Chen Xiao stepped forward and bowed. “Your subordinate greets Wangfei.”
“Please rise, Lord Chen,” Mingxi said. “I need you to relay a message to Wangye. Is it convenient now?”
Chen Xiao understood at once—this was about the palace. He lowered his head slightly and replied, “The Crown Princess is experiencing a difficult labor. Several Wangyes remained at the palace yesterday, but they started returning home this morning. Wangye didn’t come back because His Majesty had matters for him. If Wangfei sends a letter, I can deliver it.”
Mingxi exhaled slightly in relief, then explained the matter regarding Duan Yu.
Chen Xiao was shocked—he knew this wasn’t a small issue. He hadn’t expected Wangfei to respond so swiftly and decisively. “I’ll report it to Wangye immediately. Please rest assured, Wangfei.”
After Chen Xiao left, Mingxi finally felt a bit more at ease.
The Marquis household had no prior grudge with Zhang Gelao, and never had conflicts with Consort Gui either. Yet they struck at her brother without hesitation—how could Mingxi swallow that?
Moreover, Huirou was Consort Gui’s daughter-in-law. This slap in the face of the Marquis household—how could Huirou continue to have any standing in Jin Wang’s residence after this?
At that moment, Lan Ping requested an audience.
Mingxi had Qiancao bring him in. It was the first time Lan Ping met the young lady alone. As soon as he entered, he knelt and kowtowed. “This humble one greets the young lady.”
Mingxi looked at him. “Speak while standing. Weren’t you following Li Quan? Why are you here?”
“Replying to the young lady—my mother sent me to deliver a message. Jin Wangfei discovered something is wrong with Side Consort Qian’s pregnancy—it’s very likely she won’t be able to give birth.”
That reminded Mingxi of the message Lan Jiang’s wife Jiang had passed along previously—there had been the smell of mugwort from Side Consort Qian’s quarters. But back then they said it was because she liked plants and flowers, and used mugwort to repel insects.
After obtaining the medicinal dregs from over there and having them examined, it was indeed a pregnancy-preserving formula, though the dosage was somewhat heavy. Imperial physicians have always been cautious in their diagnoses, and their prescriptions are typically safe and balanced.
Perhaps the medicine provided in the palace did not meet Side Consort Qian’s expectations, which is why she resorted to acquiring medicine from outside.
At the time, Mingxi already felt that things weren’t so simple. However, she couldn’t find more solid evidence and could only continue observing.
She didn’t expect news to arrive so soon.
“How was it discovered?” Mingxi asked immediately.
“My mother discovered that the medicinal dregs discarded by Side Consort Qian were actually in two sets—one for others to see, and the other the real one.”
Mingxi’s expression grew solemn. “Is this certain?”
“Yes. It wasn’t to guard against the main courtyard, but against Qi Momo.”
Mingxi instantly understood. “Even Qi Momo needs to be guarded against? What exactly is Side Consort Qian trying to do?”
“I do not know. But my mother said she dug up the real medicinal dregs beneath a flowering tree in Side Consort Qian’s small garden and showed them to Physician Ren. He said, based on the dosage, the fetus could only be sustained for at most half a month.”
“Half a month?”
Mingxi did a quick calculation. Her face darkened. Side Consort Qian’s due date was in May, and it was now the end of February, meaning there were still two full months until the expected delivery.
So Side Consort Qian had known all along that the child could not be kept and had been secretly forcing the pregnancy to continue—she must have a larger scheme.
But what was she plotting?
If it were against Duan Huirou, why wait until now? She could have ended the pregnancy much earlier and avoided harming her own body.
After all, forcefully sustaining a pregnancy also greatly harms the mother.
Mingxi stopped Qiancao. “Send someone to summon Ren Mian.”
Ren Mian arrived very quickly. It seemed he had already prepared himself after seeing the dregs.
As soon as she saw him, Mingxi asked, “What is the true condition of Side Consort Qian’s pregnancy?”
Ren Mian let out a light sigh. His expression was grave. “By the seventh month, the fetus should have already lost all movement.”
Mingxi was stunned at first, then exclaimed, “You mean she’s carrying a dead fetus?”
Ren Mian gave a slight nod. “Yes.”
Not only Mingxi—everyone present was shocked, their expressions changing dramatically.
Fang Momo said from the side, “If it’s a dead fetus, it should have been expelled long ago. Keeping a dead fetus inside a living woman—it’s a death wish!”
Mingxi’s mind spun rapidly. This pregnancy could be sustained for at most another half-month, and now the Crown Princess had suddenly gone into premature labor…
Was there a connection between the two?
Mingxi suddenly looked at Fang Momo. “Once the Crown Princess successfully gives birth, there will be a ‘Three-Day Cleansing Banquet.’ By custom, would the side consorts from various manors attend?”
Fang Momo thought carefully. “There’s no rule saying they cannot go. And the side consorts listed in the royal jade registry are different from ordinary concubines—they hold official status.”
Mingxi seemed to catch a fleeting thread of thought, but it vanished too quickly to grasp.
She turned to Lanping and said, “Go back and tell your mother to inform Jin Wangfei—no matter what, she must not meet with Side Consort Qian during this period.”
“Yes.” Lanping bowed and left.
Mingxi then turned to Ren Mian. “Keep the dregs Side Consort Qian secretly buried, and preserve your pulse diagnosis records. They may prove useful.”
Though they might never be brought to light.
“Rest assured, Wangfei,” Ren Mian replied with a nod. He understood the stakes the moment he handled the case and would naturally keep the evidence safe.
After everyone left, Fang Momo looked at Wangfei and said, “Wangfei, you suspect this pregnancy of Side Consort Qian is aimed at the Crown Princess? That seems unlikely. How could a side consort possibly reach the Crown Princess?”
Though the Crown Prince was under house arrest, he still received all due treatment, showing the Emperor had not lost hope in his son.
Moreover, the Crown Prince had performed well during his confinement and worked in harmony with the Empress. Now that the Crown Princess had given birth early, perhaps this could win the Emperor’s sympathy, and the Crown Prince might be released.
Mingxi shook her head. “I don’t know yet. But I feel this matter isn’t simple.”
She hadn’t yet worked out the key connection.
But she had a vague sense that the Crown Princess’s early labor might indeed be connected to Side Consort Qian’s pregnancy.
Just what was the connection? She still lacked sufficient clues to piece it together.
“Should I go to the palace?” Fang Momo asked.
Mingxi shook her head. Her instinct told her she should stay still for now.
“Mama, I think the best course is to do nothing for now.”
“Then we’ll follow your lead.” Fang Momo trusted Wangfei deeply now. Everything Wangfei had done had proven right.
Mingxi first received a message sent back by Xiao Muchen, telling her not to worry about Duan Yu—he would handle it.
Mingxi knew Xiao Muchen wouldn’t sit idly by. Passing the message on was only to let him prepare in advance so he wouldn’t be caught off guard.
Soon after, she received word that Duan Ning was kneeling with Duan Yu outside Chongzheng Hall. Perhaps because Duan Ning had performed well since taking office, the Emperor summoned both brothers to audience.
As for what would happen—no one knew yet.
By nightfall, news came from the Eastern Palace: the Crown Princess had given birth—a legitimate eldest daughter of the Crown Prince, and the Emperor’s first legitimate granddaughter.
But Mingxi frowned. Bai Shixi’s days were likely to become difficult.
