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San Chun sighed and asked, "Madam, what brings you here?"
Zhong Ling pointed at her nose, "Don't think that just because the Young Master came to see you for a moment, you can act all high and mighty. Let me tell you, you are just a person from Wei Kingdom. If you want to throw your weight around in Young Master Zhao's residence, you'd better see if I, as the Madam, agree."
San Chun shook her head and smiled, "Madam, you are mistaken. Whether the Young Master comes to see me or not is of no concern to me. First of all, I am not from Wei Kingdom, but rather Yan People. Secondly, there is nothing wrong with throwing my weight around. The Concubine is just a Concubine, yet she dares to speak loudly in front of me and doesn't even know how to pay her respects when she sees me. It would not be wrong to punish her severely."
Zhong Ling shouted, "You are twisting words! Clearly, it is because you are jealous of Ying that you harmed her."
San Chun chuckled lightly, "Madam, that statement is quite incorrect. Am I not allowed to feel jealous of Ying for receiving favor? Is Madam not jealous as well? As a Concubine, she has given birth to the eldest son. In the future, her status in the residence may rival yours. I am ultimately someone the Young Master has cast aside; I no longer pose a threat to you. Shouldn't Madam be more wary of those who appear one way on the surface but act differently behind your back?"
Zhong Ling was taken aback, seemingly contemplating the possibilities in her words. A few days ago, Ying had come out of the laundry room and immediately confessed before her, crying and begging for forgiveness while promising to help eliminate San Chun, so that she could dominate the residence alone without anyone daring to compete with her.
Zhong Ling had believed her at the time and followed her advice on how to torment San Chun, intending to psychologically defeat this supposed favorite of the Young Master.
Ying's methods were indeed effective; San Chun no longer dared to go out and stayed quietly in her room every day. As time went on, she trusted Ying more and more and followed her lead in everything. So today, when she reported being beaten, she immediately came over to stand up for her, hoping to take this opportunity to deal harshly with San Chun, ideally driving her out of the residence.
But now, listening to San Chun's words made her feel increasingly uneasy. Although Ying was favored by the Young Master, he had only visited this place a handful of times recently and had never spent the night here; he seemed to spend more time at Ying's place. Moreover, if Ying truly gave birth to an eldest son, it was likely that her own status would be threatened.
Seeing the look in her eyes, San Chun understood what she was thinking. This Zhong Ling, though hot-tempered, was surprisingly foolish; what was worse was that she thought herself clever while being manipulated without realizing it.
It seemed that the harsh treatment she had received these days might not have been entirely her own idea but rather instigated by Ying.
Naturally, Ying knew her position in Ji Xun's heart; this was merely an attempt to make him dislike Zhong Ling, so that she could enjoy his exclusive favor. It was pitiful that Zhong Ling still hadn't figured this out.
She smiled and said, "The Young Master dislikes cunning women the most. The reason he hasn't visited you these days is likely because of something you've done that displeased him."
Zhong Ling was not a complete fool; upon being pointed out by San Chun, she immediately recalled what Ji Xun had warned her before: "As for the Spring Princess, how it is handled is up to this Young Master; it is not your place to teach others a lesson."
The meaning behind those words was too obvious. At that time, she had thought it was San Chun stirring up trouble; now it seemed like she had been played instead. As long as Ying tormented San Chun, it would cater to the Young Master's preferences; yet the result only made him dislike her more.
Realizing this point made Zhong Ling clench her fists in anger as she gritted her teeth and said, "That wretched woman actually dared to harm me."
She turned around and walked a few steps before suddenly turning back. "Don't get too pleased with yourself; I won't let either of you off. The Young Master belongs solely to me."
San Chun chuckled lightly, "Do as you wish." After all, in a few days she would be leaving here; their squabbles were none of her concern.
She turned back into her room and began to pack her things. In fact, there wasn't much to take; most of the clothes and jewelry here were provided by the Zhao Palace during her marriage, and some were given to her as a dowry by Qing, who treated her as if she were marrying off a sister. But who would have thought that this marriage would be so short-lived?
Thinking of Qing made her feel a bit uncomfortable. If she had known Ji Xun would act this way, she would have left with Qing back then, avoiding the emotional and physical pain she was experiencing now.
This time, she planned to leave secretly, taking nothing but a couple of changes of clothes and some coins for travel expenses.
She thought to herself that even when she reached the Yan Kingdom, she wouldn't see Qi. She would find a secluded place to quietly spend the rest of her life, no longer caring about the fates of these men.
Once everything was packed, she hid her bundle under the bed, waiting for tomorrow night when she could open the back door and escape.
Perhaps because she had struck a bird and scolded Zhong Ling, the people from the Western Garden had witnessed her strength and dared not neglect her any longer. When they saw her, they acted like mice seeing a cat, fearing that her slap might come their way. According to the maid who had been hit, her mouth was crooked from the blow, and out of shame, she had not dared to go out.
San Chun saw how these people served cautiously and secretly laughed to herself. Zhong Xue's words were indeed true: good people are often bullied. She had been too indulgent with them before, which led to them taking advantage of her.
Since she was leaving anyway, she couldn't be bothered to trouble them further and quietly waited in her room.
The night passed without incident. By noon the next day, a maid rushed into the Western Garden, shouting, "Not good! Something has happened! Ying Ji is in trouble!"
San Chun frowned and called for the maid to come over. "What is it that has you so panicked?"
The maid steadied herself and replied, "Reporting to Madam, Ying Ji returned from outside covered in blood; she may have lost the child."
Today was the fifteenth day of the month, and there was a banquet in the palace. Empress Dowager Hua had specially summoned Madam into the palace, so Zhong Ling had brought Ying along as well. On their way back, Ying's carriage suddenly went wild and crashed through the streets. After some effort, they managed to stop the frenzied horse. When someone lifted the curtain of the carriage, they found Ying had already fainted inside.
She was hurriedly carried back home, covered in blood; it seemed likely that she wouldn't be able to keep the child.
San Chun found it strange; Zhong Ling might not have been bold enough to act so ruthlessly. The Queen might not have taken action either since this could be her grandchild. Could it really just be an accident?
She felt fortunate that when Zhong Ling sent someone to invite her into the palace, she had declined due to feeling unwell. Otherwise, who knew what kind of trouble might have arisen?
The steward in the residence went to fetch a doctor, and Ji Xun also received news and rushed back home. But despite all efforts made, they ultimately could not save the child.
In an instant, cries filled the courtyard; San Chun heard them too and felt mixed emotions. There was a sense of relief but more so a sigh of regret—children obtained through despicable means would hardly receive much protection from their father either.
At home, with such an incident occurring, Ji Xun would surely accompany Ying today. She originally wanted to see him one last time before leaving, but it seems that her wish cannot be fulfilled.
She was leaving tonight, and it seemed she would never see him again in this lifetime.
The entire household was filled with a sorrowful atmosphere. Ji Xun ordered that for a month, there should be no red decorations, no singing, and no drinking; the whole household was to mourn for the unborn child.
In this era, the birth rate of infants was low, and early deaths were common. Even noble families did not hold lavish funerals for their deceased children; no family would conduct mourning in such a manner, especially since this child had not even taken shape.
San Chun received the news and felt a slight pain in her heart. This showed how much he had anticipated and valued this child. She had thought he did not like Ying, but it seemed she was mistaken. Even if he had feelings for her back then, time had passed, and after so many years, those feelings had faded. He later came to like Ying and perhaps loved her even more than he had loved San Chun.
The pain was so intense that eventually, she lost all sense of feeling. She felt like a stagnant pool of water, staring blankly into the darkness.
Finally, the sun set. After dinner, she felt drowsy and dismissed the maids, lying down fully clothed on her bed.
At the second watch of the night, a "thud thud" sound came from the window, as if a woodpecker were pecking at wood.
She was somewhat surprised; wasn’t he waiting for her at the back door of the mansion? How did he manage to come in? Opening the window, a grinning face poked through—it was Dong Dong.
As expected of a thief, he moved lightly and jumped in with a swift motion.
San Chun asked, "What are you doing here?"
Dong Dong chuckled, "Knowing you were leaving, I naturally had to come help."
"Why are you still in Handan?"
"Not still here; I just arrived yesterday. Hearing about your situation made me miss you terribly, so I came over today."
San Chun's heart suddenly stirred. "What have you done today?"
"I haven't done anything."
"Really?"
Dong Dong touched his nose and said, "It's not like I did nothing. I just saw a horse at the restaurant while drinking at noon and found it very displeasing, so I casually hit it once."
San Chun sighed, knowing that he probably hit the very carriage belonging to Ying. She realized he must have heard about her situation at the Young Master's residence and sought revenge for her.
"Why would you do something like this? To take such harsh measures against an unborn child?"
"What did I do?" Dong Dong scratched his head. His stone only hit the horse's rear; the horse flicked its tail and continued walking. As for the horse later running wildly, that had nothing to do with him.
Unfortunately, San Chun was not interested in his explanation and only resented him for being too ruthless.
He pouted; if she weren't so soft-hearted, she wouldn't be bullied now. If she had Ying's ruthlessness, would she still be unable to stay in Zhao Country?
However, he knew what was appropriate and what wasn't. For the sake of his own life, it was better not to provoke her.
San Chun, although blaming him, felt grateful. He was the one who finally made her understand Ji Xun's feelings, and from now on, she would no longer have any expectations of him.
She took out a bundle from under the bed and said to Dong Dong, "Let's go."
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