Chapter 145: The Yellow Sparrow

Chapter 145: The Yellow Sparrow

In this way, seeming to have done nothing, she was already fifty percent certain that Feng would have a difficult labor.

But this was not enough.

As a result, she had Xiao Die make deliberate noises during the night and often "accidentally" let Feng hear ghost stories, exacerbating her pregnancy-induced fears. During visits to Jiang Xue Xuan, she would mention her "good sister," who had previously framed Sun Bao Lin. Now that Sun Bao Lin was free, would he harbor thoughts of revenge?

With various schemes in play, Feng was bound for a difficult labor, if not a miscarriage. Even if she survived, her weakened state post-delivery would present ample opportunities for manipulation.

But she would never be foolish enough to use easily traceable poisons!

In the end, she was outmaneuvered.

Was it Feng, Sun Bao Lin, Yi Pin, or someone else?

If lily pollen was found in the painting, the one framing her would surely plant incriminating evidence in either Zhu Xia Xuan or Xiao Die's room. The search results should be available by tomorrow at the latest...

Sun Pin knew her standing in the Emperor's heart was negligible. Whether the Empress would investigate thoroughly remained uncertain. Even if she did, her own subtle manipulations could easily be uncovered. Her only hope for salvation now lay with Huai Qing Princess, who had just elevated her to this position.

She only wished to still hold some value to Huai Qing Princess.

"Thud—"

Suddenly, a soft sound, as if something had rolled off the bed.

Du Juan, sleeping by the foot of the bed, got up and lit a candle by the moonlight. She then saw a small porcelain bottle on the floor. With a worried look, she picked up the noticeably lighter bottle and approached the bed, softly asking, "My lady, are you still awake?"

There was a rustling of fabrics from inside the bed curtains, followed by a low female voice: "I can't sleep, Du Juan. What just rolled down?"

Du Juan lifted the curtain and handed the porcelain bottle to Sun Pin, whispering, "My lady, it's this."

Sun Pin took it, looked up at her, and suddenly asked, "Do you know what's inside this?"

Du Juan spoke quietly, "I didn't know at first, but I learned about it during the housewarming banquet hosted by Princess Huai Qing."

Sun Pin smiled and said, "You are clever."

Du Juan lowered her head, honestly confessing, "I know I'm different from Hua Mei, not a maid brought from your home, and coming from the Judicial Bureau, you've always been wary of me. But I swear to the heavens, I've never done anything to harm you!"

Sun Pin was touched and sighed softly, "You've been with me for nearly five years. Apart from Hua Mei, you're the one I trust the most. Now that Hua Mei is detained at the Judicial Bureau, you're the only one I can rely on."

Du Juan immediately replied respectfully, "My lady, you haven't done those things. The Empress will surely clear your name, and Hua Mei will be safe."

"I didn't tamper with that painting," Sun Pin said, holding her hand, "but as you've seen, all the evidence points to me. Besides, I haven't always been respectful to the Empress. I'm uncertain how this will turn out."

Du Juan clasped her hand back, hesitatingly suggesting, "My lady, I still have some connections in the Judicial Bureau. Shall I... make some inquiries?"

"But Zhu Xia Xuan is under lockdown. How can you get out?" Sun Pin frowned.

Du Juan spoke softly, "My lady, the guards at Zhu Xia Xuan are from the Judicial Bureau... I have some old acquaintances there."

After weighing her options, Sun Pin made up her mind and said, "Inquire discreetly. Also, do one more thing for me."

"Yes, my lady. What is it?" Du Juan asked solemnly.

Sun Pin glanced at her, got off the bed, and walked barefoot around the screen to the desk, with Du Juan following closely with the candlestick.

Sun Pin quickly wrote a note, dried the ink, rolled it up, and handed it to Du Juan: "Deliver this to Wang You Palace tonight."

"Wang You Palace?" Du Juan seemed surprised, but she quickly composed herself and said steadily, "I understand."

The candlestick was placed on the desk, and Du Juan, lifting the hem of her skirt, hurriedly left the main room.

Sun Pin watched Du Juan's departing figure for a moment before lying back down on the bed.

Even if Du Juan was backed by others, the note contained nothing significant, merely a plea for help to Princess Huai Qing. As Princess Huai Qing's lifesaver, it wasn't surprising for Sun Pin to resort to such a measure in desperation.

*

"The entire palace knows of my unjust treatment; pretenses are futile. Should misfortune befall me, I hope for the Princess's aid."

Jiang Hui chuckled softly, passing the note to Du Juan, "Go on, there’s no need to stop."

"Yes," Du Juan acknowledged and quietly withdrew.

Qiu Kui, standing behind her, softly commented, "‘Bai’, ‘He’ (together), ‘Fen’. Sun Pin is indeed clever for devising this acrostic method."

"That's not surprising," Jiang Hui remarked while lighting the candle with her hairpin, "Throughout history, many secret messages have used this method. It’s quite cliché, but as long as it doesn’t give anything away, it serves Sun Pin's purpose."

"My lady, I think Princess Huai Qing might not intervene to save her," Qiu Kui said, handing her a silk lampshade, speaking calmly, "You’ve just had Yi Pin select people. Princess Huai Qing must understand your warning. Losing Sun Pin is a minor setback, but getting involved in schemes against other consorts and the royal heirs is not worth it."

"Indeed," Jiang Hui agreed, placing the silk lampshade over the candle, speaking indifferently, "This time, it seems Yi Pin will get her way."

"Yi Pin already has the Second Princess, and His Majesty is unlikely to grant her another prince. Thus, she used Xiao Ting and Wan Cai Ren for secret liaisons, teaching them the lily method, which Wan Cai Ren believed," Qiu Kui's voice was soft, "But Wan Cai Ren probably never expected that Yi Pin had no intention of letting her live."

"How could she not have anticipated that?" Jiang Hui smiled faintly, "She trusts neither Sun Pin nor Yi Pin completely, and fears those of us with children don't want her to bear any. Trusting no one and fearing everyone, it's no wonder she can't sleep at night."

"The only one she could trust, His Majesty..." Jiang Hui continued slowly, "Why would he care about her? Especially now, when he's preoccupied with state affairs and dealing with the interests affected by his military land reforms. He has no time to pay attention to her."

Qiu Kui realized, "I hadn't considered that. But... if you fulfill Yi Pin’s wish, once His Majesty is less busy, might he scrutinize this affair and form negative opinions about you?"

Jiang Hui turned and walked toward the inner chamber, casually saying, "As long as I ensure the safety of the royal heirs, His Majesty will not delve into this matter."