The Han Suqin spoken of by Concubine Ying was entirely different from the one who had just appeared.
She was not only beautiful but also skilled at deception, a master of manipulation. She knew how to play the victim in front of Wang Qingyao, portraying herself as someone forced by circumstances yet possessing an unblemished character.
Wang Qingyao almost believed her.
She sighed softly, realizing how difficult it was to guard against human hearts.
Seeing her sigh, Concubine Ying fawned, "Your Highness the Consort need not worry. Though Han Suqin is beautiful and knows how to charm, she still falls short compared to you. His Highness's heart belongs only to you, we all see that. Your Highness need not pay her any mind."
Wang Qingyao wasn't worried about that; she just felt a bit regretful.
Her clear gaze swept over Concubine Ying's face, a smile of unknown meaning appearing.
"I recall during the Lion's Gathering, Concubine Ying merely suspected the Old Madam's intentions and sent me a message. How is it that this time, with such a significant matter as presenting a concubine to His Highness, you didn't notify me at all?"
She looked at Concubine Ying, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.
Concubine Ying, under her gaze, felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead even in the dead of winter. She forced a smile and said, "Your Highness the Consort, please forgive me. I was actually a little injured and preoccupied with my own recovery."
As she spoke, Concubine Ying lifted the hair covering her right ear. A complete ear was revealed, but upon closer inspection, the front half of the ear seemed to be a darker shade.
"...We women value our appearance the most. I spent a great deal of effort finding someone to custom-make a prosthetic ear... Please forgive me, Your Highness the Consort!" Concubine Ying said with a wry smile, then let her hair fall back into place.
Wang Qingyao said, "Is that so? I must have misunderstood you."
"Never, never," Concubine Ying replied.
Concubine Ying bowed and scraped as she escorted Wang Qingyao out, all the way to the courtyard gate. Seeing Xiao Yun also present, she was greatly surprised and quickly knelt to pay her respects. Xiao Yun, as if he hadn't seen her, directly helped Wang Qingyao, carefully leading her away.
As they walked, Wang Qingyao recounted everything Concubine Ying had said.
Xiao Yun kept his eyes fixed on her feet, kicking aside any stones or pebbles before she could step on them. As for steps, he was even more attentive, wishing he could carry her.
"My guess was indeed correct," Xiao Yun said. "But she probably wouldn't look down on me. I am a man destined for an early death."
Xiao Yun said with self-mockery.
Someone like Han Suqin, unwilling to settle for mediocrity and with ambitions as high as the heavens, would not be satisfied with a prince of a collateral line who was fated to die young.
Moreover, this prince was already married to his principal wife. Even if he favored her and took her as a concubine, what then?
Concubines were meant to rely on their beauty and their husband's favor for their livelihood. If the husband died, even with favor, she couldn't stir up much trouble!
Wang Qingyao turned her head to glance at him. "Don't be so self-deprecating. Dying early isn't necessarily a bad thing. For some women, having wealth, power, and children, and not having to serve a husband, that life would be quite comfortable, wouldn't it?"
Xiao Yun's face darkened, and he asked unhappily, "Are you that kind of woman?"
He recalled when he had first met Wang Qingyao and the careless things she had said. The hand supporting Wang Qingyao's arm tightened.
Sensing the danger signal, Wang Qingyao quickly declared her true feelings. "I am different from them. I fear loneliness the most. Money and power are not important to me. The most important thing is having someone by my side."
As she spoke, she gently took Xiao Yun's hand and raised it. Xiao Yun was successfully pleased. The corners of his mouth turned up, stretching all the way to the roots of his ears, impossible to pull back.
Once they were in the carriage, Wang Qingyao cleared her throat. "Xiao Yun, I have something to tell you."
"Speak," Xiao Yun replied, his tone very cheerful and casual.
Wang Qingyao knew this matter had to be resolved quickly and decisively. Like in those melodramatic novels, where something that could be explained in a single sentence would be dragged out with unnecessary details, wasting time. In the end, the explanation wouldn't be given, and they would have to stubbornly continue the charade, leading to a major misunderstanding. She would not do such a thing.
She spoke briskly, "Actually, I am not pregnant. Doctor Luo was someone I bribed long ago to deal with Old Madam Wang. The reason I didn't tell you was because I wanted the act to be more convincing. Please don't be angry. This is my fault. After we go back, we'll try our best every day, and I promise to get pregnant for you as soon as possible."
Wang Qingyao spoke rapidly, her words falling like pearls onto a jade plate – clear and crisp, but not particularly pleasant to hear.
Xiao Yun's smile was still on his face, not yet retracted. "What did you say?"
He suspected he had misheard.
So Wang Qingyao repeated it verbatim.
The truth.
The explanation.
The apology.
The outlook for the future.
Not a single element was missing.
A breath caught in Xiao Yun's throat, making him feel as if he couldn't breathe. "So you're not pregnant?!"
"No."
Xiao Yun: "..."
Having experienced extreme joy and then extreme sorrow, Xiao Yun was momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he choked out, his voice trembling, "How could you do this? This is such a big thing! How could you just casually say it?"
Wang Qingyao gently stroked his face and wiped away his tears. "Yes, yes, it's my fault. Don't be angry, don't be sad. I've researched that... you know, many things that help with conception. We'll go back tonight and try, try all night."
Xiao Yun: "..."