Chapter 74.1

Side Consort Hu was stiff all over, and it took a while to push Feng Heizi away.

As she got off the bed, she almost fell over. Something cold slid down her legs. Disgusted, she used her handkerchief to wipe at it randomly then put on her clothes.

She didn't dare to delay too much and went next door to call for help. Three women plus an infant was enough to put Feng Heizi into a mule cart and take him away.

The coachman was sent away a long time ago, and only the cart was left. This was out of consideration for returning to the city. Tao Hong said that she had driven a donkey cart at home before when she was still a child and didn't expect the mule cart to be any different. She was right.

Halfway down the road, passing by a steep cliff, Side Consort Hu and Tao Hong worked together to throw Feng Heizi down. Even if he was discovered in the future, they would still be fine. Plus, Side Consort Hu had ruined Feng Heizi's face in the carriage and the place they threw him was so desolate that even birds didn’t poop there.

Tao Shan was sitting next to Side Consort Hu with her child, shaking. She didn't even dare to cry. Side Consort Hu’s expression was too terrifying. It was as if she had reached the end of the rope, but add in some extra cruelness and ruthlessness. Although Tao Hong's face was a little pale, she remained quite calm throughout.

The three drove away in a hurry and didn’t discover that a few people had appeared at the place where they just stopped. These people dismounted their horses and went down the cliff.

Back in the city, the three parted ways. Tao Shan took her child and hired a cart to return to her hometown, while Side Consort Hu and Tao Hong went back to the prince’s residence.

Except for their complexions being a little pale, they were the same as usual.

But Side Consort Hu had a nightmare again at night and couldn't sleep well the entire night.

On the other side, at Zhaohui Hall, Yaoniang would go there once a day and leave after serving Jin Wang. Even if Fucheng invited her to stay, she would refuse.

Turning to look at the dark-faced Jin Wang, Fucheng didn't know what to say.

His Highness was clearly awake, but he still wanted to pretend to be unconscious. It really made people laugh. Fortunately, this Lady Su didn’t have any deeper thoughts, otherwise, she would’ve discovered it long ago and ran away.

On this day, Side Consort Hu suddenly came to Rongxi Courtyard.

She showed a rare smile, making Yaoniang wary in her heart. But facing the other party's smile, she couldn’t treat her with a sour expression. What's more, she was only a concubine while the other party was a side consort. It was common sense that she should be respectful.

But if she was asked to smile along with her, she couldn't do it. She didn't forget how Side Consort Hu had treated her before, not to mention the old grudges between the two of them in their previous life.

In the past, Yaoniang wanted to stay in the prince’s residence, so she cared about the faces of both sides. Now that her past has been exposed and she was about to be kicked out of the manor any day, she couldn’t be bothered to put up appearances.

But in the eyes of Side Consort Hu, she was a woman who relied on Jin Wang's favour and did not even put her in her eyes.

Side Consort Hu hated even more in her heart but spoke to Yaoniang with calmness on her face.

As they talked, the topic soon moved to the previous incident. Naturally, she didn’t forget to step on Side Consort Xu, trying to show that she had been misled by others. She conveyed that she knew someone had deliberately tried to stir up strife. Feeling guilty about the ugly words she’d said, she came here to admit her faults.

Side Consort Hu had never been willing to be the better person. Yaoniang couldn’t help but be surprised. Since she couldn't directly ask her about her intentions, she could only be careful.

Side Consort Hu did not do anything else that was out of the ordinary. She still smiled very warmly, and took out many clothes and toys appropriate for infants, saying they were for Xiaobao. After that, she followed Yaoniang to take a look at Xiaobao before leaving.

After Side Consort Hu left, Yaoniang thought for a long time but still couldn’t figure out her intentions. Knowing that she wasn’t too smart, she asked Yuchan, who stood to the side.

Yuchan pondered, and said, "The side consort knows that His Highness loves Madam in his heart. This should be her taking the initiative to be nice to you."

Maybe she was right?

But love…

Side Consort Hu’s hand in her sleeve couldn't stop shaking.

She hated that she was blind before and didn't even notice that little bastard. Looking at the child now with her current knowledge, the outline and the facial features were very similar to those of Jin Wang. Especially his eyes, which were exactly the same.

She couldn't help thinking of her previous ridicule that the kid was a wild child. It was not the boy who was wild, but her little princess.

No, her little princess was not a wild species! If that child was gone, she wouldn’t be!

A flash of viciousness shot across Side Consort Hu’s face and the corners of her mouth tightened. Behind her, Tao Hong’s eyes also flashed but she didn’t speak.

All afternoon, Side Consort Hu's face looked thoughtful.

Tao Hong wanted to say something but stopped. In the end, she didn't say anything.

Side Consort Hu looked at her. "Did you hear what happened that day?"

Tao Hong shook her head. Then she started to stutter. When she couldn't continue any longer, she nodded.

In fact, how could she not hear it? Feng Heizi was a big man, and Side Consort Hu was just a weak woman. If something happened, it was uncertain who would kill who, so Tao Hong guarded outside the door.

"Your highness, have mercy! This servant will never tell anyone." Tao Hong's face turned pale. She threw herself onto her knees and begged for mercy.

Side Consort Hu helped her up. "I believe you are loyal to me, otherwise I wouldn't have taken you that day. But—" She changed her tone and said, "You and me, we prosper and suffer together. If you treat me with loyalty, I wouldn’t treat you unfairly. But you also know that my daughter and I are not in a good position right now. I didn’t make any mistakes but the heavens sure are great at fooling people, causing this coincidence to happen.”

As she spoke, she started to sob, “If this matter is known to… Anyways, someone will definitely find out. I went to see that little bastard today and saw that he was surprisingly similar to His Highness. Those people were all blind to have not noticed and even dared to treat him like a wild species, shameful to be seen in public."

"Then…?" Tao Hong looked worried and sad.

Side Consort Hu took a glance at her. "If people find out that the little princess is a fake, then not only me, but you, as my personal maid, will definitely not be able to run away. You would also be killed. After all, attempting to fake an imperial offspring is a serious crime."