Chapter 80

Chapter 80 Concubine Han said coldly, "Go and dispose of the things in the study immediately!" Hong Nao's eyes showed concern. "This servant will go at once!" Lv Yu accompanied Concubine Han into the room and said nervously, "Mistress, could it be that the Prince has discovered something?" Concubine Han actually shared this worry, but she could not afford to panic. If she lost her composure, those beneath her would be even less able to steady themselves. "He shouldn't have." Concubine Han said, "Last time Lady Wan used drugs on the Prince, he drove her out of the front courtyard that very day. Clearly, the Prince abhors such matters." "Judging by the Prince's expression today, he didn't seem angry. It was more like Lady Wan said something that changed his mind." As for Prince Jing's claim of having official business to attend to, everyone simply took it as a joke. Lv Yu said softly, "This servant saw that the Prince had Eunuch Shian personally escort Concubine Wan back to Embroidery Moon Pavilion." Concubine Han was also puzzled. "That wretch Wan—what tricks did she use to make the Prince overlook her past offenses?" Lv Yu consoled her, "The Prince only returned to the front courtyard and didn't go to Embroidery Moon Pavilion. At least he still cares about your standing." If he didn't care, Prince Jing might have followed Wan Linlang back to Embroidery Moon Pavilion. Then Concubine Han's face would truly have been trampled into the dirt. Even if she later became a Concubine Consort, she would be looked down upon and mocked for having her man stolen by an unpopular concubine. Concubine Han's fingertips trembled slightly, and her hand slid down to her lower abdomen. "What if the Prince's pity is for the child in my belly?" Lv Yu's expression shifted slightly. Then another thought struck her. "Mistress, that Wan is a physician's daughter by training. Do you think she might have... smelled something in the study?" Concubine Han's gaze sharpened, murderous intent lurking in her eyes. "We can't wait any longer!" "With rumors flying everywhere and Wan being so resourceful, I can't just sit idle and wait for death." Since Prince Jing had left this time, Concubine Han had no chance of conceiving in the near future. Since she couldn't get pregnant, she would have to scheme around a miscarriage instead. At this thought, Concubine Han said angrily, "Why hasn't the decree for my promotion to Concubine Consort arrived yet? I heard that when Consort Yun and the others were promoted, their decrees came within half a month?!" Regardless, she had to secure her position as Concubine Consort first. Until the decree arrived, Concubine Han could not rest easy. Lv Yu said, "Back then, three concubines were promoted at the same time, so it was probably faster." Concubine Han didn't like hearing that. She returned to her room and began plotting her miscarriage. In two days, it would be Princess Ruyi's birthday banquet. She had to seize that opportunity. Prince Jing hadn't gone to Wan Linlang's Embroidery Moon Pavilion—he did indeed pity Concubine Han and the child in her belly. But upon returning to the front courtyard, when he thought of the red candle Wan Linlang had presented to him, he couldn't help but feel suspicious. Concubine Han's pregnancy wasn't even stable yet, and she dared to secretly give him aphrodisiacs. Wasn't she afraid of losing the child? What was she after? Prince Jing didn't think she was seeking favor. Could it be, as everyone said, that her pregnancy was fake, and she was eager to serve him to turn the false into the real? Prince Jing raised his hand and rubbed his brow, feeling a wordless exhaustion. He thought for a moment, then summoned Jing Wu. "The day after tomorrow is Ruyi's birthday. Stay alert these two days." He then called for Shi'an. "Tomorrow, take some men to Autumn Maple Courtyard and inspect it. I don't want to see any more unexpected incidents." Eunuch Shian acknowledged repeatedly and said with a smile, "The Prince truly dotes on Princess Ruyi." Prince Jing was in no mood for flattery and only said, "By the way, tomorrow prepare a reward for Wan. Also, inform the Princess Consort that Wan is with child." Eunuch Shian's face lit up with surprise. "Congratulations to the Prince! From now on, the rear courtyard will be quite lively." Prince Jing let out a light scoff. "Indeed, it will be lively." The next day, news of Wan Linlang's pregnancy spread throughout the manor. There were already several pregnant women in the manor, so the pregnancy of an unpopular concubine didn't stir much of a wave. What truly piqued everyone's interest was that she had gone to Concubine Han's courtyard in the dead of night to seek an audience with Prince Jing. Though she hadn't managed to summon the Prince to her own courtyard, she had still ruined Concubine Han's good fortune. The others were gleeful. Concubine Han was already furious, and now she was even more enraged. "No wonder she dared to barge into my courtyard—she's relying on her pregnancy to act so brazen!" Though she cursed like this, Concubine Han was still uneasy at heart, afraid that Wan Linlang had smelled something strange about the candle yesterday. She thought for a moment, then said to Hong Nao, "Prepare some gifts to send to Embroidery Moon Pavilion. While you're at it, sound out what happened last night." "If Wan truly discovered something, she might say something to you. If she says nothing, just act as though you're simply delivering gifts." Hong Nao nodded. Wan Linlang had managed to rise to Consort De in her previous life, so she was hardly a fool. It was simply that her circumstances had been unfavorable at the start of this life, which was why she had fallen to her current state. She had already warned Prince Jing last night. Using the red candle matter to threaten Concubine Han now would yield little benefit. Not only would it make enemies, but it would also easily incur the Prince's displeasure. Since the Prince was already suspicious of Concubine Han, and many others were eyeing her covetously, there was no need for Wan Linlang to stick her neck out at this time. She pretended not to know anything about it, cheerfully accepted Concubine Han's gift, and kept apologizing for what had happened the night before. Hong Nao was pulled along by her and only managed to break free after a good while. When the Princess Consort received the news, she also sent over rewards early on. Of all the people, Fang Yuan'er had the strongest reaction to Wan Linlang's pregnancy. The moment she heard the news in the morning, her first response was, "It can't be real, right?!" Qiuxiang asked in confusion, "What does mistress mean by that?" "The household already has Concubine Han faking a pregnancy, and now we're supposed to have another one with Concubine Wan?" Qiukui was also puzzled. "Has mistress received some news that makes you so certain Concubine Wan isn't pregnant?" Fang Yuan'er was silent for a moment. "She's naturally cold-natured and has difficulty conceiving. She got pregnant after just one night with the Prince?" Qiuxiang and Qiukui exchanged a glance, not knowing what to say. In truth, Fang Yuan'er couldn't explain it well. In the original novel, Wan Linlang enjoyed immense favor, yet she never conceived before Prince Jing ascended the throne. During those years in the Prince Jing manor, Wan Linlang sought medical help everywhere, trying all sorts of folk remedies and rituals, all to no avail. Now she'd gotten pregnant after just one night with Prince Jing. It sounded utterly unbelievable. But she wasn't entirely certain either. After all, in the novel, Xie Run had died early on, whereas the current Xie Run was alive and well, had become a Concubine Consort, and was now pregnant with a child.