Chapter 84

Chapter 84: A Perfect Plan Baitao wanted to live—desperately. She had been cautious the entire way, afraid someone might see her. But the Eldest Young Madam managed the household's miscellaneous affairs, and despite the late hour, people were still coming and going from Qiushuang Zhai. Baitao waited for a long while, knowing that if she didn't return soon, the concubine would demand an explanation. When she spotted Caixia, Baitao hurried over and grabbed her. "Sister Caixia, come with me." Caixia was bewildered. "If you have something to say, just say it. Don't pull at me like this." "I beg you, sister, to pass a message to the Eldest Young Madam for me. Tell her I have something very important to say to her—truly very important!" Baitao looked around anxiously, her heart leaping to her throat. "But no one else must know. The Eldest Young Madam is a good person, and what I have to say is very important to her." Her voice grew more urgent as she spoke. "You... you must tell the Eldest Young Madam. I have to go back now, or the concubine will ask where I've been." Baitao hurried back, and before entering the room, she deliberately wiped the sweat from her forehead. Only after her breathing had steadied did she carry the medicine bowl inside. "Concubine, it's time for your medicine." "Where did you go?" Huadie had been looking for Baitao half an hour earlier but hadn't found her. "I asked several people, and they all said they hadn't seen you." She was now jumpy and suspicious of everything, constantly thinking of the words "removing the mother to keep the child" that the Elder Miss had spoken. "While I was decocting your medicine, I ran into Mama Wang, and she took me to see the Commandery Princess." At the mention of the Commandery Princess, Huadie sat as if on pins and needles, hastily asking what the Princess wanted. "It's nothing much—she was just asking about your daily routine again. Please set your mind at ease. Hasn't the Marquis promised you that he won't let the Princess raise your child?" Baitao handed over the medicine. Huadie took a sip—bitter and hard to swallow—but for the sake of her child, she gritted her teeth and drank it all. "I feel uneasy in my heart. I'm afraid the Princess will find some other way. Baitao, did the Princess really say nothing else? Was she not angry?" She had served the Princess before and knew she was not someone with a good temper. Just thinking about having to pay her respects to the Princess made her hair stand on end. "If I'm honest, she was certainly a bit displeased. After all, you had asked the Princess for her opinion before, and now you've changed your mind—how could she be happy?" Baitao thought for a moment. The Eldest Young Madam hadn't replied yet, and she couldn't afford to offend Princess Rongjia either, or she'd meet King Yama before her mistress even gave birth. "Besides, 'removing the mother to keep the child' was the Elder Miss's words, not the Princess's. Please set your mind at ease." Huadie began taking deep breaths, over and over. In her heart, it felt like a thorn had been lodged—she couldn't shake the feeling that this matter wouldn't end so simply. On the other side, Cui Lingrong was somewhat surprised to learn that Baitao wanted to see her. "She didn't say what it was about, only that it was very important," Caixia said. "Then arrange a time and see what she's really up to." Cui Lingrong had Caixia make contact with Baitao. The next day, shortly after noon, Caixia brought Baitao through the back door into Qiushuang Zhai. The moment Baitao saw the Eldest Young Madam, she knelt down. "I beg the Eldest Young Madam to save me! I am willing to serve you with utmost loyalty!" "Save you?" Cui Lingrong said deliberately. "You serve Huadie. If something is wrong, you should go to the Commandery Princess. Coming to me—surely it can't be that Princess Rongjia wants to harm you?" "It is exactly the Princess who wants to harm me! The Princess wants to remove the mother and keep the child, and since I serve the concubine, the Princess wants to silence me as well." Baitao spoke with earnest sincerity. "Everyone in the household says the Eldest Young Madam is kind-hearted, that one can come to you with any problem. Please help me, and I will do anything for you!" Hearing this, Cui Lingrong studied Baitao carefully. This Baitao was far more clever than Huadie—she had actually managed to discern the Princess's intentions. Regardless of how Baitao had learned of it, it showed she had some means and cunning. But from what he knew, Baitao frequently came and went from Wutong Yuan and had close dealings with Wang Hechun's Wife in private. She had likely already sold out Huadie, only to inadvertently discover that Princess Rongjia didn't intend to spare her either—hence she had come to beg him. Having sorted through his thoughts, Cui Lingrong asked, "Baitao, you say the Princess wants to remove the mother and keep the child. Such treasonous words—do you have proof?" "I... I don't." "Then how do you know?" "I overheard it! The Princess was speaking with Mama Chen, and I overheard them!" "But you're someone who serves Huadie. How would the Princess let you hear such private words?" Cui Lingrong smiled. "Baitao, if you want me to help you, you need to make me certain that Princess Rongjia truly has this intention. Otherwise, if I act without cause and end up being manipulated by Princess Rongjia instead, wouldn't I be losing more than I gain?" Hearing that the Eldest Young Madam was inclined to help, Baitao's mind raced, but she truly couldn't think of any evidence. Seeing Baitao's face grow paler, Cui Lingrong continued, "How about this—next time you meet with Wang Hechun's Wife, I'll have Caixia go listen. Seeing is believing, hearing is truth. If I confirm the Princess has this intention, then I'll help you." "Alright, I will prove that I'm telling the truth." Baitao emphasized again, "Eldest Young Madam, please believe me. If the Princess's scheme succeeds and she gains a legitimate son, then the futures of Xuan-ge and Jin-ge will also be affected." "Good, I understand." Cui Lingrong waved her hand, signaling Baitao to return. After Baitao left, Nanny Qiu said in a low voice, "This Baitao is quite cunning. She can be used, but not trusted with important matters." "I know. In her heart, her own survival matters most. She might betray anyone at any moment for that reason." Cui Lingrong had already formed her opinion. "Then would you consider taking this opportunity to prevent Huadie's child from being born?" Nanny Qiu asked. Cui Lingrong felt it was unwise. "Nanny Qiu, I cannot afford to gamble right now. Even if I do nothing, a huge blame will be cast upon me. I fear that no matter how flawlessly I act, traces will still be found. The Marquis and Old Madame both favor Princess Rongjia. If I hand Princess Rongjia any leverage, I fear I'll receive a letter of divorce and bring disgrace to my three children's reputations." It wasn't that Cui Lingrong was soft-hearted; it was simply that she had too many concerns weighing on her. No matter what method was used, causing a miscarriage for Huadie's child would inevitably throw the Marquis's household into chaos. She managed the household, and most likely wouldn't be caught, but what if? Cui Lingrong feared that "what if." If she were to act, she needed to be absolutely certain. Nanny Qiu sighed. Her mistress had it too hard. "Once Baitao arranges a meeting with Wang Hechun's Wife, go find Huadie and let her hear it with her own ears. Isn't she still holding onto vain hope? Let her know that she's not only targeted by Princess Rongjia, but also betrayed by those around her." Cui Lingrong had already devised a plan. "As for whether she can protect her own child, that depends on whether she knows what's good for her, or if she's truly foolish to the core." Nanny Qiu said this plan was good. "Let Concubine Huadie know the truth and confirm Princess Rongjia's intentions. She and Princess Rongjia will surely no longer be on the same boat." Cui Lingrong agreed. "Best to use this opportunity to create further estrangement between the Marquis and Princess Rongjia." Nanny Qiu immediately went to make arrangements. Within two days, Baitao found her chance. When Baitao went to see Wang Hechun's Wife, Nanny Qiu also went to see Huadie. Huadie looked bewildered upon seeing Nanny Qiu. "Nanny Qiu, why are you here?" "This old servant has come to invite the concubine to watch a play—one that concerns your very life and death." Nanny Qiu made a gesture of invitation, making Huadie's heart seem to skip a beat. "What... is it?" "You'll know when you get there. Please, come." Nanny Qiu said, "Don't you want to know whether Princess Rongjia truly intends to remove the mother to keep the child?" Hearing the words "remove the mother to keep the child," Huadie's heart pounded violently. Suppressing her fear, she followed Nanny Qiu.