The garden was filled with the fragrance of chrysanthemums, various species vying for beauty. Young women and wives had already begun a poetry competition. Lu Nianfu was not very interested, she walked around the garden and found that although the Ning King's mansion staff were very attentive, she couldn't see the Ning King's Consort anywhere.
She wasn't in a hurry and found a secluded corner to sit down.
Now that she was pregnant, it was best to rest more. With a good spirit, she would have the energy to watch the play.
When the banquet began, the Ning King's Consort finally appeared. She was elaborately dressed, but the heavy makeup could not hide her illness. Her emaciated body could not even fill out her clothes; even though they were meticulously arranged, they still looked loose and baggy.
Standing next to Jian Yuyan, whose face was rosy, she was made to look more than ten years older.
"Sister, if you don't feel well, you should lie down. I told you long ago that I'll handle the affairs of the mansion." Jian Yuyan supported her as she walked. "Look, your sister is hosting the guests quite well, isn't she?"
Jian Yuzi smiled deeply, "Who says otherwise? Ever since you came, not only have the affairs of the mansion been managed in an orderly manner, but even the King has praised you for serving him well. No wonder Father always praises you for being capable."
What did she mean by serving the King well?
Was that something a sister-in-law should do?
The banquet fell silent for a moment. The smile on Jian Yuyan's face faded, and she said with tears welling up, "Sister, are you confused by your illness? How can you say that about me?"
"If you do it, why can't I say it? Stop touching me, I find you dirty."
Hiss...
A live broadcast of sisters feuding.
Everyone looked at each other, and Lu Nianfu exclaimed inwardly, finding it thoroughly enjoyable. Back then, she had only learned about this matter from intelligence reports, but she hadn't known the intensity of the event. Seeing it with her own eyes, she could only say that the trip was worth it.
Jian Yuyan panicked. What was going on? Had Jian Yuzi gone mad? Her mind raced. She absolutely could not admit to this. Otherwise, if she were caught seducing her brother-in-law while her elder sister was ill, her position as the Ning King's Consort would be completely out of reach.
The position of Consort would never be given to a woman with a bad reputation.
She wanted to replace Jian Yuzi, not be some mere concubine.
But if Jian Yuzi was willing to ruin Situ Jue's reputation, how could she give Jian Yuyan a chance to quibble? While Jian Yuyan was distracted, she pushed her hard.
Jian Yuyan fell heavily to the ground.
Before she could react, a sharp pain shot through her abdomen. The gazes of the crowd also changed. They saw her red skirt rapidly soaked by blood, which then spread onto the white marble floor, a shocking sight.
Jian Yuzi exclaimed exaggeratedly, "Oh dear! Sister, what's wrong? Someone, quickly go and fetch the mansion physician!"
Jian Yuyan's eyes darkened from the pain, and fine beads of sweat gathered on her forehead. Yet, she still managed to say, "Sister, your sister is just on her period. There's no need to call for a physician! Lian'er, quickly help me back to my room!"
"Sister, you joke too much. Who has so much bleeding during their period? Be good and obedient. Let's call the mansion physician to examine you first. When the King returns, we'll have him go to the palace to ask for the imperial physician."
"No need. Your sister has always been like this during her period. Returning to the room to rest will be fine."
Lian'er tried to help her up but was blocked by Jian Yuzi's maid. She looked pleadingly at the other servants in the mansion but found that their faces were all unfamiliar. These were not the servants of the King's mansion; they had clearly been replaced by Jian Yuzi long ago.
But wasn't she always sick? And the King didn't favor her, so how could she have the ability to plan this?
Jian Yuzi had not only made arrangements but had also made them flawlessly. In just this short time, the mansion physician arrived in a hurry, carrying his medicine box. Lian'er was about to rush forward but was completely restrained by two other maids, who even brazenly stuffed her mouth shut in front of everyone.
Among the female guests, there were those who supported the Ning King. Seeing Jian Yuzi act so recklessly, they were secretly anxious. Today's incident would not only ruin Jian Yuyan but also implicate the Ning King. It was natural for men to be philanderous, especially since the King should have many wives and concubines. But if he were to get involved with his sister-in-law while his wife was ill...
After today, memorializing the Ning King would likely flood the Emperor's imperial desk.
But this was, after all, a family matter of the Ning King's mansion. What position did they have to intervene? The Ning King's Consort had likely thought of everything. Thus, among the female guests of the mansion, there was no one from the Marquis of Qiying's household, so there wasn't even an elder who could scold her.
Jian Yuyan, who had lost too much blood, had no strength left and had her pulse taken while being held down.
The mansion physician said calmly, "It's a miscarriage. However, she needs to be taken good care of, or it may be difficult to conceive in the future."
Jian Yuzi's objective was achieved. She said with a laugh, "How could Sister be so careless? Getting pregnant before marriage, and now injuring herself, what will she do in the future? Someone, quickly help Sister back to her room to rest. Bi Tao, go to the storeroom and get a thousand-year-old ginseng for Sister to recuperate."
Then she said to the guests, "I'm truly sorry. My younger sister is young and ignorant, causing everyone to witness a spectacle and delaying your meal. Please sit down quickly, or the food will get cold."
Jian Yuyan was quickly dragged away, but the banquet hall remained silent.
The various mansions in the capital had their share of troubles. Sisters fighting over a husband was not uncommon, but it had never reached such a level. Everyone was shocked, but looking at the Ning King's Consort's pale and haggard face, they felt a bit more understanding.
Even a cornered rabbit would bite. Looking at the Ning King's Consort, it was clear she didn't have many days left to live. They wondered how the Ning King and Jian Yuyan had tormented her in the past to force the once exceptionally talented and beautiful Jian Yuzi into this state.
It was no wonder she fought back before dying.
Everyone knew that after this commotion, Jian Yuzi would have no way out.
Today's grand drama was truly satisfying. Except for those affiliated with the Ning King, everyone else felt greatly pleased.
However, since such a thing had happened in their family, it was not appropriate to linger, so everyone quickly ate a few mouthfuls and left. Jian Yuzi's objective had been achieved, and naturally, she did not keep them.
As Lu Nianfu took her leave, she looked at Jian Yuzi's pale and despondent expression, knowing that today's drama had likely taken a great toll on her.
But her expression was still quite satisfied. Her great revenge had been exacted, and she had no regrets in death.
Lu Nianfu gave her a deep look. Although she knew Jian Yuzi's fate, she said nothing to comfort her. In those years, she too had wished to use her life to exact revenge on Situ Jue, but she hadn't waited for the opportunity.
As the carriage slowly set off to return to the mansion, it happened to see Situ Jue approaching on horseback, his face contorted with rage and radiating hostility, clearly furious.
Just then, thick smoke billowed into the sky above the Ning King's mansion, and the flames burned so brightly that they overshadowed the daylight.
"Fire! Put out the fire!"
"Quick, someone, the Consort is still inside!"
Screams erupted one after another, shocking the guests who had not yet left. The ferocity on Situ Jue's face turned to shock, and then he rushed in like a madman. "Someone, quickly, someone, make sure the Consort is rescued."
He didn't care about Jian Yuzi's life or death, but after causing such a scene with Jian Yuyan, if she were to commit suicide by fire, how would these people in the capital view him?
A barking dog doesn't bite. Jian Yuzi, that bitch, actually played this trick on him.