Transmigrated as the Short-Lived White Moonlight, I Ended Up Happily Ever After With the Female Lead - Chapter 58

Even though Ji Yan’an could retort against those young ladies and Lin Jinxi, she couldn’t argue with the imperial concubines. If these women whispered a few words into the Emperor’s ear, wouldn’t her reputation collapse?

Seeing them discussing Song Yi, Ji Yan’an felt very uncomfortable. But what she hadn’t done, she hadn’t done, and Ji Yan’an wasn’t afraid of being kept here.

They continued their discussion, while Ji Yan’an and Song Yi sat down at the table and continued to eat. They were originally leaving because they hadn’t finished eating, but since they weren’t allowed to go, they might as well fill their stomachs.

But Ji Yan’an didn’t expect to be mocked even for this. Those young ladies who enjoyed watching the drama had long been dissatisfied with Ji Yan’an’s usual conduct, and now they finally found an opportunity.

“Is Miss Ji from the Ji family starving? Now that the Noble Consort is in a critical condition inside, with the fetus’s life or death uncertain, you two are eating quite happily.” It was a young lady from an unknown background, standing next to Lin Jinxi, her words full of sarcasm, practically asking if the Ji residence lacked food.

Lin Jinxi quickly pulled her away, and both fell silent. But they successfully drew the conflict back onto Ji Yan’an and Song Yi. Ji Yan’an’s chopsticks paused in mid-air, her eyebrows tightly furrowed: “We are naturally not worried, as the Noble Consort is blessed by heaven. But since you are so worried, do you not believe that the Noble Consort can overcome this adversity? Furthermore, this matter was not our doing, nor do we need to feel guilty about anything. Is everyone sitting here not to eat, but to feel guilty?”

Ji Yan’an once again admired her quick wit, forcefully shifting the situation. Those imperial concubines and sensible young ladies picked up their chopsticks and began to eat again. Thus, a bizarre scene unfolded in the Hall of Perpetual Peace: Liu Wanwan was suffering and wailing on her couch, while the people in the main hall were surprisingly eating the food they could barely swallow with expressionless faces.

The smell of blood gradually permeated the air. Those pampered individuals could no longer eat, and were on the verge of covering their mouths and rushing out to vomit. However, seeing Fuji blocking the doorway, they all silently gave up the idea.

“I won’t eat anymore!” The young lady who had led the provocation threw down her chopsticks. No matter how Lin Jinxi tried to stop her, she refused to lower her voice.

“Ji Yan’an! Don’t think you’re so great just because your father is the Prime Minister! My father is a general, even if he’s not as influential. What kind of airs are you putting on? An unworldly thing like you is still a baseborn person, even if you were born in the Ji residence!”

Upon hearing this, Ji Yan’an understood who this person was. She must be Lin Miaoyi, the legitimate daughter of General Lin’s residence. Lin Miaoyi was famously fierce and bold, and had been at odds with Ji Yan’an since childhood. Even though they hadn’t met many times, she still regarded Ji Yan’an as her imaginary enemy, constantly inquiring about Ji Yan’an’s whereabouts and criticizing her in the Lin residence.

Lin Jinxi and Ji Tong’an getting together was also because Lin Miaoyi initially asked her to pay a high price to Ji Tong’an for information on Ji Yan’an’s whereabouts, which unexpectedly brought about the acquaintance of Lin Jinxi and Ji Tong’an.

Although Ji Tong’an didn’t think much of Lin Jinxi.

Lin Miaoyi’s voice was already loud, and she was now full of pent-up frustration, making her words even louder. But just as Lin Miaoyi was about to sit down, red with anger, the Empress Dowager’s momo nurse/servant and the imperial physician had just arrived outside the door. Hearing the angry curse, the momo was displeased. Ji Yan’an was the Empress Dowager’s favorite, and now she had been unjustly scolded like this—how could this be tolerated?!

The momo first entered the door, rushed the imperial physician to check on Liu Wanwan’s condition, and then began to settle the score.

“Miss Lin, your words are wrong. Our dynasty’s Prime Minister holds a high position. The Empress Dowager’s maternal family and Madam Ji’s maternal family belong to the same lineage and clan. It can be said that Miss Ji’s bloodline also contains a trace of the Empress Dowager’s blood. Is Miss Lin cursing Miss Ji, or is she making an oblique criticism of the Empress Dowager?!”

Lin Jinxi had already frantically tugged at Lin Miaoyi’s clothes when she saw the Empress Dowager’s momo arrive, indicating that she should restrain herself. Who knew that this fool not only failed to restrain herself but became even more excessive, and her voice grew louder.

Lin Miaoyi’s face turned pale after being reprimanded by the momo. She quickly shook her head, denying that she was referring to the Empress Dowager. Just as the momo was about to say a few more words, the imperial physician sighed: “The child could not be saved.”

This single sentence stunned everyone into silence. Heaven knows how long Liu Wanwan had longed for a child. Now it was gone just like that, which was truly regrettable.

Even if Consort Xian was delighted in her heart, she still felt something was suspicious. Liu Wanwan’s pregnancy had come too quickly for any of them to intervene. But who acted so swiftly? Could it really be Ji Yan’an and Song Yi, as they had just discussed?

Consort Xian decided not to add another word. Although she enjoyed watching the drama, she didn’t like to court trouble. She stood aside, watching the mama and the imperial physician repeatedly confirm the situation. She only left after confirming that there was truly no hope.

“Your Highness! Please restrain your grief… there will be other children…” The maid knelt by the bed, weeping as she looked at the dying Liu Wanwan.

The moment before Liu Wanwan passed out, she instructed her maid to find the Emperor.

No sooner had the words fallen than the Emperor rushed into the room. He ignored everyone’s salute, holding Liu Wanwan’s cold little hand, extremely distressed. His tone was terrible: “Investigate! Investigate this for me!”

Fuji seemed to have been waiting for these words. He quickly rushed in with a group of guards and the imperial physician to investigate. Liu Wanwan’s food, her bowls and chopsticks, and the incense in the hall were all examined by the imperial physician one by one, but there was no abnormality.

“Forgive your servant for speaking frankly. Since your servant entered the main hall, I have smelled a peculiar fragrance, which seems suspicious.” The imperial physician brought by the Empress Dowager hesitated for a long time before speaking. The Emperor was already very anxious and quickly ordered the imperial physician to search for the source of the fragrance.

The mention of fragrance made Ji Yan’an feel uneasy. Fragrance… and a peculiar one. Looking around the main hall, most of the scents were very common. Only Song Yi’s sachet seemed strange to Ji Yan’an from the start. Now that she thought about it, something might be wrong.

Ji Yan’an was about to secretly take off Song Yi’s sachet, when Liu Wanwan’s maid, with quick eyes and hands, immediately ran over and grabbed the sachet from Song Yi’s waist, reporting: “Sir! Look at this sachet! As soon as this servant got close to Miss Song, I could smell a very strange odor. Maybe it’s this!”

The imperial physician rushed over. Ji Yan’an’s heart sank. This was a trap!

Sure enough, everyone gathered around the imperial physician, even the Emperor looked over. The imperial physician opened the sachet, revealing the scented blocks and plum blossoms to everyone. The imperial physician picked up a piece and sniffed it carefully. After a moment, he frowned and knelt before the Emperor: “Your Majesty! It is this fragrance that caused the Noble Consort to miscarry! Originally, the scented blocks were not poisonous, but they were deliberately mixed with plum blossoms. These two things together are not simple. Their power is stronger than musk! The Noble Consort had not yet carried the fetus safely, so naturally, the child could not be saved!”

Ji Yan’an’s mind went completely blank. Song Yi also frowned, tightly grasping Ji Yan’an’s hand, already sensing the situation.

As expected, the Emperor slammed the table and stood up upon hearing this. His eyes were fixed on Song Yi: “Your father was a criminal; are you going to continue his stain!? Guards, take her away! We will discuss this in the court tomorrow!”

Ji Yan’an was terrified and quickly hugged Song Yi, defending her: “Song Yi didn’t know! I didn’t know either! You can’t lock her up! I’d like to see who dares!!”

If this sentence were spoken in the Ji residence, it would certainly carry weight. But these guards were the Emperor’s personal guards and only obeyed the Emperor’s orders. No matter how Ji Yan’an commanded them, they did not hesitate. She held Song Yi desperately. Song Yi couldn’t bear it and told her to let go, but Ji Yan’an refused. She would rather be arrested and taken to the prison with her.

“Then lock up Ji Yan’an as well!” The Emperor was furious, pressing his hands against his temples, clearly agitated.

The guards received the order and quickly tied up Ji Yan’an to take her away. Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager appeared at the door, looking gloomy.

“The Emperor must be losing his mind from anger. How can my darling Yan’an be locked in a prison?” The Empress Dowager, dressed in luxurious attire, walked in and personally untied Ji Yan’an’s ropes. Seeing the redness left by the ropes, her heart ached. Without saying a word, she pulled Ji Yan’an away.

Song Yi was kicked to her knees, her eyes fixed only on Ji Yan’an being pulled away. There was no fear or distress, only a sense of relief.

“Song Yi! Empress Dowager! And Song Yi, please save her, please save her!” Ji Yan’an burst into tears. Seeing the Emperor so angry, she knew something was wrong. This matter was even going to be discussed in the court tomorrow, which surely meant it was a major incident. Only now did Ji Yan’an realize how helpless and insignificant she was, still unable to do anything in front of the Emperor.

The Empress Dowager tightened her grip on Ji Yan’an’s arm. She didn’t speak the whole way until she brought Ji Yan’an back to her palace before opening her mouth.

“An’er! Calm down. It is not impossible for me to save her, but… didn’t your grandmother teach you that when taking action, you must be absolutely ruthless? You can’t leave even a trace of life for those people.” The Empress Dowager was no less ruthless than the Old Madam. The Old Madam had only navigated the internal struggles of the household, but the Empress Dowager was different. She had carved out her path in the dangerously intricate imperial palace and became the champion of court intrigue.

The phrase “when taking action, you must be absolutely ruthless” echoed in Ji Yan’an’s mind. Although crude, the meaning was profound. The Old Madam had also said that to overthrow someone, you must ensure they never have a chance to rise again.

“But… Song Yi will be taken to the court tomorrow. Why has this matter escalated to the court?” Ji Yan’an was truly puzzled. Tears were still on her face, and she couldn’t figure it out.

“Heh, Liu Wanwan’s pregnancy was fake. That imperial physician was bribed. I know all of this. She merely wants revenge on Song Yi. Back then, Song Yi’s father was upright and honest. He discovered the Liu family’s intention to rebel, compiled all the documentation and evidence, and was framed for destroying military rations and executed overnight right before he could submit his impeachment memorial… Only Song Yi was left in the Song family. What do you think Liu Wanwan wants to do?”

“Kill her to silence her…”