The Glory

Нan Yan frоwnеd. "Ноld Сoncubine Меi down. Impеrial Phуsiсiаn Wu, рlеаse takе her pulse."

As soon аs shе finished sрeаking, sеvеrаl sturdy mаidsеrvаnts саme fоrward and forсеfully rеstrained the struggling Сoncubinе Mei. Imреriаl Рhуsiсiаn Wu plaсеd his hand оn Соncubinе Mеi's wrist fоr only а mоment bеfore suddenlу exclаiming lоudlу, "This is аll a charаdе! Тhis is clеаrlу thе bоdу of sоmеonе who hаs never bеen рrеgnаnt. Hоw соuld thеre be a misсarriage?"

The mоment the words "nеver beеn prеgnаnt" werе uttered, the first person to freeze was Zhuang Shiyang. At this moment, he stared incredulously at Imperial Physician Wu before him. "Imperial Physician Wu, what do you mean by that?"

Imperial Physician Wu was even angrier than him. "What do I mean? You people have made a fool of me, and now you dare ask what I mean?" He glanced at Han Yan, seeming to understand something, and decided to speak even more plainly. "This woman has never been with child. How could she possibly have a miscarriage?"

"You deceived me?" Zhuang Shiyang stared at Concubine Mei, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Master, I didn't mean to." Perhaps realizing she had no chance to refute, Concubine Mei hurriedly crawled out of bed, her face as pale as paper, pleading repeatedly, "Master, please spare me this once. I will never dare again."

The Zhou sisters exchanged a glance, both remaining silent, but inwardly they breathed a sigh of relief. They had found it strange earlier—Concubine Mei's actions were not following the usual pattern. Could there be some scheme? Now, hearing Imperial Physician Wu say that Concubine Mei had only been pretending to be pregnant, they finally understood. If Concubine Mei had faked a pregnancy, using a miscarriage as an excuse would be the perfect opportunity to bring down Han Yan. Although Han Yan had previously been on their side, once Han Yan gained power, Concubine Mei had no choice but to be wary. However... the Zhou sisters looked at Han Yan and, without a word, felt a chill run down their spines. At this point, it was clear as day—they had lost! This meticulously laid trap had ultimately ensnared them instead. They had been defeated by this girl who had not yet come of age, this little girl they had once looked down upon, who would only timidly hide behind others. The Zhou sisters had known nothing about Concubine Mei's scheme, but Han Yan's demeanor made it clear she had known all along. She had turned their plan against them, waiting until the last moment to deliver the final blow!

What a deep and cunning mind!

Having such an opponent was truly terrifying.

Now, it wasn't just the Zhou sisters who felt uneasy—Concubine Mei was also terrified, her tears streaming down her face. Yet, in her heart, she was utterly bewildered. Today's events should not have turned out this way. Originally, she had intended to use the miscarriage to shift all the blame onto Han Yan. She and the Zhou sisters had agreed that as soon as Jingxu Daozhang arrived and found that item in Han Yan's room, they could pin all the accusations on Han Yan. At that point, Han Yan would have no way to defend herself and would have no choice but to accept defeat. However, Madam Zhou had only asked her to pretend to have a threatened miscarriage. Anxious and afraid that her fake pregnancy would be exposed, Concubine Mei had staged the miscarriage today. The physician and midwife had already been bribed, so how could Imperial Physician Wu suddenly appear and expose her plan so clearly? And why did the Zhou sisters look so devastated now? This shouldn't be happening.Though she thought this way, Concubine Mei dared not show it. She knew that Zhuang Shiyang hated betrayal most of all. Previously, when she had lied about being pregnant, Zhuang Shiyang had been overjoyed and had taken great care of the child in her womb. Today, upon learning that everything was false, if he were to vent his anger on her... How ruthless Zhuang Shiyang could be, as someone who had lived with him for so many years, Concubine Mei naturally knew. She would certainly face a terrible outcome. Thinking of this, Concubine Mei felt a chill spreading through her heart.

Zhuang Shiyang’s mood, however, was like turbulent waves. Everything that had happened today was beyond his expectations. First, Concubine Mei had miscarried, and the legitimate heir of the Zhuang family was lost. Then, evidence of Madam Da Zhou’s adultery with him had been exposed. Now, Imperial Physician Wu had said that Concubine Mei had only pretended to be pregnant. He felt a deep sense of humiliation and kicked Concubine Mei: "You wretch! Tell me! Why did you deceive me! I treated you so well!" He was so enraged that he was nearly senseless, kicking Concubine Mei again and again, repeating the word "wretch" over and over. Concubine Mei, after all, was a woman. Beaten into a corner, she curled into a ball, continuously begging and crying: "Master, I was wrong, Master, Mei’er will never dare again, Master, Master..."

Concubine Mei felt both pain and hatred in her heart. Having followed Zhuang Shiyang for so many years, this was the first time she had seen him so angry, to the point of looking murderous. She prided herself on understanding men’s hearts, but where was the tenderness and affection Zhuang Shiyang usually showed her? His gaze filled her with fear, yet what Concubine Mei could not accept was why things had come to this today!

At that moment, Han Yan, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward: "Father, calm down."

Her voice was like cool dew in this stifling environment, bringing a sudden clarity and an involuntary calm. More importantly, her voice carried a faint, almost imperceptible chill, as if she had watched the show long enough and finally decided to settle the accounts herself. Startled by the sarcasm, Concubine Mei abruptly turned her head to look at Han Yan.

Han Yan spoke unhurriedly: "Doesn’t Father find it all too strange? Imperial Physician Wu said Concubine Mei was never pregnant, which is certainly not false. Yet Jingxu Daozhang claimed that the child in Concubine Mei’s womb attracted the evil deity because of me." She smiled: "Jingxu Daozhang used Concubine Zhou’s birth chart to say that Concubine Zhou brings misfortune to her father and husband. Father, are Jingxu Daozhang’s words false or true?"

The people around were taken aback, not understanding what Han Yan intended to do.

"Jingxu Daozhang has already admitted that he was instigated by Concubine Zhou and Madam Zhou to frame Han Yan. But now it seems Concubine Mei must have had a hand in it as well. What is the punishment for conspiring to harm the wife of a court official!"

No one expected Han Yan to suddenly invoke the title of Xuan Qing Prince Consort. Recalling how the Xuan Qing Prince’s favor toward Han Yan was known throughout the capital, if word spread to the Xuan Qing Prince’s ears that the Zhou Sisters and Concubine Mei had conspired to harm Han Yan, no one could predict the storm it would stir. The expressions of those around toward the Zhou Sisters instantly grew wary, fearing any association with them lest the Xuan Qing Prince hold them accountable as well.Seeing no one respond, Han Yan smiled again. "But Jingxu Daozhang was specially invited to the Zhuang residence by the Seventh Prince himself. Your Highness, could it be that you also knew about this matter long ago?"

The Seventh Prince was taken aback, immediately darkening his expression. "Nonsense! I know nothing of this matter!" He narrowed his eyes at Han Yan, his heart filled with deep malice. This Zhuang Hanyan was truly a terrifying opponent—she actually wanted to drag him down with her! Unfortunately, he had not known of her plan from the start, and now it was impossible to extricate himself. Today's events would likely be difficult to avoid implicating him. Yet, how bold she was!