Nurturing Hatred

After hearing Xiao Jiangzi out, Emperor Jing'an and Wei Fugui both found it a bit hard to believe.

Yet the two men merely paused for a brief moment before recalling how Hua Meng had previously mentioned that Wei Ningyan was pregnant before marriage.

The master and servant exchanged glances, and Emperor Jing'an looked at Xiao Jiangzi, asking, "Was this news released by the Elder Princess?"

"It spread from the mouths of the servants at the Princess Royal's Residence."

As soon as Xiao Jiangzi spoke these words, Emperor Jing'an let out a cold laugh on the spot, saying, "Yue Shu considers herself of noble birth and has always boasted endlessly about the rules of the Princess Royal's Residence. Why on earth would servants lack the manners to gossip freely today?" Having said this, Emperor Jing'an did not wait for anyone else to answer and continued by answering his own question: "Naturally, because she herself orchestrated this!"

Emperor Jing'an, who had already suspected that the assassination had an inseparable connection to the Elder Princess, now grew even more firmly convinced that the Elder Princess must have been involved in this matter.

Otherwise, why would Wei Ningyan's incident happen neither early nor late, but precisely today?

Emperor Jing'an turned the matter over in his mind, then looked at Wei Fugui and said, "Send someone to investigate with the utmost care. I want to know what on earth is going on."

At Emperor Jing'an's command, Wei Fugui naturally had no choice but to immediately acknowledge the order and see to it.

Meanwhile, at Wei Ningyan's dowry estate in the suburbs.

Wei Ningyan lay on the bed with unseeing eyes, and Yue Shu by the bedside looked at her with pity and consoled her, saying, "Ningyan, Mother never expected that this child would turn out to be a boy." Having said this, Yue Shu merely paused for a slight fraction before immediately continuing: "You are still young; you will have plenty of chances in the future. Do not grieve anymore."

The moment Yue Shu's voice fell, almost instantly, Wei Ningyan—who had been lying on the bed with vacant eyes—turned her face and said with a chilling coldness, "Mother! It was you! You were the one who said Cen Yongning looked at this child and figured there was an eighty percent chance it was a girl, which is why I agreed to this. But he is a boy! He is the eldest son of my husband and me!"

As Wei Ningyan's near-deranged words burst forth, Yue Shu, who had still possessed the patience to comfort her just a moment ago, instantly saw her expression change. Yet, thinking of the male infant who had just been buried, she still suppressed her displeasure and exhorted: "You ought to know, however, that this child was already four months along. Had it not been for those words from Hua Meng, Mother could have managed things in due course. You would have had a premature birth at the estate, and when you returned in the seventh or eighth month, people still would have believed it was a child of five or six months. But..."

Yue Shu unhesitatingly guided Wei Ningyan's hatred toward Hua Meng. Seeing that the gaze Wei Ningyan fixed upon her was finally devoid of its previous ferocity, she hurriedly pressed on: "As long as this child exists for a single day, it remains a liability. Mother only did this for your own good. You cannot be unaware of the rumors that have emerged from the palace in recent days."

Although these two remarks by Yue Shu made no mention of Hua Meng, every underlying implication still guided Wei Ningyan into hating Hua Meng.

Wei Ningyan was, after all, born to Yue Shu, and Yue Shu understood her temperament well. Thus, once these few sentences were spoken, a vast portion of Wei Ningyan's hatred was successfully transferred onto Hua Meng.

Closing her eyes weakly, the instant tears slipped down the corners of her eyes, Wei Ningyan finally spoke with a trembling voice, "Mother, he was already moving two days ago."

Hearing Wei Ningyan's words, Yue Shu felt a pang in her heart. She wanted to say a few more words, but she realized that Wei Ningyan had already closed her eyes.

She knew that her daughter had no wish to speak further.

Yue Shu glanced at the pale-faced Wei Ningyan lying on the bed, let out a long sigh, and then stood up and left the place.

The very instant Yue Shu walked out of the room, Wei Ningyan swiftly opened her eyes, glanced in the direction Yue Shu had departed, and gave a cold smile.

Yue Shu, having stepped out of the room, was entirely unaware of the look Wei Ningyan had just cast her way. Believing she had already comforted Wei Ningyan, she felt that all she needed to do now was to offer some compensation to the Zhang family.

Gazing at Zhang Jinghong standing before her, Yue Shu felt a trace of disgust flash through the depths of her heart before she spoke: "As for the matter of the child, it was this Princess who failed to consider things thoroughly." Having said this, Yue Shu closely observed Zhang Jinghong's expression and, seeing that he did not reveal the slightest trace of dissatisfaction, she continued with satisfaction: "If you must harbor resentment for this, blame this Princess; just do not let it chill Ningyan's heart."

"This son-in-law wouldn't dare." The moment Zhang Jinghong blurted out these four words, he raised his gaze slightly, his peach-blossom eyes brimming with sorrow yet exhibiting profound sensibility as he said, "This child simply lacked fate with Ningyan and me. Presumably, we will always have other children in the future."

Zhang Jinghong's sensible demeanor greatly pleased Yue Shu, yet simultaneously, this very satisfaction made her like Zhang Jinghong all the less.

A Zhang Jinghong capable of enduring to such a degree was definitely not as simple as he appeared on the surface.

Nevertheless, Yue Shu was confident that she could keep him suppressed for a lifetime.

"I hear you are preparing for next year's Provincial Examination? Study hard for it. Once you attain the title of a Jinshi, it will be proper for this Princess to secure an official post for you."

Yue Shu casually tossed out a promise, which amounted to compensating Zhang Jinghong.

Zhang Jinghong lowered his gaze slightly, not daring to meet Yue Shu's eyes directly. His voice of gratitude was tinged with joy, yet it left one unable to make out the expression in his eyes.

Seeing that Zhang Jinghong dared harbor no resentment, Yue Shu finally strode toward the front courtyard; she still had to pacify Prince Consort Wei Heng, who would have rushed over upon hearing the news.

Waiting until Yue Shu had departed, Zhang Jinghong raised his head. His calm, unruffled gaze betrayed no trace of his emotions as he straightened his robe and walked toward the interior of the house.

At the same time, the sun sank toward the west, and Emperor Jing'an, treading upon the twilight rays of the setting sun, appeared at the Right Side Hall of Sparrow Plume Palace.

Regarding the appearance of Emperor Jing'an, no one up and down the Right Side Hall of Sparrow Plume Palace found it strange—or rather, no one throughout the entire inner palace would find it strange.

After all, with the incident of the assassin occurring today, it was entirely normal for Emperor Jing'an to worry about the fetus in Hua Meng's womb and come keep her company.

Seeing that Hua Meng's complexion was rather good, Emperor Jing'an looked at Qiu Die and the others standing in the lower ranks and said, "You all withdraw first. I have a few words to speak with your Consort."

The moment Emperor Jing'an's voice trailed off, Qiu Die and Jiang Chan immediately bowed and withdrew. Ling Cui, however, gave Hua Meng a look before leaving; seeing that Hua Meng offered no hindrance, she then followed the others out.

Ling Cui's action naturally could not escape Emperor Jing'an's notice. Emperor Jing'an chuckled and shook his head, then, just as Hua Meng was about to open her mouth to speak, he casually waved his hand.

Hua Meng did not understand Emperor Jing'an's intent, and just as she was about to open her mouth to inquire, she saw a man abruptly 'fly' out from nowhere.

The man was dressed in clean-cut, unencumbered black garments with an upright and towering figure. The right half of his face was masked by a piece of material whose texture could not be discerned, and he held a saber openly and brazenly in his hands. He simply stood there quietly, and one could tell at a glance that he was extremely formidable and not to be trifled with.

Emperor Jing'an saw that Hua Meng neither let out a shrill scream nor revealed a puzzled expression; after casting a glance at Yi Yun, she swiftly withdrew her gaze again, looking at him once more as though she had never seen him at all. This made him feel that Hua Meng was indeed extraordinary.

Taking hold of Hua Meng's hand, Emperor Jing'an pointed at Yi Yun standing below and said, "This is the guard I have found for you." At this moment, Emperor Jing'an seemed to have forgotten the rule that men from outside were barred from the inner palace; once he finished speaking, he continued: "His name is Yi Yun."

Yi Yun had maintained his silence the entire time Emperor Jing'an was speaking, and even after Emperor Jing'an finished introducing his name, he still made no move. It was only when Wei Fugui kept relentlessly signaling to him with his eyes that he finally looked toward Hua Meng and said, "May the Consort be blessed with supreme fortune."

Hearing Yi Yun finally open his mouth, Emperor Jing'an acted as though he saw no fault even in the lack of a formal bow. Ignoring it, he continued: "Yi Yun does not care for speaking. From now on, you need only arrange for someone to deliver some food to him at fixed times every day, and help him wash and change into clean garments."

Having finished saying this, Emperor Jing'an, fearing that Hua Meng might not understand, added: "Within the inner palace, currently only the four people here know of this matter." With that, Emperor Jing'an paused, and recalling Ling Cui's actions just before she left, he continued: "I think that palace maid called Ling Cui will do. She is a trusted confidante who grew up with you since childhood, and she will certainly not leak this matter."

Even had Emperor Jing'an not mentioned it, Hua Meng's first thought in that previous instant had also been of Ling Cui.

Qiu Die might have accomplished this task even better, but she still trusted Ling Cui more deeply.

"This concubine understands." Hua Meng looked at Emperor Jing'an with a beaming smile, and seeing Emperor Jing'an wave once more to dismiss Yi Yun, she hastily rose with joy and executed a solemn bow, saying, "Your concubine prostrates herself in gratitude for His Majesty's boundless grace."

Emperor Jing'an stopped Hua Meng from kneeling, helped her to her feet, and looking into her eyes, said earnestly, "So long as you understand my heart, that is enough."

Emperor Jing'an did not tell Hua Meng that he had long since spoken with Yi Yun about coming to serve as her guard, only that Yi Yun's conditions were too high. He had hesitated all along until today's incident occurred, which finally led him to truly make up his mind.

Hua Meng knew that Emperor Jing'an was disregarding the rules to arrange a guard for her precisely because she was carrying a child.

Even so, she offered her sincere thanks, for after all, this ultimately belonged to her own personal guard.

Having finished discussing Yi Yun, Emperor Jing'an suddenly thought of the matter of Wei Ningyan's miscarriage.

By the time Emperor Jing'an had explained in a few words how Wei Ningyan had suffered a miscarriage at the estate, Hua Meng—who had not expected such an event to transpire—remanced in a daze for a long moment before stating with certainty: "With things coming to this, this concubine will surely be marked for hatred."