Right after they left.

Jing Xuan said to Consort Xiao with a face full of apology, “Mother Consort, daughter didn’t mean to. Once that bracelet is repaired, I’ll send it over to Imperial Sister-in-law.”

“What are you thinking?”

Hm?

“What?”

“Before… you were still…”

Consort Xiao didn’t throw the words out directly.

Jing Xuan pursed her lips, let out a breath, and said, “After these past two days, daughter has thought things through. We are family. No matter what, I should stand on your side. How could I help outsiders attack Mother Consort and Imperial Brother? In the end, I’m just the one who suffers.”

“Have you truly thought it through?” Consort Xiao looked at her.

She nodded forcefully, “Of course. Mother Consort has been so good to me, yet I opposed Mother Consort at every turn. Daughter now knows she was wrong and will obey Mother Consort well, take good care of her health, and after some time marry into Huyi. But at that time, it will be difficult for daughter to see Mother Consort even once. So I don’t know if acknowledging my mistakes now can still repair the feelings between us mother and daughter in time? Daughter said many things before that hurt Mother Consort’s feelings, but none of it was intentional. It was all because I was too obstinate and mistook Mother Consort’s kindness for ill intent. Just thinking about it, I feel it was wrong, and my heart is full of regret. Mother Consort, please forgive Xuan’er. All those things I said before, Xuan’er takes them all back.”

Tears glistened in her eyes.

Her attitude was also very sincere.

Consort Xiao touched her face, “It’s good that you understand. You had to suffer losses before you knew Mother Consort’s goodness.”

“Daughter will obey Mother Consort well from now on.”

“You silly girl.” She lightly tapped Jing Xuan’s forehead.

The mother and daughter finally reconciled.

But Consort Xiao repeatedly reminded her, “Xuan’er, you cannot go see that fool anymore now. Understand?”

She readily agreed, “I won’t go. He’s just a fool. Daughter won’t go see him again. It’s just that daughter doesn’t understand why Mother Consort brought that fool into the palace and locked him up.”

Consort Xiao patted the back of her hand and said, “You don’t need to ask about this. Just don’t go looking for him again.”

“Mm.”

Very obedient!

Jing Xuan then rested her head on her arm and said, “Mother Consort, why don’t daughter attend to your rest today?”

“You?”

“Once Mother Consort is asleep, daughter will leave.”

The sentiment was so strong that Consort Xiao didn’t refuse.

So she agreed.

After returning to the bedchamber, as Jing Xuan removed the ornaments from Consort Xiao’s hair one by one, she thought of something and said, “By the way, Mother Consort, daughter has some good incense here. Placing it in the incense burner will help Mother Consort sleep more peacefully.”

“Oh? What incense?”

“It’s something daughter dried herself before. I’ve been wanting to bring it to Mother Consort for a long time, but I kept forgetting.”

“Bring it here. Let Mother Consort smell it.”

“Alright.”

Jing Xuan had someone bring over the few pieces of incense she had prepared.

Consort Xiao held it to her nose and smelled it, “Mm, it is quite fragrant.”

“Then daughter will place the incense inside.”

She nodded.

Jing Xuan cut off a small piece and tossed it into the incense burner. After Consort Xiao lay down on the bed to rest, she placed the incense burner by the bedside.

Curling white smoke wafted out from the top opening of the incense burner, and the entire room filled with a faint, indescribable fragrance.

“Then daughter won’t disturb Mother Consort’s rest.”

“Mm.”

Consort Xiao fell asleep.

Jing Xuan also quietly withdrew from the room.

The moment the door closed, that innocent, carefree smiling face gradually turned gloomy and cold.

She summoned a maid who lit incense for Consort Xiao every day and handed her the remaining pieces of incense.

She instructed, “Mother Consort said she really likes this kind of incense. From now on, light it every night without fail. Place it by the bedside. Do you understand clearly?”

The young palace maid nodded, “Yes.”

Jing Xuan looked back at that door, her gaze seeming able to penetrate through, falling directly on Consort Xiao lying on the bed.

For a long while—

She turned and left, straightening her back, walking forward step by step.

Her eyes reddened, brimming with tears.

She hated!

She couldn’t wait to take that woman’s life right now!

But there was no rush. Take it slowly, slowly…

…

On the way back to Prince Yi’s manor from the palace, Chen Xiang and Ji Muqing sat facing each other in the carriage, neither with a pleasant expression.

After a long while—

Ji Muqing finally let out a cold laugh and said, “Serves you right!”

“What does younger sister mean?”

“You thought you chose a good bracelet and were so smug about it. Fortunately, evil gets its due. Even Heaven didn’t help you. Serves you right that the bracelet was smashed.”

“You’re no better than me. Your hairpin was one that had been broken before.”

“You…” Ji Muqing thought it over and realized her status was much more noble than the person before her. Arguing with her would be beneath her dignity, so with a smile on her lips, she said, “This consort is magnanimous and won’t argue with someone like you.”

Bah!

Chen Xiang felt too stifled. She had a beautiful face and could win the Prince’s favor, but what of it? In the end, she was just a chess piece, a chess piece without any value. Just as Jing Yi had said, once they didn’t need her anymore, she could be sacrificed at any time.

Thinking of this made her angry.

But suddenly, her stomach felt uncomfortable.

She began to dry heave.

Ji Muqing immediately pulled back, “What’s wrong with you? I didn’t hit you or scold you. Don’t try to frame me in front of the Prince.”

Chen Xiang didn’t respond to her and continued dry heaving.

Just like she had eaten too much!

Ji Muqing was very disgusted and quickly lifted the carriage curtain, sticking her head out.

After a short while, Chen Xiang finally felt more comfortable. She pressed her uncomfortable chest, panting.

However—

She laughed!

Laughed brilliantly!

After returning to Prince Yi’s manor, she had someone fetch a physician.

After taking her pulse, the physician quickly congratulated her, “Congratulations, Secondary Princess Consort, you are with child.”

Chen Xiang’s eyes widened in delighted surprise, “Physician, is it true? This consort is truly with child?”

“This old physician has practiced medicine for many years and would never be mistaken. Based on the Secondary Princess Consort’s pulse, it is a young heir.”

“A young heir?” Chen Xiang was overjoyed, touching her belly that didn’t yet show pregnancy, “It’s a young heir. That’s wonderful.”

She finally had a chance to turn things around!

As long as she gave birth to this child, the position of Princess Consort would sooner or later be hers, and the position of Empress would also be hers.

The maids in the room all knelt down, “We congratulate the Secondary Princess Consort on being blessed with a young heir.”

She quickly ordered someone, “Quickly, quickly go notify the Prince.”

“Yes!”

The maid hurried off.

When Jing Yi heard that Chen Xiang was with child, he immediately pushed aside the books in his hands and hurried over. As soon as he entered, he saw Chen Xiang standing up. Just as she was about to perform a courtesy, he stepped forward to support her.

“No need for formalities. You’re with child now, sit properly.” Jing Yi was excited, unable to conceal it.

The one in this belly would be the Crown Prince he would eventually establish.

This was the imperial bloodline and absolutely could not come to any harm.