Liu Meng Han pondered, with the Empress's protection, her child would be established as the crown prince upon birth. When the Third Prince eventually ascended the throne, the position of heir apparent would undoubtedly belong to her child.
However, Feng Ruo Yan's unborn child remained a grave concern. Although the Third Prince's favor towards Feng Ruo Yan had waned, Liu Meng Han dared not let her guard down. Any threat to her own child's future had to be eliminated as soon as possible.
"Nanny, concerning Feng Ruo Yan... what did the Empress say?"
Ultimately, Feng Ruo Yan's unborn child was still the Third Prince's bloodline, forcing Liu Meng Han to seek the Empress's counsel.
If she were to act rashly, she might enrage the Empress, lose her most powerful patron, and find herself in an even more precarious position within the estate.
"Her Majesty understands the Crown Princess's difficulties. Furthermore, the Empress has never been fond of Feng Ruo Yan and naturally does not wish for her to raise the child. Her Majesty has already made arrangements to ensure the child's survival at the cost of Feng Ruo Yan's life during childbirth."
Liu Meng Han's grip on her teacup tightened. The Empress, it seemed, had ultimately shown a flicker of mercy, still harboring some affection for Feng Ruo Yan's unborn child. But this arrangement was for the best; with Feng Ruo Yan, this persistent thorn in her side, out of the way, she could finally rest easy.
"Then, we shall proceed according to Her Majesty's wishes."
Maintaining her guise of an obedient and docile woman, Liu Meng Han understood that her only path forward was to rely on the Empress and act according to her will. Step by step, she would leverage the Empress's influence to build her own foundation, so that one day, she could truly turn the tables.
"The Crown Princess is wise and endearing. On the day the Third Prince ascends the throne, Her Majesty will surely establish the Crown Princess as Empress."
The nanny, having served the Empress for many years, was here in the Third Prince's estate for two reasons: to oversee Liu Meng Han's unborn child and to assist the Empress in supervising Liu Meng Han.
At present, this Third Prince Consort appeared to lack initiative, possessed a weak disposition, and only ever sought the Empress's guidance. She was indeed easy to manipulate, which explained why the Empress had chosen her amongst the daughters of the Liu family to marry the Third Prince.
Someone so easily controlled was a comfort to the Empress. As for Feng Ruo Yan, her willful and capricious nature, coupled with her arrogance stemming from the Third Prince's favor, meant she often disregarded the nanny. Such a woman, if she gained power, would eventually cease to respect the Empress.
Had it not been for the child Feng Ruo Yan carried, the Empress would have long since eliminated her. Her continued existence was solely to await the birth of the child; the child's birth would also be the day of her demise.
"I deeply cherish the Empress Dowager's affection. These days, I have been indebted to you, Nanny, for your care and protection of me and my unborn child. I have no adequate way to repay your kindness. Please accept these tokens of my appreciation, however humble they may be."
A maidservant beside her presented a red box to the nanny, filled with gold and jewels.
With just a glance, the nanny's face lit up with joy. She accepted the box, "You are too generous, Crown Princess. I shall gratefully accept this."
Having received the gift, the nanny's attitude towards Liu Meng Han became even more cordial. After a round of solicitous inquiries, she took the box and hurried away.
"Your Highness, look at that old woman's expression just now. Her eyes nearly popped out when she saw those trinkets. She claims to be here to care for you, but who can't see that she's here to extort things from you, overtly and covertly? How much has this old woman pilfered from your dowry chest already..."
"Enough, Qing'er, cease your words. I know you are concerned for me, but these are merely worldly possessions. I must appease her. Once she accepts these gifts, she will speak more favorably of me to the Empress. To establish myself firmly in this estate, I still need the Empress's assistance."
She was not without self-awareness. The Third Prince did not favor her, and her maternal family lacked power. If she did not curry favor with the Empress, she would inevitably be bullied by everyone in this estate.
For now, sacrificing some material possessions was a necessary evil. Once she cultivated her own influence, these things would return a thousandfold.
"Qing'er, have you arranged for the people you were to place?"
"Your Highness, rest assured. Your servant has made all the necessary arrangements. After the Side Consort gives birth, once the Empress's people succeed in killing her, our people will immediately eliminate the child."
"Good... I am at ease with your competence. However, we must exercise extreme caution. This matter is of grave importance and must not reveal any flaws. If discovered, we will face dire consequences."
She felt compelled to take this drastic action. The child, if allowed to live, would threaten her own child's status. Even if it meant her hands were stained with blood, she would not allow such a thing to happen.
She had originally intended to use the Empress's influence to eliminate Feng Ruo Yan and her son. She had not anticipated that the Empress would be unwilling to harm the child and would only offer a perfunctory solution of "keeping the child while discarding the mother."
Did she expect Liu Meng Han to help Feng Ruo Yan raise the child? Since relying on others was not an option, she would have to take matters into her own hands.
...
When Sun Shi returned to the estate, she had barely stepped through the gates of the Feng residence when she was assailed by a pungent smell of blood. Her heart lurched in alarm.
She rushed towards the main hall. The moment she pushed open the door, the sight before her caused her legs to buckle, and she collapsed.
The entire hall was packed with corpses. These were all the people she had dispatched to search for Feng Yuan Ping. Now, without exception, they lay dead before her.
Sun Shi trembled violently in terror. Who could have done this? Who possessed such power to kill all her men and then arrange them so meticulously in the Feng family hall?
They were the most elite soldiers of Xi Liang, and they had all been slaughtered...
Now, Feng Yuan Ping had fled, the item had not been retrieved, and all the subordinates dispatched by her master had been killed. If her master learned of these events, she too would have no way out.
Overwhelmed by worry and fear, Sun Shi lost her breath and fainted.
When Sun Shi next awoke, she found herself suspended in mid-air.
Bai Li Xi sat at the head of the table, his gaze cold as he looked at Sun Shi, who was hanging suspended and unconscious. He instructed his subordinates to awaken her.
A basin of cold water was poured over her. The unconscious Sun Shi instinctively shivered, but did not awaken. It was not until a fierce whip cracked across her body that Sun Shi could no longer endure the pain and regained consciousness.
Upon seeing Bai Li Xi seated at the head of the table, a wave of fear washed over her. Sun Shi involuntarily shuddered, her lips trembling as she stammered, "Your subordinate pays respects to Master."
Bai Li Xi did not look up at the sound of her voice, merely idly twirling the jade thumb ring on his finger.