In the backyard.
On the open ground, Nanny Sun, who was in charge of taking care of Shen Baozhu, and the maids were all tied up and thrown on the ground. Behind them stood the servants from other yards.
"The people serving beside the young princess have all been tied up. Those behind are from the nearby yards," the head maid Hongshen whispered.
There were four head maids beside Princess Jingning. Baizhi stayed in the room to take care of Shen Baozhu, and Qingdai went to call the imperial physician. Now the other two head maids, Hongshen and Ziwǎn, were interrogating the servants respectively.
Nanny Sun used to be the wet - nurse of the marquis. Because of this relationship, all the children in the princess mansion had been taken care of by her. Finally, the marquis assigned her to Shen Baozhu, his favorite child. Seeing that she served the child whole - heartedly, Princess Jingning didn't assign anyone else. But she never expected such a thing to happen.
The coldness in Princess Jingning's eyes deepened: "Find out clearly why Baozhu went to the pond alone and fell into the water."
Hongshen responded in a low voice. She and Ziwǎn interrogated the servants one after another. The process was extremely smooth, except they got stuck when interrogating Nanny Sun. Fortunately, Hongshen knew some martial arts and forced Nanny Sun to reveal her whereabouts at that time.
Ziwǎn integrated the information she had found out and barely pieced together the whole picture: "The young princess ate the newly made mung bean cakes in the kitchen. She thought they were delicious and wanted to send some to the main courtyard. When passing by the pond, for some unknown reason, she fell in. The maids serving the young princess were tripped up. Fortunately, the cousin passed by, saw the young princess fall in and called for help in time. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable."
"The maids were stopped by someone beside Concubine Yun, who said that the concubine had embroidered a new dress for the young princess and asked them to go and get it. And as for Nanny Sun, it is said that only Nanny Sun knows how to steam this egg custard..." Ziwǎn's voice gradually faded.
The second young master was born of a concubine. When Princess Jingning was pregnant with the eldest young master, the marquis brought back a dancing girl. Less than three months later, the dancing girl was pregnant with the second young master.
When a woman was pregnant with her husband's child, and her husband couldn't wait to take a concubine, any woman would be extremely angry. It was just that their princess was magnanimous. She not only didn't punish the dancing girl but also welcomed her into the princess mansion and treated her well on a daily basis.
This dancing girl was really ungrateful. Instead of being thankful, she even pushed the young princess into the water. She was really an ingrate!
The cousin, who had been living in the princess mansion, was somehow set off to be quite good.
The cousin was a distant relative of Mrs. Shen. Since her parents died early, she came to the capital to rely on Mrs. Shen.
At that time, Mrs. Shen's youngest son was not yet engaged. Mrs. Shen was worried that the cousin's staying in the mansion would affect her reputation, so she swallowed her pride and sent the girl to the princess mansion.
Since her mother - in - law pleaded, as a daughter - in - law, Princess Jingning couldn't refuse. She temporarily kept the cousin, and she had stayed until now.
Previously, Baizhi had said that the cousin had not married for a long time. Maybe she had taken a fancy to the marquis. But now it seemed that the cousin was much better than Concubine Yun.
Princess Jingning lowered her eyes and sneered: "There could be such a coincidence in the world. The son invited the nanny away, and the mother stopped the maids. Come on, let's go and ask Concubine Yun why she did this."
...
After leaving the main courtyard, Cuiliu rushed back to the small courtyard at the other end of the princess mansion. She pushed open the door and rushed in, breathing nervously.
Inside the room sat a gentle - looking woman. She was wearing a light - white long dress with a pink wide - sleeved outer garment. She had a gentle appearance, with a pair of willow - leaf eyebrows full of affection. Every move of hers was extremely gentle.
However, the woman's face was pale, looking weak as if she had been ill for a long time.
She was the cousin whom Ziwǎn thought was much better than Concubine Yun.
Seeing Cuiliu in such a state, the cousin asked anxiously: "Did it succeed?"
"Miss, I, I just poured the poison into Shen Baozhu's mouth. But somehow, she suddenly opened her eyes. I was afraid that she would see my face, so I was scared and ran back. What should we do now?"
Cuiliu was timid, and now she was extremely frightened. Her body was shaking violently.
Hearing that the poison had been poured in, the cousin felt slightly relieved. The "Chieryuan" poison was extremely toxic. As long as it entered the mouth, even if Shen Baozhu spit it out, it would still affect her brain. So her goal was achieved to some extent.
Looking at the trembling Cuiliu in front of her, the cousin lowered her eyes to hide the contempt in them. She stepped forward pretending to be approachable. She held Cuiliu's hand and comforted her softly: "It's okay. You're just a little maid in the princess mansion. Even if Shen Baozhu saw your face, she may not remember what you look like. According to the original plan, the steward will transfer you from the backyard to the shop outside, completely cutting off the chance for you to meet Shen Baozhu. You will surely not be discovered."
With these words from the cousin, Cuiliu felt more at ease. But she still had some concerns: "Miss, we spent so much effort to get me into the main courtyard. Is it really okay for me to leave so easily?"
"It's okay. We can insert other people. Your safety is the most important."
The cousin casually perfunctorized her, and Cuiliu was so touched that she was completely devoted to her.
...
Not far away was the Yunmiao Courtyard.
Concubine Yun, who had an ordinary appearance but an extremely good figure, was practicing dancing.
She was dancing gracefully in the courtyard in a light - pink dancing dress. Her soft waist looked even more slender against the backdrop of the dark - green waistband.
After the dance, Concubine Yun put on a thin coat and turned around to sit in front of the house to rest.
Taking the cup handed by the maid, Concubine Yun took small sips of the tea. She asked, "Have you sent the clothes over? Did you tell them that I made them with my own hands?"
The maid nodded slightly, but she was a bit puzzled: "Concubine, the young princess lacks nothing. Instead of working so hard to make clothes for her, you might as well make some well - fitting clothes for the second young master..."
"Mind your own business!"
Concubine Yun splashed the water in the cup on the maid's face and said sternly, "Xiayu, I've spoiled you! Now you dare to say anything? The princess is magnanimous. Why would she need me, a concubine, to make clothes for the second young master?"
"If I hear such words again..."
Before Concubine Yun could finish her sentence, the courtyard door was pushed open.
It was actually Princess Jingning leading several old women over. Concubine Yun quickly stepped forward: "Greetings to the princess..."
Before she could finish speaking, one of the old women pushed her away. The rest rushed into the house and started smashing things.
Princess Jingning sat upright in the position where Concubine Yun had just been sitting, with her back to the house, listening to the sound of smashing made by the old women.
Xiayu wanted to step forward to argue, but was held back by Concubine Yun: "The princess must have her reasons. Don't make trouble!"
After saying that, Concubine Yun lowered her head and stood in front of Princess Jingning, looking extremely obedient.
When the old women had smashed everything in the Yunmiao Courtyard, Princess Jingning picked up the cup on the table beside her and smashed it hard at Concubine Yun's feet. Concubine Yun was so scared that her face turned pale and she subconsciously jumped back.
Listening to the sound of smashing inside the house, Concubine Yun was extremely frightened. She summoned up her courage and asked softly: "This servant doesn't know what mistake she has made. I hope the princess can tell me."
Princess Jingning had interrogated the maid before she came. She directly looked at Xiayu: "What were you doing in Baozhu's courtyard half an hour ago?"
Xiayu knelt on the ground with a thud and stammered, "This servant, this servant was ordered by Concubine Yun to send a dress to the young princess."
"Do you need to stop both maids just to send a dress?" Princess Jingning's voice was extremely cold.
Concubine Yun finally realized that it was the maid beside her who had harmed her. She reached out and slapped Xiayu: "You fool. What on earth did you do?"
Xiayu shrank her body and stammered, unable to say a word.
Princess Jingning looked down at her: "You stopped the two maids beside Baozhu to buy time for the person behind the scenes so that she could drown Baozhu in the pond, right?"
Concubine Yun's body trembled. She was so scared that she slumped to the ground, her eyes full of despair.
"This matter has nothing to do with Concubine Yun. It was all done by this servant alone!" Xiayu seemed to have expected this. After leaving this sentence, she bit the poison in her mouth and committed suicide.
Looking at Xiayu, who was bleeding black blood beside her, Concubine Yun rolled her eyes and almost fainted from fear.
But she dared not faint. Xiayu's words had put her in danger. It seemed as if she had instigated Xiayu to drown the young princess, but she was clearly unaware of it!
Thinking of her son, Concubine Yun pinched her thigh to keep herself awake: "Princess, this servant is unaware of this! This matter was not done by this servant!"
By this time, the old women had finished smashing things. They stood behind Princess Jingning.
Princess Jingning raised her hand and asked the old women to drag Xiayu's body away: "Concubine Yun, Xiayu distracted Baozhu's maids, and your son called Nanny Sun away, which led to Baozhu falling into the pond. You say you are unaware of this. Who will believe you?"
"Princess, I have been law - abiding for many years. You know that. How could I harm the young princess? Please find out the truth..." Concubine Yun shrank her body. Her eyes were full of confusion, as if she was really unaware.
"Now all the witnesses point to you. My son is still lying in bed in a coma. You might as well explain why everything is related to you!"
Looking at Concubine Yun, who was speechless, Princess Jingning was not polite either. She waved her hand and said, "Beat her until I tell you to stop!"
Concubine Yun was afraid of implicating the second young master, so she didn't even dare to resist. The arm - thick wooden board fell on her body. After just a few blows, her skin was broken and her flesh was lacerated.
"Stop!"
I don't know which blow it was when the marquis and the second young master Shen heard the news and rushed over.
The marquis, Shen Yunfeng, was good - looking but had no official position. His grandfather was the former prime minister, and his father was a minister in the court. He was the third son in the family and spent his days in idleness.
Today he was wearing a bright - red brocade robe. His hair was simply tied up with a silver crown. The red jade pendant around his waist made his appearance even more extraordinary.
Shen Yunfeng appeared like a god descending from the sky. He kicked several old women to the ground and protected Concubine Yun in his arms. He looked at Princess Jingning coldly: "Princess, abusing private punishment. Have you ever..."
"Daddy! Someone pushed Baozhu's head into the water. Baozhu almost couldn't see you and mother!"
A small figure rushed in from outside the door and tightly hugged Shen Yunfeng's thigh. Surprise flashed across Shen Yunfeng's face but quickly disappeared.