Chapter 432 - 434: A Miscarriage by Twist of Fate
Emperor Yongye is holding another imperial draft.
Noble Princess Consort Xiao was seething with hate.
Feng Bailing glanced toward Noble Consort Guo, worried that she might be upset by this and it would affect her mood.
Yet, Noble Consort Guo showed a calm demeanor. Having been in the Imperial Palace for so long, she had come to accept certain realities.
No matter how many beauties the Emperor chose, there was only one person in his heart. This was something Noble Consort Guo understood better than anyone.
If she hadn't needed to protect Noble Consort Guo, Feng Bailing really wanted to give Princess Anyang a harsh lesson, with a few slaps on the cheek being the least of it.
"Isn't that Sister Guo?"
Noble Princess Consort Xiao spotted Noble Consort Guo instantly.
Except for Noble Consort Guo, everyone else paid their respects to her. Feng Bailing also paid her respects to Noble Princess Consort Xiao and Princess Consort Mu.
"Princess Consort Wu, long time no see. I've heard you've been quite troubled lately, not even visiting Yuxiu Academy."
Noble Princess Consort Xiao glanced at Feng Bailing.
Nowadays, not to mention Feng Bailing's enhanced beauty, but her good relationship with both the Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Guo, and even the Emperor showed favor towards her and the Princess' Mansion.
The better Feng Bailing's life was, the unhappier Noble Princess Consort Xiao became, after all, Feng Bailing was once a woman that the Seventh Prince had rejected.
Princess Anyang, seeing this, quickly tried to suck up to her future mother-in-law, fanning the flames on the side.
"Indeed, Princess Consort Wu has only just married into Prince Shun's Mansion, and Dugu Wu has already been shut away. So young, and already resorting to hitting people, even if it's her own grandfather. I fear she might even take to killing when she's older."
"AnYang, you really mustn't say that. I suppose Bai Ling also has her difficulties, after all, it's not easy being a stepmother. She avoids Yuxiu Academy probably because she doesn't want to face those rumors."
Mo Qianqian pretended to be kind-hearted as she spoke.
Both women took turns to mock Feng Bailing.
These two women, who once secretly and openly pined for Dugu Wu, were very pleased to see Feng Bailing in a tight spot.
"Both of you caring so much about me, I am truly moved. But you've both got the wrong idea. My absence from Yuxiu Academy isn't because I'm afraid of gossip, but rather because my Prince has been tutoring me privately. After all, not everyone's husband can be both scholarly and martial, one who alone could match all the teachers of the Imperial Academy and Yuxiu Academy."
With a smile that spelled of Versailles, Feng Bailing spoke. Noble Consort Guo, who was by her side and had been worried that Feng Bailing would be angered, didn't expect her to turn the tables so effortlessly, leaving Princess Anyang and Mo Qianqian seething.
Mo Qianqian, a widow, hasn't seen not just a husband but any man for a long time.
As for Princess Anyang, although she is nominally the fiancée of Dongfang Li, he avoided her like the plague. Not to mention instructing her, he didn't even want to see her.
Even Noble Princess Consort Xiao and Princess Consort Mu felt a surge of jealousy upon hearing her words.
"He's just a cripple, and only you would treasure him like gold."
Noble Princess Consort Xiao snorted coldly.
"Noble Princess Consort Xiao, please watch your words."
Noble Consort Guo expressed her displeasure.
"Noble Consort Guo, we are both princess consorts. You have no right to lecture me. I will say whatever I want."
Noble Princess Consort Xiao's face displayed arrogance.
Just because she had a son, as far as she was concerned, Noble Consort Guo was an old hen that could no longer lay eggs, and she would forever have the upper hand over her.
Both sides were at a deadlock, with tension as tight as drawn bows. For a moment, the imperial garden was filled with the smell of gunpowder.
It was at this time that a palace maid came hurrying over.
The maid was unfamiliar to most, but Noble Consort Guo recognized her. She was one of Emperor Yongye's maids, who usually delivered ginkgo nuts to her.
Holding a food container in her hands, the maid hesitated upon seeing several princesses consorts around.
Princess Consort Mu looked at Noble Consort Guo's complexion and thought it seemed abnormal, couldn't help but glance at the little palace maid a few times.
This Noble Consort Guo is acting sneaky; there must be a problem.
Looking at Noble Consort Guo again after she was out of sight for a while, her complexion has improved a lot.
In contrast, Princess Consort Mu, who is currently pregnant with the Emperor's Dragon Seed and is four to five months along, suffers from morning sickness and refrains from heavy makeup, which has considerably worsened her complexion.
Although Princess Consort Mu is more than a decade younger than Noble Consort Guo, the two standing together now make Noble Consort Guo appear the younger.
Furthermore, with the harem soon to conduct a new selection of beauties, Princess Consort Mu felt even more imbalanced, worrying that not only would the new girls surpass her, but even Noble Consort Guo would seem more beautiful.
"Oh, Sister Guo. Going out for a walk and bringing a food box with you? It can't be prepared for me, right? After all, I am the only pregnant one here, eating for two."
Without waiting for a reply, Princess Consort Mu went forward and snatched the food box from the palace maid's hands.
"Princess Consort Mu, your Highness, this is improper."
The little palace maid panicked.
The ginkgo that the Emperor awarded to Noble Consort Guo was unknown to the rest of the harem, a thoughtful consideration by the Emperor to prevent jealousy from the other consorts.
But the little palace maid's objection wasn't voiced yet.
Princess Consort Mu slapped the palace maid, causing her to cry.
"Sister Guo, not to criticize you, but palace maids should abide by their rules. Someone from your palace even dares to speak against me. What if it angered me, what if it harmed the little Prince?"
Princess Consort Mu acted with the dignity of a mother who takes pride in her child.
Noble Consort Guo opened her mouth wanting to say something, but Feng Bailing gently tugged at her sleeve by her side.
Seeing Noble Consort Guo being humiliated, Noble Princess Consort Xiao was delighted, and as Princess Consort Mu opened the food box, she found a dish of boiled ginkgo.
The fragrant ginkgo was very tempting.
"No wonder Sister Guo has been looking well recently; it turns out she's been secretly consuming nourishing food. But it's just ginkgo; why the secrecy? Good things should be shared so everyone can enjoy."
Having said that, Princess Consort Mu picked a ginkgo seed and put it in her mouth.
"Princess Consort Mu, ginkgo has mild toxicity; as a pregnant woman, you mustn't consume it recklessly."
Although Feng Bailing disliked Princess Consort Mu's character, as a physician, she couldn't help but remind her out of professional concern.
"Do you think I know nothing? As long as one doesn't eat too many ginkgos, it's fine. Besides, they can relieve cough and soothe asthma. I've had phlegm in my throat lately, a perfect time to eat them."
Princess Consort Mu was dismissive and casually swallowed a seed.
"Everyone, try it. What's special about the ginkgo from Noble Consort Guo's palace?"
Princess Consort Mu's provocation was evident as she glanced at Noble Consort Guo.
Little did she know that as her words fell, her face suddenly changed.
The food box in her hand clattered to the ground, and the ginkgo scattered.
Princess Consort Mu clutched her stomach.
"Oh my, my..."
She felt a surge of turmoil in her belly and, with a thump, fell to the ground.
Bright red blood flowed down her calf, and those nearby were also shocked.
"Hurry, fetch the Imperial Physician, Princess Consort Mu is having a miscarriage."
Noble Consort Guo stepped forward to help Princess Consort Mu, but Princess Anyang already rushed forward.
"Did you do this? How could my sister suddenly miscarry? Noble Consort Guo, you are poisonous indeed. Unable to have a child yourself, you actually harm my sister."
The ginkgo belonged to Noble Consort Guo; she must have poisoned it.
Without another word, Princess Anyang raised her foot and kicked towards Noble Consort Guo's stomach.