Yu Wang was stunned upon hearing the news. Yu Wangfei looked at him and gently said, “Wangye, perhaps you should go take a look. How could she miscarry so suddenly?”
Yu Wang raised his head and looked at his wife, suspicion in his eyes.
Yu Wangfei met his gaze, her face showing a hint of sadness. With a soft sigh, she said, “Is Wangye suspecting me? The separate courtyard belongs to Wangyes. It was Royal mother’s people watching over Side Consort He. I am heavy with child and can barely care for myself. Besides, with Royal Mother protecting me, Side Consort He poses no threat to me anymore. Why would I harm her?”
Yu Wang hesitated. That’s right—He Wanyi was already under house arrest and posed no threat.
Seeing his hesitation, Yu Wangfei quietly sneered in her heart but softened her voice further. “Wangye, back when Side Consort He tried to harm our child, I truly hated her. But now that I am also about to be a mother, how could I bear to harm an unborn child? Side Consort He is probably waiting for you. You should go. I will explain everything to Royal Mother on your behalf. Don’t worry.”
Yu Wang stood up, took a step, then paused and returned. “Forget it. I won’t go.”
What was the point?
Given He Wanyi’s increasingly stubborn nature, if he went, it would likely only end in a fierce quarrel. Besides, with her sister now dead, if she learned of it, she might very well lose her mind.
Yu Wang truly did not wish to see He Wanyi in that condition. It would be better to wait until she calmed down.
“Send for a physician to go check on her.”
“I already received the news and had someone invite a physician over. Royal Mother has also been informed; I’m sure an imperial doctor will be dispatched soon.”
“Good, good. You’re always so thoughtful,” Yu Wang said dryly. “You shouldn’t tire yourself either — get some rest. I’ll head to the study for now.”
Yu Wangfei saw her husband out and, gazing at his retreating figure, her eyes turned utterly cold.
If He Wanyi knew what Yu Wang was saying now, would she regret her choices back then?
Relying on a man’s conscience — one might as well indulge in a sweet dream instead.
Meanwhile, Consort Xian suppressed the news of He Wanyi’s miscarriage. She sat motionless in Changning Palace for a long time.
Seeing this, Feng Momo grew anxious. She brought over a cup of tea and said softly, “Niang Niang, please try to think positively. It seems this child was not fated to be with Wangye.”
Consort Xian looked at Feng Momo and said, “Those who commit evil will receive retribution. She once harmed Yuling’s child, and now she loses her own.”
“Wangfei is kind and gentle and is blessed by Heaven. With Niang Niang’s protection, this pregnancy should be stable. Side Consort He, however, is malicious, and with the fall of Jin Wangfei… perhaps losing the child is not such a bad thing.”
“Is that so?” Consort Xian took a sip of tea, then looked back at Feng Momo and asked, “How exactly did Side Consort He find out about her sister’s situation?”
Feng Momo quickly replied, “It was by chance. Side Consort He, having nothing to do, went to the kitchen to make some pastries herself. Unexpectedly, she overheard the kitchen maids gossiping — and they happened to mention Jin Wangfei.”
“A coincidence?”
Feng Momo’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly said, “Niang Niang, I had the matter thoroughly investigated. Those maids really were just gossiping.”
Even if it wasn’t purely coincidence, this matter could not be pursued any further.
Side Consort He and Jin Wangfei — their fates were their own making.
If the scandal grew larger, it would be Consort Xian and Yu Wang’s reputation that would suffer. Feng Momo didn’t completely believe it was innocent, but she was willing to let it end here.
Consort Xian gently nodded, “I’ve always trusted you. Since that’s the case, we can only say she was unfortunate and lacked the blessing.”
Now, she could only hope that her daughter-in-law’s current pregnancy would produce a son, so that His Majesty might show some leniency toward her son for the sake of a grandson.
Feng Momo, seeing Consort Xian still troubled, quickly changed the topic to the affairs at the Zhenbei Wang household.
“You’re saying Duan Wangfei and Kang Wangfei aren’t attending?”
Her daughter-in-law wasn’t attending because she was pregnant, and besides, her son hadn’t yet regained His Majesty’s favor — it was better to avoid any association with Zhenbei Wang Household. But for Duan Wangfei and Kang Wangfei not to attend, that was surprising.
Suddenly, Consort Xian’s eyes lit up. “I remember now — wasn’t there a quarrel between Qi Wang and his wife over this matter?”
“Exactly.”
Previously, she had been preoccupied with He Wanyi’s situation and had forgotten. But now it came back to her — Yu Wangfei had mentioned it.
Consort Xian’s mind began to turn rapidly. “If that’s the case, this will offend the Empress.”
After all, the second son of Zhenbei Wang was marrying Li Peilan from Duke Cao’s family. It would be a major slight to skip the wedding.
This was disregarding even basic courtesies — were they ready to openly fall out with the Empress?
A hidden excitement stirred in Consort Xian. A conflict would be good — the more serious the fight, the more opportunity her son would have to rise again.
The greater the chaos, the angrier His Majesty would become, and the more her son’s obedience and good behavior would stand out. Just like how the scandal with He Wanyi had been smoothed over before.
Yu Wangfei noticed Consort Xian’s faint excitement with some surprise and quickly lowered her eyes to hide it.
She hadn’t expected Consort Xian to be this eager, but on second thought, it made sense.
She composed herself and gently said, “Royal Mother, Zhenbei Wang Household has always been independent in the capital. Even if the wedding is a bit quiet, others may not criticize them too harshly.”
Consort Xian smiled faintly, “You’re still too young. If Zhenbei Wang Household were marrying a girl from another family, perhaps no one would say much. But they’re marrying someone from Duke Cao’s house. The Duchess is not someone who easily swallows insults.”
“For an event like this, surely the Empress herself will advise restraint.”
Consort Xian paused for a moment, considering. It made sense — but whether the Duchess would listen was another matter entirely.
Soon, it was the day of Li Peilan’s wedding. Mingxi did not step foot out of the palace and brought Madam Xu over to accompany her.
Madam Xu had initially hesitated, but when Mingxi said she missed her, she came immediately.
Mingxi was in especially high spirits today — she was eagerly waiting for news from Xiao Muchen.
She didn’t believe that once the scandals about tax revenues and the imperial granaries were exposed, His Majesty would still protect the Crown Prince.
Madam Xu, seeing her daughter so cheerful, was also in a much better mood and chatted about affairs back in Jiangcheng.
When Mingxi heard that her cousin had had a child, she casually said, “If my cousin’s wife gave birth, why didn’t you tell me earlier? I should send a gift.”
Madam Xu smiled, “I just received your aunt’s letter too. If you want to send something, we’ll send it together.”
Mingxi readily agreed, then asked, “How’s my cousin?”
“She’s doing well, and now she’s pregnant too. Your aunt wanted to come visit you, but things are too busy at home.”
Mingxi smiled, “She can visit whenever she’s free.”
As long as everyone was safe and healthy, it didn’t matter if they couldn’t meet immediately — they eventually would.
Madam Xu looked at her daughter, hesitated a moment, then swallowed back what she was about to say.
Mingxi noticed, poured her a cup of tea, and smiled, “What’s this? You have to think so hard before speaking to me? Is there something wrong?”
