freenovelworld Chapter 667 The Shady Tactics in the Backyard
Chapter 667 The Shady Tactics in the Backyard
She picked up a cup of still-warm fruit tea from the table, took small steps to Zhao Qinghan's side, and gently tugged at her sleeve.
“Aunt,” she looked up and handed over the teacup, “have a sip of tea. It’s sweet, and it will make your heart feel less bitter.”
The child's voice was clear and crisp, carrying a hint of cautious comfort.
Zhao Qinghan was taken aback. She lowered her head and looked into Gu Qingchen's clear yet worried eyes, and the softest part of her heart was gently touched.
She took the teacup, the warmth spreading from her fingertips and dispelling some of the chill.
"Thank you, Qingchen." She forced a smile, her voice hoarse.
This sudden incident cast a shadow over the festive atmosphere of the Chu family mansion.
The previous laughter and chatter ceased, and everyone tacitly agreed not to mention the matter again.
The luncheon at the Chu residence ended hastily.
Chu Ruohan declined her mother's offer to let her stay overnight and returned to the Duke's Mansion with Gu Qingchen.
As dusk approached, the hurried footsteps of Haitang and Wang Zhaodi could be heard outside the door.
"Madam." The two entered the room and bowed.
Chu Ruohan put down her teacup and looked at them. "You're back? How did it go?"
Wang Zhaodi stepped forward, sighed, and looked regretful.
"Your Majesty, I...I did my best. But I still couldn't save the child in the Crown Princess's womb."
This result was within Chu Ruohan's expectations. She simply gave a soft "hmm" to signal her to continue.
"Alas, it's not that my technique is lacking, it's just that the Crown Princess... she overdid it!"
When Wang Zhaodi mentioned this, her brows furrowed tightly. "You didn't see it. She used to be a pretty girl, but now she's so fat she's almost unrecognizable. Her belly is covered with purplish-red lines; it's frightening to look at."
She paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully, before finally speaking frankly: "The baby was only six months old, but when it was born, its body was all black from being suffocated, yet it was about the same size as a full-term baby. It's just... it just suffocated to death inside."
Haitang added from the side, "I heard from the servants of Prince Yong's mansion that the young prince also had a dispute with his wife because she ate too much, which caused the miscarriage to be affected and resulted in premature birth."
"But the doctor said that even without this argument, the child would definitely not live to full term."
"What a pity, it's a fully formed male fetus." Wang Zhaodi shook her head. "The old Princess Yong couldn't bear the result and fainted on the spot."
Chu Ruohan listened quietly, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the warm cup.
The image of Zhao Qingzhi's innocent yet sharp-tongued face flashed into her mind.
Stupid, so incredibly stupid.
What kind of place is the Yongwang Mansion?
The underhanded tactics and schemes employed in that backyard are all more dangerous than knives.
When others offered her lavish meals of fish and meat, and even bird's nest tonics, she actually dared to accept them all.
She didn't even consider that she was carrying the eldest grandson of the Prince Yong's mansion, and how many eyes were secretly watching her, hoping that something would happen to her and the child in her womb.
They couldn't even see through this tactic of praising someone to death.
Chu Ruohan gently shook her head, a sigh escaping her lips.
She looked up at the travel-worn Wang Zhaodi and softened her tone: "You've had a hard time, Zhaodi."
She then turned to Haitang: "Go to the accounting office and get ten taels of silver for Zhaodi. The Prince Yong's mansion is currently grieving, so they probably won't have time to give her a reward."
“Yes, Madam,” Haitang replied.
Wang Zhaodi quickly waved her hand: "Madam, this is unacceptable. I failed to save the child, how can I accept the reward?"
"One yard owned by a yard."
"You've done your best, so I can't let you down. Go now."
Princess's Mansion
The underfloor heating was warm and cozy, with wisps of incense wafting through the air. Lin Xingyao leaned against a soft couch covered with a white fox fur, listening to her trusted nanny's report.
"That bitch is really lucky, she didn't die."
"Why didn't it end in both mother and child dying?"
The trusted nanny bowed, her face plastered with a fawning smile.
“Princess, you didn’t see how wretched that woman looked. She was as fat and clumsy as a pig with rough skin and pimples on her face.”
"I heard that she tore open her vagina and bled a lot while giving birth to that stillborn child. I'm afraid she won't be able to serve the young prince anymore."
"Is that so?" Lin Xingyao chuckled with pleasure upon hearing this, her eyes filled with delight.
"That would be wonderful. If my brother saw her like this, he'd probably throw up."
Just then, a slight sound came from behind the carved sandalwood screen next to them, as if a teacup had bumped into a tray.
"Who's there?" Lin Xingyao's laughter stopped abruptly, and her eyes instantly turned sharp.
The trusted nanny's expression changed, and she quickly walked around the screen and pulled the person behind it out.
“Princess, it is the young master.”
A little boy dressed in a brocade blue robe was pushed in front of Lin Xingyao; it was Lin Jiayou.
He lowered his head, his small hands tightly gripping the hem of his clothes, looking somewhat flustered.
"Mother," he called softly.
The fierce look on Lin Xingyao's face vanished instantly, replaced by a gentle and loving motherly expression.
She beckoned to Lin Jiayou, pulled him to sit down beside her, and coaxed him softly, "Jiayou, did you hear everything?"
"I'm saying this for your uncle's own good. That woman is wicked and doesn't deserve to have your uncle's child."
Lin Jiayou looked at his mother's gentle face and nodded as if he understood.
Lin Xingyao patted his head with satisfaction and continued, "Now that your uncle has lost his legitimate son, it is a time of great sorrow."
"When you go over there later, spend more time with him, show him care, and let him know that there is a nephew in this world who truly cares for him."
Lin Jiayou nodded obediently again.
But he couldn't understand why his mother couldn't tolerate his aunt.
Why must it take someone's life?
He remembered clearly how much his maternal grandmother and uncle longed for the birth of that child.
Seeing that he was well-behaved, Lin Xingyao was satisfied. She then changed the subject and asked, "How have things been between you and that girl from the Gu family lately?"
A hint of warmth flashed in Lin Jiayou's eyes when Gu Qingchen was mentioned.
He answered honestly, "She treats me like a good friend. She's willing to talk to me about anything and often takes me out to play."
"Hmm." Lin Xingyao's tone carried a hint of disdain. "A crazy, wild girl. If it weren't for the Zhenguo Duke's family background, how could she be worthy of my son?"
She pinched her son's cheek. "Jiayou, you must remember to make her unable to live without you, to make her cling to you every day, to make her have only you in her heart and eyes, to make her unable to live without you, understand?"
Lin Jiayou's heart skipped a beat. He looked at his mother, but ultimately lowered his eyes.
"My son knows."
"Alright, go down now." Lin Xingyao waved her hand and leaned back on the soft couch.
Lin Jiayou silently retreated, the cold wind blowing on his face, but he felt it was far less cold than his mother's gaze just now.