The group moved to the back garden of the General's Estate, settling into the octagonal pavilion. Old Madam Huo had handed full authority over the hosting duties to Xu Junjun, a gesture that made it clear to any observant eye just how highly she regarded her.
Jiang Wumei understood this perfectly; she knew that Old Madam Huo’s affection for Xu Junjun was sincere. It was hardly surprising, given that Junjun poured her heart and soul into concocting medicines for the Old Madam, often going to great lengths to track down even the most elusive ingredients.
The four women took their seats as servants brought in hot tea and pastries. Each was provided with an exquisite hand warmer, and with the seven or eight charcoal braziers Xu Junjun had ordered to be placed around the pavilion, they felt no chill at all. Instead, the air was filled with the fragrance of plum blossoms, creating a thoroughly refreshing atmosphere.
Surrounded by servants, Jiang Wumei sat before the three older ladies, navigating the conversation with ease and grace. Every so often, she would part her lips in a soft smile, presenting a scene as picturesque as a painting of noble ladies in a plum grove—a sight that left Xu Junjun admiring her from the bottom of her heart.
As the conversation wound down and the time for the midday meal approached, Jiang Wumei glanced toward Xu Junjun. Receiving the signal, Xu Junjun nodded, took a few steps forward, and said with a smile, "Noble Consort Jiang, ladies, the north wind is picking up outside. Shall we move to the hall for our meal and take another stroll afterward?"
Hearing this, Old Madam Huo realized the hour and laughed. "Junjun is right. The plum blossoms are lovely, but the wind is biting. Let us dine first and enjoy the scenery later."
Since Jiang Wumei held the highest status, the other two old madams turned to her. Upon seeing her nod and smile in agreement, they chimed in one after another. "That sounds wonderful. We shall follow the Old Madam's lead."
With their consensus, Xu Junjun instructed the servants to set the table, then supported Old Madam Huo as she led the group toward the dining hall. As they moved, the maids and servants rose to follow their respective mistresses.
Because of the distinguished guests, Xu Junjun had long since ordered the kitchen to prepare the meal with the utmost care. To cater to every palate, the cooks had prepared dishes from the Lu, Chuan, Su, Min, and Zhejiang culinary schools, fearing that any slight might lead to trouble.
With the table laden with fine wine and delicacies, Jiang Wumei grew spirited and even invited the three old ladies to have a few cups of osmanthus wine. To everyone’s surprise, after a few cups, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes sparkled with a seductive charm. Old Madam Huo couldn't help but blink, silently marveling that the Crown Prince was indeed a man of great fortune.
The other two old madams looked at Jiang Wumei’s breathtaking beauty and exchanged a glance, both seeing the same astonishment in each other's eyes. It was well-known that the women of the Jiang family were the most beautiful in the Capital, but seeing her in person was truly extraordinary. It was no wonder that a man as steady and composed as the Crown Prince, who ignored the many beauties in his own back garden, favored her alone.
Just as the meal was drawing to a close, a maid arrived with a bowl of soup. "Old Madam, this is the nourishing soup you are meant to have today. The kitchen forgot about it for a moment, so I am only bringing it now."
The sudden arrival of the soup drew the attention of Jiang Wumei and the others to the large, milky-white bowl. The Old Madam waved the maid away, and once the soup was placed on the table, she smiled and explained to the others, "This is a blood-nourishing soup that Junjun specifically prescribed for me. It is entirely thanks to this that my hair has started turning black again. If the Noble Consort and my two sisters don't mind, please, join me in a taste."
Jiang Wumei looked at the soup, seeing the tenderly simmered ginseng, silkie chicken, and medicinal herbs, then shot a glance at Xu Junjun. Xu Junjun gave a slight nod, signaling that everything was proceeding according to plan.
Clearing her throat, Jiang Wumei smiled like a flower. "Since the Old Madam is willing to share, I shall certainly try some. Qingzhi."
Qingzhi, standing behind her, stepped forward, filled a small bowl, and placed it before Jiang Wumei. Jiang Wumei took a small sip and raised her brows in praise. "This medicinal soup is fragrant and has a unique flavor. The two ladies should try some as well."
Curious about the Old Madam’s claim that the soup could restore dark hair, and encouraged by Jiang Wumei, the other two ladies each had a bowl served and began to drink. Old Madam Huo, seeing them all partake, had a bowl served for herself as well. Just as she was about to raise it to her lips, disaster struck.
Jiang Wumei, who had been smiling just a moment before, suddenly frowned. Before anyone could react, she coughed up a spray of blood and collapsed backward in agony.
"Your Highness!" Qingzhi screamed, lunging forward to catch Jiang Wumei. Seeing her mistress’s eyes tightly shut and her face contorted in pain, she shouted, "Someone, call the Imperial Hospital! Go, call the Imperial Hospital!"
The hall descended into chaos. Xu Junjun rushed over, shoved a pill into Jiang Wumei’s mouth, and checked her pulse for a moment before exclaiming in shock, "This is bad! The Noble Consort has been poisoned!"
Old Madam Huo and the two guests turned ashen and rose to see what was happening. But before they could approach, the two ladies who had also drunk the soup vomited blood and collapsed. Their servants rushed to them, and the hall became even more frantic.
Old Madam Huo’s expression changed drastically. She roared, "Someone, come! Go to the Imperial Hospital immediately and bring back three imperial physicians! Anyone in this estate who handled the food is to be arrested, bound, and thrown into the woodshed to await judgment."
Xu Junjun ordered the poisoned and unconscious women to be moved into a room. To be safe, she retrieved three more heart-protection pills and fed one to each of them. Old Madam Huo, supported by Mammy Li, stared fixedly at Xu Junjun’s movements. When she finally finished, the Old Madam asked with a tremor in her voice, "Ju-Junjun, will the Noble Consort and my two sisters be alright?"
Xu Junjun hesitated before saying, "The Noble Consort drank the most; she is the most deeply poisoned and in the worst condition. The two old madams are slightly better off, but after this, it will take at least two or three years for them to fully recover their vitality."
The world went dark for Old Madam Huo; she stumbled and nearly fell. Xu Junjun was startled and rushed over, helping to steady the swaying woman alongside Mammy Li. She whispered, "Grandmother, please do not worry too much. Although their vitality has been damaged, they have all taken the heart-protection pills, so their lives are not in danger. What matters most now is to uncover the truth and provide an explanation to the three families—and, most importantly, to the Crown Prince."
Old Madam Huo seemed to wake from a dream. Her eyes burning with rage, she hissed, "Yes, investigate! I want to see who is so heartless and bold as to dare to poison people in my General's Estate!"
The frail figure straightened, a storm gathering on her face. "Junjun, stay here and watch over the Noble Consort and the two ladies. When the physicians arrive, have them treat the three of them with the utmost care. I am going to catch the person who did this!"
Having spent decades in the inner chambers, if Old Madam Huo couldn't see that this was a deliberate attempt to harm her, she would have lived those decades in vain. At this moment, she wanted nothing more than to drag the mastermind behind this attempt to bring down the General's Estate out into the light, strip them of their skin, and tear them to pieces!
Xu Junjun nodded firmly. "Grandmother, rest assured. With me here, the Noble Consort and the others will not come to any harm!"