Inside the Green Bamboo Hall.
Song Tingyue lay weakly on the bed, while an elderly man with a full head of silver hair sat on the edge of the bed, looking dignified and wealthy.
Madam He was over sixty years old, with graying temples, but her slightly sunken eyes were very bright.
"Sister Yue, you're struggling," she said gently.
His words contained comfort, pity, and a hint of barely perceptible disappointment.
"grandmother."
Holding Madam He's hand, Song Tingyue was speechless with emotion, and two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks.
"No matter how you fight, you shouldn't risk your body."
Madam He instructed the nanny to place down a box of medicine. "Miscarriage is extremely detrimental to a woman. This medicine was bestowed by the late Emperor and can help you recover your fertility."
Song Tingyue wept, her eyes filled with hope as she looked at her: "Grandmother, what about my leg..."
Madam He shook her head.
Song Tingyue cried even harder.
He became a cripple, subjected to scorn and ridicule.
For someone who had lived a life of luxury and had lofty ambitions, this was worse than death.
Madam He wiped away her tears, her face showing tenderness.
Song Tingyue was raised in her courtyard since childhood, and the grandmother and granddaughter had a very deep relationship.
Among the younger generation of the Song family, Song Ziyu was domineering and arrogant, Song Shuling was impetuous and dull, and Song Jiaojiao was too cunning.
Only Song Tingyue resembled her younger self—beautiful, talented, and ambitious.
I didn't expect to go too far this time, and I've stumbled.
Madam He asked, "Who pushed you down the stairs?"
With tears welling up in her eyes, Song Tingyue shook her head and said, "I couldn't see clearly, maybe it was the Gu family."
"However, she did it intentionally. She didn't know what trick Jiang Wan had played on her, and she lost her senses."
She sighed.
“Grandmother, I didn’t dare tell Mother about this; she’s too impulsive.”
She hated Jiang Wan more than Gu Yurong.
If Zhou criticizes Gu Yurong, Jiang Wan will be the one who is happy.
The situation she meticulously planned would ultimately allow Jiang Wan to kill two birds with one stone: ruin herself and eliminate Gu Yurong.
How could she accept this?
Madam He agreed: "You did a very good job."
Zhou loved her daughter dearly, and even if she knew Gu Yurong didn't mean it, she certainly wouldn't tolerate her.
At that time, no one in the backyard could rival Jiang Wan, making her family the only one in power.
“You have lost your child and have no place to stand in Donglai. I will ask His Majesty for an imperial decree to allow you to stay in the capital,” said Madam He.
Song Tingyue bit her lip: "Grandmother, I..."
“Let’s keep Pei Feng in check for now.” Madam He’s expression hardened slightly. “His temper has become increasingly violent in recent years. I wonder if he can outmaneuver Pei Xuan.”
In the past, when the struggle for the throne was unclear, Song Ziyu wanted to join the Crown Prince's faction, but Madam He did not want to put all her eggs in one basket, so she tacitly allowed Song Tingyue to secretly associate with Pei Feng.
Pei Feng is the eldest son of Emperor Jingyuan and has feelings for Song Tingyue. If he can inherit the throne, it will be a good thing for the Song family.
Now, she plans to observe the situation further before making any further plans.
"Grandma, actually..."
Song Tingyue hesitated for a moment, then swallowed her thoughts back when she met Old Madam He's sharp gaze.
"You should rest and recuperate. As for Lady Jiang..."
Madam He twirled her prayer beads and said softly.
“I’ve been a vegetarian and a Buddhist for many years, so it’s time for me to come out and get some fresh air.”
Hearing her say that, Song Tingyue breathed a sigh of relief: "With you stepping in, her little bit of strength is naturally nothing to fear."
After calming Song Tingyue down, Old Madam He summoned Zhou Shi, her tone tinged with anger.
"I can't even manage one daughter-in-law, she's turned the backyard into a complete mess, and even Yue'er is injured like this, there's not a single day of peace!"
Zhou was trembling with fear; she had always been afraid of her mother-in-law.
"Mother doesn't know, but ever since Madam Jiang disappeared and returned home, she's become incredibly cunning and troublesome! I really..."
Madam He glanced at her, her eyes half-closed.
“Her birth mother died early, and she had no close relatives in her own family. Naturally, she did not know how to respect her elders and serve her mother-in-law and aunts.”
"If she doesn't understand, then you should teach her properly."
Zhou's eyes lit up: "Yes."
The following day, he walked in the temple.
Jiang Wan was packing Song Yu's luggage.
He was going to accompany Master Chenyi back to Fengming Mountain to pay homage to his ancestors and complete the apprenticeship ceremony there.
After that, he became Master Chenyi's rightful disciple and his last disciple.
This round trip takes seven or eight days.
Before leaving, Song Yu was a little worried.
“Princess Anyang may not give up, Mother, please be careful and do not be careless.”
"The incident at Wangyue Tower has caused quite a stir. Emperor Jingyuan has ordered the Ministry of Justice to investigate, which will take some time. By then, you will have already returned."
Song Yu thought about it and realized that it made sense, so she left with peace of mind.
Jiang Wan watched his retreating figure and muttered, "He's so young, yet he's already worrying about me."
“Young Master Yu is almost as tall as you.” Biluo laughed as well. “Everyone in the camp says he is an excellent rider and his arrows never miss. Only Madam treats him like a child.”
Jiang Wan chuckled.
Not long after Song Yu left, a nanny came to Cuizhu Hall.
It was said that Song Tingyue's leg was in severe pain, and Zhou Shi was too busy to handle it all by herself, so she asked Jiang Wan to come over.
When Jiang Wan arrived, she found the Cuizhu Hall completely empty, without a single imperial physician in sight.
"When a noble lady in the palace falls ill, all the imperial physicians go to attend to her."
Zhou pointed to the herbs on the ground.
"The imperial physician said that these medicines need to be soaked, boiled, and reduced to a paste to make a plaster, which should be applied to Yuejie'er's knees three times a day."
“These days you will be making ointments in the small kitchen. Remember, these herbs are very rare and should not be handled by servants.”
Jiang Wan glanced at the mountain of herbs and knew that Zhou was deliberately making things difficult for her.
"If I do all this by myself, I'm afraid I'll have to work day and night."
"Your grandmother and I are heartbroken over the loss of your child, and we haven't slept for days. We've been busy inviting a Buddhist monk to perform a ritual to help the unborn child pass on. Do you really want to see your elders suffer from insomnia and exhaustion while you try to find some peace and quiet?"
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