Chapter 13

Chapter 13

After Fang Yuaner transmigrated into the novel, she hadn’t done much that overstepped her bounds, and the major events followed the book's storyline.

As for the timing of serving Prince Jing being different, the Fang Yuaner in the book, without Xie Run as a rival, had even more opportunities to serve him.

But in this life, she unexpectedly became pregnant and then had a miscarriage.

I suspect even Fang Yuaner herself was confused.

This suggests that what happens in this world may not always align with the book.

Xie Run realized that she couldn’t rely on the book’s content to predict everything.

In the end, she had to walk her own path in the prince's mansion.

After waking from her afternoon nap, Xie Run took Dan Tao to the Splendid Pavilion.

The once lively Splendid Pavilion was eerily quiet, with only the rustling of a few maids walking with bowed heads.

Fang Yuaner reclined on the couch, her face swollen and pale, stripped of her former beauty.

But her demeanor had become much more restrained.

Xie Run sat upright in a chair, her gaze gentle as she looked at her. “I’ve brought some tonics. I hope you'll accept them.”

After speaking, she shyly lowered her head.

Fang Yuaner, who had been somewhat dazed, now stared intently at Xie Run.

“You… why have you come to see me?”

Because of Fang Yuaner’s miscarriage, the princess consort took pity on her and lifted her confinement.

But having just miscarried, Fang Yuaner couldn’t go anywhere now, no different from being under confinement.

None of the concubines who had once been close to her came this time.

Xie Run said softly, “We came into the prince's mansion together. Now that you've had a miscarriage, I had to come see you.”

She gave off an air of warmth and a hint of timidity, the kind of person least likely to arouse suspicion.

Fang Yuaner gave a faint, strange laugh. “Just for that?”

Xie Run looked at Fang Yuaner with a puzzled expression. “What else could it be for?”

They say the eyes are the window to the soul.

Xie Run’s eyes were a great advantage.

When she looked at someone earnestly, her eyes were clear and bright, like a pool of water, making her appear pure, harmless, and obedient.

When she smiled sweetly, her eyes curved, naturally revealing a touch of charm and brightness.

In short, she charmed everyone.

Meeting those eyes, Fang Yuaner, against her better judgment, found herself believing Xie Run.

Xie Run smiled. “Anyway, the prince no longer favors me, so I don’t need to worry too much. But you are truly pitiful… When something happens to you like this, I can’t help but feel that I might face the same fate—like the fox mourning the hare. That’s why I came especially to see you.”

Fang Yuaner’s eyes reddened, and she began to sob. “I was blinded by greed and couldn't tell who was genuine and who meant well.

Those people usually got so many benefits from me in the past, but last night, not a single one spoke up for me. Today, not a soul appeared at the Splendid Pavilion. Only you, sister, came to see me… I am truly touched.”

Xie Run silently handed over a handkerchief and occasionally comforted Fang Yuaner with a word or two.

She showed not the slightest hint of anything out of the ordinary.

The two chatted amiably.

Before Xie Run left, Fang Yuaner reluctantly had her maid see her out.

As soon as Xie Run left, her reluctant expression vanished, replaced by a cold indifference.

When she first transmigrated, Fang Yuaner went through the book's plot, and the first thing that seemed off was Xie Run.

According to the plot, Xie Run was supposed to hang herself on the first day she entered the mansion.

But she didn’t. Not only that, she even gained Prince Jing’s favor.

Fang Yuaner suspected that Xie Run might also be a reincarnator or transmigrator. She had people watching Xie Run for about a month, only to see Xie Run go from favored to disfavored without showing any signs of being a transmigrator, which left her puzzled.

It wasn’t until her own miscarriage today that she realized this.

Fang Yuaner suddenly realized that this was a real world, and not everything would go according to the book.

The original Fang Yuaner in the book had never been pregnant, let alone been framed by Concubine Ning to cause a miscarriage!

Once one thing changes, it could trigger a chain reaction.

Fang Yuaner no longer had the confidence that she knew the plot.

Having met Xie Run in person today, Fang Yuaner couldn’t detect any trace of a transmigrator or reincarnator in her—she seemed like a genuine person of that era.

Those doubts were thoroughly dispelled, but many worries remained.

Concubine Ning struck ruthlessly, a single lethal blow.

Prince Jing detests conflicts in the inner courtyard and abhors anyone who harms his offspring.

Now Fang Yuaner was implicated in both.

Although she hadn’t done it, what Qiu Lan did was no different from her doing it.

Her situation was very dangerous; she might be permanently out of favor.

The poisoning by Qiu Lan was something Fang Yuaner had never anticipated.

In the original book, Qiu Lan, relying on Fang Yuaner’s favor, had caused a lot of trouble. Later, when Fang Yuaner was punished, Qiu Lan was not spared either.

After transmigrating, Fang Yuaner learned from the book's mistakes and had already warned Qiu Lan several times, even planning to find an opportunity to send her away.

But before she could act, Qiu Lan had already brought such a huge disaster upon her.

Everything was in chaos.

Fang Yuaner leaned weakly against the couch and closed her eyes.

She no longer had the confidence of knowing the script, but instead began to feel uneasy.

How should she spend her days in the future? And how could she regain favor?

After a moment, Fang Yuaner suddenly opened her eyes, a gambler's fervor flashing in her eyes.

Since that's the case, she would have to take a risk!

...

Back at Linxuan Pavilion, Xie Run took a sip of tea, then went to check on the honeysuckle and jasmine she had planted.

The weather was hot this season, in fact not suitable for planting flowers.

But Xie Run had managed to keep them alive.

Now the jasmine buds had already opened, giving off a faint scent.

Xie Run also had someone pick the honeysuckle, planning to dry it for brewing tea.

Noticing Xie Run was unusually quiet, Dan Tao and Yuli silently stayed by her side, not daring to ask questions.

After a while, Xie Run suddenly said, "You must be curious why I went there."

"After this, Concubine Fang will surely fall out of favor and be seen as a thorn in Secondary Consort Ning's side..." Dan Tao said softly. "My lady is usually cautious, why get involved in this mess?"

Xie Run smiled. "Aren't you both hoping I'd make something of myself?"

"I have no influence with the Prince, so I have to take a gamble on Concubine Fang's side."

Dan Tao, quick-witted, immediately understood Xie Run's meaning. "My lady means... Lady Fang still has hope of regaining favor?"

Xie Run said, "Not just hope. She will definitely regain favor..."

First, Fang Yuaner is a transmigrator. Even if the plot changes, some things remain the same, and she can use those to regain favor.

Second, Fang Yuaner is ambitious and will never resign herself to staying in a courtyard neglected for life.

But she couldn't tell these two maids all that, so Xie Run deliberately acted mysterious: "Just watch and see."

She said this to fool them, but only Xie Run herself knew the truth.

Her real purpose in making this trip was to dispel Fang Yuaner's suspicions.

As soon as the transmigration plot appeared, Xie Run realized she was a major glitch.

A person who should have died early didn't die, and even gained the Prince's favor. If Fang Yuaner wasn't stupid, she would have been wary of her.

Thus, after learning about the plot, Xie Run had kept a low profile, rarely going out.

Even when Prince Jing grew angry at her words and actions and stopped favoring her, Xie Run didn't care much.

She waited a long time, and then finally Fang Yuaner miscarried.

There was no miscarriage in the plot, and Xie Run instantly knew her chance had come.

When Fang Yuaner realized the plot wasn't going exactly as written, wouldn't it then seem natural that Xie Run, who should have died, was still alive?

Now that her goal was achieved, Xie Run was ready to continue lying low in Linxuan Pavilion to recuperate.

Little did she know that changes always happen sooner than expected.