Chapter 73

Chapter 73

After all the commotion, Qingzhu Pavilion was finally clean.

Mother Li reported the news to the Princess.

The Princess raised an eyebrow and said, "Concubine Han used a smoke screen."

Mother Li stood by, "Indeed. Everyone was focused on Concubine Lu, but she had already quietly reached into Concubine Li's bedchamber."

The Princess leaned back in her chair lazily, "Send someone to investigate."

"But I suspect nothing will come of it."

Before Mother Li came, Concubine Li's side had already conducted inquiries.

"Lady Li's sachet was brought from the palace, locked in a chest and never opened. Somehow, musk had been placed inside."

"The pillow was personally made by Lady Li's maid, Feishuang, and was somehow poisoned as well."

Mother Li sighed, "After all the investigation, not a single clue was found."

The Princess picked up a cup of tea, sniffed it lightly, and said meaningfully, "Han certainly has a talented group around her."

Mother Li's eyes lit up, "This Concubine Han was carefully chosen by Consort Rou for the Prince, and now she's such a menace..."

The Princess lowered her eyes and said calmly, "Mother, it's not the time yet."

Prince Jing might be cold in words, but he still cares deeply for his birth mother, Consort Rou.

Using Concubine Han to slap Consort Rou's face would do the Princess no good—only harm.

Mother Li deflated.

The Princess lowered her gaze, deep in thought, "When Ning was alive, she cultivated many connections in the mansion. Now that she's dead, those people are surprisingly stable, not causing any trouble."

Mother Li was puzzled, "Why bring up Ning again?"

Just the thought of Concubine Ning made Mother Li feel it was bad luck.

How much had her mistress suffered at her hands back then?

If Concubine Ning hadn't died early, Mother Li would have turned into a ruthless avenger, settling old scores.

The Princess reminded her, "The poison used on Secondary Consort Fang came from Ning. Ning is dead now, yet someone still uses that poison..."

Mother Li's eyes lit up, "You mean, before Concubine Ning died, she passed her network to Concubine Han?"

The Princess nodded slightly, "Last time, when the eldest son was incited to harm his father's concubine, the trail led to Concubine Ning. I found it suspicious at the time. Now it seems Han had a hand in it too."

Mother Li's back chilled, "But that doesn't add up! If Concubine Han's people were all from Concubine Ning, why would they incite the eldest son?"

Everyone in the mansion knew that the eldest son was Concubine Ning's lifeline.

The Princess sighed, seeing it clearly, "Mother, loyal servants are rare. Most servants, when it comes to loyalty, are bought with money."

"Now that Concubine Ning is gone, they've lost their purpose and are desperate. They'll go wherever they're fed."

Mother Li thought of the people under the Princess's command and couldn't help but nod.

She cursed again, "She got what she deserved!"

"Ning left her people to Han, probably hoping to use Han as a pawn to stir up trouble in the mansion. Now that Han has her people, she targeted her son first."

"What goes around comes around."

The Princess made no comment on this.

Cursing a dead person wouldn't make her life any happier.

Just then, news of the auspicious child spread quietly throughout the mansion.

"Secondary Consort Han is carrying an auspicious child!"

"As soon as she became pregnant, she was promoted from concubine to secondary consort, just a step ahead of Concubine Li. If it had been later, the secondary consort position would have been Concubine Li's."

"A few days ago, Secondary Consort Han went to enjoy the flowers in the small garden. A cold wind suddenly blew, and the maids who followed all fell ill, but Secondary Consort Han was perfectly fine."

"And there's more! Half a month ago, Secondary Consort Han was on her way to pay respects to the Princess when she fell from an artificial rock hill. The maid who accompanied her broke her leg, but she was completely unharmed. It must be the auspicious child in her womb protecting her."

"Carrying an auspicious child, with a good family background and beauty, now a secondary consort—she might even become a side consort in the future!"

Since the New Year was approaching, the mansion was busy, and Concubine Han's conferment ceremony was postponed until after the New Year.

But the household, eager to please her, had already started calling her Secondary Consort Han.

With the added title of "auspicious child," Concubine Han's popularity was about to overshadow Xie Run.

Xie Run was more than happy about that.

"The tallest nail gets hammered down!"

"If I stand out, I'll attract jealousy, then scheming," Xie Run said as she sat in the courtyard watching Yueya'er playing snowball fights with a few little maids.

She pulled her cloak tighter and sighed, "I don't want to scheme against others, and I'm afraid of being schemed against. So I have to avoid the spotlight."

After all, the Prince Jing's mansion was full of hidden talents.

Xie Run considered herself an ordinary person with self-awareness and no desire for conflict.

Dan Tao stood by, smiling, "It's not all about scheming."

"We can close our courtyard doors and live our own lives just the same."

Xie Run shook her head, "Isn't Qingzhu Pavilion next door closed tight enough?"

"Someone still managed to plant musk and poison in there. And to this day, no one knows who did it."

Everyone suspected Concubine Han.

But without evidence, no one could say it.

Dan Tao sighed, "Must you make your maids worry day and night?"

Xie Run grinned mischievously, "I'm just being cheeky."

Just then, a snowball landed at Xie Run's feet, startling Dan Tao.

"Are you out of your mind? Can't you see the mistress is here? How dare you throw snowballs this way?!"

"Having served as a senior maid for so long, Dan Tao had built up some authority, and the junior maids were all afraid of her."

"At her shout, they all shrank back like frightened quails, standing in the snowy yard with their heads down."

"Xie Run smiled and said, "Don't scare them.""

""As I said before, accidents happen during play, and we shouldn't lose our temper regardless.""

""If I scold them now, wouldn't that make me go back on my word?" Xie Run took Dan Tao's hand and coaxed, "Dear sister, please save me some face.""

"Unable to resist her wheedling, Dan Tao said helplessly to the maids, "Alright, you can continue playing.""

"Even though Dan Tao had spoken, the maids were still a bit restrained."

"Xie Run thought for a moment and said to Dan Tao, "Help me make a snowball.""

"Dan Tao smiled helplessly but followed Xie Run's instructions, making two snowballs in a row."

"Xie Run took the snowballs, raised her hand, and threw one out."

"The snowball landed at Yueliang'er's feet, and she stood there blankly without dodging."

"Xie Run laughed, "Why don't you dodge? Standing still, are you playing 'statues'?""

""If you freeze solid, I'll have a few more snowmen in my yard.""

"With those two lines, the maids all laughed and gradually relaxed."

"Xie Run casually tossed the other snowball out."

"Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief."

"Just then, Xiaoshu entered the yard, holding a note and several letters, followed by a familiar-looking young maid."

"Dan Tao said, "It seems to be from Concubine Yun's courtyard.""