novelSusiti Chapter 1098 - 1089: Poisoned
Chapter 1098 - 1089: Poisoned
Xique was still holding the Little Princess in her arms, just about to hand her over to the Princess Consort.Caiju and Lu Qiao suddenly screamed, startling Xique and the Princess Consort.
The ground was covered with fallen Jade Beads, the crisp sound drowned by the maid’s panicked cries.
The maids thought something major had happened in the room and rushed inside.
Rushing too fast, she didn’t notice her footing, accidentally stepping on the Jade Beads, causing a heavy fall.
Caiju carefully kicked aside the Jade Beads underfoot to check on the wet nurse.
As soon as she approached, she saw the tragic scene of the wet nurse bleeding from the seven orifices, scaring her into blacking out and collapsing to the ground.
Lu Qiao was right beside her, unable to catch her in time, and they both fell in a heap.
Mrs. Wang hurriedly came in, asking, "What happened here?"
Lu Qiao’s face turned pale with fright, "The... the wet nurse is dead."
She thought the wet nurse merely fainted, not expecting her to die.
Mrs. Wang was also taken aback.
She had been with the fake Old Madam for years, witnessing many maids being beaten to death, but this was a wet nurse.
To die so suddenly in the Princess Consort’s room, Mrs. Wang was greatly frightened as well.
The maids helped her walk forward, the wet nurse had already been turned over by Caiju.
With blood flowing from the seven orifices, her eyes bulging wide, showing she died with grievances.
Mrs. Wang’s heart felt heavy.
The wet nurse was clearly poisoned by someone.
The Little Princess drank the wet nurse’s milk, and it’s unknown when the poison was administered to the wet nurse.
Mrs. Wang realized this, and the Princess Consort thought of it too, her face losing all color, "Quick, call the Imperial Physician!"
Last night, the Little Princess cried endlessly, but now she slept sweetly, the Princess Consort panicked.
Mrs. Wang forced herself to calm down, "First, carry out the wet nurse’s body."
"Then, pick up all the Jade Beads on the ground."
After giving orders, Mrs. Wang walked to the Princess Consort’s side, who was holding the Little Princess tightly.
Perhaps it was the loud voice, or maybe the nap was over, or perhaps the Princess Consort held too tightly—
The Little Princess woke up.
Crying loudly.
At this, Mrs. Wang felt a sigh of relief.
Knowing the Princess Consort was scared, Mrs. Wang comforted her, "Don’t worry, Princess Consort, the Little Princess will be alright."
"Soon the Imperial Physician will come and help check."
Mrs. Wang wanted to hold the Little Princess, but the Princess Consort refused, watching the maids carrying the wet nurse’s body out, her face looking worse than ever, "Call the people from the Ministry of Justice."
The wet nurse entered Prince Zhenbei Mansion, only caring for the Little Princess.
She had no enemies in the mansion, killing her was aimed at the Little Princess.
No matter who tries to harm the Little Princess, the Princess Consort will not let them go unpunished!
Doctor Zhao was close to Prince Mansion, but today he was on duty in the palace, the mansion’s servant couldn’t find him, so they went into the palace to summon him.
After waiting for about half an hour, Doctor Zhao and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice arrived together.
The Minister of the Ministry of Justice was organizing the "family letters" handed over by the Emperor, a thick book of impeachment reports, and officials sent out by the Ministry of Justice returned in succession, bringing back confessions from secret investigations.
He planned to compile them into a record for the Emperor to handle.
After all, that impeachment involved many officials, if truly pursued, it could disrupt the court—how to deal with it requires the Emperor’s decision.
Upon hearing the wet nurse of the Little Princess suddenly died, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice knew the situation was grave.
He was not only the Minister but also the son-in-law of Prince Zhenbei Mansion; with the Old Prince and Prince not present, he had the responsibility to take care of the Mansion as the son-in-law.
He put aside the case documents and hurried over with the Vice Minister, meeting Doctor Zhao at the door.
The group rushed to Peony Garden.
As soon as they entered the garden, they heard the Little Princess crying; the wet nurse’s body was laid on the corridor, covered with a white cloth.
Xique waited expectantly at the door, and when they arrived, quickly went forward to greet them.
Doctor Zhao went inside to take the Little Princess’s pulse, while the Minister of the Ministry of Justice squatted down to lift the white cloth.
Even the maid could tell the wet nurse was poisoned to death, not to mention Minister Qu.
The Vice Minister instructed the forensic doctor to examine the body.
The Minister entered the room, while Doctor Zhao was checking the Little Princess’s pulse.
Doctor Zhao’s face looked bad, and Mrs. Wang trembled in fear.
When Doctor Zhao finished, Mrs. Wang hurriedly asked, "Is the Little Princess okay?"
Mrs. Wang’s voice trembled.
The Princess Consort was too scared to ask.
Doctor Zhao didn’t know how to say it, "The Little Princess is poisoned too..."
The Princess Consort’s face lost its last trace of blood color.
The Little Princess was still crying, and the Princess Consort comforted her while holding her.
Mrs. Wang urged Doctor Zhao to help detoxify her.
Doctor Zhao felt helpless.
He wanted to help eliminate the poison from the Little Princess’s body, but he indeed lacked the ability.
Manager Li quickly instructed the servant, "Quickly summon the other Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Hospital!"
Some things, though unsaid, were guessed by everyone, Doctor Zhao said, "Although the Little Princess is poisoned, because she drank milk, the poisoning is less severe than the wet nurse’s."
Fortunately, it wasn’t that serious; otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.
But the Little Princess is young; if not treated timely, the situation might not be good.
Doctor Zhao couldn’t do much and hoped the Imperial Hospital might have physicians who could detoxify the Little Princess.
He then checked the wet nurse’s food to help the Ministry catch the real culprit of poisoning.
The Little Princess had just learned to say one or two words, not mentioning offending anyone, targeting such a young child was truly vicious.
Prince Zhenbei Mansion involved Doctor Zhao in the matter, sparking curiosity about what happened, and now they’re seeking other physicians as well, raising concern for everyone.
The palace needed physicians to oversee; if all are summoned, it requires the Emperor’s approval.
Otherwise, if physicians leave the Imperial Hospital and something happens to the palace nobles, it’s impossible to bear the responsibility.
The Emperor learned the Little Princess was poisoned too and worried, "Quickly, detoxify the Little Princess!"
Director Li hurriedly took the command.
The Emperor, uneasy, sent Eunuch Fu to the mansion to check the situation.
When Eunuch Fu arrived at the mansion, the cause of the wet nurse’s poisoning had been figured out.
Peony Garden had a small kitchen, usually preparing the wet nurse’s meals, nothing wrong with the food.
But the wet nurse had a weakness for sweets; as the Little Princess’s wet nurse, this status led to many trying to win her favor in the mansion.
The maids from Peony Garden often delivered pastries to her, which Mrs. Wang also knew.
Exchanges among servants are common; it’s impossible to restrict the wet nurse from interacting with others, much less when attempts to curry favor also often avoided her and Xique.
No one managed, the wet nurse grew bolder, and not only did she accept pastries from Peony Garden maids, but also those from outside.
It was those pastries that had problems, someone had poisoned them.
The maid who delivered the pastries was one cleaning outside Peony Garden, slipping them to her when the wet nurse went out.
Once discovered, Manager Li ordered the maid be captured.
Alas, too late, the maid was thrown into a well and had already died.
Nonetheless, justice extends wide and pervasive.
The maid died, but someone saw her being called away while sweeping, heading towards the very direction where the well was used for hanging...