Tianliangyuan

Chapter 457 It was she who wanted to harm Madam Jiang.

These words made Madam Song's face slightly embarrassed: "I dare not question the Princess, I just felt sorry for Jiang Ning seeing her like this. May I ask which maid you just mentioned? Has anyone been ordered to interrogate her?"

"The person is in Madam Jiang's courtyard. I have already sent people to check the food in the manor's kitchen and all the staff, and there are no problems. Most importantly, before this matter came to light, only Madam Jiang's two maids knew that she was pregnant. No one else knew, so how could they harm her?"

That's an interesting point.

No one knew she was pregnant, so how could anyone possibly want to cause her to miscarry?

Therefore, this is most likely just Jiang Ning's own imagination.

Song hadn't expected things to turn out this way, but since she had already inquired, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue dealing with it.

"Thank you, Your Highness. She is indeed not in good condition right now. Since Your Highness also has someone you suspect, why not ask them together? If there really is a traitor among Jiang Ning's people, then we certainly cannot let them off easily."

Zhao Yue nodded: "That's fine. But Jiang Ning is still recuperating, so it's not good to cause a big commotion in her courtyard. How about we go to the front to interrogate her? What does Second Madam Jiang think?"

"Everything is up to the Queen."

As soon as Prince Zhong returned to his residence, he heard about Jiang Ning's miscarriage. When he entered the front hall and saw that Jiang's second wife was also there, he knew that this matter might not be simple.

"Greetings to the prince."

"Quick, excuse me."

Since Lady Song was also an elder, the Prince of Zhong offered a token gesture of support before taking his seat in the main seat.

Soon, two maids who were with Jiang Ning were brought over for questioning. One of them really knew nothing, only that Jiang Ning's pregnancy had not yet arrived. She had reminded Jiang Ning, but Jiang Ning only said that she had consulted a doctor, so it was just a normal delay and not a sign of pregnancy.

Her statement was not criticized by the other person, so it must have been the truth.

Another maidservant had her head down in a panic, her fingers trembling, clearly knowing what was going on.

"What's your name? How long have you been serving Madam Jiang?" Zhao Yue asked first.

The little maid's forehead was pressed against the ground, and her voice trembled slightly.

"Your Highness, this servant is called Xiaolian. I have been serving Madam Jiang for over a year. I was part of Madam Jiang's dowry and initially only took care of sweeping and cleaning in the courtyard. It wasn't until over a year ago that I was promoted to serve Madam Jiang."

Therefore, this little girl is indeed a servant born into the Jiang family.

"Tell me, when did you find out that Madam Jiang was pregnant?"

"Your Highness, I found out last month. At that time, Madam Jiang was experiencing some vomiting, and since her pregnancy was not yet confirmed, I specially invited an old woman from outside to come in and take her pulse. It was then confirmed that she was pregnant."

"If you knew the pregnancy was due to a miscarriage, why didn't you report it?" This was the question asked by the Prince of Zhong.

It's one thing that he doesn't lack children, but it's quite another that he suddenly lost one without his knowledge.

"Your Highness, yes, it was Madam Jiang who said there was no rush, that we should rest first, and wait until the pregnancy is more stable before having a doctor come to diagnose it. Once that's confirmed, we'll report this good news to Your Highness."

Mrs. Song breathed a sigh of relief; this arrangement was not wrong.

Living in the inner quarters of the Prince's mansion, Jiang Ning did this simply to carefully protect the child in her womb, and because she was worried that the old woman might have misdiagnosed the child, that's why she made these arrangements.

Zhao Yue noticed that the maid was trembling more and more violently, clearly indicating that there was something she hadn't yet reported.

"Tell me, what else are you hiding?"

Unexpectedly, after asking this question, the little maid suddenly fell to the ground with a thud, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

Zhao Yue frowned. This was the Jiang family's adopted son?

How can you be so unruly and cowardly!

"Someone, lift her up and make her raise her head."

"Yes, princess."

The young maid was lifted up by two servants, who forcibly raised her chin. At that moment, everyone could see clearly that the young maid's face was pale, her lips were bloodless, and she was covered in sweat.

Without a doubt, he must have done something he felt guilty about.

"Speak! Was it you who poisoned Madam Jiang's unborn child?"

"I'm innocent! I dare not! Your Highness, I did nothing. Yes, this morning Concubine Feng came to pay her respects to Madam Jiang and even chatted with her for a while. She left just before Madam Jiang was in trouble."

Concubine Feng?

Madam Song frowned and looked at Zhao Yue, who was in the main seat: "I wonder who this concubine Feng is?"

Zhao Yue did not hide anything: "She was specially sent by my subordinates to serve the prince. She has no roots in the capital and has only been in the capital for a few months."

The Prince of Zhong, his face grim, ordered: "Someone, bring Concubine Feng here!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

A short while later, the old woman who had gone to fetch her returned alone and whispered, "When I went to fetch Concubine Feng, I found that she was not feeling well at all, and she looked very ill. But I dared not disobey His Highness's orders, so I have already ordered someone to bring her here."

After a few breaths passed, there was no further movement.

Concubine Feng was carried over on a sedan chair, helped down by several maids, and then went into the room to talk.

Concubine Feng looked unwell; already thin, she now appeared even more pitiful.

"Help Madam Feng sit down."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Concubine Feng's once beautiful cherry-like lips now looked pitiful.

Zhao Yue couldn't stand such seductive tactics, and said impatiently, "Madam Feng, let me ask you, why did you go to see Madam Jiang today?"

Concubine Feng was panting heavily at this time, so the Prince of Zhong ordered someone to bring over the prepared hot soup. After she drank a few sips, she finally felt better.

"Your Highness, I dare not lie. Yesterday, Madam Jiang sent someone to see me, saying she wanted to learn some pipa playing techniques from me, so I brought my pipa with me today. I didn't stay long. After leaving, I noticed that one of the earrings the prince had given me was missing, so I went back to get it. Unexpectedly, I overheard the two of them talking. I was so shocked that I almost fainted, and I was helped back by the old nanny."

Concubine Feng was aware of her lowly status, so she was always cautious and even referred to herself as a slave.

With a single glance from Zhao Yue, the maid who had accompanied Madam Feng to Madam Jiang's courtyard that morning was quickly summoned as well.

The maid was quite robust, which explains why she was able to help the emaciated Feng Shi back home.

"Reporting to Your Highness and Your Highness, I was a little far away at the time and didn't hear clearly what the people inside were saying, but I could clearly tell it was Madam Jiang's voice. Later, I saw that Concubine Feng's face was not right and she was swaying slightly, so I went over and helped her up."

In other words, only Madam Feng heard what the mistress and servant were saying?

Before Zhao Yue could even ask a question, Xiao Lian suddenly shouted, "You're talking nonsense! You didn't lose any earrings at all, so how could you possibly hear the mistress speaking? You're the one who harmed our Lady Jiang!"