Chapter 55

Chapter 55 Sui Yin asked in confusion, "Mistress, what do you mean by that?" "I saw Concubine Ning's people instigating Eldest Young Master to resent Fang Yuan'er, so I thought I might make use of it..." "Fang Yuan'er has always been quick-tempered and extremely arrogant and domineering." Wan Linlang's eyes darkened. "If Eldest Young Master is rude to her, she will definitely go to Concubine Ning to vent that anger." And sure enough. Fang Yuan'er really did bring Eldest Young Master along to cause a scene at Lanxiang Court. Wan Linlang took a deep breath. "I originally thought that if Fang Yuan'er made a big fuss, it would be best if she managed to get Concubine Ning killed." To that end, she had even deliberately given Fang Yuan'er a hand by increasing the potency of Concubine Ning's poison. After all, Concubine Ning was destined to die anyway. By helping her along, she had actually spared her a great deal of suffering. "In that case, even if Fang Yuan'er is with child, having caused the death of a concubine, her days ahead will be difficult!" Especially since that concubine was also the birth mother of Eldest Young Master. Moreover, Prince Jing had originally planned to let Concubine Ning pass away quietly from illness. Fang Yuan'er's outburst had ruined Prince Jing's arrangements. As long as Fang Yuan'er set foot through the gates of Lanxiang Court, she would incur Prince Jing's disgust no matter what. Now that the rift between Prince Jing and his son had become real, and Concubine Ning had died at Fang Yuan'er's hands. Everything was proceeding exactly as Wan Linlang had predicted. Unfortunately, the final outcome was not what Wan Linlang had envisioned. Sui Yin listened and asked in confusion, "Mistress, isn't this a good thing? All your schemes have succeeded." Wan Linlang clenched her hands tightly, her nails digging into her flesh until blood was squeezed out. She gritted her teeth and said, "The plan was fine, but the Prince didn't get angry at Fang Yuan'er!" Wan Linlang had gotten involved in this matter precisely to make Fang Yuan'er fall out of favor. "The Prince has nominally placed Fang Yuan'er under House Arrest for six months, but six months is exactly enough time for her to nurture her pregnancy." "This isn't House Arrest—this is protection!" She beat a concubine to death and only got six months of House Arrest?! Is the Prince that doting on Fang Yuan'er? Wan Linlang was almost drowned by that wave of jealousy so sour it could curdle milk! Sui Yin said cautiously, "Mistress, there's nothing to be done about this. The Prince values heirs. Since Consort Fang is pregnant, even if he's angry, he won't punish her severely." Heirs? Wan Linlang unconsciously raised her hand to touch her lower abdomen. If she also had an heir, would she be able to regain the Prince's favor? Would her days become much easier? No, they wouldn't. Wan Linlang's lips were full of bitterness. She was naturally cold-natured. In her previous life, she had been so favored, yet she still hadn't conceived for years. It was only after Prince Jing ascended the throne that she managed to become pregnant by luck and bore a son. In this life, she had no favor at all—how could she possibly become pregnant? Sui Yin's gaze also fell on Wan Linlang's lower abdomen, and she couldn't help but say, "It's been almost a month since Mistress last attended to the Prince. Perhaps... it might have happened?" "I heard that Concubine An in the residence—the Prince only visits her once every six months, and she still conceived." The dejection in Wan Linlang's eyes was plain to see. "It's impossible." Sui Yin didn't understand—how was it impossible? "Last time I served him..." Just thinking about the last time she attended to Prince Jing made Wan Linlang feel she had suffered an injustice she couldn't voice. Everyone outside was guessing that she had used unscrupulous methods, which was why she had incurred Prince Jing's disgust. Actually, the matter was rather complicated. Wan Linlang felt she was truly wronged. Before going to the front courtyard to seek favor, Wan Linlang had indeed applied a passion-inducing drug on her body. But the drug was mild—it could only take effect if the man was genuinely aroused. She only wanted to serve Prince Jing properly, not to court death. Who would have thought that Prince Jing had also been drugged outside! After getting drunk, Prince Jing was in a daze and summoned Wan Linlang. As soon as Wan Linlang saw Prince Jing and caught the faint fragrance on him, she recognized that he had been drugged, and her heart cried out in alarm. But before she could say anything, she was dragged onto the bed. The next morning, when Prince Jing opened his eyes, he flew into a terrible rage. The drug Prince Jing had taken outside was also mild. He himself had mistaken it for the effects of alcohol and gone to the front courtyard to rest on his own. Just as he was in a daze, he encountered Wan Linlang, who had applied the drug on herself. With the power of both drugs working simultaneously, of course Prince Jing lost his reason! Wan Linlang had indeed been a bit unlucky. If Prince Jing had been truly drunk and forgotten everything, it would have been fine—but he remembered it all clearly. In Prince Jing's memory, he was perfectly fine until he saw Wan Linlang, and suddenly his desire surged beyond all control, and he dragged her onto the bed. That kind of abnormal reaction—of course Prince Jing knew he had been drugged. Even though the drug on Wan Linlang's body had long since dissipated and nothing could be proven. But Prince Jing was convinced she had used drugs to seduce him, and whether there was evidence or not didn't matter. And so Wan Linlang was driven out of the front courtyard in disgrace, once again becoming the laughingstock of the rear courtyard. Such a humiliating experience was something Wan Linlang didn't want to recall at all. And of course, she wouldn't tell a servant like Sui Yin about it. If Sui Yin knew she had angered the Prince, she might think Wan Linlang had no chance of regaining favor and use that as an excuse to betray her mistress. Wan Linlang only fretted, "Thinking about it now, the fact that everything went so smoothly—I'm afraid there's a hidden hand behind it all." "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. I'm afraid I've fallen into someone else's trap." Sui Yin felt a pang of fear. "What does Mistress mean?" Wan Linlang's eyes lowered slightly. "I'm afraid that the one in the shadows will make a move and use me as a scapegoat." Sui Yin was startled. "This...?" Wan Linlang knew she had been discreet, but she had only recently entered the household, and her abilities were ultimately limited. If Prince Jing launched an investigation, it wouldn't be difficult for him to trace the poisoning of Concubine Ning back to her. If someone else then used her as a scapegoat, she truly would have no way to plead her innocence. Sui Yin's breathing grew tense. "Does mistress have any idea who it might be?" Wan Linlang paused, then shook her head. The people and the situation in the household now were all different from her previous life. Having been in the household for some time now, Wan Linlang no longer dared to apply her old memories to these people. Sui Yin let out a sigh. "In that case, mistress might as well stay calm for now and see how others react." "If someone truly frames you... we can only adapt as circumstances arise." Wan Linlang took a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes. It was as good as silently agreeing with Sui Yin's words. But in her heart, she was still unwilling to accept it. Now that the most favored Fang Yuan'er and Concubine Xie were both pregnant, and the newcomers Lady Han and Lady Li had yet to establish themselves, this was precisely her window of opportunity. Yet on her very first night attending Prince Jing, she had displeased him. After a long moment, Wan Linlang let out a breath. "Forget it." "If I don't make a move, there are plenty of others who won't be able to hold back!" There were plenty of clever people in the rear courtyard. After Xie Run had requested leave, many others also claimed illness and withdrew to rest, seemingly frightened by the day's events. The next day, Xie Run had just finished her midday meal and, taking advantage of the snow having stopped, wanted to go out for a walk. Just then, she saw a young maid come in. "Mistress, since you didn't go to pay your respects today, you missed something." "What was it?"