Chapter 144

Chapter 144 The court was in turmoil, yet Xie Run stayed cooped up in Spring Mountain Court, peacefully raising her child. Because of Prince Su's rebellion, everyone in Prince Jing's household was on edge. They all worried that the Emperor would take his anger out on Prince Jing, and that the entire household would suffer along with him. Everyone in Prince Jing's household was also hoping for Prince Jing's early return. Xie Run knew the plot, and she knew even better that Prince Jing was the male lead blessed with a Luck Aura. She wasn't worried in the slightest. Still, she wrote a few letters as usual to send her regards. At the very least, she wanted Prince Jing to know that she was thinking of him. Xie Run had thought she could steal a moment of leisure and keep her hands clean of everything. Unexpectedly, Concubine Lu came calling, bringing her a piece of news of no small significance. "Concubine Lian seems to be with child." Xie Run had just received the tiger-head cap that Concubine Lu had embroidered for Taotao. She was admiring how exquisitely cute it was when the words caught her off guard. She paused. "That's good news. Why hasn't she mentioned it?" Then she looked at Concubine Lu. "No word has spread in the household yet. How did you come to know?" Over this period, Concubine Lu had occasionally come calling, and the two had grown much more familiar. Their speech no longer beat around the bush as much. Concubine Lu smiled. "The maids and concubines in the household all have their own channels of information." "I heard this from someone by Concubine Fang's side." "The matter is a bit complicated to explain." The moment Xie Run heard that, she knew there was juicy gossip to be had. Raising a child in the prince's household was peaceful, but it was also too dull. Suddenly hearing something out of the ordinary, she felt nothing but curiosity and intrigue. "Then take your time telling me. We have all the time in the world. Stay for lunch at Spring Mountain Court before you leave." Concubine Lu laughed. "Trading one piece of news for a lunch at Sister Xie's—I've certainly come out ahead." After that little tease, she continued, "Does Sister know what Consort Fang has been up to lately?" Xie Run nodded. "How could I not?" "She..." Xie Run found herself at a loss for words for a moment. Fang Yuan'er had recently been tampering with Wan Linlang's meals on a regular basis. Of course, she wasn't snatching the other woman's food like Consort Jiang did. That kind of foolish act that invited gossip wasn't something she enjoyed doing. She simply had her maidservant touch Wan Linlang's food every time before fetching her own. And by "touch," she meant it literally. A little feel here, a little look there. At first, Wan Linlang worried that Fang Yuan'er was poisoning her food. Even though the silver needle detected no poison, she still didn't dare eat. After going hungry for several days, she could bear it no longer and went to Summer Pond Court to confront Fang Yuan'er. Fang Yuan'er casually said, "Poison? Do I look like an idiot to you?" "Having my people openly poison your food—you think you're worthy?!" "I'd rather spit a few mouthfuls of saliva or toss some filth your way—that would be more amusing." Wan Linlang's face changed on the spot, and she nearly retched. She turned to the Princess Consort, but what could the Princess Consort do? Tell Fang Yuan'er's people to stop loitering around Wan Linlang's dishes? Well then, produce the evidence first, proving that Consort Fang had tampered with your food. Wan Linlang was thoroughly disgusted, yet she couldn't voice her grievances. This went on for a while, and Wan Linlang finally managed to overcome her psychological barrier. Then suddenly, her food started going missing. One day a soup would disappear, the next a dish—she could never eat a proper meal. And it always happened after leaving the main kitchen, so there was no way to blame the cooks. Wan Linlang could take it no longer and personally went with her people to fetch her meal. She thought she'd finally have smooth sailing, but she tripped halfway, sending the food flying and nearly falling into the lake herself. Wan Linlang had become the laughingstock of the household. With all this turmoil, Wan Linlang had lost over ten pounds in a single month. Xie Run had been getting her entertainment solely from Fang Yuan'er and Wan Linlang these days. Concubine Lu said, "I bring this up because the news of Concubine Lian's pregnancy originally leaked from Concubine Wan's mouth." "During this time, Concubine Lian has been bullied by Consort Jiang, and Concubine Wan by Consort Fang. The two of them, sharing a similar plight, somehow ended up talking to each other." The moment Xie Run heard this, her nerves tightened. Wan Linlang was like a cockroach that couldn't be killed. Fang Yuan'er had trampled her underfoot countless times, yet given even the slightest chance, she'd find a way to turn things around. And looking at this woman's deeds in her past life, she was most skilled at killing with a borrowed knife—using others as stepping stones while she sat safely by, reaping the benefits. In the previous life, everyone who had grown close to her eventually became a blade she wielded against others—or against herself. Wan Linlang never approached useless people! Xie Run made a mental note, reminding herself to stay vigilant in the future. Concubine Lu hesitated. "Concubine Wan is a dark and unpredictable person with deep schemes. I wouldn't dare take her words at face value." Concubine Lu's other talents might be lacking, but she had a good eye for people. From the very beginning, she hadn't dared to get close to Wan Linlang, always maintaining twelve-fold vigilance against her. Xie Run asked, "Could it be that Concubine Lian was feeling unwell, and Concubine Wan diagnosed her as pregnant?!" Wan Linlang was a female physician, which gave her many advantages. Concubine Lu said, "That's actually what I guessed as well." Yet Xie Run remained puzzled: "If it was only about Concubine Lian and Concubine Wan, then how did Concubine Fang come to know of it?" Concubine Fang always bore traces of Consort Yun upon her. Whenever anyone thought of her, they would be reminded of Consort Yun, who had passed away suddenly from illness, and so no one cared to associate with her. Like Consort Li, she lived a life of solitude and isolation. Concubine Lu said: "This servant went to visit Concubine Fang, and happened to overhear her maidservant mention in passing that Concubine Lian had not had her monthly cleansing since entering the household." The speaker meant no harm, but the listener took heed. Once Concubine Lu paid attention, she heard other bits of news as well. "I later deliberately visited Concubine Fang a second time, and learned that Concubine Wan had once used the excuse of visiting Princess Ruyi to step through the gates of Fragrant Pavilion." "This servant believes that Concubine Wan informed Concubine Fang of Concubine Lian's pregnancy. However, this is merely this servant's own speculation, and not entirely certain." Concubine Lu was naturally thick-skinned, and was the least afraid of someone with such a solitary disposition as Concubine Fang. When she first grew suspicious, she could ignore Concubine Fang's displeasure and brazenly go a second time. Whether Consort Yun had left some final words before her death, or Prince Jing had other plans, Princess Ruyi had for now been placed in Concubine Fang's care, residing at Fragrant Pavilion. Yet there had been no mention of formally registering her under Concubine Fang's name, and Prince Jing often reminded the Princess Consort to keep watch over her. That was how Wan Linlang could use the excuse of visiting Princess Ruyi to step through Concubine Fang's courtyard gates. Xie Run said: "Concubine Fang and Concubine Lian live close by, so she could indeed be the first to notice any commotion." But Wan Linlang visiting Concubine Fang's gates? Xie Run said: "Perhaps it really could be that Concubine Wan deliberately leaked the information to Concubine Fang?" Concubine Lu was taken aback. "Though that is the general speculation, this servant cannot fathom... why would she tell this news to Concubine Fang?" "The two share no kinship, and normally have no dealings with each other. What benefit would Concubine Wan gain from Concubine Fang knowing of this matter?" Even Concubine Lu could see that Concubine Fang now wished only to raise Princess Ruyi to adulthood, and dared not meddle in even the slightest affairs of the household. What could Concubine Wan possibly stir up by seeking out Concubine Fang? Xie Run frowned, wearing a thoughtful expression: "Perhaps Wan Linlang is plotting something, and Concubine Fang is but one piece in her scheme?" Her intuition told Xie Run that Wan Linlang was about to harm someone again!