Chapter 979: Chapter 826: The Endless Eight Princes Party Chapter 979: Chapter 826: The Endless Eight Princes Party “Wan Family? Which Wan Family?” Daohua looked at Xiao Yeyang, puzzled.

Xiao Yeyang’s eyes shone brightly, “The maternal family of the favored imperial concubine from the previous dynasty, Wan Guifei.”

Daohua’s eyes widened in shock, “Isn’t that the maternal family of the Eighth Prince?”

Xiao Yeyang nodded and then frowned in annoyance, “The old residence of the Wan Family is right next to the Duke Residence, and I overlooked such an important point.”

Daohua said, “Back then, the entire Wan Family was executed, and their old residence has been idle ever since. What does it imply that Luo Qiong found people to enter the Wan Family’s old residence?”

Xiao Yeyang narrowed his eyes, “Perhaps, after the Imperial Physician visits tomorrow and checks the pulses, we will know.” Then, looking at Daohua, he said, “I need to go out for a while, you should sleep first.”

Daohua nodded, watching as Xiao Yeyang left swiftly with the Hidden Guard.

It was almost dawn when Xiao Yeyang returned.

Just as Xiao Yeyang laid down on the bed, Daohua woke up.

“Did I wake you up?”

Daohua shook her head, “Is everything arranged?”

Xiao Yeyang hummed in affirmation.

Daohua said, “You should get some sleep now, I will keep an eye on any movement in the Chen Courtyard.”

…

Xiao Yechen indeed cared greatly about the child in Luo Qiong’s womb, and he had the Imperial Physician summoned to the Prince Residence early in the morning.

Inside the curtain, Luo Qiong looked nervously at the Imperial Physician taking her pulse, her heart pounding incessantly.

After a while, the Imperial Physician stood up, smiling at Xiao Yechen waiting nearby, “Young Master, please rest assured, both the madam and the little master are doing very well.”

Xiao Yechen glanced inside the curtain and asked with a smile, “Isn’t the madam’s belly a bit too large?”

The Imperial Physician laughed, “Compared to the usual pregnant women of one or two months, the madam’s belly is somewhat large. It might be because she has been eating a bit too much recently; it’s still important to keep an eye on the diet.”

Hearing this, both Luo Qiong and Xiao Yechen sighed in relief.

The smile on Xiao Yechen’s face broadened as he inquired carefully about the various precautions during pregnancy and then personally escorted the Imperial Physician out of the Prince Residence.

Pingxi Hall.

No sooner had the Imperial Physician left the residence than Daohua knew the results of the diagnosis.

The diagnostic result was somewhat unexpected, yet not too surprising.

“What did the Imperial Physician say?”

As soon as Daohua entered the bedroom, she saw Xiao Yeyang sitting up and quickly brought him a glass of water, “Why don’t you sleep a little longer?”

Xiao Yeyang drank the water, “I am awake.”

Daohua sat on the edge of the bed, “The Imperial Physician said the same as the previous doctor; the fetus in Luo Qiong’s womb is not even two months old.”

Xiao Yeyang looked unsurprised, “I guessed as much.”

Daohua said, “The man outside Luo Qiong really has some ability, being able to bribe even the Imperial Physician.” Looking at Xiao Yeyang, she asked, “Who could this man be? Able to bribe the Imperial Physician and also involved with the old residence of the Wan Family, could he be from the Eight Princes Party?”

Xiao Yeyang watched Daohua with a smile, “Your analysis is good.”

Daohua exclaimed, “It really is them!” Then, showing astonishment, she added, “Then this is a big deal.”

“From the fact that Luo Qiong sent a maid yesterday to inform the outside man to come, she knew he was capable of handling the Imperial Physician’s pulse diagnosis, which means, Luo Qiong clearly knows that man’s identity.”

“She knows, what about the Duke Residence?”

“Doesn’t it mean that the Duke Residence is also from the Eight Princes Party?”

At this point, Daohua appeared enlightened, “I understand now, on the Lantern Festival night, Mei Lan wasn’t wrong; there was indeed someone hidden in Luo Qiong’s carriage. It was that man, and he was the one who acted against Jiang Jinghui. He wanted to see the Emperor and the Jiang Family clash.”

That man is from the Eight Princes Party, then all of this makes sense.

“There’s also the Duke Residence’s dealings with the Tartars.”

“During the battle at the Northern Frontier, didn’t the Eighth Prince collaborate with the Tartars? Thus, the people disguised as Tartars that Yuan Yao and Sun Changze saw were the subordinates of the Eighth Prince.”

“And the Duke Residence is one of the Eighth Prince’s men. That’s why they have dealings with the Tartars.”

After she finished, Daohua looked intently at Xiao Yeyang, “Am I right?”

Xiao Yeyang smiled, stretched out his hand to cup Daohua’s cheeks, and kissed her deeply, “My wife is indeed clever. I haven’t even mentioned it, and you almost got it spot on.”

Daohua smirked proudly, “Of course.”

Xiao Yeyang chuckled, “I must say, the Duke Residence has really hidden itself well.”

Daohua looked somewhat emotional, “Even though the Eighth Prince is dead, his men are still relentless. Can’t they just change their identities and live peaceful lives?”

A sharp glint crossed Xiao Yeyang’s eyes, “The Eighth Prince is dead, but his son is not.”

Daohua’s eyes widened in shock, “The son of the Eighth Prince?” She paused, “About your age, right?”

Xiao Yeyang corrected, “A few years older than me.”

Daohua swallowed her saliva, “Could the man Luo Qiong is involved with outside possibly be the son of the Eighth Prince?”

Xiao Yeyang scoffed, “I’ve already had someone keep an eye on the Imperial Physician, we will soon find out.”

Daohua said, “Luo Qiong is really courting death. However, from yesterday’s events, Luo Qiong didn’t directly approach the Duke Residence but found an outsider instead. This shows that the Duke Residence isn’t aware of her affair.”

Xiao Yeyang responded, “Whether they know or not, as long as we can confirm that the Duke Residence is part of the Eight Princes Party, they deserve the capital punishment.”

…

The Imperial Physician, who had gone to diagnose Luo Qiong, had just returned home when he was seized by the Hidden Guards, and was brought to Xiao Yeyang that very night.

“Speak, who is your master?”

The Imperial Physician was not as panicked as expected, as though he had predicted this moment, “I’m willing to cooperate with you, can you spare my family?”

Xiao Yeyang replied, “That depends on the value of the information you provide.”

The Imperial Physician lowered his head, “I am a man of the Eighth Prince.”

Xiao Yeyang asked, “Who contacted you?”

The Imperial Physician shook his head, “I don’t know. This morning when I arrived at the Imperial Medical Bureau, I found a piece of paper marked with the Eighth Prince’s Residence insignia on my seat.”

“The note stated that I was to go diagnose the chief wife of Prince Ping’s Residence and could only declare her less than two months pregnant.”

Afterward, Xiao Yeyang asked the Imperial Physician a few more questions, but the physician was a mere peripheral figure and didn’t provide much valuable information.

Although they located the old estate of the Wan Family, the Duke Residence and the obscure members of the Eight Princes Party were too deeply hidden. A bulk of Hidden Guards were deployed, but there were no substantial gains.

Inside the Chen Courtyard of the Prince Residence, Luo Qiong had completely let her guard down after the Imperial Physician’s diagnosis. Aside from not allowing her to leave the Residence, Princess Consort Ma and Xiao Yechen were almost always acceding to her requests.

By late April, as the weather grew hotter, the Hundred Flowers Garden became the best place to cool off.

“Do you guys feel that Lady Daohua’s belly does not really look like it’s just a month or two along?”

“Didn’t they say that Lady Daohua has been eating a lot since her pregnancy?”

“Even if she eats a lot, it shouldn’t just be her belly. My sister-in-law was pregnant, and at just over four months, she looked like Lady Daohua does now.”

“The Imperial Physician wouldn’t diagnose the pulse wrongly.”

“I want to tell you guys something, but you mustn’t tell anyone else.”

“Quickly tell us, what is it?”

“The other day when I left the Residence on an errand, I happened to see the Lord of the Duke Residence inviting the Imperial Physician who diagnosed Lady Daohua onto his carriage. A mere Imperial Physician, where does he have the privilege to ride the carriage of the Commander of the capital defense?”

“You’re courting death, daring to say such things recklessly.”

At the entrance of the courtyard, Princess Consort Ma listened to the maids’ gossip with a dark expression. She wanted to have the nanny fetch those gossiping maids, but then she saw Consort Ji with her maids walking over.

Because of this, Princess Consort Ma had to put the matter aside temporarily.

After sending Consort Ji away, Princess Consort Ma again remembered the maids’ gossip. By the time she sent the nanny to fetch them, she no longer knew who they were and could only return to the Pingxi Hall, frustrated.

Once the Princess Consort had left, Ping Ji’s wife found the maids, “In a while, I’ll transfer you to Pingxi Hall, and then you can marry out of the Residence.”

The maids were visibly delighted, “Thank you, Sister.”

Ping Ji’s wife added, “The Princess Consort probably still remembers you, so it’s best you all stay away from her for now.”

“Don’t worry, Sister, we understand.”

“Alright, go on now, and don’t let anyone know I’ve seen you.” After saying this, Ping Ji’s wife returned to Pingxi Hall, reporting back to Daohua.

Having developed suspicions, Princess Consort Ma began paying closer attention to Luo Qiong, the more she observed, the more reasonable the maids’ words seemed.

Her daughter-in-law’s belly really didn’t look just one or two months along.

Thinking that her son hadn’t been in his wife’s room in January or February, Princess Consort Ma couldn’t calm her heart.

In the following days, Luo Qiong noticed that Princess Consort Ma was visiting the Chen Courtyard more frequently, inquiring and probing, which made her increasingly uneasy.

Especially during meals, when Luo Qiong noticed Princess Consort Ma looking at her belly, she quickly asked with a smile, “Mother Consort, what’s the matter?”

Princess Consort Ma said, “Normally, one does not show during the first three months of pregnancy, but your belly… Maybe we should have another Imperial Physician examine you?”

Luo Qiong felt a surge of panic, but she still nodded in agreement on the surface, “I’ll listen to Mother Consort.” After a pause, she added, “Mother Consort, the Dragon Boat Festival is approaching, and I wish to visit my parental home. If you are concerned, you can send a nanny to accompany me.”

Princess Consort Ma looked at Luo Qiong, thinking of her perennial visits to the Duke Residence during festivals, and uncharacteristically didn’t object, “Alright, if you want to go, then go.”

Luo Qiong’s face lit up instantly, “Thank you, Mother Consort.”

The next day, Luo Qiong packed her belongings and returned to the Duke Residence.

Unbeknownst to her, two groups of people followed her as she left.

One was Xiao Yeyang’s people, the other was Princess Consort Ma’s people.

…

As soon as Luo Qiong left the Residence, Xiao Yeyang thought this would be an opportunity to gather some evidence, but alas, he encountered incompetent allies.

No, he and the Ma mother and son couldn’t exactly be considered allies.