Han Yan continued asking: “Taoist Master, I don’t understand what you’re saying. Are you suggesting someone bribed you to say these things? Who exactly were you trying to harm?”
Taoist Jing Xu hastily kowtowed: “This humble one did receive silver from someone. That person wanted me to falsely accuse Miss Zhuang, claiming she summoned evil spirits that caused the Concubine’s miscarriage in the mansion.”
“Oh my!” Han Yan exclaimed in distress. “Who could be so vicious to devise such a scheme against me? Such a person truly deserves to be cast into the eighteenth level of hell, suffering the torment of burning flames daily, never to be redeemed.”
The Zhou sisters’ eyes twitched simultaneously, grinding their teeth in hatred, but unable to speak out, they could only suppress their anger.
Han Yan asked: “Taoist Master, do you know who that person is?”
Taoist Jing Xu appeared troubled because the person hadn’t met him directly but had sent a young maid to discuss the arrangement. Therefore, he didn’t know the true mastermind behind this, leaving him uncertain of how to answer Han Yan’s question.
Han Yan had no intention of letting this go, so she slowly said in a deep voice: “Taoist Master, you were invited here by Concubine Zhou and Madam Zhou. Did they know about this beforehand?”
Taoist Jing Xu was startled, suddenly having a revelation, and immediately proclaimed loudly: “In response to Young Miss, this humble one was indeed acting under the instructions of these two ladies to falsely accuse you.”
Taoist Jing Xu had calculated well. At this point, any clear-headed person could see this was the result of concubine rivalry within the mansion. The Zhuang young miss must have offended these two ladies, and though he didn’t know who had instructed him, wasn’t it obvious what Miss Zhuang was implying? What mattered now wasn’t who the true mastermind was, but rather who Miss Zhuang wanted it to be. Taoist Jing Xu, being skilled at reading people’s intentions and smooth-talking, immediately said: “The maid at that time said it was these two Ladies Zhou.”
“You’re lying! You’re lying!” Madam Zhou shouted both angrily and anxiously. “This is complete nonsense. Master, don’t believe this Taoist!”
“Concubine Zhou!” Han Yan suddenly called out loudly, startling Zhou into temporary silence. Han Yan turned to her with clear eyes: “You were the one who said Taoist Jing Xu was highly virtuous, and now you’re also the one calling him a lying fraud. Your extreme agitation now – could you be hiding something?”
Before Zhou could respond, Han Yan stepped back two paces while clutching her chest, appearing utterly grief-stricken: “May I ask what wrong Han Yan has done, for Concubine to treat me this way? Since this Taoist Jing Xu is a fraud you brought to falsely accuse me of bringing harm to my parents and husband, summoning evil spirits, and causing the Concubine’s miscarriage – any one of these accusations falling on Han Yan’s head would destroy my reputation forever. Concubine, how can you be so vicious?” With that, she covered her face and began softly weeping.
Ji Lan suddenly stepped forward: “Young Miss, you are now the Princess Consort of Prince Xuan Qing, yet these people still act so outrageously. When His Highness learns of this, he surely won’t let it slide. Where are the guards? Little Li, come here quickly.”
From among the guards assigned to Han Yan by Fu Yun Xi, the lead guard stepped forward: “Present.”
“Our Young Miss has been wronged. Quickly report this matter to His Highness and let him make a judgment,” Ji Lan spoke without hesitation.
Han Yan’s face remained buried in her hands, her voice suggesting weeping, but her lips curled up high. Hearing Ji Lan’s words, she almost couldn’t hold back her laughter. Ji Lan had become increasingly skilled at acting lately, and these words were particularly well-spoken – she deserved a good reward later.
The guard left immediately, while the others all paled. Everyone knew how deeply Prince Xuan Qing doted on his young wife. Even if Han Yan were at fault, she was the victim here. Once Prince Xuan Qing learned of this, how could anyone involved expect to escape punishment?
Han Yan’s gaze swept across Concubine Mei’s tightly closed door, her lips curling into a cold smile. As she had said, none of those involved today would escape, so how could she easily let go of Concubine Mei, the director of this grand performance?
“Father, how did Concubine Mei suddenly have a miscarriage? His Highness once said that Imperial Physician Wu from the palace is masterful at healing. Concubine Mei must have suffered great harm from this ordeal?”
She stared at Zhuang Shi Yang: “Perhaps we should invite Imperial Physician Wu to examine her?”
In an instant, all eyes turned to Han Yan, as no one had expected her to make such a request at this moment.
Zhuang Shi Yang suddenly raised his head, glaring fiercely at Han Yan. A physician had just attended to her, yet Han Yan suggested calling for an Imperial Physician – wasn’t this openly questioning the mansion’s physician? Regardless, to have the family’s face slapped in front of everyone was something Zhuang Shi Yang simply couldn’t tolerate.
Unfortunately, Han Yan had no intention of acknowledging him. What did a ruined reputation matter? When her mother was betrayed by someone she trusted, now let Zhuang Shi Yang tasted the flavor of betrayal. The feeling of being deceived and implicated by someone you cherish – perhaps Zhuang Shi Yang should experience that as well.
Elder Madam Zhou, hearing Han Yan’s words, cast a suspicious glance at her. While others might not catch it, she certainly could tell that Han Yan was questioning Concubine Mei’s miscarriage. It wasn’t just Han Yan who found it suspicious; she too felt something was amiss. Their previous plan with Concubine Mei hadn’t been like this – Concubine Mei was only supposed to claim she felt unwell, as no one would gamble with an unborn child’s life.
Yet today, Concubine Mei had miscarried. Even to bring down Han Yan, it wouldn’t be worth sacrificing her unborn child’s life, especially given what this child meant to Concubine Mei, which Elder Madam Zhou knew all too well.
With this child, Zhuang Shi Yang might have given Concubine Mei the position of a proper wife, and the child could have become the legitimate heir of the Zhuang family. How could Concubine Mei easily give up such an opportunity? Earlier, Elder Madam Zhou had sensed some reservation in Concubine Mei’s attitude, but when news of the miscarriage came, she couldn’t help but be shocked.
Han Yan’s suspicion, in some way, confirmed Elder Madam Zhou’s doubts. Now there were only two possibilities: either Concubine Mei’s miscarriage was entirely fabricated, and the child in her womb was safe – but if that were the case, how would she explain the child’s existence to everyone later after such a performance? This line of thinking led to only one possibility: Concubine Mei had never been pregnant at all.
But was it true that Concubine Mei had never been pregnant?
“Miss Zhuang,” the Seventh Prince slowly spoke up, “Imperial Physician Wu has many duties in the palace. Requesting his presence now might be rather inappropriate.”
Han Yan turned to smile at the Seventh Prince: “Your Highness, how can you say that? If Your Highness could have servants deliver an invitation to Taoist Jing Xu for the Zhuang family’s sake, then I, as a member of the Zhuang family, should naturally make every effort as well. Moreover, His Highness has said that whenever I need anything, I may seek Imperial Physician Wu’s assistance at any time.”