Chapter 90

Chapter 90: She Would Not Let It Be for Nothing

Meng Yang clutched her belly, looking heartbroken as she pleaded, “Princess, could you let her go like this? Thirty strokes will kill her…”

Sheng Zhi Wan did not move at all. Sheng Zhi Wan only ordered, “An Zhi, take her to the steward. Explain clearly what she did and what she said, then watch with your own eyes while the steward gives her the board.”

Sheng Zhi Wan added, “Also tell the steward that if I find out he dares go easy on her, he can think carefully about the consequences himself.”

An Zhi answered grimly, “Yes!” An Zhi dragged Qing Liu away, while Qing Liu’s face already looked ashen.

At this point, Meng Yang understood that begging Sheng Zhi Wan was useless. Meng Yang held her belly and stumbled toward Xiao Lan Courtyard to find Qi Shu Xian.

Qi Shu Xian had just returned from social events outside. Recently, because of Jiao Niang Wine and because Meng Yang had connected with the Third Prince, Qi Shu Xian had clearly received many more invitations than before.

When Qi Shu Xian heard that Meng Yang’s maid had only said a few wrong words, yet Sheng Zhi Wan had slapped her thirty times and then dragged her away to be beaten with the board, disgust flashed across Qi Shu Xian’s face.

Qi Shu Xian said, “She just cannot stand seeing the Duke residence do well!”

Qi Shu Xian brought Meng Yang to the front courtyard. By then, Qing Liu had already taken more than ten strokes. Large patches of blood seeped through her clothes.

When Qing Liu saw Meng Yang arrive, Qing Liu’s eyes instantly burst with the desire to live. Qing Liu begged, “Concubine… Concubine, save this servant. This servant was wrong. This servant did not mean it.”

Meng Yang trembled all over as she watched. Meng Yang cried, “Stop! Heir Apparent, quickly- quickly make them stop!”

Qi Shu Xian was the master. Once Qi Shu Xian spoke, the steward had to listen.

An Zhi had no choice but to return to report.

As soon as An Zhi left, Meng Yang rushed forward, ignoring everything, and tried to pick Qing Liu up.

Meng Yang was pregnant. Qi Shu Xian would not allow Meng Yang to act so recklessly. Qi Shu Xian quickly pulled Meng Yang into his arms and ordered other maids to help Qing Liu up.

The resentment on Qing Liu’s face faded when Qing Liu saw how fiercely Concubine Meng protected her. Qing Liu’s expression softened with emotion.

Tears fell from Meng Yang’s eyes like beads. Meng Yang turned and threw herself into Qi Shu Xian’s arms. “How could Princess be so cruel? Qing Liu is still a child!”

Meng Yang sobbed, “It was only a few wrong words. I already had Qing Liu apologize, but Princess still would not let her go. Heir Apparent, did I drag Qing Liu into this?”

Meng Yang cried until she could not speak clearly.

Qi Shu Xian’s clothes were soaked by Meng Yang’s tears. Qi Shu Xian could not help remembering how, on the battlefield, when Qi Shu Xian was wounded, Meng Yang had also cried like this in worry. A trace of tenderness rose in Qi Shu Xian’s heart.

When Qi Shu Xian saw Meng Yang crying harder and harder, Qi Shu Xian sighed. Qi Shu Xian lifted Meng Yang into his arms and carried Meng Yang all the way back to Wei Yang Courtyard.

Qing Liu’s injuries were severe. Qi Shu Xian even had someone buy medicine and send it over.

With eyes still slightly red, Meng Yang personally applied the medicine to Qing Liu.

Qing Liu said with deep gratitude, “Concubine treats this servant so well.”

Meng Yang said, “Silly Qing Liu. If it were not because of me, you would not have suffered this.”

Meng Yang lowered her lashes slightly. “I know you said those things about Princess to make me happy. They might not have been from your heart. But I truly liked hearing them, because… I truly love the Heir Apparent.”

Meng Yang sighed. “But do not say those things again. I am afraid you will really be dragged down by it. Next time, I will not be able to protect you.”

Qing Liu stared, not expecting Meng Yang to understand her thoughts. “Concubine…”

Meng Yang gently stroked Qing Liu’s hair with her fingers. “You should know my background. I am a farmer’s daughter. Before I came to the Duke Qi residence, I also had a sister who was about your age. So I do not want you to be in danger.”

Qing Liu looked deeply moved. Qing Liu watched Meng Yang carefully apply medicine and said, “Concubine, do not worry. The Heir Apparent must have you in his heart. Otherwise, the Heir Apparent would not have carried you back personally just now.”

Meng Yang’s eyes flickered.

Meng Yang said, “Qing Liu, I will not let you suffer today’s humiliation for nothing!”

As Meng Yang spoke, Meng Yang suddenly took off her outer robe, splashed a great deal of tea over her inner clothes, and only then opened the window.

That night, the temperature dropped sharply. Sheng Zhi Wan’s cold poison flared up. Sheng Zhi Wan was so cold that she wrapped herself into a tight bundle with quilts.

An Zhi kept the brazier burning hot and stuffed several hand warmers into the quilts. Even so, Sheng Zhi Wan did not fall asleep until the second half of the night. By breakfast the next day, Sheng Zhi Wan still had not woken.

An Zhi heard noise outside and asked softly, “What is happening out there?”

Ting Lan said, “It seems the one in Wei Yang Courtyard got a high fever last night. Hmph. Who cares about her? Princess’s cold poison already flared before winter even arrived. If it gets colder, and there is no Heavenly Pearl Fruit, who knows how Princess will endure…”

Ting Lan hated Meng Yang to the bone, and An Zhi felt the same. They both acted as if they knew nothing about what happened in Wei Yang Courtyard. They shut the gate to Ping Lan Residence tightly and refused to let outside matters disturb their Princess’s sleep.

Sheng Zhi Wan slept straight through until late afternoon.

When Sheng Zhi Wan finally woke, Sheng Zhi Wan felt very hungry. Ting Lan quickly told the small kitchen to prepare food.

Not long after, the small kitchen delivered soup that had already been kept warm and gently simmering over a small stove.

Sheng Zhi Wan had only eaten a little when she heard the small kitchen maid speaking with Ting Lan outside. They stood far away, so Sheng Zhi Wan could not make out the words, but their faces looked anxious.

Sheng Zhi Wan asked, “What is it?”

Ting Lan spoke quickly to the maid, then hurried over and said, “Princess, Lai Fu is gone!”