Chapter 278 Unveiling the Secret

Chapter 278 Unveiling the Secret

The Nanyang King and his mother, who had been keeping an eye on the Nanyang Princess, soon discovered that although the Nanyang Princess was angry, she did not intend to do anything to them or the Tong family.

Despite their regret, the mother and son were still unwilling to simply leave the Princess of Nanyang, this ticking time bomb, unattended.

Just as the Princess of Nanyang understood them, they also understood the Princess of Nanyang. They did not believe that the Princess of Nanyang had truly realized her mistakes or was forced to compromise with the status quo.

They felt that the Princess Consort of Nanyang was probably harboring some evil intentions.

The mother and son, who shared the same opinion, dismissed the servants and discussed the matter privately. Then, they each increased their surveillance of the Princess of Nanyang.

Princess Nanyang and her trusted servants were not blind or stupid; they could naturally sense that many eyes were watching them from the shadows. However, Princess Nanyang did not get angry at all because she was being monitored.

Aside from correspondence with her family and managing her private property, the Princess of Nanyang only left her courtyard when she paid her respects to the old Princess.

To prevent Tong from being unknowingly schemed against, the old princess instructed Tong to stay in her own courtyard and not to have any contact with the princess of Nanyang after she returned. Therefore, even though the princess of Nanyang went to pay her respects to the old princess every day, she still couldn't meet Tong.

On the contrary, the other concubines, wives, and maids of the Prince of Nanyang all hoped that the Princess of Nanyang could teach that Tong a lesson.

Whether it's letting her die along with her unborn child, or letting her give birth and then abandoning the mother and keeping the child, it's better than letting her flaunt her pregnancy in front of them.

Princess Nanyang paid no attention to the women's attempts to sow discord. Not only was her approach completely different from what they expected, but even if she did intend to use some of the methods they implied, she would not reveal any clues to them.

After about fifty days of this peaceful coexistence, the time came for Laba Festival, a festival that people of this era valued highly.

On such an important festival, as a vassal king, the Prince of Nanyang naturally had to interact with local officials and powerful families. The Princess of Nanyang, who had not been caught by him and the old princess consort, also appeared openly in front of the women of various households on this day.

If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad. But Tong, who was spoiled rotten by the Prince of Nanyang and his mother, managed to persuade the Prince of Nanyang to appear at the banquet.

Princess Nanyang had no reaction to this, but the two concubines of the Prince of Nanyang were so angry that their noses were crooked.

In the past, only they were qualified to attend such occasions with the princess. Now, however, that poor, lowly maidservant from a humble family, surnamed Tong, is sitting openly next to daughters of officials like them.

Although the two women did not have a particularly powerful maternal family like the Princess of Nanyang, their social status was still far superior to that of a girl from an ordinary family like Tong Shi.

Sitting next to the other party, who then brazenly makes sarcastic remarks every now and then, is an utter disgrace to them.

They had originally hoped that the suddenly returning Princess Nanyang would be able to deal with this little vixen, but unexpectedly, the Princess Nanyang changed her mind and became a clay figurine.

Because they were very wary of the Princess Consort of Nanyang's methods and ruthlessness, the Prince of Nanyang and the old Princess Consort forbade Tong Shi from going to the Princess Consort's presence, but they were not so vigilant towards others.

The women of the inner quarters, who had been completely subdued by the Princess Consort of Nanyang, were, in the eyes of the Prince of Nanyang and the old Princess Consort, merely beautiful decorations that were not worth mentioning, and could be said to have no fighting power whatsoever.

However, they overlooked a very important point: these women in the inner quarters might be wary of the Princess Consort of Nanyang, but they wouldn't be wary of this suddenly appearing Tong Shi.

Previously, Tong was honest and obedient, and like everyone else, she was not pregnant, so naturally no one paid much attention to her.

Even though she relied on her youth and the fact that she was the newest face to enter the mansion, and occasionally acted arrogantly in front of the other concubines and maids, she still knew that she had to keep a low profile in front of the two secondary consorts and the Princess of Nanyang.

But things are different now. As the only one who can continue the bloodline of the Prince of Nanyang, Lady Tong has long been made complacent by the special attention she receives from the Prince of Nanyang and the old Princess.

She was no longer satisfied with merely showing off in front of people of similar status. The Princess of Nanyang and the two concubines had become unfortunate tools for her to prove her importance.

During this process, Princess Nanyang lost nearly half of her private savings. Although the two concubines did not lose as much property as she did, they suffered countless humiliations.

This is only because the other party is pregnant. It's not even certain whether it's a boy or a girl, or whether the child can be raised. Yet, Tong Shi is already this arrogant. If she were to successfully give birth to a boy, who knows how she would act so domineeringly in the Prince's mansion.

A sense of crisis has made the two of them no longer the laid-back, Buddhists they once were, but instead they are determined to nip the crisis in the bud.

Of course, if they hadn't overheard a shocking secret, they wouldn't have been able to discuss their plans so harmoniously and amicably.

More likely, they will try to instigate the other party or someone else to do it without revealing themselves. If the instigation fails, they will also frame others to clear themselves of any wrongdoing.

But now, thinking back to the news that their trusted servants had secretly reported one after the other on the second day of the twelfth lunar month, the two concubines couldn't help but exchange a tacit glance.

Tong, who became increasingly smug and arrogant because of the Princess of Nanyang's forbearance and concession, was unaware that someone had already seized a handle against her, and that handle was enough to take her life.

It wasn't until the sun began to set, and the guests, having had their fill of fun, gradually took their leave with their families, that Tong's situation underwent a dramatic reversal thanks to the mediation of the two concubines.

In Xuexi Garden, which the Prince of Nanyang had carefully selected and arranged for her, Lady Tong and her childhood sweetheart were caught red-handed by the Prince of Nanyang.

The incident actually started with a note. The young man who received the note gritted his teeth and took a risk, sneaking into the backyard of the Nanyang Prince's Mansion through a side gate.

He initially came with the intention of saving people, but after meeting Tong, he quickly realized that he had been tricked.

After the banquet, Lady Tong stayed in her courtyard to rest and prepare for childbirth. Her servants, who had been carefully selected by the old princess, either stayed by her side or stood guard at the gate of the courtyard, ready to serve her at any time.

When the young man sneaked in, the old woman guarding the door had somehow disappeared. It was because of this that the young man was able to enter Xuexi Garden and see the woman he had been longing for.

However, Tong's leisurely demeanor clearly did not suggest that she was anxiously and apprehensively waiting for him to come and help because her scheme had been exposed.