Lady Gao is an extrely clever person. Knowing that Wang Yongzhu hurried back from Chicheng County dressed as a man riding a horse, she was sure sothing significant had happened.
Moreover, when Song Hong quickly sent a ssage saying he was coming to her, she realized that Song Hong was likely going to question Wang Yongzhu.
Having traveled the whole way, washed up and going over, likely she wouldn’t even have ti to eat.
Therefore, she had already given instructions. As the ti was about right, the kitchen sent over steaming hot dishes to Wang Yongzhu.
The maid sent by Lady Gao also conveyed that Madam had said it wouldn’t be too late for the Wife of the Heir-Apparent to have so food before going over.
Wang Yongzhu didn’t hesitate to accept.
These days, to rush the journey, she had been eating and sleeping in a make-do manner. Having just soaked in a comfortable bath, she indeed felt hungry.
Looking at the dishes served, they were all ones she loved during her ti at the Duke’s Mansion.
Not to ntion anything else, just seeing this table of dishes showed that Lady Gao was a thoughtful person.
Having taken the al, rinsed her mouth, and tidied herself up, Wang Yongzhu then stood up and headed for the Gao Residence.
Along the way, every maid and servant she encountered greeted her with utmost respect and curtsied repeatedly.
Arriving at Lady Gao’s courtyard, the gatekeeper recognized Wang Yongzhu and her attendant, hurriedly putting on a smile: "Greetings, Wife of the Heir-Apparent! Lord Duke and Madam are inside! Please co in, Wife of the Heir-Apparent—"
Wang Yongzhu nodded and entered the courtyard.
Inside, the maid saw her and quickly lifted the curtain, announcing: "The Wife of the Heir-Apparent is here!"
Upon entering the room, a warm fragrance greeted her. Lady Gao, having injured her body when young, was most afraid of the cold, so her chamber was always kept warm.
Just arriving inside, enveloped in warmth, the cloak she wore outside was no longer needed.
Lifting her gaze, she saw Song Hong and Lady Gao sitting upright at the head. She handed her cloak to the maid first, then unhurriedly approached to greet them.
Song Hong, with just a nod while holding his teacup, acknowledged her.
Lady Gao, however, stood up, walked over to Wang Yongzhu in a few strides, and personally helped her up, scrutinizing her for a mont, then remarked: "You’ve lost weight, and you don’t look well. Were you worn out from the journey?"
She then personally guided Wang Yongzhu to a seat on the kang, ordering the maid: "Have the kitchen quickly bring over a bowl of the prepared blood bird’s nest."
She added: "Since you’ve returned, henceforth take a bowl of blood bird’s nest morning and night. You must nourish yourself well."
Wang Yongzhu thanked her with a smile.
She inquired after Lady Gao’s and Song Hong’s health and the family’s well-being.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, it was Song Hong who, losing patience, waited until the maid brought up the blood bird’s nest, then signaled for all attending maids and servants to leave.
Only then did he ask: "Why have you suddenly returned without sending word beforehand? Is there so significant event?"
Wang Yongzhu inwardly scoffed, thinking him a pretentious old fox. With his Shadow Guards under him, could he not know why she returned?
Outwardly, she kept a composed deanor and answered earnestly: "Half a month ago, I received a decree from the Imperial Noble Consort, urging my imminent return to the Capital City to ensure the safety of the child in her womb. The matter was urgent, so I had to travel light, bringing only a few guards from Chicheng County."
Song Hong and Lady Gao exchanged a look.
Lady Gao quickly asked: "The Imperial Noble Consort? There are Imperial Physicians in the palace. Why issue a decree to you? Moreover, considering the timing, there is still more than half a month before the Imperial Noble Consort’s due date, and you ntioned returning almost two months early. Why is that?"
Song Hong gravely inquired: "Why would the Imperial Noble Consort seek you out? In terms of dical techniques, the nurous Imperial Physicians in the Imperial dical Bureau, aren’t they more skilled than you?"
This was also sothing that puzzled Lady Gao.
Both of them turned to Wang Yongzhu.
Knowing these things would have to be clarified sooner or later, Wang Yongzhu didn’t hide it and recounted using poison to incapacitate a group at the horse farm to save Song Chongjin.
Song Hong was privy to the details, but Lady Gao wasn’t, and her expression towards Wang Yongzhu turned complex, though she soon lowered her eyes.
Song Hong, not one to be fooled, thought quickly and realized: "You an to say the Imperial Noble Consort has heard of your potency with poison and thus turned to you? But your prowess in poison doesn’t equate—"
Reaching this point, he fell silent; historically, dicine and poison were intertwined, and being adept in poison typically translated to skilled application in dicine.
Nevertheless, he still couldn’t comprehend: "Why would the Imperial Noble Consort entrust the lives of herself and the prince in her womb to you?"
Wang Yongzhu paused briefly: "After that incident, the Imperial Noble Consort sent a ssage hoping I could protect the prince in her womb. I had soone deliver a Fetal Protection Pill—"
Lady Gao, realizing this, imdiately understood: "Reports had it that the Imperial Noble Consort previously accidentally ingested sothing causing miscarriage, leading to incessant bleeding, and the palace physicians were all at a loss. Then sohow, the Imperial Noble Consort’s pregnancy was preserved. Could it be due to the Fetal Protection Pill you gave?"
Saying this, Song Hong also understood.
If such were the case, it made sense that the child in the Imperial Noble Consort’s womb was preserved through the Fetal Protection Pill given by Wang Yongzhu. Now, nearing delivery, news from the palace wasn’t promising.
Given the circumstances at the palace, perhaps the Imperial Noble Consort no longer trusted the palace physicians, placing her final hope on Wang Yongzhu, hence the decree for her swift return to the Capital City.
That aside, however, Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin withheld such major matters from him?
It should be known that handling this improperly could implicate the entire family!
Thinking to this point, Song Hong’s expression darkened: "Who gave you the authority to make unilateral decisions, involving yourself in such palace disputes? It’s utter folly! If anything happens to the Imperial Noble Consort and the prince in her womb, it would be a grave cri implicating nine generations! Do you not realize?"
Of course, Wang Yongzhu was aware!
Overwheld with anger, Song Hong slamd the teacup onto the table, spilling tea everywhere: "Ignorant woman! Do you think allying with the Imperial Noble Consort ans instant success? Unbeknownst that officials must avoid entanglent in palace intrigues?"
"It’s one matter if sothing happens to you alone; you seek to jeopardize the Song Family’s century-old foundation, do you not realize?"
Lady Gao, at the side, her expression shifted, wanting to intercede yet unsure how to begin, bore a look of distress.
Wang Yongzhu was aware of Song Hong’s character; his affections for a beloved woman and children couldn’t surpass the significance of the Song Family’s century-old legacy in his heart.
From the mont Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu delivered that Fetal Protection Pill, they sided with the Imperial Noble Consort.
If the Imperial Noble Consort successfully delivered the prince, all would be well. If she encountered complications or there were misfortunes with the prince, all forces would hold Wang Yongzhu accountable.
Even the Imperial Noble Consort herself, if surviving, might vent her anger at the prince’s demise upon Wang Yongzhu.
By then, Wang Yongzhu, Song Chongjin, and the Duke Weiguo Residence behind them would be the target of all.
To protect the Duke Weiguo Residence, Song Hong once forsook his cherished youthful sweetheart. Today, if such a day were to co, he might abandon Song Chongjin as well.
Therefore, Wang Yongzhu calmly stated: "That’s why, upon the Imperial Noble Consort’s summons, I hurriedly returned, fearing an accident implicating the residence!"
"This ti, my husband and I have discussed it. In pursuit of wealth cos risk; unable to evade it, we must strive wholeheartedly. If successful, it benefits everyone; if not, my husband and I will ensure the residence remains uninvolved."
"Thus, if Lord Duke does not wish to take this risk, expel my husband and from the Song Family imdiately! We shall hold no grudge!"
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