Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved

Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Ah Jiu and I Are Connected by Heart
 

Her cheeks slightly reddened, Murong Jiu hurriedly cast aside the images in her mind, telling herself not to continue thinking about them.

There wasn’t much change in her expression, which likely disappointed Fu Baozhu, who had hoped to see her lose her composure.

“Zhen Zhu, go and ask…”

Murong Jiu hadn’t finished speaking when Eunuch Shi came over.

“Princess Consort, the Prince has sent this old servant to tell you that your seventh sister has already left the Prince Mansion, and you needn’t worry.”

Although Murong Jiu had her suspicions, she didn’t ask further in front of Fu Baozhu, only nodding her head and saying, “I understand, thank you Eunuch for making the trip especially.”

“It’s what I should do, what I should do.”

Fu Baozhu, itching with curiosity, was dying to know more, but seeing that she couldn’t get anything out of Murong Jiu, naturally, she didn’t care to stay any longer and left with Nanny Fan.

After returning to the mansion, Nanny Fan immediately sent someone to Marquis Mansion to inquire about Murong Qian.

It was almost dark when the news finally came from Marquis Mansion.

“What, what? Murong Qian is pregnant?”

Fu Baozhu’s eyes widened, her voice drawn out in disbelief.

An unmarried young lady, without even a fiancé, yet pregnant—this was a shockingly scandalous matter no matter where it occurred.

“Could the child be Prince Ling’s?”

Otherwise, why would she take a Jade Pendant to see Jun Yuyan?

Thinking of this, Fu Baozhu’s face darkened abruptly.

“Murong Qian isn’t saying anything; whose child it is isn’t clear yet, but it can’t possibly be the Prince’s, otherwise why would he have her whipped?”

Nanny Fan said.

Fu Baozhu squinted her eyes. “Is the child still there?”

Nanny Fan nodded, “It is still there. Marquis Mansion doesn’t dare to abort the child rashly, not being sure whether it’s the Prince’s seed or not. But they dare not proclaim it either, with so many young ladies in the household yet to be married, it could tarnish the family’s reputation.”

“In my opinion, they’d be better off getting rid of the child in her belly quickly, shave her head, and send her to the nunnery. If it weren’t for the sake of the family’s reputation, such a woman would deserve to be drowned in a pig cage!” Fu Baozhu said viciously.

Just then, a maid’s voice came from outside, “Miss! The old Master and the young Masters have returned!”

Nanny Fan spoke in a lowered voice, “Stop talking, you should pretend you know nothing of such filthy matters.”

“Understood.”

Fu Baozhu’s face lit up with joy. Her father and brothers had finally come back from suppressing bandits; she needed to go greet them.

At the dinner table, General Fu asked, “I heard Bao’er went to Prince Ling’s Mansion today, how was it, did the Princess Consort treat you well?”

Fu Baozhu’s eyes flickered. She wanted to say it was not good, but she planned to visit the Prince Mansion again in the future. If she said it was not good, she was afraid her father and brothers would not let her go again, so she had to say the Princess Consort treated her quite well.

Then she added with an innocent tone:

“But Princess Consort Sister is quite strange. She has a very beautiful maid, who they say she and the Prince bought out of pity during their travels. Yet she makes such a beautiful maid empty night pots and sweep floors, I don’t know what she’s thinking. If it were me, I would definitely have her as a personal maid. Having such a good-looking maid by my side would be a pleasure for the eyes.”

Unable to overtly criticize, she could slander Murong Jiu in a veiled manner, painting her as a woman with a strong sense of jealousy to her father and brothers.

Young Master Fu, Fu Chuan, said, “Bao’er, one can’t judge based solely on appearances. You’ve only seen that maid once and don’t know what kind of person she is. You can’t jump to conclusions.”

Third brother, Fu Han, also said, “Yes, buying a pitiful maid demonstrates the Princess Consort’s kindness. After all, buying someone with an unknown background, it’s most appropriate to make them a lower-status maid.”

Second brother, Fu Sheng, didn’t say anything but nodded along as well.

Fu Baozhu felt quite displeased, developing a sense of crisis.

She noted that her father and brothers seemed to have a good impression of Murong Jiu.

That hideous creature is also worthy?

Just then, General Fu added, “Now that the matter at Minghua Mountain has been settled, Baobao, join us on a trip to Prince Mansion tomorrow, I’ll personally take you and your brothers to express our thanks to the Princess Consort.”

Fu Baozhu hastily said, “Didn’t we already give our thanks that day? Baobao has also expressed our gratitude on your behalf!”

She truly did not want her father and brothers to have any more to do with Murong Jiu.

“That’s not the same, the Princess Consort has done a great favor for your third brother, so we must personally bring a token of thanks. Baobao, one must be grateful; although the Princess Consort only saved someone by chance, she inadvertently changed the fate of Lord Zhou’s young son and also preserved the relationship between the General’s Mansion and the Minister’s Mansion from turning into enmity. She might not think much of it, but our family must properly thank her.”

Upon hearing General Fu’s sermon, Fu Baozhu felt annoyed in her heart. She detested these long-winded lectures, as if she was someone who didn’t reciprocate kindness.

She hung her head low, “Baobao understands her mistake, Father. Tomorrow, Baobao will accompany Father and my brothers to visit Princess Consort Sister at the Prince Mansion.”

General Fu and the three brothers, including Fu Heng, all smiled.

Fu Han even served Fu Baozhu a bowl full of dishes.

The next day, the General’s Mansion sent over a visitation card.

However, Jun Yuyan had already entered the palace, and although Murong Jiu wanted to personally receive them, she feared it might be inappropriate, so she asked Steward Lin to reply that the Prince would not return to the mansion until the afternoon.

Therefore, General Fu said they would come in the afternoon instead.

Murong Jiu felt inexplicably excited about their forthcoming visit to Prince Mansion; after having lunch she didn’t sleep but asked Chun Tao to help her with makeup and dressing.

“Miss, you should rest a bit. What if you feel unwell later?” Chun Tao said worriedly.

She was afraid the Miss would experience morning sickness during their visit, which would be troublesome.

The Miss had only just started having a few days of peace in the Prince Mansion, and Chun Tao worried that she would be driven out.

“I should be fine, I don’t feel any discomfort now.”

Perhaps due to her mood, she didn’t feel nauseous or sick to her stomach at that moment.

The Prince returned from the palace and came to her first.

“I’ve conducted a secret investigation regarding Noble Lady Hui and the exotic fragrance on her, and it indeed originates from the Western Regions. Before entering the palace, she had no scent on her, and her personal maidservant can testify to this. Although she has since been sold off, my people have found her.”

“Have you uncovered who is behind her?” Murong Jiu asked.

“It is the Empress, but I lack conclusive evidence,” he replied.

“Then, how do you plan to disclose this to the Emperor?” she inquired.

Instead, Jun Yuyan asked her, “Ah Jiu, if you were me, what would you do?”

Murong Jiu did not expect him to pose such a question.

After thinking for a moment, she said, “The Emperor currently favors Noble Lady Hui. Rashly exposing the matter may affect the relationship between father and son. Maybe it would be better to find a way to let Noble Lady Hui slip up herself, causing the Emperor to suspect her first. It would be ideal to guide suspicion towards the Empress because, compared to others, the Emperor would likely trust his own judgment more.”

A smile appeared on Jun Yuyan’s face, “Ah Jiu, we truly think alike, I had the same idea.”

His words were spoken with such gentleness that Murong Jiu’s ears blushed crimson.

Luckily, at that moment, someone came to report that General Fu and his family had arrived for their visit.