Ching immediately understood Feng Jin's intention and spoke to Cai Qing.
Feng Jin sat silently to the side, merely sipping her clear tea. She thought that Chu Qing was indeed more astute, grasping things with a single hint. Cai Qing, on the other hand, was too simple-minded. While she wasn't entirely unaware of what was meant, she was just a beat too slow in understanding.
"Young Madam, is it truly as you say?" Cai Qing asked Feng Jin doubtfully, who sat beside her.
"Naturally. You, on the other hand, should really think. Have you been with Lu Shi for too long and become as thick-headed as a block of wood?"
Feng Jin gently tapped Cai Qing's forehead with her hand. This girl was becoming more foolish by the day; had Lu Shi truly managed to make her silly?
With this gentle nudge, Cai Qing finally understood. She nodded in realization, looking somewhat sheepish at Feng Jin. "Young Madam is truly wise. With this plan, Feng Ruoyan will surely be in immense pain. It's far better than what Madam Sun deserved, being thrown into a mass grave."
"It's just..." Cai Qing hesitated, swallowing the words that were about to escape her lips. After much internal struggle, she finally asked softly, "Young Madam, what if Feng Ruoyan finds out that Madam Sun died in our manor..."
"Few people know of this matter. If you don't speak of it, no one will. Besides, Lu Shi's martial arts are extremely high; no one will discover anything. Madam Sun's body won't be found until early tomorrow morning."
The reason Feng Jin dared to leave Madam Sun's corpse at the Third Prince's manor gate was precisely because she wasn't worried about anyone discovering that she was responsible.
Feng Jin glanced at the time, and drowsiness instantly washed over her, causing her to yawn involuntarily.
"Young Madam, you're sleepy. This servant will help you change and rest."
This time, Cai Qing showed remarkable perceptiveness. She quickly helped Feng Jin change and attended to her as she settled in for sleep.
...
At the Third Prince's manor gate, Madam Sun's corpse had been lying there for over a night, yet no one had discovered it.
The gatekeepers, drowsy and leaning against the gateposts, had slept through the entire night. They only woke up with the dawn and hurried to open the main gate.
"Ah... Ah..."
A scream that pierced the heavens 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... there's a dead person... there's a dead person..."
"Pah! Why are you bringing bad luck so early? Where would a dead person be at our manor gate!"
The overly startled gatekeeper slowly regained his composure. "There really is. It's right at the gate!"
The other man immediately sensed something was wrong. Mustering his courage, he looked in the direction the first pointed. Indeed, someone was lying on the ground, covered in blood.
He slowly walked over and looked at the person's face. He immediately recognized her as the mother of the side consort in the manor.
"You go quickly... go inform the side consort that her mother has died and was left at our manor gate."
"I... I'll go now..."
The gatekeeper quickly agreed and rushed back inside.
When Feng Ruoyan heard the news, she was first stunned, then her body swayed. Had it not been for the maid next to her grabbing her, she would have almost fallen to the ground.
"You're saying my mother's body was left at the main gate outside the manor?" Feng Ruoyan asked again, disbelieving.
"Yes, this servant saw it with his own eyes. It is indeed the madam's corpse."
Her vision suddenly darkened. Feng Ruoyan staggered a few steps and clutched at the table. Tears fell like beads from a broken string.
"Miss, let's go and see. We can't let Madam's corpse lie outside the gate like this."
"Call a few people to come with us and carry my mother in."
The maid's words roused Feng Ruoyan. She slowly stood up, holding her stomach. The moment she steadied herself, a sharp pain shot through her abdomen.
"Ah... Ah..."
"Miss, you..."
"Quickly, call the imperial physician! Call the imperial physician!"
Feng Ruoyan cried out loudly, clutching her stomach, sweat breaking out on her forehead from the pain.
"This servant will go now! This servant will go now..."
Feng Ruoyan endured the pain and slowly moved to lie on the bed. She felt a warm flow from her legs and instinctively lifted the hem of her robe. Her white shoes and socks were stained with bright red blood.
A wave of shock swept through her 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 completely soaked in blood.
"Imperial physician, please save... save my child... Imperial physician..."
The imperial physician reached out and took Feng Ruoyan's pulse. His brow furrowed deeply. "Quickly, send for the midwife. The side consort has had a miscarriage and is about to give birth."
"No... it's too soon to give birth. My child... the child is only seven months old... only seven months old..."
"Her labor has already begun. If she doesn't give birth soon, both mother and child are in danger. Hurry and send for the midwife!"
"I'll go now... I'll go now..."
After the maid left, the imperial physician took out a black pill from his sleeve. "The Prime Minister's wife had already told me that the side consort must take this medicine during childbirth, and it will surely ensure the safety of both the side consort and the child."
Feng Ruoyan swallowed the pill. Thinking of her mother's tragic death, how that last parting was forever, and how she hadn't even seen her mother one last time, a profound sadness filled her heart, and tears involuntarily fell.
"The midwife is here... the midwife is here..."
"Greetings, Miss." The midwife bowed hurriedly and then rushed into the inner chamber. She examined Feng Ruoyan's condition and slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
"The head is already visible. Quickly, go and boil hot water and prepare the scissors..."
The midwife hurriedly gave instructions, and the room instantly descended into chaos.
Feng Ruoyan labored for an entire night before she managed to give birth to the child.
"Let me see the baby..." Feng Ruoyan said weakly, forcing her eyelids open.
"Miss, although the young master is premature, he is very robust. It's just been difficult for you, giving birth for a whole night."