When Qiuqiu just woke up, her mind was still a bit muddled. After she finished speaking, she stared blankly ahead.
The Lady of Yong'an Marquis was startled. Just as she was about to press for details, she saw Qiuqiu in this state. Her heart ached with pity, and she could only order someone to bring up the soothing medicinal soup.
After drinking the medicinal soup and eating half a small bowl of plain congee, Qiuqiu fell asleep in her mother's arms. But not long after, she suddenly woke up with a start. "Mother!"
Qiuqiu shrank into the Lady of Yong'an Marquis's embrace and intermittently recounted what had happened the previous day. "Yesterday after I finished lunch, I wanted to take a nap with Sister Miaochun. But I met the young servant beside Big Brother. That servant said Sister Ruxia's illness had worsened, so I went to find Sister Ruxia..."
Chen Ruxia had the habit of taking a nap. When Qiuqiu went to look for her, Chen Ruxia had already fallen asleep, but there was not a soul in the courtyard. Just as Qiuqiu was about to climb onto the bed by herself, she saw that servant through the window.
"I ran over and saw that servant burning straw. Then the servant saw me, grabbed me by the neck, and poured some powder..." Then Qiuqiu fainted and knew nothing after that.
That powder must have been knockout drug. A chill suddenly ran down the Lady of Yong'an Marquis's back. The knockout drug was not a deadly poison. If Qiuqiu had died in the fire, it would have been very difficult to find out the truth. If she had assumed that Chen Miaochun had set the fire to kill Qiuqiu and that Chen Ruxia had implicated Qiuqiu... This scheme was so devious.
The Lady of Yong'an Marquis hugged Qiuqiu tightly, feeling extremely fortunate that Qiuqiu was safe and that she hadn't taken action against Chen Miaochun and Chen Ruxia.
In a courtyard, Chen Linchun was losing his temper. "Where is Concubine Zhao?"
The maid lowered her head. "The concubine went out this morning and hasn't come back yet."
Chen Linchun frowned involuntarily. He had asked Concubine Zhao to redeem the Wang family because he didn't have enough money. Moreover, the Wang family was greedy. If he had redeemed them himself, God knows what kind of commotion they would have caused.
Concubine Zhao was a favorite concubine of the Marquis of Yong'an and had quite a bit of private savings. She could subsidize a bit and keep the Wang family in line for a few days.
Chen Linchun recalled what had happened the previous day and found no loopholes. He could only regard it as an accident. He instructed the maid, "If Concubine Zhao hasn't come back by evening, inform the Marquis."
...
In the wood - shed of the Princess Mansion.
Concubine Zhao's hands and feet were tied, and her body was covered in dust. She shouted in panic, "How dare you tie me up! If the Marquis finds out, he won't let you off..."
The orange sunset shone through the doors and windows, casting a glow on the gentle face of the young man. It was a beautiful scene, but as the young man spoke, Concubine Zhao felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.
Shen Danqing held a few pieces of paper in his hand and read slowly, "The concubine of the Marquis of Yong'an's mansion. Her daughter is Chen Pan'er, sixteen years old... She has an affair with a scholar from Qingshi Alley."
Hearing her daughter's name and information, Concubine Zhao's eyes widened. Especially the last sentence, she had kept this matter a closely - guarded secret, not even Chen Linchun knew!
Concubine Zhao wanted to snatch Chen Ruxia's marriage, but she didn't object to her daughter's contact with the scholar.
In case Chen Linchun's plan failed, Chen Pan'er could marry the scholar. Then she could whisper a few words in the Marquis of Yong'an's ear and ask him to give the scholar some guidance. For Chen Pan'er, this would be a good destination.
As a concubine, Concubine Zhao was used to the scheming in noble families. She didn't want her daughter to be a concubine like herself, at the mercy of the main wife.
If she married Chen Pan'er to a family of a slightly lower status as the main wife, Concubine Zhao was afraid that her daughter wouldn't be able to outwit the concubines, just like the former Lady of Yong'an Marquis, who was separated from her own flesh and blood.
Just then, Chen Pan'er had an affair with the poor scholar. Concubine Zhao thought it over and decided that the poor scholar was powerless and had good character, so he would be a good backup choice.
Shen Danqing waved the paper in his hand. "I heard that Chen Pan'er and the scholar are deeply in love. If the scholar leaves without a word, it's normal for Chen Pan'er to commit suicide out of despair..."
"No, you can't! You mustn't do this!" Hearing the threat in Shen Danqing's words, Concubine Zhao's eyes widened, and she shook her head desperately.
Shen Danqing found it amusing. "You feel sorry for your own daughter, but have you ever thought about how much suffering Chen Miaochun endured in the Wang family? Back then, the former lady took pity on you just after giving birth and didn't send you to the rural estate. But what did you do? You watched helplessly as Chen Linchun took her daughter's place and let the Marquis of Yong'an's mansion have a fake heir apparent."
The former lady referred to the original Lady of Yong'an Marquis. Every time Concubine Zhao thought of her, she felt proud. So what if she was the main wife? She still died early and raised a bastard.
But after Shen Danqing first mentioned Chen Pan'er and then Chen Miaochun, Concubine Zhao suddenly felt a bit ashamed. Not for the former Lady of Yong'an Marquis or for Chen Miaochun, but for the Marquis of Yong'an.
Because of a momentary lapse in judgment back then, she had let the Marquis of Yong'an raise someone else's son for decades, and this son had even killed the Marquis of Yong'an's own offspring.
Concubine Zhao gritted her teeth. "Since you know Chen Linchun's true identity, why did you kidnap me? Why don't you just go to the Marquis and expose Chen Linchun?"
The wooden door of the shed was pushed open. Princess Jingning had just finished her work in the study and rushed over directly. She happened to hear Concubine Zhao's words.
She looked down at Concubine Zhao haughtily. "So you're Concubine Zhao? Let me tell you a secret. Nine years ago, Chen Linchun came to me and took a packet of infertility medicine from me. Guess who he gave it to?"
Nine years ago... That was when Chen Linchun was seven years old and learned his true identity. It was also when Concubine Zhao took the initiative to approach Chen Linchun.
Concubine Zhao closed her eyes in despair. "What do you want me to do?"
Princess Jingning's request was simple. She asked Concubine Zhao to expose Chen Linchun's true face and then commit suicide.
Hearing the second request, Concubine Zhao opened her eyes in disbelief, but Princess Jingning chuckled lightly. "You took advantage of your favor to provoke the main wife, forcing her to go out for a break and causing today's accident. You also deliberately concealed the news, causing Miaochun to suffer... For all these things, I only ask for your life. I'm being very lenient."
Thinking of Chen Pan'er, Concubine Zhao didn't react.
Shen Danqing sent Concubine Zhao out and instructed, "If Chen Linchun asks about the whereabouts of the Wang family, tell him the truth. They were selected for drug testing and won't be coming back."
After dealing with the matters of the Marquis of Yong'an's mansion, Princess Jingning took Shen Danqing back to the study.
She handed several drawings to Shen Danqing. "Danqing, would you be willing to go on an errand for mother and deliver the weapons to your grandfather?"
After all, Shen Danqing was a bastard son and not very familiar with the Mu family. Princess Jingning arranged for him to deliver the improved weapons, hoping that he could get closer to General Mu.
This was a good opportunity for Shen Danqing, and he immediately agreed.
Princess Jingning was a bit tired, so she asked Shen Danqing to go back and prepare first and tell Concubine Yun.
After he left, Princess Jingning walked to the window and lost herself in thought.
Actually, Concubine Zhao was wrong. She really couldn't have children, but the person who drugged her was not Chen Linchun, but Princess Jingning's friend, the original Lady of Yong'an Marquis.
Back then, the two of them fought each other to the death. The original Lady of Yong'an Marquis blamed Concubine Zhao for the loss of her daughter. So when Concubine Zhao was giving birth, she asked the midwife to drug her.
As for who Chen Linchun gave the medicine to, Princess Jingning didn't know.