As dusk gradually darkened the sky, Shen Qianyu rose from a corner and departed the Eastern Palace. Having navigated the depths of the palace for many years, he had long grown intimately familiar with every shadowy, secluded pathway throughout the complex. Before long, he arrived at the Imperial Garden.

Today’s banquet had brought together madams and young ladies from all the noble families of the capital. Shen Qianyu knew little about the capital’s aristocratic families, especially those of the highest rank. Over the years, he had been unable to use the Crown Prince’s identity to approach anyone. Though three years ago he had turned the tables on Duan Yiting and assumed his identity through substitution, he rarely appeared in public to avoid exposure.

An opportunity like today’s to observe and memorize people was one he truly didn’t want to miss.

Shen Qianyu followed along the base of a wall to behind an artificial mountain, quietly scrutinizing everyone in the garden.

Most of those present were supporters of the Third Prince. Though the First Prince had his maternal clan backing him, his past debauchery in the harem was known to all. Although the Emperor had never made it public to preserve the Empress’s dignity, many still knew about it.

Originally, the Third Prince and Fifth Prince had maintained a balanced rivalry, but after Jiang Xingjian’s “resurrection” and return to the capital, the Chengyang Marquis Manor’s reputation was utterly destroyed, and those fence-sitters had flocked to join the Third Prince’s faction.

Thinking back to the day he visited the Chengyang Marquis Manor and saw Lin Jiayue, Shen Qianyu let out a scornful laugh.

In just a few months’ time, she had stirred up a centuries-old aristocratic family into infamy and complete chaos, even implicating the Fifth Prince’s power base in the process.

He wondered how many such talented strategists existed in this world. If he could gather even a handful under his command and send them to the First Prince’s maternal clan and the Song family, within three years he would likely secure his position in the Eastern Palace.

Just as he was pondering how to cultivate talents like Lin Jiayue, Shen Qianyu spotted Song Wan approaching the area near him with her maidservant, admiring the palace lanterns.

This location was secluded and hidden, yet allowed one to observe everyone while remaining undetected. Shen Qianyu raised his eyebrows slightly, wondering whether Song Wan’s choice was accidental or deliberate.

He drew himself back, concealing his form within the shadows.

“Miss, this one has lantern riddles.”

Heng Wu pointed at several palace lanterns with a smile. “This servant recognizes these few characters. Miss, why don’t you try guessing?”

Song Wan turned to look at the lanterns on the corridor. The hazy candlelight fell upon her face, making someone already outstandingly beautiful appear even more supremely elegant and extraordinary, dreamlike and illusory.

*A renowned beauty of exceptional grace, such exquisite beauty is rare to find.*

These eight characters floated through his mind. Only today did Shen Qianyu somewhat understand why Jiang Yan was so obsessed with his sister-in-law, his soul captivated by her.

“Miss, the character for ’emperor.'”

Song Wan smiled faintly. “Flawless white jade.”

“The character for ‘dark.'”

“Having both sound and color.”

“The character for ‘tears’?”

“Upside down and backwards.”

Heng Wu covered her mouth. “Miss has read countless books—you don’t even need to think about such lantern riddles.”

Song Wan laughed. “I still have to think, just a bit faster.”

Her laughter was light and carefree, completely unlike the cautious and guarded manner she displayed at the Marquis Manor.

After the palace banquet concluded, Consort Yun dispatched people to escort Song Wan back to the manor. The moment she descended from the sedan chair, she noticed the servants in the inner courtyard wore strange expressions, furtive and evasive when looking at her, highly unusual.

Song Wan summoned a maid from the courtyard and had her go investigate what had occurred at the manor today.

The little maid returned to report: “First Madam, it seems that Concubine Lin from Xiuyan Pavilion fainted in the courtyard during the day. After the manor physician was called, he said… he said Concubine Lin is with child.”

Song Wan’s brows knitted together, surprised.

Jiang Xingjian had never made Lin Jiayue drink contraceptive tea, and now she was even expecting the first-born son?

“Has Madam been informed?”

The maid nodded. “Madam knows.”

“That’s good then. Thank you for your trouble.”

Heng Zhi saw the little maid out, then returned to help Song Wan remove her elaborate hairstyle and makeup. The mistress and her two servants never mentioned Lin Jiayue’s pregnancy again. Whether this first-born son was born or not had nothing to do with them.

While Song Wan extinguished the lights and fell asleep on this side, Lin Jiayue on the other side tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

She caressed her belly, crying one moment and laughing the next, greatly alarming Qianbi and Qinghong with worry.

“Concubine, are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Lin Jiayue murmured, “I don’t feel anything in particular right now. I’ve heard morning sickness comes after three months? The manor physician said my pregnancy is still early, so I won’t feel anything yet.”

As she spoke, she began to laugh. “In this world, I now have blood kin—a child connected to me by blood! I wonder if it’s a boy or girl, whether they’ll look like the Marquis or like me.”

Qianbi and Qinghong exchanged glances, both lowering their heads together.

“If it’s a boy, I hope he can learn some martial arts and one day roam the martial world performing heroic deeds, seeing all those magnificent landscapes I’ve never seen.”

“If it’s a daughter…”

Lin Jiayue’s eyes reddened, her lips pressed together without speaking.

A wave of desolation suddenly rose in her heart. “When the time comes, I’ll do embroidery.”

She pulled out an embroidery hoop from the basket and began to stitch with lifeless eyes.

Qianbi watched as she stitched and accidentally sewed the gauze from her own sleeve onto the fabric. She was about to step forward to stop her, but before she could speak, Qinghong held her back.

Qinghong shook her head, signaling her not to interfere.

The two tiptoed out. Qianbi said, “Though the Concubine often spoke foolishly and acted rather mad in the past, she never mistreated us. Seeing her like this now, my heart aches terribly.”

Qinghong bit her lip. “Don’t think too much about it. These matters aren’t for us servants to manage. The Marquis hasn’t visited the Concubine’s courtyard in several days—he’ll likely come tonight. I think we should find somewhere to hide.”

“Hide from what?”

“Are you daft?”

Qinghong lowered her voice. “This child absolutely cannot be kept. Most likely… most likely the Marquis will bring a bowl of abortion medicine tonight. What will we do then?”

They certainly wouldn’t dare step forward to intervene, yet they couldn’t bear to watch Lin Jiayue suffer in agony.

“In a moment I’ll find some excuse to avoid things at the Old Madam’s courtyard. As for what you do, I can’t control that.”

Having said this, Qinghong let out a heavy sigh and turned to leave Xiuyan Pavilion.

When Jiang Xingjian returned to the manor it was already past the hour of hai. He had assumed all the courtyards in the manor would have retired for the night, but unexpectedly, just as he entered the inner courtyard, the night-watch servant informed him that Madam had been waiting for him a long time and requested he go to Fuhe Hall first upon returning.

Though puzzled, Jiang Xingjian still hurried over.

The moment she saw him, Old Madam Jiang’s brows knitted tightly. “Do you know Miss Lin is pregnant?”

Jiang Xingjian froze, then furrowed his brows deeply.

He had forgotten to make Lin Jiayue drink contraceptive tea.

The Marquis Manor had been in such chaos recently, and with no proper mistress to manage such bedroom affairs, how would he, a man, have remembered such things?

“I had thought you intended…”

Old Madam Jiang sighed. “Had I known earlier you hadn’t deliberately gotten her with child, today I should have had the manor physician force a bowl of abortion medicine down her throat to eliminate this calamity at the root.”

Jiang Xingjian remained silent, his worries tangled like hemp.

After a long while he finally said, “I will handle this matter myself. Mother need not worry.”

“This child cannot be kept. You must not soften your heart.”

Jiang Xingjian pressed his lips together and turned to leave.

When he arrived at Xiuyan Pavilion, Lin Jiayue had not yet gone to bed. She sat before the candlelight in silent reverie. Qianbi stood to one side with drooping eyelids, so drowsy she seemed to have lost her very soul, not even noticing Jiang Xingjian enter the room.

He cleared his throat lightly, and only then did the two snap back to awareness.

The moment Lin Jiayue saw him, she immediately broke into a bright, radiant smile. “I knew you’ve been busy lately, so I didn’t dare disturb you. But I thought you would surely come today, so I kept waiting.”

“Jiang Xingjian, we have a child now.”