Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?

Chapter 1028 - 749: Small Gift, Deep Sentiment

Hearing Su Qinglan say this, Shang Ruyi was stunned for a moment. She immediately looked up at her. Su Qinglan quickly gave a polite smile and said, "I mean no harm, it’s just that the Princess is still in the early stages of pregnancy, and some foods need attention. I’m afraid Lady Chu might not be aware of the taboos—"Her words were tactful, but Shang Ruyi immediately understood.

Beside her, Tushere also caught on and quickly said, "Indeed, the snacks were made by her own hands. I would not rest easy without Mr. Su’s inspection. It wouldn’t be too late to eat them later."

However, Shang Ruyi still felt some hesitation in her heart.

First, liking or disliking someone is one thing, but harming them is another. Even if Chu Ruoyan doesn’t like her, she isn’t the type to harm someone; secondly, even if she misjudged her character and she is that kind of person, she wouldn’t be foolish enough to tamper with food she made herself and then let her chief palace maid bring it. That would be extremely foolish.

Tushere seemed to notice her hesitation and whispered, "Princess, we won’t tell others, it’s okay to let Mr. Su take a look."

Shang Ruyi thought about it and realized she was right.

So she nodded and said, "Alright."

Thus, Tushere immediately stepped forward and opened the cover of the food box, bringing it to Su Qinglan’s attention.

Su Qinglan looked down and saw four pieces of brightly red hawthorn cake. Although not delicately made, they were neat. Coupled with the pleasing color and the sweet and sour aroma that drifted out as the cover was removed, it was quite tempting.

At a glance, they seemed like ordinary hawthorn cakes.

But after one look, Su Qinglan leaned closer to sniff, and suddenly frowned, "Hmm?"

Her action immediately made everyone around tense up. Su Qinglan apologized, then dipped her pinky into the finely powdered sugar sprinkled on top of the cakes and tasted it on her tongue.

Her brows furrowed even more.

Tushere anxiously asked, "Mr. Su, is there a problem?"

Su Qinglan, with a serious expression, lifted her head to look at Shang Ruyi and said sternly, "Princess, this hawthorn cake cannot be eaten."

Shang Ruyi immediately asked, "What’s the problem?"

"These are not ordinary sugar powders; they’re mixed with Five Elements Grass Ash."

"Five Elements Grass?"

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi’s brows furrowed, though Tushere and Chang Wan didn’t seem to understand. Su Qinglan, discerning Shang Ruyi’s slight knowledge of medicine, explained only to the two palace maids, "Five Elements Grass has the effect of smoothing and tightening a woman’s womb. Coupled with these hawthorn cakes—"

Tushere hurriedly asked, "Is there also a problem with the hawthorn cakes?"

Su Qinglan shook her head, "The hawthorn itself is not the issue; it’s just that pregnant women should not consume hawthorn excessively, as it promotes blood circulation and resolves stasis. Meanwhile, the Five Elements Grass can cause the womb to contract. These two together can harm pregnant women, especially those in the early stages of pregnancy, possibly leading to miscarriage."

"What!?"

Tushere was so shocked that she jumped and shouted, "How cruel!"

Su Qinglan remained silent, looking again at the fine powder on her fingertips — the Five Elements Grass Ash was ground so fine, mixed with sugar powder. Even she almost didn’t detect it.

She looked up at Shang Ruyi again, seeing her brows knotted into a tight frown as she stared solemnly at the box of hawthorn cakes, seemingly wanting to examine them further but restrained by her pregnancy. She then said to Su Qinglan, "Doctor Su, are you sure there’s really Five Elements Grass Ash in there?"

Su Qinglan said, "I wouldn’t dare to lie."

This time, Tushere was infuriated, angrily saying, "Princess, could this be false? Just now, that Panqing insisted you eat a piece in front of her, trying to harm you! How vile, I even rewarded her with a piece of silver, but they are all as venomous as their master!"

Seeing her fuming expression, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but laugh.

Tushere was even more exasperated and said, "Princess, you’re still laughing?"

As she spoke, she rushed forward, took the box, and was about to leave, when Shang Ruyi quickly stopped her, "What are you doing?"

Tushere said, "I’m taking it to show King Qin. No, he’s not here. I’ll go settle accounts with them, or show it to the Emperor so he can judge for you!"

Shang Ruyi shook her head helplessly and signaled Chang Wan with her eyes. Chang Wan quickly stepped forward and grabbed Tushere’s sleeve, pulling her back. Tushere, still indignant, struggled and said, "Why are you stopping me?"

Chang Wan said, "Whether to tell King Qin, or the Emperor, it’s up to the Princess to decide, not you."

Saying this, she used some force to pull her back, placing the food box back in front of Shang Ruyi, but moved it a bit further away, then gently said, "This matter is up to the Princess to decide."

"..."

Shang Ruyi said nothing, just stared intently at the four bright red hawthorn cakes.

After watching for a while, she suddenly said, "Where’s the lid?"

Chang Wan quickly picked up the lid placed aside and handed it to her. Shang Ruyi took it, and carefully placed it back on the box, then reached out to meticulously stroke the intricately carved openwork patterns on the lid.

Tushere couldn’t help but say, "Princess..."

Shang Ruyi said, "Look, this is Xiangfei Bamboo."

Everyone was somewhat puzzled, yet they could only follow her words and look down. Sure enough, they had only thought the carvings on the food box were exquisite at first. Upon closer inspection, they realized that what was carved on the box was not just a clump of Xiangfei Bamboo, but also the graceful figures of two women beneath the bamboo grove.

Su Qinglan said, "This is—"

Shang Ruyi said, "This is Ehuang and Nü Ying."

As she spoke, she seemed to remember something and smiled, saying, "Oh yes, when Empress Dowager Jiang once summoned me to the palace, she gave me a hand-warming stove, and the carvings on it were also of Ehuang and Nü Ying, along with a clump of Xiangfei Bamboo."

Thinking back now, from that time, Empress Dowager Jiang had already begun paving the way for her daughter.

So, what she used for Shang Ruyi were items carved with Ehuang and Nü Ying, repeatedly telling her that Yu Wenye treated her well, differently from others. Later, when she left the palace, she was "intercepted" halfway by Chu Yang and taken to the Tinghe Building. When told that Empress Dowager Jiang was so close to her, Chu Yang merely sneered, saying Empress Dowager Jiang was "for potential gain."

Now it all seems rather clear.

Only at that time, she did not understand.

Yet Tushere, somewhat impatient, said, "Empress Dowager Jiang, such a kind-hearted person, but her daughter is so ruthless, to use such a method to harm the Princess, why bring up old matters?"

Shang Ruyi’s fingertips continued to gently stroke the carvings, saying, "This item, along with that warming stove Empress Dowager Jiang gave me, should be a set."

"..."

"Empress Dowager Jiang knew what she wanted, and Lady Chu... must also have a deep intention with using this box."

"Deep intention? What deep intention?"

On the side, Su Qinglan quietly listened. At this moment, her face slightly flushed, and she softly said, "Ehuang and Nü Ying shared a husband, but united in heart, undivided from each other."

Shang Ruyi nodded, saying, "When Empress Dowager Jiang gave me that warming stove, she wished for me to have such magnanimity; her intention was something Lady Chu couldn’t possibly not know. You mentioned earlier that things have been chaotic in the Jinyu Garden these days, as if they were searching for something in the warehouse. If I am not mistaken, they were looking for this item left by Empress Dowager Jiang."

"..."

"And these days, Lady Chu hasn’t come to offer congratulations, probably because she has been learning to make this pastry and wants to personally make it, something she feels worthy of presenting."

"..."

"In other words, though this gift is small, Lady Chu’s intentions are deep."

As she spoke, her fingertips pressed deeply on a bamboo leaf and she said, "Such deep intentions, yet used to ’poison’ me, is somewhat a pity."

Su Qinglan quickly responded, saying, "You mean Lady Chu genuinely wanted to send this gift, whether it be the gift itself or the gift box, she selected carefully, so she couldn’t have had any intention to harm the Princess?"

Shang Ruyi nodded, "Besides, as a Princess, surrounded in luxury, how could she know about medicinal properties?"

"..."

"Even unaware that pregnant women should not eat too much hawthorn, she openly sent hawthorn cake. If I were even slightly more cautious, I wouldn’t eat her pastries; not to mention, she likely never heard of Five Elements Grass Ash."

Hearing her say this, Su Qinglan lightly nodded, "True."

Tushere and Chang Wan exchanged glances, both realizing Shang Ruyi had a point, but Tushere thought a moment and said, "But there’s indeed something wrong with this box, if it wasn’t her doing, was it Panqing? Otherwise, who else could it be?"

"..."

"I don’t care, this matter must be clarified."

Seeing her involuntarily taking on the fierce protectiveness of a hen defending her chicks, reminiscent of growing up with Shang Ruyi, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but smile. Beside her, Chang Wan gently tugged her sleeve and whispered, "Mr. Su is still here, watch your words."

Tushere could only pout and step back.

Su Qinglan also pressed her lips slightly to hold back a smile, then addressed Shang Ruyi, "Princess, Miss She’er has a point. Regardless of what, we need to get to the bottom of this matter. I am commanded to support the Princess during this pregnancy. Should such a thing really harm the Princess, I have to take responsibility."

Meaning, if Shang Ruyi doesn’t clarify, she might report to the Emperor for her own protection.

Just to see how far Shang Ruyi wants to take this matter.

Shang Ruyi said, "Of course, I will find out the truth."

Tushere immediately stepped forward, "Then Princess, what should we do?"

Shang Ruyi pondered for a moment, then reached out and opened the beautifully carved lid, looking at the vibrant red hawthorn cakes, and said to Tushere, "Take these and dump them out."

"Ah?"