Chapter 9: The Schemes of Concubine Qin

As Concubine Qin emerged from Fengxi Palace, she whispered to Liang Mama beside her, “Go to the Duke of Yong’an’s residence and send a message to the eldest daughter, asking her to come see me tomorrow.”

Liang Mama was taken aback for a moment and softly reminded her, “Your Highness, you are under house arrest. The eldest daughter…,” for it was known that concubines who had been ordered into house arrest by the Emperor were not allowed to see anyone.

“It doesn’t matter. Let the eldest daughter first seek the Empress. If that wretched woman refuses, then let her seek His Majesty. After seeing her, the Emperor will agree,” Concubine Qin said confidently.

She was confident, but Liang Mama was unsure. First, the eldest prince had been stripped of his title, and now the Concubine was under house arrest; clearly, something was wrong.

“Mama, I know your thoughts. I don’t know where things went wrong either. But the more it seems like this, the less I can sit back and do nothing. Anyway, that wretched child doesn’t have many days left to live. Once he dies, that crown prince position should belong to my son.”

Liang Mama broke out in a cold sweat from Concubine Qin’s words, “Your Highness, be cautious! Walls have ears.”

Concubine Qin nodded slightly and sighed softly, “Mama, if we don’t act soon… it may be too late. You heard Ming Fei’s words today, right? He dares to use his maternal family to threaten me, which means that the Emperor has murderous intentions towards the Yong’an Duke’s residence. I must make plans. Let’s discuss it after you meet the eldest daughter tomorrow. By the way, Mama, send someone to the Yong’an Duke’s residence to inform my father about today’s events, and let him gather information outside. I have a bad feeling that everything is about to slip out of my control.”

Liang Mama nodded in agreement, “Yes, I also feel something is off, especially with the eldest prince. Your Highness, don’t forget, he is the only one without a title now. If the crown prince dies, the next likely candidate is the third prince.”

Concubine Qin stopped in her tracks, her eyes filled with malice. “What does it matter if he has a title or not? I can eliminate Jun Mohan just as easily as I can eliminate Jun Mochu. By the way, Mama, wasn’t it said that the crown prince’s wedding is approaching, meant to bring him good fortune? Why haven’t the Emperor and the Empress mentioned it? Do they not want to hold a grand ceremony? Isn’t it the crown prince’s wedding? The Emperor shouldn’t fear being laughed at with that wretched woman around?”

Liang Mama scoffed, “A grand ceremony? I suspect the crown prince might not even make it to the wedding. What if he dies in the middle of the ceremony? That would be even more of a joke.”

Concubine Qin wiped away her frown and covered her mouth with a handkerchief, giggling softly. “Mama, you’re right. It would be quite embarrassing to hold a funeral before the wedding is even finished.” The two of them walked and laughed, their spirits lifted.

In the Yong’an Duke’s residence, upon hearing his daughter’s message, the Duke was taken aback. How could it be that in one day, his grandson had been stripped of his title, and his daughter was under house arrest? Since his daughter wanted him to investigate, why was he still hesitating?

The Duke thought of the first person to inquire, which was Lord Mu. Ever since his daughter became engaged to the eldest son of the marquis’s household, their families had grown quite close.

“My Lord, I’ve heard you’ve been suspended from court, and I’m truly worried. What has happened to His Majesty? You must have heard, the eldest prince has been deposed, and my daughter… Concubine Qin has been punished with house arrest for half a year. What is going on? Have you heard any rumors about why His Majesty is so enraged?”

Lord Mu was initially startled, knowing that the eldest prince had been deprived of his title because they were punished on the same day, but Concubine Qin… why had she also been placed under house arrest?

“My Duke, I’m not sure. What? The Concubine has also been placed under house arrest?”

The Yong’an Duke felt a bit disappointed upon realizing that Lord Mu also didn’t know what was going on. “Yes. Since Concubine Qin married His Majesty, she has never been punished. His Majesty has always treated her kindly, and the Empress has also been very affectionate towards her. How could it suddenly change like this?”

After thinking for a moment, Lord Mu continued to ask, “My Duke, has the Concubine not sent any messages? Perhaps she knows something.”

“Know what? I came here to disturb you today because it was news from Concubine Su. She also doesn’t know what happened; that’s why I came to inquire with you. It seems that you too are in the dark.”

Lord Mu nodded, as if he thought of something else, and asked the Yong’an Duke, “Logically speaking, tomorrow should be the crown prince’s wedding day. Although it’s meant to bring good fortune, His Majesty said previously that it would be a grand affair, and we wouldn’t be slighted as the marquis’s family. But it’s already this late, and we haven’t received an invitation? Have you received an invitation?”

The Yong’an Duke shook his head. “No. I speculate that the crown prince’s condition is not good; it seems he might not make it to the wedding. Can His Majesty dare to take such a risk in front of everyone? So, to speak disrespectfully, we shouldn’t expect an invitation to the wedding; we should wait for the news of a funeral instead. It’s just a pity for the marquis’s legitimate daughter, who will have to be a widow at such a young age.”

Speaking of Mu Ling, Lord Mu scoffed, “That child is a disaster. I severed ties with her long ago. If it weren’t for my family’s fortune, I wouldn’t bother with her at all.”

“Sever ties? If His Majesty inquires, won’t you be punished? The edict clearly states that the one marrying the crown prince is the marquis’s legitimate daughter.”

Lord Mu waved dismissively, “It’s nothing. The disaster was the one who brought it up. If His Majesty wants to blame someone, it can’t be us.”

Having failed to gather any useful information, the Yong’an Duke left after a while.

Just after he departed, Mu Fuxing came over with two brothers who looked like bodyguards behind her.

“Father, I just heard from the Duke that sister’s wedding is to be canceled tomorrow? Could it be that the crown prince really…” Mu Fuxing pretended to be shocked and hesitated to finish her sentence.

Mu Yao snickered from behind, “Heh, finding a disaster to bring good fortune? It’s a miracle if he survives. If our Fuxing goes over, maybe that crown prince can live a few more days.”

After saying this, he clicked his tongue, as if lamenting the crown prince’s fate.

“Brother, you mustn’t speak nonsense,” Mu Fuxing said in a spoiled tone. “I’m just a bit lucky, that’s all.”

“Still not a lucky star?” her second brother Mu Zhu interjected. “Little sister, since you were born, our family has had nothing but smooth sailing. Everything has gone well. By the way, little sister, during the upcoming autumn exams, I and big brother will still participate. You must ensure we succeed; once we achieve high rankings, I’ll buy you the prettiest jewelry.”

If only these two fools would calm down and think for a moment, they would realize that the lucky star they keep talking about has never brought them a bit of fortune! To not mention the past, just look at the autumn exams; both of them have participated for two consecutive years and haven’t even made it to the top ranks, let alone even touching the edges of the rankings. Each year they’ve failed, becoming a laughingstock among the noble families of the capital.

Furthermore, although Lord Mu has been keeping an eye on the lucky star for over a decade, his position has never been elevated, and now he has been suspended from court by His Majesty!

But they chose to turn a blind eye to all of this!

“Father, I want to go see sister tomorrow. Just thinking about her having to be a widow for the rest of her life makes me feel too sad, so I want to accompany her,” Mu Fuxing said.

“No!” Before Lord Mu could speak, the two brothers resolutely opposed this. “Stay away from that disaster, and be careful not to get dragged into her misfortune.”

“Brothers,” Mu Fuxing began to act spoiled. “You all say I’m a lucky star, so why should I fear a disaster? Don’t worry, she won’t pass any misfortune onto me. Besides, I’m representing the marquis’s family to comfort sister; the Emperor and the Empress will surely be pleased, and perhaps it will even help Father.”

To be honest, Lord Mu thought his daughter had a point. He knew whether Mu Ling was a disaster or not. If the crown prince is in critical condition and his daughter shows some concern for the crown princess, it might genuinely touch the Emperor, and he might not have to worry about being suspended anymore.

Understanding all this, Lord Mu looked at his daughter with gratitude. “Good child, you’re quite sensible. Since you’ve decided, you can go see her tomorrow, and let your two brothers accompany you. By the way, when you go tomorrow, make it a grand affair, so the noble families of the capital know that our little lucky star is a kind-hearted girl.”

Lord Mu thought this way, but Mu Fuxing had other plans. She wanted to go see Mu Ling’s embarrassment, having successfully taken her identity as the legitimate daughter and turned her into a widow. The more she thought about it, the happier she felt, as if time was dragging, desperately hoping tomorrow would come quickly; she was waiting to watch the show…

However, her beautiful wish would ultimately turn into a bubble.