After confirming that Bao Ge'er was poisoned, Su Xiaoqi also checked the pulse of the Grand Princess, who had been in contact with the sandalwood for a long time.
She was naturally also poisoned, although it was not very obvious. Su Xiaoqi immediately gave her a packet of detoxification medicine to have the servants boil and drink.
They also discussed the origin of the sandalwood and other issues, and she didn't leave until the afternoon.
During this time, apart from Madam Xu, the Grand Princess did not keep any other servants around.
Therefore, no one in the Grand Princess's mansion knew what they had discussed in the main hall.
So, after Su Xiaoqi left, someone approached Madam Xu.
First, they presented a box of tiramisu cake from Chen Jin Ji, the most popular pastry shop in the capital recently.
Then, pouring a cup of milk tea, the two sat on a round stool by the bed and talked.
"It's still you, Sister Xu, who is so well-regarded. After all these years, so many of us followed Her Highness the Grand Princess out of the palace to be here.
You are still the person Her Highness trusts the most." A thin, middle-aged nanny smiled flatteringly at Madam Xu.
"Nanny Fang, you jest. We maids are all servants to our masters. What's the point of our being well-regarded?
Only when our masters are well-regarded is it true prosperity." Madam Xu smiled meaningfully.
"Ah, hehe, yes, yes, yes, Sister Xu is right.
It's just that I'm clumsy with my words and don't please our master, so I'm afraid I won't be able to share in our master's prosperity." Nanny Fang looked sorrowful.
Madam Xu's expression shifted. She was aware of Nanny Fang's situation.
When she was in the palace, because she didn't know how to behave and her work was ordinary, the Grand Princess didn't favor her much.
The Grand Princess was unwilling to entrust many matters to her.
When she left the palace, the Grand Princess almost didn't want to take her along.
After all, although she was not married, but the驸马 (consort) married the princess, she still had to leave the palace to establish her own residence.
Naturally, she wanted to bring capable personnel with her. Someone like Fang Lan, who was slow-witted and inefficient, was naturally someone she didn't want to take.
But at that time, she had tearfully pleaded with the Grand Princess.
She said that out of their more than ten years of master-servant relationship, she asked to be allowed to follow.
The Grand Princess, being kind-hearted and valuing loyalty, seeing her cry so profusely, finally agreed to let her follow.
In any case, the Grand Princess's mansion was very large, and she could be placed anywhere at will.
It was just one more mouth to feed.
Back then, it was Madam Xu who arranged for Fang Lan's placement. Considering she didn't have many skills and was slow in her work, she arranged for her to work in gardening.
After studying with a gardening master for a year, she had learned some ways. She spent her days tending to the flowers and plants in the Crimson Pearl Courtyard where the Grand Princess resided. She didn't have any achievements, but no mistakes could be pointed out either.
Of course, this sentence would probably end here today.
Because as Madam Shen was leaving, she had told the Grand Princess.
After she left, anyone who came forward to inquire about information would be someone who could not be kept.
Madam Xu could never have imagined that this person would be Fang Lan.
This was an unexpectedly surprising answer, and she almost didn't want to face it.
But this matter concerned the safety of Bao Ge'er and the Grand Princess, whom she cared about most, so she couldn't afford to be negligent in the slightest.
"Who says that? Back then, Her Highness brought us out of the palace and even arranged marriages for us. Now, we are better off than those old folks still remaining in the palace.
At least we have families, and when we return, it's not to an empty lamp and a lonely shadow."
"That's you, Sister Xu. Your husband is the head steward of the front courtyard, managing many affairs.
Your son is also accomplished, taking over the management of the estates outside as a farm manager. Look at me..."
Nanny Fang complained with a bitter face.
Madam Xu's expression turned serious, and she said with a cold face, "Back then, Her Highness wanted to match you with the son of Madam Lu, the nanny who accompanied you.
You refused and set your sights on a young servant from the consort's side. Who knew he wouldn't amount to anything, and your feelings were in vain."
Madam Xu's words stunned Nanny Fang for quite some time.
All along, she had felt that the Grand Princess was not as close to her as she was to Madam Xu.
Even the people chosen for their marriages were different.
But now she finally understood that the useless man she had married was someone she had chosen herself.
She blamed herself for being blinded by manure back then, only seeing how handsome that servant was. In reality, he was just a pretty boy with no skills at all.
He made mistakes in every task he undertook. Later, he was simply discarded. Now that he was older, he couldn't even secure a suitable job.
The entire family, young and old, relied on her busy work in the garden.
Looking at the person the Grand Princess had wanted to match her with back then, he was now managing an estate.
Before the New Year, when he came to reconcile accounts, he wore a thick silk padded jacket, with a sheep wool coat over it. He looked so prosperous.
After all these years, she hadn't not regretted it, but the path was chosen by herself, and there was no medicine for regret. Even if the road ahead was dark, she could only grit her teeth and walk on.
However, no one had ever enlightened her about these matters before, so she pretended to be ignorant and wanted to forget them.
The memory was simply painful and unbearable.
Thinking of it caused pain each time, making her feel so miserable.
"Sister Lan, whether you listen or not, I will advise you once today:
This is the Grand Princess's mansion, and our master is Her Highness the Grand Princess. Don't let others fool your ears or blind your eyes to the point where you can't even distinguish whose servant you are."
Madam Xu's last sentence was said with heartfelt sincerity.
Whether Nanny Fang listened or not, she had done her best.
Life is lived by oneself, and the path is walked by oneself!
After Madam Xu left the garden, she immediately returned to the Grand Princess to report.
Hearing that it was Fang Lan, the Grand Princess was not surprised. She simply reviewed with Madam Xu who Fang Lan had married, and then sent someone to inquire about her current situation.
The more the Grand Princess heard, the more she felt she was problematic. She immediately became angry and cursed, "Ungrateful, two-faced dog!"
"Your Highness, please calm your anger." Madam Xu also felt a slight unease in her heart.
After all, Fang Lan had come out of the palace with her. Although their bond was not deep, they had worked together for so many years. Even a block of wood would have developed some feelings.
But unexpectedly, the other party had long harbored ill intentions.
"Keep an eye on her. As Xiao Qi said, no matter what she does, as long as it doesn't endanger her life, don't stop her," the Grand Princess instructed feebly, leaning back in her armchair, feeling weary.
Madam Xu knew that the situation was beyond recovery. She quietly acknowledged and withdrew.
The Grand Princess narrowed her eyes and looked out the window.
Outside, the sun shone brightly, but here, it was cold and bleak.
She was waiting for those with restless hearts to come.
However, after waiting for a long time, no one came. Instead, Hui'an arrived.
Her complexion was not good, and her eyes were red, clearly having cried.
The Grand Princess anxiously asked her what had happened.
Princess Hui'an was upset because someone around her had asked her about today's events, and she felt betrayed.
The Grand Princess felt a surge of annoyance. Was it worth being upset over such a small matter?
She was about to reprimand her, but then she remembered what Su Xiaoqi had told her.
Hui'an had only just opened her heart, and she must not frighten her.
The Grand Princess suppressed herself and tried to make her voice as gentle as possible:
"It's nothing. I will handle this. You go back and rest."
Princess Hui'an nodded and left. As she walked out of the main hall, she realized that her mother had not scolded her for being cowardly today, nor had she called her fragile and unworthy of being a princess.
Her heart settled. Her mother's change in attitude suddenly gave her the courage to deal with these trivial matters.
Sister Xiao Qi was right. She was a princess, and her mother was the Grand Princess. There was nothing for her to fear!