It Is All Due to My Lack of Capability

When he went out, the guards who had cleared the venomous snakes from Meixiang Residence returned to report. They had captured a total of ten venomous snakes, and this was indeed a man-made plot.

Prince Rui's face darkened as he spoke angrily to the guard, "Investigate the entry and exit records of tonight thoroughly. Any suspicious individuals must be investigated completely."

Arriving at Tiluan Courtyard, Qiao'er noticed Prince Rui's displeased expression and quickly stepped forward. "Reporting to Your Highness, the Princess Consort suffered some abdominal pain this afternoon. The Imperial Physician came to examine her; her fetal qi was disturbed."

Prince Rui entered the inner room. Jiang Yushu attempted to rise and pay her respects. He had originally intended to question her about Jinxin's matter, but seeing her sickly state, he suppressed his questions, pressed her back down, and said, "Just lie there, do not move."

Jiang Yushu smiled bitterly. "It is all due to my lack of capability. I carry the child but cannot even keep my fetal qi stable."

"What nonsense are you speaking? How is this something you can control?" Prince Rui said, frowning.

Qiao'er stepped forward, knelt, and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, this is not because the Princess Consort's body is weak, but because someone truly wishes to harm the little imperial grandson."

"How so?" Prince Rui frowned. He had only been away for a few days; how had so many things happened?

"Yesterday, the Princess Consort returned to the Marquis's estate. Upon her return, her fetal qi was disturbed." As she spoke, Qiao'er looked extremely aggrieved.

Hearing this, Prince Rui knew immediately that it was because of the Marquis Qi Yuan.

"It is merely a small matter. Why must you let it affect you to this extent?" Prince Rui said, frowning.

"Do not listen to the servants' nonsense. It is not because my father took a concubine, but because this matter involves Sister Jinxin. Only upon returning to the Marquis's estate did I learn that Jinxin is actually my biological sister. Yet, in all these years, Father never told me, causing me to mistreat her for so long."

Saying this, she wiped her tears with a handkerchief, looking deeply sorrowful for Jinxin.

Prince Rui found it even harder to comprehend and asked, "Your fetal qi was disturbed just because of this?"

Hearing this, Jiang Yushu lowered her head, looking as though she had a mouth but could not speak.

Qiao'er stepped forward again and said, "It was indeed because of this. Yet, Side Consort Cao found people to spread the news recklessly throughout the courtyard. The Princess Consort was momentarily agitated, which disturbed her fetal qi."

Hearing this, Prince Rui only felt a headache coming on. He had only been away for a few days, yet so many things had cropped up.

"To harm yourself over such a trivial matter is truly not worth it." He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a bit impatient, but still comforted her.

"I am fine, just feeling uneasy in my heart. Now that everyone in the estate knows of my sister's background, I feel ashamed before Your Highness. You must treat her better in the future," she said with a sigh.

Hearing this, Prince Rui raised his eyebrows slightly, his eyes curious. "I heard that when you returned from the Marquis's estate, her foot was injured. How did that happen?"

Jiang Yushu was stunned for a moment. She had not expected Prince Rui to ask about this, let alone that Jiang Jinxin would dare to complain. She stared blankly for a long time before realizing her reaction was inappropriate. She quickly masked her expression, feigning confusion. "What did my sister tell Your Highness?"

She did not know if Jiang Jinxin had actually complained, so she dared not speak carelessly.

"She did not explain in detail, only saying her foot was injured since she returned. I saw that the injury was very severe. And just now, snakes were suddenly released into her room. I do not know since when this Prince's Estate has become so unsafe." By the end of his words, his expression had turned sharp.