The smile on Liu Menghan's lips deepened. Although Feng Jin's words were unpleasant, they hit the mark. The imperial physicians had already diagnosed the child in her womb as likely male.
As long as she gave birth to the legitimate son, her position would be secure for the rest of her life, unshakeable by anyone, even if Feng Ruoyan remained favored.
With a legitimate son by her side, she had nothing to fear. A man's affection was fleeting; one moment he was entwined with you, and the next he was whispering sweet nothings to another woman. Hadn't the Third Prince doted on Feng Ruoyan immensely before? Yet now, he was entwined with another woman every night.
She no longer cared about those ethereal affections. Liu Menghan placed her hand on her slightly bulging belly; this was her future reliance.
"Young Madam is joking. We don't even know if it's a boy or a girl yet. Even if it's a legitimate son, there's still an elder brother above him. Order dictates seniority."
As Liu Menghan spoke, a vicious glint flashed in her eyes. The child in Feng Ruoyan's womb was like a thorn in her side, a constant irritant.
Every time she saw her protruding belly, she ground her teeth in hatred. If it were a daughter, so be it. But if it were a boy, how could she allow a legitimate eldest son born of a concubine to ascend above her own son? It was no wonder she was heartless.
"An elder son, perhaps, but merely a son of a concubine. With Her Majesty the Empress supporting the Prince Consort, why worry that the legitimate eldest son of a concubine will surpass the legitimate son? Moreover, Her Majesty the Empress has always disliked my concubine sister. Prince Consort, you need not worry too much."
Feng Jin's words were sharp, but each sentence struck a chord with Liu Menghan. She had initially been worried about the legitimate eldest son of a concubine surpassing her own legitimate son.
After Feng Jin's words, she felt much relieved.
It seemed her efforts over these days had not been in vain. Feng Jin, such a tough nut to crack, was now leaning towards her side. To openly disparage her own sister in front of her, she must be extremely trusting.
Lin Yuwei, observing from the side, felt a tremor of fear with every word. Feng Jin had always acted with meticulous consideration, and outside, she treated everyone courteously. Why was she acting so rashly today?
Even if she wanted to forge a connection with Liu Menghan, she shouldn't disparage Feng Ruoyan and her unborn child in such a manner.
No matter what, Feng Ruoyan's child was still a royal child, a true descendant of the Emperor. If these words were to spread, the entire Ling family would be implicated.
"Sister Feng Jin, you are doing this..." Lin Yuwei subtly tugged at Feng Jin's sleeve, gently reminding her.
Feng Jin turned to look at Lin Yuwei, responding with a reassuring glance.
Her reason for acting this way was to mislead Liu Menghan and obtain useful information from her.
"Hearing the Young Madam say this has put my mind at ease. Everyone has their own selfish motives, and I, being a mortal, am no exception. I can tolerate my husband's affection for other women, but I cannot tolerate someone stealing what belongs to my child..."
As she spoke, Liu Menghan's eyes were filled with deep worry, projecting the image of a devoted mother.
"It is thanks to Young Madam for telling me these things today that my heart is somewhat comforted. As long as it is for my child's well-being, I will do anything, even if others call me venomous and heartless."
"Prince Consort, you must relax. Only then will the child in your womb grow up safely."
Feng Jin said with a comforting smile, the smile not reaching her eyes.
Lin Yuwei watched the two exchange words, suddenly unsure of what to do. Should she say something, or continue to smile foolishly? She couldn't make up her mind. Just as she was contemplating, an uninvited guest arrived.
"Young Madam's place is quite lively. It's the most lively place in the entire manor. Princess Jing and you are also here."
Feng Ruoyan's gaze flickered towards Feng Jin, a malicious glint in her eyes.
The moment she saw Feng Jin, she wished she could tear her to shreds.
"Sister has arrived. Your body has grown heavier, please sit down quickly."
Liu Menghan gestured to a chair behind her, busily inviting Feng Ruoyan to sit.
"It's windy outside. Sister, you came in such a hurry without wearing an extra layer."
"I have a warm constitution. I feel very hot in these clothes. I heard from the imperial physician that pregnant women who are constitutionally warm are likely carrying a male fetus."
Feng Ruoyan touched her bulging belly, her gaze towards Liu Menghan full of triumph.
"If it is a male fetus, then it will be the Prince's eldest son. Sister, you are truly blessed to give birth to the Prince's eldest son. I wonder if I have such fortune. If I can give birth to a healthy and safe child, I will be content."
Seeing Liu Menghan's feigned sincerity, Feng Ruoyan's eyes flashed with disgust. She was merely using this fragile facade to deceive the Prince and Her Majesty the Empress.
If Liu Menghan slandered her before the Empress, how could the Empress dislike her so much? This was all Liu Menghan's fault.
She couldn't fathom how she had managed to deceive the Prince into conceiving this child.
Yet, the Empress attached such importance to Liu Menghan's pregnancy. Despite all her schemes, she had failed to eliminate this child.
Moreover, she kept using the child as an excuse to draw the Prince away from her. Fortunately, she had acted in time and helped the Prince take in so many beautiful concubines, keeping his heart.
The newly taken concubines in the manor were all obedient to her and followed her commands. Just these concubines making their presence felt before Liu Menghan daily was enough to infuriate her. Even with all this, she could still maintain her composure.
"Young Madam is blessed and has the protection of Her Majesty the Empress, so you will surely be safe with child. Furthermore, there are many sisters in the manor helping to care for the Prince. Young Madam, you need only focus on resting and nurturing your child."
As expected, when she said these words, Liu Menghan's expression instantly soured.
Feng Ruoyan's lips curved into a satisfied smile. This was exactly the effect she desired, and it was worth spending her dowry money to bring these beautiful women into the manor.
Feng Jin quietly sipped her tea, taking in the undercurrents of their conversation.
This visit had yielded quite a bit of useful information. Those concubines were all brought in by Feng Ruoyan.
She had truly gone to great lengths. One had to understand that Feng Ruoyan's reliance was solely on Chu Yanxi's favor to establish herself in the Third Prince's manor.
By doing this now, she was essentially pushing Chu Yanxi away entirely. One had to know that a man's heart could change in an instant, and no one could guarantee that Chu Yanxi wouldn't fall for someone else. It had to be said that Feng Ruoyan had made a significant sacrifice this time.