Chapter 220

Chapter 220: Was It Truly Unintentional?

On the soft bed, Hui’er slowly opened her eyes.

Her confused gaze fell upon Noble Lady Fu’s face. “Royal Mother…”

“Yes, your Royal Mother is here! Right here!” Noble Lady Fu laughed and wept simultaneously.

“Imperial Sister Qing Ning?” Hui’er’s eyes brightened as she tried to raise her hand, but immediately cried out in pain.

Noble Lady Fu anxiously turned to Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan frowned deeply. “Hui’er, do you remember what happened earlier?”

The Empress’s heart tightened upon hearing this.

Hui’er gazed pitifully at Noble Lady Fu. “Royal Mother locked me in the room and didn’t let me go outside to play.”

“And then?”

“Then Hui’er fell asleep,” the little princess blinked innocently.

The Empress was startled.

Noble Lady Fu, too, stared in disbelief. “Hui’er, don’t you remember sneaking out?”

“How does Royal Mother know Hui’er wanted to sneak out? Hui’er wanted to feed Dummy Fish, but Hui’er fell asleep, so Hui’er doesn’t know if Dummy Fish had any cake.” Hui’er pouted, tears welling up again.

Sheng Zhi Wan said gently, “Perhaps she hit her head and lost that memory.”

“Will it affect her in other ways?” Noble Lady Fu asked nervously.

“I don’t know yet.”

The Empress carefully examined Hui’er’s innocent expression, slowly calming her worries.

Indeed, how could a four or five-year-old princess have such a deep scheme?

Could it truly be that she’d forgotten?

“Imperial Physician Xu, examine the Fourth Princess again,” Sheng Zhi Wan stepped aside voluntarily.

Imperial Physician Xu hesitated, knowing his earlier prescription had nearly cost the princess her life.

The Empress frowned, “Just go. See if this memory loss is temporary or permanent, and whether it might cause other problems.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Imperial Physician Xu finally approached, examining Hui’er carefully before wiping his brow in relief. “The Fourth Princess indeed suffers memory loss. Whether it’s temporary or permanent, I can’t yet say. Fortunately, it seems to affect only that incident; everything else is fine.”

Noble Lady Fu exhaled in relief.

However, the Empress’s expression remained somewhat displeased. As long as Hui’er might still remember, it posed a threat to Ming Jia.

But then again, children were forgetful. Even if she remembered, she might forget who placed her on the rockery. Besides, Hui’er survived and seemed lively enough.

Moreover, this incident had conveniently placed Ming Jia under her control.

Thinking this, the Empress’s gaze toward Hui’er became unexpectedly gentle.

She ordered her personal palace maids to fetch valuable medicinal tonics from Serene Benevolence Palace. Noble Lady Fu, overjoyed yet startled, repeatedly thanked the Empress, quickly accepting the explanation that the previous poisonous bowl was merely due to a medicine boy’s mistake.

Or perhaps she sensed the strangeness but dared not question further. As a lowly sixth-rank noble lady with no backing or affection, what power did she have to investigate?

All she wanted was to survive.

Sheng Zhi Wan said nothing more. Only after the Empress had left did she have the wooden bird brought to Hui’er’s bedside.

As expected, Hui’er smiled brightly.

Noble Lady Fu, filled with regained joy, wished she could guard Hui’er every moment.

However, Sheng Zhi Wan asked her to bring the pages she’d copied from the “Inner Teachings.” Noble Lady Fu paled, hesitated, then dismissed all servants before reluctantly presenting the few sheets she’d written.

“Princess…” Noble Lady Fu began speaking softly.

At that moment, Sheng Zhi Wan gently tapped the back of Hui’er’s neck. The girl slowly collapsed onto the bed, asleep.

Noble Lady Fu stared in shock.

Sheng Zhi Wan swiftly inserted a silver needle into Hui’er’s head. Moments later, as she pulled it out, Noble Lady Fu’s eyes widened.

In her sleep, Hui’er murmured anxiously, “Royal Mother! Royal Mother… Hui’er is so scared!”

Noble Lady Fu, bewildered, clasped her daughter’s hand tightly.

Taking a deep breath, Sheng Zhi Wan asked firmly, “Tell me exactly what happened today.”

When Noble Lady Fu finished recounting, Hui’er finally awoke, eyes brimming with tears and lingering fear.

“Hui’er, tell Imperial Sister Qing Ning, how did you end up on the rockery? What happened there?”

Sheng Zhi Wan spoke softly, guiding the frightened princess to piece together fragmented memories.

“Hui’er sneaked out to feed the fish and overheard two people talking. One bad woman said nasty things about Imperial Sister. Hui’er didn’t recognize her but got angry and argued with her. Then the bad woman put Hui’er on the rockery, correct?”

“Yes!” Hui’er sobbed, “Hui’er got scared, tried climbing down, and fell.”

“It’s okay now, Hui’er,” Sheng Zhi Wan gently pinched her cheek, “In the future, always bring your attendants when you go out, alright?”

“Alright.”

“Also, about the bad person who put you on the rockery—if anyone asks, you mustn’t tell them, understand?”

“Why?”

“Because it was just a nightmare. Hui’er has been sleeping here the whole time and never sneaked out.”

“It was a dream?” Hui’er’s eyes widened, her fear diminishing.

Sheng Zhi Wan continued soothing her before finally stepping outside.

Noble Lady Fu hurried after her. “Princess Qing Ning, who was it? Who’s so ruthless to hurt Hui’er over a few words?”

Sheng Zhi Wan already had suspicions.

To confirm it, she needed only to discover who entered the palace today.

Sheng Zhi Wan then visited Merciful Wisdom Palace, accompanying the Empress Dowager for lunch. Soon, Nanny Xiu brought news: Commandery Princess Ming Jia and Duke Qi’s Second Young Lady Qi Fei Rui had visited the Empress and Noble Consort Qi.

So, Ming Jia likely placed Hui’er on the rockery.

But who tampered with the medicine? The Empress or Noble Consort Qi?

Recalling the scene at Lotus Elegance Palace earlier, Noble Consort Qi had seemed as aloof as always—concerned, yes, but not overly anxious.

As for the Empress…

“Nanny Xiu, where was Ming Jia when news of the Fourth Princess’s accident spread?”

“She should have been with the Empress. She only went to Noble Consort Qi’s later.”

Sheng Zhi Wan nodded slowly.

The Empress Dowager, who had just learned of Hui’er’s accident, asked carefully, “You suspect Ming Jia harmed Hui’er? Ming Jia’s always been impulsive. She probably didn’t mean real harm—just a small lesson.”

“Grandmother, rest assured. I understand.” Sheng Zhi Wan smiled, hiding the coldness in her eyes.

Was it truly unintentional?

Hui’er had nearly lost her life because of Ming Jia’s petty revenge. If Sheng Zhi Wan had arrived even a moment later…

She shuddered at the thought.

She understood her grandmother wished to smooth things over, avoiding conflict with Prince Huai’s residence.

But how could Sheng Zhi Wan ignore the fact that Hui’er had been hurt because of her?

The Empress believed she could leverage this to ally herself with Ming Jia and Prince Huai’s family. Yet she was unaware that Prince Huai’s residence had already decided Ming Jia would marry the Third Prince.

As for the Eldest Prince, a short-tempered yet cowardly Crown Prince in name only—the Empress’s hope of marrying Ming Jia to him through this incident was impossible.

Unless…

Sheng Zhi Wan’s lips curled into a faint smile, yet her eyes were filled with ice.