Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Suiyin asked in confusion, "What do you mean, mistress?"

"I saw that Concubine Ning's people were inciting the eldest son to resent Fang Yuaner, so I thought I could take advantage of it..."

"Fang Yuaner has always had a hot temper and is very overbearing."

Wan Linlang's eyes darkened, "If the eldest son was rude to her, she would definitely go to Concubine Ning to vent her anger."

As expected.

Fang Yuaner did indeed take the eldest son to make a big scene at Lanxiang Courtyard.

Wan Linlang took a deep breath, "I originally thought that if Fang Yuaner caused a big ruckus and managed to get Concubine Ning killed, that would be best."

For that reason, she even gave Fang Yuaner a helping hand by increasing the poison for Concubine Ning.

After all, Concubine Ning was destined to die.

She helped Concubine Ning along, and even spared her a lot of suffering.

"Even if Fang Yuaner is pregnant, killing a concubine would make her life difficult from now on!"

Especially since this concubine was the mother of the eldest son.

And Prince Jing had originally planned to let Concubine Ning die quietly of an illness. By causing this scene, Fang Yuaner disrupted Prince Jing's arrangements.

As long as Fang Yuaner stepped through the gates of Lanxiang Courtyard, she would inevitably incur Prince Jing's displeasure.

Now the rift between Prince Jing and his son had become real, and Concubine Ning had died at Fang Yuaner's hands.

Everything was going as Wan Linlang had planned.

Unfortunately, the final outcome was different from what she had envisioned.

Suiyin listened and said in confusion, "Mistress, isn't this a good thing? Your plan succeeded."

Wan Linlang clenched her hands, her nails digging into her flesh until blood seeped out.

She gritted her teeth and said, "The plan was fine, but the prince didn't get angry at Fang Yuaner!"

Wan Linlang had gotten involved in this matter precisely to make Fang Yuaner lose favor.

"The prince nominally confined Fang Yuaner for six months, but six months is just enough for her to carry her pregnancy to term."

"This isn't confinement; it's protection!"

Killing a concubine and only getting just six months of confinement?!

Was the prince so fond of Fang Yuaner?

Wan Linlang was almost drowned by a wave of jealousy.

Suiyin said cautiously, "Mistress, there's nothing to be done about it. The prince values heirs. Since Consort Fang is pregnant, no matter how angry he is, he won't punish her severely."

Heirs?

Wan Linlang unconsciously raised her hand to touch her lower abdomen.

If she also had an heir, would she be able to regain the prince's favor? Would her life become much easier?

No, that wouldn't happen.

Wan Linlang's lips were full of bitterness.

She had a naturally cold constitution. In her previous life, even though she was so favored, she remained childless for years.

It was only after Prince Jing ascended the throne that she managed to get pregnant and gave birth to a son.

In this life, she had no favor at all—how could she possibly get pregnant?

Suiyin's gaze also fell on Wan Linlang's lower abdomen, and she couldn't help saying, "It's been almost a month since the mistress last served the prince. Maybe... it could have happened?"

"I heard that the prince only visits Concubine An once every six months, and she still got pregnant."

The despair in Wan Linlang's eyes was obvious. "It's impossible."

Suiyin didn't understand—why was it impossible?

"Last time I served him..." Thinking back to the last time she served Prince Jing, Wan Linlang could only feel a bitter grievance.

Outsiders guessed that she had used some unscrupulous means to incur Prince Jing's disgust.

In truth, the matter was a bit more complicated.

Wan Linlang felt terribly wronged.

Before going to the front courtyard to seek favor, Wan Linlang had indeed applied a fragrance that could arouse desire.

But the dosage was light. It would only have an effect if the man was truly aroused.

She just wanted to serve Prince Jing, not court death.

Who would have thought that Prince Jing had also been drugged outside!

After Prince Jing got drunk, he was dazed and summoned Wan Linlang.

As soon as Wan Linlang saw Prince Jing, she caught the faint scent on him and realized he had been drugged. Her heart sank.

But before she could say anything, she was pulled onto the bed.

The next morning, when Prince Jing opened his eyes, he flew into a rage.

The drug Prince Jing had been given outside was also mild. He himself mistakenly thought it was the effect of the alcohol and had gone to the front courtyard to rest.

While he was still groggy, he encountered Wan Linlang, who had applied the fragrance.

The combined effects of the two drugs caused Prince Jing to lose his senses.

Wan Linlang was indeed a bit unlucky.

If Prince Jing had been drunk and forgotten everything, it would have been fine, but he remembered it clearly.

In Prince Jing's memory, he was perfectly fine until he saw Wan Linlang, and suddenly his desires overwhelmed him. He completely lost control and pulled her onto the bed.

That kind of abnormal reaction, of course, told Prince Jing that he had been drugged.

Even though the effects of the drug on Wan Linlang had long worn off, nothing could be found.

But Prince Jing believed she had drugged him to seduce him, and it didn't matter whether there was evidence or not.

Wan Linlang was thus driven out of the front courtyard in disgrace, once again becoming the laughingstock of the inner quarters.

Wan Linlang did not want to recall such a humiliating experience at all.

Of course, she would not tell someone like Suiyin.

If Suiyin knew that Wan Linlang had angered the prince, she might think Wan Linlang had no chance to gain favor and take the opportunity to betray her.

Wan Linlang fretted, "Now that I think about it, everything went so smoothly—I suspect there was a hidden hand behind it."

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. I think I've fallen into someone's trap."

Suiyin felt troubled, "What does mistress mean?"

Wan Linlang lowered her eyes slightly, "I'm worried someone behind the scenes will act and use me as a scapegoat."

Suiyin was startled. "This...?"

Wan Linlang thought she had been discreet, but she had not been in the residence long, and her capabilities were limited after all.

If Prince Jing investigated, it wouldn't be hard for him to find out she had poisoned Concubine Ning.

If someone set her up as a scapegoat and framed her, she would have nowhere to turn.

Suiyin's breath caught, "Has milady guessed who it could be?"

Wan Linlang paused, then shook her head.

Now the people and situation in the residence were different from her past life.

Having been in the residence for a while, Wan Linlang no longer dared to treat these people using her past memories.

Suiyin sighed, "In that case, mistress might as well calm down first and observe the reactions of others."

"If you are truly framed... then you can only play it by ear."

Wan Linlang took a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes.

That was as good as agreeing with Suiyin.

In fact, she was still unconvinced.

Now the most favored, Fang Yuaner and Shufei Xie, were both pregnant, while the newcomers Han Shi and Li Shi had not yet become a threat.

It was exactly the time for her to seize the opportunity.

But unfortunately, the first time she served Prince Jing, she displeased him.

After a long while, Wan Linlang let out a breath. "Forget it," she said.

"If I don't act, there are plenty of others who can't hold back!"

There were many shrewd people in the inner quarters.

After Xie Run took leave, many others also claimed to be sick and stayed in bed, as if they were all frightened by today's events.

The next day, just after Xie Run finished lunch, since the snow had stopped, she wanted to go outside for a walk.

Then she saw a young maid enter.

"Mistress, today you didn't go to pay your respects, and you missed something."

"What happened?"