"You think she harmed you for the sake of the prince?" Meng Yulan asked. "But she should know better than anyone how important you are to the prince."
"But what if either I or the prince have to die?"
"What?"
"I'm just guessing," Tang Zhuyun said.
Thinking of the Prince of Jin, she seemed to suddenly gain some clarity.
There is no doubt that Nanny Rong was kind to Prince of Jin; if she didn't love Prince of Jin, or even wanted to harm him, she would have had far too many opportunities.
She also knew that she and the Prince of Jin had a very close relationship, so she was happy to see it happen and had done her best to help them.
Now that they've suddenly turned on each other, dragging her down with them even in the face of death, the only thing Tang Zhuyun can think of is that the person she cares about— Prince of Jin— has been threatened.
Perhaps Nanny Rong had no choice but to do this; it was urgent.
Or perhaps, she didn't intend to harm herself, which is why her methods seemed clumsy.
Tang Zhuyun lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes concealing the complex emotions within them.
"Sister-in-law, I shouldn't have assumed goodwill towards someone who wants to harm me. But I really can't think of any other reason."
"What you said isn't impossible," Meng Yulan said. "Not to mention you, I didn't even notice Nanny Rong's problem."
"Let's not talk about that anymore." Tang Zhuyun slowly stood up. "Nanny Rong is determined. Now that she's made her decision, even if I bring her back, she probably won't tell the truth."
"Have you made any plans?"
Tang Zhuyun looked up and saw a Mingyue hanging high in the vast night sky, with the Milky Way sparkling.
"Yes. I need to talk to Nanny Rong."
"I'll go with you; maybe I can help you." Meng Yulan's face couldn't hide her worry.
"No need," Tang Zhuyun said. "Sister-in-law, please have some people keep an eye on things and make sure there are no outsiders around this courtyard. Also, any news about Nanny Rong must not get out."
"Okay." Meng Yulan didn't waste any time and agreed directly.
Tang Zhuyun didn't understand the underhanded tactics used within the mansion, but there was no doubt that she was extremely intelligent.
Once she understands the evil in human nature and adapts to her environment, she can do just as well as anyone else.
She improves with experience, and her growth rate is astonishing.
For example, in today's incident, Meng Yulan could clearly feel Tang Zhuyun's growth.
When Tang Zhuyun entered the room, Xiu'er had already tidied up quickly and efficiently.
"Your Highness, I'll stay here and watch over you," she said, glancing worriedly at Tang Zhuyun, whose face was somewhat pale. "You should go back and rest. I'll have someone call you when Nanny Rong wakes up."
"No need." Tang Zhuyun sat down on the couch, grabbed two pillows to support her lower back, and closed her eyes, pretending to doze off. "I'll just wait here for her to wake up."
The amount of anesthetic she used was not large; Nanny Rong should wake up in an hour or two.
Although Tang Zhuyun was very tired, a fire was burning fiercely in her heart, burning away her sleepiness.
Nanny Rong woke up just as dawn was breaking.
The first rays of dawn shone through the window paper onto the windowsill, and the melodious chirping of birds heralded the start of the day.
Tang Zhuyun's eyes were bloodshot, but her gaze was incredibly sharp.
She asked calmly, "How are you feeling now, Granny?"
Nanny Rong tried to get up, but felt an unbearable pain in her lower abdomen, so intense that she broke out in a cold sweat and dared not move.
"Retrieving the gold wasn't easy," Tang Zhuyun said. "Granny needs to rest and recuperate for a while. Just don't misunderstand, it has nothing to do with the lingzhi mushroom."
Nanny Rong bit her lip tightly, and tears seemed to glisten in her eyes.
"Does Granny have anything to say to me?" Tang Zhuyun asked calmly, gesturing for Xiu'er Nanxing to leave.
Nanny Rong remained silent.
"Nanxing has checked this house, even the mouse holes, and there's no one there," Tang Zhuyun said slowly. "Now everyone has retreated outside the courtyard. So as long as we don't speak, no one else will know about our conversation."
Nanny Rong said, "This old servant has nothing to say."
Seeing her refusal to comment, Tang Zhuyun wasn't angry. "What is your purpose? To make the Prince ignore me?"
"Your Highness," Nanny Rong finally spoke, "You don't need to ask anymore. You poisoned me with the poisonous Ganoderma lucidum, that's all."
"Swallowing gold?"
"This old servant has no such thing. Everything is only Your Highness's side of the story."
So, you wanted to play tricks on her?
"Alright, I'll grant your wish, Granny," Tang Zhuyun said with a half-smile.
Nanny Rong thought she was going to grant her wish to die, and her eyes showed reluctance, but even more so, relief.
Death brings liberation.
She had wronged the prince and the princess, but she had nowhere to run.
If her death could evoke a little pity in some people, or allow the prince and empress to find some clues, then perhaps it wouldn't be entirely meaningless.
"Does the old woman want to die?"
"Yes."
"Alright, then so be it," Tang Zhuyun said. "You'll see what happens after you die, and whether it will turn out the way you imagine."
After she died?
How could she see what happened after she died?
"The old woman was humiliated by me, argued with me, and then ate the poisonous Ganoderma lucidum that I sent through Yanran," Tang Zhuyun said, "And then died. Was this the plot you had planned?"
Nanny Rong remained silent.
"I'll grant your wish. Let's try going down the path you envision."
"Your Highness, what do you intend to do?" Nanny Rong suddenly asked nervously.
"I want you to fake your death," Tang Zhuyun said. "I'll give you several kinds of medicine. The first will make you completely weak, so weak you won't even have the strength to open your eyes; the second will cause you to hold your breath briefly, enough to make the prince believe you're dead."
Then, let Nanny Rong listen carefully to what will happen!
Nanny Rong was extremely stubborn. If she believed something was right, no one could get her to talk, let alone find any clues.
Therefore, Tang Zhuyun decided to take a roundabout approach.
"Xiu'er, send someone to deliver a message to the Prince, saying that Nanny Rong has passed away."
"Your Majesty!" Nanny Rong cried out anxiously.
"Shh—Granny is dead now. How can a dead person speak?" Tang Zhuyun smiled. "Granny, I'm doing you a favor, there's no need to be so agitated."
A quarter of an hour later, everyone in the household knew that Nanny Rong was gone.
Although Nanny Rong was also a servant, she was of great significance to the prince, so everyone was very nervous.
--What will happen when the prince returns? Will he help Nanny Rong seek revenge, or will he listen to the princess's words?
Regardless of which choice is made, will the prince take his anger out on his servants?
Tang Zhuyun led her people away from Nanny Rong's courtyard, leaving them to guard the place.
"Mother," Linlin didn't go to Great Confucian Scholar Kong's side, but secretly asked Tang Zhuyun when no one was around, "Are you really not going to tell Father about this?"
How could I not tell?
However, to turn the tables, one must reveal their most genuine reaction to avoid giving themselves away.
So let's wait for the Prince of Jin to return, see his reaction, and then find an opportunity to talk things out privately.