The small garden, originally tranquil, was filled only with the rustling of wind through grass and the faint chirping of summer insects, adding to the serene atmosphere.
The sudden scream and exclamation seemed to violently tear through this peaceful early summer scene, causing hearts to skip a beat in shock.
Ren Yaoqi instinctively stood up.
Though she couldn’t see what was happening in the garden from where she was, she could clearly hear that the sharp scream had come from Concubine Kang, followed by an exclamation from Ren Yaoting.
Following the sounds, Ren Yaoqi hurried toward the garden.
In truth, the corridor where Ren Yaoqi had been sitting wasn’t far from the source of the commotion, but a row of shrubs—a mix of large-leaf boxwood and pittosporum—and several willow trees obstructed the view.
As Ren Yaoqi rounded the shrubs and willow trees, even though she had mentally prepared herself, the scene before her still startled her.
Concubine Kang was lying on the pebble path in the garden, clutching her stomach, her face deathly pale as she groaned in agony.
Today, she wore a plain greenish-blue gown made of Lu silk, unadorned except for a three-inch-wide white hem at the skirt’s edge. Dark red blood was steadily flowing along that white hem, quickly filling the gaps between the pebbles beneath her. Two thin trails of blood had already seeped into the nearby grass.
The two young maidservants by Concubine Kang’s side, both quite young, were so frightened by the sight that their legs gave way. They knelt beside her, weeping.
Ren Yaoting, who had cried out in alarm, seemed deeply shaken. She buried her face in the embrace of her senior maid behind her, trembling and sobbing.
Ren Yaoting’s face was no less pale than Concubine Kang’s, who lay in a pool of blood. Standing just two steps away, she stared blankly at Concubine Kang until Ren Yaoqi suddenly appeared. Only then did she snap back to reality and look down—the blood flowing from Concubine Kang’s lower body had, at some point, reached the soles of her delicate pink embroidered shoes.
Fear suddenly flashed in Ren Yaoting’s eyes. She staggered back two steps, then turned and fled. As she ran, she nearly knocked Ren Yaoqi to the ground. Fortunately, Pingguo reacted quickly and steadied Ren Yaoqi in time.
Ren Yaoqi had anticipated some commotion here, but she hadn’t expected it to be this severe.
Even though she had guessed that Concubine Kang might use her unborn child to stir trouble, how could she have imagined that Concubine Kang would gamble with her own life? Watching the blood continue to flow unabated, Ren Yaoqi had no doubt that Concubine Kang was teetering on the brink of death.
Seeing the situation completely out of control, Ren Yaoqi quickly composed herself. Ignoring Ren Yaoyu, who had run off, she immediately instructed the maidservants behind her to fetch Old Madam Ren and First Madam. She then hurried to Concubine Kang’s side. After carefully observing Concubine Kang’s complexion, she decided against moving her recklessly. Instead, while crouching to call out to Concubine Kang, she subtly adjusted the positions of the two maidservants holding her.
Though Ren Yaoqi had read some medical texts and pharmacopoeias, her knowledge remained theoretical. She had never encountered such a situation before and didn’t know how to handle it. After a moment’s thought, she sent her own maid to seek reinforcements from the nearby Liuli Courtyard.Regardless of whether Madam Lin was willing to send someone over, she could only do this much.
Fortunately, someone did come from Glazed Tile Courtyard—an elderly matron and two maidservants. Old Madam Ren and First Madam Ren’s people arrived even faster.
The elderly matron’s expression changed as soon as she saw Concubine Kang’s condition, and she immediately stepped forward to examine her. Seeing her demeanor and the instructions she gave to the two maidservants, Ren Yaoqi realized this matron had some knowledge of childbirth and stepped aside to avoid getting in the way.
Before long, First Madam arrived in a flurry, bringing Ren Yaoyu with her. First Madam had indeed run over, as fine beads of sweat were already visible on her temples. Accompanying First Madam was Granny Gui from Old Madam Ren’s side—it was unclear whether they had met along the way or had come together.
In the end, under First Madam’s orders, Concubine Kang was carried to the nearest Glazed Tile Courtyard.
First Madam had no time to attend to Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoting, hastily following behind the now-unconscious Concubine Kang toward Glazed Tile Courtyard.
Ren Yaoqi walked over to Ren Yaoting and gently patted her shoulder. “Seventh Sister? Shall I accompany you to Grandmother’s place to rest first?”
Ren Yaoting had by now regained her composure. Hearing Ren Yaoqi’s voice, she fearfully grabbed her arm, her face pale and lips trembling as she said, “Fifth Sister, you didn’t see how terrifying Eighth Sister was just now! She screamed, ‘I won’t let the thing in your belly be born to upset my mother,’ and then lowered her head and charged straight at Concubine Kang. And then… then Concubine Kang fell to the ground and… bled…”
Ren Yaoting seemed to recall the shocking sight of blood that had filled her vision earlier, her voice trembling slightly. She was only a teenager and had never witnessed real bleeding in her life—she was truly terrified.
Ren Yaoqi held Ren Yaoting’s hand but didn’t know how to comfort her.
Earlier, when she heard the commotion between Ren Yaoyu and Concubine Kang, Ren Yaoqi’s heart had stirred. Seeing Ren Yaoting about to go over, she thought for a moment and made a decision, allowing Ren Yaoting to go alone.
Ren Yaoqi admitted she held little affection for most of the Ren Family, but Ren Yaoting was just a young girl. Letting her witness such a scene, while Ren Yaoqi couldn’t say she felt deeply guilty, still left her with a sense of unease.
Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoting returned to Old Madam Ren’s Glory and Splendor Courtyard.
Old Madam Ren was listening with a stern expression as a matron reported something, likely about Concubine Kang’s situation.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoting return, Old Madam Ren beckoned them over.
“I heard the two of you were also in the garden earlier?” Old Madam Ren asked with a frown.
Ren Yaoqi lowered her head and replied, “Yes, Grandmother. We originally intended to go catch butterflies under the camphor tree outside the garden.”
Old Madam Ren nodded, her face cold. “Then tell me what you saw.”
Ren Yaoqi glanced at Old Madam Ren with some hesitation, stammering, “Grandmother, I was resting in the covered walkway at the time. By the time I heard the noise and ran over, Concubine Kang was already on the ground…”
Old Madam Ren looked at Ren Yaoqi, then frowned and turned her gaze to Ren Yaoting.
Ren Yaoting’s emotions had stabilized somewhat by now. She took a deep breath before slowly recounting what she had seen.When Ren Yaoting walked over, Ren Yaoyu and Concubine Kang were already arguing—or rather, Ren Yaoyu had already begun berating Concubine Kang with all sorts of unpleasant words, growing increasingly agitated.
Seeing Concubine Kang frowning slightly and holding her lower abdomen as if uncomfortable, Ren Yaoting asked with concern and advised Ren Yaoyu, "Concubine Kang seems unwell. If you keep scolding her and she harms the child in her womb, how will you explain it to Father? You should let her go back and rest."
These were Ren Yaoting’s own words; she merely played the role of a well-meaning mediator.
However, Ren Yaoqi knew that Ren Yaoting had initially gone over to watch the commotion, so she remained noncommittal about Ren Yaoting’s claim of mediating. Whether Ren Yaoting had subtly provoked Ren Yaoyu into causing trouble at the right moment, she wasn’t sure.
But judging by Ren Yaoting’s evasive gaze and hesitant tone when mentioning certain details, Ren Yaoqi had her suspicions.
As Old Madam Ren listened to Ren Yaoyu’s actions, her expression could only be described as bone-chillingly cold.
Even Ren Yaoqi, who had never won Old Madam Ren’s favor, had never seen such an expression directed at herself.
Ren Yaoqi knew that Ren Yaoyu had now thoroughly disgusted Old Madam Ren.
Anyone who dared to harm a pregnant woman would be seen as ruthless and cruel by anyone.
Not long after, First Madam Ren returned.
"How is the situation? Can the child be saved?" Old Madam Ren asked with a frown.
First Madam Ren sighed softly and shook her head. "The fall was too severe. The child is... gone. The physician has already examined her. Concubine Kang lost too much blood, but fortunately, her constitution is strong, otherwise... The physician said such a situation could easily have resulted in two lives lost." Her tone was filled with regret.
Although Old Madam Ren had anticipated that the child might not survive, her expression still darkened upon hearing this. "What a tragedy!"
First Madam Ren shook her head in agreement.
Old Madam Ren’s eyes turned cold. "Where is that wretched girl? Have her bound and brought to me!"
First Madam Ren glanced at Old Madam Ren’s expression and cautiously tried to plead for Ren Yaoyu. "Old Madam, Yaoyu likely didn’t mean it. When I went to Liuli Courtyard earlier, Yaoyu was hiding in her room crying. Fifth Sister-in-law couldn’t even get her to open the door no matter how much she knocked. She must be filled with regret."
Old Madam Ren remained unmoved. "This is a human life! Not some stray cat or dog! Go and have her bound and brought here first! That wretched girl! That wretched girl..."
First Madam Ren ultimately sighed and left to carry out the order.
Before Ren Yaoyu was brought over, someone arrived from the Eastern Mansion. It turned out that Ren Yaoting’s maid had returned to report the incident, and upon learning of it, Su Shi had sent her own matron to fetch Ren Yaoting back.
Seeing Ren Yaoting’s pale face and knowing she had been badly frightened, Old Madam Ren softened her expression and allowed her to return to the Eastern Mansion with the matron sent by Su Shi.
Ren Yaoting was more than eager to leave and followed Su Shi’s matron without another word.
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and said to Old Madam Ren, "Grandmother, I’ll see Seventh Sister off."
Old Madam Ren had no time to concern herself with Ren Yaoqi at that moment and waved her off dismissively.Ren Yaoqi performed the courtesy and turned to step out, seeing Ren Yaoting being supported by the matron beside Su Shi as she walked ahead. She hurriedly quickened her pace to catch up, then stepped forward to take Ren Yaoting’s other arm, softly comforting her: "I never expected we’d run into something like this. Seventh Sister, go back and rest well when you return, and don’t let your thoughts wander." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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