Chapter 978: Chapter 825, Wan Family’s Old Residence Chapter 978: Chapter 825, Wan Family’s Old Residence The Emperor had directly stripped Xiao Yeyang of his position, and thus the Empress Dowager couldn’t forcefully nominate a match for him anymore.

As a consequence, the prospect of the fifth daughter from the Earl Zhaode Residence and the fourth daughter from the Earl Yongqing Residence entering the Prince Residence also dissipated without further development.

For the Empress Dowager, this was of no concern; in her view, it was a blessing for those families to have caught her eye and to be used by her. As for the future marital prospects of the bastard daughters from both families, that was no longer her concern.

Earl Zhaode Residence.

Earl Zhaode looked at his weeping bastard daughter kneeling on the floor with great irritation and dissatisfaction in his eyes as he turned to Madam Han, “I told you from the beginning not to agree to the Jiang Family’s proposal, but you took my words as if they were wind passing by your ears.”

Madam Han defended herself, “As soon as the Jiang Family came, they said it was the Empress Dowager’s will. How could I refuse? Dare I refuse?”

Earl Zhaode glared at Madam Han, “I see you never actually wanted to refuse, did you?”

Madam Han replied, “Why do you think I did this? Isn’t it for the Earl Residence? Although you are still an earl, the title won’t pass down to our son. Naturally, I have to plan for him.”

The Jiang Family said that as long as a bastard daughter was married off, they would arrange a new position for her son. How could she not agree?

Earl Zhaode felt weary, “When you agreed, did you ever think about Han Xinran? How will she establish herself in the Yan Family from now on?”

Madam Han fell silent for a moment, then said with a stiff neck, “After all, Han Xinran has already given birth to the legitimate grandson of the Yan Family. With a son by her side, what can the Yan Family do to her? Besides, Han Xinran married into the family as a junior, can the Yan Family afford to mistreat her?”

Earl Zhaode snorted, “You planned well, but unfortunately, now you’ve come up empty-handed.”

Madam Han glanced at the bastard daughter on the floor. She didn’t care about what the bastard daughter’s future days would be like, but she cared about her son’s future, “My lord, how about I go to Han Xinran and let her talk to the Countess of Shengping, see if she can take in the fifth daughter?”

Earl Zhaode stood up abruptly, angrily pointing at Madam Han, “If you wish to become enemies with the Yan Family and no longer want Han Xinran as a daughter, then go ahead and try!”

“Previously, it could have been said that it was the coercion of the Empress Dowager and the Jiang Family, but if you go to Han Xinran now, the Yan Family could directly throw you out.”

Madam Han knew her idea was somewhat naive but she was genuinely worried about her son’s future, “It was just a casual remark, why are you getting so agitated, my lord?”

Earl Zhaode grunted, “Find a family for the fifth daughter to marry into quickly,” and with that, he left, flinging his sleeves.

A similar scenario unfolded in the Earl Yongqing Residence.

However, Madam Fang was much more efficient than Madam Han, directly informing her bastard daughter that she would find her a proper family in a different province to join as the main wife, and swiftly calmed her down.

“What is all this about? The Empress Dowager wants to punish Xiao Yeyang, yet our family has been dragged into it.”

Earl Yongqing said with furrowed brows, “The Empress Dowager is the sovereign and we are her subjects; we can only obey.”

Yan Residence.

Madam Li took a deep breath of relief upon learning that the proposed matches fell through. When she heard from her maid that Han Xinran had come with her grandson to pay respects, she waved her hand and refused to see them.

She admitted to herself that she was taking out her anger on her daughter-in-law, but she just couldn’t control herself.

After arriving in Beijing, her daughter-in-law’s family had been nothing but trouble for her household.

Her daughter-in-law was a good person, but having such a family background, her daughter-in-law’s positive qualities were reduced by half.

…

Prince Residence.

Xiao Yeyang’s dismissal made Princess Consort Ma, Xiao Yechen, and Luo Qiong very happy.

Xiao Yeyang was so arrogant on a regular basis, wasn’t it because he had the position of the Commandant of the Jinling Guard? Now stripped of his authority, they wanted to see how he could still be so high and mighty.

After lunch, Luo Qiong went to the Hundred Flowers Garden accompanied by her maids and old woman servants.

Daohua had timed it well and was waiting early. Upon seeing Luo Qiong’s figure, she immediately looked towards Ping Ji’s wife, and after Ping Ji’s wife turned and left, Daohua walked over to Luo Qiong with a smile.

“Miss, can Ping Ji’s wife bring the Princess Consort over?” Wang Manman’s face showed concern.

Daohua was very calm, “If she dared to accept the job, it means she has the ability. Let’s just wait and see.”

“Big sister-in-law!”

Seeing Daohua, Luo Qiong immediately thought of what she had said earlier about her stomach being big, and couldn’t help but suck in her belly, “My second brother is currently idle at home, why aren’t you keeping him company?”

Daohua responded with a smile, “I’m learning from you, big sister-in-law. I see that you and big brother also hardly see each other all day long, don’t you?”

Luo Qiong, who had something to hide, felt her nerves tingle at these words and forced a rigid smile, “Second sister-in-law might not know since you haven’t been pregnant before, but it’s best for a couple not to share a room during pregnancy.”

Daohua said, “I didn’t say anything about sharing a room, but I’ve heard that you don’t even let big brother enter the room.”

Luo Qiong’s face turned cold, “You seem to know quite a lot about what’s going on in my room, second sister-in-law.”

Daohua laughed, “Please don’t misunderstand me, big sister-in-law. I heard about this on my way to the Hundred Flowers Garden from the maids in the residence. I don’t care at all about what happens in you and big brother’s room.”

Luo Qiong frowned, no longer in the mood to enjoy the flowers, and turned to leave.

At that moment, Daohua noticed the flowers and plants at the courtyard gate shake slightly and immediately raised her voice to ask, “Big sister-in-law, the child in your stomach is more than just a month old, isn’t it?”

Hearing this, Luo Qiong froze completely and couldn’t take another step. After a while, she turned to look at Daohua, “What do you mean by that, second sister-in-law?”

Daohua smiled, “Big sister-in-law, I’ve learned a bit of medicine during my time in the boudoir.” Looking at Luo Qiong’s belly, she remarked, “Your stomach seems a bit big, not like it’s just a month or two old, but more like it’s over four months.”

“For the safety of the child, why not ask the Imperial Physician from the palace to take another pulse? These outside doctors often lack medical expertise.”

Outside the courtyard gate, Xiao Yechen heard Daohua’s words and gripped Princess Consort’s hand so hard that it suddenly tightened.

Due to the excessive force, the Princess Consort let out a cry of pain.

Luo Qiong heard the sound and her face changed drastically. She swiftly turned her head towards the courtyard entrance and saw both the Princess Consort and Xiao Yechen, her hand trembling slightly under her sleeve.

Seeing the two approaching, Daohua did not continue and, after giving a curtsy, left with her maidservant.

Xiao Yechen looked at Luo Qiong’s belly, thinking about what Daohua had just said, his gaze dark and unclear.

Seeing this, Luo Qiong quickly placed both hands over her belly, feigning calmness, “I don’t know why, but I’ve been eating a lot since getting pregnant. In less than a month, I’ve gained quite a bit of weight. Just now, the second sister-in-law even said my stomach looks three or four months big.”

Xiao Yechen’s expression lightened considerably as he walked over and took Luo Qiong’s hand, “Why is your hand so cold?”

Luo Qiong glared indignantly at Xiao Yechen, “I’ve always been sensitive to cold since I was a child. How do you not know that!”

The Princess Consort did not want to watch her son and daughter-in-law flirting in front of her and said immediately, “Considering you are pregnant, try to avoid contact with those from the Pingxi Hall in the future, who knows what they might do.”

Luo Qiong obediently nodded her head, “I’ll listen to everything mother-in-law says.”

“Let’s go then, let’s get back.”

As Xiao Yechen supported Luo Qiong on their way back to the Chen Courtyard, he suddenly said, “I’ll go to the palace tomorrow and find an Imperial Physician to check your Ping An pulse.”

Luo Qiong’s face instantly stiffened. Knowing that Xiao Yechen was suspicious, she didn’t dare to hesitate and immediately agreed, “That would be troublesome for you, my lord. Just in time, I also want to know if the child is healthy?”

Seeing that Luo Qiong did not refuse, Xiao Yechen looked much better. After helping Luo Qiong back to her room and seeing that she wanted to rest, he got up and left.

As soon as he was gone, Luo Qiong immediately called Xue Ling, “Find an excuse to go back to the Duke Residence and then head directly to the back door. There’s a fortune teller on the back street. Tell him that Xiao Yechen is going to have an Imperial Physician check my pulse tomorrow.”

Xue Ling quickly nodded, took some gifts from the storeroom, and returned to the Duke Residence.

As soon as she left, the Hidden Guard arranged by Xiao Yeyang followed behind her.

The very same day, just after Xue Ling returned to the Prince Residence, the Hidden Guard headed to the Pingxi Hall.

In the study, Xiao Yeyang was painting for Daohua. When he saw the Hidden Guard return, he did not keep it from Daohua and directly asked, “Did you find anything?”

The Hidden Guard reported, “Luo Qiong’s maidservant went to a fortune teller behind the streets of the Duke Residence, and in the end, that fortune teller entered the old house of the Wan Family.”

Hearing about the Wan Family, Xiao Yeyang’s eyes suddenly lit up.