Chapter 79

Chapter 79 Wan Linlang followed Eunuch Shian into the study. The moment she lifted her gaze, she saw Prince Jing seated upright behind the desk. The faint aphrodisiac fragrance in the room drifted into her nostrils, and a smile bloomed in Wan Linlang's eyes as her confidence grew. Prince Jing seemed inexplicably irritable, and even his tone carried impatience: "You come to see me in the dead of night—what important matter do you have to report?" Wan Linlang took a deep breath. "My Prince, this servant is with child." Prince Jing was momentarily stunned, then a complex mix of emotions crossed his face. Joy—there was certainly some of that. But Wan Linlang had served him only once, on the night he was drunk, and she had used some rather unsavory means to do so. Every time Prince Jing recalled that incident, anger welled up within him. With so many emotions intertwined, how could his feelings not be complicated? Wan Linlang knew well that if she wished to win Prince Jing's favor, she had to confront that hurdle head-on. She steeled herself and said, "My Prince, it happened that night." Prince Jing looked at Wan Linlang with indifferent eyes, his feelings inscrutable. "Your pregnancy is a joyous occasion. You could have simply sent a maid to report it, or waited until tomorrow if necessary." "It is already late at night—why go through all this trouble?" Wan Linlang raised her head, tears glistening in her resolute, clear eyes. "Because this servant wanted to see my Prince with her own eyes, to defend herself for what happened back then." "Even if my Prince wishes this servant dead, at least let this servant die knowing the truth." Prince Jing frowned at her words. "What nonsense about death and dying?" Yet inwardly, he thought—Lady Fang still has the nerve to bring this up? Wan Linlang gritted her teeth. "Yes, this servant did apply a passion-inducing drug on her body that day!" Hearing this, Prince Jing sneered coldly. "You dare admit it?!" Wan Linlang looked at Prince Jing, her voice choked with tears. "This servant admits her fault. But what happened that day, this servant also has her grievances." "This servant only wished to seek favor—how would she dare do something so reckless as to court death?" Wan Linlang wept as she spoke: "The drug on this servant's body could only bring harmony to those who already shared affection; it could never stir desire in one who felt none. It was originally meant only as a bedroom amusement." "What truly made my Prince lose his composure was another kind of drug!" Prince Jing's brow twitched, and the anger in his heart began to dissipate slightly. "Another kind of drug?" "Exactly!" Wan Linlang nodded hurriedly. "My Prince must have fallen victim to it that day, though the dosage was light. It happened that this servant came seeking favor at the same time, and the two drugs combined caused my Prince to lose his senses." "If my Prince does not believe this servant, he may investigate the place where he dined and drank that day." "If this servant speaks even half a falsehood, may heaven strike her down with thunder and lightning, and may she die a miserable death!" As Wan Linlang swore her oath, a hint of fierce determination flickered through her reddened eyes. After speaking, she looked at Prince Jing with eyes full of grievance. "This servant has always adored my Prince with all her heart, which is why she willingly entered the Prince's residence as a concubine." "But after entering the residence, my Prince, for reasons unknown, paid this servant no heed, and the people in the household treated her with cruelty and humiliation." "This servant had no choice but to come seeking my Prince's favor. By chance, she had the opportunity to serve my Prince. This servant was afraid, yet also overjoyed." Wan Linlang wiped her tears as she sobbed, "But who would have thought my Prince would be angry with this servant, yet refuse to punish her, leaving her with no way to voice her grievances." "This servant does not wish to die an obscure, unexplained death in the back courtyard. Fortunately, she now carries my Prince's blood in her womb, so she came to fight for this one chance." Prince Jing looked at Wan Linlang with complicated eyes. Wan Linlang's method of seeking favor was indeed beneath contempt, but as for fault, it was not a grave one. The main issue was that it had wounded Prince Jing's pride, earning her his displeasure. Now that she had laid the matter bare and wept so pitifully, most of Prince Jing's anger had dissipated. He merely said in a flat tone, "The ground is cold in winter. Rise first, then speak." Joy burst forth in Wan Linlang's eyes. "Does my Prince forgive this servant?" Prince Jing said nothing, and she naturally dared not press further, choosing to take his silence as tacit forgiveness. She rose slowly, standing before Prince Jing, and said between sobs, "This servant dares not ask for much, only that my Prince not despise the child in her womb because of her." Prince Jing looked at her calmly. "As long as you conduct yourself properly, I will treat him no differently from the others." A delighted smile blossomed on Wan Linlang's face. After a moment, she withdrew her smile, a hint of hesitation on her features as her gaze drifted subtly toward the candles nearby. "My Prince, this servant has a matter she is uncertain whether she should raise or not." Her act was too obvious, and Prince Jing followed her gaze to the candles. "You may also choose not to say it." Wan Linlang was left momentarily speechless, realizing she should not play coy before Prince Jing. She moved with slow, light steps to one of the candles, picked it up, and carried it to the desk. Wan Linlang asked softly, "Does my Prince feel hot and restless?" Prince Jing's gaze sharpened, the authority in his eyes cutting like a blade, nearly piercing Wan Linlang's skin. Startled, she immediately bowed in salute. "This servant only noticed it after spending a long time in the room." Prince Jing stared at the candle before him with dark, brooding eyes, anger concealed within. Wan Linlang lowered her head and spoke in a soft, gentle voice, "This servant also has another grievance she does not know how to tell my Prince." "At present, this servant has no evidence in hand, so I can only bear this black mark without clarity. Only when the day comes that I am vindicated... will I confess everything to the Prince." In aggravating Concubine Ning's poison, Wan Linlang had not been discreet enough. She suspected someone had already traced it back to her—perhaps Prince Jing, or perhaps someone else. For now, she dared not confess to Prince Jing, and could only wait for an opportunity. An opportunity that would allow her to escape unscathed. After what seemed like a long while, Prince Jing finally called out coldly, "Shi'an!" Eunuch Shian glanced at Concubine Wan, who appeared to have just been crying, yet showed no trace of surprise on his face. "What is Your Highness's command?" Prince Jing: "The roads are dark and slippery tonight. Light a lantern and escort Concubine Wan back to her courtyard." A flicker of astonishment passed through Shian's eyes. He thought to himself that this Mistress Wan truly had skill. She did not act unless necessary, but when she did, she could make the Prince overlook past grievances. Having him personally light the lantern and escort her—was that not a message to the rear courtyard that the Prince valued Concubine Wan, and no one there should treat her lightly? Such a figure was not to be underestimated by Eunuch Shian. He walked over to Wan Linlang with a smile. "Mistress Wan, shall we go?" Wan Linlang curved her lips into a smile, her voice very gentle. "Then I shall trouble Eunuch Shian." After Shian escorted Concubine Wan away, Prince Jing's gaze darkened as he stared at the candle flame before him, idly twisting the jade thumb ring on his thumb. After a moment, he called for Jing Wu. "Return to the front courtyard." Jing Wu was startled. "Yes!" Upon learning that Prince Jing was leaving, Concubine Han felt both resentment and fear. She resented Wan Linlang for ruining her plans, and feared that Prince Jing might have discovered something, which was why he was calling for a departure at this hour. She came out with her attendants. "Your Highness, it's so late, and the roads are covered in snow. Why must you leave now?" "Could it be that this servant has done something displeasing to you, Your Highness?" Concubine Han's moist eyes were filled with unease. Prince Jing glanced at her, his tone steady. "It has nothing to do with you. I simply have some official matters to attend to." Seeing Prince Jing's firm attitude, Concubine Han could only grit her teeth and see him off. "The roads are slippery in the snow. Do be careful, Your Highness." Prince Jing gave a slight nod, his demeanor softening a little. "It's cold outside. You should go back in as well." "I'll come see you again when I have time." A hint of coy shyness surfaced on Concubine Han's face at just the right moment. She lowered her head and softly replied, "Then this servant will await Your Highness." Once Prince Jing had left, the shyness on Concubine Han's face vanished instantly.