Han Suiqin fainted. Bai Junya directed a few strong wet nurses to carry her back to Lijing Xuan and sent someone to fetch a doctor.
The few honored guests present naturally could not stay any longer. Bai Junya offered apologies and arranged for them to leave first. Wang Qingyao, being the elder lady, had to stay a little longer, even if just for show.
However, Bai Junya said, "The Princess Consort is with child and should not be overexerted. Sister Suiqin will be under my care."
Since she had said so, Wang Qingyao did not stand on ceremony. She wasn't very familiar with Han Suiqin anyway.
But Old Madam Wang appeared from somewhere and insisted on stopping the young ladies from leaving, claiming that one of them had poisoned Han Suiqin, intending to harm the future Princess Consort of Qi.
Old Madam Wang, who usually bullied the weak and feared the strong, was surprisingly resolute this time, appearing as if she wanted to seek justice for Han Suiqin, as if Han Suiqin were her own granddaughter.
Wang Qingyao scoffed. She had already used her clairvoyant eyes and found that none of the women attending the tea ceremony carried anything suspicious, nor did their accompanying maids.
When Han Suiqin fainted earlier, Wang Qingyao's nerves had been on edge.
Among the female guests, Wei Yu was the most restless. However, she had no enmity with Han Suiqin, and even if she had administered poison, it would have been to frame Wang Qingyao.
Therefore, Wei Yu was the first person Wang Qingyao had used her clairvoyance on.
The result was not her, nor anyone else.
Han Suiqin was probably genuinely ill.
Old Madam Wang wouldn't let them leave. The more gentle-tempered ladies gave the old woman face and sat down in the flower hall, waiting for the doctor's diagnosis.
Wei Yu had never thought highly of Han Suiqin. The only reason she deigned to attend the tea party was to witness the excitement and find some amusement.
Now, being stopped from leaving, she couldn't help but get angry.
"Who do you think you are? How dare you stop me?" She glanced sideways at Old Madam Wang, showing no politeness whatsoever.
In front of the elders in the palace, Wei Yu always appeared innocent, cute, pure, and kind. But Old Madam Wang was not someone she needed to display these admirable qualities for.
Besides, she was young, and any arrogance on her part would be considered understandable by others.
"You are the second daughter of the Wei family?" Old Madam Wang's face turned red with anger after being insulted by a junior. "It must have been you who poisoned Qin'er, you must have!"
Old Madam Wang stated with certainty.
Wei Yu looked at her as if she were crazy, "Are you sick?"
Old Madam Wang grabbed her arm and refused to let go. "It was you! You were jealous that the Prince of Qi married Qin'er and not you, so you harmed her!"
Old Madam Wang had believed the rumors circulating in the marketplace, thinking that Wei Yu's fight with Princess Yinyue at the Prince of Qi's banquet was over a dispute for the Prince of Qi's affection. Thus, she was convinced that Han Suiqin's fainting was due to Wei Yu's jealousy and her malicious intent to become the Princess Consort of Qi.
It had to be said that Old Madam Wang had a very rich imagination.
Wei Yu: "..."
Seeing Wei Yu's silence, Old Madam Wang assumed she had guessed correctly and said triumphantly, "If anything happens to Qin'er, His Highness the Prince of Qi will not let you off!"
Wei Yu felt like hitting someone.
Wang Qingyao couldn't bear to watch. Old Madam Wang was truly embarrassing herself.
At this moment, Fang Yuan quietly mumbled, "Ah, does Wei Yu like the Prince of Qi?"
She was genuinely curious, but Wei Yu did not see it that way and turned to glare fiercely at her.
Fang Yuan wanted to say something, but Zuo Yun pulled her back. Zuo Yun snorted and turned her head away.
Wei Yu turned to Wang Qingyao, "Princess of Ding'an, control this old woman. Slandering a noble lady like this can lead to a lawsuit!"
Wang Qingyao replied, "This is my grandmother. I dare not control her."
Old Madam Wang became even more pleased with herself.
Just then, Bai Junya sent her maid to summon Old Madam Wang, saying the doctor had arrived.
Old Madam Wang, fearing that Wei Yu might "flee from guilt," hesitated for a moment and said, "I won't go over. When the doctor's diagnosis is out, you come and tell me."
The maid nodded and went back to the adjacent room to report.
A short while later, Bai Junya herself arrived, her expression complicated.
"Grandmother," she said.
"What did the doctor say?" Old Madam Wang asked nervously. "Was she poisoned? Is it serious?"
"It's not poisoning."
"Ah?" Old Madam Wang was disappointed for a moment, glanced at Wei Yu, and then asked, "Then what is it? Why did she faint for no reason?"
"It's... it's..." Bai Junya stammered, unable to speak.
Old Madam Wang grew impatient, "What is it?"
"Grandmother, come with me..."
Bai Junya wanted to lead Old Madam Wang to the adjacent room to hear the doctor's words herself. However, Old Madam Wang was anxious and said impatiently, "You are the eldest daughter-in-law of the Wang family. Why are you so hesitant? Just tell me directly what happened."
Being reprimanded in front of so many people, Bai Junya's face flushed slightly, and a hint of grievance appeared in her eyes.
She said stiffly, "The doctor said that Sister Suiqin is with child and fainted due to insufficient qi and blood."
The hall fell silent, and all eyes turned towards them.
Old Madam Wang's aged face was filled with shock. Her mouth opened and closed, trembling, but she couldn't utter a word.
Fang Yuan whispered, "Wow, how exciting."