If it weren’t for hearing that Fang Qingyi was indeed bleeding, the Princess Consort wouldn’t have rushed over in the middle of the night. She scrutinized Fang Qingyi’s frightened appearance and asked, “What exactly happened?”
“Actually, it’s nothing much. Madam just pointed out a few things.” Fang Qingyi clutched a silk handkerchief, wiping the wetness from the corners of her eyes.
The term “pointed out” could mean something trivial or something significant. It could be ordinary advice or a scolding.
“Perhaps because of the pregnancy, I tend to overthink. Now that I’m just a concubine, my status is different from before. Madam’s words made me overthink, which then affected my pregnancy. It’s not Madam’s fault…”
The Princess Consort frowned, looking at Fang Qingyi with a hint of disappointment. This was her niece, the child she had watched grow up.
“You do realize you’re just a concubine now? You do realize your status is different?” The Princess Consort of Jinnan sighed. “Our Fang family is a prestigious marquis household, with generations of nobility. You returned home with your mother and took the surname Fang, becoming the jewel of our marquis household! You had such a bright future, yet you insisted on becoming a concubine! You brought yourself down from the clouds into the mud with your own hands!”
The more the Princess Consort spoke, the more agitated she became, feeling increasingly distressed for Fang Qingyi. As a woman, she understood too well how lowly the status of a concubine was.
Fang Qingyi’s hands, resting on her knees, tightly clenched the handkerchief, her knuckles turning white. She bowed her head, tears falling on the back of her hands.
Every word from the Princess Consort felt like a knife stabbing into her heart.
She regretted it. She had regretted it long ago!
But she had come this far, what else could she do? As the legitimate wife, she could at least seek a divorce, but as a concubine, the best she could hope for was a dismissal letter, which would leave her disgraced and sold off.
There was no way back for her.
Tears filled her eyes, but determination gradually surfaced. She slowly lifted her head, her gaze lingering for a moment on the Princess Consort’s belly before she looked up and said, “Aunt, Qingyi truly knows her mistake. Not protecting this child well, getting agitated, and making you come all this way late at night is all my fault!”
“It’s too late. Go back.” The Prince of Jinnan stood up. These matters of the inner household, especially those concerning his son’s household, were not something he originally wanted to involve himself in. But now that the Princess Consort was pregnant with what might be their last child, he valued it greatly. He was worried about her coming here alone, so he accompanied her.
The Princess Consort of Jinnan sighed deeply and softened her tone, “Take good care of your pregnancy. If you’re really suspicious and paranoid, just stay at home more. It will help you feel at ease.”
“It’s…” Fang Qingyi rested her arm on Lushu’s and stood up. “I’ll see Uncle and Aunt out.”
“No need to see us off, just rest,” the princess said, turning to leave with the Princess of Jinnan.
Although the princess said there was no need to see them off, Fang Qingyi still escorted them to the courtyard gate. She stood at the gate, watching the princess’s departing figure, her eyes deep in thought.
Fang Qingyi turned back, and Hongzan came out from the corner to meet her. She seemed to want to say something but hesitated.
Fang Qingyi glanced coldly at her and said, “If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you being so hesitant?”
Hongzan’s eyes showed a struggle. She had been serving Fang Qingyi since she was very young and understood her well. Although she couldn’t guess what Fang Qingyi was planning, she could see that Fang Qingyi was definitely plotting something.
“Master, you are now carrying the heir’s child. Isn’t it better to focus on delivering the child safely and serving the heir well?” Hongzan advised in a low voice.
Fang Qingyi laughed.
She looked at Hongzan and said, “You want me to behave and put my efforts into pleasing the heir?”
That was exactly what Hongzan meant, though she didn’t say it so bluntly.
Fang Qingyi found it even more amusing.
“Become a lowly concubine and serve the same man as my former maid, even competing for his favor?” Fang Qingyi stopped smiling. “Hongzan, you were originally a slave, but I am not!”
Not only was she not a slave in the past, but she was also the precious daughter of a marquis’s household.
How could she be content with that?
It was impossible.
Fang Qingyi flicked her sleeve and turned back into the house, leaving Hongzan standing in the courtyard’s darkness, lowering her eyes sadly.
On their way back, Prince Jinnan and his wife encountered a hurried subordinate.
“Your Highness, something has happened in the palace!” The man, named Yu Ning, was a close confidant of Prince Jinnan.
Prince Jinnan frowned and asked, “Have they found out the real mastermind behind the assassination of the heir Qi?”
As he asked, Prince Jinnan didn’t quite believe it. To attempt an assassination on the legitimate eldest son of the emperor under the heavens—was this act not outrageously bold? It was likely that the attempt to kill Chen Qi was false, and the real intent was to frame someone else. But now, the truth was shrouded in smoke, making it hard to distinguish fact from fiction. His father, the emperor, was becoming increasingly paranoid. Prince Jinnan had no intention of vying for the throne, especially now that his wife was expecting; he wanted to avoid such matters even more.
Everyone in the court knew the emperor was dissatisfied with the crown prince. As the emperor aged, the urgency to re-establish a successor became more pressing. Recently, the emperor often summoned his grandsons to the palace, hinting at his considerations.
While Prince Jinnan was contemplating the current situation, he noticed Yu Ning’s troubled expression.
A bad premonition arose in his heart, and he asked coldly, “Has the heir caused trouble again?”
Yu Ning’s face looked worse than usual. He struggled internally before cautiously speaking, “Today, several heirs gathered in the palace, and perhaps they drank too much…”
As soon as he heard that there had been excessive drinking, Prince Jinnan’s temple twitched.
Yu Ning swallowed nervously and continued, “The heir, perhaps confused by the wine, somehow got into a conflict with Heir Xun and overturned a table. The Empress tried to mediate, but he, he shouted and forbade the Empress from speaking…”
Having reported the incident, Yu Ning immediately knelt down with a thud.
A blaze of anger ignited within Prince Jinnan, and just as he was about to erupt, the consort beside him wobbled. He hurriedly supported her, suppressing his fury, and gently advised, “Don’t get upset! Your health is paramount! You are carrying two lives now!”
The consort sighed wearily and leaned against Prince Jinnan’s arm.
Seeing her condition, Prince Jinnan quickly picked her up to take her back. He ignored Chen Anzhi for the moment and instructed Yu Ning to sober Chen Anzhi up with some medicine before bringing him to see him.
By the time Yu Ning reported to Prince Jinnan, Chen Anzhi had already returned to the manor. After his disgraceful behavior at the palace, he had been given sobering soup. Now, his mind was half-clear, half-clouded by the lingering effects of the alcohol.
Or rather, the irritable drug that Fang Qingyi had been gradually feeding him was taking effect. The medicine wasn’t a poison but a concoction that made Chen Anzhi unusually irritable after drinking.
On the day of his wedding to You Yuji, Fang Qingyi had already administered this drug. That’s why he had acted so outrageously on his wedding day—speaking recklessly and behaving improperly.
Upon his return, Chen Anzhi learned from Wangshan that Fang Qingyi had seen blood. He staggered straight to Anxiang Courtyard.
Fang Qingyi, aware that Chen Anzhi had caused trouble at the palace and been punished, was simmering with anger. However, she knew that the medicine’s effects were at their peak after he drank.
She said nothing, merely gazing at Chen Anzhi with tear-filled eyes.
“I’ve heard about it. You ran into You Yuji at Wan’an Temple while praying for the child, and that venomous woman scolded you, frightening you and causing distress to the fetus!” Chen Anzhi felt a raging fire inside him, burning with such intensity that it made his body feel unbearably stifled, seeking an outlet.
“No, that’s not it.” Fang Qingyi shook her head gently. “Madam was kind and merely offered some advice. She had no intention of harming our child. Cousin, you must believe me! It’s my wild imagination, it has nothing to do with Madam… Cousin, please don’t misunderstand Madam because of me and our child…”
“Even at a time like this, you’re still speaking for her?” Chen Anzhi, furious, paced the room, the fire inside him making him smash a vase of red plum blossoms on the high table, shattering it to pieces.
Fang Qingyi hurried over, grasping Chen Anzhi’s sleeve, and choked out, “Cousin, don’t be like this. Can’t we just let this go? Our child is fine, Mad…”
“Stay here and rest well.” Chen Anzhi said coldly, striding out.
At the door, he ordered Wangshan in a cold voice, “Go, to Tanxiang Yingyue!”
Fang Qingyi didn’t know that despite the influence of the drug, Chen Anzhi’s anger wasn’t just about the child in her belly. He had also heard on his way back about Chen Qi’s assassination attempt. Upon hearing this, he was genuinely worried for Chen Qi, but then he learned that You Yuji was also present at the time.
—
Back then, were those two secretly meeting?
Fang Qingyi stood at the doorway, tearfully watching Chen Anzhi walk away, before slowly turning back. She returned to the soft couch, letting out a cold laugh as she leisurely cracked open some pumpkin seeds.
Hongzan stood by the window, listening to the commotion outside, and sighed softly.
—
When Chen Anzhi arrived at Tanxiang Yingyue, You Yuji had already gone to bed.
“You Yuji, come out here!” Chen Anzhi stormed inside.
Zhenxu and Baohe quickly threw on their outer garments and got up, blocking the inner room’s doorway to stop the furious Chen Anzhi.
“Madam has retired for the night. Whatever the Heir needs to say can wait until tomorrow,” Zhenxu advised gently.
“Move aside!” Chen Anzhi shoved Zhenxu aside.
BaoHe spread her arms to block the door, raising her voice, “The Heir is drunk. Please go back and rest!”
Just then, Lady Jing, hearing the commotion, hurriedly got dressed and rushed over with several maids. When she arrived, she saw Chen Anzhi kicking Baohe to the ground.
Lady Jing gasped, hesitated briefly, then turned to go to the front courtyard to fetch the consort.
Chen Anzhi was about to kick the door open when it was pulled open from the inside. You Yuji stood in the doorway, frowning at him.
Having come from the dark path outside, Chen Anzhi’s eyes hadn’t yet adjusted. Suddenly seeing You Yuji’s beautiful, jade-like face, he was momentarily stunned.
The fiery rage within him seemed to pause for a brief moment, but it was just a moment.
You Yuji bent down to help Baohe up from the floor, then turned her gaze to Chen Anzhi and spoke calmly, “Did the Heir come here to act out because of the wine?”
Chen Anzhi took a deep breath. He thought he would ask about the incident at Wan’an Temple, but what he actually said was, “Were you secretly meeting with Chen Qi?”
Chen Anzhi bit the tip of his tongue.
You Yuji’s gaze was cold, distant, and calm.
Her complete indifference only further wounded Chen Anzhi. Why? Just because he had been confused and drunk on their wedding day, did she now disregard him so completely? She discarded her duties as a wife and didn’t care about him at all? Why couldn’t she behave like a proper wife—gentle and understanding?
At the very least, she should care about him.
She was his wife! Yet she looked at him as if he were a stranger!
The fire in Chen Anzhi’s heart burned more fiercely.
“Poisonous woman! A wife who doesn’t follow the rules!” Chen Anzhi couldn’t bear to see You Yuji’s cold eyes any longer. He looked away, turned around, and began pacing the room, angrily smashing vase after vase filled with red plum blossoms.
The room became a mess.
Zhenxu was so angry she was nearly in tears. Guests were coming tomorrow, and each of those vases had been carefully arranged by the maids, taking most of the afternoon to set up.
Si Que heard the commotion from You Yuji’s place and frowned in displeasure. Despite his headache, he put on his clothes and stepped outside, standing under the eaves and letting the cold wind blow over him as he gazed toward You Yuji’s room.
Before Lady Jing could return with the consort, You Heng had already stepped into Tanxiang Yingyue. The servants who tried to inform him first were grabbed by their collars and tossed aside.
