Countless gazes suddenly focused on Consort Xian.
For a moment, Consort Xian’s thoughts froze, the perfect smile still lingering on her lips.
After a brief pause, her face gradually paled until it was completely drained of color.
“Empress, what did you say?” she asked.
The Empress sighed softly and advised, “Sister Xian, try to think positively. Princess Qi is still young; once she recovers, she can have more children.”
“How could she have miscarried? Princess Qi was fine at yesterday’s family banquet!” Consort Xian refused to believe this news.
The Empress frowned slightly and explained, “Princess Qi fell while getting into her carriage after leaving the palace…”
Consort Xian moved her lips, swallowing the “impossible” that nearly escaped. Her hands, resting on her knees, trembled violently.
Princess Qi had always been careful; how could she fall while getting into a carriage? Consort Xian couldn’t believe it. Someone must have interfered!
But these thoughts could only remain in her heart, not spoken aloud. Consort Xian knew well that the women in the palace loved to gossip and mock others’ misfortunes. What good would it do to voice her suspicions? She wouldn’t receive an ounce of sympathy.
Moreover, with Princess Qi’s child lost, what use was sympathy now?
At this moment, Consort Xian felt a surge of resentment towards Princess Qi.
She had long ago exempted Princess Qi from paying respects, fearing something might happen to the child in such early stages of pregnancy. Though the New Year’s family banquet was important, no one would have said anything if the Fourth Prince’s wife hadn’t attended. If it had been the Seventh Prince’s wife who was barely a month pregnant, Consort Xian was certain she wouldn’t have come to the banquet.
Having been in the palace for many years, Consort Xian had developed the ability to maintain her composure. After the initial shock, she quickly regained her calm and said with a bitter smile, “Thank you for informing me, Empress. I’ll summon Prince Qi to the palace later to inquire about Princess Qi’s condition.”
“That would be appropriate,” the Empress replied.
Consort Xian nodded slightly, saying no more, though she nearly tore the handkerchief in her hands to shreds.
The Empress looked at the assembled consorts and said, “There’s nothing more for today. You may all leave.”
The consorts bowed to the Empress again. As the Empress left, supported by her maids, they all turned to look at Consort Xian.
Under countless meaningful gazes, Consort Xian’s face remained expressionless as she shook out her handkerchief and quickly left.
Whispers arose behind her.
“Consort Xian is composed. Hearing about Princess Qi’s miscarriage, she accepted it so quickly.”
“Hehe, what else could she do? Crying and wailing would only be more embarrassing…” One consort said, bumping shoulders with a junior consort who had been flattering Consort Xian earlier. She sneered, “Some people don’t even know how to flatter properly. It’s truly laughable.”
The junior consort, lacking Consort Xian’s composure, blushed furiously, deeply embarrassed.
Receiving several disdainful glances, the junior consort left Kunning Palace with a red face.
Unlike the junior consort’s outward embarrassment, Consort Xian’s pain was internal. She maintained her dignity until she reached Yuquan Palace, where she immediately kicked a small rosewood stool, sending it flying.
Hearing the stool crash to the ground, Consort Xian sat down in a chair and slammed her hand on the table.
The teacups on the table shook, and one lid fell off, shattering at her feet.
Consort Xian stared intently at the broken pieces of the porcelain lid.
It was so easy to destroy something, sometimes in just an instant—like this broken teacup lid, or the Fourth Prince’s wife’s unformed child…
Thinking of that child, Consort Xian felt an unbearable ache in her heart.
This child had come at such a crucial time, just as the Fourth Prince was competing with Prince Jin for the position of Crown Prince, adding significant weight to the Fourth Prince’s claim.
But it couldn’t be kept.
If it couldn’t be kept, it would have been better if it had never come…
Consort Xian immediately ordered her attendant: “Summon Prince Qi to the palace.”
Prince Qi, who had barely slept all night, quickly arrived at Yuquan Palace.
“Greetings to Mother Consort,” he said.
“There’s no need for formalities now. Tell me, what exactly happened with your wife’s miscarriage?” Consort Xian asked directly after dismissing her attendants.
Prince Qi looked up, meeting Consort Xian’s gaze. His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was hoarse: “There was oil on the carriage floor…”
Consort Xian stood up abruptly, supporting herself on the table: “Oil on the carriage floor?”
Prince Qi nodded heavily, slamming his fist on the table: “It must be Prince Jin’s doing!”
Consort Xian stood for a moment, then slowly sat down. Without a hint of doubt, she said coldly, “Who else could it be but him? I’ve repeatedly warned your wife to be careful and that she needn’t come pay respects. If she had just stayed in the prince’s manor, how could anyone have found an opportunity…”
Prince Qi’s face darkened as he listened.
After her complaints, Consort Xian continued coldly, “You and Prince Jin were evenly matched before, each with your advantages. This child gave you the upper hand, but now that the child is lost, the situation is worse than before…”
Prince Qi had been childless, and now his principal wife had miscarried after finally becoming pregnant. This would inevitably lead some to believe that Prince Qi lacked fortune and that heaven did not favor him.
It was well known that the Son of Heaven was chosen by the heavens, and almost all emperors favored auspicious signs and omens to validate this claim.
People of the time still placed great importance on such matters.
Prince Qi was well aware of this and said hatefully, “For the Third Brother to target an unborn child is no different from the actions of a beast!”
Consort Xian laughed coldly, “To overturn a disadvantage by using an opponent’s unborn child—why not?”
A fierce look flashed in Prince Qi’s eyes, and he didn’t hide anything from Consort Xian: “If he can win a round using a child, so can I!”
Consort Xian raised an eyebrow: “You’re not planning to harm Young Master Fu, are you?”
Young Master Fu was Prince Jin’s only son and a legitimate one at that. His importance went without saying.
“That wouldn’t be appropriate,” Consort Xian shook her head. “Your wife miscarries, and then something happens to Young Master Fu—it’s too obvious. Your father is not a fool; he would certainly be suspicious.”
Prince Qi smiled coldly: “Of course, I won’t target Young Master Fu.”
“Then what do you intend to do?”
Prince Qi narrowed his eyes and coldly uttered a name: “Young Master Chun.”
Consort Xian was startled: “You want to harm the deposed Crown Prince’s son?”
“It’s not that I will harm the deposed Crown Prince’s son, but that I will lure the Third Brother into harming him!” Prince Qi explained, his eyes full of hatred. “Mother, haven’t you noticed that Father still has feelings for the deposed Crown Prince? The Fifth Brother’s recent demotion for striking the deposed Crown Prince is clear evidence.”
Consort Xian nodded slowly, a cold smile on her lips: “His Majesty has never forgotten Empress Yuan. Naturally, he extends that love to her son.”
The phrase “extends that love” was uttered through gritted teeth.
If you asked which woman in the harem was most envied, it wasn’t the current Empress or even the Empress Dowager, but the short-lived Empress Yuan!
A woman who held the honored position of Empress and was still remembered fondly by the Emperor, whose son was the Crown Prince for over twenty years—she had all the good fortune in the world.
Of course, with the Crown Prince’s demotion, the women in the harem finally felt some balance.
“How do you plan to lure Prince Jin into harming the deposed Crown Prince’s son?” Consort Xian asked.