Chapter 52

Chapter 52 Before anyone could react, the Eldest Young Master suddenly charged at Fang Yuan'er and kicked directly toward her belly. "Wicked woman! You killed my mother, you deserve to die!" "You and the bastard in your belly should both go die together!" Qiuxiang shouted in shock, "Mistress, be careful!" She threw herself forward, shielding Fang Yuan'er. Several screams rang out in succession. It was Eunuch Shian by Prince Jing's side who reacted fastest, leaping forward to embrace the Eldest Young Master and block the kick. A sturdy four-year-old child kicking with full force into a person's body—that was extremely painful. Eunuch Shian was kicked in the stomach and clutched his abdomen, crying out in pain. Guards had already stepped forward, grabbing the Eldest Young Master by both arms. The Eldest Young Master kicked his legs in the air, spewing all sorts of filthy curses at Fang Yuan'er. This scene caught everyone completely off guard. When Fang Yuan'er had first described the Eldest Young Master's behavior, everyone thought she was deliberately exaggerating. They also felt she was petty, making a fuss over a child, and had even viciously forced Concubine Ning to her death right in front of him. Now, seeing the Eldest Young Master's ferocious expression, they felt Fang Yuan'er was truly unfortunate. To be latched onto by such a pair of mad mother and son. If that kick had truly landed on Fang Yuan'er's belly, both mother and child would likely have been in grave danger. Prince Jing's furious voice rang out, "Throw this unfilial brat into the snow to clear his head!" The Princess Consort quickly bowed, "Your Highness, please calm your anger! The Eldest Young Master is young, and having suddenly lost his mother, his transgressive behavior is understandable. The ground outside is freezing cold—it would be too harmful to his health..." Prince Jing said coldly, "Lost his mother? Who is his mother? Princess Consort, don't forget your position." The Princess Consort's heart tightened. "Yes." Then she heard Prince Jing's voice, colder than ice. "Lady Ning, that wicked woman, stirred discord between the Eldest Young Master and his stepmother. Her death is not worth regretting!" Everyone felt as if a chill wind had swept through their bones, their legs trembling involuntarily. With these words, Prince Jing had shifted all blame onto the already-dead Concubine Ning, and directly denied the mother-son relationship between the Eldest Young Master and Concubine Ning. He had also protected both the Eldest Young Master and Fang Yuan'er. With that one phrase—"not worth regretting"—no one in the manor would dare mention Concubine Ning again. "Jing Wu, take the Eldest Young Master outside to clear his head!" Jing Wu, who had been as inconspicuous as a shadow, responded, "Eldest Young Master, forgive my impertinence." With that, he lifted the Eldest Young Master with one hand and set him down in the snow outside. Prince Jing continued, "Concubine Consort Fang is reckless in temperament and lacking in grace. She is placed under House Arrest at Xiachi Courtyard for six months." Fang Yuan'er straightened her back and bowed, showing not a trace of fear. "This concubine accepts the punishment!" Prince Jing swept an indifferent glance over Concubine Ning's lifeless body. "Princess Consort, Lady Ning is in your hands." He paused, then added, "Dispose of her quickly." With that, he turned and left. The Princess Consort calmly took charge of the aftermath at Lanxiang Courtyard, ordering people to prepare Concubine Ning's body for burial. The others dispersed early as well. Nanny Li asked softly from the side, "Princess Consort, what should be done about Concubine Ning's funeral..." Originally, since Concubine Ning had been near death, the Princess Consort had considered Prince Jing's intentions and planned to hold Concubine Ning's funeral according to the rites of a Concubine Consort. But after today's events, Concubine Ning was despised by Prince Jing even in death. To hold the funeral according to Concubine Consort rites would likely incur the Prince's displeasure and invite gossip from all sides. The Princess Consort said flatly, "Didn't the Prince say to dispose of her quickly?" Nanny Li immediately nodded. "This old servant understands." The Princess Consort added, "Just place her in the coffin that was prepared earlier. Everything else—keep it simple." "Yes." The Princess Consort harbored no small amount of resentment toward Concubine Ning. She had even secretly cursed her to die early. But now, seeing her die so miserably, she couldn't help but feel a trace of sympathy for a fellow creature's downfall. If not for the coffin prepared in advance, Concubine Ning might have been rolled up in a tattered mat and done with. When Concubine Ning was in favor, she could never have imagined she would end up so desolate and forlorn in death. Xie Run clutched Dantao's hand tightly, hurrying all the way back to Chunshan Courtyard. Only after drinking a cup of warm tea did she regain her composure. Xie Run's gaze was faint, like light refracting through glass, tinged with bewilderment and helplessness. "Dantao, did you see it?" Dantao had just taken a sip of tea as well. Hearing this, she nodded gently, holding her teacup, a hint of fear in her eyes. She spoke slowly, "Concubine Ning's body... it looked like poisoning..." When they arrived at Lanxiang Courtyard, they had only just heard the Eldest Young Master's wailing, which meant Concubine Ning had just breathed her last. But the body lying on the ground had an unnatural blue-purple tint on the face. At first glance, one might mistake it for bruises from Fang Yuan'er's beating. Looking more carefully, one would notice the blue-purple color seeping through from beneath the skin. As if the outside was unharmed, but the inside was already rotting away. Xie Run lowered her eyes and took another sip of tea. "Neither the Prince nor the Princess Consort showed the slightest surprise. Both of them must have known." Dantao's heart inexplicably turned cold. Then she heard Xie Run say, "The Prince is truly ruthless." If he merely wanted Concubine Ning dead, that would have been one thing. But he had to use poison to slowly destroy her body, drain her life force, and disguise it as death from severe illness. All of this, simply because he feared it would affect what he called the bond between father and son. At the very least, Concubine Ning had borne him two sons—surely he could grant her a swift, painless death? To kill a child's own mother, yet still speak of father-son affection. It sounded rather absurd. Perhaps, one day, when Prince Jing no longer favored her, he would also let her pass away quietly from "illness"? Dantao was startled and quickly glanced around. Only after confirming there was no one else did she lower her voice to remind her, "Master, please be careful with your words!" Though she thought the same, some things were better left unspoken, no matter how true they felt. Xie Run leaned back in her chair, looking somewhat weary. "I know. I wouldn't dare say such things outside either." She slowly opened her eyes. "If one day I were to fall to the same fate as Concubine Ning, I'd rather a cup of poisoned wine—quick and clean." Having been bedridden for over a decade in her previous life, Xie Run loathed illness. Especially the struggle of clinging to life while slowly dying. Dantao: "Pah, pah, pah! Master, what nonsense are you saying?!" "You are a woman of great fortune. You will surely live a long, healthy, and worry-free life." Xie Run smiled, letting go of her melancholy. "I like hearing that." Then, suddenly, she asked again, "Tell me—why does Eldest Young Master hate Consort Fang so suddenly?" "If it's because of the poisoning incident, shouldn't he hate me as well?" Yet today, when Eldest Young Master saw her, he showed no reaction at all. "Why would Eldest Young Master hate you?" Dantao's heart was wholly devoted to Xie Run. "You didn't take your anger at Concubine Ning out on him—that alone shows your kindness!" "If Eldest Young Master resents Consort Fang, it's because the feud between Consort Fang and Concubine Ning runs too deep." "The two became mortal enemies at the Qixi family banquet. Later, when Concubine Ning was demoted and confined, Consort Fang certainly added fuel to the fire." Their grievances and debts are beyond untangling." "Don't worry, I know you care for me." Xie Run looked at Dantao's fiercely protective expression and felt warmth in her heart. "But I can't help feeling that someone may be stirring the pot behind the scenes." Dantao paused, then said softly, "Could it be the Princess Consort? After all, she did raise Eldest Young Master for a time." "Precisely because the Princess Consort raised him, she's the least likely to do such a thing." Xie Run shook her head. "Have you ever heard the saying about avoiding suspicion—'stepping on melons in the field, adjusting your hat under the plum tree'?"