Chapter 132: Signs of Miscarriage

The next morning, bright and early, Xie Yujiao left the Song household in high spirits, boarded Madam Zhang’s carriage, and headed straight for Baiyun Temple.

She had grown visibly thinner of late, and though only a little past five months along, her belly was already protruding.

Madam Zhang stroked her daughter’s hair, her eyes full of distress.

Her precious Jiao-jiao…that beast deserved death!

—-

At Baiyun Temple.

After offering incense, Madam Zhang and Xie Yujiao went to a meditation chamber. Momo Liu personally led them inside, where a physician was already waiting.

At the sight of the man, Xie Yujiao immediately turned to leave. “What’s going on? This—”

“Jiao-jiao.”

Madam Zhang caught her arm, her face stern. “Sit.”

Startled by her mother’s unusual gravity, Xie Yujiao obeyed without thinking, sitting down and extending her hand.

The physician felt her pulse.

His expression darkened. “Madam’s pregnancy is unstable, there are signs of impending miscarriage… Has Madam been taking any blood-activating medicines recently?”

He phrased it tactfully.

He did not outright ask if she had been given an abortion medicine.

But Madam Zhang understood immediately.

Her fists clenched so tightly that her nails left marks in her palms. Taking a deep breath, she signaled to Momo Liu.

Momo Liu pulled a silk handkerchief from her sleeve and placed it before the physician.

Xie Yujiao recognized it at once, it was the one her mother’s sleeve had dirtied yesterday with her “pregnancy medicine.”

The physician lifted it to his nose, inhaled, and after a long pause recited a list of ingredients. Finally, he concluded gravely, “Long-term use of this prescription would cause the fetus to die in the womb, drive the mother into delirium, and severely damage her health…”

“Impossible!”

Xie Yujiao shot to her feet, her face full of denial. “This prescription was given by hus…”

“Momo Liu.” Madam Zhang cut her off coldly. “See the physician out.”

Momo Liu ushered the man to the door, discreetly pressing a heavy pouch of silver into his hands. In a low voice, she added, “Please also write a safer prescription for inducing miscarriage.”

The old physician hesitated. “This lady has already been taking such medicine for some time. Her foundation is badly damaged. If she were to abort the child now, at best she may never bear another, at worst it could cost her life.”

Momo Liu’s face changed drastically. After sending him away, she hurried back inside to report.

Madam Zhang was locked in a standoff with her daughter.

Xie Yujiao’s expression was stubborn. “Impossible. My husband must have been deceived.”

“It was Xie Yao! It must be Xie Yao who wants to harm my child!”

Momo Liu leaned close to Madam Zhang and quietly repeated the physician’s warning. Madam Zhang’s expression turned grim at once.

The child didn’t matter.

But Jiao-jiao’s life did.

“Jiao-jiao…”

Madam Zhang steadied her breath. “I, too, believe our son-in-law must have been misled.”

Xie Yujiao calmed slightly.

Madam Zhang continued gently, “But right now your husband is still recovering from his injuries. Better we not tell him of this matter, lest he worry himself further…”

—-

Meanwhile.

When Zhuqing reported that Madam Zhang had taken Xie Yujiao to Baiyun Temple outside the capital, Xie Yao immediately understood that Madam Zhang must have discovered the truth.

“Crown Princess.”

Zhuqing lowered her voice. “Our people had originally intended to inform the Second Lady directly, but… we hinted several times, and she refused to believe it.”

She sounded helpless.

What on earth had Song Wenbo fed the Second Lady, that she trusted him so blindly?

Xie Yao knew something of Song Wenbo’s talents, after all, he had once made his way up in Xiao Ning’s shadow.

But Xie Yujiao was hardly blameless.

“It’s not that she doesn’t believe, it’s that she refuses to,” Xie Yao said softly, shaking her head. “When she staked her life on a gamble by marrying him so how could she admit now that she chose wrong?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Xie Yao said. “At least now she knows.”

The purpose had been achieved.

She instructed Zhuqing merely to keep watch, and then set her own heart aside.

After making two new sets of clothes for Xiao Ji, she retrieved the Rebirth Sutra from the study and began copying it out.

After giving birth to the Crown Prince, the late Empress’s health had deteriorated sharply. Despite all the treasures the Emperor lavished upon her, she passed away on the Crown Prince’s twenty-seventh day of life.

Her death anniversary fell in mid-tenth month, only half a month away.

As a daughter-in-law, Xie Yao naturally had to make her offering.

But within two days, another matter reached her ears.

The usually timid and silent Third Prince, Xiao An, had submitted a policy essay that greatly pleased the Emperor, earning him a place at court.

Xie Yao had little impression of him, even at the Longevity Festival, Xiao An had barely been noticed.

In her previous life, she had never once heard of him. It seemed that her and Xie Yujiao’s rebirth had altered the course of events.

In the blink of an eye, the late Empress’s death anniversary arrived.

On this day, the Emperor never attended court and did not appear at all. In past years, the ritual sacrifices were presided over by the Noble Consort Li.

This year, however, Consort Shu oversaw them together with Xie Yao. For several days leading up to it, the two had busied themselves in preparation.

Thus Consort Li was left sidelined and excluded.

But Consort Li showed no anger, only making her appearance on the very day itself.

It was also on this day that Xie Yao first truly laid eyes on the Third Prince, Xiao An. Once a figure of no presence, he now shone like a pearl finally freed of dust, revealing his luster.

His temperament was gentle and not the false pretense of Xiao Hong, but the quiet grace of one steeped in learning, whose refinement spoke for itself.

He was someone people found instantly likable.

Clad in plain mourning garments, Xie Yao knelt on a prayer cushion. She was about to place the scriptures she held into the fire basin….

All eyes turned to her.

Just as she was about to let go, she suddenly drew the text back, wiping tears from the corner of her eyes.

The onlookers’ hearts all leapt at once.

Only then, when she was sure they had noticed, did Xie Yao place the scriptures into the fire.

The flames consumed the paper silently.

Those around her widened their eyes, then quickly composed their faces, realizing their slip.

Xie Yao lifted her gaze and met Consort Shu’s eyes, then continued calmly burning the rest of the texts.

Someone had tampered with her fire basin.

But she and Consort Shu had been forewarned and quietly switched it out.

When all the scriptures were burned, Zhuqing helped Xie Yao rise. She raised her eyes to the figure standing nearby… Xiao Ning.

Xiao Ning’s face was one of deep sorrow, yet when she met Xie Yao’s gaze, there was not a trace of guilt. Only inwardly did she curse: Xie Yao’s luck was truly infuriating.

When the rite was done, everyone dispersed to rest.

Xie Yao turned to Consort Shu. “Many thanks for today, Your Ladyship.”

Consort Shu smiled. “Helping the Crown Princess is also helping this palace.”

After all, as the one responsible for the ceremony, if Xie Yao had fallen into a trap, she too could not escape blame.

The Emperor loathed nothing more than disturbances on the late Empress’s memorial day.

Xiao Ning truly had her methods.

Consort Shu remarked, “But with Xiao Hong already ruined, it’s remarkable she still expends such effort.”

Xie Yao lowered her eyes.

Yes.

Xiao Hong was the perfect shield for Xiao Ning.

But she knew, Xiao Ning’s real target was her…