"How is the Princess Consort of Qi?" Xiao Man turned and saw Du Yulan leaning against the wall in the corner, just as she had been when Xiao Man dragged her in. The only difference was that her silk skirt was now stained red with blood, and her delicate face was as pale as a sheet, devoid of any color.
Xiao Man then remembered that Du Yulan was pregnant. At that critical moment, in order to save her, she had pushed Du Yulan... Realizing this, Xiao Man quickly stepped forward to examine Du Yulan.
Xiao Man administered a pill to Du Yulan and then looked at Nangong Yi apologetically. "I'm sorry, the baby is gone. I..."
Xiao Man wanted to say it was unintentional, that the situation was urgent and she only wanted to save her, forgetting Du Yulan was pregnant. However, the words "I'm sorry" felt too weak. Regardless of her reasons for pushing Du Yulan, it couldn't change the fact that her push had caused the miscarriage.
Nangong Yi calmed himself, stepped forward, and picked up Du Yulan. "You were trying to save her too, so you don't need to apologize. I'll take her back now."
Xiao Man watched Nangong Yi's retreating figure, feeling quite regretful. She then turned to Nangong Yu. "You take Sister Shan back to the Prince's mansion. Tomorrow, I'll come over to change her dressing."
"There are doctors at the mansion to change her dressing. You shouldn't be running around during this time," Nangong Yu said without room for refusal. "I'll escort you back. The target was likely you."
Xiao Man frowned. "I can manage myself..."
"Someone, escort Miss Shan back to the mansion," Nangong Yu ordered, his tone unyielding. "Let's go, I'll escort both of you."
"Your Highness, you should escort Miss Shan. I'll escort Man'er," Wen Mohan immediately said.
"You?" Nangong Yu sneered. "If assassins appear, can you protect her? You'll only be a burden. Let's go, I'll escort you two!"
After returning to the General's mansion, Xiao Man immediately had people inventory the storehouse and selected some superior tonics to send to the Prince of Qi's mansion. Even though she knew the Prince of Qi's mansion lacked nothing, it was still a gesture of her good intentions.
"Were the items sent over?"
"They have been delivered."
"How is the Princess Consort of Qi?"
"This servant did not see the Princess Consort of Qi. It was His Highness the Prince of Qi who came out. He said she was alright, only that she had a miscarriage and needed complete rest."
Xiao Man felt a slight easing of her heart. Although she had been trying to save someone, she had still caused the Princess Consort of Qi to miscarry. If she had handled the situation more skillfully at the time, perhaps the Princess Consort of Qi wouldn't have lost the baby.
The moment the Princess Consort of Qi woke up, she knew her child was gone. Her personal maidservant's eyes were red from crying. "Your Highness, you're finally awake."
Du Yulan caressed her slightly aching lower abdomen. "My child, it's gone, isn't it?"
Qiao Lan quickly wiped away her tears. "Your Highness, please don't be too sad. You'll have another child. You must take care of yourself."
Du Yulan slowly closed her eyes, her mind replaying the scene of Xiao Man pushing her. Her fingers clenched the quilt tightly, and hatred churned in her heart, causing a dull ache in her chest.
"Your Highness, you're here."
"Mm." Nangong Yi entered from outside, removed his cloak, and handed it to a maidservant. "You're awake. How are you feeling?"
Du Yulan opened her eyes, tears involuntarily streaming down her face. "Your Highness, our child... the child..."
"Don't be too sad. It's good that you're alright. You'll have another child," Nangong Yi comforted her.
"At that time, if it weren't for Xiao Man..."
"That was just an accident," Nangong Yi interrupted Du Yulan. "Xiao Man meant well."
"Meant well!" Du Yulan stared at Nangong Yi in disbelief. "Nangong Yi, has your mind been clouded by pig fat? Xiao Man caused the death of your child, and you're still defending her!"
Nangong Yi couldn't help but frown. "I know you're not feeling well due to the miscarriage, so get some good rest. I'll come to see you another day."
"Nangong Yi!" Du Yulan shouted angrily. "Are you just going to let this matter go? She is the murderer of your child!"
Nangong Yi felt a headache coming on. He didn't want to deal with the screaming Du Yulan and quickened his pace out of her room.
Du Yulan immediately burst into uncontrollable tears. She had lived such a cautious and difficult life. Knowing that the Prince of Qi harbored feelings for Xiao Man, she feigned ignorance. When the Prince of Qi treated her as Xiao Man's substitute, she could only swallow her pride. She had finally conceived a child, only for it to be lost because of Xiao Man!
"What deep hatred or animosity does she have towards me to torment me like this?" Du Yulan cried until she was nearly breathless. "She stole my man and then killed my child!"
Qiao Lan was startled by Du Yulan's state and quickly tried to calm her. "Your Highness, please don't be like this. Your health is paramount."
Du Yulan beat the bed, sobbing hysterically. She had thought that the child could be a source of hope, that it might win Nangong Yi's heart back, but her last hope had been crushed by Xiao Man's own hands.
"Why did she deliberately push me? Why did she deliberately push me?" Du Yulan's sharp cries carried far. Nangong Yi heard Du Yulan's screams and his brow furrowed.
"Your Highness, the Princess Consort is simply stimulated. After all, this was her first child, and its loss is naturally heartbreaking," Zhou Kang said softly. "You should show her more care."
"If it weren't for Xiao Man, it's questionable whether she would even be alive now. And look at her, as if Xiao Man did something unforgivable," Nangong Yi rebuked. "Someone saved her life, yet instead of being grateful, she acts as if the other person owes her. It's utterly unreasonable."
"Your Highness, the Princess Consort is heartbroken over the loss of her child and is a bit emotional. If you explain things to her properly, she is usually reasonable and will understand."
"Does she look like someone who would listen to reason?" Nangong Yu said irritably. "Never mind, we'll talk about it when she calms down."
"As Your Highness says."
"Sister Xiao." Bai Linglong arrived for a visit. "I heard you encountered assassins when you went out, and the General has forbidden you from leaving the house."
"I can't be confined to the house forever, or I'd die of boredom," Xiao Man sighed. "Oh, right, Sister Bai, I heard Xue Meng has returned, and your happy day is drawing near. It's set for the eighth day of the new year, isn't it?"
"Mm." Bai Linglong nodded shyly. "I came today first to see you, and second to deliver your wedding invitation."
"Congratulations, Sister Bai. You're finally going to achieve happiness," Xiao Man congratulated her with a beaming smile. "Xue Meng has been training in the army for a year, he should be more mature now, right?"
"We can't meet before the wedding, so I don't know if he's tanned or lost weight," Bai Linglong said bashfully. "However, I heard he's doing well in the army and has achieved considerable merit. He's now a squadron leader. All of this is thanks to the Young General's cultivation."