Chapter 51

Chapter 51 It turned out that Prince Jing had been socializing outside that day and drank too much. He was thoroughly intoxicated and planned to rest in the front courtyard. As it happened, Concubine Wan went to seek his favor. In a muddled state, Prince Jing favored Concubine Wan in the front courtyard. The next morning, when he woke up, Prince Jing was furious and directly threw Concubine Wan out. Because the incident occurred in the front courtyard, outsiders couldn't learn the specific details. All that was known was that Concubine Wan had finally managed to serve Prince Jing, yet instead of gaining favor, she had incurred Prince Jing's disgust. This incident made Concubine Wan the laughingstock for a full month! That noon, Fang Yuan'er sent someone to deliver another jar of wine to Xie Run. Xie Run felt helpless inside. Could it be that Fang Yuan'er had gotten carried away with sending wine? Did she intend to send a jar of wine every time Wan Linlang suffered a setback? Even Xiaoshu was puzzled. "Consort Fang acts with great caution. How can she be so careless in this matter? If someone used this wine as a pretext against her, she wouldn't even have a place to cry out for justice." Xie Run smiled, cradling her increasingly large belly. "This is Consort Fang's affirmation of your mistress's character." Xiaoshu and Dantao exchanged helpless glances. They thought to themselves that their mistress had been increasingly fond of joking lately. The other matter was that a maid beside Concubine An had crawled into Prince Jing's bed. Prince Jing handed the woman over to the Princess Consort for disposal, indicating he had no intention of elevating her. In the end, Concubine An herself softened. In the heavy snowfall, she waddled over with her big belly all the way to Green Pine Courtyard to plead for the maid. In the end, the maid became Prince Jing's concubine. The maid's surname was Lu. And so the manor gained another Concubine Lu. No one knew what the Princess Consort was thinking when she arranged for Concubine Lu to stay in Clear Breeze Pavilion, right next door to Xie Run. A concubine who could betray her mistress and crawl into the master's bed was clearly not someone to be trifled with. She naturally didn't dare provoke Xie Run, but she frequently ran over to Green Bamboo Courtyard across the way to harass Concubine Li. Concubine Li preferred quiet and had an aloof temperament. Harassed by Concubine Lu to the point of utter annoyance, yet with no way to refuse, she was nearly furious enough to spit blood. This provided Xie Run, who lived in between, with quite a few shows to watch. That day, Xie Run was sitting cheerfully in the Mid-Mountain Pavilion, waiting to watch the show. A maid had said that Concubine Lu had gone early in the morning to Green Bamboo Courtyard to find Concubine Li. The Mid-Mountain Pavilion's position offered a perfect view of Green Bamboo Courtyard's main gate. The white fox fur cloak made Xie Run's small face glow with a rosy whiteness, her complexion excellent, making her look even more strikingly beautiful. She was brimming with excitement, ready to watch how Concubine Li would chase Concubine Lu out the door. Yueliang'er suddenly ran in. "Mistress! There's a commotion at Orchid Fragrance Courtyard!" Xie Run was taken aback. "Where did you say there's a commotion?" "Orchid Fragrance Courtyard! Concubine Ning's residence!" Yueliang'er had apparently run too fast—in the dead of winter, her head was covered in sweat. Two months ago, it had been discovered that Concubine Ning had plotted to poison the two consorts. Neither Prince Jing nor the Princess Consort had said how they would deal with her. But since that day, Concubine Ning had fallen ill, growing worse by the day. By yesterday, she could no longer get out of bed. Xie Run had vaguely heard that the Princess Consort had already ordered a coffin to be prepared. After all, she was the birth mother of the Eldest Young Master, so she should leave with some dignity. Xie Run stood frozen in place, unable for a long while to think of what kind of commotion could arise at Orchid Fragrance Courtyard. "Tell me in detail!" Dantao pulled at Yueliang'er, voicing her confusion: "Concubine Ning is so ill she only has a breath left. How could there be a commotion?" Yueliang'er: "It's Consort Fang." Fang Yuan'er?! Xie Run had a bad feeling about this. Yueliang'er: "Consort Fang charged into Concubine Ning's courtyard, bringing people to beat her." Xie Run: "..." This news was somewhat absurd. Xie Run couldn't snap back to her senses for a long while, instinctively wanting to go get the first scoop. But as soon as she stood up, she felt the burden of her belly and couldn't help but sigh. Forget it—staying far away was the safest way to ensure her well-being. Xie Run thought this news was already absurd enough, but then Yueliang'er added another detail. "I heard Consort Fang brought the Eldest Young Master along with her." Xie Run supported herself on Dantao as she rose. "Let's go. We need to make this trip." When it concerned the manor's offspring, Xie Run couldn't pretend to know nothing. Dantao pretended not to notice her mistress's eagerness to watch the drama, only reminding her, "Mistress, stay far away when we get there. Don't let yourself be startled." Xie Run nodded repeatedly, the gossip-hungry fire in her eyes impossible to extinguish. Dantao: "..." When Xie Run arrived at Orchid Fragrance Courtyard, quite a few people had already gathered there. The Prince, the Princess Consort, Consort Yun... The atmosphere was somewhat somber. Just as she was about to speak, she heard a sharp wail from inside the room: "Mother!" The Princess Consort sighed. "What a tragedy!" Though she hated Concubine Ning, she couldn't bear to witness the heart-wrenching scene of a mother dying before her child's eyes. Prince Jing had apparently just arrived as well. He stepped forward and entered the main hall of Orchid Fragrance Courtyard. Xie Run and her party quietly followed behind. As soon as she entered the hall, she saw the four-year-old Eldest Young Master collapsed over Concubine Ning's body, crying his heart out. Concubine Ning's face was blue and purple—she had already lost all signs of life. Fang Yuan'er sat to the side, her hair slightly disheveled, one hand resting on her belly, her gaze dark and heavy as she stared at the mother and son on the floor. The scene was extremely strange. Suddenly, someone gasped, "Concubine Ning's face..." Xie Run followed her gaze and saw the mottled blue-purple bruising on Concubine Ning's gaunt, pale face. It looked like a handprint... or perhaps poison? Prince Jing's expression was extremely grim, his presence radiating a heavy pressure. "Consort Fang, explain to me—what exactly happened here?!" At this moment, Prince Jing exuded the full oppressive weight of one in power, frightening the surrounding concubines into trembling silence. Xie Run, however, detected Prince Jing's displeasure toward Fang Yuan'er. From the moment he uttered the words "Consort Fang," he had already taken the side of his son—or perhaps of the deceased Concubine Ning. Fang Yuan'er seemed to awaken from a dream, supported by Qiuxiang as she performed a salute. "Reporting to the Prince. Today, Eldest Young Master suddenly came running to Xiachi Courtyard, saying he wanted to see the child in my womb." "Unexpectedly..." Fang Yuan'er cast a deep glance at the wailing Eldest Young Master, then sneered coldly. "The moment he touched me, he suddenly went mad, kicking and striking at my belly." "Had my maidservants not intervened in time, I would be the one lying on the ground right now." At this juncture, only the Princess Consort dared to speak: "Then how did you end up bringing people to Lanxiang Courtyard?" "Eldest Young Master kept cursing that the child in my womb is a bastard, and called me vicious, accusing me of harming his mother." Fang Yuan'er let out a cold laugh. "I would not dare blame Eldest Young Master, but improper upbringing is Concubine Ning's fault." "And since there is fault, there must be punishment!" When she uttered the words "must be punishment," a murderous edge crept into Fang Yuan'er's voice. She was a woman of pride by nature, and having suffered repeated losses at Concubine Ning's hands, she harbored a deep, bone-deep hatred for her. Though today's events were somewhat unexpected, Fang Yuan'er accepted them nonetheless. She walked calmly to kneel before Prince Jing, her back held straight and proud. "Prince. I did indeed hold a personal grudge against Concubine Ning. Today, provoked by Eldest Young Master's words and actions, I decided to settle old and new scores together—I brought people and beat Concubine Ning severely." "Who would have thought her fortune was thin and her life short—a bit of rough handling and she stopped breathing." Fang Yuan'er seemed to have thrown all caution to the wind. "I have erred. Whatever punishment the Prince deems fit, I will accept." The Eldest Young Master, who had been sobbing over Concubine Ning's body, suddenly rose and glared fiercely at Fang Yuan'er.