“Da Ji has the effects of draining water and dispelling fluid retention, reducing swelling and dissolving masses, but it also has certain toxicity. Pregnant women absolutely should not take it. However, they controlled the dosage very well, giving just a little bit each time, so you wouldn’t immediately miscarry. I remember during that period, you mentioned feeling some discomfort in your body – that was this medicine causing trouble. Later, when Consort Cui saw that I had sent lotus seed soup to you and wanted to frame me for it, she had someone increase the dosage of Da Ji in that day’s fetal protection medicine.”

Ji Chun said in shock: “But hasn’t Noble Consort always been on very good terms with Your Ladyship? Why would she do such a thing?”

“Good terms?” Wan Shi said mockingly: “What makes you so certain that Consort Cui truly cared for your mistress? That she truly hoped your mistress would give birth to a child alongside her?”

“This…” Ji Chun was rendered speechless by her question. Lin Shi stared fixedly at Wan Shi and said with difficulty: “Why… why are you only telling me this now?”

Wan Shi sighed, “If I had told you, would you have believed me? I’m afraid you would have thought I was deliberately trying to sow discord between you and Consort Cui.” Lin Shi had no response, for indeed, if she had heard these words before today, she would certainly have thought exactly that.

“Consort Cui did this firstly to drive us apart, and secondly to eliminate your child, so that she alone could gain status through motherhood. She was so sinister – how could I possibly spare her? Unfortunately, by the time I discovered this, the pharmacy staff had already resigned and returned to their hometowns, leaving no trace to follow. With no other choice, I could only use her own methods against her, making Consort Cui also taste the pain of losing a child. But for you… I had no remedy, and could only watch helplessly as you regarded me as an enemy!”

Hearing this, Lin Shi was already weeping profusely, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t know the truth was like this. Consort Cui… she was the real culprit!”

Liu Xia said with sudden understanding: “So no matter how Your Ladyship opposed Noble Consort all these years, Noble Consort never truly harmed Your Ladyship.”

Zhai Xing spoke on her behalf: “I don’t know what Consort Shu thinks, but my mistress has always regarded Consort Shu as a sister, never changing!”

Lin Shi murmured: “I always thought… she was the one who truly treated me well. I never imagined I’d been deceived by her all along, treating my enemy as a friend. I’m truly… so foolish.”

“She excels at acting – it’s hardly surprising you were deceived by her. Now that you know, it’s not too late.” Saying this, Wan Shi continued: “Unfortunately, after that incident, Consort Cui was extremely guarded against me. For the two children she conceived afterward, I never found an opportunity to strike.”

Lin Shi looked at her for a long moment, then suddenly performed a deep bow, saying tearfully: “This sister was foolish and deceived by others. Please forgive me, elder sister!”

“Rise.” Wan Shi personally helped her up, “Let’s not mention past matters anymore. As long as we sisters are united from now on, with no more misunderstandings, that’s enough!”

Lin Shi nodded vigorously. After sitting down again, she said: “Speaking of today’s events, how did elder sister happen to go to Ganlu Hall?”

“I heard that you had all been summoned to Ganlu Hall and was worried something might happen, so I went to take a look. I didn’t expect such a serious commotion.” After a pause, she asked: “That Xing Niang was arranged by the Crown Prince?”

Lin Shi nodded: “Ever since the two Yin ladies entered the palace, they’ve monopolized His Majesty’s favor, making it difficult for us to see His Majesty even once in several days, which was truly unsettling. One day, Consort Yang came to see me and told me about the suspicious points regarding the two Yin and Zhang ladies. I then had her secretly investigate with my brother to see if they truly had courtesan backgrounds, and later we found Xinghua House.”

Wan Shi pondered: “Let me guess – when you summoned Xing Niang, she should have said that the Yin and Zhang ladies had left from there, correct?”

“Exactly. She said the two Yin ladies were bought by a noble young master for three thousand strings of cash each, and she recognized that noble young master as the Crown Prince. After my brother and Consort Yang confirmed she wasn’t suspicious, they brought her into the palace. Who knew she would suddenly change her story? Although we knew we had fallen into a trap set by the Crown Prince, it was too late. Elder sister knows what happened afterward.”

“The Crown Prince…” Wan Shi sneered, “He truly has excellent methods.”

Zhai Xing interjected: “It’s not just him alone who has excellent methods – there’s also Consort Ji.”

Lin Shi frowned: “Speaking of Consort Ji, I’ve been wondering – she should be elder sister’s person, right?”

Hearing this, Wan Shi laughed coldly repeatedly, “I also always thought she was my person, but my only son died at her hands!” With these words, she fiercely smashed the teacup beside her to the ground, her eyes filled with hatred sharp as knives!

This was the first time Lin Shi had heard of this matter, and she was immediately shocked pale. After a long while, she finally recovered and said: “Zhiyun… didn’t he die at Yin Shishi’s hands? How could it be… Ji Rong, this… what exactly happened?”

Wan Shi took several deep breaths, calming the hatred surging like tides in her chest, and said coldly: “Back then, when His Majesty raised troops in Taiyuan, Zhiyun followed Li Jiancheng and others rushing from Hedong to Taiyuan. Who would have thought that upon arrival, Li Yuanji claimed that Zhiyun had been disobedient on the journey, leaving the inn without permission, and was thus captured by former Sui officials.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what was said.” Before Lin Shi finished speaking, Wan Shi was already sneering: “Zhiyun was born from me – I know his temperament very well. He would never run off to play and wouldn’t leave without permission. There must have been inside information. Sure enough, Ji Rong soon came to see me, saying that before Zhiyun disappeared, Zhangsun Shi had gone to see her. Miaoyin, hearing this, what would you associate it with?”

Lin Shi lowered her head and thought for a while before saying: “I would think Zhiyun’s disappearance was related to Zhangsun Shi, but…” She frowned, “We all know Zhangsun Shi’s character – she wouldn’t do such harmful things.”

“Exactly, I thought the same, so from that time on, I began to suspect Ji Rong.” Speaking of this, she laughed self-mockingly: “It’s also my own carelessness – I didn’t notice early on that Ji Rong already harbored treacherous intentions. She was Li Jiancheng’s favored concubine, clinging tightly to Li Jiancheng would naturally be more advantageous than following my instructions.”

“After I became suspicious, I began secretly investigating Ji Rong and Li Jiancheng. Although I had no concrete evidence, I could be certain that Zhiyun was harmed by those two.” After a brief pause, she continued: “Wrong – it should be three people. Li Yuanji always followed Li Jiancheng’s lead, so he likely couldn’t escape involvement either.”

This matter was truly too shocking. Although Lin Shi had experienced many storms, she still found it somewhat difficult to accept. After a while, she shook her head: “If not for elder sister, how could Ji Rong have become today’s Consort Ji? Yet she repaid kindness with enmity, killing elder sister’s only child. Her heart is truly damnable!”

Wan Shi sneered: “Since she dared to kill Zhiyun, I naturally wouldn’t spare her. Do you remember Li Chengzong’s deafness?”