Not to ntion killing Mr. Mu, it was impossible to even make Mr. Mu give in.
The day after Princess Mingyue was sent back, Princess Consort Shun went to Prince Mu’s Mansion, only to find its gates tightly shut, being told that both Mr. Mu and Prince Mu were out and not available.
Princess Consort Shun waited a whole day, but didn’t see anyone.
Princess Mingyue, unable to see her daughter Ah Ning, wept bitterly, refusing to eat or drink.
Princess Consort Shun entered the palace to plead with the Empress Dowager, unaware that Princess Consort Mu had already gotten there first to complain through tears.
She said that her brother, Mr. Mu, was the only male in the family. Having been married to Princess Mingyue for several years, Princess Mingyue only gave birth to a daughter, while several of his concubines had gotten pregnant, mysteriously all ended up miscarrying.
Ms. Zhou, who had just entered the household, had finally been pregnant for five to six months, only to be pushed into the lake by Princess Mingyue, losing a shaped baby boy.
After hearing this, the Empress Dowager severely reprimanded Princess Consort Shun. Princess Consort Shun, with her own difficulties left unvoiced, could only return to Prince Shun’s Mansion with a face full of sorrow.
Seeing Princess Consort Shun accomplish nothing, and feeling sorrow for her sister Princess Mingyue, Princess Mingxia decided to visit Feng Bailing.
"Sister-in-law, today is big brother’s birthday. I’ve embroidered a blanket, please take the trouble to pass it on to big brother for ."
Princess Mingxia waited for Feng Bailing to return from Yuxiu Academy, then stood outside Wu Courtyard with a thin blanket made of silkworm silk.
Feng Bailing, with a smile, said that Princess Mingxia was considerate.
As autumn was approaching and Dugu Wu had injured his leg, he indeed needed a blanket to cover himself when venturing outside.
"You know it’s his birthday, why don’t you give it to him yourself?"
Feng Bailing was surprised that Princess Mingxia rembered Dugu Wu’s birthday.
"Big brother doesn’t like being disturbed. Today is also the mourning day for our father, and Queen Mother is in a bad mood. In the past, we never dared to ntion this."
Princess Mingxia respected and feared her older brother Dugu Wu partly because of his intimidating character.
The man kept to himself daily, keeping everyone at a distance. Only Feng Bailing dared to linger around him.
"Let’s do this. We’ll first go to Bamboo Court to pay respects to Prince Shun, and later, co to Wu Courtyard, bringing Princess Mingyue along to have a quiet drink. I think Prince Shun in heaven would also like to see you siblings live in harmony."
Princess Mingxia was a little overwheld by the favor but still very happy. It was her first ti being invited to Wu Courtyard.
At night, Dugu Wu returned to Prince Shun’s Mansion, his face showing signs of fatigue.
He had left the city today to visit the villages suffering from drought and found that the crops were not suffering from drought, but rather looked as if their life force had been drained by sothing.
Drain... Dugu Wu imdiately thought of that night at the Crown Prince Mansion.
Feng Bailing had said there was a Spirit Array above the Crown Prince Mansion, sucking the life force from all inside.
Unfortunately, although he could locate the array’s anchors, he hadn’t witnessed the so-called Spirit Array personally.
Moreover, on his return to the city, he heard plenty of gossip.
The citizens were discussing how the second Miss from Prince Shun’s Mansion was a heartless and venomous woman who had caused all of Mr. Mu’s concubines to miscarry. Mr. Mu wanted to divorce her, and she was threatening suicide, relying on her status as a Commandery Princess of Prince Shun’s Mansion.
It was clear, without saying, that these rumors must have originated from Prince Mu’s Mansion.
"Where are Young Master and Miss?"
Upon returning to Wu Courtyard, Dugu Wu didn’t see Dugu Xiaojin and Feng Xiaoli as he usually would.
Especially Feng Xiaoli, who would usually rush out to et him with Hei Dian whenever he returned.
The little one calling out "Daddy" while hurriedly climbing onto his lap was a sight that always made him smile unwittingly, sweeping away any troubles of the day.
Not seeing them today, he couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
"The Miss and the Young Master are both in the Princess Consort’s room. They haven’t co out for almost an hour now. Also, the second and fourth Misses have co, and the third Miss brought Young Master with her, seeming to be discussing sothing."
Feng Wan reported truthfully.
Feng Bailing had instructed him to keep away from the side room, and Feng Wan didn’t dare to disobey.
The room is strangely still unlit, dark and gloomy, one wonders what devilry is afoot.
Dugu Wu’s brows furrowed deeply.
"Go to Bamboo Court."
Dugu Wu moved his cane, heading straight for Bamboo Court.
Every year on this day, he would sit for a while in Bamboo Court.
But when he arrived at the entrance of the Bamboo Court, he saw lights inside, and the personal attendant of Princess Consort Shun was waiting quietly outside.
Dugu Wu’s cane stopped in its tracks.
This year seed unusual. Ever since Prince Shun died, Princess Consort Shun seldom visited Bamboo Court, let alone on the anniversary of his death.
Dugu Wu, who had exceptional hearing, could hear intermittent sobbing from inside.
"I’m just a woman, what can I do? The Empress Dowager scolded for not disciplining well, for not raising my children properly. You died too early, followed that woman to death, left her son to , they all died, too, leaving the children to . I’m not their birth mother, I cannot hit or scold them; they may be respectful to my face, but behind my back, they all despise . I have no power, no influence, and despite my wish to stand up for your daughter, no beauty pays any heed... If I had known this, I would have died along with you. Whimper, whimper, whimper—If I die, what will beco of Mingxia and Chunchun... What will beco of Prince Shun’s Mansion?"
Princess Consort Shun was crying and making a scene.
The nanny beside her hastily spoke up.
"Prince, the Princess Consort has had so wine and is speaking drunkenly, please don’t bla her."
Dugu Wu’s face was stern.
Without a word, he turned his cane around and left Bamboo Court.
As soon as Dugu Wu departed, the nanny hurried into Bamboo Court.
"Princess Consort, the Prince has left."
Princess Consort Shun quickly took a sip of water to moisten her throat.
"Did he hear all of it?"
"He heard everything, the Prince’s expression wasn’t very good."
Princess Consort Shun let out a long sigh of relief, then turned her head to glance at the spirit tablet on the altar, her eyes reddening instantly.
"You lucky dead man, you’ve got it easy, gone in a clean break. And here I am, a poor widow..."
As she spoke, Princess Consort Shun picked up the jug of wine from the altar and poured it into her mouth. The spicy wine passed through her throat, and she forcefully swallowed the tears mixed with the liquor.
Dugu Wu returned to Wu Courtyard, and on his way to the study, he glanced at the room up ahead.
Without the laughter and voices of the two little ones, Feng Bailing’s room was utterly silent.
Furthermore, night had already fallen, and still, no lights were lit.
Dugu Wu’s brows furrowed once more.
He could clearly sense several presences in the room; what was this woman up to now?
He changed direction with his cane, heading towards Feng Bailing’s room.
Dugu Wu pushed the door open.
Suddenly, two figures jumped out from behind the door.
Dugu Wu’s expression changed drastically, and he raised his hand, ready to strike.
"Daddy, happy birthday."
"Father, happy birthday."
The pitch-dark room suddenly lit up.
Several faces appeared out of nowhere, accompanying the abruptly lit candles.
The hand Dugu Wu had swung out ca to an urgent halt, and right in the middle of the room stood Feng Bailing, her hands cradling an oddly shaped object.
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