Eunuch Yuan couldn't understand why Empress Song would be so cruel to Princess Ling. Prince Jin's rival was the eldest prince, not Prince Ling. In the end, it was because Empress Song was used to being domineering. Anyone in the palace who didn't go along with her was suppressed by her. Princess Ling didn't choose Prince Jin as she wished, and she became a thorn in Empress Song's side. She couldn't bear to let her go without getting rid of her. As a result, she harbored malicious intentions and ended up harming her own grandson. This was probably retribution.
The Emperor had many sons, but only Xie Jingyan and Xie Jingyin were married. The Emperor had finally been looking forward to the prospect of a grandson, but then this incident happened in front of everyone. The Emperor was in a terrible mood, and even his mood for celebrating the Empress Dowager's birthday was somewhat dampened.
No one spoke in the hall. Shen Wan sat there, wondering who in the palace would dare to harm Fu Shu. The one who least wanted Fu Shu to give birth to the child was definitely Shen Ying, but Shen Ying probably didn't have the guts. If Empress Song found out, Empress Song would skin Shen Ying alive.
With Shen Ying out of the picture, there shouldn't be anyone else in the palace who could do it. Could it be...?
Shen Wan turned her head to look at Xie Jingyan, and their eyes met unexpectedly. Shen Wan decisively put an end to the speculation.
Xie Jingyan certainly has the guts, but even if he were to avenge her, he would never harm the child in Fu Shu's womb, nor would he openly target Fu Shu. On the contrary, he is most likely to target Xie Jingyin.
If she really couldn't guess, Shen Wan stopped guessing, since it had nothing to do with her anyway.
Shen Ying sat across from them at a table meant for three people, but now she was the only one sitting there. Shen Ying regretted not following them earlier; going now would be too conspicuous.
Shen Ying didn't know how much effort she had to put in to prevent herself from showing any pleasure.
It felt like a dream.
Worried that she was dreaming, Shen Ying secretly pinched her thigh.
It really hurts.
I'm really happy.
Seeing that none of the officials spoke up and that the Emperor looked displeased, Consort Zheng whispered, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet is of utmost importance."
Just as the Emperor was about to speak, an eunuch approached and said, "Your Majesty, the Princess Consort of Jin has lost her child..."
This was expected, and no one was surprised.
The Empress Dowager said coldly, "How could someone who was able to come to the palace to congratulate me on my birthday suddenly have an accident? Did the imperial physician say what caused it?"
The father-in-law said, "It seems like she was given an abortion drug..."
Swish.
The emperor's face was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water.
The Empress Dowager also looked displeased.
The Empress Dowager had lived in the palace for decades and had seen all sorts of dirty tricks, but to give the Princess of Jin an abortion drug at her birthday banquet was not only displeasing to the Prince of Jin's residence and Empress Song, but also an insult to the Empress Dowager. With such ability, why not drug Fu Shu at any time, instead of choosing today?
The Empress Dowager's face turned as long as a horse's.
Eunuch Yuan stood there, his brows furrowed into a tight knot.
How could they have put an abortion pill in the tea?
Princess Ling is not pregnant.
Someone else was supposed to take the pulse of Princess Jin. Eunuch Yuan might even suspect that Empress Song had instructed the imperial physician to say so, but Chief Physician Zhao was not someone Empress Song could bribe, so it shouldn't be a fake.
Could it be that Princess Ling is also pregnant?
Thinking back to how Granny Du led Physician Jiang to examine Shen Wan's pulse, and how Physician Jiang and Granny Du whispered to each other, which led Xiao Xizi to notice something was wrong and cause all the subsequent events, it's possible that such a thing really happened.
However, Imperial Physician Jiang chose to deceive her. Empress Song had drugged Princess Ling, so even if Princess Ling was pregnant, it should be very early in the pregnancy, so early that even Imperial Physician Jiang was not sure. Otherwise, if something happened to Princess Ling, Imperial Physician Jiang, who had not detected the pregnancy, would surely lose his head.
Thinking of this, Eunuch Yuan was in a dilemma. Only Empress Song and Imperial Physician Jiang knew that Princess Ling might be pregnant. If he were to tell the Emperor or Prince Ling, Empress Song would surely guess that Princess Ling was fine and that the one who was in trouble was Princess Jin. This was done by Xiao Xizi, and he might even hold a grudge against her.
Eunuch Yuan raised his hand to his forehead, while the Emperor was already furious, slamming his fist on the dragon throne and shouting, "Investigate this matter thoroughly! I want to see who has the audacity to plot against the child in Princess Jin's womb at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet!"
If this is found out, executing nine generations of their family would be considered lenient.
The officials dared not utter a sound.
At this time, Empress Song returned. Fu Shu's baby was already gone, so there was no point in keeping her.
She returned supported by Granny Du, her legs feeling weak. Especially when she saw Shen Wan sitting next to Xie Jingyan, her face rosy and seemingly unharmed, Empress Song almost clenched her teeth. She couldn't understand how such a mistake could have happened.
Those who should have been harmed were unharmed, while children who shouldn't have been harmed were lost.
What exactly went wrong?!
Who is secretly protecting Princess Ling?!
Empress Song wished she could drag the person out and tear them to pieces to vent her anger.
But for now, she could only endure it. Underneath Empress Song's phoenix robe, she could not feel the pain even as her nails dug into her flesh. A terrifying coldness flashed in her eyes, causing Shen Wan, whose gaze had inadvertently met hers, to shiver inexplicably.
Shen Wan felt extremely disgusted.
Looking at her like this, it's as if she's the one who caused Fu Shu's unborn child to die.
Fu Shu tricked her into falling into the lotus pond, and she didn't even hold it against them. These people really think she's an easy target.
Empress Song sat down, and the Emperor looked at the Empress Dowager and said, "I've disturbed Your Majesty's happy birthday celebration."
The Empress Dowager remained silent.
The Emperor said, "Bring up the birthday gifts I prepared for the Empress Dowager."
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, two servants immediately carried up a congratulatory gift.
It was covered by a red silk cloth, so you couldn't tell what it was.
It looks like a coral tree, but it probably isn't. The Emperor already sent a coral tree as a birthday gift to the Empress Dowager two years ago, so he certainly wouldn't send another one.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
