Since the incident with Wei Yu could no longer be concealed after so many people had overheard it, the only option was to find a way to remedy the situation.
Fortunately, it was a woman involved with another woman, not a woman with a man.
If Wei Yu had been caught with a man today, her future would have been ruined.
A flash of inspiration struck Wei Yu: "I know! Oral skills! Sister, let me tell you, I once knew a martial artist skilled in oral skills. He could imitate many people's voices so perfectly, it was as if they were truly speaking. Wang Qingyao wants to get revenge on me... and on our Wei family, so she found someone like that too!"
Wei Yu thought she was very clever; this was the crux of the matter.
What was overheard might not necessarily be true.
Wei Qing was extremely disappointed: "If I were the Princess of Ding'an, I would find a man to frame you. What good is finding a woman?"
Wei Yu was stunned into silence.
Wei Qing took her back to the Wei family.
Meanwhile, Wang Qingyao and the others also arrived at the Marquis of Jinxiang's mansion.
After alighting from the carriage, Wang Qingyao reminded Bai Junya, "You are pregnant, so if anything happens, do not rush forward." She then instructed Bai Junya's maid to protect her mistress.
Bai Junya nodded, touched.
Concubine Lian had her legs broken and was sent back, barely alive.
Because the嬷嬷 (nanny) from the Prince Rong's mansion had accompanied them to the Marquis of Jinxiang and explained the entire sequence of events, almost the entire Marquis of Jinxiang's household knew that Concubine Lian had been ignorant of her own limitations, trying to pass herself off as someone else. A mere servant had dared to attend the Princess of Rong's banquet.
The mansion was abuzz with gossip, with everyone lamenting that Concubine Lian had been spoiled to have committed such an act.
The nanny from the Prince Rong's mansion was quite astute; she only mentioned that Concubine Lian had offended a distinguished guest at the banquet, omitting her feeble excuse of "attending the banquet on the madam's orders."
This way, the matter would have nothing to do with the Prince Rong's mansion.
The Marquis of Jinxiang, both ashamed and furious, immediately ordered someone to summon Pang Yan back.
Fortunately, Concubine Lian had fainted by then; if she hadn't, the Marquis of Jinxiang would have slapped her severely.
With their master enraged, Concubine Lian's maids dared not take it upon themselves to summon a doctor for her. It was only after Pang Yan returned that someone was sent to fetch one.
Pang Yan was heartbroken to see his beloved concubine so brutally beaten. Upon hearing the Marquis of Jinxiang's furious scolding, he knew Concubine Lian was in the wrong. Nevertheless, he stubbornly argued a few points: "Even if Concubine Lian was ignorant of the rules, she could have been simply expelled. Why beat her to such an extent?"
The doctor administered acupuncture to Concubine Lian and gave her medicinal soup. Concubine Lian slowly regained consciousness.
The moment she saw Pang Yan, she burst into wails.
This time, her tears and snot flowed freely, completely devoid of any grace.
"Master, the Princess of Ding'an is so cruel! I was clearly attending the Prince Rong's banquet on Madam's orders, yet she had my legs broken! My legs, my legs! I will never be able to stand again!"
Pang Yan was shocked and immediately ordered the doctor to examine Concubine Lian's legs.
Indeed, Concubine Lian's legs had been broken.
In an instant, Pang Yan's eyes turned red with fury.
"Princess of Ding'an!!"
He desperately wanted to go and settle the score with Wang Qingyao immediately.
Just then, a maid rushed in to report that the Princess of Ding'an, along with the madam's sister-in-law and elder sister, had arrived.
The Marquis and Madam of Jinxiang hurried out to greet them.
Pang Yan snorted coldly and followed them out.
Lying in bed, Concubine Lian weakly reached out and cried, "Master, you must avenge me!"
Wang Qingyao and the other two went directly to Wang Qingzhu's courtyard.
Wang Qingzhu was not favored, and even the maids in her courtyard were bullied. When Concubine Lian's incident occurred, their courtyard only heard whispers of it, not the full details, only knowing that Concubine Lian had been beaten.
Just as they were discussing the fresh gossip with Wang Qingzhu, the maid at the gate ran in, her face beaming with excitement: "Madam, the Princess of Ding'an has come to see you!"
Wang Qingzhu was startled and instinctively wanted to ask for a mirror. She couldn't let Wang Qingyao see her current haggard appearance.
Before she could call for a mirror and get dressed, Wang Qingyao and the others entered.
Seeing that not only Wang Qingyao but also Wang Qingzhen and Bai Junya were present, Wang Qingzhu's face flushed with shame, wishing she could hide her憔悴 (haggard) face.
Wang Qingzhu was recovering from a miscarriage. Normally, ten-odd days of rest would have been sufficient. However, she was consumed by anger and sorrow, weeping day and night, which delayed her recovery.
"Second Sister, Sister-in-law, Third Sister, why have you come?" Wang Qingzhu asked shyly, attempting to get out of bed.
Wang Qingyao quickly pressed her down: "You are weak, lie down."
Wang Qingzhu then lay back down.
Bai Junya said softly, "Fourth Sister, why didn't you let us know you had a miscarriage?"
Mentioning the painful event, Wang Qingzhu's eyes immediately reddened.
Wang Qingyao sat by her bedside and asked, "How did you miscarry?"
Wang Qingzhu hesitated, wanting to speak but feeling reluctant.
If she told the truth, her carefully constructed persona would crumble!
Seeing her pitiful state, Wang Qingzhen's heart softened slightly. She said calmly, "Don't hide it anymore. We know everything. Your miscarriage is inextricably linked to Concubine Lian! But it's alright, Second Sister has already avenged you. Concubine Lian will never stand again!"
Wang Qingzhu looked surprised.
Wang Qingzhen continued, "Today, the Princess of Rong held a banquet, and you were originally sent an invitation..."
Seeing Wang Qingzhu's surprised and confused expression, she knew Wang Qingzhu had no idea about the invitation.
"Concubine Lian took the invitation to the banquet, where she was recognized by Second Sister and exposed in public. She claimed she was acting on your orders, so Second Sister had her legs broken!"
Wang Qingzhu's mouth gaped in astonishment, and her back straightened.
The maids in her room looked at Wang Qingyao with reverence. Now they understood why Concubine Lian had been beaten.
Wang Qingzhu was both shocked and indignant: "I did not! The invitation never reached me." She paused and then added, "Concubine Lian is so heartless! She caused me to lose my child, and now she wants me to take the blame for this!"
"How did you lose your child?" Wang Qingyao asked again.
Wang Qingzhu began to cry, "Concubine Lian pushed me."
When Wang Qingzhu was two months pregnant, no one knew except for a few trusted maids in her courtyard.
She was wary of Concubine Lian and had planned to wait until after the third month, when the pregnancy was stable, to inform Pang Yan.
Unexpectedly, Concubine Lian, with her keen perception, noticed it.
She deliberately fell, crashing into Wang Qingzhu and causing her to miscarry.
Afterward, Pang Yan blamed Wang Qingzhu for her carelessness. Wang Qingzhu was both angry and heartbroken, crying so much that her eyes were almost blinded.
Pang Yan had visited her for the first few days. However, Wang Qingzhu was heartbroken and gave him no pleasantries. Afterward, Pang Yan stopped coming.
Wang Qingzhen said indignantly, "Even after all this, you still haven't asked Father and Mother to stand up for you!"