When Huaya Garden was brought up, the Crown Princess looked down, her hand resting on her belly. She bit her lip softly, and a trace of unwillingness flickered across her features.
Jiang Ning caught the change in the Crown Princess’s face.
Huaya Garden is a pleasure ground, a place of indulgence, where women are strictly barred.
What is the Crown Princess going to that kind of place for?
She had heard the Crown Prince was a regular there. Jiang Mengyue, too, found her way in—veiled and disguised—before securing her tie to him.
The Crown Princess, pregnant, entered Huaya Garden not for revelry, but to search for the Crown Prince—or maybe to confront someone, like one of his favored women.
She had heard in her past life that the Crown Princess was jealous. The Crown Prince loved a concubine dearly, and the Crown Princess cruelly tormented that concubine to death.
Jiang Ning had intended to slip out quietly, avoiding any entanglement with the Crown Princess.
But after thinking for a short while, she had a thought, turned around, and said to the Crown Princess: "I live at the very end of West Street Alley. If Madam has any physical discomfort, she can come find me."
The maid furrowed her brows. She had already stated the Crown Princess’s identity, yet this woman was still so discourteous, not knowing hierarchy at all.
Even if she understands medicine and saved the Crown Princess, the Crown Princess’s body is noble. How can a commoner treat her? If something bad happened… it is better to let the imperial physicians of the palace look.
The maid began to speak: "Young lady…"
The Crown Princess lifted her hand to block the maid, raised her face, and gently said: "Then I must trouble the young lady."
“The young lady’s medical skill is excellent; she saved my child, so of course I trust her… Next time I will surely come with generous gifts to offer my thanks.”
The Crown Princess’s gaze flickered, clearly harboring other thoughts.
Jiang Ning slightly nodded, got off the carriage, and left.
Yu Er hurried forward, deeply worried: “Miss Jiang, those people didn’t give you trouble, did they?”
He was truly worried—if Miss Jiang made even the slightest mistake in her medical skill, those people would surely tear her apart alive!
Jiang Ning shook her head: “No.”
“That’s good, that’s good. Next time you mustn’t be so reckless…” Yu Er let out a long sigh of relief. Having served under Jiang Ning for so long, he already regarded her as his master, and he could not bear the thought of her coming to harm.
Jiang Ning gave a faint smile, glanced at the Crown Princess’s carriage in the distance, her eyes thoughtful: “This time, they’ve delivered me a splendid opportunity.”
“What opportunity?” Yu Er asked in puzzlement.
Jiang Ning did not answer. She pointed toward the maid in the carriage and said: “Remember their faces.”
Yu Er looked around and asked: “What about those people? Why must we remember them?”
“It will be useful in the future.”
Having spoken, Jiang Ning calmly boarded the carriage.
Yu Er turned back again, carefully scanning the maids in the carriage, fixing their faces firmly in his memory. Though he did not know what Miss Jiang intended, since she had given the order, he trusted she had her reasons.
.........
The Crown Princess’s complexion gradually grew rosy.
It must be said, Jiang Ning’s medicine worked wonders—quickly replenishing the body’s vital energy and blood, and with just a few simple silver needles, she stabilized the Crown Princess’s signs of miscarriage.
The Crown Princess was still shaken—just thinking of it made her break out in a cold sweat, her spine chilled.
Her child had almost…
The Crown Princess’s carriage immediately sped back to the palace, the servants not daring to delay even a moment.
Halfway along, the Crown Princess suddenly called for a halt: “Xiuzhu, go buy a new dress. I wish to change.”
“But…” The maid frowned. “It would be best for the Crown Princess to return to the palace quickly. You must let the imperial physicians examine you at once.”
“I know my own body. I am already fine.”
The Crown Princess clenched her fist; her skirt was stained with blood, and of course she could not return like that.
Though the maid still wished to speak, the Crown Princess’s face was stern and cold, and she could only obey.
Soon, the Crown Princess changed into a fresh set of clothes, while the blood‑stained garments were taken away to be burned.
With a cold face, the Crown Princess declared: “What happened today must never be spoken of outside. If any of you dare to leak even a single word, do not blame me for being merciless!”
“Why… why is that?” Xiuzhu asked, her face full of confusion.
Of course, it must not be spoken of.
The Crown Princess’s face showed unwillingness; she had secretly slipped out of the palace, intending to investigate at Huaya Garden which person the Crown Prince had favored of late.
In recent days, the Crown Prince often left the palace—sometimes in daylight, sometimes deep into the night—and when he returned, his body carried the fragrance of women.
This left her both shocked and furious.
The Crown Prince had never been close to women; his mind was filled only with ambition for the throne. His visits to Huaya Garden were merely for its tranquil atmosphere—to listen to music and sip wine—and he had never approached a woman.
But… in recent days, circumstances suggest that the Crown Prince now has a woman by his side.
Moreover, that woman held an important position, and in recent days she clearly felt the Crown Prince was perfunctory toward her.
She was clearly carrying the Crown Prince’s child, yet he paid her no heed.
So she had to go and see which vixen had bewitched the Crown Prince’s heart!
But… the Crown Prince disliked anyone meddling in his affairs; if he learned he was being investigated, he would surely be enraged.
Thus the Crown Princess secretly left the palace, going alone to Huaya Garden.
She had not expected an accident along the way; in recent days she had been anxious, her pregnancy unstable, often feeling abdominal pain—and today she nearly miscarried…
Fortunately, she encountered a young woman skilled in medicine.
Thinking of the girl who had treated her, a strange light flickered in the Crown Princess’s eyes—this way, she would have a reason to leave the palace next time.
.........
The Crown Princess returned to the palace.
Everything was as usual, with nothing out of the ordinary.
The maids, trembling with fear, watched her expression carefully, terrified that something might happen to the Crown Princess.
Xiuzhu suggested, “Your Highness, why not summon the imperial physician to take your pulse?”
The Crown Princess felt nothing was wrong, yet she nodded lightly: “Very well, go summon Physician Li.”
“Yes.”
Imperial Physician Li came to the Eastern Palace to take her pulse. After a while, his furrowed brow relaxed, and with a slight smile he said, “The Crown Princess’s pulse is steady—much better than last time.”
“Really?” The Crown Princess was somewhat surprised; perhaps she had underestimated that young woman’s medical skill. The girl had given her a bitter pill—more effective than the palace physicians’ prescriptions for stabilizing pregnancy.
“Yes, please be at ease, Your Highness, and continue taking the stabilizing medicine.”
The Crown Princess curved her lips slightly, her hand gently caressing her swelling belly.
Imperial Physician Li withdrew and left.
The Crown Prince entered, saw Physician Li leaving, and frowned slightly as he asked, “What happened?”
The Crown Princess rose to her feet, walked forward to greet him, and said, “Your Highness, you have returned.”
“Mm.” The Crown Prince responded lightly, his gaze falling on the Crown Princess’s belly. “What is it—are you feeling unwell?”
“It’s nothing serious. I just had Physician Li come to check that all is well.”
“That’s good.” The Crown Prince’s reaction was somewhat indifferent; after confirming the child was fine, he turned away. “I’m going to the study.”
“Your Highness…” The Crown Princess wanted to say more, but the Crown Prince had already turned away. She bit her lip lightly—his treatment of her was colder than before, and… his body carried that familiar fragrance once again.
Just who is the vixen that has ensnared the Crown Prince?
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