Chapter 215: Chapter 97 Baby Washing Ceremony_3
Meng Xiyang knelt before Prince Wen, crying like pear blossoms in the rain, "Princely Heir, even if I had ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare harm the Princess Consort. I’ve never heard of ’Little Child’s Worry.’ This clay figure was bought by a maid from a clay figurine shop on South City Street. I thought of the impending birth of the Princess Consort and kept this object to pray for the safe delivery of the Princely Heir."
The maid who had bought the clay figurine had "committed suicide out of fear for her crimes" on the day of the incident, and Prince Wen couldn’t find out anything else. Ultimately, remembering their past affection, he didn’t pursue the matter further and only confined her to the mansion.
As for Pei Yunshu’s poisoning, this matter hadn’t been publicized, and even Zhao Ning Manor was unaware. It involved the reputation of the Prince’s Mansion, and Mu Sheng protecting Meng Xiyang was essentially protecting himself.
Meng Xiyang was initially worried that the Commander of the Imperial Guards wouldn’t let the matter go, but as the days passed, Pei Yunmeng hadn’t made any moves, and she gradually let down her guard. After all, the Prince’s Mansion was graced with royal favor, so Pei Yunmeng had to consider Prince Wen’s title in the end.
Today, Pei Yunshu was holding a "Baby Washing Ceremony" for her daughter, and had invited many noble ladies. She, however, was confined and could not go out. Those noble ladies were always gossiping, and who knows how they would slander her behind her back. Since she entered the Prince’s Mansion, there hadn’t been a banquet she hadn’t attended; now being deliberately overlooked was like a slap to her face.
Thinking of the Baby Washing Ceremony, Meng Xiyang’s face turned ashen.
She asked the servant girl beside her, "Who were the distinguished guests who came today?"
The servant girl answered in a low voice, "Lady Dong from the Minister of Imperial Treasury’s residence, households from the Scholar of the Imperial College, the emissaries from the three departments..." She named many people, then remembered something and added, "The Doctor Lu who came to induce labor for the Princess Consort that day also came."
"Lu Tong?"
Meng Xiyang’s expression changed.
That day in Xunfang Garden, she hadn’t taken that female doctor seriously, only intending to use her as the scapegoat. Who knew she would be outwitted by this woman.
If it hadn’t been for Lu Tong discovering ’Little Child’s Worry’ in the mochari, if it hadn’t been for Lu Tong inducing labor for Pei Yunshu, if it hadn’t been for Lu Tong joining hands with Pei Yunmeng before everyone’s eyes...
Would she have ended up like this?
Now she was confined to her courtyard, with her face lost, and her relationship with Prince Wen drifting apart, all thanks to this woman.
Meng Xiyang sneered, "A Resident Doctor has been invited as an esteemed guest in the Wangfu, really thinking she’s climbed high on the social ladder?"
The servant girl dared not speak.
Outside, the sounds of laughter from the Baby Washing Ceremony could be heard over the wall, grating on the ears.
Meng Xiyang walked over to the table, where wilted osmanthus flowers were placed in a vase, showing a desperate kind of lifelessness.
She reached out and caressed the withered branches.
Relying on saving Pei Yunshu and her child, that Lu woman was climbing upward, while she was confined to her room because of this Lu woman, unable to go anywhere. She was just one step away from success, yet it slipped through her fingers. How could she be content? That resentment stuck in Meng Xiyang’s heart, unable to swallow it down.
She couldn’t do anything to Pei Yunmeng, nor Pei Yunshu, and definitely not to Prince Wen.
But Lu Tong was just a common Female Doctor, powerless and lowly in status. Was she really untouchable?
If one wanted to mess with the waters of a big family, one also had to see if they were fated to survive it.
A slight crisp sound, she pinched the osmanthus branch in her hand into two pieces. Meng Xiyang withdrew her hand, her lips curling slightly, and walked back to sit down in the room.
"Go, call someone for me."
Her eyebrows raised, the two drops of red coral by her ear bright as blood, "I have important instructions to give."
...
The day was drawing to a close.
The "Baby Washing Ceremony" had ended by noon. After lunch, Lu Tong stayed in the Prince’s Mansion, rechecking Treasure Bead and Pei Yunshu’s pulses and changing their prescription. After Fangzi brewed the new medicine, it was already late in the evening.
Pei Yunshu insisted on sending Lu Tong to Renxin Medical Hall’s entrance using the Prince’s Mansion’s carriage. When neighbors on West Street recognized the Prince’s Mansion’s carriage, they looked at Lu Tong differently.
First the household of the Minister of Imperial Treasury and now the Prince’s Mansion, Renxin Medical Hall was attracting influential figures more formidable than the last, showing that this female doctor indeed possessed remarkable medical skills.
Du Changqing was leaning on the counter, watching the Prince’s Mansion’s carriage leave West Street before retreating, glanced at Lu Tong, and said lazily, "Not bad, you even rode in the carriage."
Ah Cheng, holding a lantern, came out with a proud expression, "Of course, Doctor Lu is the life-saving benefactor of the Princess Consort!"
"Life-saving benefactor," Du Changqing scoffed, flicking the junior apprentice on the forehead. "You really think it’s good to be a life-saving benefactor. You always see the thieves eating meat; take a look some time when the thieves get beaten. No telling what trouble might come afterwards."