Chapter 1787: How Did the Imperial Uncle Know?
Jiang Yichun narrowed his eyes, exuding a deadly aura. This Ling Xue was truly audacious, daring to play tricks right under his nose.
Tang Yin's face also turned cold; this Ling Xue was too clever for her own good!
"I dare not, it's just that lately Her Majesty has been repeatedly saying that she harmed Prince Xi, fearing that he won't grow up, and we maids have often comforted her, but with little effect," Ling Xue said.
Depression can indeed be like this, where a small negative emotion can be infinitely magnified, such as the death of the Empress Dowager or the curse on Prince Xi.
"I've tasked you to protect Concubine Le; weren't you supposed to report this to me?" Tang Yin's face grew even darker.
Ling Xue bowed and knocked her head, "It was my oversight, but Her Majesty instructed not to trouble Your Majesty, and I feared disobeying her displeasure."
She implied in her words that the emperor had gifted her to Concubine Le, making Concubine Le her master, and she certainly couldn't disobey her current master's orders.
"You deserve the beating you'll receive; drag her out for punishment." Tang Yin waved his hand, but also gave Luan An a look, signaling him to arrange someone to keep an eye on Ling Xue.
Just as the guards were about to drag Ling Xue away, unexpectedly, Concubine Le's nurse, Ding Mama, rushed out, kneeling down with a thud.
"Your Majesty, this old servant has something to report; Ling Xue mustn't be beaten!" Ding Mama said, kneeling.
Bai Ruozhu raised an eyebrow; previously, Concubine Le had fiercely protected Ling Xue, but from Ding Mama's words, it was clear it wasn't that Ling Xue couldn't be punished, but she couldn't be beaten.
She blinked rapidly; could it be...
She quickly glanced at Tang Yin; could it be? Didn't this man constantly profess his concern for Concubine Le?
She suddenly felt a bit nauseous; emperors and such were indeed the most heartless. Had she oversimplified her thoughts?
"Spit it out quickly! Or it won't just be twenty lashes; I'll have all of you dragged out and beheaded!" Tang Yin had probably guessed something too, his face already showing murderous intent.
Ding Mama knelt and knocked her head fearfully, saying, "Ling Xue is pregnant; she can't be beaten, she can't be beaten."
Ling Xue slumped to the ground, revealing a look of shock, "How is that possible? How could I not know?"
Ding Mama looked at Ling Xue in surprise, "Didn't Her Majesty tell you? Quickly plead with His Majesty; the child in your belly is Her Majesty's hope. He can't be harmed!"
Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun exchanged bewildered glances; what a mess this was.
"Whose child is it?" Tang Yin gritted his teeth, producing a grinding sound.
Ding Mama dared not hide it any longer and said, "It's your flesh and blood, Your Majesty!"
Yes, women in the palace were forbidden to have liaisons with the guards. If one really calculated, they were all the emperor's women, so if pregnant, it would have to be by the emperor.
Jiang Yichun looked at the emperor, feeling that he shouldn't act so; even if he wanted to lay with a woman, he wouldn't lay with someone close to Concubine Le, would he?
"Outrageous, why was I not informed?" The emperor roared in fury.
Ding Mama was so frightened she slumped to the ground, stammering, "Her Majesty was injured after giving birth to Prince Xi, and the Imperial Doctor said it would take years to recover before having another child. But Her Majesty felt she had no chance in this life, and Prince Xi..."
Ding Mama hesitated, glancing at the nearby Prince Xi sleeping from exhaustion, her mouth bitter.
"Her Majesty hoped the emperor could have another child, so last month, when Your Majesty came over, she used a little medicine..."
At this, Ding Mama couldn't bear to continue, but everyone understood what had happened.
Tang Yin, the fool, had been drugged by his own woman, slept with another woman without knowing, and let that woman get pregnant!
Bai Ruozhu found it somewhat amusing; she knew it wasn't good to gloat, but she had warned Tang Yin, yet he didn't believe her, thinking she was just being petty.
So, at this moment, Bai Ruozhu really wanted to present him with two words: "Serves you right!"
"How is this possible? How is it possible?" Ling Xue cried out in despair, "I knew nothing, how could this be!"
Bai Ruozhu couldn't help but laugh, "It's said that dark guards are the most perceptive; even if Ling Anwei has retired, she wouldn't be tricked so easily, right? Even if she trusted Concubine Le and let her guard down, wouldn't she notice changes in her own body? If Ding Mama was certain you're pregnant, wouldn't the absence of your period have raised any suspicion?"
"I truly didn't know!" Ling Xue cried, "Master Bai, I know I shouldn't have offended you, but I swear I had no idea!"
Ling Xue shouted emotionally, suddenly looking at Tang Yin, "Your Majesty, I am guilty and deserve to die, please, grant me death!"
In her anxiety, she had forgotten she was now a palace maid and should not refer to herself with the dark guard's "subordinate."
Tang Yin narrowed his eyes, "Medicine Sage, check if she's really pregnant!"
Gao Zhou stepped forward, clutching Ling Xue's wrist with no courtesy, showing no tenderness.
Soon Gao Zhou released Ling Xue's hand and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, she is indeed pregnant, about a month and a half along."
"Drag her out and execute her by beating!" Tang Yin squeezed out these words through clenched teeth.
Ding Mama knocked her head desperately, "Please, Your Majesty, have mercy. If Ling Xue dies, Her Majesty would be devastated. The child in Ling Xue's belly is all Her Majesty's hope!"
"You dog servant, complete nonsense!" Tang Yin angrily kicked Ding Mama over, "Concubine Le has Prince Xi; what do you mean there's no hope? How could the unborn child of a maid be all her hope?"
Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun quietly stepped back; they'd rather stay far away from this mess.
But she couldn't understand. How could Concubine Le think someone else's child was her hope? Did she think she could take a concubine's child and raise it as her own?
No wonder she didn't care about her own child's cries, insisting on protecting Ling Xue. Does this mean she's lost hope in Prince Xi?
Bai Ruozhu rubbed her temple; Concubine Le truly was sick. Prince Xi was under a curse, but hadn't it yet manifested? Even if it did, it's not an unbreakable curse; wasn't Princess Diao Bin a good example?
"Why are you still standing there coldly? Drag her out and execute her by beating!" The emperor ordered mercilessly.
Ling Xue remained dazed, neither pleading nor crying, as if she never expected such a thing to happen.
The guards dared not delay, two of them coming forward to drag Ling Xue away, but the eunuch's voice came from outside: "Virtuous King requests an audience!"
Immediately, the Virtuous King rushed in, blocking the beaten Ling Xue, saying, "Your Majesty, even a tiger won't eat its cubs; the royal offspring cannot be killed!"
Tang Yin narrowed his eyes, "Royal Uncle, how did you know?"
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