Moments later, two lines of humiliated tears slid down Yun Zhu's face.
She turned her head and looked at Consort Fang with a pitiful gaze.
Consort Fang trembled with anger, pointing at Wang Qingyao, "You, you, you... are you determined to protect this lowly maid? I ordered Yun Zhu to hit her, are you going to hit me too?"
She then turned to the Old Consort, "Mother, look at her, she's becoming more and more overbearing. I said long ago, with her family background, how could she be worthy..."
The Old Consort: "Cough, cough, cough..."
Xiao Yun: "Cough, cough, cough..."
The two voices were so loud that they completely drowned out what Consort Fang was about to say. Consort Fang was so angry she almost spat blood.
Wang Qingyao smiled charmingly at Consort Fang, "Mother is joking. Although I am an orphan with no parents and no upbringing, I also know that everything should be handled impartially. I hit Yun Zhu not because of my maid, but because she broke the rules. I said it last time, when the master hasn't spoken, it's not good for a servant to interrupt casually. How can this Yun Zhu by your side repeatedly disregard the rules and the master? Is it possible that your courtyard has always been so undisciplined?"
"You..."
Wang Qingyao dismissed Yin Zhu by citing rules, and even Consort Fang couldn't find fault with her.
Consort Fang was both angry and anxious, but she didn't know what to say to refute.
Yun Zhu knelt down. She couldn't understand, why was Wang Qingyao, who had spoken frankly with her last time, now opposing her?
Little did she know that Wang Qingyao had seen through her hiding beef in the noodles and had been guarding against her all along. Only she herself thought she was a loyal, sensible, and gentle head maid in front of Wang Qingyao.
The Old Consort: "Princess Consort, Yin Zhu is your person. This matter is entirely up to you to decide."
The Old Consort sighed inwardly. With such an incident, Wang Qingyao's reputation was also affected. And Yin Zhu was her close maid, making it difficult for her.
The Old Consort already had an idea. It was impossible for Yin Zhu to stay. However, she could grant a favor and let the couple work on the estate. It all depended on how Wang Qingyao handled it.
The Old Consort also wanted to test Wang Qingyao.
Consort Fang almost jumped up, "No! The Princess Consort is young and has no experience managing household affairs. How can she handle it? In my opinion, she should be drowned in a pig cage as a warning to others! See who dares to act recklessly in the future!"
Yin Zhu's face turned pale.
Wang Qingyao sneered, "Mother, don't be in a hurry. The matter hasn't been investigated clearly, so why rush to a conclusion?" She then looked at the Old Consort, "If Grandmother doesn't object, I'd like to ask Imperial Physician Lu a few questions."
The Old Consort naturally did not object and nodded.
Consort Fang snorted, "What else is there to ask? Are you questioning Imperial Physician Lu?"
If anyone else questioned Imperial Physician Lu, no matter how much face they had, he would have left in a huff by now. However, this person was Wang Qingyao, the divine being who could detect pregnancy within days. He immediately stood up humbly.
"Princess Consort, please ask."
Wang Qingyao nodded to him, signaling him to sit down.
"Imperial Physician Lu, I am not questioning your professionalism. I just know that there are some drugs in this world that, when taken, can make a pulse show signs of pregnancy, and no doctor, no matter how skilled, can distinguish the truth from falsehood."
Consort Fang's face showed disdain. A medicine that could make a pulse show signs of pregnancy? It was sheer nonsense. Even if she was protecting someone, she should be reasonable.
Imperial Physician Lu pondered, "This... it's not that such drugs don't exist..."
Consort Fang looked surprised.
There really was such a thing?
She scrutinized Wang Qingyao, "How can you prove that this lowly maid is not truly pregnant but has been drugged?"
Wang Qingyao smiled, "It's simple. Wait two or three days and have the pulse checked again. Although the drug is effective, it only works for a short period and cannot work continuously."
Consort Fang refused, "Too many things can happen in two or three days. If you help her abort the child during these two or three days, won't it still be undetectable then?"
This time, Wang Qingyao didn't need to speak. Imperial Physician Lu said proactively, "An abortion can also be detected after one or two years, so Consort Fang can rest assured."
Consort Fang then nodded, agreeing to check the pulse again after three days.
Three days was just a casual number Wang Qingyao mentioned. She asked Imperial Physician Lu to stay at the Ding'an Prince's mansion and check Yin Zhu's pulse daily.
Zhi Zi helped Yin Zhu out of the side hall. Jin Tiao was still kneeling in the courtyard. Seeing Yin Zhu emerge with a swollen face and tear streaks, his face immediately showed concern.
Wang Qingyao paused beside him, "Come with me."
Jin Tiao didn't know what had happened in the side hall. Seeing Wang Qingyao take Yin Zhu away, he assumed she would deal with the matter privately. He immediately lowered his head, got up, and followed.
Consort Fang looked towards the door from afar and said to the Old Consort, "Mother, Jin Tiao has already confessed. It's useless to wait three days, even thirty days. Besides, who would give such a drug to a maid?"
The Old Consort trusted Wang Qingyao, but she also felt that Consort Fang had a point.
However, she was willing to give Wang Qingyao an opportunity. Regardless of whether Yin Zhu was pregnant or not, this incident revealed Wang Qingyao's methods and temperament in handling matters.
Meanwhile, Wang Qingyao brought Yin Zhu and Jin Tiao back to Kangping Courtyard.
As soon as the door of the side hall was closed, Wang Qingyao directly asked Jin Tiao, "Yin Zhu is not pregnant, why did you admit the child was yours?"