Mad Queen Leaves the Palace

Chapter 114 Roadblock

Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a soft and warm glow into the palace. Xiao Lan and Yan Nanhui accompanied Consort Tong as she enjoyed a sumptuous lunch. Consort Tong was now over four months pregnant, her slightly protruding belly clearly revealing her happiness as she prepared to become a mother.

Xiao Lan gazed at Consort Tong's increasingly prominent pregnant belly, her thoughts drifting back to her past life. She too had been six months pregnant then, but the child had tragically died at five months. Whenever she recalled this, a wave of regret would inevitably wash over her. However, upon further reflection, it was, after all, the flesh and blood of that scoundrel Yan Linfeng. In that sense, it didn't seem so worthy of such sorrow. In fact, Xiao Lan secretly rejoiced that she hadn't borne Yan Linfeng a child in her past life; otherwise, looking back now, she would surely feel utterly pathetic.

Consort Tong remained as gentle and dignified as ever. She smiled at Xiao Lan and asked with concern, "Lanlan, this trip must have been very tiring. I heard that you donated all the money you had worked so hard to obtain to the national treasury. Is that true?"

"Your Majesty, you have no idea! This donation is not the whole amount; only sixty percent has been given. His Majesty personally issued an imperial decree for my trip to Jiangnan, not only dispatching elite Imperial Guards to escort me all the way but also generously lending me boats. It is because of this that I was able to successfully obtain the compensation from the Ye family! I thought that since I have received such great assistance from His Majesty, it is only right and proper to donate some money to the national treasury. In this way, if I need His Majesty's help again in the future, I believe that His Majesty will not be able to refuse me after seeing the large sum I have donated this time." Xiao Lan slowly put down her chopsticks and recounted the story unhurriedly.

However, there were some things Xiao Lan didn't explicitly say. It's important to understand that throughout history, countless people have lost their way due to sudden wealth, completely unaware of the enormous risks involved. They often become easy prey in the eyes of those in power, ultimately meeting a tragic end.

Now, she has voluntarily offered most of her wealth to the emperor, and the remaining money will inevitably be brought into the royal family with her marriage. In this way, both sides can achieve their goals, both in appearance and in reality, making it a very respectable situation. It is precisely for this reason that His Majesty's lips were constantly turned up in a smile in the main hall just now, almost never falling down.

"Your actions are quite appropriate! If you feel indebted, I will make it up to you in the future," Consort Tong said softly with a smile. Her beauty was undeniable, leaving a lasting impression. Looking at her future daughter-in-law, she secretly rejoiced: this girl was not only exceptionally beautiful but also intelligent and quick-witted—a truly rare talent. If Nan Hui were to vie for the highest position in the future, with Xiao Lan by his side, she would be like a tiger with wings, becoming his powerful ally and certainly not a burden.

Thinking of this, Consort Tong's mood became even more pleasant. She reached for the serving chopsticks on the table, carefully picked up a piece of tender and succulent fish for Xiao Lan, and placed it in the bowl in front of her. She said gently, "Lanlan, don't be shy, just eat more. These dishes were specially prepared for you by the kitchen at my request." It turned out that Yan Nan had already informed her mother, Consort Tong, of Xiao Lan's dietary preferences, so the dishes prepared today were all made according to Xiao Lan's taste.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lan's face lit up with joy. She accepted the exquisite food from Consort Tong with trepidation, then flashed Consort Tong a radiant, sweet smile, saying in a gentle voice, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty! By the way, Your Majesty, my mother was overjoyed to learn of your pregnancy and specially instructed me to bring you some auspicious items from Xiwu Prefecture. There are pillows specially made for pregnant women, and sachets to soothe the mind and promote sleep. My mother said she was very grateful for the precious gifts Your Majesty had previously sent, but the palace is overflowing with treasures and lacks nothing. Therefore, these spices and pillows were specially ordered by my mother to be made urgently, and every step of the process was personally supervised by her. This is to express our deepest respect and blessings to Your Majesty. We hope Your Majesty will not find this humble gift distasteful."

Upon hearing this, Consort Tong, with a kind and amiable smile on her face, nodded gently and replied, "Please convey my gratitude to your mother when you return."

Xiao Lan nodded slightly, then said softly, "However, Your Highness, before using these items, just to be on the safe side, it would be best to have the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital examine them first, lest someone with ulterior motives take advantage of the situation. Oh, by the way, I also specially had two small tools made to listen to the fetal heartbeat; one for you and one for my mother." As she spoke, Xiao Lan carefully handed one of the trumpet-shaped objects to Consort Tong. Since there was no rubber available at the moment, Xiao Lan had cleverly used sheepskin and bamboo to carefully craft this stethoscope-like contraption. Unfortunately, this novel little invention could not yet be used by the user to listen to the fetal heartbeat; only with the help of others could the faint and magical sound of life be heard.

Xiao Lan smiled and explained in detail to Consort Tong how the earpiece worked, from how sound travels to how it amplifies and transmits even the faintest sounds. Consort Tong listened with great interest, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and delight.

After Xiao Lan finished explaining, Consort Tong eagerly grabbed her hand and led her into the inner room. As they walked, she murmured, "This is truly a wonderful thing! It will definitely come in very handy in the future. It can be used by Yan Zhen. Let him hear our child's heartbeat more often; that way, he will surely value us more. Now that Yan Nan Hui has grown up, I not only have to help him reclaim everything that rightfully belongs to him, but it's also time to settle those old scores."

After entering the inner chamber, Xiao Lan and Consort Tong chatted amiably. They whispered amongst themselves and laughed heartily. After a while, Consort Tong emerged, beaming, leading Xiao Lan out. Consort Tong was in exceptionally good spirits and was carrying a large pile of gifts to give to Xiao Lan.

Consort Tong gently placed the items into Xiao Lan's arms, gave her a subtle wink, and kindly instructed, "Take these back and use them well. If you need more, just come and tell me." As soon as she finished speaking, Consort Tong gently patted the back of Xiao Lan's hand, as if conveying a special affection.

Afterwards, Consort Tong instructed her servants to escort Xiao Lan and the others out of the palace. Once they were in the carriage, Yan Nan Hui, who had been silent all along, finally couldn't contain her doubts and asked, "Lan Lan, what exactly did you say to my mother? Why do I feel like you're hiding something from me?"

Xiao Lan raised her eyes and gave the man before her a deep look. After a moment's thought, she decided to stop hiding the truth and spoke frankly: "Just before I left the capital, Consort Tong gave me all the gifts bestowed upon me by the Empress. Later, I became suspicious and had a reliable person examine these items. Unexpectedly, some of them were mixed in with substances that could harm a pregnant woman. Fortunately, the dosage was very small, and to produce a noticeable effect, it would require continuous use over many years. Therefore, even if this matter were exposed, probably no one would easily believe it. After all, the Empress could easily claim it was an unintentional mistake or find a scapegoat to take the blame. So, after discussing and deliberating with Consort Tong, we finally reached a consensus—to remain still for now and wait for the right opportunity. When that time comes, we will make the Empress pay the price for her actions!"

After hearing this, Yan Nanhui nodded slightly, indicating that he understood. He lowered his voice and replied, "Understood. Lanlan, you must be very careful about this." However, those who knew him well knew that he was in a bad mood at the moment. Although his tone was low and calm, it revealed a hint of displeasure. For a moment, the carriage fell silent again, and the atmosphere became somewhat heavy. Xiao Lan sat there quietly, secretly pondering whether she should say something to comfort Yan Nanhui so that his mood could improve slightly.

To everyone's surprise, the carriage, which was moving forward, suddenly stopped without warning. At the same time, an anxious and loud cry came from outside the carriage: "Uncle! Uncle, please save your nephew!"

Upon hearing the shout, Xiao Lan, sitting inside the carriage, frowned and pondered deeply. She listened carefully to the voice, which sounded like that of a grown man, but she couldn't understand how Yan Nan Hui could have a nephew of such a young age. This sudden situation filled her with suspicion.

At that very moment, Yan Nan Hui unhesitatingly reached out and lifted the carriage curtain, then stepped out. When he saw who it was, his expression darkened, and he asked, "Why are you acting so rashly? What happened?"

As Yan Nan Hui lifted the carriage curtain, Xiao Lan peeked out through the crack. Standing outside was a man of similar age to Yan Nan Hui, tall and handsome. However, Xiao Lan was certain she had never seen this man before.

She pondered to herself that although she had never dealt with this person before, judging from his flustered and anxious expression, he must have a close relationship with Yan Nan Hui. With that in mind, Xiao Lan simply reached out and lifted the curtain, saying softly to Yan Nan Hui, "Your Highness, if this is your friend, why don't we go to a nearby shop together to discuss this matter in detail? After all, there are too many people around here, and it's inconvenient to talk."

At this moment, their carriage was only a kilometer away from Wutong Residence. If this were modern society, given Xiao Lan's personality, she would probably have gotten out of the carriage and walked there long ago. It's just a pity that she has no maidservants to serve her now, and walking alone is indeed a bit inconvenient.

So, Qin Shixun followed Yan Nanhui into the carriage. After they were seated, before Yan Nanhui could even introduce themselves, Qin Shixun was already very enthusiastic, taking the initiative to greet Xiao Lan, who was sitting opposite him. He smiled broadly, cupped his hands, and said, "This young lady, I am the heir of the Prince's Mansion, named Qin Shixun. It is truly fate that we meet here today!"

Upon hearing Qin Shixun introduce himself, Xiao Lan was slightly taken aback, then murmured to herself, "The heir of the Prince's mansion?" She seemed somewhat surprised by this identity. Then, as if suddenly remembering something important, she quickly looked up at Qin Shixun and asked, "Then may I ask, young master, who is Princess Tai'an...?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Shixun's face immediately showed a look of surprise, and he replied without thinking, "Oh my, young lady, you actually know my grandmother, Princess Tai'an!" However, just as he finished speaking, Yan Nanhui, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up coldly.

Yan Nanhui said in an icy tone, "What are you calling me, young lady? This is my betrothed wife, your fifth imperial aunt. Don't be rude!" As soon as he said this, the carriage fell into a deathly silence.

Qin Shixun's heart skipped a beat, and he knew he was in trouble. He knew that although his Fifth Uncle always presented a carefree and irresponsible demeanor, he was actually a ruthless man. If he angered him, even his own life would be in danger. Thinking of this, Qin Shixun quickly nodded repeatedly and replied, "Yes, Fifth Aunt. Hehe..." At the same time, a layer of sweat involuntarily appeared on his forehead. After all, besides Yan Nan Hui's terrifying methods, there was another reason why Qin Shixun dared not easily offend him—that was, he was the only one who had personally witnessed Yan Nan Hui's cruelty and ruthlessness when killing. Otherwise, given Qin Shixun's personality, why would he be willing to befriend such a seemingly unrestrained person?

Xiao Lan paid little attention to what was happening before her eyes; her thoughts drifted involuntarily to the grandson of Princess Tai'an. As far as she knew, this man's surname seemed to be Qin, and she had heard that this Prince Qin had accompanied Yan Nan Hui to the border in her previous life, where he unfortunately died in battle. Because of this, Xiao Lan had never met this Prince Qin in her past life. However, since he had accompanied Yan Nan Hui to the border, he must be one of Yan Nan Hui's trusted confidants.