“Hold Concubine Mei down, let Imperial Physician Wu check her pulse,” Han Yan frowned.

Several strong servant women immediately restrained the struggling Concubine Mei. After touching her wrist for just a moment, Imperial Physician Wu suddenly declared loudly: “What trickery is this? This is the body of someone who was never pregnant – how could there be a miscarriage?”

The words “never pregnant” first stunned Zhuang Shi Yang, who stared at Imperial Physician Wu in disbelief: “Imperial Physician Wu, what do you mean by this?”

Imperial Physician Wu was even angrier than him: “What do I mean? You people make a fool of this old man and still dare to ask what I mean?” He glanced at Han Yan, seemingly understanding something, and decided to speak even more plainly: “This woman was never with child – how could she possibly have had a miscarriage?”

“You deceived me?” Zhuang Shi Yang glared at Concubine Mei, each word seemingly squeezed through his teeth.

“Master, I didn’t mean to.” Seeing no possibility of denial, Concubine Mei hurriedly crawled up from the bed, her face paper-white, begging repeatedly: “Master, please spare me this once. This concubine will never dare again.”

The Zhou sisters exchanged glances, saying nothing but breathing sighs of relief internally. They had found it strange earlier that Concubine Mei wasn’t following the usual plan, wondering if there was some scheme. Now hearing Imperial Physician Wu say she had merely pretended to be pregnant, they understood. If Concubine Mei had faked her pregnancy, using a miscarriage would be the perfect excuse to bring down Han Yan. Though Han Yan had previously been on their side, once she gained power, Concubine Mei had to be wary. However… the Zhou sisters looked at Han Yan, both feeling a chill. At this point, one fact was crystal clear – they had lost! This carefully laid trap had ended up ensnaring them instead. They had lost to this girl who hadn’t even come of age, whom they had once dismissed as a mere timid shadow. They hadn’t known about Concubine Mei’s situation, but Han Yan’s demeanor showed she had known all along, turning their plan against them by throwing down this final straw to break the camel’s back at the crucial moment!

Such deep scheming!

Having such an opponent was truly terrifying.

It wasn’t just the Zhou sisters who were uneasy now, but also Concubine Mei. Though scared to tears, she was utterly confused – things weren’t supposed to turn out this way. She had planned to use the miscarriage to push all blame onto Han Yan. Her arrangement with the Zhou sisters had been that once Taoist Jing Xu arrived and found that item in Han Yan’s room, they could completely discredit Han Yan, leaving her no way to defend herself. But while the Zhous had only asked her to pretend to have pregnancy complications, she had been anxious about revealing her real pregnancy, leading to today’s miscarriage performance. The doctor and midwife had been well-prepared – how had this Imperial Physician Wu suddenly appeared and exposed her plan so clearly! And why were the Zhou sisters now looking so devastated? This wasn’t right.

Though these thoughts ran through her mind, Concubine Mei dared not show them. She knew Zhuang Shi Yang hated betrayal most of all. When she had previously lied about being pregnant, he had been overjoyed, taking extra care of her supposed child. Now knowing it was all false, if his anger turned on her… Having lived with him for so many years, Concubine Mei knew well how ruthless Zhuang Shi Yang could be – she would certainly face dire consequences. This thought sent chills through her heart.

Zhuang Shi Yang’s current mood was like a raging storm. Everything today had been beyond his expectations – first Concubine Mei’s miscarriage meant losing his legitimate heir, then evidence of his affair with Elder Madam Zhou was exposed, and now Imperial Physician Wu revealed Concubine Mei had faked her pregnancy. Feeling deeply humiliated, he kicked Concubine Mei: “Worthless woman! Tell me! Why did you deceive me? After all I’ve done for you!” He had lost all reason, repeatedly kicking her while calling her a “worthless woman” over and over. Being a woman, Concubine Mei could only curl up in the corner under his kicks, constantly begging: “Master, I was wrong, Master, Mei’er will never dare again, Master, Master…”

Concubine Mei’s heart was filled with pain and hatred. In all her years with Zhuang Shi Yang, she had never seen him this angry, looking ready to kill. She had prided herself on understanding men, but where was Zhuang Shi Yang’s usual tenderness now? His gaze terrified her, but what Concubine Mei couldn’t accept was how things had come to this!

At this moment, Han Yan, who had remained silent, stepped forward: “Father, please calm yourself.”

Her voice was like cool dew, bringing clarity to the heated atmosphere and unconsciously calming people. More importantly, her voice carried a subtle chill, as if she had finished watching the show and decided to settle accounts herself. Her mockery made Concubine Mei suddenly turn to look at her.

Han Yan spoke unhurriedly: “Doesn’t Father find this strange? Imperial Physician Wu says Concubine Mei was never pregnant, which must be true, yet Taoist Jing Xu claimed that the child in Concubine Mei’s womb was affected by evil spirits I summoned.” She smiled: “Taoist Jing Xu used Concubine Zhou’s birth details to claim she brings misfortune to her father and husband. Father, are the Taoist’s words true or false?”

Those around were stunned, not understanding Han Yan’s intention.

“Taoist Jing Xu has admitted he was instructed by Concubine Zhou and Madam Zhou to frame me, but it seems Concubine Mei was also involved. What should be the punishment for conspiring against a court official’s wife!”

No one had expected Han Yan to suddenly invoke her status as Princess Consort of Prince Xuan Qing. Considering how well-known the Prince’s doting on Han Yan was throughout the capital if word got to him about the Zhou sisters and Concubine Mei plotting against Han Yan, who knew what storms would arise? The onlookers’ expressions toward the Zhou sisters instantly became more guarded, afraid of being associated with them and incurring Prince Xuan Qing’s wrath.

Seeing no response, Han Yan smiled again: “But this Taoist Jing Xu was specifically invited to the Zhuang mansion by the Seventh Prince’s letter. Your Highness, could it be that you knew about this all along?”

The Seventh Prince started, immediately responding darkly: “Nonsense! This prince knew nothing of this!” He narrowed his eyes at Han Yan, his heart full of malice. This Han Yan was truly a terrifying opponent – she dared to try dragging him down too! Unfortunately, he hadn’t known her plan initially, and now it was impossible to stay uninvolved. Today’s events would be difficult to avoid being implicated in. But such audacity she had!