Chapter 51

Chapter 51

It turned out that Prince Jing had been attending a banquet that day and drank too much. He was really drunk and planned to rest in the front courtyard.

Just then, Concubine Wan came to seduce him.

In his drunken haze, Prince Jing slept with Concubine Wan in the front courtyard.

The next morning, Prince Jing was furious and kicked her out directly.

Since the incident occurred in the front courtyard, no one else knew the details.

All that was known was that Concubine Wan had finally slept with Prince Jing, but instead of gaining favor, she disgusted him.

This incident made Concubine Wan the laughingstock for a full month!

At noon that day, Fang Yuaner sent someone to deliver a jar of wine to Xie Run's place again.

Xie Run felt exasperated.

Was Fang Yuaner really addicted to sending wine?

Did she intend to send a jar of wine every time Wan Linlang got the short end of the stick?

Even Xiaoshu was puzzled. "Shufei Fang is usually very cautious. Why is she being so careless about this? If someone uses this wine as a pretext against her, she wouldn't even have a place to cry foul."

Xie Run smiled, caressing her growing belly. "This is Shufei Fang's way of acknowledging your mistress's integrity."

Xiaoshu and Dan Tao exchanged helpless glances.

They thought their mistress was getting more and more playful lately.

Another incident involved a maidservant of Concubine An climbing into Prince Jing's bed.

Prince Jing handed the woman over to the Princess Consort to deal with, intending not to promote her.

But Concubine An herself had a change of heart.

In the heavy snowfall, she trudged to Qingsong Courtyard with her big belly to beg for the maidservant.

In the end, the maidservant became Prince Jing's concubine.

Her surname was Lu.

Thus, the mansion gained a new Concubine Lu.

It was unclear what the Princess Consort was thinking, but she had Concubine Lu live in Qingfeng Pavilion, right next to Xie Run.

Given that Concubine Lu had betrayed her mistress to climb into the Prince's bed, she was clearly no pushover.

She naturally dared not provoke Xie Run, but she often went across to Qingzhu Courtyard to pester Concubine Li.

Concubine Li valued tranquility and had an aloof personality. She was annoyed to death by Concubine Lu's pestering but had no way to refuse, so angry she could spit blood.

All the while, Xie Run, living in between, enjoyed quite a few dramas.

One day, Xie Run sat cheerfully in the Hillside Pavilion, waiting for a show.

A maid reported that Concubine Lu had gone to Qingzhu Courtyard early in the morning to find Concubine Li.

This spot in the Hillside Pavilion gave a perfect view of Qingzhu Courtyard's main gate.

The white fox fur cloak made Xie Run's face rosy and fair, her complexion excellent, making her look even more striking.

She was excited, ready to watch how Concubine Li would drive Concubine Lu out.

Suddenly, Yueliang'er rushed in.

"Mistress, there's an uproar at Lanxiang Courtyard!"

Xie Run was startled. "Which courtyard did you say is in an uproar?"

"Lanxiang Courtyard! Concubine Ning's residence!"

Yueliang'er, having run too fast, was sweating heavily despite the cold winter.

Two months ago, it was discovered that Concubine Ning had plotted to poison the two Shufei.

Prince Jing and the Princess Consort had not announced how to deal with her.

But since that day, Concubine Ning had fallen ill, growing worse day by day, and by yesterday she couldn't get out of bed.

Xie Run had vaguely heard the Princess Consort had already prepared a coffin.

After all, she was the biological mother of the eldest young master, and should leave with dignity.

Xie Run stood frozen, unable to think of what kind of uproar could happen at Lanxiang Courtyard.

"Tell me the details!"

Dan Tao pulled Yueliang'er and asked, puzzled, "Concubine Ning is at death's door. How could there be an uproar?"

Yueliang'er replied, "It's Shufei Fang."

Fang Yuaner?!

Xie Run had a bad feeling.

Yueliang'er continued, "Shufei Fang stormed into Concubine Ning's courtyard with people to beat her."

Xie Run: "..."

This piece of news was a bit absurd.

Xie Run was stunned for a while, instinctively wanting to get the first-hand drama.

But as she stood up, feeling the heaviness of her belly, she couldn't help but sigh.

Well, staying at a distance ensured her safety.

Xie Run thought the news couldn't get any more absurd, but Yueliang'er added another sentence.

"I heard Shufei Fang also brought the eldest young master along."

Xie Run leaned on Dan Tao as she stood up: "Let's go. We have to go this time."

Since it involved the Prince's son, Xie Run couldn't pretend not to know.

Dan Tao pretended not to notice her mistress's eagerness to watch the drama and only reminded her, "Mistress, stay back and don't get scared."

Xie Run nodded vigorously, the gossipy gleam in her eyes couldn't be put out.

Dan Tao was speechless.

When Xie Run got to Lanzhi Courtyard, a crowd had already gathered.

The prince, the princess, Shufei Yun… the mood was tense.

Just as she was about to say something, a sharp wail came from inside the room: “Mother!”

The princess sighed. “What a tragedy!”

Though she hated Shiqie Ning, she couldn’t bear to see a mother die in front of her child.

Prince Jing seemed to have just arrived as well; he took a few strides and entered the main hall of Lanzhi Courtyard.

Xie Run and the others quietly followed.

Upon entering the hall, they saw the four-year-old eldest son collapsed over Shiqie Ning’s body, crying his heart out.

Shiqie Ning’s face was blue and purple, already lifeless.

Fang Yuaner sat to the side, her hair slightly disheveled, one hand on her belly, her eyes heavy and fixed on the mother and son on the floor.

The scene was downright creepy.

Suddenly, someone gasped, “Shiqie Ning’s face…”

Xie Run looked as well and saw the wasted, pale face of Shiqie Ning mottled with purple and blue.

Like handprints, or… poison?

Prince Jing’s expression was extremely grim, his aura oppressive. “Shufei Fang, explain to me—what is this all about?!”

At that moment, Prince Jing was full of the oppressive aura of a ruler, reducing the concubines to trembling silence.

But Xie Run could tell Prince Jing was unhappy with Fang Yuaner.

From the moment he addressed her as Shufei Fang, he had already sided with his son, or perhaps the deceased Shiqie Ning.

Fang Yuaner seemed as if waking from a daze, supported by Qiu Xiang as she performed a curtsy.

“Your Highness. Today, the eldest son suddenly ran to the Xiachi Courtyard, saying he wanted to see the baby in my belly.”

“But then…” Fang Yuaner shot a dark look at the weeping eldest son, sneering. “The moment he touched me, he went mad, kicking and punching my belly.”

“If the maids hadn't stopped him in time, I would be the one lying on the floor today.”

At this moment, only the princess dared to speak up: “Then how did you come to Lanzhi Courtyard with people?”

“The eldest son kept cursing that the baby in my belly was a bastard, and that I was vicious, harming his mother.”

Fang Yuaner laughed coldly. “I dare not blame the eldest son, but if he's so poorly raised, it is Shiqie Ning’s fault.”

“Since she is at fault, she ought to be punished!”

When she said ‘ought to be punished,’ a murderous tone crept into her voice.

She was a proud woman by nature, and having suffered repeatedly at Shiqie Ning’s hands, she now hated her with every fiber of her being.

What happened today, though somewhat unexpected, Fang Yuaner owned up to it.

She walked to Prince Jing on her own and knelt, her back ramrod straight.

“Your Highness. I do indeed hold a personal grudge against Shiqie Ning. Today, provoked by the eldest son’s words and actions, I decided to settle old and new scores together. I took people and gave Shiqie Ning a severe beating.”

“Who would have thought she was so ill-fated—a little roughing up and she stopped breathing.”

Fang Yuaner seemed to have thrown caution to the wind.

“I am in the wrong. Punish me however you see fit, Your Highness.”

The eldest son, who had been weeping over Shiqie Ning’s body, suddenly rose and glared at Fang Yuaner with pure hatred.