“That would be excellent. Thank you for your trouble, sister.” Speaking thus, she also said to Duan Zhihong: “As Yang Fei goes to the Eastern Palace, please protect her from the side, General Duan.” When Li Yuan ascended the throne, he conferred titles on many officials. Duan Zhihong was granted the title of Guide General, ranked at Junior Fifth Grade Lower.

Duan Zhihong cupped his hands: “Please rest assured, Princess Consort. This subordinate will do everything in his power to protect Yang Fei and not let anyone harm her in the slightest.”

Zhangsun Shi nodded. After instructing her attendants to properly arrange Xiuzhu’s funeral and burial, she allowed Wenlan to help her onto the carriage waiting not far away. She only took two guards with her, leaving the rest behind to be at Duan Zhihong’s disposal.

In Changchun Pavilion, Jirong was slowly drinking freshly warmed goat’s milk. Ever since Gao Qi had diagnosed her pregnancy, she drank a cup of goat’s milk daily. Before her stood two men completely wrapped in black clothes, motionless. Both were rather handsome, but their expressions were so cold they sent chills down one’s spine.

After finishing the milk in her cup, Jirong took a handkerchief to wipe the milk traces from her lips and said: “So you’re saying both are dead?”

One of them said: “Yes, killed with one arrow each according to Your Ladyship’s instructions.” His voice was even colder than their expressions.

Jirong nodded with satisfaction: “Very good. You may withdraw.”

Seeing the two leave, Liyu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She was most afraid of seeing these people – every time she saw them, she felt uncomfortable all over.

“What, are you very afraid of them?” Jirong’s voice startled Liyu, who hurriedly said: “Replying to Your Ladyship, indeed… somewhat afraid!”

Jirong smiled slightly: “You’re quite honest, not using empty words to evade me.” Speaking thus, she took the gold-decorated round fan from the small table and slowly fanned herself: “These are all people His Highness specially left for me. Though sharp as unsheathed swords, ready to draw blood at any moment, they are extremely loyal and follow orders, so there’s no need to fear them.”

“This servant understands.” Speaking thus, Liyu continued: “Speaking of which, fortunately Your Ladyship always had them monitoring Ding Yang. Otherwise, if Ding Yang had spoken Your Ladyship’s name, the trouble would have been great.”

Jirong said coldly: “That fool couldn’t even handle such a small matter properly, yet wanted to betray me. He deserved to die!”

Liyu pondered for a moment, then said quietly: “Your Ladyship, there’s something this servant doesn’t know whether to say.”

“Speak!” After getting Jirong’s permission, Liyu said: “Though both Ding Yang and Xiuzhu were killed by the people Your Ladyship sent, Ding Yang was ultimately Your Ladyship’s person. This servant worries that Yang Fei will still suspect Your Ladyship.”

Jirong’s eyes lifted at the corners as she spoke words that Liyu never expected: “If she doesn’t suspect me, she wouldn’t be the Yang Yunyi I know!”

“Then…” Liyu had only said one word when she was forced to stop due to an attendant entering. She heard the attendant respectfully say: “Reporting to Your Ladyship, Yang Fei from Prince Qin’s residence requests an audience!”

Jirong smiled faintly: “She comes quickly indeed. Let her in.”

After the attendant left, Liyu said somewhat anxiously: “Yang Fei coming at this time must be about Ding Yang’s matter. What should we do?”

Jirong glanced at her and said calmly: “What’s there to panic about? Not to mention Ding Yang is already dead – even if he were still alive and had exposed me, based on the testimony of a mere servant, she might not necessarily be able to do anything to me. Yang Fei can suspect me, but I can equally suspect her.”

Liyu said softly: “This servant just fears that if it reaches His Majesty, it would be disadvantageous to Your Ladyship.”

“Without proof or evidence, she wouldn’t dare disturb His Majesty. At most… there will just be some trouble after Prince Qin returns.” Having finished this sentence, she spoke no more. After a moment, Yunyi entered with Duan Zhihong and others, bowing her head in greeting: “Greetings to Consort Ji.” Though both were side consorts, Jirong was the Crown Prince’s side consort, making her rank slightly higher than Yunyi.

“Sister, please dispense with courtesy.” After ordering seats to be arranged, Jirong smiled: “What brings you here today?”

Yunyi rose and said: “Your Ladyship is with child, so Yunyi shouldn’t speak of such unpleasant matters, but I must. Yunyi first apologizes to Your Ladyship.”

Jirong naturally knew what she wanted to say, but her surface surprise was flawless: “What matter is this?”

Yunyi lowered her eyes: “Your Ladyship must already know about the Princess Consort’s miscarriage.”

Jirong nodded: “Liyu told me all about it. I originally wanted to visit, but my body isn’t well – I feel tired after just a few steps. Plus, Princess Consort Qin has painfully lost her child and probably isn’t in the mood for visitors, so I planned to go in a few days.” Speaking thus, she seemed to remember something: “Oh yes, I heard that the Princess Consort suspected the miscarriage was related to you, sister, and once ordered your confinement to Qiluo Pavilion. Is this true?”

“Indeed it is.” Before Yunyi’s words were finished, Jirong hastily said: “Sister has always been kind-hearted – how could you be so cruel as to harm an unborn child? Such suspicion truly comes without reason.”

Yunyi sneered inwardly while showing gratitude on her face: “Thank you for trusting Yunyi so much, Your Ladyship. Though the Princess Consort temporarily believed the words of villains, she soon understood Yunyi’s heart and lifted the confinement, otherwise I couldn’t be standing here.”

“That’s good then.” Jirong let out a light sigh of relief: “After talking for so long, sister still hasn’t told me what this unpleasant matter actually is.”

“The Princess Consort has already investigated the miscarriage and premature birth matter. Indeed, someone administered poison to cause harm, and this person was Xiuzhu.”

Jirong looked shocked: “Isn’t Xiuzhu the Princess Consort’s dowry maid? How could she do such a thing?”

“Xiuzhu always had some misunderstandings about Yunyi, and had argued with the Princess Consort several times over this, thus giving an opportunity to someone with ulterior motives, who deceived her into poisoning the Princess Consort to achieve the goal of framing Yunyi.”

“Ah?!” Jirong exclaimed, looking completely astonished: “Such a thing actually happened? That person is truly vicious-hearted.” Speaking thus, she continued: “Have you discovered who this person is?”

“Not only discovered, but caught them red-handed.” Yunyi glanced at Duan Zhihong, who nodded and called out loudly: “Bring it in!”

With his words, two guards carried in a stretcher covered with white cloth. After placing it on the ground, Duan Zhihong stepped forward and pulled away the white cloth, revealing Ding Yang with wide-open eyes and a terrifying death expression.

Liyu, completely unprepared, suddenly seeing this scene, couldn’t help but let out a sharp scream, then quickly turned her head away, not daring to look again.

Though Jirong’s face also turned pale, she was much better than Liyu – at least she didn’t look away, and later even got up and walked to the corpse: “This is… Ding Yang?”

“Precisely Ding Yang, the very person who deceived Xiuzhu into administering poison!” Before Yunyi finished speaking, Jirong was already denying: “This is impossible. Ding Yang is from my Changchun Pavilion, always honest and loyal, and doesn’t talk much. He… how could he possibly do such a thing?”

“When I first saw it, I also found it hard to believe, but this matter is absolutely true.” While speaking, Yunyi kept staring at Jirong. This person’s scheming was truly deep – even at this point, she didn’t reveal the slightest trace.