Chu Qing immediately understood Feng Jin's intention and spoke to Cai Qing.
Feng Jin sat to the side, silent, merely sipping her clear tea. It was Chu Qing who was more astute, grasping certain matters with a single hint. Cai Qing's thoughts were too simple; while she wasn't entirely unaware of the implications, she was always a beat behind in understanding.
"Young Madam, is it truly like a play?" Cai Qing asked Feng Jin, who sat beside her, with uncertainty.
"Naturally so. You, on the other hand, should reflect. Have you been with Lu Shi for too long, that you've become a blockhead yourself?"
Feng Jin lightly raised her hand and tapped Cai Qing's forehead. This girl was becoming increasingly foolish, as if Lu Shi had made her stupid.
After this gentle guidance, Cai Qing finally understood. Nodding in realization, she looked at Feng Jin with a hint of embarrassment. "Young Madam is indeed wise. With this, Feng Ruoyan will surely be in immense pain, far better than being thrown into a mass grave like Madam Sun."
"It's just..." Cai Qing hesitated, swallowing the words that were on the tip of her tongue. After much internal deliberation, she finally asked, "Young Madam, what if Feng Ruoyan finds out that Madam Sun died in our manor..."
"Few people know about this matter. As long as you don't speak of it, no one will. Moreover, Lu Shi's martial arts are exceptionally high; no one will discover anything. Madam Sun's body will not be discovered until early tomorrow morning."
The reason she dared to discard Madam Sun's corpse at the entrance of the Third Prince's manor was her confidence that no one would know she was responsible.
Feng Jin glanced at the time. Sleepiness instantly overwhelmed her, and she couldn't help but yawn.
"Young Madam, you are sleepy. Your maid will help you change and rest."
This time, Cai Qing showed great perceptiveness, quickly helping Feng Jin change and serving her to sleep.
...
At the entrance of the Third Prince's manor, Madam Sun's corpse had been discarded there for over a night without anyone discovering it.
The gatekeeper dozed leaning against the gatepost, sleeping through the entire night. He only woke up at dawn and hurried to open the main gate.
"Ah... ah..."
A shriek that pierced the clouds startled another person awake.
"What are you screaming about so early in the morning? If you disturb the masters, we'll both be punished."
"There's... there's a dead person... a dead person..."
"Bah! Why are you bringing bad luck so early in the morning? Where would there be a dead person at our manor's entrance!"
The gatekeeper, still shaken, calmed himself. "There really is, right at the entrance!"
The other person instantly felt something was amiss. Mustering his courage, he looked in the direction the first had pointed. Indeed, a person lay on the ground, covered in blood.
He walked over slowly and looked at the person's face, immediately recognizing her as the mother of a side consort in the manor.
"You hurry... go inform the side consort that her mother has died and her body was thrown at our manor's entrance."
"I... I'm going now..."
The gatekeeper quickly agreed and rushed indoors.
Upon hearing the news, Feng Ruoyan was first stunned, then her body swayed. If not for the maid beside her catching her, she would have fallen to the ground.
"You say my mother's corpse was thrown at the manor's main gate?" Feng Ruoyan asked again, disbelieving.
"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. It is indeed the consort's body."
Her vision suddenly darkened, and Feng Ruoyan stumbled a few steps, leaning on a table. Tears fell like a broken string of pearls.
"Miss, we must go and see. We cannot let Mother's corpse lie outside the door any longer."
"Call a few people to come with me and carry my mother in."
The maid's words jolted Feng Ruoyan awake. She slowly stood up, clutching her belly. As soon as she steadied herself, a sharp pain shot through her abdomen.
"Ah... ah..."
"Miss, you..."
"Quickly call for an imperial physician, call for an imperial physician!"
Feng Ruoyan cried out loudly, clutching her stomach, sweat beading on her forehead from the pain.
"Your maid will go, will go now..."
Enduring the pain, Feng Ruoyan slowly moved to lie on the bed. She felt a warm current flow down her leg. Instinctively, she lifted it slightly, revealing her white shoes and socks stained with bright red blood.
Shock swept through her entire body, and she couldn't help but shiver. Feng Ruoyan's eyes were filled with terror.
By the time the imperial physician arrived, Feng Ruoyan's shoes and socks were already soaked in blood.
"Imperial Physician, save... save my child... Imperial Physician..."
The imperial physician reached out and took Feng Ruoyan's pulse, his brow furrowed deeply. "Quickly go and call for the midwife. The side consort has experienced fetal unrest; she is about to give birth."
"No... it cannot be now. My child... the child is only seven months old... only seven months old..."
"The fetal unrest has already begun. If production is not commenced immediately, both mother and child may be in danger. Hurry and invite the midwife!"
"I'll go now... I'll go now..."
After the maid left, the imperial physician took a black pill from his sleeve. "The Prime Minister's wife had already informed me that the side consort must take this medicine during childbirth. It will surely ensure the safety of the side consort and her child."
Feng Ruoyan swallowed the pill. Thinking of her mother's tragic death, that farewell had become eternal. She hadn't even seen her mother for the last time. A profound sorrow filled her heart, and tears fell involuntarily.
"The midwife is here... the midwife is here..."
"Greetings, Miss." The midwife bowed hurriedly before rushing into the inner chambers. After examining Feng Ruoyan's condition, she slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
"The head is already visible. Quickly go and boil hot water, and prepare the scissors..."
The midwife commanded urgently, and the room instantly descended into a flurry of activity.
Feng Ruoyan labored for an entire night before she managed to give birth.
"Let me see the child..." Feng Ruoyan said weakly, propping her eyelids open.
"Miss, although the young master is premature, he is very robust. It's just been hard on you, giving birth for an entire night."