Jiang Yuwei completely ignored the fact that the princess was trying to stop her.
"This is probably just a pleasant surprise for Princess Qinglan alone!"
As she spoke, Jiang Yuwei took out Liu Sheng's confession and placed it on the table.
"Empress Dowager, don't just listen to Qinglan's words. You can see for yourself whether these people have wronged her or not."
After saying all these things on her mind, Jiang Yuwei deflated like a punctured balloon and slumped into her chair.
Seeing this, the princess quickly looked at the Empress Dowager and said:
"Your Majesty, please don't take it to heart with these juniors. Madam Jiang was just feeling wronged, which is why she poured out her heart."
The Empress Dowager's face was already somewhat pale. She didn't rush to blame Jiang Yuwei, but instead instructed the maidservant beside her:
"Go, bring that thing here so I can take a look."
Seeing this, the nanny quickly handed over the envelope on the table.
The Empress Dowager took it and read it carefully. When she finished reading the entire confession, her face turned even paler. Only then did she realize that she had indeed been misled by one side. If this matter were to get out, who knows what others would say about her.
Thinking this way, the Empress Dowager also felt somewhat disheartened towards Qinglan. She never expected that Qinglan would go to such lengths for a married man.
Right now, I realize I've wronged Jiang Yuwei, but the marriage decree has already been made, and I can't go back on it. In any case, I've fulfilled Qinglan's mother's dying wish.
Having thought this through, the Empress Dowager tore the letter in her hand to shreds.
"I know about what happened today. It was indeed a grievance for Jiang, but the marriage must take place. You don't need to feel sad. Right now, a young talent like General Ning can't possibly have only one concubine for the rest of his life."
As she spoke, the Empress Dowager pounded her chest and continued:
"Qinglan has already treated you very well by allowing you to be General Ning's concubine. Let's let this matter rest today and not bring it up again in the future. Right now, Qinglan's reputation is tied to that of your general's mansion. If her reputation is ruined, your general's mansion will also suffer."
Jiang Yuwei naturally understood the Empress Dowager's meaning. She had never expected the Empress Dowager to view the matter from a fair perspective. Just as the Princess Consort said, since the die was cast, there was no point in making a fuss, so she could only swallow her anger.
Just as Jiang Yuwei was about to get up and bow to the Empress Dowager to say goodbye, she noticed that the Empress Dowager's expression was a little strange. She saw that the Empress Dowager's face was pale, her hands were tightly gripping the clothes at her chest, and large beads of sweat were constantly seeping out from her forehead.
So he hurriedly took out his personal silver needle case, walked to the Empress Dowager's side, and said with a serious expression:
"Your Majesty, are you feeling tightness in your chest, shortness of breath, and occasional sharp, needle-like pain right now?"
The Empress Dowager nodded weakly.
Jiang Yuwei frowned and said quickly:
"Your heart problem requires immediate acupuncture. If we go to fetch the imperial physician now, it may be too late. If you trust me, let me perform the acupuncture for you."
The princess, noticing the Empress Dowager's unusual behavior, quickly instructed the maidservant beside her:
"Go and fetch the imperial physician first."
Then, the princess looked at the Empress Dowager and said:
"Your Majesty, you can trust Madam Jiang; her medical skills are exceptional."
Upon hearing the princess's words, the Empress Dowager raised her eyes to look at Jiang Yuwei, then nodded and lay down.
"You can give me the acupuncture."
Jiang Yuwei ordered a palace maid to bring a candle and light it. She then laid out her silver needles, heated them over the candle for a while, and then began to insert the needles into the Empress Dowager's body.
After four needles were inserted, the Empress Dowager loosened her grip on her chest, and her face was no longer as pale as before. Only then did she close her eyes and rest in peace.
Jiang Yuwei inserted a few more needles, and after waiting a while, seeing that the time was almost up, she removed the silver needles from the Empress Dowager's body and put them away.
Only then did the old woman rush in with the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was lying flat on the soft couch with a rosy complexion, and did not seem to be ill, the imperial physician put down his medicine box, bowed to the Empress Dowager who had her eyes closed, and then came forward to take her pulse by covering her face with a handkerchief.
A moment later, the imperial physician's expression changed drastically, and he knelt before the Empress Dowager, saying:
"Your Majesty is truly blessed with good fortune. Just now, following what the nanny said, I was afraid that I would arrive too late. I did not expect that your health would recover on its own. Now, I see that your pulse is even stronger than it was a while ago."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager slightly opened her eyes, looked at Jiang Yuwei standing by the couch, and smiled faintly:
"This is all thanks to Madam Jiang. Guards, reward her!"
The old woman, having received the order, hurriedly sent people to prepare gifts.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was no longer in any bad shape, the imperial physician prescribed a recuperation formula for her and then hurriedly left.
The Empress Dowager waved to Jiang Yuwei and said:
"Come here."
Jiang Yuwei slowly walked to the Empress Dowager's side.
The Empress Dowager pulled her hand and made her sit down. She could clearly feel that her body had indeed improved considerably, so she smiled and said to Jiang Yuwei:
"Qinglan has indeed wronged you. Since that's the case, you don't need to prepare for her wedding. You can leave it to your mother-in-law."
Jiang Yuwei nodded in agreement, without any further expression.
The Empress Dowager sighed.
"I don't think you're like the rumors outside. It's right for Princess Jing to keep you by her side. In the future, you can accompany Princess Jing to my palace more often."
Seeing that Jiang Yuwei remained expressionless, the princess quickly stepped forward, took the Empress Dowager's hand, and smiled:
"Alright, I'll accept this on behalf of Madam Jiang. We'll definitely visit the Empress Dowager often in the future. It's getting late, and you've only just recovered, so I'll take Madam Jiang and leave now. Please get some rest."
The Empress Dowager glanced at Jiang Yuwei, then said nothing more, simply nodding slightly.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager had agreed, the Princess Consort quickly pulled Jiang Yuwei to her feet, bowed to the Empress Dowager, and said goodbye. The rewards prepared by the maids outside had also been prepared long ago. Seeing Jiang Yuwei come out with the Princess Consort, she quickly ordered the eunuchs to take the things with them to Prince Jing's residence.
Jiang Yuwei looked up at the Empress Dowager's gift and smiled bitterly. Was the Empress Dowager trying to thank her for saving her life or to compensate her for being demoted to a secondary wife? She was so willing to give her something to shut her up.
Seeing that Jiang Yuwei remained uninterested, the princess took her hand and smiled, saying:
"Yuwei, try to think more positively. As long as you and Huaizhi are of one mind, no matter how many people others try to force into the General's Mansion, your friendship will not change."
Hearing the princess's words, Jiang Yuwei shook her head helplessly and said:
"I can't figure this out in a short time, Your Highness. You have no idea how I survived those hard times with Huaizhi back then."
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