Shen Yingruo watched Shen Xihe’s carriage depart without pause, lost in thought.
As Madam Tan helped her into their carriage, she lowered her head sadly: “Nurse, how wonderful it would be if I were the legitimate mother’s daughter.”
Would she then have the love of her father and brothers, and the protection of such a formidable sister?
Madam Tan embraced Shen Yingruo, letting out a soft sigh.
She saw Shen Yingruo’s admiration for Shen Xihe. Such an unparalleled and invincible County Princess indeed easily commanded admiration and respect.
Unfortunately, not everyone could catch her eye. The County Princess’s help was truly only for the Shen family’s face, just as the Prince and County Princess had promised that day – they would never allow the County Princess to be bullied, even by a royal princess.
However, Shen Xihe didn’t know that her actions had been witnessed by many noble ladies who later vividly recounted the tale to their siblings at home. Those who had previously thought Shen Xihe domineering and showy now admired her, while envying Shen Yingruo.
Some with wandering thoughts recalled that Shen Yingruo was approaching her coming-of-age ceremony and marriageable age.
However, with Shen Yueshan and his son absent from the capital, and Shen Xihe being completely unapproachable, those wanting to indirectly inquire about Shen Yingruo’s marriage prospects found no way to do so.
Shen Xihe paid no attention to any of this. She had calculated the timing precisely. The day before the polo match, Princess Yanling went to mock Princess Anling, saying that when she had suffered at Shen Xihe’s hands, Princess Anling hadn’t helped her. Now Princess Anling had finally tasted what it was like to be tormented by Shen Xihe – how could she not be pleased?
The two sisters got into an argument, and Princess Anling accidentally pushed Princess Yanling, causing her to faint.
This alarmed the inner palace. Noble Consort Rong summoned the Imperial Physician to check Princess Yanling’s pulse, only to discover she was with child!
“Your Majesty, Yanling she…” Noble Consort Rong had to steel herself to seek Emperor Youning. Upon hearing his two daughters were fighting and pushing each other, he didn’t want to deal with their matters and left it to Noble Consort Rong to handle.
“I already said, you handle this matter,” Emperor Youning said impatiently.
“The Princess is with child. I dare not make the decision,” Noble Consort Rong said cautiously.
“With child?” Emperor Youning’s expression turned cold. He had been delaying the Tujue matter and hadn’t yet approved the marriage, yet Yanling was now pregnant!
“Yes, two months pregnant.” Noble Consort Rong’s last words were barely audible.
Emperor Youning stood up abruptly, hardly believing his ears: “How long did you say?”
Noble Consort Rong lowered her head: “Two months.”
“Bang!” Emperor Youning angrily swept his sleeve, knocking over a nearby vase.
The sound of the shattering vase made everyone, including Noble Consort Rong, kneel, not daring to breathe.
The matter between Princess Yanling and Munuha was only a month ago, yet she was two months pregnant!
Emperor Youning paced back and forth, asking Noble Consort Rong: “The Imperial Physician confirmed this?”
“Three Imperial Physicians confirmed a two-month pregnancy.” If not for this, she wouldn’t have dared report it to His Majesty.
This was a major issue. If the Tujue prince learned that Princess Yanling was two months pregnant, they would be in the wrong.
“Have the Imperial Medical Office prepare the medicine.” Emperor Youning ordered coldly. “Keep this news contained within the palace.”
“Yes,” Noble Consort Rong responded and withdrew to handle the matter.
Shen Xihe waited for news at the County Princess’s mansion. For once, with Cui Jinbai sent out of the city on business, Bu Shulin had a moment of freedom and immediately came to see Shen Xihe.
“County Princess, Princess Yanling has miscarried,” Zhenzhu came to report.
“Miscarried?” Bu Shulin, who had been lounging casually on a beauty pillow, sat up straight. “How could she miscarry?”
Princess Yanling wasn’t even pregnant – how could she miscarry after drinking the medicine?
“Two months ago, she was given medicine that affected her monthly cycle. The miscarriage medicine will cause her intense pain and bring on her cycle,” Shen Xihe smiled slightly.
Bu Shulin suddenly shrank back against a pillar, hugging it tightly: “Oh my, you…”
You’re truly frightening!
But she dared not say these words aloud.
“I’m what?” Shen Xihe raised her eyebrows and asked with a smile.
“You… you’re truly wise and unmatched, graceful and elegant, learned and courteous, with countless refined manners, pure and transcendent…” Bu Shulin scraped together every bit of literary knowledge she had, then blinked at Shen Xihe with utterly sincere eyes.
Zhenzhu and the others were all amused by Bu Shulin.
Seeing Shen Xihe put away her dangerous smile, Bu Shulin finally relaxed: “But, now that Princess Yanling has miscarried, how will this lead Munuha to kill her?”
“It’s enough that His Majesty knows about this,” Shen Xihe had predicted that His Majesty would immediately cover up Yanling’s miscarriage, which also covered up the evidence. The medicine would lose effect in two days, but the miscarriage was done.
Even if the Imperial Medical Office later noticed that Princess Yanling’s pulse was unusual and unlike post-miscarriage symptoms, they wouldn’t dare speak up. To say they had been misdiagnosed would be placing their heads on His Majesty’s execution block.
This was destined to be a case of letting the mistake stand. When Munuha learned of this and “killed” Princess Yanling in a fit of rage, they would be even less likely to speak up. Speaking up then wouldn’t just cost their heads, but their entire families would pay with their lives.
She had calculated every step for Princess Yanling.
Once His Majesty was convinced that Princess Yanling had been carrying another man’s child, there would be ample reason for Munuha to kill the princess. Moreover, it wasn’t just the miscarriage – Munuha would also learn that Princess Yanling had made him no different from a eunuch, giving him even more reason to harbor murderous intent.
“Now it’s time to let Munuha know about his impotence,” Shen Xihe smiled at Bu Shulin.
Bu Shulin immediately stood straight: “Leave it to me.”
What could be simpler than finding some friends to invite Munuha to a brothel?
It was normal for men to be romantic, and Munuha had recently been angry about His Majesty’s delay in approving his marriage to Princess Yanling.
Although this dynasty didn’t view chastity as more important than life, a woman’s virtue was still very important. Munuha and Princess Yanling had been caught by so many people – if she didn’t marry Munuha, who would want to marry Princess Yanling? This was different from marrying a widow.
So when people repeatedly invited Munuha to visit the brothel, he couldn’t refuse.
However, he never imagined that he would be impotent!
“I’m quite curious to see what a man who can’t get it up looks like,” Bu Shulin said to Jin Shan in another room while holding up her wine. “Do you think I, the Young Master, should wear a helmet?”
But then she saw Cui Jinbai behind Jin Shan, and immediately spat out her mouthful of wine, choking and coughing continuously.
Cui Jinbai’s eyes were deep and dark as he stepped forward to gently pat her back. Feeling his warm palm, Bu Shulin couldn’t help but shiver.
Sure enough, she heard Cui Jinbai ask in a gentle tone: “What do you want to see? I’ll show you?”