Chapter 690 - 468: The Heroine Falls, Everyone Rejoices

Chapter 690: Chapter 468: The Heroine Falls, Everyone Rejoices

Song Yunzhao hadn’t expected Xu Mingying to commit such a wicked act to harm her. Xu Anchen and his wife had been working for her, so now that they were in trouble, she naturally had to protect them.

Besides, the Emperor was aware of this matter. Allowing Xu Anchen to keep his post would also let the courtiers witness the Emperor’s benevolence.

It was, in a way, killing two birds with one stone.

"It looks like the harem will be quiet for a good long while now," Consort Shu said with a smile. "Because of this disaster, even your pregnancy didn’t provoke much of a reaction from the Empress Dowager. I suppose it’s a blessing in disguise."

Song Yunzhao smiled along with her. ’It’s true. The Empress Dowager even had Nanny Yao send over some nourishing supplements, but I didn’t eat any of them. I just put them in the storeroom.’

Consort Shu chatted with Yun Zhao a little longer, then rose to leave. Looking at her, she said, "We’ll be returning to the palace soon. I have to start preparing, so I won’t be visiting you for the time being. We can talk again once we’re back at the palace."

"Now that I’m pregnant, I really can’t be of much help to you, Sister Shu. I can only trouble you."

"You’d better treat me to a meal once you’re feeling better."

"Deal."

Consort Shu left cheerfully. ’It would be best if Song Yunzhao gives birth to another Prince. With two Princes by her side, her position will be even more secure. She might even be able to climb higher.’

’The more stable she is, the more I benefit. I absolutely have to protect her well.’

’What’s a little hard work? I’m happy to do it.’

「A few days later.」

The Great Madam sent a card to the garden, and Yun Zhao met with her family the next day. This time, it wasn’t just the Great Madam who came, but also Song Guiyi.

The cousins were very happy to see each other. Song Guiyi looked a bit thinner, but she was full of vigor, a clear sign that her life was going well.

The Great Madam observed Yun Zhao carefully from the side. Seeing she had lost more weight, she couldn’t help but worry. "Your Highness, is your appetite poor? Why have you gotten so thin?"

"Aunt, there’s no need to worry. I’ve been getting better these past few days and eating more. I’m sure I’ll gain the weight back in half a month." Song Yunzhao had been in low spirits because of the witchcraft incident, and on top of that, she had some morning sickness, which was why she’d lost weight.

During this time, Feng Yi would come to keep her company whenever he was free. The Imperial Kitchen also sent her meals with constantly changing flavors, and as the weather gradually cooled, her mood improved, and her appetite returned.

The Great Madam breathed a small sigh of relief upon hearing this. "Everyone in the family was so happy for you when they heard Your Highness was pregnant, but you must also take care of yourself."

Song Guiyi, at her side, also said, "On my way back to the Capital City, I passed through Nanyu and brought you some local delicacies. Perhaps they can help whet your appetite."

At Song Guiyi’s words, Song Yunzhao really did feel a craving. "That’s so thoughtful of you, big sister. You must have taken a detour, right? Now that you mention it, I really am a little tempted to eat some."

Song Guiyi laughed. "When I was pregnant, I had a huge craving for food from my hometown. It put your brother-in-law in a tough spot. He had to write a letter to my mother, and the family had someone travel a thousand li just to bring it to me and satisfy my craving."

As they talked about pregnancy, the atmosphere immediately lightened.

The conversation then turned to Song Guiyi’s return to the Capital City. She said, "I was thinking that as the children are getting older, it would be better for them to study in the Capital City. The place where my husband was posted is too remote. Not only would the children suffer by following him, but we also wouldn’t be able to find good tutors."

Song Yunzhao agreed with this point. "Then, big sister, will you stay in the Capital City or go back?"

Song Guiyi was in a dilemma. "We haven’t decided yet. Your brother-in-law’s idea is to have my mother-in-law come to the Capital City, and then I would go back. But I can’t bear to leave the children, so I’m torn."

The couple had a good relationship, and Song Guiyi didn’t want to promote a concubine to accompany her husband at his post. Over a long period of time, she feared her husband might grow close only to the concubine and forget about her and their children.

’No matter how strong their feelings, if he can’t see his wife, the thousands of mountains and rivers between them can’t compare to the concubine right before his eyes.’

Song Yunzhao asked, "Is there any word from Madam Zhong? Is she willing to come to the Capital City?"

Song Guiyi replied, "My mother-in-law is willing, but my father-in-law can’t be left alone."

Song Yunzhao smiled and said, "That’s easy to solve. Why don’t you let Aunt take care of the two children? Then Lady Zhong can come to the Capital City whenever she’s free. With Mr. Zhong serving as an official elsewhere, it wouldn’t be proper for a concubine to handle interactions between the ladies of the inner residences."

Song Guiyi looked troubled. "I’m just afraid that if I say this, my mother-in-law will overthink it. She actually treats me quite well, but when it comes to her grandchildren, I’m worried she’ll become suspicious."

"That’s also easy to handle. I think you should have Aunt personally write a letter to Lady Zhong. Our two families have always been on very good terms. I’m sure Lady Zhong would be willing to compromise for the sake of her grandchildren. After all, it’s hard to have it all. To care for the children, she’d have to leave Mr. Zhong. Now that Mr. Zhong is doing well in his official career, he can’t be without his capable wife."

The Great Madam said, "Then let’s give it a try. Lady Zhong is a straightforward person. If I am sincere in my approach, she should agree."

After discussing this matter, the Great Madam brought up the Xu Family’s affairs. Now that the Marquis Wuxin Mansion was gone, they were simply referred to as the Xu Family.

"The Marquis Wuxin Mansion didn’t fall without reason. When your uncle and your father first heard the news, they both nearly fainted. If something had really happened to Your Highness, it would have been two lives lost for the price of one. Simply stripping them of their official posts and titles was letting them off easy. You wouldn’t believe it, but after this upheaval, Mrs. Xu and her husband are now dependent on their eldest son to get by. Mrs. Xu can no longer put on the airs of a mother-in-law."

Song Yunzhao smiled. "Are Lord Xu and his wife doing all right?"

"They’re getting by. Although he kept his official post, after something like this, the next few years will certainly be difficult. Whether they can make a comeback will depend on how well Xu Anchen performs as an official. But he was always a mediocre official in the past, so I fear he’ll remain so in the future. In that case, it will be very hard for him to get ahead," the Great Madam sighed.

’If not for the fact that Xu Anchen and his wife helped Yun Zhao, they could have only dreamed of him keeping his official post.’

"There’s something else you wouldn’t expect. After this ordeal, Xu Anxing has actually pulled himself together. He’s much more serious about his work than before," the Great Madam sighed. ’You really can’t judge a person until the very end.’

Song Yunzhao raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? That is rather unexpected."

"Before, regarding the Guangning Prefecture matter, he was concerned, but not to the point of personally getting involved. This time, after the trouble at home, he settled his parents and then left the Capital City for Guangning Prefecture. Without titles and honor, it’s not easy for the family to get back on its feet. I didn’t expect him to show some backbone now."

Song Yunzhao smiled. "That’s a good thing. This way, Song Qinghan can be considered to have firmly established her footing in the Xu Family."

’After this incident, the two of them are even.’

’If Song Qinghan hadn’t helped, it wouldn’t have been so easy to expose Xu Mingying this quickly.’

’But what Song Qinghan used to care about most was the honor of the Marquis Wuxin Mansion. I wonder if she regrets it now.’

The Great Madam nodded, and then added another piece of good news. "Qing Han is pregnant."

Song Yunzhao was speechless.

’Is that good news or bad news?’

’But it should be good news. It’s her own child, after all, and one she’s been hoping for for a long time.’

’I never thought that after Qin Xiyue, the female lead, fell, Song Qinghan, the female supporting character from the book, would have her luck turn around.’

*Tsk.*

’Once the female lead falls, everyone is happy, huh.’