Wang Qingyao's expression was too serious, and Han Suiqin found it difficult to dismiss it as a joke. The forced smile on her face instantly shattered.
"Did I do something wrong?" she asked tentatively, a surge of anger rising within her. She was, after all, the Princess of Qi. How dare a mere maid from the Prince of Ding'an's manor give her such a look!
If the master weren't like this, how could the servant dare to be so arrogant?
It seemed Princess Yinyue was right; Wang Qingyao indeed looked down on her!
Wang Qingyao sneered, "Don't you know what you did yourself?"
Han Suiqin immediately thought of the incident where she had drugged Wang Qingyao, and her face became unnatural.
But she had done it so discreetly; how could Wang Qingyao possibly know?
Han Suiqin was confident.
"If Second Sister dislikes me, just say so," Han Suiqin changed her demeanor to one of aggrieved innocence. "I know my status is low and I'm not likable. Princess Yinyue bullies me, and although Second Sister promised to visit often and support me, if Second Sister changes her mind and doesn't want to get involved in this mess, I won't force you..."
Han Suiqin was beautiful. When her fair, delicate almond-shaped face wore that pitiful expression, it could melt the hearts of not just men, but women too.
But Wang Qingyao knew her true nature and was unmoved.
"Yes, I've changed my mind," she said coldly.
Han Suiqin was shocked, not expecting Wang Qingyao to be so direct.
If Wang Qingyao was no longer willing to help her, how could she get Wang Qingyao to go to the Prince of Qi's manor? How could she drug her again?
Han Suiqin didn't know where things had gone wrong. Aunt Luo Cheng had still invited Wang Qingyao to see Consort Wei, and she had clearly intended to help her!
"What happened?" Han Suiqin asked cautiously. "Did I do something wrong?"
Here we go again, back to the beginning.
Seeing that she wasn't understanding, Wang Qingyao stated directly, "You drugged the tea I drank, and you ask me what you did wrong? You truly have the nerve to ask!"
Han Suiqin was greatly alarmed. In her panic, she knocked over the teacup. The pale yellow tea flowed down the small table, its dripping sound like thunder in the silent reception hall.
Han Suiqin's heart pounded wildly, and she could no longer force a smile. Her mind was filled with a single question: How did she know? How did she know?
Han Suiqin's mind felt like it was exploding, unable to comprehend it no matter how hard she tried.
Her complexion changed rapidly, from pale to red, and she broke out in a sweat.
"Second Sister, I, I... I didn't..."
Still denying it!
"Yinzhu, escort her out!" Wang Qingyao, too tired to waste more words, directly ordered her to leave.
Han Suiqin's face turned ashen.
It wasn't because of Wang Qingyao's attitude towards her, but because she knew Wang Qingyao would no longer go to the Prince of Qi's manor. Princess Yinyue would not let her off, and her child would be lost!
Just thinking about it, Han Suiqin felt a sharp pain in her abdomen.
Yinzhu rolled up her sleeves and unceremoniously escorted Han Suiqin out.
She thought the matter was over. As long as Wang Qingyao didn't meddle, Han Suiqin should have been too ashamed to approach her again.
Who knew that Han Suiqin would miscarry that very night.
The next morning, the Prince of Qi arrived with his entourage.
According to the Prince of Qi, Han Suiqin had been in pain since returning from the Prince of Ding'an's manor, and she had miscarried that night.
The imperial physician had examined her and said that Han Suiqin had taken an abortifacient, which caused the miscarriage.
The Prince of Qi was convinced that Wang Qingyao had poisoned her, causing her to lose her child.
As for why Wang Qingyao would do such a thing, it was because Wang Qingyao held a grudge against Princess Yinyue and wanted to frame Princess Yinyue for the miscarriage of the Princess of Qi.
It was believable that a concubine, jealous of the main consort's pregnancy, would secretly harm her.
Out of consideration for his childhood friendship with Xiao Yun, the Prince of Qi would temporarily not report the matter to the Emperor, but he demanded that Xiao Yun and the entire Prince of Ding'an's manor align themselves with him.
The Xiao family was the wealthiest in Dasheng. The Prince of Qi was essentially looking for an inexhaustible free treasury!
How black-hearted!
Wang Qingyao was so angry she almost laughed.
"No, do you have any proof? Just because you say I did it, doesn't mean I did. I could just as easily say your concubine did it?"
The conversation took place in Xiao Yun's study. Discussing such a private matter, and with coercion and temptation involved, there was naturally no one else serving them in the room.
Wang Qingyao no longer cared if the Prince of Qi was a prince and directly confronted him.
Xiao Yun said, "Consort Wang is right. She's just bored and drugged your Princess of Qi! Is she out of her mind?"
The Prince of Qi smiled faintly, "The Princess of Qi herself said that after returning from your Prince of Ding'an's manor, her stomach had been uncomfortable. She had no appetite, ate nothing from the Prince of Qi's manor, and didn't even drink water. Wasn't it the Princess of Ding'an who caused this?"
Wang Qingyao felt like rolling up her sleeves and hitting him. This shameless scoundrel, the whole family was conspiring to frame her!
"Heh heh," Wang Qingyao sneered, "What the Princess of Qi said is useless. Without solid proof, you are slandering me."
As if anticipating her response, the Prince of Qi said unhurriedly, "Whether it's slander can be debated before my father, the Emperor. But does the Princess of Ding'an really want to escalate this? If this causes trouble for the Princess of Ding'an's child, that would not be good."
This beast, he dared to threaten her!