Chapter 92

Chapter 92: Jujube Milk Cakes

Li Nianzi, witnessing the scene unfold, couldn't help but fall to her knees, her young face streaked with tears. "Father, Aunt Xiang is innocent! She would never do such a thing!"

Though raised by Zeng Huiyan, Li Nianzi had known since childhood that Concubine Xiang was her birth mother. She sensed Zeng Huiyan's dislike for her. Concubine Xiang had always urged her to obey her legal mother and seek her favor. In private, Concubine Xiang showed her warmth and concern, but in the presence of others, she rarely spoke to Li Nianzi. Yet, Li Nianzi understood this was Concubine Xiang's way of showing love.

The Second Master, enraged, scolded Li Nianzi along with Concubine Xiang: "The evidence is undeniable—how can she be innocent? The cloth on the effigies was embroidered by her, and the effigies were found in her room! Don't you dare defend her!"

Li Nianzi knelt, her knees numb from the cold. She lifted her head, back ramrod straight, tears welling in her eyes as she argued, "Concubine Han is a skilled embroiderer; it would be easy to imitate Aunt Xiang's work. The concubines live so close, constantly coming and going. Perhaps someone else planted the effigies in Aunt Xiang's room?"

"How dare you talk nonsense!" The Second Master abruptly raised his hand and slapped Li Nianzi across the face.

Concubine Xiang scrambled on her knees to the Second Master's side. "Master, this has nothing to do with Second Young Miss. She knows nothing."

Dong Yuting's expression darkened. Regardless, striking a child was unacceptable, especially since she doubted Li Nianzi's involvement. She glanced at Zeng Huiyan, who appeared slightly surprised and bewildered, as if unsure how to handle the situation.

The Second Master ruthlessly kicked Concubine Xiang aside. Li Lingchuan's voice was low and stern: "Second Brother."

As brothers, the Second Master sensed Li Lingchuan's displeasure and instinctively flinched, adding with a hint of appeasement, "Elder Brother, you don't know—this vile woman cursed Han Yan and even Third Sister-in-law! Otherwise, why would they have fallen?"

The matter unexpectedly implicated He Jinglin. Dong Yuting instructed Qiu He to bring the two effigies. Qiu He, considering them ill-omened, wrapped them in cloth before presenting them to Dong Yuting.

The effigies were stuffed with straw and adorned with two small garments, which, at a glance, resembled those worn by He Jinglin and Han Yan. Three silver needles pierced their abdomens, extending to the back, where papers bearing their birth horoscopes were affixed. Undeniably, they were the intended targets.

This was no trivial matter. Accusations of witchcraft could lead to a death sentence even within the palace.

Concubine Xiang, gasping from the kick, tasted blood in her throat. Witnessing the Second Master's cruelty, she turned to plead with Zeng Huiyan: "Second Madam, I truly didn't do it! I am innocent!" She clutched Zeng Huiyan's clothes tightly, as if grasping her last lifeline.

All eyes turned to them. Zhu Er stepped forward to pry Concubine Xiang's hands away. "Auntie, please let go."

Zeng Huiyan stumbled back in embarrassment but couldn't free herself. She said awkwardly, "What good does telling me do? Let go at once!"

Li Nianzi, clutching her cheek, collapsed to the ground. The slap had stunned her, leaving her mind blank as tears streamed down her face. The other children also looked bewildered.

Dong Yuting said, "Help Second Young Miss and Concubine Xiang up. I'll go check on Concubine Han."

The west wing chambers housed the concubines, each in separate, adjoining rooms, not interconnected to prevent accidental entry into another's room at night. Concubine Han occupied the largest and best-appointed room, with an abundance of furnishings. Due to her pregnancy, the servants dared not neglect her, ensuring her provisions were fully met and even supplemented.

The room was warm. Han Yan lay on the bed, eyes closed, still unconscious.

"Doctor, how is she?" Dong Yuting asked.

The doctor, inconvenienced by being summoned during the festival despite receiving payment, concealed his displeasure and replied honestly, "Although there's no bleeding, the fall was severe. The fetus is unstable and could be in peril at any moment. We'll need to observe for a few more days."

"So serious?" Dong Yuting glanced at Han Yan. When He Jinglin had fallen previously, it hadn't been described as this critical; she had recovered after seven days of bed rest.

"The concubine is carrying twins, and her constitution is weak. Any mishap easily destabilizes the pregnancy," the doctor explained.

"Is there a way to stabilize it?" Dong Yuting persisted. "Must someone watch over her constantly?"

"There is a method—acupuncture can stabilize the fetus, but the process is agonizingly painful, unbearable for most..."

Before the doctor could finish, Han Yan's weak voice came from the bed: "Doctor, I'm willing."

Her face was as pale as the snow on the eaves, and even turning her head seemed to require great effort. "As long as I can protect the children, I'll do anything..." She wept, her tears rolling down her cheeks like shimmering pearls.

The doctor looked awkwardly at Dong Yuting.

"Concubine Han, think carefully. The pain is unbearable—not something an ordinary person can endure."

Han Yan replied without hesitation, "I can endure it." She stroked her belly as waves of pain slowly spread through her, more agonizing than a clean cut.

Dong Yuting asked the doctor, "If she doesn't undergo acupuncture, will she be in danger?"

The doctor hesitated. "It's uncertain. We'll need to observe." He didn't dare make guarantees, fearing repercussions if something went wrong.

Dong Yuting pressed further, "What are the chances she'll be fine without it?"

After a moment's thought, the doctor answered, "About thirty percent..."

Han Yan, sweating profusely, parted her pale lips: "First Madam, I'm willing to do it. Could it be any more painful than this?"

It was hard to say. Dong Yuting held back the words, not wanting to frighten Han Yan, who already looked miserable. "Since you've decided, I won't say more." She left the room, leaving Chun Yue and Dong Zhi to watch over Han Yan. Han Yan's maid, Duo Er, still knelt in the courtyard—the one who claimed to have seen Concubine Xiang acting suspiciously.

Upon hearing that He Jinglin's fall was also implicated, the Old Madam, who had intended to rest, stormed over.

Dong Yuting deferred to her as the Old Madam questioned Duo Er about the incident: "How did you discover this?"

Duo Er said, "Concubine Xiang often visited Concubine Han. They had a good relationship, often exchanging gifts like pastries, clothes, and food... One day, Concubine Han asked me to deliver pastries gifted by the Second Master to Concubine Xiang. When I entered, I saw Concubine Xiang stuffing two doll-like objects into a wardrobe."

Concubine Xiang stared in disbelief, her eyes filled with hatred as she gritted her teeth, as if she could devour Duo Er alive. "You're lying! I'll tear your mouth apart! You set me up! You're framing me!" Concubine Xiang realized she had fallen into a trap but had no idea when or how.

The Old Madam pointed at her angrily. "Take her away!"

Concubine Xiang panicked. Locked up? Without her presence, they would only hear Duo Er's side of the story. She couldn't let that happen!

The maids nearby immediately seized Concubine Xiang's arms and dragged her toward a room. Concubine Xiang struggled desperately, shouting, "You can't lock me up! She's lying! Don't believe her! Old Madam, you must believe me!"

But how could her strength compare to that of the sturdy maids? Despite her struggles, she was dragged off by force.

Concubine Xiang's cries faded into the distance, leaving a trail of chaotic footprints in the snow.

Li Nianzi opened her mouth, her voice barely a whisper: "Grandmother, Auntie..." Before she could finish, the Old Madam turned to the children. "Xiu Lian, take all the children away."

Wang Mama swiftly acted, pulling away Li Nianzi, who still wanted to speak.

"Continue," the Old Madam said coldly to Duo Er, her aura rivaling Li Lingchuan's.

Duo Er swallowed hard, looking at her reddened fingers. "Today, Concubine Xiang and Concubine Han returned from Second Madam's quarters via the covered corridor, where there was no snow. Yet Concubine Han still fell. Concubine Xiang was right beside her, and I caught a glimpse of malice on Concubine Xiang's face. It reminded me of those doll-like objects, and I felt uneasy. I didn't dare let Concubine Xiang stay near Concubine Han, so I shouted that Concubine Xiang had pushed her to separate them."

"So, you didn't actually see Concubine Xiang push Concubine Han?"

Duo Er pressed her head to the ground under the Old Madam's scrutiny. "Please punish me, Old Madam."

"Go on," the Old Madam said, her expression unreadable.

Duo Er continued reluctantly, "It was like a seed planted in my mind—those doll-like objects took root and kept resurfacing. So, I asked Qiu He to accompany me to search Concubine Xiang's room, and we actually found..." She trailed off, but everyone understood.

The Old Madam turned to Dong Yuting, or more precisely, to Qiu He beside her. Dong Yuting asked on her behalf, "Qiu He, is what she said true?"

Qiu He nodded. "Yes. I took the effigies and a pouch embroidered by Concubine Xiang to the embroidery supervisor, who attributed the embroidery to the same hand. The birth horoscopes on the effigies were verified to be Concubine Han's and Third Madam's."

The Second Master jumped in. "Mother, we can't keep her! She must be sold out of the household!"

Li Lingchuan clicked his tongue, signaling him to be quiet.

At that moment, Han Yan's painful cries echoed from the room, causing everyone to freeze momentarily. Dong Yuting quickly explained the reason. The Second Master stepped forward again to stir trouble, "Mother, this woman is going to cause the loss of your grandson!"

The Old Madam reacted similarly to Dong Yuting, "Is it that serious?"

"Yes, the physician said there's a thirty percent chance of safety, and seventy percent chance he won't make it..."

The doubt in the Old Madam's eyes lessened slightly, her expression grim. Harming anyone was one thing, but harming the family line was beyond the pale. The Second Master continued to chatter incessantly, urging the Old Madam to punish Concubine Xiang, showing no regard for the fact that she had followed him and borne him a daughter.

"During the festival season, where could we even sell her? Besides, the Li family is under constant scrutiny. If we sell off a concubine today, the whole capital will know by tomorrow." Dong Yuting, aware of their concern for reputation, deliberately steered the conversation in this direction.

The Second Master stubbornly insisted, "Then sell her somewhere else."

Zeng Huiyan's face paled, an indescribable emotion welling up inside her. She quickly and softly muttered, "Who knows if this is her self-injury scheme?"

The Second Master happened to hear this and immediately raised his voice, "What kind of self-injury scheme is this? The child was almost lost! How can you be so heartless!"

Publicly chastised by him, Zeng Huiyan flushed with anger and retorted loudly, "Almost lost, but not actually lost!"

Dong Yuting sneered coldly, "You have the nerve to call others heartless." He truly saw concubines as mere commodities. The Second Master's mindset was deeply ingrained, and Dong Yuting couldn't change his views.

"Enough, stop arguing. Send her to the temple to devoutly accumulate blessings for the Li family," the Old Madam decided, turning the bodhi prayer beads on her wrist. She glanced at the two dolls on the ground, "Tomorrow, invite a master from Baoguang Temple. Such defiled objects must not remain in the Li household."

Concubine Xiang was secretly sent away, with very few people aware. Coinciding with the festival, most of the servants were off duty, so even fewer knew. Those who returned to work had no idea that a concubine was missing from the household.

She was sent to a nunnery to keep Concubine Yun company, which made them easier to keep an eye on. This also provided a ready excuse if they were discovered—how else to explain why they weren't sent to the same place to accumulate blessings for the Li family?

After the physician administered acupuncture, Han Yan's pregnancy stabilized, though the incident had taken a toll on her. She had lost weight, making her belly appear even larger. When the Old Madam sent calming tonics and nourishing food to Cuiwei Court, she also sent some to Han Yan. The physician confirmed it was safe for her to consume. Despite eating plenty, Han Yan's body didn't strengthen; instead, her belly grew larger and larger, as if the nutrients were all being absorbed by the child inside, like a bloodsucking parasite.

The Old Madam said Han Yan must be carrying twin boys.

The first thing Han Yan did after being able to get out of bed was to visit the main hall to thank Zeng Huiyan. "Fortunately, Second Madam, you were in charge that day. Otherwise, my child would have been harmed by Concubine Xiang."

With her large belly, Zeng Huiyan feared something might happen to her there and arranged for a seat. Who knew if this madwoman would use her unborn child to frame someone again?

She watched Han Yan's performance coldly but couldn't resist asking icily, "If your child had really been lost, would you hate yourself?"

Han Yan responded, "Of course, I would hate myself for failing to protect my child and letting them be harmed by vile people."

Zeng Huiyan narrowed her eyes, staring at her grimly, "Do you know what Concubine Xiang said to me before she left?"

"I do not know."

"She said she didn't push you, much less harm you."

Han Yan smiled, "She shouldn't have told you, Madam. She should have told the Old Madam and Second Master." She paused, "I couldn't see Concubine Xiang off when she left, otherwise I would have given her a plate of milk jujube cakes. She often gave them to me—I never knew Concubine Xiang was so kind to me. The physician said those milk jujube cakes were highly nourishing."