As December approached, the capital grew increasingly lively, with a festive atmosphere pervading every corner.
Amidst this cheerful and peaceful scene, news of Wei Yu's miscarriage emerged from the Eastern Palace.
Yes, Wei Yu had miscarried. The child, over three months old, was gone, a fully formed male fetus.
It was said that Wei Yu, worried sick about her grandfather and unable to resolve her inner turmoil, had caused the miscarriage herself.
But who truly knew the specifics of the situation?
After Wei Yu lost her child, Consort Wei knelt and wept before the Emperor for a long time before he finally permitted her to visit Wei Yu.
Wei Yu's face was as pale as paper, devoid of any color. She lay stiffly on the bed, her eyes wide open, staring unblinkingly at the canopy above. Her once fair and plump cheeks had sunken, becoming gaunt and lusterless.
Consort Wei could not believe this was the daughter her family had cherished and doted on since childhood. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"A'yu..."
Hearing Consort Wei's voice, Wei Yu seemed to come alive. Her eyeballs flickered a few times, and she turned towards the bedside.
"Aunt," she cried out.
"Aunt is here, A'yu, don't be afraid," Consort Wei said, sitting on the edge of the bed and holding Wei Yu's frail body in her arms.
"Aunt," Wei Yu whispered, tugging at her sleeve, "Aunt, please ask them all to leave. I have something to tell you."
Wei Yu was startled. She immediately suspected that Wei Yu's miscarriage was not as simple as it seemed, and a great anger surged within her.
The Crown Prince's first child, the Emperor and her first grandchild, and someone dared to inflict such harm!
"All of you, get out!" Consort Wei commanded, and the attendants in the bedchamber retreated completely.
Wei Yu struggled to sit up, leaning weakly against Consort Wei's chest.
"A'yu, are you trying to tell Aunt that your child was lost due to foul play? Was it the Crown Princess? Don't be afraid, tell Aunt, and no matter who it was, Aunt will not let them off!" Consort Wei's voice was chilling, and a murderous glint appeared in her usually smiling eyes.
Wei Yu clutched her collar. "It was the Crown Prince!"
Consort Wei seemed not to have heard clearly. After a moment of stunned silence, she asked, "Who did you say?"
"It was the Crown Prince! The Crown Prince personally killed his own child!" Wei Yu cried out in near collapse, shouting and wailing.
Consort Wei quickly covered her mouth. "Keep your voice down!"
This matter could not be known by others.
Wei Yu's chest heaved unevenly. After a while, she calmed down.
Once she was sure Wei Yu would not lose control again, Consort Wei slowly released her hand.
"Tell me, what exactly happened? How could the Crown Prince harm his own child? Were you deceived?"
Wei Yu shook her head, her teeth gnashing fiercely. "It was His Highness."
Since Wei Yu was confined again, no one had entered Changning Palace.
That day, the Crown Prince brought a bowl of bird's nest soup to see her. He said he had interceded with the Emperor on her behalf, and as long as she gave birth to the child and handed it over to the Crown Princess for upbringing, the Emperor would no longer pursue her crimes. If she behaved herself henceforth, she could even regain her position as a Fengyi.
Wei Yu had not fully trusted the Crown Prince at first, but he spoke as if it were true, and it didn't sound like he was trying to coax her. So, she believed him, agreed to let the Crown Princess raise the child, and drank the bowl of bird's nest soup.
Not long after, her stomach began to ache.
The Crown Prince had not yet left. She called for an imperial physician, but the Crown Prince prevented anyone from leaving. He simply watched coldly as she writhed in pain on the bed until she bled profusely and fainted.
Consort Wei listened, her heart pounding with fear and disbelief. "Why would the Crown Prince do this? Why?"
Wei Yu also wanted to know why. Even if the Crown Prince was wary of her, why would he kill his own son? The child had already taken shape, with tiny hands and feet, and its eyes, mouth, and nose clearly visible.
Wei Yu closed her eyes in pain, tears streaming down her face.
The heartless Crown Prince had killed her child, and she knew she wouldn't live much longer.
First the child, then it would be her turn.
She could die, but she would never let the Crown Prince have an easy time.
Consort Wei received this earth-shattering news, her heart leaping with panic.
She had been taking care of Wei Yu in Changning Palace. By the time the Crown Prince received the news and rushed over, Wei Yu had already fallen asleep from exhaustion.
Consort Wei led the Crown Prince to a side hall and quietly inquired about Wei Yu's miscarriage.
The Crown Prince confessed without reservation.
Consort Wei trembled with rage, struggling to control herself, lest she slap the Crown Prince.
"That was your son, your son, your own flesh and blood! Wei Yu is also your cousin! Why on earth did you do this?" Consort Wei almost roared.
Compared to Consort Wei's agitation, the Crown Prince appeared remarkably calm.
"Mother Consort," he said, "my first child must be born of the Empress. Even if not of the Empress, it cannot be from someone of A'yu's current status."
"Just for that?" Consort Wei found it hard to believe.
"Mother Consort," the Crown Prince continued, "do you know what this child represents? It is a child of the Wei family. In the future, the Wei family will support him to become Crown Prince, to become Emperor."
Consort Wei was confused. "What's wrong with that? The Wei family is your maternal clan; would they harm you?"
"It is not good," the Crown Prince said. "Mother Consort, I am the Crown Prince, and I will be the Son of Heaven in the future. No one can control me."
Of course, the most important point the Crown Prince did not mention was that Wei Yu knew too many of his secrets. Not to mention the child, even she herself could not be allowed to live!
Consort Wei was stunned and took a step back, collapsing onto a chair.
She suddenly felt that her son was a stranger.
An awkward and tense atmosphere permeated the side hall.
Just then, a scream rang out, and someone cried, "Miss Wei has swallowed gold! Miss Wei has swallowed gold!"
Consort Wei's body went limp, and she slumped down.
"A'yu..." she wept.
Wei Yu was dead.
The Crown Prince breathed a sigh of relief. He had expected Wei Yu to make a fuss for a while. He hadn't expected her to take her own life directly out of unbearable despair. It saved him the trouble of acting.
Pitiable Wei Yu, once a proud daughter of heaven in life, was wrapped in a tattered straw mat and thrown into the mass grave after her death, due to her status as a mere palace maid and her grave sins.
Fearing the Emperor's wrath, no one from the Wei family dared to claim her body.
The Wei family had kept the news of Wei Yu's miscarriage and suicide from Grand Tutor Wei, fearing he would not be able to withstand the shock and would pass away immediately.
Wei Yu was no longer an important figure. Her death had not even caused much discussion in the capital, being drowned out by the festive atmosphere as the New Year approached.
A cloud of gloom hung over the Wei family. Meanwhile, Wang Qingyao received good news from Wang Qingzhen.
She was finally pregnant.
Although it was not yet three months and not suitable to announce, the child had been conceived with great difficulty, and she could not suppress her joy and wanted to share it with Wang Qingyao.
Wang Qingyao was also very happy for her. She hastily prepared many New Year gifts and personally visited her, giving many instructions and precautions.