Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 397 The Best Way to Keep a Secret

Chapter 397: Chapter 397 The Best Way to Keep a Secret

"You’re pregnant and easy to tire; you must rest well. As for the Princess, let the servants watch over her," Guard Shi said with concern, massaging Murong Man’s shoulders and neck.

Murong Man leaned back against him, saying softly, "Brother Shi, it’s so good to have you. However, you can’t come to see me so often in the future. If Prince Ling were to find out, I’m not afraid to die, but it would be pitiable for our child."

Guard Shi quickly replied, "We won’t be discovered! I am very careful in my actions! The Prince values me quite a bit now, and he even specifically left me here in the Princess’s Mansion to protect you, Manman. This shows that he has no suspicion."

"Just because he doesn’t suspect now doesn’t mean he won’t in the future."

Murong Man maintained her gentle demeanor, but internally she thought Guard Shi was too impulsive. He even dared to barge into her room within the Princess’s Mansion. His courage would only grow, which could be a hidden danger.

She sighed and said, "Alas, Brother Shi, I always feel uneasy. As a Princess, just for offending Murong Jiu, one could end up in such a tragic state. And I’m probably also on her list to be eliminated."

"Manman, you’re thinking too much. Why would Princess Consort Ling want to get rid of you? You two no longer have any interactions," Guard Shi comforted her.

Murong Man frowned and said, "Brother Shi might not know, but my parents were indeed not kind to her. I saw her plight and helped her a lot, but she never appreciated it, even calling me a hypocrite. Her pride is too strong. She thinks everyone has ill intentions towards her. You’ve seen it; my mother died, and my father and my half-sister Baozhu from the same mother are living in misery. The Fifth Princess did offend her, but her punishment is too harsh for just saying some unpleasant words."

Guard Shi hadn’t realized Princess Consort Ling could be so hateful, but he felt the Second Prince’s Mansion was safe, as long as they didn’t go out much, the enemy wouldn’t be able to reach them.

Murong Man, frustrated by his naivete, knew Guard Shi meant well, but his compassion was misguided.

Suddenly touching her belly, she began to sob, "I’ve already endured so much, but now that I finally have a child, I must think of him. My health isn’t good, and conceiving him was a blessing from heaven. I’m afraid, very afraid that one day he will leave me, no longer to be with me."

Guard Shi quickly comforted her in a low voice, becoming flustered at seeing her tears.

It wasn’t until he promised to find a way that he finally managed to soothe her.

Murong Man knew he wasn’t very capable; otherwise, he wouldn’t be a mere guard. But for the sake of their child, Guard Shi would surely find a way to eliminate Murong Jiu.

Men change for the women they love and their offspring.

Once Guard Shi left through the window, Murong Man wiped away the tears on her face, touched her stomach, and revealed a cold smile of triumph.

She wouldn’t let Murong Jiu have an easy time. Even if it was just to annoy her, she wanted Murong Jiu to live in fear.

However, the next morning, she heard about the poisonous insects in the Second Prince’s Mansion, which frightened her and turned her face pale.

Had she been in the Prince Mansion that night, could she have been a victim herself?

Murong Jiu was becoming untouchable!

Murong Man was filled with resentment; she couldn’t understand why Murong Jiu’s life was getting better and more people were willing to die for her.

It seemed like Murong Jiu could easily send them warnings now.

"That’s right, there’s also Zhuo Yinzhu!"

Murong Man’s eyes narrowed, suddenly remembering Zhuo Yinzhu. Zhuo Yinzhu wasn’t very capable on her own, but she had a senior brother who fancied her.

The Second Prince saved them, and now they were working for him.

When the Second Prince came by during the day, Murong Man brought up the idea of Zhuo Yinzhu becoming her maid.

"The Prince agrees. You’re carrying twins now and can’t be careless. Fortunately, your kindness spared you from the poisonous insect disaster by staying here to care for Leyang. Although Zhuo Yinzhu and her senior brother Miao Wuxie are trustworthy, they cannot be completely trusted. The Prince will assign two more maids skilled in martial arts to you."

Murong Man adopted an attitude of being flattered and said, "But if they leave, Your Highness will have fewer people by his side. It’s better to have them stay with you."

The Second Prince cared more about the child in her belly and naturally arranged it without discussion.

Soon, Zhuo Yinzhu arrived at the Princess’s Mansion.

When Murong Man saw her, she was taken aback.

The current Zhuo Yinzhu was almost unrecognizable.

Her burned face no longer showed any traces of scarring, but whatever skin had been stitched on was incredibly conspicuous and patchy. It hardly looked any better than the burns did, and was even somewhat horrifying.

Murong Man’s gaze lingered on Zhuo Yinzhu’s face for a moment before Zhuo Yinzhu suddenly spoke,

"Concubine, do you find my face beautiful?"

Murong Man revealed a kind smile,

"Yinzhu, we knew each other in the past. There’s no need for you to refer to yourself as a servant in front of me. His Highness arranged for you to be here because you have some knowledge of medicine and are skilled in poisons, wanting to ensure my protection."

She avoided mentioning Zhuo Yinzhu’s appearance.

Zhuo Yinzhu was expressionless, yet when she spoke, the skin on her face pulled in a way that made it look ferocious.

"This servant wouldn’t dare. I’ve heard that the Concubine is pregnant but haven’t congratulated you yet. Do you need this servant to take your pulse?"

Murong Man extended her hand, "Then I’ll trouble you, Yinzhu."

Her demeanor was very gentle.

Zhuo Yinzhu’s expression softened slightly after taking her pulse and then she said, "The pulse is very steady, and the fetus is developing well. However, this is not my area of expertise. The Prince has already had my senior brother come to the Princess’s Mansion, and he is attending to the Princess’s injuries. Would you like to see him?"

"I’m a bit tired at the moment, so I won’t see him now," Murong Man deliberately said, "The Princess is truly pitiable, having ended up in this state because she offended Murong Jiu, alas."

Zhuo Yinzhu sharply lifted her head, "The Fifth Princess’s injuries were caused by Murong Jiu? Why don’t you all go and kill Murong Jiu?"

Murong Man heard the hatred for Murong Jiu in her voice and sighed,

"Murong Jiu is well protected by Prince Ling, as you are well aware. I have a guard whose best friend in the mansion was killed by someone from Prince Ling’s Mansion; it’s a pity that he can’t find a way to take revenge."

Zhuo Yinzhu showed a sinister and ugly smile, "Concubine, why not let this guard come to me, and I will teach him how to kill."

"You have a good method?"

"I’m not very capable, but my senior brother Miao Wuxie, his medical skills now are not inferior to our father, Divine Doctor Miao. Not just that, he’s also adept at witchcraft and poisoning techniques. As long as your guard is willing to sacrifice his life, he can definitely have his revenge."

Murong Man was tempted.

Having Guard Shi die was also her goal in inciting him to kill Murong Jiu.

Because she knew that the child she was bearing was definitely Guard Shi’s, and Guard Shi had already served his greatest purpose. Keeping him around could potentially reveal her secret in the future.

To keep a secret safe, the best way was to silence those who knew.

Just as if Lady Wang had killed the people who knew about the secret back then, no one would have ever discovered that Wang Baozhu was her and Steward Wang’s illegitimate daughter.