Like a thunderclap in autumn, the news about the Rong family exploded in the capital. According to the report, the second branch of the Rong family committed suicide out of guilt on their way back to the capital. All three members of the family died.
When Rong Jian heard this news, he was reclined on a lounge chair, showing no expression at all.
Rong Feichi was so frightened that he shouted repeatedly, ordering someone to fetch Zeng Haomiao.
Rong Jian waved his hand. "I'm fine. Your younger brother..."
Rong Feichie had always been a man of integrity. He would never commit suicide. Moreover, the emperor had said that he would be escorted back to the capital for trial. Rong Feichie had done nothing wrong, and Rong Jian believed that he could never have committed treason.
Unless he was framed.
Rong Feichi shook his head. "Father, with my second brother and Heng'er's martial arts skills, it's impossible for ordinary people to get close to them. Moreover, they had guards and secret agents around them. How could this happen..."
He couldn't even continue. If the Xia family couldn't be trusted, who else could Feichie and the others trust? Who knew if there were people from the Xia family among the guards and secret agents?
Shi Ning'an curled her fingers slightly, unable to stop trembling. Previously, she wasn't sure. She thought that the Xia family was just a front for the Crown Prince's faction, like General Zhou. But now, it seemed that they were not.
She took a deep breath. Her second aunt was such a kind person. Why was her maternal family like this? And Xia Anhai. They had known each other for so long. Xia Anhai had grown up with Rong Heng like brothers, and their personalities were quite similar.
Had the Xia family really defected to the Third Prince and wanted to destroy the Rong family?
She didn't dare to think about it, but she couldn't stop thinking about it either.
Rong Jian let out a long sigh. "It's all my fault... I was too stupid."
Overnight, his hair turned completely white. He was already an old man in his seventies. Although he had been in good health, he now looked very weak.
Rong Feichi knelt down and shook his head. "Father, this has nothing to do with you. It's all because I'm unfilial..."
Rong Jian turned his head and waved to Shi Ning'an. Shi Ning'an immediately walked over and knelt in front of the lounge chair, burying her head on the armrest.
Rong Jian gently stroked Shi Ning'an's cheek. "Ning'an, it seems that your grandfather won't be able to protect you anymore."
Tears welled up in Shi Ning'an's eyes. In her previous life, when Rong Jian had knelt in front of her and begged her to adopt the children of the Rong family, he had said the same thing.
Ning'an, from now on, the Rong family won't be able to protect you.
She didn't want their protection. She should have been stronger and should have been able to protect them.
Just then, someone came from the palace.
It was an unfamiliar eunuch with a rather arrogant tone. "Concubine Zhao invites Princess Zhaoming, Princess Zhonghui, Lady Rong, and the young master to enter the palace. Princess, please."
The entire Rong family was stunned. Did this mean that the female members of the Rong family were going to be detained?
Princess Zhaoming couldn't bear it. Her face darkened, and she sneered. "Now that the Rong family is in this state, what else does Concubine Zhao want?"
The eunuch wasn't angry. He just smiled. "Princess, you're joking. How could a servant like me know what the master is thinking? Please hurry up."
Shao Shi held her belly and said carefully. "Sir, I'll go change my clothes first..."
The eunuch waved his hand. "There's no need. Concubine Zhao has everything in her palace. Knowing that Lady Rong is pregnant, she specially sent a wet nurse to serve you."
This meant that they had to leave immediately.
The young Rong Han was protected behind Rong Zhuo. He also knew that the situation was wrong today.
Shi Ning'an's mind was working fast. Concubine Zhao had invited them to the palace without any reason. It was obvious that they were going to be detained in the palace. What was the Third Prince up to? Could it be a coup?
The eunuch had brought a team of guards. They were all standing neatly outside the manor, waiting.
Shi Ning'an asked. "May I ask, sir, how is the Empress Dowager?"
The eunuch glanced at her and replied. "The Empress Dowager is seriously ill and has been bedridden for many days."
Princess Zhaoming was shocked. She quickly asked. "The Empress Dowager is seriously ill? Why wasn't I informed? A few days ago, the wet nurse beside the Empress Dowager came and said that she was in good health!"
The eunuch didn't answer. He just said coldly. "The princess will know when she enters the palace."
They had no choice but to enter the palace.
Shi Ning'an looked at this eunuch. He didn't seem as cold as he looked. She quickly asked again. "The Empress Dowager is seriously ill. Has the Princess of Zhuangqin entered the palace?"
The eunuch glanced at her again, and his attitude became even colder. "Princess, please hurry up. Don't keep the lady and other noble ladies waiting."
Shi Ning'an's eyes flashed. So, besides the Rong family, there were also female members from other families. Judging from this, they were mainly the female members of the Crown Prince's faction.
She gave Rong Zhuo a look. There was nothing they could do at this moment. They could only try to get as much information as possible and let Rong Zhuo tell Rong Xuan and Rong Sui.
The carriage from the palace was luxurious. It was prepared according to the regulations for princesses. Although four people were sitting in one carriage, it made people feel more at ease.
Shi Ning'an sat beside Shao Shi and comforted her in a low voice, afraid that she would think too much and harm the fetus in her womb. Han'er nestled beside Princess Zhaoming. He was a little scared but tried to look brave.
Princess Zhaoming asked in a low voice. "Ning'an, what do you think?"
Shi Ning'an didn't dare to say anything casually. She just shook her head and said loudly. "Aunt, don't worry. We are princesses personally conferred by the emperor. And the Rong family has always behaved uprightly. We're not afraid of being framed."
Princess Zhaoming fell silent.
The group entered the palace. A banquet was set up in the imperial garden. Concubine Zhao was sitting in the main seat, smiling very kindly. When she saw Princess Zhaoming come in, she stood up and saluted her.
In fact, Princess Zhaoming was just a princess. The concubines in the palace didn't need to salute her. But she had been raised by the Empress Dowager. So the concubines in the palace were as polite to her as they were to a princess.
Concubine Zhao supported Princess Zhaoming and greeted Shi Ning'an with a smile. "I'm sorry to trouble the princess. Today is my birthday. I didn't need to make such a fuss. But the emperor loves me. Since I have no one to rely on after entering the palace, he insisted on holding a banquet and inviting everyone to the palace."
Shi Ning'an scanned the area with her eyes. Sure enough, all the female members present were from the families of the officials of the Crown Prince's faction. Concubine Zhao had used the pretext of a birthday banquet to summon them all to the palace.
Concubine Zhao touched Rong Han's face. "Oh, the young master is really cute. He looks very much like the eldest son of the Rong family."
Shao Shi bowed reluctantly. "Thank you, Lady, for your praise."
Concubine Zhao quickly supported her with a fake gesture and smiled. "Lady, you don't need to be so polite. You're pregnant. It's not easy for you to come here. Please sit down quickly."
She seemed rather envious as her eyes swept across Shao Shi's belly. "How many months are you?"
Shao Shi replied politely. "It's been more than six months."
Concubine Zhao looked at her from left to right and said to the wet nurse beside her with a smile. "Do you think the baby in her womb is a boy or a girl?"
The wet nurse looked carefully and smiled. "In my opinion, the baby in the lady's womb is probably a young master."
Shi Ning'an watched coldly. Although it was said that some doctors could tell the gender of the fetus in the womb, it didn't seem very accurate. Or rather, even the imperial doctor and Zeng Haomiao hadn't been able to tell whether Shao Shi's baby was a boy or a girl. The wet nurse's confident look made people suspicious.
In an ordinary family, if a wet nurse said that the baby was a young master, it might be a way to flatter. But everyone in the capital knew that the Rong family loved their daughters. Shao Shi's first child, Han'er, was a boy. For the second child, the whole family was hoping for a girl.
Did Concubine Zhao really not know what was going on outside, or was this on purpose?
Shao Shi's face darkened slightly, and then she smiled and thanked her.
Shi Ning'an looked at Concubine Zhao's bright and smiling face. She remembered the woman who had followed the emperor and Concubine Dong at the palace banquet. Even after she sat down, her face was full of loneliness. Now, that Zhao Feifei no longer existed. The noble concubine in front of her, with her hair full of jewels and infinite glory, was so similar to Concubine Dong in the past.
Princess Zhaoming found an opportunity to ask. "I heard that the Empress Dowager is seriously ill. May I visit her?"
Concubine Zhao pulled Princess Zhaoming affectionately. "Princess, your mother has passed away. And the Empress Dowager is not feeling well. She doesn't want to see anyone. It's better for you not to disturb her now."
Not long after, the emperor came. Concubine Zhao quickly welcomed him and said coquettishly. "Your Majesty, you're finally here. I've been waiting so impatiently."
The women sitting there all showed special expressions. Although they were disdainful in their hearts, they endured it on their faces.
Sure enough, she was a merchant's daughter. Only a woman from a small family would do such a thing to seduce a man with her beauty.
Shi Ning'an remained expressionless. Since they had all been summoned here, there must be a big move. What she needed to do was to wait and see.
Not long after, the Third Prince and Concubine Zhao on his side stepped forward to congratulate Concubine Zhao on her birthday.
Sitting beside Shi Ning'an was Miss Shao. She pinched the silk handkerchief in her hand and murmured angrily. "Sister Ning'an, did you see the appearance of that Zhao Yuanyuan? It's really ridiculous. Zhao Feifei is her elder sister, but now she has to call her elder sister 'mother concubine'. Don't you think it's ridiculous?"
Hearing her younger sister talk nonsense like this, Shao Shi's face changed greatly. She whispered angrily. "A Xiao, stop talking nonsense."
Miss Shao lowered her head and rolled her eyes. She still looked unhappy.
Shi Ning'an patted her hand to comfort her. "This is the palace. You can't be as casual as you are at home. In the previous dynasty, there were even aunts and nieces marrying the same man."
Miss Shao hadn't reached the age of puberty yet. She propped her face up and looked innocent. "The idea of two women marrying the same man doesn't sound pleasant. In fact, I think my elder sister is the happiest. She married a man from the Rong family. They'll be together for a lifetime. It's really enviable. Sister Ning'an, you'll also marry into the Rong family in the future. You must be very happy, too."
Shi Ning'an tapped her on the head. "You're still so young, but you're already thinking about getting married. Aren't you ashamed?"
Shao Shi blushed slightly and argued forcefully. "That's why it's said that before a girl gets married, she doesn't know about her own marriage. It's really a blind marriage when she gets married."
The two were talking in a low voice when suddenly Shao Shi pulled Shi Ning'an hard.
Shi Ning'an looked up and saw a woman running over with something in her arms from another entrance of the imperial garden. When she reached the place where people were seated, she was stopped by the guards.
The woman immediately knelt on the ground and shouted. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I have something to say!"
Shi Ning'an squinted her eyes and was stunned. "That... Isn't that the Crown Princess, He Mengzhen?"
The emperor frowned and asked. "What's going on?"
Concubine Zhao's eyes shifted, and she smiled. "Your Majesty, it's the Crown Princess. She's in a hurry at this time. There must be something important. Why don't you let her in?"
Shi Ning'an's mind exploded. The pride on the Third Prince's lips and the calmness on Lady He's face all seemed unusual.