CH 84.2

In the study of Zhaohui Hall, Jin Wang sat behind the bookcase, with Doctor Liu and Fucheng in front of him.

“You speak first.”

When Yaoniang fainted and was diagnosed as pregnant, the investigation of Side Consort Hu’s death was interrupted. Jin Wang then took Yaoniang back to Rongxi Courtyard, only leaving behind the words for the consort and the others to leave.

Since Jin Wang had sent Doctor Liu over, it showed how determined he was to investigate everything. Once Jin Wang’s people acted, nothing could be hidden. This also meant that Side Consort Xu could not continue to harp on this matter.

“According to my investigation, Side Consort Hu should have ingested a poison that contained Tripterygium wilfordii. Tripterygium wilfordii can lie dormant for over two hours, and the early symptoms as the poison sets in aren’t very obvious. Once the poison fully sets in, the victim would collapse. But since the drug also contained other ingredients, it isn’t easy to determine what exactly she was poisoned by. Also, according to those maids, there were no special marks on Side Consort Hu, so the suspicion of forcible poisoning is ruled out.”

“More than two hours ago, where was she?” This was for Fucheng to answer.

Fucheng said, “It should be Lady Su…” Seeing Jin Wang’s eyes narrow, he hurriedly changed his statement. “It should be when Side Consort Hu went to Siyi Courtyard.”

“But this time is estimated based on the amount consumed so it may not be completely accurate,” added Doctor Liu.

Jin Wang looked at Fucheng again, and Fucheng continued, “This old servant had ordered people to keep an eye on Side Consort Hu. Before she was poisoned, she didn’t have any contact with outsiders, nor did she do anything unusual. She even beat and scolded a few maids today. She also cursed the consort and Lady Su a few times. There was really no sign of wanting to commit suicide by taking poison.” The

Fucheng hesitated at the last two sentences but it was precisely this behaviour that showed Side Consort Hu was no different from the past. 

In terms of character, Side Consort Hu was indeed not a person who would consider committing suicide. This was why Jin Wang ordered them to investigate.

Somehow, a side consort died in the manor, and it was a side consort who was recorded in the genealogy of the imperial family. This was an insult and provocation to Jin Wang.

“Where did this poison come from?” This poison wasn’t something Side Consort Hu could get on her own..

“This—” Fucheng lowered his head.

Jin Wang sneered, and said after a moment, “Order people to keep an eye on Xu Yanru.”

“Yes.”

At the same time, the atmosphere in the Siyi Courtyard was stagnant.

A side consort had died out of nowhere. And this Side Consort Hu just had to come to Siyi Courtyard before her death. This resulted in Consort Jin having the hat of ‘suspected for killing concubines by poison’ placed on her head.

Jin Wang didn’t say anything. But it was because he didn’t say anything that Consort Jin knew he was suspicious of her.

His suspicion was naturally not unreasonable. Consort Jin knew this too.

Speaking of this, this was also linked to that secret matter many years ago. Consort Jin never wished to reveal this matter to anyone. It was because of this matter that Jin Wang disdained her, disliked her and was suspicious of her.

Little did he know that she hadn’t contacted that person for many years. His suspicion made her feel bitter, but she couldn’t explain herself.

Mommy Zhou persuaded her from the side, “Your Highness, don’t overthink it. If you didn’t do it then you didn’t do it. His Highness won’t believe the words of that cheap hussy.” 

Mommy Zhou became angry just thinking about this.

She felt that her miss and madam would never be able to get rid of the curse called Yulan. Madam had suffered under Yulan her entire life. Now it was the miss’s turn to suffer from that bitch’s daughter.

“This servant thinks that if you were to poison someone, the first person you would poison is Xu Yueru. She can’t wait to pull you down and sit in the position of the consort, but she doesn’t even take a look at herself to see if she’s qualified! This servant doesn’t mean to complain but Duke Xuguo is really too ruthless. Sending that little bitch here isn’t that piercing your heart…”

Consort Jin smiled bitterly in her heart.

Ruthless was right. Her father had always been cruel. He was cruel to her mother for a lifetime. Only because she was his only di daughter, did he take her seriously. This was why she could marry Jin Wang and sit in the position of Consort Jin.

But all this was not based on the father’s love for his daughter. It was all based on profit and returns. Seeing that she couldn’t give birth to the eldest son of Jin Wang Mansion, he sent another daughter over. He feared that Jin Wang Mansion would fall into the hands of others.

Without the support of her father, Xu Yueru would never dare to do this. Consort Jin also understood that she must not make any mistakes. Once something went wrong, Xu Yueru would take advantage of the situation to make a big fuss, then the position of Consort Jin would change.

Since they were both the daughters of the Xu family, her father would not care and His Highness also would not care.

Consort Jin couldn’t help thinking of that woman from the Su family. If Side Consort Hu had gone to Rongxi Courtyard and died of poisoning once she returned, His Highness would definitely react differently.

Inexplicably, she felt a hint of jealousy.

Mommy Zhou was still talking, “…That Su woman is really lucky. She actually became pregnant. If this child is a male——” She paused, and said hurriedly, “If the child is a male, Your Highness must bring him over to raise.”

Consort Jin felt an incoming headache. This nanny of hers was getting on in age and becoming more and more muddleheaded. Was this the right time to care about this now? She winked at Zi Han. Someone immediately came in to direct Mommy Zhou’s attention elsewhere and led her out.

After Mommy Zhou left, the room fell into utter silence.

Consort Jin sat there alone, thinking in silence. Suddenly she seemed to have thought of something and her voice tightened, “Go and call Zi Yu.”

Zi Han froze then retreated to call Zi Yu over.

Everyone in the manor knew that there were four maids around the consort, surnamed Zi.

But this wasn’t true. There were actually five maids surnamed Zi.

The fifth one was called Zi Yu.

Zi Yu was in charge of Consort Jin’s private library, and being able to sit in this position showed that this person was trusted by Consort Jin. But this person rarely showed her face in front of others.

Zi Yu came in, respectfully saluted Consort Jin, then stood to the side.

Consort Jin ordered everyone to leave, including Zi Yan and Zi Han.

As Zi Yan retreated, she glanced at the consort and a flash of worry appeared in her eyes.

Consort Jin looked at the person in front of her. Suddenly, a lot of things flashed in her eyes: loss, memories, melancholy…

For a long time, everything was silent.

Then Consort Jin asked, “Did today’s matter have something to do with you?”