Chapter 233

Chapter 233

Although Xie Run was favored, she lived in seclusion and rarely left her quarters, so Wan Linlang had little direct contact with her and naturally did not know her well.

On ordinary days, she could only judge her temperament through her occasional actions.

But Xie Run had done things that crossed the line—one was running to the front courtyard study to curry favor, and the other was going to the backyard to Songya Courtyard to take revenge on Jiang Baobao, who was then a side consort.

Wan Linlang knew that this Side Consort Xie was definitely not as gentle and kind as she appeared to be.

Sui Yu asked softly, "My lady, do you think Lady Xie would be willing to cooperate with us?"

Wan Linlang walked slowly, "I don't know."

Even during her last visit to Chunshan Courtyard to test the waters, she hadn't been able to figure out Xie Run's true nature.

Sui Yu asked in confusion, "Then, my lady... do you still plan to keep coming to Chunshan Courtyard?"

"Yes, I do." Wan Linlang smiled. "Whether she's willing is her business; whether I come is mine."

"I have a clear plan in mind."

If Xie Run was willing to cooperate with her, that would be ideal; if not, it wouldn't hinder Wan Linlang's plans.

She wasn't foolish—pinning all her hopes on Xie Run would be laughable.

On the way, she encountered two maids who timidly bowed to Wan Linlang before hurrying away, as if they'd seen a ghost.

Scenes like this were not uncommon along the way.

Sui Yu fumed inwardly. "My lady, what are those people's looks about?!"

Wan Linlang's expression remained calm as she hushed, "Sui Yu, shut up!"

Only after returning to Xiuyue Pavilion did Sui Yu dare to vent her frustrations.

"It's all those rumors in the mansion's fault!"

"You've protected Concubine Lian and her pregnancy wholeheartedly, suffering so much and warding off countless open and covert attacks for her—yet not a single one appreciates what you've done. Instead, they all falsely accuse you of harming Concubine Lian... just because you want to raise the Sixth Young Master?!"

"But who in this mansion is easy to get along with? Since Concubine Lian passed away during childbirth, someone else will have to raise the Sixth Young Master. Who's more fit to raise him than you?!"

"If you raise him, it's good for him and good for Concubine Lian's memory!"

Sui Yu was filled with heartache for her mistress. "With no proof whatsoever, they heap all the blame on you—how can people be so cruel?!"

"And of course, the prince seems to have bought into these rumors. He hasn't set foot in your courtyard in ages."

Wan Linlang said, "What's there to get angry about? Aren't I used to it by now?"

Ever since she entered the prince's mansion, her reputation has never been good.

Fang Yuaner had repeatedly suppressed and tormented her, keeping Wan Linlang stuck in the position of a concubine, unable to turn things around.

Now these rumors were probably being secretly fueled by Fang Yuaner's people as well.

As for Prince Jing not coming to her courtyard... huh.

Wan Linlang gave a bitter, sarcastic smile. In this lifetime, Prince Jing had barely set foot in her courtyard.

It was her own stupidity—blinded by the glory and favor of her past life.

Now, after nearly two years of being cold-shouldered, she had finally seen it all for what it was.

They say she wanted Concubine Lian's child, so she deliberately acted nice to Concubine Lian, waiting for her to go into labor and then making her suffer a difficult delivery, so she could take the child in.

If she could get what she wanted through gentle means, why would she hurt anyone?

Everything you do in this world leaves a trace.

If she had meddled in Concubine Lian's delivery, whether she'd even get to raise the Sixth Young Master was one thing—but if it were found out, Prince Jing would definitely kill her!

Childbirth is like dancing at death's door, and Concubine Lian's premature labor made it even riskier.

Why would she do something so stupid at a time like that?

Prince Jing wasn't blind either. In the past, whenever there was any trace of wrongdoing in the inner court, the culprits never came to a good end.

Fang Yuaner had gone to great lengths to frame her, setting up scheme after scheme.

But after waiting over half a year, Prince Jing had never punished her—clearly he had found some evidence and already had his suspicions.

Just wait and see how smug Fang Yuaner is now.

With several lives resting on that cassava flour incident, when it finally erupts, she'll die without a burial place!

Since the cassava flour incident, Wan Linlang had learned to be much smarter and would not act rashly.

Concubine Lian's death did have a tiny bit to do with her.

But the key wasn't what she did—it was what she didn't do!

She was a female physician, highly sensitive to various medicinal scents. She had long detected the fragrance of lilies on the clothes and bedding but had never warned anyone.

The items for the delivery room had been prepared long in advance, and no one would inspect them closely until the day of labor.

Wan Linlang knew something was wrong but never urged Concubine Lian's maidservants to search every inch.

Those maidservants, seeing a chance to slack off, were naturally all too happy to do less.

Her indifference and indulgence gave the culprit an opening to take Concubine Lian's life.

But what fault was hers?!

She wasn't the one who wanted to harm anyone, and she had no obligation to remind Concubine Lian at every turn, nor to act as her nursemaid, watching over the maids and servants to ensure they did their work properly!

If she was at fault, then the princess, who managed the mansion poorly and allowed someone to exploit the gaps, would be even more at fault, wouldn't she?

And the others in the mansion who knew she was "malicious" yet merely stood by watching, never warning Concubine Lian—weren't they also at fault?

On this matter, Wan Linlang was not the least bit convinced.

But her lack of conviction was useless.

Concubine Lian's death had been exaggerated by Fang Yuaner and spread in secret, directly pinning the blame on her.

Wan Linlang knew she couldn't argue her way out, so she simply remained composed.

After all, her situation had already sunk this low—it couldn't get any worse... unless she ceased to be herself.

The only consolation was that Prince Jing was perceptive and did not place the blame for this matter on her.

Yet Prince Jing still refused to let Wan Linlang raise the Sixth Young Master, and Wan Linlang had long harbored resentment over this.

For the time being, she had no better idea.

The mistress and maid chatted for a while, which helped relieve some of the heaviness in their chests.

Wan Linlang collected herself before asking about another matter, "I asked you to secretly send some food to Shufei Jiang—did you get someone to do it?"

Sui Yu quickly nodded: "The old nun in the small Buddhist hall keeps a strict watch. Shufei Jiang can only eat plain porridge and simple vegetables each day, and the rest of the time she's shut in the hall copying scriptures. When you quietly had me deliver food to her, she ate it happily and said she would surely remember your kindness."

Wan Linlang let out a light laugh, one laced with contempt and mockery.

"Remember kindness?" Wan Linlang said. "She's always looked down on everyone and never takes us concubines seriously. These words now are nothing more than empty talk."

"Now that she's shut in the small Buddhist hall, her days are hard, and since she needs a favor from us, she says a few soft words. Once she's out of that hall, she'll probably see our help today as an insult, and at best stay silent about it—but I fear she might even try to bully us into keeping our mouths shut."

Sui Yu opened her mouth, "This... that can't be, right?"

Wan Linlang sneered coldly, "Jiang Baobao has always been like this. I learned my lesson a long time ago."

Back then, she stole the prescription Wan Linlang had used to treat the plague and dismissed her with a few pieces of silver.

If she dared to claim credit for it, a beating would surely await her.