Everyone was puzzled.
However, given the current situation, the court officials had no desire to stay any longer. After a few pleasantries, they took their leave one after another.
The matriarch followed the crowd out of the palace gate. When Wu Mama helped her, she felt that the matriarch's steps were unsteady.
"Madam, are you feeling unwell in your chest? Would you like to take a heart-protecting pill?"
The elder lady remained silent, but quickened her pace.
Only when they were far from the crowd and in a slightly secluded place did she speak: "Just now in the hall, before Ji Rong went mad, did you ask if you smelled anything unusual?"
Granny Wu shook her head: "No."
The elder's wife turned pale.
It seems she wasn't mistaken.
Just now, during the meal, she smelled a strange, cool, and chilly scent.
It is not the kind of aroma that can be emitted by fine food and wine.
The elder lady was very familiar with this chilling aura, but because she hadn't encountered it for many years, she couldn't be sure for the moment.
Thinking back carefully, Pei Tang was wielding her whip at the time, and everyone in the hall was drawn to her, including the matriarch of the elders, so they didn't notice anything unusual about the others.
Then, Ji Rong suddenly fell ill.
Seeing that no one was around, Granny Wu whispered, "Madam, Ji Rong's matter is your..."
The matriarch glared at her and stopped her, saying, "What kind of occasion is this? How could I possibly make a move in front of His Majesty!"
This was something she couldn't understand either: why would Ji Rong suddenly riot?
The elder's wife had a solemn expression, her brows furrowed into a "川" shape.
Thinking about what happened later, she felt a vague unease and asked, "Will there be any problem with the birthday gift we gave to the princess?"
"Don't worry, Madam."
"That's what Granny Wu replied."
"You instructed me to be wary of Jiang Shi long ago, how could this old servant not be careful? I personally selected these things, and they have never left my side. I also personally handed them over to the palace eunuchs, so no one else has ever touched them along the way."
The matriarch breathed a slight sigh of relief.
She trusted Granny Wu with her work.
"What happened tonight was too strange. I feel that it has something to do with Jiang Wan."
Emperor Jingyuan's acceptance of the congratulatory gifts clearly indicated his suspicion that something was amiss and that he wanted to investigate them thoroughly.
Fortunately, she had taken precautions in advance to prevent Jiang Wan from tampering with her congratulatory gift.
Granny Wu said, "Madam is wise. There is absolutely nothing wrong with our things. Even if something happens, it will not involve you."
As they spoke, the two had already reached the side gate.
Just as they were about to board the carriage, the matriarch suddenly realized something and turned around to look: "Where is Madam Gu?"
Granny Wu was also taken aback. Just as she was about to turn around to look for her, she saw Gu Yurong's figure appear from around the corner and walk over quickly.
Madam Elder: "Where have you been?"
"My granddaughter-in-law followed behind the whole time, but when she saw that her grandmother and the nanny had something to say, she didn't dare to get close," Gu Yurong said softly.
The elder statesman pressed his forehead.
With Ji Rong on her mind and seeing that Gu Yurong behaved fairly well at the banquet, she didn't bother to pursue the matter further.
Granny Wu said, "Madam Jiang said she was going to visit Ji Rong and told us not to wait for her."
The matriarch hummed in agreement, and before getting into the carriage, she suddenly turned around to look.
The night was deep, the palace walls stood tall, and the moonlight shone on the eaves, casting a cold and clear glow.
A chill ran through her.
Perhaps attending this banquet today was a mistake.
In front of the side hall of Funing Palace, a young eunuch looked at Ji Huaichuan with a troubled expression: "Young Master Ji, it's not that I'm deliberately making things difficult for you, but His Majesty has ordered that you, Lord Ji, must rest quietly tonight and no one is allowed to visit you. Why don't you ask for the imperial decree before you come?"
Ji Huaichuan, with a sullen face, turned to go see Emperor Jingyuan, but was stopped by Jiang Wan.
"Cousin, it's good to let Uncle rest in peace."
She leaned closer to Ji Huaichuan and whispered, "Cousin, believe me, Uncle will be released and sent home tomorrow."
Ji Huaichuan said, "Really? But Father lost his composure in front of the Emperor today. Will His Majesty let him off the hook?"
He pulled Jiang Wan aside, frowning, and said, "Speaking of which, what did you mean by what you said in court today, cousin? His Majesty is very suspicious. What if he suspects that Father intended to assassinate him?"
"Your Majesty never suspected your uncle before, yet you still kept him confined in the palace, didn't you?"
Jiang Wan's eyes flickered.
"I want His Majesty to suspect my uncle, so that he will be sent home."
Ji Huaichuan's eyes widened, hardly believing her words: "Intentional assassination is a capital offense punishable by death."
"Don't worry, cousin. If His Majesty suspects that Uncle has such intentions, he will deal with him tonight." Jiang Wan chuckled. "It's clear that His Majesty trusts Uncle. In that case, it will be someone else who suffers."
"Who?" Ji Huaichuan asked.
Jiang Wan smiled slightly.
Just as he was about to speak, he saw several eunuchs carrying a sedan chair hurriedly passing by. An elderly man with gray hair sat in the sedan chair and hurried towards the Funing Palace.
The old man was leaning to one side, breathing slightly heavily. He looked to be over seventy years old. Ji Huaichuan glanced at him but did not remember having such a person in the court.
Jiang Wan said softly, "It's Physician Jin."
Ji Huaichuan was slightly shocked.
He had heard of this imperial physician, who was highly valued during the reign of the late emperor.
Unlike other imperial physicians, he did not serve in the Imperial Hospital; he merely held a title and only entered the palace when summoned by the late emperor. He was skilled in treating various difficult and unusual diseases. Later, he retired to his hometown and was gradually forgotten by the court.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Jingyuan summoned him to the palace.
"Cousin, let's go." Jiang Wan looked back.
The imperial study was brightly lit; Emperor Jingyuan must be having a sleepless night.
She said calmly, "Let's wait until tomorrow to bring my uncle back to the manor."
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