CHAPTER 575: CHAPTER 575 BEWILDERMENT

Pregnancy pulse?!

Princess Nanzhang felt a chill rise from her entire body.

The physician was already trembling with fear when invited to Prince Zhenbei Mansion; a household like this ought to summon an Imperial Physician.

Now seeing Princess Nanzhang’s icy expression, he felt even more uneasy.

The maid came over and said, "I’ll see you out."

The physician quickly grabbed his medicine box and stepped out the door.

In front of the main hall, Xingxing saw the physician coming out and turned back to Su Jin, saying, "Miss, the physician has come out."

"I’ll go ask the physician about the situation in the room," Xingxing said.

She lifted her foot, ready to walk out.

Su Jin stopped her and said, "There’s no need."

Xingxing looked back at her.

If it were Princess Nanzhang feeling unwell, an Imperial Physician would be summoned, and Mrs. Zhao wouldn’t dare to have the physician check the fragrant ointment first.

The physician must have been invited to check Lady Chi’s pulse.

"It seems the matter of Lady Chi’s pregnancy can’t be hidden," Su Jin said.

"Call Mrs. Zhao to me."

There were still maids and women-servants in the room, and upon hearing Su Jin’s words, their eyes widened.

Lady Chi is pregnant?

How could that be possible?!

Xingxing was confused; Princess Nanzhang hadn’t mentioned Lady Chi’s pregnancy, so how did the mistress bring it up first?

A gust of wind carried Su Jin’s words from the main hall to the courtyard.

Princess Nanzhang could not tolerate the fetus in Lady Chi’s womb.

She ordered her maid to beat Lady Chi harshly, enough to cause a miscarriage.

Lady Chi had damaged the zither bestowed by the Empress Dowager to Princess Nanzhang and dared not admit her mistake, causing Princess Nanzhang such anger that even the Prince could say nothing when she was punished.

Nobody knew Lady Chi was pregnant.

When beaten, she said nothing; the child was lost, and no one else could be blamed.

Princess Nanzhang felt justified.

The maid, however, brought the beating plank into the house, bringing with it the news of Lady Chi’s pregnancy.

Princess Nanzhang’s face turned as black as a pot bottom, "Who spread the news?!"

"The Heir’s wife said it," the maid replied.

Princess Nanzhang clenched her fists tightly.

Even staying in the main hall, Su Jin could feel Princess Nanzhang’s murderous intent toward her.

Inside the main hall, Mrs. Zhao walked in and said, "Is there something the Heir’s wife wishes to command?"

"Pour me a cup of tea," Su Jin said.

Having just spilled the fragrant ointment, Mrs. Zhao dared not disobey.

Mrs. Zhao poured the tea, and Su Jin picked up the teacup, gently stirring it.

"This tea is nice."

"If you let Princess Nanzhang harm the fetus in Lady Chi’s womb today, I’ll have the Prince beat you to death with a staff."

Mrs. Zhao was someone from Princess Nanzhang’s side.

She had never imagined there’d be a day when she would be threatened.

And the threat was issued with such calmness.

Yet her whole body felt as if it were frozen, and her scalp tingled.

After all, it was the Heir’s wife who dared have Princess Shouning carried back to the palace.

The Heir’s wife was definitely not joking with her.

Mrs. Zhao quickly turned and left.

Inside the room, Princess Nanzhang was fuming with rage, "It doesn’t matter who spread it!"

"Beat her harshly for me!"

Two maids holding the plank walked toward Lady Chi.

Mrs. Zhao quickly intervened, "Please calm down, Commandery Princess."

"The Prince probably knows about Lady Chi’s pregnancy. You didn’t know she was pregnant, so you punished her, but now everyone inside and outside the courtyard knows; if you beat her again, it might anger the Prince and make you seem jealous."

"Lady Chi is Nanliang, and the child in her womb shares half Nanliang blood."

"She was a gift from the Nanliang Court to the Prince, and no one knows if she’s a spy; neither the Old Madam nor the Old Prince would allow her to give birth."

"Why soil your hands?" Mrs. Zhao advised earnestly.

Her life was in Su Jin’s hands, so Mrs. Zhao dared not slack off.

The Heir’s wife only wanted her to stop Princess Nanzhang, not the Old Madam from taking action.

Either way, the result would be the same, so why fuss over the process?

The Prince’s heart was only with Jingchen’s birth mother, and for this, he had granted Princess Nanzhang the position of concubine. If rumors spread that she was jealous of a disfigured, mute concubine, it would indeed be ridiculous.

Princess Nanzhang accepted Mrs. Zhao’s suggestion—

"Then go to Qihao Hall."

Su Jin hadn’t expected to be outmaneuvered by Mrs. Zhao.

No wonder she’s Princess Nanzhang’s person, fearless indeed.

However, going to Qihao Hall could also work, as it might delay things just enough for the Prince to return and save Lady Chi.

Only the Prince could save Lady Chi, she had done her best.

By the time Su Jin followed them to Qihao Hall, news of Lady Chi’s pregnancy had already spread throughout Prince Zhenbei Mansion.

Everyone who heard was shocked.

For a concubine to be pregnant was the most ordinary thing, but Lady Chi was not an ordinary concubine.

Not only was she sent by Nanliang, but she was also a disfigured mute.

How heavy a taste must the Prince have to favor her?

Moreover, the Prince preferred a grotesque concubine over Princess Nanzhang...

The Third Madam thought Princess Nanzhang could just die.

Such a fascinating matter, she had every reason to watch; the Third Madam couldn’t wait to rush to Qihao Hall and encountered the Second Madam at the courtyard gate.

In the main hall, it was crowded.

Lady Chi was kneeling on the floor, looking pale and pitiful.

The veil on her face was gone.

Though the scars were visible, they couldn’t hide her peerless beauty.

The Third Madam looked at Lady Chi, then at Princess Nanzhang, and said, "I didn’t expect Lady Chi to be so beautiful; when the scars are gone, she’d be truly celestial."

A can of kerosene poured, and Princess Nanzhang’s face turned green.

The Old Madam fiddled with the Buddha beads, looking at Lady Chi, "Is the child in your womb truly the Prince’s?"

Lady Chi wanted to speak, but she had no strength to open her mouth.

Princess Nanzhang glanced at Hong Ying, "Wake the maid."

Hong Ying pulled out the silver hairpin from her head and viciously stabbed it into Xique.

Xique woke up in pain.

Xingxing stared at Hong Ying, feeling the hairpin on her head itch to move.

There were many ways to wake someone, why be so cruel?!

The Old Madam asked, and Xique, holding back her tears, answered truthfully.

Princess Nanzhang sneered, "Lady Chi was given to the Prince by Nanliang."

"For fifteen years, the Prince has always guarded against her being a Nanliang spy and never looked at her directly."

"I’m curious what despicable means Lady Chi used to captivate the Prince and get pregnant!"

Suspecting Lady Chi was one thing, but during her suspicion, she kept glancing at Su Jin.

In these fifteen years, Lady Chi had been obedient.

But ever since Su Jin got close to Lady Chi, the latter became restless.

Most importantly, Su Jin knew medical skills and was skilled with poisons.

Princess Nanzhang almost outright accused Su Jin of egging Lady Chi to seduce the Prince.

Since Princess Nanzhang glanced over, Su Jin seized the chance to speak, "Mother, Lady Chi is pregnant, kneeling all this time might affect the fetus, it’s better to let her stand."

Princess Nanzhang’s face turned an iron blue, "The Heir’s wife knew about Lady Chi’s pregnancy early on?!"

Su Jin nodded calmly.

"Lady Chi was unwell, and her maid sought you for a doctor, but no doctor ever went to Qingqiu Garden."

"The maid was worried, so she asked me for help. You told me not to meddle in Qingqiu Garden’s affairs, so I couldn’t overstep and get her a doctor, nor could I ignore it, so I checked Lady Chi’s pulse."

"Fearing you’d be displeased, I said nothing."

"But Lady Chi’s pregnancy is a major issue, so I discussed it with Father."

Hmm.

After speaking, Su Jin purposely provoked Princess Nanzhang, "Didn’t Father mention it to you?"

Swoosh!

A dagger stabbed directly into Princess Nanzhang’s heart.

Princess Nanzhang tasted a hint of blood in her mouth.

She suppressed her rage and coldly laughed, "Having one Nanliang spy in the mansion isn’t enough, does the Prince want to add another little one?!"