After Madam Bai was brought back from the manor, her watchers also followed to the Wang family.
Madam Bai's pregnancy was fake to begin with, and the longer it went on, the more likely it was to be exposed, so Madam Bai could not help but take action.
Wang Qingyao said, "I guess Madam Bai will fake a miscarriage and then frame Concubine Ying for the poisoning."
"Oh my, you're so clever, how did you guess it so quickly?"
It was too simple. Madam Bai would either have to truly get pregnant and have a child, or find an opportunity to "miscarry." Concubine Ying was her biggest enemy at the moment, so framing her was the most suitable option. As long as Concubine Ying was even slightly implicated, Madam Bai could pin the blame on her.
This was how it was written in palace intrigue novels, an old trope.
"I'm smart," Wang Qingyao urged him, "What did the letter say? How exactly did Madam Bai frame her?"
Concubine Ying had known from the start that Madam Bai's pregnancy was fake, and she had also guessed that Madam Bai would try to miscarry and frame her later. In the past, she was just a powerless concubine, and all she had to do was feign illness and avoid the main courtyard, staying away from Madam Bai.
But now, although she was a concubine, she managed the back courtyard of the Wang family. Even after Madam Bai returned, Wang Da had not taken back her authority.
Since she managed the household, naturally, everything Madam Bai used would have to go through her.
Food, clothing, jewelry, spices, medicinal herbs, and other trivial daily necessities were all prepared by her.
This made it easy for something to go wrong.
It was also much easier for Madam Bai to frame her.
It was said that after Madam Bai drank a bowl of bird's nest porridge in the morning, her stomach began to ache, and the servants quickly summoned a doctor – this doctor had also been bribed beforehand.
After the doctor examined her pulse, he declared that the child could not be saved and, after a series of actions, produced a basin of bloody water.
Wang Da's late son was thus lost. He was both angry and grief-stricken, and Old Madam Wang was so devastated that she almost fainted.
Naturally, an investigation was launched into the child's inexplicable loss. Since the stomachache began after eating bird's nest, the doctor who had not yet left was asked to examine the remaining bird's nest.
The doctor pretended to examine it and exclaimed in surprise, "This bird's nest contains an abortifacient. My Lord Wang, someone wanted to harm your child!"
A maidservant then opportunely said, "This bird's nest was sent by Concubine Ying."
Wang Da was furious and immediately sent for Concubine Ying to confront her.
Concubine Ying was prepared.
As soon as Madam Bai returned, Concubine Ying had already made her plans.
Originally, she had intended to imprison Madam Bai for life, leaving her with the title of the Wang family's main wife but unable to do anything. This way, Wang Da would not be able to easily marry another wife, and she could continue to control the back household.
But later, she realized that Madam Bai was the legitimate wife and had Wang Da's only son. This was Madam Bai's inherent advantage, and no matter how favored she was by Wang Da, she could not compare. Just like this time, Madam Bai's pregnancy was fake, and Wang Da and Old Madam Wang immediately brought her back.
Because she was carrying a "legitimate son."
If it were a concubine, it might be different.
Madam Bai's pregnancy was fake this time, but what if it were real next time?
It was too tiring to be constantly vigilant, so it was better to eliminate Madam Bai in one fell swoop. Let Wang Da marry another wife; it would take some time for the new matriarch to establish herself in the Wang family.
Concubine Ying only had one daughter, Wang Qingzhen. As long as Wang Qingzhen's marriage was settled before Wang Da married another wife, and she was married to someone powerful, the new matriarch would not dare to slight her.
When Concubine Ying arrived at the main courtyard, Madam Bai was crying and shouting at her to pay for the life of her son.
A concubine who managed the household fearing the loss of power and harming the legitimate wife's child sounded too justifiable.
Even Wang Da believed Madam Bai's words.
Concubine Ying calmly said, "My Lord, I also have something to report. In fact, Madam was never pregnant!"
Wang Da was stunned. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Madam Bai was shocked. She hadn't expected Concubine Ying to see through her fake pregnancy.
She naturally denied it, crying heartbrokenly, "I can't believe you're so heartless and cruel to say such things. The doctor is still here, have you asked him before saying this?"
The doctor immediately stated, "Madam has indeed miscarried."
Concubine Ying sneered, "This doctor has been bribed by you and cannot be trusted. My Lord, if you don't believe me, you can invite another doctor."
Madam Bai immediately retorted, "You wretched woman, stop spewing your venom here. You're relying on me being ill at the manor and temporarily holding the authority of the household, so you think you're the main wife. You're just an insignificant concubine who can't even get on the table, and you dared to harm my child while trying to keep the household management! My son, my Lord, this is our son... You must avenge our son!"
Madam Bai cried tears and snot, trying to sway Wang Da. Wang Da was indeed swayed, his eyes reddening, and he glared at Concubine Ying through gritted teeth.
However, he only wavered for a moment before regaining his composure. "Guards, go and invite Imperial Physician Huang..."
"My Lord," Concubine Ying interrupted him, "If you invite another doctor, Madam might just bite back and say I bribed the doctor. Why not invite Imperial Physician Lu? Imperial Physician Lu's reputation and character are known throughout the capital. As a mere concubine, I could never bribe him."
Concubine Ying's reasoning was sound. Madam Bai was just about to retort when she heard this and glared at Concubine Ying with resentment.
Wang Da then sent someone to invite Imperial Physician Lu. Of course, his own influence couldn't summon Imperial Physician Lu; it was only out of respect for Wang Qingyao that Imperial Physician Lu moved his carriage to the Wang family.