Chapter 217: Chapter 217: "How could this be... How could this be...

In the end, Xie Jinbai relented and let them go. He didn’t issue a gag order.

That afternoon, as the group of frightened young nobles returned to their homes, the news inevitably spread.

The news of Princess Consort Yu’s assassination attempt at the Horse Racing Ground spread rapidly through the Capital City.

Countless suspicions emerged about the mastermind.

By the time the news reached the Changping Marquis Mansion, the gravely injured Xie Anning had not yet returned, but the incident had already caused a tremendous uproar.

The Changping Marquis had only one wife. His household was simple, with no concubines, and he and his wife had a son and a daughter.

His daughter, Cui Lingyao, had married into the Royal Family, and his son, Cui Mingrui, had also married a woman from the imperial family.

In short, in a Capital City teeming with the rich and powerful, his children’s marriages were both exceptionally prestigious.

However, when it came to having children, both faced their own struggles.

One had been married for eight years, the other for six, yet neither had any children.

The poor Changping Marquis and his wife had been desperate for grandchildren for years. To suddenly hear that their daughter-in-law was pregnant, only to learn she had fallen from her horse—the joy had barely set in before terror took its place.

The Changping Marquis was in poor health and nearly fainted from the shock.

The Marchioness, of the Zheng Family, was in robust health. Upon hearing the news, she couldn’t sit still and immediately wanted to go to the Royal Manor herself to check on the situation.

The carriage was already prepared when the gatekeeper announced that the Princely Heir had returned.

Knowing his parents would be worried, Cui Mingrui settled his wife in before heading to the main courtyard.

As soon as he entered,

before his parents could even ask, he explained everything in detail.

How could her father and her now-composed brother fail to see what Cui Lingyao, who had grown up sheltered in the inner quarters, could not?

Xie Anning’s "accident" was far too coincidental.

Especially with the current tense situation in the Capital... and given her identity...

The Changping Marquis’s expression was grave. "That horse," he asked, "did she pick it out herself?"

Cui Mingrui slowly shook his head. "She didn’t have to. It was her personal mount."

It was perfectly normal for a Princess to have her own dedicated mount at the Royal Manor.

It was always meticulously cared for by dedicated handlers.

Only this time, something went wrong.

The Marchioness was completely lost. Thinking they were merely speculating about the mastermind, she couldn’t help but interject, "How is your sister?"

Cui Mingrui answered truthfully, "The situation was dire. An Ning fell from her horse, and to protect her, Yaoyao shielded her from some rocks. Anning then landed on her, injuring her shoulder. Thankfully, she is not in any serious danger."

Hearing that she wasn’t seriously hurt, the Marchioness’s expression relaxed.

She sighed deeply. "Everyone says your sister married well and that a future of endless glory awaits her, but all her misfortunes began after her marriage. Prince Yu’s status... If I’d had a choice, I would rather she..."

"Silence!" the Changping Marquis interrupted, his brow furrowed. "Do not say such things again. The affairs of the Royal Family are not for us to criticize."

The Yulin Guards have eyes and ears everywhere.

If those words were to reach Xie Jinbai’s ears, who knew what that ’worthy son-in-law’ of his would think.

Cui Mingrui added, "We can’t blame His Highness for this. He left Yaoyao with plenty of protection. She only got hurt because she was trying to save An Ning."

That may be true, but even the Marchioness, who knew little of court politics, understood that the root of the matter was the struggle for the throne.

It was inextricably linked to Xie Jinbai’s identity.

And yet... you couldn’t really blame him for it.

His identity was what it was; that hadn’t changed overnight.

Since they had agreed to the marriage back then, they couldn’t complain now.

The Changping Marquis said, "Have you asked your wife about this?"

Cui Mingrui pressed his lips together. "An Ning’s health is too fragile for her to be worried or agitated. I didn’t dare press her for details."

"Why would you need to ask An Ning about it?" Frowning at some unknown thought, the Marchioness, of the Zheng Family, continued, "An Ning was an innocent victim in today’s incident. Yaoyao was only injured because she was desperate to save her. Surely His Highness isn’t going to hold that against her?"

How could the Marchioness, after longing for a grandchild for so many years, possibly allow anything to jeopardize it?

She said in a low, firm voice, "Even if his power is immeasurable, he can’t be that unreasonable."

"..." The Changping Marquis stroked his beard in silence before saying, "My lady, why don’t you think about who would have the most to gain as the mastermind behind today’s assassination?"

Although Xie Jinbai’s true origins hadn’t been publicly announced, it was no secret that he and his mother, the Empress, were on bad terms.

Not only was he determined to convict the Empress of treason for colluding with the enemy...

...he had even had her nephew, Li Lu, the Princely Heir of Marquis Guangping Mansion, flayed alive.

All pretenses were dropped between mother and son long ago; their relationship was openly hostile.

The Marchioness only had to ponder this for a moment before a look of horror crossed her face.

The Changping Marquis sighed deeply. "My lady, I suggest you also consider whether An Ning’s fall was truly an accident."

The Emperor had always been frail. Years ago, before Xie Jinbai had fully risen to power, the Empress wielded so much authority that she could directly interfere in the affairs of the court.

Prince Ping was a die-hard supporter of the Empress’s faction.

Later, as Xie Jinbai made his powerful ascent, the Emperor focused on grooming him, unhesitatingly entrusting him with immense military and political authority.

The Empress’s authority gradually receded back to the confines of the Inner Court.

Later still, Xie Jinbai took the Empress’s niece as a concubine. The very next day, his main wife fell into the water and mysteriously slipped into a coma.

Not long after that, the Empress herself was struck by a strange poison.

The relationship between mother and son completely deteriorated.

The inner workings of these events were unknown to outsiders.

But no one who managed to survive at the center of power was a fool.

They could always piece together a part of the truth.

’If his daughter-in-law really was involved in today’s events, acting on her father’s orders... ’

The Changping Marquis looked at his eldest son. "You need to be prepared."

Cui Mingrui’s back went rigid. He pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

"Do you hear me?"

The Changping Marquis’s expression was cold and severe. "This is about the survival of our family. It’s not the time to be swayed by personal feelings. If the Commandery Princess was truly involved, the Cui Family will have no choice but to disavow any connection to her."

Tears streamed down the Marchioness’s face. "How could it be... How could it be..."

...

「Prince Yu’s Mansion. Night.」

Xie Jinbai had gone to the front courtyard to handle official matters.

Cui Lingyao’s shoulder was immobilized by a bamboo splint, so she couldn’t move it. Her maids had to help her bathe and change her clothes.

Seeing her mistress in such a miserable state, Dongzhi’s heart ached, and she began to cry. "You’ve suffered so many calamities. I’ll go to the temple tomorrow and pray for some protective talismans for you."

Cui Lingyao did a quick calculation. There was still more than a month until New Year’s Eve, and her injury should be healed by then. She smiled. "Alright. We’ll all go together when the time comes."

Chunzhi chimed in, "I’ve heard that the Childbirth Goddess Temple in the capital suburbs is very potent. Many noblewomen in the Capital have gone there to make offerings."

As her trusted maids, they shared their mistress’s worries.

They saw the matter of producing an heir as a top priority.

’Praying to gods and buddhas is useless,’ Cui Lingyao thought, but she appreciated their concern. She nodded. "When I have some free time, I’ll take all of you."

Chunzhi, who had also been married for two years without getting pregnant, beamed at the suggestion.

The heavy curtain was pushed aside, and Xia Zhi entered with a bowl of medicine. Cui Lingyao took it, blew on it to cool it, then tilted her head back, pinched her nose, and gulped it down.

The bitterness made her brow furrow tightly.

Xia Zhi tried to console her. "The Imperial Physician said this prescription will help your injury, and you only need to take it for half a month."

’Only... half a month...’

Cui Lingyao was rendered speechless. She rinsed her mouth out with some water and waved her hand, dismissing them.

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