Old Madam Huo's fainting this spell was brought on by a whole day of intense emotional turbulence coupled with a rush of pent-up anger to her heart.
After resting for the night, she woke up the next day none the worse for wear.
Upon learning what had happened after she lost consciousness the previous night, Old Madam Huo let out a heavy sigh. After a brief tidy-up, she accompanied Xu Junjun and a bound Chen Yue'er to the residences of the two elderly madams from the day before to apologize.
Fortunately, the two afflicted old madams were relatives of the Huo family, and they declared that as for the calamity that had struck the General's Estate, they would not pursue the matter excessively—provided that Old Madam Huo disposed of Chen Yue'er, who had poisoned them.
Emerging from the two estates, Old Madam Huo felt that the reputation she had spent decades building up in the Capital was utterly ruined today.
What a misfortune to the household, what a bitter misfortune!
Xu Junjun, however, was in high spirits. Seeing that the Crown Prince's Mansion was the only place left unvisited, she hurriedly helped the Old Madam into the carriage, had the guards throw Chen Yue'er—with her hands and feet securely tied—onto the donkey cart trailing behind, and rushed toward the Crown Prince's Mansion.
Today, heavy snow still blanketed the Capital.
The entire city was enveloped in a vast expanse of pristine white.
On the streets, a silvery layer of frost drifted onto the hair and shoulders of passing pedestrians.
Once the General's Estate's carriage stopped before the gates of the Crown Prince's Mansion, a guard immediately went inside to announce their arrival.
Last night, Jiang Wumei and her party did not return to the Crown Prince's Mansion until the end of the Hour of Hai.
As their carriage drove into the mansion and Jiang Wumei was carried in a sedan chair back to her bedchamber, she vomited blood once more.
This frightened Qingzhi out of her wits; before the sedan chair had even come to a halt, she was repeatedly shouting orders for someone to summon an imperial physician.
Jiang Wumei knew very well that this was the Detoxification Pill and the Health-Preserving Pill taking effect; as long as she expelled the stagnant toxic blood from her chest, she would be completely fine.
Knowing that Qingzhi and the others wouldn't believe her even if she explained, Jiang Wumei simply let them have their way. Upon returning to her bedchamber, she bathed, got into bed, and closed her eyes to rest.
Although she had suffered a minor ordeal today, the greatest threat from Xu Junjun's side had already been neutralized, which could be considered a major matter settled.
The most important task ahead was to safely get through the second half of the year and find an opportunity to fake her death alongside Xu Junjun and escape.
Though the Capital appeared prosperous and flourishing on the surface, beneath it lay a volatile frying pan of blazing oil; it was truly not where her heart wished to remain.
Lost in her thoughts, Jiang Wumei did not open her eyes and regain her focus until Qingzhi led the imperial physician into the hall.
Knowing that Jiang Wumei was the Crown Prince's most favored Noble Consort, the physician bowed respectfully, took her pulse meticulously back and forth, and deliberated repeatedly before finally speaking:
"Noble Consort, Your Ladyship has been poisoned."
"Fortunately, however, the poison is not deep, and the Detoxification Pill was taken in time. From here on, Your Ladyship merely needs to recuperate properly to restore your vitality."
Hearing this, Qingzhi furrowed her brow:
"Imperial Physician Zhao, have you examined her carefully?"
"My mistress just vomited blood a moment ago, and it looked terribly dangerous."
Unfazed by Qingzhi's skepticism, the physician smiled and explained:
"The toxic Qi was stagnating in her chest, and it is actually a good thing that the Noble Consort spat out that mouthful of blood."
"This official will write out a prescription; by taking the decoction for just seven days, Your Ladyship will make a full recovery."
"Many thanks, Imperial Physician Zhao. Qingzhi, please see the physician out."
Having been through a whole day of commotion, Jiang Wumei had a headache from the pair's chatter. After dismissing them so she could rest, she lay back down.
Qingzhi escorted the imperial physician out of the hall doors, instructed a maidservant to accompany him to collect the medicine, and returned inside to tend to Jiang Wumei.
"Your Ladyship, shall I have the kitchens send over some food?"
Having endured the turmoil at the General's Estate all day—aside from a few bites at lunch—Jiang Wumei had not touched a single drop of water since. Qingzhi was deeply worried that her body wouldn't be able to hold up.
"I have no appetite. Has His Highness returned to the mansion yet?"
Jiang Wumei had no stomach for food, but she suddenly recalled that by this hour Xiao Tong ought to have returned long ago.
Qingzhi shook her head:
"This servant just asked the guards at the estate; His Highness has not yet returned today."
Jiang Wumei nodded, her expression sickly and pale:
"Perhaps he was delayed by matters in the palace. Since His Highness has not returned, let us turn in early."
It was just as well that Xiao Tong wasn't back; her body felt weak and drained after the poisoning, and she had no energy to wait on him. Right now, she desperately needed a substantial amount of sleep to restore her vitality.
Qingzhi acknowledged the order, signaled the maidservants to blow out the candles in the hall, and kept watch outside the doors.
Outside, heavy snow fell in a rustling whisper, occasionally accompanied by the sound of wind striking the eaves' bells.
The hall was warm, comfortable, and tranquil. Overcome with drowsiness, Jiang Wumei quickly fell asleep.
Xiao Tong did not return for the entire night, and Jiang Wumei, against all odds, slept soundly all the way until noon the next day.
After rising, washing, and changing her clothes, she finished her midday meal and had just taken her medicine when a guard entered to report that Old Madam Huo and the Young Mistress of the General's Estate had arrived.
Jiang Wumei was slightly startled, not expecting Old Madam Huo and Xu Junjun to move so swiftly as to have settled everything by last night.
Ordering someone to lead Old Madam Huo to the floral pavilion in the warm chamber, Jiang Wumei led her maidservants over.
Chen Yue'er was dragged all the way into the Crown Prince's Mansion like a sack of grain. Taking in the layout of the mansion, her eyes widened in astonishment.
Raised in a secluded boudoir since childhood, she had considered the General's Estate quite magnificent; yet upon entering the Crown Prince's Mansion, she finally understood what it meant for small things to pale before the great.
Every single brick and tile of the Crown Prince's Mansion was made of glazed golden tile. Every five paces there was a pavilion, every ten paces a turning point; the landscapes, flowers, birds, trees, and towering halls were arranged in exquisite, elegant contrast, making the General's Estate look crude and utterly devoid of even a tenth of this grandeur.
Especially upon reaching the warm chamber where Noble Consort Jiang resided, and seeing the peonies and chrysanthemums blooming in fierce competition amidst the winter cold within the floral pavilion, along with the golden goblets and jade vessels scattered throughout the room, Chen Yue'er felt as though her head had been struck a heavy blow, instantly shocking her into clarity.
She regretted it. Had she known the Crown Prince's Mansion was so luxurious, why had she gone to such painstaking lengths to marry Huo Qiming?
If she had married the Crown Prince, she would be a lofty imperial consort in the future, with ten thousands bowing before her, enjoying inexhaustible wealth and glory—how could a mere little General's Wife compare to that?
At this very moment, Chen Yue'er felt a profound remorse and bitterness for her own narrow-mindedness.
If she could turn back time, she would definitely make good use of Huo Qiming to introduce her to the Crown Prince; why would she ever have gone to such exhausting lengths to become some General's Wife?
Alas, whatever she said now was too late!
Old Madam Huo and Xu Junjun walked in front. At a corner, seeing the desire and regret clearly visible on Chen Yue'er's face, Xu Junjun was stunned before narrowing her eyes in deep thought.
What kind of toad was this Chen Yue'er, exactly?
Why was it that she wanted to set her sights on a swan no matter where it landed?!
While marveling inwardly at Chen Yue'er's shamelessness that knew no bounds, Xu Junjun supported Old Madam Huo as they continued forward.
Before long, the group reached the exterior of the hall and stepped inside in the wake of a maidservant.
Charcoal braziers burned within the hall, radiating a cozy warmth that instantly dispelled the chill clinging to Old Madam Huo and Xu Junjun.
Jiang Wumei sat in the seat of honor, dressed in elaborate, ornate robes with exquisite makeup, cradling a fluffy little tiger cub in her arms. She looked toward them with a smiling expression:
"Old Madam Huo, Young Mistress, please take a seat."
"Qingzhi, serve tea."
"This old woman thanks Your Ladyship."
Old Madam Huo offered her thanks and sat down alongside Xu Junjun.
Chen Yue'er had never laid eyes on Jiang Wumei before. Tossed unceremoniously onto the floor by the guards, she heard that delicate, seductive, and alluring voice and strained with all her might to lift her head and look upward. One look, and she was instantly struck dumb with awe.
There, seated in the seat of honor, was a breathtaking beauty whose face resembled a lotus blossom and whose brows were shaped like curved moons.
A pair of watery eyes rippled with captivating allure, resembling a thousand-year-old fox spirit that had attained the Dao. Every gesture of hers captured one's soul, breathtakingly gorgeous.
Chen Yue'er gasped sharply. The desire for the Crown Prince that had just welled up within her was utterly shattered and dispersed the moment she took in Jiang Wumei's face.
She had long since heard rumors that Crown Prince Xiao Tong doted most upon his Noble Consort, Jiang Wumei.
Ever since the day of their wedding, he had stayed in Jiang Wumei's palace every single night, paying not the slightest heed to the other consorts and concubines in the mansion, while countless pearl ornaments, gold-threaded silks, and satins were bestowed upon her like a flowing stream.
In the past, Chen Yue'er had thought the rumors couldn't possibly be entirely true. But seeing Jiang Wumei in the flesh today, she realized with a jolt how absurdly wrong she had been.
If she were a man, encountering such peerless beauty, she too would undoubtedly lavish her with all the favor in the world and refuse to pay the slightest attention to other common, vulgar flirts.
Subjected to two fatal blows in the span of merely two days, Chen Yue'er drooped her head despondently, a thick shroud of ashen despair settling over her face.