“Blood! So much blood!”
Xu cairen screamed and pointed at Wu meiren.
“Wu meiren is hemorrhaging!”
“What are you all standing around for? Hurry and carry Wu meiren back to her room!”
Ning wang flew into a rage.
The servants rushed forward and, working together, lifted Wu meiren and carried her into a side room.
Wu meiren was in such pain that cold sweat poured from her body. Her face was twisted in agony as she repeatedly cried out,
“The child, my child. Wangye, save our child.”
“Quickly summon the taiyi.”
Ning wang held Wu meiren‘s hand and followed her into the side room.
“Hold on. The taiyi will be here soon.”
Wu meiren was in too much pain to speak. She shook her head repeatedly as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Ning wang looked deeply distressed.
Pei shi followed them into the room.
“What is going on? Since when was Wu meiren pregnant? Why was benwangfei not informed?”
Shen cefei and Luo cefei both shook their heads, indicating they knew nothing about it.
Pei Shi then looked toward the other meiren and cairen.
They all shook their heads as well, saying they knew nothing of Wu meiren‘s pregnancy.
Suddenly, Ning wang roared,
“Why are you asking so many questions? As long as benwang knew she was pregnant, that’s enough. What are you asking all that for? Everyone get out.”
Pei shi was furious. “Wangye, this matter, “
“Silence! Benwang knows exactly what you’re trying to say. Leave first. Benwang will explain everything afterward.”
The trusted Qin mama tugged at Pei shi‘s sleeve and subtly shook her head.
Pei shi snorted and swept out of the room.
Standing at the doorway, Gu Jiu nearly followed them inside.
It was only because Fang mama pulled her back that she came to her senses.
This was the wang fu, not Gu fu.
Wu meiren‘s pregnancy and miscarriage had been completely unknown to Pei shi beforehand.
There was something highly suspicious about the entire matter.
She could not get involved in this muddy water.
At some point, Liu Zhao had come to stand beside her.
He said, “You should return first. I’ll come back later.”
Gu Jiu asked, “Is it appropriate for me to leave now?”
Liu Zhao squeezed her hand. “What comes next won’t be convenient for you to witness. Listen to me and return first.”
After thinking it over, Gu Jiu agreed.
These were matters of Ning wang‘s inner household. As a daughter-in-law, it was indeed inappropriate for her to participate.
She said to Liu Zhao, “I’ll go back first. Return early as well. Tomorrow morning you still need to accompany me on my return visit.”
A rare smile appeared on Liu Zhao’s face. “Don’t worry. It won’t interfere with important matters.”
Taking her maids with her, Gu Jiu prepared to return to her quarters.
At the courtyard gate, she encountered Hu taiyi and Wang taiyi hurrying over.
Hu taiyi‘s arrival made sense to her.
Why was Wang taiyi here?
As far as she knew, Wang taiyi specialized in surgery. She had never heard that he was also skilled in obstetrics and gynecology.
There was no time for more than a brief nod before the two physicians hurried into Jinxiu Pavilion.
Standing at the courtyard entrance, Gu Jiu vaguely heard Pei shi questioning Wu meiren‘s personal maid.
She said to the servants beside her, “Let’s return.”
The farther she stayed from this muddy affair, the better.
Back in the main rooms of the Eastern Courtyard, Gu Jiu washed up and prepared for bed.
The past few days had truly exhausted her.
She had not even had time to become acquainted with the servants attending Liu Zhao.
A strange place.
Unfamiliar buildings. Unfamiliar people. The wedding, family visits, return visit preparations, one matter after another. She had been so busy she had barely had time to breathe.
At this moment, all she wanted was to lie down, close her eyes, and rest.
Yet once she actually lay in bed and closed her eyes, she found herself unable to sleep.
Scene after scene flashed through her mind.
First Jiang Yan. Then Wu meiren. Even Liu Zhao came to stir up trouble in her thoughts.
Fang mama attended her bedside.
“Is furen having trouble sleeping?”
Gu Jiu simply sat up. “Has the matter at Jinxiu Pavilion concluded yet?”
Fang mama replied softly, “Nubi already sent Xiao Cui to gather information. She hasn’t returned yet, so I imagine it isn’t over.”
Gu Jiu bit her lip. She still had too few people under her command. In such a vast wang fu, relying on Xiao Cui alone to gather information was unrealistic.
She said directly, “I need to add more people to my side. What is the situation with that eunuch who works in the palace, the one mama mentioned previously?”
Fang mama hurriedly replied, “Everything is still the same. If furen thinks highly of him, shall we have the shaofu assign him to your service in a few days?”
Gu Jiu said, “Add two more people as well. In a residence this large, a few more people means a few more sources of information.”
“Furen is absolutely right. This servant will handle it and make sure to choose honest and reliable people.”
Just then, Xiao Cui returned. Having braved the cold wind, she entered looking frozen through.
Qing Mei brought her a warm towel to wipe her face and hands.
Xiao Cui asked, “Has furen gone to sleep?”
“Not yet. She’s speaking with mama.”
“Then I’ll go see guniang.”
“Drink some hot tea first. Don’t bring the cold into guniang’s room.”
“As expected, Qing Mei jiejie is thoughtful.”
After drinking the tea and warming herself up, Xiao Cui finally entered the bedchamber.
“Furen, nubi has returned.”
“Come in quickly. What’s the situation now?”
Gu Jiu beckoned her closer.
Xiao Cui sat down on the footstool before speaking.
“Wu meiren miscarried. They say she was already more than two months pregnant. Apart from Wu meiren and her personal maid, nobody knew about the pregnancy.”
Gu Jiu said, “If no one knew Wu meiren was pregnant, then today’s miscarriage could simply have been an accident?”
Xiao Cui nodded repeatedly. “That’s what wangfei niangniang said as well. But nubi noticed that wangye didn’t seem to believe it. The taiyi said Wu meiren ate foods that conflicted with one another, causing internal bleeding and resulting in the miscarriage.
“But everything she ate and drank tonight was something she normally consumed. There was nothing unusual.”
Fang mama looked at Gu Jiu.
“What does furen think of this matter?”
After some thought, Gu Jiu said, “Whether news of Wu meiren‘s pregnancy spread or not, one only needs to ask the maids serving her to know. Her personal attendants know her situation best.”
Fang mama said, “Furen means that if someone used tonight’s banquet to harm Wu meiren, the information must have come from her own maids.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “After Wu meiren became pregnant, she stopped having her monthly cycle and no longer needed to wash menstrual cloths. How could her attendants not know? Surely the laundering of her undergarments wasn’t done personally by her closest maid.”
“Furen makes a good point.”
Gu Jiu asked Xiao Cui, “Did wangfei and wangye quarrel?”
Xiaocui nodded. “Wangfei seemed to suspect that Wu meiren had been unfaithful.”
Gu Jiu was greatly surprised. “Why would wangfei suspect Wu meiren of infidelity? Where does that come from?”
Suddenly remembering something, Fang mama said, “Nubi may know the reason.”
“Quickly tell me.”
Carefully choosing her words, Fang mama said, “As far as nubi knows, the wang fu has not welcomed any new children for more than ten years. The concubines around wangye have shown no signs of pregnancy all these years.”
So that was it.
For more than ten years, not a single woman in the residence had become pregnant.
Now Wu meiren suddenly turned out to be carrying a child.
No wonder Pei shi suspected her of infidelity.
Gu Jiu immediately asked Xiao Cui, “What did wangye say?”
Xiao Cui shook her head. “Nubi doesn’t know. Wangfei was speaking loudly, so nubi happened to overhear a few sentences. Afterwards their voices became quieter and quieter. Then the steward came to drive people away, so nubi couldn’t learn anything else.”
Gu Jiu nodded in understanding. Looking at Xiao Cui approvingly, she said, “You managed to uncover the key information. Very good. It’s getting late. Go and rest.”
“Furen should also rest early.”
Inside the study of Bixi Pavilion, only Ning wang and Wang taiyi remained.
The room was dimly lit. Ning wang‘s shadow stretched across the wall, distorted and somewhat sinister-looking.
In a low voice, he asked, “Wang taiyi, how is benwang‘s health?”
Wang taiyi took Ning wang‘s pulse.
After some consideration, he said, “Wangye‘s body has been carefully nurtured for many years now and has improved considerably. It is possible for women to conceive by wangye.”
“Really? Then why was Wu meiren the only one who became pregnant?”
Wang taiyi replied, “Weichen examined Wu meiren‘s condition. Firstly, she is young. Secondly, she is healthy. That is why Wu meiren was able to conceive.”
Ning wang‘s expression shifted. “Then does that mean benwang‘s body has completely recovered?”
Wang taiyi nodded. “More or less recovered. However, wangye must continue to take proper care of yourself and must not indulge excessively in women.”
“Hahaha…”
Ning wang burst into laughter.
“Benwang knows his limits. These years, many thanks to Wang taiyi for diligently tending to my health and for keeping benwang’s secret all this time. As for this matter, please continue to keep it strictly confidential. Do not reveal even a single word to His Majesty.”
Wang taiyi was somewhat surprised.
“Wangye intends to keep this from His Majesty?”
Ning wang‘s gaze sharpened as he stared fixedly at Wang taiyi.
“Are you unwilling to keep benwang‘s secret?”
Wang taiyi hurriedly shook his head.
“Weichen will obey wangye‘s instructions and keep his mouth shut. It’s just that news of Wu meiren‘s pregnancy will eventually reach the palace. His Majesty may inquire about the matter.”
Ning wang chuckled. “If His Majesty asks about it, tell him the truth.”
“The truth?” Wang taiyi looked completely bewildered.
Ning wang nodded. “Other than matters related to benwang‘s physical condition, tell the truth about everything else. You may even truthfully relay wangfei‘s suspicions to His Majesty.”
Wang taiyi was utterly astonished. “But if that’s the case, won’t wangye‘s reputation suffer?”
Rather than admit his health had improved, Ning wang would rather bear the reputation of being cuckolded.
The thinking of imperial family members truly was beyond ordinary people’s understanding.
Ning wang did not care in the slightest. “A mere reputation. Benwang can do without it. Besides, does benwang even have a reputation left to lose? In any case, do as benwang instructs. Once the matter is done, your rewards will naturally be plentiful.”
“Weichen obeys. If wangye has no other instructions, weichen shall take his leave.”
“Go.”
Eunuch Chang En personally arranged for someone to escort Wang taiyi out before returning to the study.
“Wangye, da gongzi requests an audience.”
“It’s this late and instead of returning to his room, he’s come here? For what?”
“This servant does not know.”
Ning wang snorted. “Let him in.”
Liu Zhao was invited into the study.
Everything in the room appeared perfectly normal.
Had he not personally seen Wang taiyi emerge from the study, he would have thought the physician had never been there.
Ning wang reclined lazily on the couch. “It’s late. Why have you come to see benwang?”
Liu Zhao sat down in a chair. “Imperial Grandfather ordered fuwang to enter the palace tomorrow morning. Imperial Grandfather Emperor also said that if fuwang does not appear tomorrow morning, he will send the Imperial Guards to fetch you.”
“Heh. The old man has no tricks beyond the Imperial Guards. Unfortunately, benwang really is afraid of the Imperial Guards. Did the old man say why he was summoning benwang?”
“Naturally to settle accounts regarding fuwang’s improper conduct while guarding the imperial mausoleum.”
Ning wang looked disgusted. “The old man acts quickly. I merely drank some wine and muttered a few things, and now he wants to settle the score afterward. Hmph.”
Liu Zhao reminded him, “Fuwang should remember to rise early tomorrow.”
“Enough. You’re too talkative. I heard the Crown Prince is gravely ill. You saw him. Judging from his appearance, how much longer does he have left?”
In a serious tone, Liu Zhao replied, “Your son is not a physician and cannot determine how much lifespan the Crown Prince has remaining.”
Ning wang took a sip of wine. “The Crown Prince truly has a long life. Back then, those people all said that once Empress Ruizhen Cui died, the Crown Prince would be deposed within six months. It’s nearly been a year, yet he’s still sitting firmly in that position. That bunch really is incompetent.”
Liu Zhao said solemnly, “Imperial Grandfather still retains some old affection for the Crown Prince.”
“Benwang knows. That’s why we must wait for an opportunity. An opportunity that guarantees a decisive strike. Pay closer attention to developments both inside and outside the capital. Report immediately if anything happens.”
“Your son obeys. Does fuwang have any other instructions?”
Ning wang stared at him. “I’ve heard that Fang shaojian, who once served Empress Ruizhen Cui, is now hiding in the Eastern Palace. Is this true?”
Liu Zhao nodded. “It can basically be confirmed that Fang shaojian is hiding in the Eastern Palace.”
Ning wang asked, “Was it the Crown Prince’s doing, or the Crown Princess’s?”
“The Crown Princess’s.”
Ning wang nodded.
“Benwang suspected as much. The Crown Prince doesn’t possess that kind of courage. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be toyed with by his subordinates. As for Crown Princess Sun…”
Ning wang trailed off.
Years ago, he had almost married Crown Princess Sun himself. Unfortunately, the Sun family ultimately chose the Crown Prince and abandoned him.
Ning wang laughed loudly. Those matters had happened decades ago. There was no point dwelling on them now.
He waved a hand at Liu Zhao. “You may leave. Benwang wants some quiet.”
Liu Zhao rose and withdrew with a bow.
Outside, he instructed Chang En, “Fuwang must enter the palace tomorrow morning to see His Majesty. Make sure he is awakened and does not arrive late.”
“Xiaode obeys. Should xiaode arrange for someone to escort gongzi back to his room?”
“No need. Take good care of fuwang.”
Lin Shuping carried a lantern and walked ahead, lighting the way.
Liu Zhao silently walked through the wang fu’s garden.
Looking up, he saw that tonight was unusually clear.
There was actually a moon.
He wondered whether Gu Jiu had already gone to sleep.
She must be exhausted after the last few days.
Knowing her temperament, she certainly would not wait for him to return. She would have gone to bed early.
He idly played with the thumb ring on his hand. Did Gu Jiu truly care about her status as the wife of an Imperial Grandson?
Whether she cared or not, she was already married to him. For the rest of their lives, the two of them would be bound together. Neither could escape.
When he arrived at the main residence of the Eastern Courtyard, the gatekeeper woman immediately prepared to announce his return.
He stopped her. “Do not wake furen.”
Silently, he entered the main quarters.
Several maids were still waiting.
“Nubi greets Young Master.”
“Has furen gone to sleep?”
Qing Mei nodded. “Furen just lay down.”
Liu Zhao headed directly toward the bedchamber.
Gu Jiu had just finished reading two pages of a book and was about to sleep when she heard movement at the doorway.
Opening her eyes, she found herself meeting Liu Zhao’s gaze.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Liu Zhao was the first to break the silence. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
“I was just about to sleep. Why did you come back so late?”
Gu Jiu sat up on the bed as she spoke.
Liu Zhao untied his belt and removed his outer robe. “I spoke with fuwang for a while, so I returned late.”
Dressed only in his inner robe, Liu Zhao sat down at the edge of the bed.
Taking Gu Jiu’s hand, he gently rubbed her long fingers. “At Ganlu Palace today, that palace maid, was she your person?”
As expected. He was settling old accounts.
After some thought, Gu Jiu replied, “She used to be my maid. She’s no longer my person.”
Liu Zhao raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. “If she was your maid, how did she end up entering the palace?”
Gu Jiu explained, “Her name is Jiang Yan. Back in the northwest, she sold herself into the Provincial Governor’s residence. I thought she was beautiful, so I took her in.
“Don’t let her status as a maid fool you. She’s ambitious and has aspirations. I wanted to help her and see just how high she could climb, so I pulled some strings and sent her to the capital.
“I never expected she’d end up serving in Ganlu Palace as the lowest-ranking cleaning maid. I was surprised myself when I saw her today.
“I thought that with her looks, if she used them properly, she might really rise through the ranks.”
Hearing this, Liu Zhao smiled. “The palace isn’t a place where beauty alone can take you upward.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “I understand that now. Back then, I viewed things too simply.”
Liu Zhao leaned closer. Their breaths intertwined.
“You didn’t send Jiang Yan into the palace because you were wary of her beauty and wanted to get rid of her?”
Gu Jiu rolled her eyes at him. “Do I look like that sort of person? Or perhaps you’ve taken a fancy to Jiang Yan’s looks? How about tomorrow I ask for her on your behalf?”
“Little vinegar jar. Did I ever say I fancied her?”
“Hmph. You came back and immediately started asking about Jiang Yan. How am I supposed to know what you’re thinking?” Gu Jiu deliberately picked a fight with him.
Lowering his head, Liu Zhao chuckled. “Jiang Yan serving in Ganlu Palace truly is just a coincidence?”
“Of course. Do you really think I have the ability to influence palace personnel appointments? If I had that kind of power, why would I have had to endure all that unpleasantness today?”
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