"Gold bars," Wang Qingyao said, "repeat what you told me yesterday to the Old Dowager and the Dowager."
"Yes," Gold bars replied.
He then recounted what Yun Zhu had told him the previous day.
The Old Dowager frowned and looked at Yun Zhu. Dowager Fang, however, looked somewhat disbelieving and glanced at Yun Zhu with confusion.
"Is that so? Yun Zhu?" Dowager Fang asked.
Yun Zhu's expression remained unchanged.
The previous day, when Wang Qingyao had guessed that Yin Zhu's pulse had been altered by poison and had taken Gold bars away, she had anticipated this scene today.
She had already prepared her explanation.
Without haste, she walked to the center of the side hall, bowed respectfully to all the masters, and said clearly, "Replying to the Dowager, I did indeed say such things. I know Your Ladyship values rules and reputation above all else and would not easily forgive Miss Yin Zhu. However, Miss Yin Zhu is the Princess Consort's dowry, and if she were dealt with thus, discord would surely arise between Your Ladyship and the Princess Consort. That is why I took it upon myself to inquire with Gold bars... Who would have thought Miss Yin Zhu was not pregnant? I don't understand why Gold bars would admit to it if she wasn't pregnant."
Gold bars said indignantly, "If you wanted to inquire, why didn't you go to Kangping Courtyard and come to me?"
Yun Zhu hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, yet ensuring everyone in the room could hear, "I also heard that Miss Yin Zhu had taken Gold bars as her master, spending time together day and night... In truth, I originally thought Gold bars was that man. I deliberately told him so, hoping he would take responsibility and save Miss Yin Zhu's life."
"It was my own initiative, and I beg the Dowager's forgiveness."
Yun Zhu's words were clear, logical, and well-reasoned. Not only did she absolve herself completely, but she also portrayed herself as kind-hearted and helpful.
More importantly, she made the relationship between Gold bars and Yin Zhu ambiguous, as if there was indeed something going on.
"You..." Gold bars was so angry he couldn't speak.
Yin Zhu also glared at her furiously.
Dowager Fang nodded in understanding and beckoned her to return to her side, saying, "It's not your fault; you meant well."
Dowager Fang truly trusted Yun Zhu wholeheartedly.
Unfortunately, the Old Dowager did not.
Although the Old Dowager didn't believe Yun Zhu, she couldn't refute her words and, feeling somewhat annoyed, glanced at Wang Qingyao.
Wang Qingyao chuckled twice, "Miss Yun Zhu is indeed very inquisitive. There aren't many maids around me who know martial arts, so I discussed it with the Prince and arranged for Yin Zhu to learn martial arts from Gold bars. Not many people knew about this. I wonder how much effort Miss Yun Zhu put in to inquire about it, and from whom?"
She smiled at Yun Zhu.
A hint of panic flickered across Yun Zhu's face, fleetingly. Wang Qingyao was too cunning, relentlessly digging into details.
She smiled faintly, "Your Ladyship exaggerates. Some time has passed, and I don't recall who told me. I overheard it during casual conversation."
Wang Qingyao sneered, "It's been hard on you to remember such details from an overheard remark and to come up with such absurd speculation. Do the maids in your Jingwu Courtyard usually neglect their duties and spend their time spying on who speaks to whom in the Prince's manor?"
Her tone was stern, clearly displeased.
Yun Zhu knelt down with a thud, "I beg the Princess Consort's forgiveness."
She only asked for forgiveness, saying nothing more. Gossiping wasn't a major offense, and Wang Qingyao couldn't possibly punish her for it.
"Enough, enough," Dowager Fang said displeasedly, "Yun Zhu is not a prisoner. Why are you interrogating her like this?"
Wang Qingyao looked at Dowager Fang in surprise and said with innocent candor, "I am interrogating her like a prisoner because I suspect she drugged Yin Zhu."
Yun Zhu's face changed, and she involuntarily clenched her fingers.
She couldn't fathom why Wang Qingyao would suspect her.
Dowager Fang became furious, "Nonsense! How could Yun Zhu drug a maid in your courtyard? Don't try to frame someone else just because you can't find the culprit!"
The Old Dowager said leisurely, "Why are you in such a hurry? The Princess Consort is merely asking a few questions; she hasn't ordered anyone to strike her."
Dowager Fang's face instantly turned crimson. The Old Dowager was clearly chiding her for acting rashly and punishing her subordinates without understanding the situation.
But who could have known about such a poison? And Imperial Physician Lu himself had taken Yin Zhu's pulse.
Dowager Fang felt wronged.
Yun Zhu steadied her nerves and calmly asked, "Why would the Princess Consort suspect me? Yin Zhu and I have no enmity."
"Yes, I'm also very curious," Wang Qingyao said, staring into her eyes, "you clearly have no enmity."
Wang Qingyao's tone wasn't one of suspicion, but of certainty. She was certain Yun Zhu had administered the poison.
A layer of sweat broke out on Yun Zhu's palms. She felt she had overlooked something. The Princess Consort shouldn't harbor such strong hostility towards her.
Dowager Fang was about to reprimand her again, but the Old Dowager gave her a look, and she had to restrain herself.
Wang Qingyao continued, "I recall the Prince mentioning that Mother dislikes sweets, but why would Miss Yun Zhu come to Yin Zhu asking for sweets?"
"That's because..."
Dowager Fang suddenly paused. She remembered that she had lost her appetite and didn't want to eat anything.
It was Yun Zhu who repeatedly told her how delicious the desserts Wang Qingyao had sent to Xiao Mo were, suggesting that if she tasted them, she might fall in love with sweets from then on.
She had been persuaded by Yun Zhu, which was why she had asked Yin Zhu to fetch some pastries from Kangping Courtyard.