Chapter 982: Chapter 829: Ruthless and Resolute

“What, Princess Consort Ma is dead?!”

Daohua’s face was filled with shock as she looked at Wang Manman, who had hurriedly run into the room. She was so surprised that the account book fell out of her hands.

Wang Manman quickly nodded, “The person who came back to report was the butler nanny from Princess Consort’s side, so there’s no mistake.”

Daohua immediately asked, “How did she die?”

Wang Manman: “The butler nanny said the Princess Consort accidentally fell from a stone staircase tens of meters high while offering incense at the temple, and died on the spot.”

“Madam was so scared she fainted right there. Luckily, the Duchess of the Wei Kingdom was also there to offer incense, and she took care of her. Madam didn’t suffer any harm, but still, it caused some stress to the baby.”

“The Prince has already taken people to the temple. It won’t be long before they bring back the Princess Consort and Madam.”

Daohua was stunned for quite a while before she could digest the news of Princess Consort Ma’s death.

Wang Manman looked at Daohua, “Miss, now that the Princess Consort is dead, should we also prepare the Pingxi Hall?”

Daohua let out a breath, “You go prepare it.”

Once Wang Manman left, Daohua frowned deeply.

She couldn’t believe that Princess Consort Ma would be so careless to fall from the stairs to her death. She had a whole bunch of maids and old women around her.

Was it Luo Qiong’s doing?

Just as Daohua was lost in her thoughts, Xiao Yeyang returned.

Upon seeing him, Daohua hurriedly went to greet him, “Princess Consort Ma is dead, do you know?”

Xiao Yeyang nodded his head.

Daohua grabbed Xiao Yeyang, “How did she die? The butler nanny who came back to report said she fell down the stairs. I don’t believe this explanation.”

Xiao Yeyang sneered, “This Luo Qiong is quite something, I underestimated her before,” he said before taking a drink of tea, then continued, “It was Xiao Yechen who did it.”

Daohua: “Xiao Yechen? Is the man Luo Qiong had an affair with really the son of the eighth Prince?”

Xiao Yeyang nodded.

Daohua fell silent for a moment before asking, “Why would Xiao Yechen want to kill Princess Consort Ma? Did she catch him and Luo Qiong in a secret meeting at the temple?”

Xiao Yeyang sat down with Daohua, “Princess Consort Ma was suspicious of the child in Luo Qiong’s belly. She brought a midwife today to verify Luo Qiong’s pregnancy period.”

“Luo Qiong managed to deceive even you. How could she possibly fool the experienced midwife? Once Princess Consort Ma knew the truth, do you think Xiao Yechen would let her live?”

Daohua noticed the sweat on Xiao Yeyang’s forehead and quickly wiped it away with a handkerchief, “Why are you sweating so much?”

Xiao Yeyang: “Xiao Yechen killed Princess Consort Ma. I got excited and made some noise. Xiao Yechen realized someone was watching him, and he immediately fled. I chased him for quite a while, but in the end, due to being held up by two dead soldiers, I let Xiao Yechen escape.”

Daohua: “Doesn’t that mean Xiao Yechen knows you are investigating him?”

Xiao Yeyang shook his head, “I was dressed in Hidden Guard attire, with my face covered.”

Daohua fell silent, then her voice suddenly rose a few notches, “Xiao Yechen fled after the incident, so did Luo Qiong arrange everything about Princess Consort Ma afterwards?”

Xiao Yeyang sneered, “That’s why I say I underestimated her.”

Seeing her own mother dead in front of her, she still managed to jump right into covering up the truth. Regardless of how she deceived the maids and old women, just her mindset alone is not something ordinary people can compare with.

Daohua fully agreed, “Indeed, it seems I need to be cautious around her in the future.” She paused, “What do you think was Xiao Yechen’s purpose in returning to the capital?”

Xiao Yeyang narrowed his eyes, “That’s what I want to know, too. Xiao Yechen had barely saved his own life; he wouldn’t return to the capital without reason.”

Daohua: “Could he be coming back to take revenge for the eighth Prince?”

Xiao Yeyang shook his head, “No, if he wanted revenge, he would not have been so calm these past months. He must have some other purpose for his return to the capital.”

At that moment, Wang Manman walked into the room, “Miss, Sir, the Prince has brought back the Princess Consort and Madam to the Prince Residence.”

Daohua and Xiao Yeyang exchanged a glance, got up, changed into plain clothes, and went together to Pingxi Hall.

…

After the news of Princess Consort Ma’s death returned to the Prince Residence, the butlers immediately started preparing the residence. Now, white cloth hung in every courtyard of the Prince Residence.

The room where Princess Consort Ma had previously lived had already been arranged as a mourning hall. As Daohua and Xiao Yeyang arrived, they saw Xiao Yechen crying bitterly, gasping for breath.

It was clear that the death of Princess Consort Ma had dealt him a tremendous blow.

Yes, setting aside conflicting stances, she was fine this morning, went out to offer incense, and then she was gone. Such an occurrence would be hard to accept for anyone.

Prince Ping stood mournfully in front of the coffin, after all, she had been his beloved concubine for many years, and her sudden departure left him in great discomfort.

Consort Jiang and Consort Ji, among others, had also come and were all standing inside the mourning hall.

Daohua looked around and realized that Luo Qiong was not present, so she asked Wang Manman to inquire.

Soon, Wang Manman returned and whispered to Daohua, “First Madam has suffered a miscarriage scare, and the Prince has asked her to lie down in the room, with the Duchess accompanying her.”

Daohua nodded to show her understanding.

“Yan girl.”

Prince Ping suddenly called out to Daohua.

Daohua hurried forward, “Father, are you alright?”

Prince Ping shook his head, “The Princess Consort is gone, and Yechen’s wife is pregnant. The residence cannot be without a mistress to manage affairs. From today onward, you shall take charge of the Prince Residence.”

At these words, everyone turned their attention to Daohua.

Daohua’s eyelid twitched; she had no desire at all to take on this job.

Taking charge of the Prince Residence meant that she would be responsible for overseeing the funeral arrangements for Princess Consort Ma.

If such matters were handled well, it was expected, but if not, she could only imagine how many people would come forward to point out her faults.

After some thought, Daohua reluctantly looked to Prince Ping, “Father, thank you for your trust, but I am too young and inexperienced for managing such a vast Prince Residence.”

Saying this, she looked towards Consort Ji and Consort Jiang standing to the side.

“Perhaps we should let the two Consorts take charge instead, and I could learn from them on the side?”

Consort Jiang and Consort Ji were both surprised by Daohua’s deflection and exchanged a glance, neither spoke up to refuse gently.

Prince Ping considered it and felt Daohua made sense, so he agreed to her suggestion.

In the subsequent mourning and funeral of Princess Consort Ma, Daohua was only responsible for receiving guests at the Prince Residence, not for arranging the various affairs.

Elsewhere, in Chen Courtyard.

Listening to the wailing coming from Pingxi Hall, Luo Qiong sat propped up in bed emotionlessly, eating a bowl of bird’s nest porridge.

After the servant removed the food, the Duchess had Xue Qiao and Xue Ling guard outside, then grasped Luo Qiong’s hand tightly, “Child, heed my advice, abort the fetus inside you.”

Hearing this, Luo Qiong yanked her hand back in shock, “Mother, what are you talking about?”

The Duchess spoke with a hushed, earnest tone, “Child, there are no impermeable walls in this world. As long as you give birth to the child in your womb, he could become a threat to you at any moment.”

“Child, better a short pain than a long one. Now that your mother-in-law is gone, you should focus on living well with Yechen in the future; surely you will have other children.”

Luo Qiong smiled and shook her head, “No, Mother, it won’t happen. I’ve given Xiao Yechen an absolute medicine. Unless I go out and find another man, I will not have any other children.”

Hearing this, the Duchess was utterly stunned. After a while, she muttered, still looking at Luo Qiong, “Why? Why would you do such a thing?”

Luo Qiong touched her belly, “I want to give this child a unique status and identity. Xiao Yechen cannot have other children that could threaten him.”

The Duchess collapsed onto a chair, “…are you sure it’s a son that you’re carrying?”

Luo Qiong continued to caress her belly, “If it’s a daughter, then I’ll just have to bear a son for Brother Chi.”

The Duchess pained, “But Xiao Yechi will leave, how can you be so foolish?”

Luo Qiong smiled lightly, “If he leaves, it doesn’t mean he can’t come back.”

The Duchess suddenly didn’t want to say anything more, “Child, why are you so naive? You are gambling your entire life on a man’s heart!”

“But most men in this world are fickle and prioritize power and status above all else.”

Luo Qiong’s gaze fell to her rounded stomach, “Mother, you don’t need to persuade me anymore. Even if I end up losing the gamble, I will not regret it.”

The Duchess stared blankly at her daughter, and suddenly she saw the resemblance in Luo Qiong to the Luo Family and the old Duke.

Indeed, she is of the Luo Family lineage – decisive and relentless in their actions!