Chapter 145

Chapter 145 Seeing this, Concubine Lu couldn't help but grow more serious: "Sister Xie suspects that Concubine Wan is planning something?" Xie Run smiled faintly: "It's not suspicion, it's certainty! Though it may not necessarily be Wan Linlang alone!" Of course, Wan Linlang definitely couldn't be entirely uninvolved either! Xie Run reminded her: "We both forgot one thing." "Since entering the residence, the Prince has never stayed overnight at Concubine Lian's place. If she's pregnant, it could only have happened outside." What was Concubine Lian's status? The top courtesan of a brothel! When Prince Jing brought her back, the Princess Consort was quite displeased. Now that Concubine Lian is pregnant, who can prove whether the child is the Prince's? Concubine Lu nodded: "This servant also suspects that Concubine Lian is afraid of exactly this issue, which is why she didn't dare tell the Princess Consort. She's probably planning to wait until the Prince returns to speak up." Xie Run shook her head: "Too foolish!" She was already seventy percent certain that Concubine Lian wouldn't be able to carry this pregnancy to term. Even if she did give birth, she wouldn't live to raise the child! Keeping the pregnancy a secret, yet telling Wan Linlang of all people. And with Consort Jiang above constantly grinding her down... Concubine Lian had successfully gathered every possible danger to herself. If she could safely deliver this child, Xie Run would have to concede with admiration. What would have happened if she'd told the Princess Consort? Would the Princess Consort have insisted the child wasn't the Prince's and forced her to abort it?! Not to mention that the Princess Consort wasn't that kind of person—even if the child's parentage were truly in question, the decision would have to wait until the Prince returned. At the very least, during that time, the Princess Consort would have protected Concubine Lian. By hiding it now, she was practically handing others an opportunity to strike! Wasn't that just too foolish?! Xie Run thought about it—if Wan Linlang were to make a move, who would she target first? Her or Fang Yuan'er? Surely not Jiang Baobao? After Concubine Lu left, Xie Run had someone deliver a message to Fang Yuan'er. Given Fang Yuan'er's understanding of Wan Linlang, she would certainly be on guard and might be able to uncover something. Wasn't there a saying—the one who knows you best is your enemy! Xie Run wasn't at ease either, and specifically sent maidservants to gather information from Concubine Fang, Concubine Lian, and Concubine Wan's quarters. On the fifth day of Prince Su's rebellion, the palace uncovered quite a few matters. It turned out that Princess Consort Su hadn't only extended her reach into Prince Jing's household—none of the other princes had escaped either. Countless innocent souls had perished in the various princes' households. Compared to them, Xie Run was actually quite fortunate. Or perhaps, she simply had some ability of her own. Because these offenses were too numerous and involved matters of military power, Princess Consort Su had hanged herself on the very day everything came to light. However, her suicide was merely a way to die with more dignity. Her maternal family was raided—all males taller than a cartwheel were executed, and all females were consigned to the Yeting as laborers. Xie Run had remarked at the time that fortunately this era had no Bureau of Music. Entering the Yeting was still better than the Bureau of Music. Dantao brought forth freshly obtained fruits and said to Xie Run: "Mistress, I heard that because Prince An rendered meritorious service in rescuing the Emperor, His Majesty has promoted Prince An's birth mother, Baolin Jing, to Consort Jing. She's quite favored now." "I wonder if the Prince knows what's happening in the capital while he's away?" Xie Run picked up a piece of fruit with her fork and tasted it—sweet and sour, just the flavor she liked. She smiled: "Don't worry, the Prince knows everything in his heart." "Matters outside are not for us to meddle in." Dantao: "The Prince has been away from the capital for over a month without sending word... The household seems peaceful now, but this servant can't shake a sense of unease." Xie Run looked up, her gaze shifting: "Have you learned anything from the concubines?" Dantao shook her head: "Concubine Fang has always kept to herself, and the servants she uses are all veterans from Consort Yun's side—their lips are tightly sealed." "We can get information from Concubine Lian's side, but there's nothing useful—just the same as what Concubine Lu said that day. She probably doesn't even realize anything herself." Xie Run took a bite of fruit: "And what about Wan Linlang's side?" Dantao thought for a moment: "All I know is that Concubine Wan has been visiting Concubine Lian more and more frequently. Anyone who didn't know better would think the two were close friends." "According to what the maids and matrons have let slip, it seems Concubine Wan has been helping Concubine Lian maintain her pregnancy." Xie Run was stunned: "Wan Linlang is helping Concubine Lian protect her pregnancy?" Was she hearing some absurd joke? In her previous life, Wan Linlang, who had risen to the rank of Consort De, could barely earn the title of "Captain of Abortions." Countless innocent souls had fallen at her hands. In this life, she was actually helping Concubine Lian maintain her pregnancy? Xie Run felt that something was off everywhere, yet she couldn't find a single clue. No wonder she was Fang Yuan'er's formidable rival—she truly was difficult to deal with. "Keep investigating. If all else fails..." Xie Run thought for a moment, "If all else fails, I'll play the good person and report Concubine Lian's pregnancy to the Princess Consort?" Dantao disagreed: "Concubine Lian doesn't want to say it herself—she must have her reasons. If you tell the Princess Consort and something happens to her later, what if she comes to resent you?" Xie Run: "I'm not afraid of her resentment. I'm only afraid Wan Linlang is brewing something wicked and will end up staging a big scene for us." But after thinking it over, Xie Run set the idea aside. The main reason was that she had never been one to meddle in others' affairs. Now she was only making a casual remark. As for actually stepping forward to play the good Samaritan, she simply couldn't be bothered. Xie Run said, "I just hope Fang Yuan'er puts up a good fight, at least she won't be dragged down easily." With Fang Yuan'er around, Xie Run and she were evenly matched, splitting the animosity between them fifty-fifty. If it weren't for Fang Yuan'er, Xie Run would be the sole standout... too much in the spotlight, and she feared she wouldn't be able to bear it. "Master has now completed her month of confinement, and in a few days she'll need to pay her respects to the Princess Consort. Why not take that opportunity to sound out the Princess Consort and the various Concubine Consorts?" "That's a good idea." Just then, the wet nurse came over carrying Taotao, who had just finished feeding. Xie Run took him in her arms and playfully teased him a couple of times. Spotting the fruit nearby, Xie Run felt a mischievous impulse and picked up a small piece, offering it to him to lick. Taotao instinctively stuck out his tongue and licked the fruit. He paused for a moment, then his little face scrunched up like an old man's. Three seconds later, he suddenly burst into earth-shattering wails. The sound nearly deafened Xie Run's ears. She thought to herself that her son really had quite the set of lungs. Dantao and the wet nurse both panicked and hurriedly joined in to soothe the child. After coaxing him for quite a while, they finally managed to lull him to sleep, his little face streaked with tears. Dantao couldn't help but complain, "Master is a grown adult, yet she still teases the little master for fun. She's regressing with age!" "The little master hasn't cried more than twice since he was born, and both times were because of you." Seeing Taotao wail at the top of his lungs, Dantao felt even more distressed than Xie Run, his own mother. Dantao felt that her master was quite playful at heart, always coming up with odd antics to amuse the little master. She felt rather helpless about this mother-son pair. Xie Run honestly admitted her mistake, laughing with glee. "I didn't expect him to be afraid of sour things." Dantao cast a resentful glance at her master. "...Master, you seem rather pleased about this?" "Of course," Xie Run said cheerfully. "You have to play with kids while they're young. Once they grow up, how could you still have such fun? They'd probably be a headache instead."