Ding'an Prince's Estate, Jingwu Courtyard.
Finally, Feng Jiangduo was driven out of the Xiao family, and both Consort Fang and the mistress-servant duo, Yun Zhu, were very happy.
Especially Yun Zhu, her joy and delight radiated from within, her eyes sparkling like they were filled with crushed diamonds.
This made the injuries on her face seem less terrifying.
"Princess Nange is proud by nature. Now that she has left Ding'an Prince's Estate, even if the second young master or the princess consort were to invite her, she wouldn't return easily."
Consort Fang nodded in agreement.
"Although I disliked Princess Nange before, I thought that as a princess, even if not dignified and virtuous, her character must be noble. Who would have thought that one can know a person's face but not their heart? She turned out to be such a woman. She claimed to like A'mo, but in private, she tried to seduce A'yun. It's a shame the princess consort treated her as a close friend. Have her upbringing been eaten by dogs?"
It had been two or three days, but Consort Fang was still furious when she recalled that day's events.
It was quite a coincidence. She went to Da Xiangguo Temple to pray for blessings and accidentally overheard Feng Jiangduo talking with Xiao Yun.
Feng Jiangduo was provocatively teasing Xiao Yun and even slandered Wang Qingyao.
Fortunately, her son was well-taught from a young age, upright and honorable, and unequivocally rejected this promiscuous woman.
Consort Fang went to Da Xiangguo Temple for two reasons: first, to pray for blessings for the child in Wang Qingyao's womb, and second, to ask heaven to bestow a good marriage upon Xiao Mo. Just after praying, she witnessed Feng Jiangduo's true colors. It was truly as if Buddha had manifested.
Consort Fang did not doubt the authenticity of the matter at all.
It must be said that Wei Yu was truly skilled at manipulating people's hearts. She fed Wang Qingyao and Xiao Mo a story of a scumbag man and a slutty woman colluding, while she told Consort Fang a story of a shameless woman harassing her son, who refused to yield even at the cost of his life, remaining untainted by the mire.
This way, Consort Fang would not have a shred of doubt.
Not to mention the fact that she had Yun Zhu by her side, fanning the flames.
After listening to Consort Fang, Yun Zhu's lips curved into a smile of a conspiracy fulfilled. "The princess consort has truly met with misfortune. We cannot stand by and watch her be deceived. Your Majesty, why don't you tell the princess consort about this matter..."
"No," Consort Fang waved her hand, rejecting the suggestion before Yun Zhu could finish. "The princess consort is pregnant, with two children at that. She cannot be stimulated. You must not let anything slip."
Yun Zhu's eyes turned cold. "Yes, I had forgotten that the princess consort cannot be stimulated. Your Majesty's thoughtfulness is indeed superior."
No matter how much Consort Fang disliked Wang Qingyao, Wang Qingyao was her daughter-in-law, and she was carrying the Xiao family's offspring. Consort Fang could not ignore her, but she could not ignore the child in her womb.
Yun Zhu was somewhat disappointed.
The words Wang Qingyao had heard last time had already sown seeds of doubt in her heart. Although Xiao Yun and Feng Jiangduo had both explained later, if Consort Fang, as a witness, brought up the matter again, would she still not believe it?
Consort Fang would never lie.
It was just a pity that Consort Fang was quite fond of her precious grandson and had failed to instigate anything.
"You have suffered injustice this time," Consort Fang said. "I never expected that Feng Jiangduo would not only be promiscuous but also vicious. Look at your face, what kind of girl would be as brutal as her?"
Consort Fang looked at Yun Zhu's face with pity, feeling both heartache and indignation.
Yun Zhu lowered her head. "It's nothing. If my minor injuries can help Your Majesty, I would willingly die."
Consort Fang was deeply moved.
She did not know that Yun Zhu had deliberately provoked Feng Jiangduo, precisely to force her to strike.
Even if Xiao Mo asked about it later, she would still be the victim.
But strangely, Xiao Mo had never come to ask, nor had Wang Qingyao come to demand an explanation.
Instead, Granny Jing from the Old Consort's courtyard came, saying that shadow puppet plays would be performed tomorrow and invited Consort Fang to watch.
Consort Fang lived a secluded life and did not entertain male visitors. She had no interest in such performances and wondered why the Old Consort, knowing she rarely went out, had sent someone to summon her.
"Granny Jing," Consort Fang said, "Mother knows me well. If I can avoid going out, I won't."
Granny Jing smiled. "The Old Consort naturally knows, but the Old Consort has ordered that Consort Fang must watch this performance. As for why, you will know tomorrow after watching the show."
Consort Fang was bewildered.
However, since the Old Consort had said so, as a daughter-in-law, Consort Fang had no reason to refuse.
The next day, she went to the Old Consort's courtyard and found that Wang Qingyao was also there.
The stage was set up in the passage, with a long and wide cloth stretched out, completely obscuring what was behind the curtain.
The Old Consort and the others sat in the three halls in front of the main room to watch.
The play was "Romance of the Western Chamber," a very common story. When Consort Fang was young, she had seen it at the Zhongyong Duke's estate, and there was nothing different about it.
If there was anything different, it could only be that this troupe was quite wealthy. For a simple "Romance of the Western Chamber," they had sent more than a dozen people for voice acting.
From the ones she had seen before, it was easy to tell that there were only two voice actors, one male and one female.
This troupe was very generous; every character who appeared had their own voice.
She didn't understand why the Old Consort insisted she come.
She secretly glanced at the Old Consort and Wang Qingyao from the corner of her eye. Both of them were watching intently, occasionally discussing the performance.
She endured it and watched until the end.