The effects of those medicinal herbs were too terrifying, so Su Xiaoqi hadn't told the Grand Princess the truth.
However, she believed Jia Yixue would know, so she deliberately used the medicine to scare him.
As expected, he shivered in fear, his heart chilling by half.
Soon, the medicinal soup was ready, and a bowl of dark, earthy-smelling liquid was brought over.
From his reaction, the Grand Princess could tell the medicine was definitely not good. She said sternly, "Force-feed him!"
This scoundrel, what kind of rubbish was he daring to make her drink!
Fortunately, she had Su Xiaoqi.
Ever since she had invited Su Xiaoqi to treat her family, she hadn't taken any medicine prescribed by anyone else.
And she always kept Su Xiaoqi's words in mind, maintaining absolute suspicion towards anything she put into her mouth.
Jia Yixue struggled with all his might, but his strength was limited, and he was ultimately no match for the two old women.
He was pinned down and made to drink a full bowl, his nostrils pinched to prevent him from spitting it out.
"It's over, it's over, it's over..." Jia Yixue, forced to drink the bowl, slumped to the ground, muttering to himself.
The Grand Princess let out a sharp cry, "It's truly no good. Tell me, who ordered you to do this."
Jia Yixue seemed to have lost all hope, remaining silent.
Su Xiaoqi took out a porcelain bottle from her sleeve and stepped forward, saying softly,
"If you don't speak properly, I have some good things here I'd like you to try. I guarantee they'll be even more effective than the soup you prepared."
"Ah... ah, these are gu worms..." Jia Yixue was indeed knowledgeable. Seeing the black powder in Su Xiaoqi's porcelain bottle, he was utterly terrified.
His gaze towards her shifted from disdain to horror.
No wonder the Grand Princess had discovered his actions; it turned out she had such a formidable person by her side.
Despite his fear, Jia Yixue's hands and feet were bound. "I, I can't say. My family is in their hands..."
"You fear them, but you don't fear me?" The Grand Princess's face was grim, her teeth grinding in anger.
So, Su Xiaoqi stepped forward, intending to try a little of the black powder on him.
Before it even touched him, Jia Yixue tearfully confessed, "It was, it was Yan Yiniang, the Princess Consort's concubine Yan."
The Grand Princess was silent for a moment, while Su Xiaoqi stepped forward to support Hao Min, waiting quietly.
After a while, she heard the Grand Princess's hoarse voice, "Guards, bring her here."
Su Xiaoqi could see that the people around the Grand Princess had indeed been replaced cleanly.
Previously, some actions were slow, but this time, commands were followed without delay.
Before long, someone escorted a young and beautiful woman over.
That was Yan Yiniang.
She truly lived up to her name; her appearance was striking. She wore light smoky makeup, rarely seen in this era.
Her hair had a natural curl, her eyelids were deep-set, her nose bridge was high, and her eyes were blue.
"Huh, a foreigner?" Su Xiaoqi exclaimed in surprise upon first glance.
The Grand Princess snorted, "It is this lowly slave, a Semu person from west of Xifan."
Yan Yiniang glanced at everyone present, saw Jia Yixue, but not the Princess Consort, and her heart sank immediately.
She couldn't help but feel a little scared, falling prostrate on the ground and crying coyly,
"Your Highness, Your Highness, I am wronged, I am wronged..."
Just as the interrogation was getting heated, Madam Xu quietly reported that Bao Ge’er had come looking for Madam Shen.
The Grand Princess pondered for a moment and called out, "Xiaoqi, you guard these two siblings for me. I must resolve matters here today."
Su Xiaoqi rose and left.
She wasn't very interested in the drama unfolding in the Grand Princess's mansion. Sitting there was merely to be available at the Grand Princess's beck and call.
In any case, she only wanted to know the outcome; the process was unimportant.
She contentedly accompanied Hui’an and Bao Ge’er, playing with the toys she had brought.
After a while, she taught Hui’an, "Come, wear this dress like this, and this top..."
"Bao Ge'er, the castle you built is beautiful, keep up the good work!"
...
Invited by the Grand Princess, Su Xiaoqi stayed for both lunch and dinner at the Grand Princess's mansion.
She spent the entire afternoon playing with the siblings.
After dinner, the Grand Princess had Madam Xu escort the siblings back to their respective rooms to rest.
She kept Su Xiaoqi alone, knowing Zhang Yu was skilled and asked her to guard the corridor, ensuring no one could overhear.
"Your Highness, have the matters been clarified?" Su Xiaoqi asked politely.
The Grand Princess's complexion was a little poor, but her eyes sparkled, showing that she was in a good and relaxed mood.
It was as if a heavy stone had been lifted from her heart.
The Grand Princess said softly, "The evidence is conclusive. Yan Yiniang still tried to deny it. After torture, she confessed only when blood was drawn."
Su Xiaoqi listened silently, not speaking.
In her mind, she thought: Since Yan Yiniang was a foreigner, why would she target the Grand Princess?
The royal family was unlike ordinary households. If the primary wife was killed, and a concubine had a son, there was a possibility of her being elevated.
Why would Yan Yiniang want to kill the Grand Princess?
Su Xiaoqi found the cause and effect completely incomprehensible.
However, the Grand Princess showed no intention of continuing the conversation, nor did she mention the disposition of Jia Yixue and Yan Yiniang.
She didn't dare to ask further, merely nodding.
"Alright, it's getting dark, and Physician Shen is here to pick you up." The Grand Princess patted Su Xiaoqi's hand and said, "He's waiting at the second gate. I intended to invite him for dinner, but he refused."
Upon hearing that Shen Yun had arrived, Su Xiaoqi lost any desire to investigate further.
She greeted the Grand Princess and got up to leave.
The golden crow descended in the west, and the jade rabbit rose in the east. Lamps were already lit in the Grand Princess's mansion.
Su Xiaoqi was escorted by Madam Xu to the second gate and immediately saw a tall, straight figure standing under the lantern.
He stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from the flower-adorned gate, gazing into the distance in the dim light.
Seeing this, Madam Xu hurried forward to pay her respects.
However, Su Xiaoqi turned around and gestured to her, signaling her to stay within the flower-adorned gate.
She tiptoed forward and, when she was three steps away from Shen Yun, suddenly reached out and covered his eyes from behind:
"Guess who I am!" Su Xiaoqi deliberately lowered her voice, making it gruff.
Shen Yun's lips curved silently.
When Su Xiaoqi emerged from the flower-adorned gate, he had already caught the scent of orchids on her.
As she approached, he was about to turn and embrace her by surprise, but she preempted him by covering his eyes.
Shen Yun said softly, "Mischievous."
Su Xiaoqi pouted playfully, "Quick, quick, guess! If you can't guess, I won't let go."
Shen Yun deliberately blinked his eyes forcefully, his long eyelashes brushing against Su Xiaoqi's palm, tickling her.
"Ah, it tickles, so itchy..." Su Xiaoqi couldn't stand it and lifted her fingers slightly, creating a gap.
Seizing the opportunity, Shen Yun turned around and pulled her into his arms, pecking her lips and complaining with a wronged expression:
"My wife is truly heartless, abandoning her husband at home without a care, and in the end, she still teases me."
Su Xiaoqi blinked her eyes, feeling that what Shen Yun said made a lot of sense.
She tentatively asked, "Well, well, did husband eat dinner?"
Shen Yun shook his head, "Without my wife, your husband couldn't eat."
Su Xiaoqi felt a pang of heartache, squeezed his warm hand, and pulled him into the carriage:
"Let's go back to the mansion, I'll cook for you myself."
Shen Yun hooked his lips. Seeing how much his little wife cared about him, his intentional performance of feigned suffering was not in vain.
However, he wouldn't bear to let his wife worry about his meals.
Upon returning home, he had Zhang Lei casually bring him a bowl of noodles to make do, and only then did he go to find Su Xiaoqi again.
When Su Xiaoqi saw him return, she was about to busy herself cooking for him, but he grasped her hand.
His touch was icy cold.
His little wife was like this; her hands would turn as cold as ice blocks in winter, impossible to warm no matter how much she rubbed them. Only by placing them in her chest, warming them continuously with the warmth from her heart, would they slowly warm up.
Like her heart, once warmed, they wouldn't turn cold again all night.
Shen Yun hugged Su Xiaoqi and took the opportunity to lament:
"Wife, your husband has waited for you for a long time."
Su Xiaoqi was feeling dejected that she ultimately couldn't have Shen Yun eat a meal cooked by her.
Hearing this, she wanted to compensate Shen Yun.
She proactively helped him undress and lay on him, softly saying, "Then, what does husband want to eat? Just ask for it!"
Shen Yun's smile deepened, his foxy nature fully revealed, and he drawled,
"Mmm, really?"
"Really, ah... you're going too far!"