Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 681 - 683: Closing In (Part 2)

Xiqiu finally felt a bit comfortable, took a breath, and said: "It’s been over three months, why did the morning sickness suddenly start again?"

"Some people do experience this." Nanny Rong took a handkerchief and helped Xiqiu wipe the corner of her mouth: "But it’s not common, even less so in a lady of your stature." Xiqiu listened and furrowed her brows, deep in thought.

Nanny Rong noticed Fourth Master Xiao’s garments were stained; he clung to Xiqiu without concern. She asked, "Fourth Master, shall I serve you to change clothes?" Seeing Fourth Master Xiao wave her off, Nanny Rong added, "Fourth Master’s clothing has a smell that might make the lady nauseous again."

Upon hearing this, Fourth Master Xiao stood up and said to Xiqiu, "I’ll go change." Xiqiu agreed, and Fourth Master Xiao strode out.

"Just now it smelled fragrant, now it feels unpleasant; better take it away." Xiqiu whispered. Nanny Cen sighed and agreed, taking the small table out. Fourth Master Xiao had already changed into a deep blue robe and came back in, sitting at the bedside. Xiqiu leaned against him and asked, "Fourth Master!" She recounted everything that happened in the Empress Dowager’s palace to Fourth Master Xiao: "I’ve never smelled such incense before, I don’t know what it is, could it be that incense causing it?"

Fourth Master Xiao replied solemnly, "I’ve already sent someone to investigate." After a pause, he asked, "When will Nurse Zhang return?"

With her around, he could feel more at ease.

Xiqiu replied, "She wrote a letter saying she would return for the New Year, but with this constant heavy snow, I don’t know if it will delay her journey."

Fourth Master Xiao pondered for a moment, looked at her, and asked, "Do you feel any other discomfort?" Xiqiu shook her head and replied, "Nothing else bothers me."

She was still recollecting the events in the palace, apart from the incense, nothing seemed wrong.

After a bout of nausea, without eating, she leaned into Fourth Master Xiao’s shoulder and fell asleep again. Fourth Master Xiao laid her down carefully and didn’t dare leave the room. He called Tiancheng and asked, "Any news?"

"Someone sent a letter out from the palace just now." Saying this, he pulled a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Fourth Master Xiao, who unfolded it and frowned, Tiancheng asked cautiously, "Fourth Master, is there an issue with the incense?"

Fourth Master Xiao handed him the letter and frowned, saying in a low voice, "The incense is a tribute, commonly used in the palace, but it contains a portion of musk..." Tiancheng read the contents and listened to Fourth Master Xiao, still puzzled, and asked, "Will these things affect the lady?"

Fourth Master Xiao did not reply. The impact of musk on pregnant women was obvious. Furthermore, someone had mixed Guiwei into the tea Xiqiu drank; although he wasn’t familiar with Guiwei’s properties, the letter clearly stated it was a common malign substance used by palace nobles...

Tiancheng saw Fourth Master Xiao’s worried expression and glanced back at the room with concern. Fourth Master Xiao pondered briefly and instructed, "Do not inform the lady of this matter." After a pause, he continued, "Today, take someone to Shandong and bring Nurse Zhang back!"

"Yes!" Tiancheng responded promptly and left the courtyard.

Fourth Master Xiao returned to the room. Someone outside reported, "The Grand Dowager and First Madam from the Marquis Mansion have arrived!" As he spoke, the Grand Dowager, held by the First Madam, hurried into the courtyard, Chunliu, and Nanny Cen greeted them with curtsies. The Grand Dowager asked urgently, "How is Xiqiu, how is she doing?"

"The lady vomited twice, and now she’s asleep. The doctor has seen her and said it is normal morning sickness, nothing serious." Nanny Cen replied.

Upon hearing this, the Grand Dowager tightly furrowed her brows and, with a stern face, asked, "How come she’s having such reactions in the fourth month?" Speaking of this, they had already ascended the stairs. Seeing Fourth Master Xiao standing coldly at the door with a grave expression, the Grand Dowager said, "Old Fourth, you’re at home. How is Xiqiu?"

The First Madam and Fourth Master Xiao exchanged greetings.

Fourth Master Xiao stepped aside to let the Grand Dowager into the room, and replied in a low voice, "She’s terribly nauseous, just fell asleep!" Hearing this, the Grand Dowager walked lightly to the bedside, seeing Xiqiu nestled in red satin bedding, her face pale yet sleeping soundly, finally letting out a sigh of relief. She gestured to Fourth Master Xiao and the First Madam, and the three of them retreated to the Warm Pavilion to talk cautiously.

The Grand Dowager asked, "Have you found out what’s going on?" Such a reaction would be normal in one or two months, but having such a reaction now makes one think deeply.

Fourth Master Xiao relayed the contents of the letter to the Grand Dowager and the First Madam; the Grand Dowager listened, her face darkened without speaking, and the First Madam whispered, "Did the fourth sister-in-law drink the tea?"

"No!" Fourth Master Xiao shook his head and added, "She opened the window and poured the tea into the flowerpot."

The First Madam nodded, saying, "The fourth sister-in-law is clever." She then looked at Fourth Master Xiao: "Matters concerning women in the palace are beyond your precaution; the means are unpredictable. Moreover, who would have thought the Empress Dowager would act so overtly? If you hadn’t acted to prevent the Empress Dowager from seeing the fourth sister-in-law, the result could have been beyond imagination."

Such was Xiqiu’s reaction to the incense.

Fourth Master Xiao remained silent.

The Grand Dowager sighed longingly, "...Before the Crown Prince was born, the late Emperor was merely a prince with a title; even with several concubines pregnant, none could deliver safely. Only after the Crown Prince grew up did other princes gradually get born. If the Empress Dowager didn’t have the means, how could she have secured such a situation?" She paused, "Even the Empress is not as capable as the Empress Dowager; a noble concubine and a Beauty in the palace recently had a prince and a princess respectively," the Grand Dowager continued, "This time Xiqiu is unharmed, let’s take this as a lesson. Next time, even if it means defying orders, we cannot let her enter the palace."

It was the first time Fourth Master Xiao voiced his doubts: "... In the side hall, except for the tea she drank after entering, I had already checked everything before." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

This means he had anticipated this, had someone secretly check and confirm nothing was wrong, so why was musk found later?

The Grand Dowager was unconcerned, "A woman’s mind and skills, how can you fathom them!" She sighed, "If it doesn’t work, let her go to her parents’ home for a while; there are more women there with meticulous thoughts!"

Fourth Master Xiao thought of First Madam Tong but said nothing.

"The New Year is near, I’ve discussed with Xiqiu, how about you and Sister-in-law come here for the New Year, the courtyard is already prepared for you," Fourth Master Xiao said flatly.

The Grand Dowager furrowed her brows and glanced at the First Madam before waving her hand, saying, "There are so many people at home, if we come, who will take care of them? We’d better stay there." She paused, "Xiqiu’s health is inconvenient, you don’t have to come over either; after the New Year, we will visit you. If Xiqiu feels bored, have Xing stay over for a few days and keep Min company."