Chapter 12 The child is probably doomed.

At night, the darkness was as black as ink, so thick it seemed impossible to dissolve.

Following Shen Qingci's instructions, Wan Qing quietly hid behind a large tree outside the main courtyard of the Marquis's mansion.

A short while later, the main courtyard door was opened, and Liu Ruolan's personal maid, Bitao, sneaked out of the main courtyard.

Wanqing immediately straightened up. Her young mistress had said that Liu Ruolan had invited her to the temple to offer incense the next day, and that she would definitely take action tonight. Sure enough!

Wanqing held her breath and carefully followed behind Bitao. Soon she saw Bitao's figure disappear into a rockery in the courtyard.

Wanqing carefully circled around to the back of the artificial hill and, sure enough, heard Bitao's voice. Bitao lowered her voice to a whisper, her tone carrying a barely perceptible mix of excitement and malice: "...Remember, on the way back tomorrow, you pretend to be bandits and kidnap Shen Qingci..."

"Then, find a secluded place... ruin her reputation, and then find a way to get rid of the bastard in her womb!"

"Make sure it's done cleanly and efficiently! You'll get your share of the profits afterward!"

After Bitao finished speaking, a rough male voice rang out: "Yes! Miss Bitao, please rest assured, Miss."

Hiding in the shadows, Wan Qing felt a chill run from her feet to the top of her head, as if her blood was about to freeze.

Liu Ruolan! Her young lady had no prior grudge against Liu Ruolan, yet she was so vicious!

She suppressed her fear and anger, and etched their words into her mind.

Upon returning to Shen Qingci's room, Wanqing hurriedly recounted everything she had heard, her voice trembling slightly as she said, "Miss! That Liu Ruolan is utterly inhuman! She's trying to completely ruin you!"

Shen Qingci's exquisite face appeared even more aloof in the dim candlelight, and a cold glint flashed in her unfathomable phoenix eyes.

Get rid of the child? That's exactly what she wanted.

But to tarnish her reputation? To ruin Shen Qingci's name? Dream on!

Liu Ruolan, you really have a good plan.

"Since she wants me to have an accident so badly, wouldn't it be a waste of her meticulously planned scheme if I didn't cooperate?" Shen Qingci's lips curled into an extremely cold smile. Her voice was calm and even, yet it carried a chilling undertone. "It's just that the way she's putting on this show isn't quite to my liking."

"Then I'll have no choice but to strike first!"

Shen Qingci beckoned Wan Qing to come closer, then lowered his voice and said, "Tomorrow morning, go out of the manor and tell her to make a memorial tablet for the general. I want it to be enshrined in a temple."

"Then, you disguised yourself as Bitao and went ahead to Putuo Temple..."

...

The next day, as noon approached, the golden sunlight bathed Putuo Temple in a solemn glow, with wisps of incense smoke rising and the melodious sound of bells echoing.

Shen Qingci and Liu Ruolan each paid their respects to the Bodhisattvas they wished to before entering the meditation room together.

The abbot handed two strings of consecrated sandalwood prayer beads to them, chanting a Buddhist prayer: "Amitabha, these prayer beads have been blessed by the Dharma, may they protect you two benefactors and bring you peace, good fortune, and the fulfillment of your wishes."

Liu Ruolan accepted the Buddhist beads, her heart filled with joy.

She prayed to the Guanyin Bodhisattva who grants children, and then the abbot gave her these prayer beads. Wasn't that an implication that she could conceive a child immediately?

Liu Ruolan couldn't help but stroke the Buddhist beads, her smile almost overflowing.

Afterwards, the two walked hand in hand toward the main hall.

Leading to the main hall is a series of more than a hundred blue stone steps, which pilgrims climb with respectful expressions.

Liu Ruolan was in a very good mood today, and her steps were lighter. She walked about two or three steps ahead of Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci casually adjusted his pace, his gaze falling on the string of Buddhist beads tightly held in Liu Ruolan's hand, his eyes filled with icy coldness.

When we had just climbed about ten steps, something unexpected happened.

The sandalwood prayer beads that Liu Ruolan held in her hand, on which she had placed great hopes, broke without any warning!

Dozens of smooth, round sandalwood prayer beads scattered and bounced on the bluestone steps with a crackling sound!

"Ah! My Buddhist prayer beads!" Liu Ruolan let out a sharp scream, her smile freezing on her face, replaced by panic and astonishment.

She subconsciously bent down to pick up the fallen prayer beads, but she was wearing a long, elaborate dress that made it difficult to move. In addition, she was standing on the steps, and when she bent down, she became unsteady and fell directly towards Shen Qingci, who was right behind her.

Shen Qingci seemed stunned by this sudden turn of events, her eyes filled with terror, but she had no time to dodge.

She was tackled by Liu Ruolan, and fell backward, tumbling down the stone steps!

"Miss!" Wanqing exclaimed and rushed downstairs.

Shen Qingci tumbled down more than ten steps before crashing heavily onto the cold bluestone ground.

Her face was ashen, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead, instantly soaking her temples.

"Miss!" Wanqing rushed down and hugged Shen Qingci's upper body: "Miss, how are you feeling?"

"It hurts!" Shen Qingci gritted her teeth, her whole body trembling. "My stomach! My stomach hurts so much!"

Everyone then looked towards Shen Qingci's stomach, and what they saw shocked them. The moon-white dress beneath Shen Qingci was being rapidly stained with a glaring crimson color, and a strong smell of blood filled the air.

"Blood...so much blood!" a worshipper exclaimed in surprise.

"Blood?" Shen Qingci's lips trembled, and extreme fear and despair on the verge of collapse quickly filled her eyes.

She lowered her head with difficulty, staring intently at the expanding pool of blood beneath her, her voice trembling with sobs: "My child...my child..."

"Save me! Save my child!"

Her voice was shrill and helpless, making one's heart tighten!

Liu Ruolan stood on the steps, staring at the bloody and tragic scene, completely stunned.

She...she did want to get rid of Shen Qingci's child, but...it shouldn't be here, it shouldn't be in this way!

This... is completely different from what she planned!

What she wanted was to kidnap Shen Qingci on the way back and then eliminate the threat! Only then could she pretend that it was all an accident and completely sever ties with the situation.

But just now, Shen Qingci was... was pushed down by her!

And it happened right under everyone's noses! They... all saw it!

Her mind went blank, with only a buzzing sound in her ears.

Overwhelmed by fear and panic, she cried out, "No...it wasn't me! It was the prayer beads...the prayer beads broke by themselves, I just wanted to pick them up!"

She was so eager to distance herself from the situation that she even forgot to check on Shen Qingci's injuries and send someone to fetch a doctor!

His panicked and desperate attempt to shirk responsibility only made him seem more suspicious to those around him!

A cacophony of voices, exclamations, and whispers rose and fell as countless eyes turned toward Liu Ruolan and Shen Qingci, who lay in a pool of blood.

"Quickly, fetch a doctor! Are there any doctors in the temple?"

"My God, this lady seems to be pregnant. She's lost so much blood; the baby is probably going to die!"

"I saw it. The person on the steps suddenly turned around and pushed her, which caused her to fall!"

Some people also recognized Shen Qingci and Liu Ruolan.

"Isn't that General Zhengxi's widow lying on the ground? General Zhengxi died in battle more than two months ago, leaving behind only this unborn child. I heard that the general's wife has attempted suicide twice in the past two months, only pulling through for the sake of this child. Now that the child is gone, wouldn't the general's wife be..."

"That's her sister-in-law, the Lady of Yongning Marquis, right? Why...why would she do that?"

"What else could it be? The Lady of Yongning Marquis has been married to the Marquis of Yongning for a year and a half, but she is still not pregnant."

In the midst of this chaos, a clear, cold, yet authoritative voice suddenly rang out amidst the clamor: "Make way!"