Fang Taifei's thinking was peculiar; harming Wang Qingyao was understandable, but harming her grandson was not.
Especially since Xiao Yun carried a curse.
If Wang Qingyao's current pregnancy were to be lost, who knew when she would conceive again. What if Xiao Yun died young due to the curse before she could conceive? Wouldn't the Xiao family then be doomed?
The more Fang Taifei thought about it, the more alarmed she became, and her gaze towards Yun Zhu grew colder.
Yun Zhu was truly disappointing.
"Yun Zhu, why would you do this? I have always treated you well. Although you are a maid, everyone in Jingwu Courtyard treats you like half a mistress. What are you still dissatisfied with? Why would you plot to harm the heirs of our Ding'an Royal Mansion?"
Yun Zhu knew she had struck a nerve with Fang Taifei, and her usual tears and pleas for mercy would no longer solve the problem.
She closed her eyes, her expression filled with pain.
"Your Ladyship, it was because I could not bear the insults the Princess Consort inflicted upon me before. I have never let it go, and in a moment of misguided obsession, I conceived malicious thoughts. However, I never intended to harm the Prince's offspring. I only wanted to make the Princess Consort suffer. My judgment was flawed. I will accept any punishment Your Ladyship deems fit, without complaint."
"Your Ladyship has always kept to yourself. Do not let Yun Zhu's actions upset you and cause discord with the Princess Consort."
"Yun Zhu knows she has made a grave mistake this time. I implore Your Ladyship, for the sake of the fact that I once saved your life, please do not take your anger out on my family. Yun Zhu is willing to accept any punishment."
Yun Zhu spoke with tears streaming down her face, her voice choked with sobs. Large tears rolled down her cheeks, her expression so pitiful that it moved anyone who saw her.
Wang Qingyao was truly impressed by Yun Zhu.
A mere maid, who had framed her mistress multiple times, yet managed to escape unscathed each time.
Now that she had committed such a major offense, she resorted to a sob story, even deliberately mentioning saving Fang Taifei.
She didn't want her family to be implicated? Wasn't it her family who forced her to marry an old man? How could she repay kindness with such a plea?
Wang Qingyao's eyes were about to roll out of her head.
"I was unaware that if a servant errs, the master is forbidden from reprimanding them. A few scolding words constitute an insult, and one must then endure the servant's retaliation? Tsk, is this the usual demeanor of servants in the Ding'an Royal Mansion?" Wang Qingyao sneered.
The Old Taifei gently patted her hand and said, "Naturally, it is not like this. The master is heaven, and the servant is earth. What the master says goes, and the servant can only obey, never disobey. However, this Yun Zhu is different from other servants. She saved your mother's life, and we, the Ding'an Royal Mansion, cannot be ungrateful wretches."
The Old Taifei's words were not without merit.
If Fang Taifei were to severely punish Yun Zhu today and banish her from the Ding'an Royal Mansion, what would happen if Yun Zhu went around spreading rumors outside? Wouldn't people then condemn the Ding'an Royal Mansion?
Yun Zhu lowered her head, tears still falling one by one onto the ground. Yet, a subtle smile flickered at the corner of her lips, filled with immense satisfaction.
Even if she had intended to harm Wang Qingyao's offspring, so what? A life for a life. She had saved Fang Taifei's life!
"What a coincidence," Wang Qingyao said leisurely, leaning back against the chair. "The Prince recently went to Ganruo Temple on official business and happened to uncover some old matters."
Ganruo Temple was the very temple where Yun Zhu had saved Fang Taifei.
It was not a grand temple, but it was well-frequented and said to be very efficacious. Otherwise, Fang Taifei would not have traveled so far, seeking its reputation.
Hearing Wang Qingyao mention Ganruo Temple, Yun Zhu's expression flickered slightly.
"What old matters?" the Old Taifei asked, obligingly.
Wang Qingyao smiled. "It concerns the incident where Yun Zhu saved Taifei from the fire. Everyone assumed that fire was an accident, but it wasn't. It was arson..."
As Wang Qingyao spoke, she stared at Yun Zhu with a half-smile. Yun Zhu kept her head down, not daring to meet her gaze, but her face had already turned pale.
Wang Qingyao, with her clairvoyant eyes, saw her reaction and knew her bluff had worked.
There was indeed something fishy about that fire rescue back then.
Fang Taifei was startled. "Arson? You mean someone deliberately tried to harm me? Who would dare to be so bold? Have they been caught?"
As her own life was involved, Fang Taifei fired off a string of questions.
Wang Qingyao smiled. "Mother, think about who benefited most from this incident, and you will know who was behind it."
Fang Taifei frowned, seemingly disbelieving.
After all, Yun Zhu had also been injured, with a large burn mark on her back!
But because she saved Fang Taifei, she became the great benefactor of the Ding'an Royal Mansion. She escaped her original family, her brother and sister-in-law no longer dared to trouble her, she didn't have to marry an old man, she entered the Ding'an Royal Mansion, and became Fang Taifei's most trusted maid, half a mistress of Jingwu Courtyard.
If she had been content and law-abiding, carrying the title of Fang Taifei's savior, her life would have been filled with prosperity and wealth.
But she was ambitious and audacious.
Of course, anyone who dared to set a fire to save themselves would not be lacking in courage.
She possessed boldness, cunning, and the willingness to act.
"Yun... Yun Zhu, is what the Princess Consort says true?"