would go with him to visit her.
However, Wen Jingchu is still being punished at Cuifeng Nunnery. Under these circumstances, she will definitely be brought back to fulfill her filial duties.
It wasn't that she was a conspiracy theorist, but deep down she inexplicably connected the two events... Hopefully, she was just overthinking it.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Pei Siyan got up to attend the morning court session.
Dou Wenyi slept a little longer before getting up. After having breakfast, she brought two bottles of pills she had made herself, and ordered someone to select three-hundred-year-old wild ginseng from the storeroom, as well as some precious medicinal herbs and tonics as a congratulatory gift.
At 3:45 AM, the morning court session had ended.
Dou Wenyi came out after getting ready. The carriage was already waiting at the gate of the East Palace. She boarded the carriage, and Pei Siyan sat upright in the carriage, holding a memorial in his hand. His eyebrows were lowered. He quickly glanced at it, closed the memorial, and casually tossed it aside.
It looks like another upsetting matter in the imperial court.
Pei Siyan pointed to the jade porcelain plate on the chessboard, which was decorated with various candied fruits and osmanthus pastries. "Want to try some?"
She picked up a piece of osmanthus pastry, took a bite, and exclaimed, "Delicious! From Zhuangyuan Pavilion?"
Pei Siyan's gloomy expression finally dissipated, and he laughed, "You have quite the appetite!"
"This osmanthus-flavored pastry is sweet but not cloying, and melts in your mouth. Only the one from Zhuangyuan Pavilion is the most delicate and delicious."
The taste from her memory was stimulating her taste buds, and she suddenly remembered something: "Why did you give me osmanthus pastry when I went to take the pharmacy exam?"
At that time, Pei Siyan didn't know her at all, so how could he know her preferences?
Pei Siyan couldn't hide his embarrassment. He coughed lightly and replied in a serious tone, "Weren't you about to faint? Those osmanthus pastries were originally prepared for Pei Shuyue."
He couldn't very well tell her that he had sent people to thoroughly investigate all her information ever since they first met at the Zhang family's house.
He paused, then continued, "Dou Zhongyuan's memorial has been submitted, but it's all utter nonsense..."
Dou Wenyi sneered inwardly, "Ignore him, they're just insatiable. Was that why you got angry just now?"
Pei Siyan wanted to deny it, but then nodded. These ministers were just bored and had nothing better to do. He hadn't even ascended the throne yet, and some people were already advising him to take in a large number of concubines!
They must have eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard!
In less than half an hour, the carriage stopped at the Duke of Wen's residence.
Duke Wen and Lady Fan, among others, were already waiting at the main gate. They exchanged a few pleasantries with the Wen family members and were then led inside.
Pei Siyan's expression turned slightly cold upon seeing that all the members of the Wen family were present. "You've all come to pick me up, but who will serve the old lady?"
Duke Wen's expression changed slightly. "The old lady keeps talking about Jingchu, so I had no choice but to bring her back first to deal with her for now. However, Your Highness, please rest assured that her punishment will not end there. Once the old lady's condition improves, I will send her back to Cuifeng Nunnery."
"I hope Your Highness will be understanding."
Pei Siyan's expression was unreadable, and he replied indifferently, "Never mind."
Duke Wen spoke humbly and warmly, but if he really wanted to seek the Crown Prince's opinion, he should have sent someone to inform him in advance, instead of acting first and reporting later by sending someone to bring Wen Jingchu back.
Under these circumstances, Pei Siyan could not possibly prevent her from returning to pay her respects.
However, Duke Wen only regarded him as his own nephew, not as the crown prince or the future emperor.
Losing respect for hierarchy is essentially losing dignity.
If they don't realize this, the Wen family will only drift further and further away from the Crown Prince in the long run!
When everyone arrived at Madam Wen's bedroom, many people sat or stood, and a strong, bitter smell of medicine wafted towards them.
On the bed lay Old Madam Wen, her hair completely white, her sparse eyebrows furrowed, her cheeks sunken, her weathered face deathly pale, her eyes tightly closed, her mind unclear, and unconscious.
"Why would Madam Wen's heart meridian be damaged? She was perfectly fine when I checked her pulse just two days ago. This shouldn't be happening..."
"This disease came on suddenly and is indeed quite strange."
"The old lady already has a heart condition. Could it be that she encountered something sad or suffered some kind of shock?"
Several imperial physicians were discussing the patient's condition in hushed tones. Wen Jingchu sat by the bedside, wiping away tears. Even when Pei Siyan entered, she did not rise to greet him or offer any greetings.
"Sister-in-law, didn't you promise me you'd keep this a secret? Why did you have to bring it up in front of Mother? If anything happens to the old lady, how can I, as her daughter, live with myself?"
Mrs. Fan looked embarrassed and had no way to express her grievances, saying, "We didn't say anything!"
The Duke of Wen had already made arrangements so that no one dared to tell the old lady about Wen Jingchu's trouble. Could it be that someone in the manor is harboring malicious intentions?
Duke Wen couldn't stand Wen Jingchu's interrogation-like demeanor and complained about others. Didn't they all hope that I would live to be a hundred years old?
"Your Highness the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have arrived. Aren't you going to come and greet them?"
Wen Jingchu sniffed, as if she had just noticed Pei Siyan and her. She slowly got up, limped over, and curtsied to greet him.
Pei Siyan's face was covered with frost. He dismissed her formalities and went straight to see Old Madam Wen.
Wen Jingchu raised her chin slightly, her provocative gaze shooting towards her.
Their eyes met, and Dou Wenyi's sense of unease reached its peak.
Even though Wen Jingchu's face was covered in tears, she didn't feel any sadness at all; instead, her schadenfreude was obvious.
It was as if she were saying: It was because Pei Siyan put righteousness before family that the old lady's condition worsened.
absurd!
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her, and a terrifying thought arose in her mind.
Dou Wenyi strode to the bedside and stood close to Pei Siyan. Under the cover of his wide sleeves, she subtly placed her hand on Old Madam Wen's wrist and carefully took her pulse...
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