The twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month arrived in the blink of an eye. Everything was prepared, and the entire Ding'an Prince's manor was adorned with new door gods, couplets, plaques, and peach charms, presenting a fresh appearance. The ancestral hall was also tidied up and set with incense burners and offerings.
The Old Imperial Concubine inspected everything and was very pleased.
Wang Qingyao seized the opportunity to flatter her, "It's all due to your excellent upbringing, Grandmother."
The Old Imperial Concubine chuckled heartily at the praise.
Just then, a maid delivered a calling card, stating that Consort He from the Eastern Palace wished to pay her respects. She had been invited to wait in the small hall outside the second gate, and it was up to the Old Imperial Concubine whether to see her.
The Old Imperial Concubine exchanged a suspicious glance with Wang Qingyao.
"What does she want?" the Old Imperial Concubine asked.
Wang Qingyao's focus was elsewhere: "Can a consort leave the palace so freely?"
Naturally, she could not.
However, the Crown Prince doted on He Rufang. After He Rufang repeatedly expressed her longing for the Old Imperial Concubine and her desire to repay the Old Imperial Concubine's upbringing, the Crown Prince agreed to let her leave the palace.
But time was limited, granting her only an hour.
Therefore, after the Old Imperial Concubine and Wang Qingyao had He Rufang escorted to the inner courtyard's flower hall, He Rufang paid her respects and got straight to the point: "Princess Consort, before Palace Maid Wei died, she entrusted me with a letter, urging me to deliver it to you at all costs, saying it would be of help to you."
Wang Qingyao was stunned for a moment before realizing that the Palace Maid Wei she spoke of was indeed Wei Yu.
He Rufang retrieved a letter sealed with red wax from her inner clothing and handed it to Wang Qingyao.
"Rest assured, Princess Consort, I have already tested it; there is no poison."
Wang Qingyao: "..."
A person's dying words are often sincere. Given Wei Yu's character, it was unlikely she would leave behind a scheme to kill Wang Qingyao after her death, especially one that wasn't particularly cunning.
Wang Qingyao vaguely guessed what Wei Yu might have left behind, but she revealed nothing in front of He Rufang.
He Rufang had no intention of prying and left in a hurry to return to the Eastern Palace after delivering the letter.
Wang Qingyao opened the envelope.
Inside were five sheets of paper. The first four meticulously detailed the wrongdoings the Crown Prince and Wei Yu had conspired to commit over the years, including how they had schemed to break Prince Rong's leg, how they had forced Kang Yutong to her death, how they had framed Princess Mujin and her maid for a homosexual relationship, how they had made Prince Qi a scapegoat and had him imprisoned, and how they had plotted against Xiao Yun and Wang Qingyao. Each incident was recorded in great detail, even listing witnesses.
The last sheet revealed the true reason for Wei Yu's miscarriage.
Wang Qingyao was shocked.
The Crown Prince could bear to harm his own flesh and blood.
How could such a person be fit to be an emperor?
That evening, when Xiao Yun returned, Wang Qingyao showed him the letter. Xiao Yun's thoughts were the same as hers.
"Let's not make a fuss for now. Quietly gather and protect all the witnesses."
These would be the most powerful blows against the Crown Prince in the future.
On New Year's Eve, as per custom, female relatives of noble rank were required to wear court attire and enter the palace to pay their respects according to their rank.
However, the current Emperor, being benevolent, exempted the elderly or those with mobility issues from entering the palace.
This was Wang Qingyao's first year pregnant and physically inconvenienced. The second year, the Emperor, fearing Shun Feng might harm Xiao Yun, did not summon them. Considering this, Wang Qingyao had never paid her New Year's respects at the palace on New Year's Eve.
This year, she was eager to give Shun Feng an opportunity to act and also missed Consort Chen, so she planned to enter the palace with Xiao Yun.
As it turned out, Xiao Yun informed her they had to arrive at the palace precisely at the hour of the Rabbit.
Wang Qingyao calculated: the hour of the Rabbit was five in the morning. Adding the time for dressing, makeup, and travel, she would have to wake up at three-thirty!
Wang Qingyao was dumbfounded. She had never woken up so early before.
Wasn't the New Year supposed to be a time for relaxation? Why such an early start?
Seeing her stunned expression, Xiao Yun couldn't help but laugh. "It's fine, we can go a bit later. His Majesty won't blame us."
Hearing Xiao Yun say this, Wang Qingyao remembered that Xiao Yun himself didn't seem to wake up that early either.
The Emperor doted on him, and he was lazy. Relying on his short lifespan, he disregarded many rules.
Wang Qingyao, of course, followed her husband.
However, on New Year's Eve, a major incident occurred in the palace.
Around the hour of the Dragon, as Wang Qingyao was about to wake up, she vaguely heard Yin Zhu, disregarding all decorum, knock twice on the door and rush in without waiting for a reply. Through the soft curtain of the inner chamber, she cried out, "Your Highness, it's bad! Consort Chen... Consort Chen has lost her child."
Wang Qingyao sat up abruptly: "What did you say?"
Xiao Yun also sat up: "What happened?"
Yin Zhu couldn't explain clearly, only knowing that Consort Chen had lost her child. It had already spread throughout the palace while everyone was offering their New Year's greetings.
Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun had overslept, so their news was delayed.
Wang Qingyao quickly told Yin Zhu to call for attendants to help her wash and dress. After a flurry of activity, she went to the palace without even having breakfast.
Consort Chen's Ruihui Palace was now shrouded in gloom.
The palace maids and eunuchs passing by had somber expressions, and those serving her closely had red eyes from crying.
Imperial Physician Lu had not yet left. Upon seeing Wang Qingyao arrive, he bowed.
"How is she?" Wang Qingyao asked.
"It is a blessing that Your Highness is unharmed."
Wang Qingyao felt a pang of sadness.
After a moment, she remembered something and asked Imperial Physician Lu, "Has Your Highness's pregnancy been under your care all along?"
"Yes."
"The fetus... how was it?"
Imperial Physician Lu, aware of her abilities, looked at her meaningfully and replied, "Your Highness has a strong constitution, and the fetus has been very healthy. If not for... it would have survived even if born one or two months prematurely."
Something flashed in Wang Qingyao's mind. She suddenly thought of "The Legend of Zhen Huan."
Consort Chen was still asleep. The bedroom was filled with a strong smell of blood. The palace staff dared not open the large windows and were quietly burning incense.
Wang Qingyao glanced over. Even through the curtains, she could sense Consort Chen's pale face.
The Empress Dowager was presiding in the adjoining warm chamber.
Wang Qingyao went to pay her respects and inquired about the situation.
It turned out that Consort Chen had lost her child after falling during the New Year's greetings.
Before Consort Chen lost consciousness, she pointed at the head palace maid beside Noble Consort Wei and asked, "Why did you push me?"