Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 406 Waiting for Her to Come to Her Senses, Who Knows How Long It Will Take

Chapter 406: Chapter 406 Waiting for Her to Come to Her Senses, Who Knows How Long It Will Take

"What happened afterward? How was Murong Man dealt with?"

While embroidering the tiny garments for Zhijin and Zhiyu, Murong Jiu curiously asked Zhou Li, who had come to report.

"The Second Prince didn’t harm Murong Man’s child. She was kicked and became quite frightened, showing signs of premature labor, but the Second Prince ordered Miao Wuxie to treat her, and they managed to save the child."

Chun Tao remarked with a curl of her lip, "The Second Prince is actually willing to raise someone else’s bastard child. He must truly love Murong Man!"

Murong Jiu chuckled lightly, "If he truly loved Murong Man, she wouldn’t have fallen out of favor in the first place."

"Then why would he do such a thing, why not just kill Murong Man?" Chun Tao asked, puzzled.

Murong Jiu responded with a counter-question, "Chun Tao, tell me, if you were a minister in the Imperial Court, would you support a Prince who has the ability to reproduce, or one who does not?"

"Of course, a Prince with the ability to reproduce! Oh! I understand now! The Second Prince is afraid that The Third Prince will reveal his inability to have children, affecting those ministers who still support him!"

Chun Tao realized with sudden clarity.

Both Hong Yi and Zhou Li shared a laugh.

Murong Jiu added with a smile, "That’s why the Second Prince will not only prevent Murong Man from miscarrying but will also act as if he dotes on her greatly. Even if unsavory rumors do spread, few will believe them."

Chun Tao said indignantly, "Isn’t that letting her off without any punishment? She has done so many evil deeds; she deserves to die!"

Murong Jiu gently patted her and said softly, "Silly girl, don’t you see what kind of person the Second Prince is? The nicer he appears to Murong Man on the surface, the more he despises her in his heart. Privately, Murong Man will not have good days."

Speaking of which, she herself took a long breath.

In the previous life’s dream, her two beloved children were branded as bastards by everyone. The Second Prince and Murong Man kept her in the dark, abusing her countless times. But this time, they would have to reap what they sowed, neither of them getting off lightly.

"Princess Consort is right, the Second Prince loathes Murong Man through and through. He has left Yun Weiwei personally in charge of disciplining her. After Murong Man’s pregnancy is completely stable, she is likely to suffer terribly at the hands of Yun Weiwei."

Zhou Li said, with a touch of gratification.

Now, Murong Man was powerless to stir up any trouble, and leaving her to such a fate was more painful than killing her directly.

Murong Jiu asked, "What about Guard Shi? He hasn’t been found by the Second Prince, has he?"

"When he was nearly discovered by the Second Prince’s men, our people rescued him. He has since fled far away. The Second Prince doesn’t have enough manpower to capture him."

Murong Jiu nodded, "That’s good."

It turned out that Guard Shi had been deceived by Murong Man but, once he saw her true face, he fled the Capital City, proving himself to be clear-headed.

By helping him elude the Second Prince’s men, Prince Mansion owed him a favor. Even if he returned to the Capital City in the future, he would not be an enemy to Prince Ling’s Mansion.

"You’ve worked hard, Guard Zhou. Rest well. Hong Yi, please escort Guard Zhou back."

Hong Yi’s cheeks turned slightly red as she stepped forward to lead Zhou Li out.

"Huh? Why are Guard Zhou’s ears so red?" Only after the two had left did Chun Tao realize something.

"You really are slow to catch on."

Murong Jiu shook her head with a smile.

Zhou Li had long harbored tender feelings for Hong Yi, and she was still oblivious to it.

No wonder Senior Brother Cheng sighed so frequently in her presence.

"Chun Tao, go ask Senior Brother Cheng how his benevolent clinic went today."

"Right, today is Young Master Cheng’s day for his benevolent clinic. This servant will go ask right away!"

Seeing her carefree manner, Murong Jiu couldn’t help but hold her forehead, thinking it would take even longer for Senior Brother Cheng if he were waiting for Chun Tao to catch on.

Indeed, the woman Senior Brother Cheng was fond of was Chun Tao.

Long before, Murong Jiu had discovered it.

Although Chun Tao, the maid, could sometimes be foolish, she could stand up when it mattered and was quite protective of her mistress. It was just that she was too slow to pick up on emotions; even when Senior Brother Cheng deliberately sought her out for conversation, she would fail to notice his intentions.

However, this time Chun Tao had not been away long before she returned, very happy.

"Princess Consort, Princess Consort, guess who I brought with me!"

Chun Tao stepped aside, and a young boy dressed in coarse clothes appeared.

The young boy was very handsome, about seven years old, with slightly sun-tanned skin and a happy smile on his face.

"Princess Consort, Xiao Wen has come to see you!"

Xiao Wen!

In a flash, the image of a skinny child flickered through Murong Jiu’s mind, overlapping with the young boy in front of her.

She subconsciously covered her aching head.

"Princess Consort, what’s wrong?"

Hong Yi, quick-eyed, immediately went to support her.

Xiao Wen quickly stepped forward, worried, "Stepmother Princess Consort, does your head hurt?"

Senior Brother Cheng followed close behind, promptly coming forward to check on her.

Murong Jiu waved her hand and said, "I’m fine, I’m just too happy to see Xiao Wen."

Xiao Wen often communicated with her through letters, and after her memory loss, Prince had also told her about Xiao Wen, so she was not at all unfamiliar with him and knew he was a well-behaved and sensible child.

"Xiao Wen, you have grown a lot taller."

Only four or five years old, yet already looking like a seven or eight-year-old.

"My dad is tall, so I take after him! Plus, I follow your advice and exercise every day; my body is very strong!"

Xiao Wen was somewhat proud, for he had obediently followed the Princess Consort’s words.

"The border is currently fraught with war and turmoil; how did you come to the Capital City? Isn’t anyone protecting you? Where is your father?"

This was her most pressing concern.

"Don’t mention it, I was doing volunteer medical service just fine outside the city when he suddenly popped up and asked me to bring him to Prince Mansion, giving me quite a fright."

Senior Brother Cheng said, chuckling.

He and Xiao Wen were strangers, but Xiao Wen, being a clever child, knew he was a court physician in Prince Mansion and related to the Princess Consort as fellow disciples, so he sought him out. Otherwise, Xiao Wen would not have been able to enter the city on his own.

After hearing Senior Brother Cheng’s explanation, Murong Jiu first praised Xiao Wen for his intelligence before asking, "Did you run away on your own?"

"I left a letter."

Xiao Wen sounded somewhat unsure of himself, but he said, "I was afraid that my stepmother Princess Consort would misunderstand and think my dad wants to rebel, so I wanted to come to the Capital City quickly to tell you my dad is not a traitor!"

"Of course, we know your father is not a traitor. The Prince of Yundian is loyal to Great Yan. Someone else incited the war and turmoil."

Xiao Wen’s eyes brightened, "Right, right, right, it wasn’t my dad’s doing! Actually, it’s my fault. If it wasn’t for me, my dad wouldn’t have been schemed against, and those under him wouldn’t have succeeded in rebelling."

Murong Jiu already knew about this from Prince.

Just as Jun Yuyan had said, the Prince of Yundian would not rebel; the instigators of the war and turmoil were others.

Because they used the name of Yundian Royal Mansion, it led to misunderstandings by the Imperial Court.

They were not in a hurry to explain, as they planned to turn the scheme against the schemer.