The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 505: Chapter 505: Old Ailment

Jiang Qingmei recoiled in horror, her retort a reflexive shriek. ”What nonsense are you spouting!?”

The crowd froze, stunned that Ye Chutang would say such a thing.

’Is she openly accusing Jiang Qingmei!?’

Yet Ye Chutang’s expression remained unchanged as she calmly scrutinized her. ”Do you truly not know what I’m talking about?”

Jiang Qingmei’s lips parted, but as she met those serene, cold black eyes, a sudden, inexplicable fear silenced her.

Flustered and furious, Jiang Qingmei burst out, ”I don’t know what you’re talking about! His Majesty is ill, and my only wish is for his swift recovery and well-being! Don’t think you can use your meager medical skills to slander me out of thin air!”

The scene fell into a dead silence.

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances.

It was Chen Songshi who finally broke the silence, his expression grave. ”Second Miss Ye, what... what exactly did you mean by that?”

As he spoke, it seemed as if everyone had stopped breathing.

Countless eyes fixed on Ye Chutang, awaiting her explanation.

Ye Chutang seemed oblivious to the pressure. She simply turned her head toward Chen Songshi and spoke calmly.

”His Majesty’s weakened constitution is not the result of a sudden illness. Someone has been tampering with his diet, damaging his heart and lungs over a great many years. That is what has led to his current state.”

”What!?”

Chen Songshi cried out in shock, scarcely able to believe his own ears.

The others present gasped in unison, and someone in the crowd demanded—

”Who would be so audacious!? Who would commit such an act of treason!?”

The speaker immediately fell silent after the outburst.

But everyone had heard, and no answer was needed. Subconsciously, all eyes turned in the same direction.

—Jiang Qingmei.

’Wasn’t Ye Chutang’s accusation aimed directly at her!?’

”You’re spouting lies!”

Jiang Qingmei’s face turned ashen, her chest heaving.

”I— When have I ever done such a thing! Ye Chutang! I know you despise Cheng Xuan, but to sling mud like this is simply too much!”

Ye Chutang ignored her, keeping her gaze fixed on Chen Songshi. ”The Chu Hospital Director is also aware of this matter. You may ask him.”

Chen Songshi immediately turned to Chu Qiyuan, who was standing nearby. ”Chu Hospital Director, is this... true?”

Chu Qiyuan was silent for a long moment before letting out a heavy sigh. ”It is my failure. I did not notice something was amiss in time, allowing His Majesty’s health to deteriorate until his illness finally erupted.”

Chen Songshi and the others were stunned—his words were an admission that everything Ye Chutang had said was true!

Chu Qiyuan’s expression was filled with guilt. ”If only I had realized something was wrong sooner, I would never have allowed His Majesty’s condition to worsen to this extent.”

He had only realized something was wrong after Ye Chutang brought it to his attention. Otherwise, who knew how long it would have taken him to discover the truth—if ever. Perhaps this secret would have remained buried forever.

He had been responsible for Emperor Muwu’s health for years. For such a major oversight to happen on his watch... he could not shirk the blame and was overcome with guilt.

Ye Chutang shook her head gently. ”The perpetrator acted in secret while you were in the open. How could you have defended against it? Moreover, they only made subtle, extremely covert adjustments to his diet. It would have been nearly impossible to detect.”

A taut string seemed to snap inside Jiang Qingmei’s mind, making her head throb with pain.

She laughed, her voice sharp with fury.

”Fine! Now that His Majesty is unconscious, you conspire to use this as an excuse to attack me? Ye Chutang! If you’re going to make such claims, then show me the proof!”

Ye Chutang did not respond.

But Chu Qiyuan sighed heavily. ”The only ones who knew of His Majesty’s old illness were the Eldest Princess... and you. Is that not so?”