Chapter 152 Accident? Human Intention?

“I told you she had ill intentions, but you wouldn’t believe me. Look at her now, she’s latched onto Consort Shu’s coattails, and she’s eagerly moved over there…”

Huanbi leaned against the doorway, watching Ningxiangju pack up its things, and kept complaining.

Hearing her words from inside the room, Zhen Huan felt a little disappointed. "Water flows downhill and people strive for higher places; it's only natural. Why bother arguing about it? Alright, Huanbi, since Lingrong is moving out, you shouldn't say anything more."

"Your Highness, it's most important to recover your health right now. You've been sick for so many days, and I've noticed you've lost a lot of weight."

Liu Zhu entered carrying a bowl of medicine, looking at Zhen Huan with concern in her eyes. She couldn't help but feel some resentment towards Huan Bi; knowing that her mistress was unwell, why did she still bring up Consort Zhuang's matter to upset her?

"Liu Zhu is right. Right now, taking good care of my health is the most important thing." Zhen Huan smiled, having come to understand many things at this moment.

The palace was not a place for her to be pretentious. From the time Consort Wan stole the Emperor's favor to the time the Eldest Princess fell into the water, the Emperor hadn't visited her for a long time. His so-called favor seemed like a fleeting moment. Now that Ling Rong had a way out, if she didn't pull herself together, she would truly fade into obscurity in the harem.

This shouldn't be Zhen Huan's future...

At Yanxi Palace, Song Wan'er, along with Bu'er and others, warmly welcomed An Lingrong. Perhaps because An Lingrong had saved her, Bu'er and others took a great liking to this gentle Consort Zhuang, their bright eyes always following her, only to shyly withdraw before being discovered.

Buerhe thought he had hidden it well, but Song Wan'er saw through it all. She was a little jealous, but also felt sorry for him. Ever since his "accidental" fall into the water, Buerhe had become more reserved and timid than before. Afraid of causing any more trouble, he had been extremely cautious these days, not even willing to step out of the palace gates.

It was rare to see her daughter so emotionally expressive, so Song Wan'er naturally wanted her daughter to be happier. Therefore, after obtaining An Lingrong's consent, she let Bu'er and her daughter go with her to "help" set up the accommodations.

Seeing Bu Erhe's unusually light steps, Song Wan'er smiled faintly. Only after the others had gone far away did she look at Mo Yan, who had quietly walked in.

"Tell me, what did you find out?"

After investigation and based on Boer's account after waking up, it was determined that the incident of Boer falling into the water was merely an accident. However, Song Wan'er did not believe it; the palace was not short of man-made accidents.

Therefore, even though the Emperor and Empress announced the case was closed, she would not give up the investigation and had Mo Yan secretly investigate during this period.

As the only two princesses in the palace, Burhe and Garuda had very different personalities. Garuda was always energetic and liked to run around, while Burhe preferred quiet and spent her days either in class or reading in the palace, which made the others feel uncomfortable.

So later, in order not to worry his father, mother, brothers and sisters, Burhe would take the initiative to go out for a walk every day off.

On the day that Bu'er fell into the water, it was a day off. As usual, she went out for a stroll with her two personal maids, Baoshan and Baolu. First, she once again acted as the referee in the quarrel between Garudai and Hongzhou. Then, Garudai, who lost the argument, took her to the Imperial Garden to "attract bees and butterflies" and "ruthlessly destroy flowers."

After the sulking Garuda was soothed by her sister, the two parted ways in the Imperial Garden.

According to Bu Erhe, after Garudai left, she found the jade pendant lying on the ground and knew it was her sister's beloved possession, so she asked Baoshan to take it to Yikun Palace. She herself took Baolu and walked back to Yanxi Palace via a side path.

Taking the shortcut was a spur-of-the-moment decision she made; the path was less frequented and not very smooth. Halfway there, Bu'erhe felt some pain and discomfort in her feet. So Baolu helped her sit in a small pavilion by the pond and instructed Baolu to hurry back to Yanxi Palace and send someone to fetch her again.

Baolu felt it wasn't right to leave her alone, but Buerhe insisted, so Baolu had to leave in a hurry. After Baolu left, Buerhe rested for a while and felt a little better, so she stood up and took a few steps. When she reached the pond, she wasn't paying attention and slipped, falling in.

Interrogating Baoshan and Baolu, examining the soil around the pond, including the shoes that Buer felt uncomfortable in, revealed nothing wrong. Apart from the palace maids' negligence, it seemed to be just a coincidental accident.

But Song Wan'er just couldn't believe it. Her motherly intuition told her that someone must be trying to harm her, Bu'erhe.

Faced with Song Wan'er's persistent questioning, Mo Yan silently shook her head. As the head maid of Yanxi Palace, she had seen all sorts of storms and waves, so naturally she didn't believe it was an accident, yet she just couldn't find anything out.

She even began to waver, wondering if they were being too paranoid and had guessed wrong? Was it really just an accident?

Seeing Mo Yan shake his head, Song Wan'er's expression turned ugly.

"Your Majesty, could it really just be a coincidence?"

“There aren’t that many coincidences in this palace.” Song Wan’er shook her head. She didn’t believe in coincidences, but she couldn’t find the mastermind behind it all.

"But Your Highness, why would the person behind this want to harm the princess?"

Mo Yan couldn't understand this, and Song Wan'er was also somewhat puzzled.

She wouldn't claim to be a good person, but for the sake of Bu'erhe, she had always been kind to others and got along well with everyone in the Prince's residence, even Nian Shilan. As for the newcomers, regardless of their abilities, she had always lived a secluded life since entering the palace and had little interaction with the newcomers, so how could she have formed any enmity with them?

Buerhe's personality was just like hers. Who could a 10-year-old girl like that resent? If it wasn't directed at her or Buerhe, the only thing Song Wan'er could think of was the imperial heir.

Logically speaking, if someone were to target a member of the imperial family, they shouldn't be targeting a princess; shouldn't the same methods be used on the princes? The Empress also specifically investigated the situation of the other imperial heirs and found that none of them posed any threat.

That's why there was no reason for anyone else to do it, so Yixiu concluded that it was an accident.

Song Wan'er was somewhat anxious. Was she really overthinking things? But the unease in her heart wouldn't go away, constantly reminding her. She felt as if she had returned to the time before her eldest daughter's death, and the panic and tension were exactly the same, making it impossible for her to put her mind at ease.

She has already lost one daughter; she can't afford to lose another. This is her only daughter...

"Daughter, daughter..." Suddenly, a thought flashed through Song Wan'er's mind. She looked at Mo Yan with deep eyes, "Mo Yan, is Consort Hui carrying a boy or a girl?"

"This... there's no conclusion yet. I've only heard that Consort Hui really enjoys spicy food..." At this point, Mo Yan looked up in surprise, "Your Majesty, do you suspect Consort Hui?"

"No," Song Wan'er gazed at the square palace walls outside, her voice ethereal, as if she were asking Mo Yan or murmuring to herself, "Is Consort Hui really the only one in this palace who is pregnant?"

"Your Majesty, you mean..."

“The less of anything, the more precious it is. If the first son born after this ascension to the throne is a daughter… Mo Yan stared at Xianfu Palace and at Consort Hui’s belly.”