Under the blazing sun, in the sweltering heat of the season, Gu Qianxue and Liu Xiaolan sat side by side in Qianxue Pavilion of the Second Prince's residence, engrossed in selecting baby clothes from a mahogany treasure chest.
Liu Xiaolan usually stayed in the side room next to the Second Prince's main courtyard. Today, taking advantage of the Second Prince's absence from the mansion, she made a special trip to Qianxue Pavilion.
Liu Xiaolan raised her eyebrows slightly, a smile playing on her lips, and asked with concern, "Sister Xue'er, do you know that Gu Qianluo has passed away?"
"Her affairs have nothing to do with me anymore."
Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaolan's expectant gaze suddenly turned to disappointment, and she said indifferently,
"That's right, the Gu family has already severed ties with her. Whether she lives or dies is no longer your concern."
Although the Marquis's mansion had already issued a letter of divorce to General Chen on the grounds of "infidelity".
But the Marquis was kind-hearted and, considering that she had once been his second wife, gave her a grand funeral.
As her younger sister, shouldn't the older sister do something out of consideration for her feelings?
To avoid outsiders spreading rumors that my sister disregards loyalty and affection?
Upon hearing this, Gu Qianxue couldn't help but flick her sleeves and chuckle.
"Haha! My sister's suggestion is good."
I was never on good terms with her while she was alive.
Now that she's gone, as her younger sister, I should prepare some silver coins for her.
"What if she blames me down there and comes looking for me in her dreams?"
"In that case, I'll leave this matter to my younger sister!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Qianxue's lips curled up, and her eyes revealed a look of surprise and delight. "My sister is such a kind and understanding person."
"No! Sister, you're pregnant now, so it's best to avoid such unlucky things to prevent harming the fetus."
"My dear sister, you're so kind! Let's not talk about that now. Come and help me pick out some clothes for the baby."
Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaolan carefully unfolded the clothes on the treasure chest in front of the table, her eyes filled with jealousy.
"These clothes are so cute! If I could get pregnant, I could keep my sister company. It's a pity Xiaolan is so unlucky."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qianxue's eyes lit up with joy, and she took something from her waist and placed it in her hand.
"Don't be discouraged, little sister. This is a talisman for granting children that I obtained from Longle Temple. I got two sets in total, and I'm giving you the other one."
May you soon bear children for the Second Prince.
Upon hearing this, the jealousy in Liu Xiaolan's eyes gradually turned into joy, and she handed over the fertility charm, covering her heart with both hands.
"Thank you so much, Sister Xue!"
Seeing his beaming smile, Gu Qianxue took advantage of his good mood and summoned the kitchen maid.
"Kui'er, bring up the soup that the kitchen has prepared to relieve the summer heat."
Soon, the maids served exquisite tea, snacks, and sweet soup, and Gu Qianxue, unusually, personally served her a bowl.
Liu Xiaolan took a sip, her eyes narrowing slightly, feeling that the taste of the sweet soup was somewhat familiar.
Seeing the unpredictable changes in his expression, Gu Qianxue's eyes flashed with a hint of fierceness, and she said calmly,
"How is it? Does my little sister like this sweet soup?"
When he saw the soup ingredients in the bowl, his heart sank, and he thought to himself, "..."
Wasn't this the chestnut and white fungus soup that I specially ordered the servants to send to Gu Qianxue to induce a miscarriage?
"This was brought to me by my younger sister today. I thought it looked delicious, so I asked the servants to chill it. Since my sister came over this afternoon, I thought we could try it together."
"Hehe, don't worry, little sister, I wouldn't poison the sweet soup."
Liu Xiaolan's eyes flashed, and in her unsettled state, she felt increasingly confused, and her hands and feet began to tremble uncontrollably.
A dull, stabbing pain shot through my lower abdomen, and my forehead was covered in sweat from the pain.
Liu Xiaolan dropped the sweet soup in a panic, her eyes filled with fear. Suddenly, she realized something and murmured to herself,
"Sister, please let me go! I promise I'll never do it again!"
"What nonsense are you talking about, little sister? I was just sharing the sweet soup with you, how can you say I let you off the hook?"
"Save me!" With the last vestige of her consciousness, Liu Xiaolan uttered two words.
Seeing that she had fainted, Gu Qianxue's eyes grew increasingly fierce, and she called out to the servants.
"Someone come here! Is everything ready?"
"Reporting to Consort Gu, I have already given the instructions."
"That's good. Take Aunt Liu down to rest. Don't neglect her."
That evening, the Second Prince returned from outside during dinner time and headed towards Qianxue Pavilion as soon as he entered the palace.
Gu Qianxue was peeling fish bones when she saw the Second Prince. Her eyes softened, and she rose to greet him.
"Your Highness! You're finally back."
"Xue'er! Are you still feeling nauseous today? Should I find a royal physician for you?"
"Your Highness is too kind. Compared to Xiaolan, what am I?"
Upon hearing this, the Second Prince's heart sank, his expression shifting inscrutable, a fierce glint appearing in his eyes as he coldly asked, "What happened to Xiaolan?"
"She came to see me today, drank a bowl of white fungus soup, felt unwell, and fainted."
"That serious? Is it because the soup is poisoned?" The Second Prince's eyes gradually darkened.
"Your Highness, the sweet soup that Consort Liu drank was brought to her by herself, not ordered by our concubine."
The maidservant beside her spoke up without consulting Gu Qianxue, who pinched her arm and scolded her angrily.
"You bastard! Who gave you permission to speak?"
"Your Highness, Xue'er is difficult to tame, please do not blame me."
"Alright! It's not your fault, she was just worried about you. Where is Xiaolan? I'll go see her."
Gu Qianluo's brow twitched slightly. She stood up, took the Second Prince's hand, and walked towards the side room.
As soon as the guard opened the door to the side room of Muchun Pavilion, a scene of springtime unfolded inside: a man and a woman were embracing naked, like a living picture of springtime.
The second prince's eyes were cold and fierce. He slammed his fist heavily against the wall, his body swaying slightly from anger.
Seeing this, Gu Qianxue climbed onto the Second Prince's arm and said with concern,
"Your Highness! What's wrong?"
A burst of bright light pierced into the room. Liu Xiaolan had just opened her eyes when she was terrified by the naked man in front of her, and her face turned deathly pale!
When she saw who it was at the door, her body went limp, and she covered her exposed chest, pleading for mercy.
"Your Highness! I've been framed! Your Highness! It was Gu Qianxue! She's the one who framed me!"
"What nonsense are you talking about, sister? You were the one who put the abortifacient in the sweet soup, and now you've been drugged yourself, but you're talking nonsense."
The second prince narrowed his eyes slightly and immediately understood the meaning behind the two women's words.
"Guards! Drag these two adulterers and drown them in the pond!"
The guards obeyed, and Liu Xiaolan and her "adulterer" were pulled apart by the servants.
To prevent any accidental exposure, she covered herself with a thin blanket.
"Your Highness! Please save me! Your Highness! I don't want to die! Your Highness!"
Watching Liu Xiaolan being carried away, the Second Prince remained calm, his eyes cold and sharp. He took Gu Qianxue's hand and walked in the opposite direction.
"Your Highness is truly heartless! If Xiaolan knew this was His Highness's intention, I wonder if she would hold Xue'er accountable when she gets down there!"
"shut up!"
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