Chapter 065: Fire in the backyard

  If Queen Luo is willing to take action, then the chances of winning will be much greater.

  Zheng and Chu exchanged a subtle glance in secret, both seeing icy sarcasm at the bottom of each other's eyes.

  Madam Liang hesitated for a moment, originally wanting to say something, but ultimately didn't open her mouth, only respectfully responding with: "Yes!"

  Then he turned around and left the bedroom.

  The Empress Luo slightly raised her eyelids and temporarily didn't have the extra energy to deal with Zheng Shi and her daughter, so she coldly waved her hand, "Withdraw!"

  "Yes!"

  The two of them bowed and neither said another word, quietly withdrawing with downcast eyes.

  They came out of Shoukang Palace in silence and took a sedan chair at the gate.

  At that time, other people's carriages had already left early, leaving only the two horse-drawn carriages of the Nanhe Wangfu waiting under the trees.

  When they saw Madame Zheng and her daughter come out, the coachman and two rough maidservants hastily stood up to welcome them: "Your Highness, Princess!"

  Zheng nodded expressionlessly and continued walking without stopping.

  She was ordered by her trusted maid, Gu Mama, in a cold tone: "Prepare to return to the manor!"

  "Yes!" Everyone responded and hurried to prepare.

  Zi Wei was about to help Chu Lingyun onto the bus, but was stopped by Gu's mother: "You all go sit in the back of the car."

  Zi Wei and Zi Xue, although they were Qian Ling's trusted maidservants, were still too young after all. The previous matter in the Shoukang Palace concerned the Eastern Palace and even the northern desert, this matter was of great importance, these two maids did not have the qualifications to know about it.

  "Yes, Mother Gu!" Ziyue replied with a humble and obedient expression.

  Zi Xiu was somewhat displeased and waited until Gu Mama got on the carriage before saying in a low voice, "This Gu Mama is really too arrogant, the princess hasn't even said anything yet!"

  "Keep your voice down." Ziyue was startled and hastily pulled her away by tugging on her sleeve.

  The charioteer drove his chariot southward in the direction of the Wang family's mansion by the river.

  On the carriage, Zheng Shi finally opened her worried face: "Just now in the palace, it was inconvenient to speak. This time's matter, do you think there is any chance of success?"

  Chu Lingyun poured tea with elegant movements, and without raising her head, she smiled coldly: "You're not unaware of the Empress Dowager's temperament, Your Majesty. All these years, has there ever been anything she wanted to do that she gave up halfway?"

  Empress Luo was overbearing, and this is obvious to everyone. At that time, it was just for a Fang Shi. In fact, since Zhu Yi'an had already compromised, it would have been nothing more than taking a concubine, and once it was over, it would have been forgotten. But she was able to hold a grudge against Zhu Yi'an for twenty years because of this matter, and even now, she still can't let go of her resentment towards him.

  "Although it is said so..." Zheng thought to herself, still not very reassured, "As for the imperial court and the northern desert, what I fear is that the Emperor will not be easily swayed."

  "I don't think it's a big deal," Chu Lingyun said, suddenly raising her head and smiling at Zheng Shi, asking, "Mother, you really don't want Taobao Rongyao to enter our palace?"

  Zheng's expression changed, seemingly completely unprepared for her question, and said displeasedly, "How can you speak like this, as if you didn't know——"

  She didn't finish what she was saying afterwards.

  She is the princess of the Nanhe Wangfu, should be dignified and generous, such petty and jealous things, even if it's in front of her own daughter who shares the same heart as her, it's not good to say out loud. But...

  Throughout history, which woman has ever been truly unmoved by her husband's philandering ways?

  Zheng's face didn't look good, but Chu Lingyun smiled to herself and took a sip of tea before continuing in a meaningful tone: "Actually, from my daughter's perspective, even if it were true that Tuoba Rongyao entered our palace, there wouldn't be anything wrong with it. Mother, rather than you personally taking action against those lowly people, why not sit back and watch the tigers fight each other? Borrowing strength to defeat others is always better than personally wielding the knife. Haven't you been having a headache over that Cui lady's affairs these days? If someone could be found to restrain her, wouldn't that be a good thing for you?"

  Dian Cui had been in the palace for less than two months and yet she had already gained the exclusive favor of Chu Yi Min.

  At this point, Zheng thought to herself and subconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her hand, saying word by word: "I'm afraid it's just a matter of borrowing power to suppress it, and then another one that's even more troublesome comes along!"

  Chu Lingyun shook her head and smiled: "Empress, you are the legitimate empress of Nanhe King, with Qiyan and me by your side, your position is unshakeable! You must remember this! Even if Father's harem has many more women, no one can surpass you. Now it's not yet to that point, but in the future, even if someone were to offend you, whether she's the Princess of Mobei or not, you won't let her off easily. How many people have died from illness or sudden death in the imperial harem over the years?"

  She spoke these words with ease and comfort, each word was like a pearl, almost every ordinary sentence had a hidden killing intent behind it, but she herself had an air of nonchalance.

  Zheng's eyes suddenly lit up, and he couldn't help but take a deep breath.

  Chu Lingyun smiled again and said, "Empress Dowager, you have a close relationship with the Grand Empress Dowager, why didn't you learn some of her tactics?"

  Zheng didn't say a word, fiddling with the handkerchief in her hand as she fell into deep thought once again. However, the expression on her face gradually calmed down.

  Chu Lingyun knew she had been convinced by herself, so she smiled and handed her a cup of tea, saying: "So now the matter of sending Tuoba Rongyao to the East Palace is not very important whether it succeeds or not. To avoid being seen through by the Empress Dowager in the future, we don't need to intervene either, just wait and see what happens."

  Empress Luo was arrogant and self-willed, prone to being hot-headed and impulsive, but she still didn't dare to deceive the Emperor openly, otherwise once things were exposed, she would be finished.

  Although she hated Chu Mianyang, she wasn't stupid enough to ruin her own future and fate with hers.

  Zheng held the teacup and drank tea, then didn't say another word, but in her heart she had already begun to secretly think about what method to use to make Cui silently disappear.

  Chu Lingyun also stopped trying to start a conversation and looked away, gazing out the window at the scenery while quietly sipping her tea.

  Half an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of the South River Wang Fu's gate.

  Madam Zheng and Chu Lingyun got out of the carriage one after another, only to see Zhang Mama, the housekeeper in Madam Zheng's courtyard, rushing out with a flustered expression: "Your Highness, you've finally returned! Old slave was worried to death!"

  Zheng and Chu Lingyun exchanged a glance, and in their hearts, they both had a bad premonition.

  Zheng furrowed his brow: "What are you doing here? Something's happened at the mansion!"

  "Something terrible has happened!" said Zhang's mother, wiping the sweat from her forehead with her hand and crying with a sad face, "It's Lihua Zhai, Cui Niang had a miscarriage!"

  "What?" Zheng was shocked, but before she could react, Chu Lingyun's reaction was even more intense, with an incredulous shrill voice saying, "What did you say? That woman is pregnant?"

  She found it somewhat hard to believe and looked at Zheng with suspicion.

  Zheng's family wasn't new to managing the household, but for so many years, why did Chu Yi Min only have this one son, Chu Qi Yan? The reason behind it was something that Chu Yi Min had never deeply investigated, but Chu Ling Yun knew.

  It's just that Zheng's methods are too clever and hidden too deeply, so no one noticed. In the early years, any concubine who became pregnant would have a miscarriage for various reasons if they were expected to give birth to a son, but there were four daughters, so even Zhu Yi Min didn't suspect that someone was secretly at work. Later on, Zheng also got tired of dealing with those women one by one and simply used the abortion potion.

  Of course, this thing is sitting in a dark place, mostly mixed with supplements and food to be sent over.

  At this point in time, Cui was favored and became an object of special attention. However, nowadays——

  She's actually pregnant?

  Zheng and Chu Lingyun had the same first reaction, both thinking that the news was wrong, but Zhang's mother was also her confidante, she definitely wouldn't joke about something like this.

  "What's going on?" Zheng asked, calming down and walking inside step by step.

  "The servant girl told me that it happened when she was taking a walk in the garden this morning, and suddenly said her stomach hurt. Before the doctor could be called, she had already seen red, and the child was gone." Zhang's mother said, her eyes anxiously scanning around, reminding, "The king has also been summoned back."

  Zheng frowned impatiently and said, "You go back first, I'll go take a look!"

  "Yes!" said Zhang's mother, pausing for a moment before whispering, "The king is in a bad mood, Your Highness, please be careful."

  "Hmm! I have a measure." Zheng said, her feet moving quickly inside without stopping.

  Chu Lingyun stood at the door, deep in thought, silent for half a day without moving.

  Zi Xuan approached from behind and said, "Young Mistress, you've had a long day, why don't you go back and rest?"

  Chu Lingyun snapped back to reality, her eyes fluttering with light and shadow. After a moment's thought, she said, "We'll go take a look too!"

  According to her mother's usual way of doing things, such a mistake should not have occurred. She always felt that something was wrong with this matter.

  Chu Lingyun had doubts in her mind, and she hurried to the Pear Blossom Pavilion with quick steps. Although she was delayed for a while, she only arrived one step later than Zheng Shi.

  One foot stepped into the door, and a wave of bloody smell that had not yet dispersed hit her face. Following closely behind was Cui's mournful cry, which seemed to be on the verge of collapse.

  Chu Yimin sat on the edge of the bed, holding her in his arms and cooing softly, with a rich and full face shrouded in dark clouds, gloomy and terrifying.

  "I have seen the king before." Zheng Shi stepped forward and paid her respects.

  Chu Yimin glanced at the brightly colored hanfu on her body and suddenly felt a bit annoyed, so he also didn't have a good expression and just hummed a "hmm".

  Zheng's heart was blocked, but she had to force a sad expression on her face and sighed, "I only entered the palace once, I didn't expect such a thing to happen, it's all my fault. Cui Niangniang, you too, why didn't you tell me earlier that you were pregnant? I would have arranged for some reliable people to take care of you."

  It seems like self-blame, but in fact, the latter half of the sentence suddenly turns around and still shifts the responsibility back to Dian Cui.

  Dian Cui fell into Chu Yi Min's arms, crying so hard that her whole body went limp. She didn't refute his words, but instead, tears gushed out even more fiercely as she spoke, "It was this servant's negligence, this servant is young and ignorant, didn't know she was pregnant beforehand, until today...today..."

  She said, sobbing uncontrollably, clutching Chu Yi Min's collar and crying as if her heart would break: "Master Wang, it's all my fault, I'm useless, I couldn't protect our child."

  Dian Cui was born delicate and weak, with a pitiful appearance that made people feel sorry for her. Now, even if she cries loudly, it only makes people think that her appearance is frail and pitiful.

  "It's not your fault, it's just the child's fate." Chu Yimín softly comforted her, gently patting her back, with a loving and tender look in his eyes.

  Zheng watched the two people's affectionate appearance, her heart surged with anger, and she could only use force to pinch her palm to restrain her emotions, not letting herself burst out. She took a step forward and said, "Sister Cui is still young, there will be children in the future, but now that this thing has happened, the most urgent thing is to take care of your body first."

  She said, and with some expectation, she turned her head to the doctor serving beside her, "How is Cui Niang's body? Is there any injury?"

  It would be better if Cui's body was crippled and she wouldn't have to worry about defending herself again.

  Doctor Liu, who was a personal physician of the Wang family in Nanhe, was accustomed to such scenes and replied fluently: "Don't worry, Your Highness. Concubine Cui's physical foundation is good. As long as she is carefully nursed back to health, she will recover soon."

  A hint of coldness flashed across Zheng's eyes, but a relieved smile spread across his face as he said, "It's all good now."

  He then turned to Chu Yimou and said, "Your Highness has heard that as long as Cui Niang's body is not hindered, it would be for the best. Your Highness being here, she probably can't rest easy either."

  Chu Qiyan's literary and military talents are all top-notch, although he has only a little bit of noble blood in him. Chu Yimín doesn't have much regret about this; it's true that the birth of Di Cui was not pleasant for him, but since it's already happened, then so be it.

  "Uh-huh!" Chu Yi Min nodded, and patted Cui's hand comfortingly. "Don't think about anything for now, just focus on taking care of yourself. The king will come to see you again tomorrow."

  Having finished speaking, he tidied up his robe and stood up to go outside.

  "Concubine sends off King Wang!" Dian Cui nodded with tears in her eyes, looking very gentle and obedient.

  Chu Lingyun hastily stepped aside.

  Zheng followed Chu Yimín as they walked out, but just as they reached the gate, a small maid in a green dress rushed in from outside the courtyard.

  She rushed forward extremely quickly and before anyone could react, she had already knelt down in front of Chu Yi Min with a loud thud, heavily knocking her head on the ground.

  "Your Majesty, you must make a decision for my aunt's family!"

  Everyone's footsteps were blocked.

  Zheng's and Chu Lingyun's faces changed at the same time.

  Chu Yimin subconsciously furrowed his brow.

  Mrs. Gu stepped forward and pulled the little girl up, one hand already on her waist, twisting it hard, while a benevolent smile hung on her face, "You silly girl, how can you be so reckless? Your aunt is ill in bed and can't stand the noise, let go now."

  The speech was very slow, with every word and sentence full of warning.

  That little girl's head was throbbing with a cold sweat, her eyes brimming with tears, but she glared at her fiercely before stubbornly turning to Chou Yi Min and saying, "Your Highness, please be aware, someone is trying to harm..."

  Gu's mother was so anxious that she hastily pulled her aside and covered her mouth.

  At this time, Dian Cui in the house seemed to be startled by the noise, sitting on the bed and stretching her neck to look outside, weakly saying, "Is it Xing Er who has returned?"

  He coughed weakly twice as he spoke.

  Gu's mother grasped the little girl called Xing'er tightly and smiled at Chu Yi and the others, "This little one doesn't understand the rules, she's so startled and frightened. I'll send her back immediately and go pick a few more steady ones to serve Madame Cui."

  Gu's mother had a strong and sturdy body, while Xing Er was just an eleven-year-old little girl who was completely immobilized by her. However, she refused to give up and still gazed at Chu Yi Min with eyes full of sorrow and resentment.

  Chu Yimin stood at the door and didn't move another step.

  He didn't say anything, but the gloomy expression on his face had already said it all.

  Zheng suddenly became anxious and repeatedly gave a signal with his eyes to Gu's mother. Gu's mother hastily tried to drag the person away.

  He didn't want to, but Chu Yi suddenly turned his head and looked at Zheng Shi beside him, saying in a cold voice, "You're guilty of theft and want to kill someone to silence them? You dare to do this in front of me? Do you think I'm blind and deaf?"

  Zheng was taken aback by his rebuke and involuntarily knelt on the ground, saying in a tone of utmost humility, "What is Your Excellency saying? I don't understand..."

  Chu Yimin let out a cold snort, but didn't respond to her. Instead, he raised his hand and pointed at Gu's mother, saying "Let her go, let her speak!"

  Gu's mother did not dare disobey his orders and could only force herself to untie Xiao Hu.

  Xing'er had just regained her freedom and immediately fell to the ground at Chu Yi's feet, knocking her head loudly like pounding garlic, "Your Highness, you must do justice for my aunt! My aunt's miscarriage was not an accident, she was harmed by someone, Your Highness, please do justice!"

  Chu Yimin heard this and his body suddenly shook violently.

  While in the house, Dian Cui also heard the commotion and immediately became like a lost soul, sitting motionless on the bed with no reaction.

  Chu Lingyun's eyes rolled around, but she didn't speak for the time being. She just stood aside and watched coldly.

  "What nonsense are you talking about, you little girl?" Mrs. Gu snorted, "Aunt Cui has just lost her child, and you're spouting such nonsense to add to her troubles, what's on your mind?"

  Xing'er wiped away her tears, and not fearing her, loudly said: "Your Highness, I have evidence, every word I speak is true, please make a just decision."

  Chu Yimin's face had turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and he abruptly and coldly spat out one word: "Speak!"

  "Uncle is coming!" Xing Er turned her head and waved her hand towards the outside of the courtyard.

  The crowd followed the sound and saw a middle-aged man wearing a half-old blue long shirt walking in hastily, and after entering the door, he didn't say a word and first kowtowed loudly: "Li Shun, a humble subject, pays respects to his lordship!"

  Chu Yimin didn't bother to ask another question and just waited for Xing Er's next words.

  Xing'er indeed was not afraid of Zheng Shi, and with a calm expression, she said, "This is my uncle, the chief physician of Baicao Hall in West City. After Auntie had an accident early this morning, I was so frightened that I forgot there were also doctors in the mansion, so I quickly went to invite him over. My uncle took Auntie's pulse and he knows that Auntie's miscarriage was caused by someone's malice."

  Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and subconsciously he glanced at Dr. Liu with the corner of his eye.

  This doctor Li Shun was indeed invited by Xing Er, at that time because of Dian Cui's miscarriage, everything here was in a mess, no one took it seriously, thinking it was just a maid who was ill and had made an emergency appointment with the wrong doctor, never expecting to reveal any weaknesses here.

  Liu was also startled and immediately looked down with a guilty conscience.

  Zheng's heart immediately cooled down by half upon seeing this.

  Chu Yimin looked at Li Shun and remained silent for a while before asking: "What did you diagnose?"

  "Your Highness, spare my life! Your Highness, spare my life!" Li Shun seemed like a timid and fearful commoner, hearing this he became flustered and repeatedly kowtowed, speaking rapidly and without order, "This humble subject only thought that the pulse of the madam was suspicious, out of curiosity went to secretly examine the bloodstain on the quilt, it seems that the madam had taken some unclean things - Your Highness spare my life! Your Highness have mercy!"

  He spoke halfway and then repeatedly kowtowed, with a look of being in great danger.

  Chu Yimin's face turned red with rage as he thundered, "Speak clearly! What exactly do you mean? What do you mean by 'Qing'er used unclean things'? Are you implying that someone has used despicable means to harm my offspring? Speak! If you dare utter a single false word, I'll have the entire family beheaded!"

  "Your Highness, spare my life!" He kowtowed again and again, his forehead a dark purple, "I dare not speak rashly, but if the results of my examination are correct, then Madame may have been taking medicine to induce abortion for several days in a row, which is why..."

  Dian Cui's little production was quite sudden, but the situation wasn't particularly ominous, without any signs of human involvement, which is also why Chu Yi Min didn't think of it that way at first.

  The efficacy of avoiding fetal medicine and abortion medicine is different after all. If it's because of this reason, it's also believable.

  Chu Yi Min was taken aback, but Zheng Shi quickly regained her composure and turned to face Dian Cui, who was sitting in the house, and scolded, "You're also too careless, you got pregnant without knowing it yourself, and then you went ahead and took random medicine? Now you've caused such a disaster, are you intentionally trying to annoy Wang Ye?"

  Chu Yimin's eyes turned cold, and he also turned his head to look at Cui.

  She stared blankly, stunned for a moment, then struggled to get out of bed and knelt on the ground, crying and pleading, "Your Highness, I didn't! I've never taken any medicinal soup, nor is it possible that I took some kind of abortion medicine. Your Highness knows, I'm all alone and have always wanted a child!"

  She was a powerless and helpless aunt, of course she would be eager to have a child by her side, how could she use medicine?

  Chu Yimin also calmed down from his initial anger and naturally had his own thoughts.

  Dian Cui had no reason to take the abortion medicine herself, so there was only one possibility——

  It was almost instinctive for him to move his cold gaze to Zheng's face, who was kneeling at his feet.

  "Your Highness, what are you looking at me like that for?" Zheng Shi's face turned iron-gray, and she laughed incredulously, "You can't possibly suspect that I've done something, can you?"

  "Isn't it you?" Chu Yimin said.

  He had always been fairly respectful of his legitimate wife, but some things were too obvious to ignore, and after all—

  Liu Dafu knew that in the Wang Mansion for over a decade, there were few people who could use him to deceive themselves.

  Under Zheng's gaze of such obvious suspicion, he was almost nowhere to hide.

  She wanted to say something, Chu Yimin had already shifted his gaze, and his sharp eyes shot towards Liu Daifu.

  Liu's breathing was stifled, and he hastily knelt down on the ground, defending himself by saying: "Your Majesty is wise and just, Concubine Cui's fetal position is indeed unstable, and it is normal for such things to happen. I dare not rashly comment on Doctor Li's medical skills, but when I previously diagnosed her, I really did not find any other signs. If Your Majesty has any doubts, you can go and ask the imperial physician to verify it at the palace, and then punish me afterwards."

  "Someone's coming," said Chu Yimín.

  Then, without waiting for him to instruct, Li Shun continued Liu's words and said, "The madam's body is weak, this pregnancy was indeed a risk from the start, but if she hadn't mistakenly taken the medicine later, there might have been a way to stabilize it."

  Liu Daifu heard this and let out a sigh of relief.

  Chu Yimin hesitated for a moment.

  Chu Lingyun, who had been watching from the side, nodded to Zi Xiu to lean in and whispered two sentences in her ear.

  Zi Xiu's expression was complex as she glanced at Dian Cui, then nodded slightly, taking advantage of the chaos in the courtyard to sneak out quietly.

  After she left, Chu Lingyun stepped forward with a gentle pace, stroking Chu Yimins chest to help him catch his breath, and said, "Doctor Liu is an old man of our Wangfu, his medical skills have always been trustworthy. Since both doctors say so, he must have been careless for a moment, just an unintentional mistake. Now I'm curious, how did such a thing as the avoidance son soup appear in our mansion?"

  She said, with a beautiful and elegant gaze, using the corner of her eye to glance at Dian Cui who was kneeling in the house.

  Dian Cui always lowered her head and wiped away tears, as if she didn't care about anyone or anything.

  Zheng knew she had already annoyed Chu Yimín and must have said something wrong, so when she saw Chu Lingyun standing up to mediate, she didn't bother to explain herself anymore. She just pursed her lips tightly and wiped away tears with a handkerchief, looking completely wronged.

  Chu Yimin looked at the two women playing the victim and felt increasingly annoyed.

  Chu Lingyun helped him back into the house and sat down, then beckoned to Xing'er, who was kneeling in the courtyard. "Didn't Doctor Li say that Madame Cui mistakenly took the medicine recently? Are there any leftover things from today in this courtyard? Bring them all out for the two doctors to examine and see where the problem lies."

  She didn't call her mother-in-law over and didn't use her own maid either, it's clear that she was trying to avoid suspicion.

  Dian Cui's eyes sparkled, and her fingers gripping the handkerchief unconsciously tightened by threefold.

  Xing'er didn't hesitate, and took another maid from the courtyard to a side room in the east wing. Before long, she came out carrying a stack of cups, plates, and bowls, which were the leftover tea soup and dishes that Jingui had used that day.

  "Go and take a look!" Chu Lingyun said.

  With her taking the lead, Mr. Liu seemed to have found his composure and calmed down, slowly getting up to examine those things. Li Shun also went over to help, and the two of them carefully checked for a while, until they came across a small floral bowl containing half a bowl of clear broth, at which point both of their faces changed color simultaneously.

  "Your Highness, there's something wrong with this bowl of soup!" Doctor Liu said, turning his head in surprise to look at Zhu Yimin on the seat, "This is indeed a fetus-avoiding soup!"

  "How is that possible?" Xing Er took a step forward, "Auntie has been sleeping poorly at night recently, this is the calming tea sent over from the kitchen!"

  Chu Yimín slammed the teacup in his hand to the ground and angrily shouted, "Go to the kitchen and bring me the servant who handled this bowl of soup!"

  Gu's mother was just about to go over, but was stopped by Chu Lingyun with a sharp and fierce gaze.

  She still looked at Xing Er and said: "You take people over!"

  Xing Er didn't care how the mistress of An Le County would treat her today, and immediately called two servant girls to go and fetch someone. Before long, they brought back Shu Da Niang, a supervisor from the kitchen.

  Nanshu Danni was suddenly summoned by her master and was so frightened that she knelt down as soon as she entered the door.

  Chu Yimin didn't waste any words either. He directly used his toes to kick the half bowl of soup in front of her and said, "Speak, what's going on with this bowl of medicine?"

  Shu Dainiang was taken aback, then flustered, "This... this is the calming tea for Aunt Cui!"

  "Settling the shock!" Chu Yimin sneered, his tone cold enough to pierce into one's bones.

  Liu, who was standing beside him, had already reminded him: "This is an Avoiding Son Decoction!"

  Shu Dainiang was stunned, and for a long time she didn't react. Then she came to herself, and in her eyes flashed a hint of fear.

  Chu Yimin's anger burned, and he kicked her in the chest. "You dare to be so presumptuous! Who told you to do this? You actually dared to lay hands on the offspring of I, your king! It seems you don't want to live!"

  "Your Highness!" Shu Dainiang was knocked to the ground, her face pale as she crawled over and hugged one of his feet, begging for mercy. "I am guilty, I... I didn't know it would be like this. This abortion medicine was brought by my daughter-in-law, wanting to borrow our kitchen to brew it, I... this..."

  She said, becoming somewhat incoherent, and hastily kowtowed, "This slave girl doesn't recognize a single character, could it be that I got the two packets of medicine mixed up? This slave girl deserves to die! This slave girl deserves to die!"

  Her expression was anxious and urgent, but it didn't seem like she was lying.

  "Madam Gu just turned the corner, and with a sigh, she began to speak, 'I heard some time ago that Shu Dainiang's daughter-in-law had a hidden illness during childbirth, and it was said that if she were to give birth again in the future, her life would be at risk.'"

  "It's exactly!" Shu Dainiang said with tears in her eyes, "It was for this that I begged for this prescription."

  After all this commotion, it's unlikely that they would go so far as to summon Shu Dangiang's daughter-in-law and the doctor who treated her for questioning.

  Chu Yimin was just for a mouthful of hot air, and now he's getting a bit tired of it.

  Chu Lingyun couldn't just drop it, so she thought for a moment before instructing her mother, "Go to the kitchen and take a look, is there really medicine like Shu Danni said?"

  "Yes, County Master!" Madam Gu led the order and went, soon returned, and presented two packages of medicine, saying: "Your Highness, this was found in the kitchen."

  Chu Yimin did not speak.

  Chu Lingyun rushed over to Liu Dafu and grabbed his chin: "Come take a look!"

  "Yes!" Mr. Liu came over and opened the two packages to check them, then nodded, "Not bad, one is the calming tea I prescribed for Madame Cui a few days ago, and this other package is indeed the abortion medicine from that soup."

  "Drag him away and execute him by clubbing!" Chu Yimín waved his hand, his tone cold and menacing.

  Shu Dainiang was still confused and hadn't figured out what was going on when she was dragged away by Gu's mother.

  "Your Lordship, I shouldn't have been greedy for cheap things, and I shouldn't have used the kitchen in the mansion!" Shu Daign shouted loudly, as if she still didn't understand how she had encountered such a disaster at this time.

  Shu Dainiang was dragged away, and her cries of despair still lingered in the air for a long time.

  "These slaves, they really need to be strictly controlled." Chu Lingyun let out a sigh as if she had sensed something.

  "Madam Zheng nodded in agreement, hastily wiping away tears with her handkerchief. 'It was my negligence,' she said. 'Recently, due to the empress dowager's birthday banquet and the arrival of guests from Mobei, I have been busy attending to external matters and neglected to properly manage these servants, which led to this disaster. Please, Your Highness, punish me!'"

  It's pointless to continue pursuing this matter now that it has reached this point.

  The two were also a married couple, with decades of emotional ties between them. Chu Yi Min let out a sigh and personally helped her up, saying, "There are many trivial matters in this household, not all of which are your fault. Just be more careful in the future!"

  "I understand!" Zheng said, lowering her eyes to conceal the turmoil in her heart.

  After all the commotion, Chu Yi Min was also feeling a bit unwell and instructed Xing Er to take good care of Dian Cui before being supported by Zheng Shi to leave first.

  "Concubine sends off King and Queen! Princess Anle, slow down!" Dian Cui's attitude was always warm and respectful.

  A group of people walked out of the courtyard together. Just as they were about to exit the gate, Chu Lingyun's footsteps suddenly stopped, and she glanced back slightly with a sideways look.

  "Zi Xiu didn't understand, and Fox Doubt asked, 'County Master, what's wrong?'"

  "It's nothing!" Chu Lingyun's smile at the corner of her lips rose with a hint of coldness, then she withdrew her gaze and was escorted out of the courtyard by Zi Xue.

  When everyone left, Xing Er supported Ding Cui back into the house and put her back on the bed.

  Dian Cui's face was pale, but her eyes were extremely clear and sharp.

  Xing'er looked puzzled and said with a hint of regret, "It was just a little short, that Shu Da Niang would be so loyal to the princess?"

  Would rather die than take the fall for Zheng's family?

  Dian Cui sneered: "The queen's family is powerful, and it's not a big deal to buy off a small commoner like him? I was also held in high hopes, and today I can take her down with one move, but...".

  She said, her face clouded with a hint of sadness, gently lifting her hand to stroke her flat abdomen, gritting her teeth and saying, "Pitiful child, although we don't have a mother-son bond, I still want to get justice for him."

  With what happened today, although she managed to escape this time thanks to Zheng's family, it was enough to serve as a warning to her. If something similar happens again in the future, she won't be able to explain herself so easily, so this round of drama wasn't played in vain and still has its benefits.

  Xing'er didn't expect this either, and with a sorrowful expression, she looked at Dian Cui's belly and said, "Auntie shouldn't blame herself too much, who would have thought that the princess would use such tactics?"

  Zheng had secretly mixed abortifacient into her food, and Cui didn't know about it at first. However, Zheng had mixed the medicine into chicken soup, which Cui didn't like to use much, so she used less of it each meal. This pregnancy was actually diagnosed over half a month ago, and when Li Shun gave the diagnosis, he told her that due to long-term use of those medicines, even if the child was kept, it would be born with congenital deficiencies. So she decided to take advantage of the situation and make use of the waste. The original plan was to expose Zheng's true nature, but in the end, she was still fooled by her.

  "Never mind, it's all in the past!" Dian Cui said, her face not showing much disappointment, but suddenly remembering something, she asked again, "Are you sure my body didn't suffer any damage? Will I still have a chance to get pregnant in the future?"

  "Yes!" Xing'er nodded solemnly, "Uncle will not deceive me."

  "Ah!" Pointing to the small box beside the pillow, she took out two silver tickets and handed them to him, "At this time, it's best if you don't go around with Doctor Li, lest you be noticed by the Princess's people. Wait until the situation has passed, then give this to him on my behalf, as a thank you gift."

  "Uh-huh!" Xing'er didn't decline, carefully took the silver ticket, helped Pointui lie down and then carefully closed the door and retreated.

  Dian Cui lay in bed with her eyes open, yet she didn't feel the slightest bit tired.

  She didn't get this opportunity easily, and she couldn't just accept her fate being cut off by the Zheng family. No matter what, she had to find a way to give birth to at least one son or daughter. Even if such status wouldn't allow her to advance further in the Wang mansion, it would still be something to rely on in the future!

  On the way back, Chu Lingyun sent Zheng Shi back. As soon as she entered the door, Zheng Shi angrily smashed a five-colored flower vase on the table to pieces and gritted her teeth: "This cheap woman!"

  She guarded against it day and night, yet still got pregnant with Cui. Not only that, she almost got herself killed in the process.

  Chu Lingyun sat in the chair beside her, watching her vent, but seemed lost in thought and didn't stop her.

  She had a vague feeling that today's matter was not just a coincidence, although Li Shun's appearance had already given the most reasonable explanation to Xing Er.

  Chu Qiyan had suspected this woman before, could it be...

  Is this woman really having problems?

  At the same time as the commotion at Nanhe Wangfu, in Shoukang Palace, the Emperor also arrived by invitation.

  By the way

  The chess piece of Nanyang An finally needs to play its role, huh? Then the Princess of Anle is indeed a combination of wisdom and beauty... Okay, I didn't correct any typos today again.

  Tweet: "The Queen of Spiritualism" by Gu Xiyuan, strongly recommended on the homepage, a great fantasy novel, don't miss it, babies!

  "The Magnificent Concubine" by Yao Erer, babies quickly go and watch!