Yun Yueyin's face paled dramatically, her body staggering as if almost collapsing onto the ground from the angry shout.
She stared at Zhan Ming in disbelief. "Your Highness? You don't believe me? You actually believe that palace maid who appeared from who knows where?!"
The people around them couldn't help but start whispering. Although their voices were low, they combined to make Yun Yueyin's ears buzz.
At this moment, she clearly saw that in his eyes looking at her, there was no trace of affection, only chilling indifference and disgust that made her heart pound.
Suddenly, she recalled his recent neglect and how he had become even colder after knowing she was pregnant!
Was his hidden ailment real?!
So, he knew the child in her womb was someone else's?
Waves of coldness crawled up from the soles of her feet. Her mouth, hidden by her handkerchief, gaped open in terror.
"Before today, I had heard some rumors. Yun Yueyin, you have disappointed me immensely! My engagement with you is annulled! Do not let me see you in the capital again!" Zhan Ming declared with a dark expression. Without a second glance at Yun Yueyin, he flicked his sleeve and strode away.
The Empress Dowager watched Zhan Ming leave in anger, her eyes flickering with mixed emotions.
"It's true!"
"If it weren't true, the Regent King wouldn't have canceled the engagement, and he would have already known some truth before today."
"Yun Yueyin's nerve is truly too great, daring to deceive the Regent King! Isn't she afraid the child won't resemble the Regent King when it's born?"
"Look, look at Prince Ye. Prince Ye truly cares for Yun Shu, and Yun Shu has given him a child. They used to say Yun Yueyin climbed onto a phoenix perch; now it seems Yun Shu is the one who truly did..."
Various voices, from all directions, swiftly reached the devastated Yun Yueyin.
Yun Yueyin stared blankly at her surroundings.
Then, she fainted, losing consciousness!
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager frowned and ordered Yun Yueyin to be sent out of the palace immediately. She also instructed all the ladies to leave.
The banquet thus concluded.
As Yun Shu departed, she openly allowed Zhan Xiao Li and Gu Xiao Feng to ride in her carriage. Others present merely blinked in surprise. Seeing the children's dependence on and affection for Yun Shu, everyone suddenly understood that the family had long since acknowledged each other in private. Today's actions by Yun Yueyin had merely served to accelerate things, making everyone aware of Prince Ye's feelings for Yun Shu. In contrast, Yun Yueyin would be completely disgraced after today! Those who were once close to Yun Yueyin in the capital would undoubtedly distance themselves from her starting today.
Inside the carriage, Qiu Lu said to Zhan Tian Ye, "Your Highness, Xiao Li and Xiao Feng are going to the General's mansion. Should we also go to the General's mansion? And perhaps Your Highness could propose to General Yun?"
Zhan Tian Ye nodded at this, "We will go to the General's mansion."
"Yes!" Qiu Lu agreed with great enthusiasm. He quietly told the coachman, "Hurry, to the General's mansion! I'm telling you, our Prince Ye's mansion will soon have great news! His Highness is going to get married!"
The coachman was extremely excited, "That's wonderful!"
In another carriage, Zhan Xiao Li revealed his secret to Yun Shu. Yun Shu was startled upon hearing it, "You can hear the thoughts of others?"
"Yes! The thoughts of bad people, but not good people. However, lately, I can hear conversations from people far away," Zhan Xiao Li replied seriously, nodding like a little adult to Yun Shu's question.
Yun Shu stroked Zhan Xiao Li's head, "Xiao Li, you're so amazing." For a child, constantly hearing the insincere thoughts of bad people must have been terrifying at first. It wasn't surprising that when she first met him, he was so taciturn, a miniature version of Zhan Tian Ye, wanting to keep everyone at arm's length, not wanting to get close to anyone. It turned out he could hear the thoughts of bad people, knowing how dirty those who appeared friendly on the surface truly were. This also explained why he immediately recognized Yun Yueyin wasn't his mother upon meeting her.
Zhan Xiao Li's little face blushed from the praise.
Yun Shu then said to Gu Xiao Feng, "Xiao Feng, are you particularly sensitive to poisons and medicine?"
"For the past two days, whenever I smell a medicinal scent, I can tell if it's poisoned, or what poison it is, or what medicinal herb it is," Gu Xiao Feng immediately nodded, truthfully explaining his situation to Yun Shu.
They hoped their mother would understand them better! These secrets could be kept from their father, but not from their mother.
Thinking of his father, Zhan Xiao Li frowned and said, "Father didn't believe me before."
"Does he believe you now?" Yun Shu couldn't scold Zhan Tian Ye in front of her sons, but in her heart, she cursed his poor judgment for not believing his own son!
Zhan Xiao Li nodded, "He believes me now."
Soon, the carriage was filled with laughter and joy.
In stark contrast was Yun Yueyin, who had already been sent to the Yun mansion. At this time, the events at the palace had not yet spread.
Yang Shi, upon seeing Yun Yueyin brought back to the mansion unconscious, was shocked and questioned Wen Shu, "What happened? Why is Yueyin unconscious? Is the child in her womb alright? Didn't you say the Regent King also entered the palace today? Why did he not show himself when Yueyin fainted?"
Wen Shu's face was ashen, her body still trembling uncontrollably, and she was somewhat flustered. Looking at the unconscious Yun Yueyin, she bit her tongue hard to regain some composure and said to Yang Shi, "Madam, please find a doctor for the young lady first, and then, then I will explain everything to you later."
Yang Shi vaguely felt that something major had occurred. But seeing Yueyin unconscious, she quickly ordered someone to find a doctor. While waiting for the doctor to arrive, Wen Shu gripped her hands tightly, her hands ice-cold, and she was covered in a cold sweat. What should she do now?
"Wen Shu, what exactly happened? Speak quickly!" Yang Shi entered, her heart filled with confusion as she questioned Wen Shu. At this moment, her heart was pounding erratically.
Wen Shu, with red eyes, cried, "Someone in the palace slandered Miss today, saying that Miss..."
Subsequently, Wen Shu explained in detail how the palace maid slandered Yun Yueyin, how the Regent King did not believe Yun Yueyin, and how their engagement was annulled.
Yang Shi was struck as if by lightning, looking at Wen Shu in horror, "What are you saying? Are you lying to me? How is this possible? Doesn't the Regent King only have Yueyin in his heart? How could the slander of a palace maid make the Regent King annul the engagement?"
Wen Shu bit her lip and could only shake her head. Yang Shi lost her balance, "Who is it? Who does that palace maid belong to? Why would they want to harm Yueyin? No, I must go see the Regent King, I can't let the Regent King believe that palace maid's words!"
"Madam, absolutely do not go to see the Regent King. Since the Regent King has canceled the wedding and even distanced himself from Miss in front of the Empress Dowager, it means the Regent King has also found evidence!" Wen Shu quickly stopped Yang Shi.
Yang Shi was stunned, "What evidence? Wasn't it just someone slandering Yueyin? What evidence could there be?"