Chapter 71.1

Over the last few days, the atmosphere in the manor was extremely suffocating. In the backyard, guards were everywhere, and the senior eunuchs of Zhaohui Hall came out again.

Because of this, everyone behaved themselves. Many people didn't even know what happened that day. As for those that knew a  bit of inside information, their mouths were shut tightly. Even to the point of staying silent while dreaming in their sleep.

Side Consort Hu was horrified that day and finally recovered after these two days. From the situation in the mansion, it was obvious that the bitch from Rongxi Courtyard stayed alive and well. What else couldn't she understand?

Was that slut made of gold? Was that why His Highness valued her so much?

But she didn’t dare to utter even a single word of protest. The mere thought of Jin Wang’s reaction and his fury that day caused Side Consort Hu's heart to tremble.

Side Consort Hu had an idea as to who the mastermind was behind all this. There were only two possible culprits. Later, when she heard her servants say that a few maids from Haoyue Residence were beaten to death in front of Side Consort Xu, she knew who it was.

It was a good plan. With a single arrow, the heart was struck. Any ordinary man wouldn’t be able to take it. It's a pity-

Jin Wang was not an ordinary man.

Shouldn’t there be anger and disgust? Wishing to throw them as far away as possible? Or he could choose to help the family of three reunite. After all, a child couldn’t live without a father. Yet Jin Wang actually slapped that man to death while the slut remained safe and well. Heck, not even that little bastard was dealt with!

To deal with that little bitch, Side Consort Hu waited to watch a good show, but it didn’t turn out the way she expected at all.

Side Consort Hu was so angry that she had a nightmare last night.

In her dream, Jin Wang was covered with green clouds and was inseparable from that slut. He was even willing to recognize that little bastard as his son, but the little princess, his biological daughter, was shunned! Side Consort Hu was so infuriated that she couldn’t wait to chop that dog couple to pieces. 

She was so angered that she woke up. With a sore waist and pain in her back, she couldn’t return to her senses for a long time.

The sky was already bright. She still had to rush over to Siyi Courtyard to pay respects later so Side Consort Hu was not in a good mood at all. As a maid combed her hair, since she couldn’t throw the comb, she smashed her rouge box. The maids around her were all trembling, in fear of being the next victim.

All of a sudden, someone came to announce that Tao Shan was here.

The old people from Liuchun Pavilion all knew who Tao Shan was. She was the earliest maid next to Side Consort Hu. When Side Consort Hu first entered the prince’s residence, she brought along Tao Shan. However, Tao Shan did not stay in the residence for long before she was released by the side consort to marry. At that time, many people thought to themselves that Side Consort Hu was kind. Only when someone secretly started to spread some rumours about her did everyone begin discussing with each other. Then they realized that what Side Consort Hu did was not kind at all. She only did that because she didn’t want someone that knew her past to be beside her.

But there was no doubt that Side Consort Hu was indeed nice to Tao Shan. She had specially ordered people to give her a New Year gift during the last Lunar New Year.

Side Consort Hu approached Tao Shan, who was dressed as a countryside woman. Seeing this, Qiu Ju and a few others turned red with envy and couldn't help turning their heads to look at Tao Hong.

Tao Hong was cleaning up the clutter on the bed and didn’t notice how Side Consort Hu stopped her rage. She was quiet and unassuming like usual.

"Enough. Once you are all done with tidying, you may retreat."

"Yes." 

After waiting for everyone to leave, Tao Hong came back and knelt by the door of the inner room, pressing her ear to it.

Side Consort Hu stared at Tao Shan who was kneeling at her feet in disbelief. "You said that Feng Heizi wanted to see me. To force you to come here and pass me the message, he threatened your baby boy?"

Tao Shan cried. She nodded while saying, "This servant didn't recognize him at first. He looked like a beggar, dressed in rags and tatters. He was chased by the wild dogs in the village and ran to my house, asking for water. It was him who recognized this servant first and explained that he got in some trouble. This servant thought that since we knew each other before, it was not a big deal to give him some buns. But once he finished eating, his face changed and he asked me for money. He said that since you were redeemed by a nobleman, you must have plenty of gold and silver. He even threatened to tell my husband that I was from that kind of place, so I was forced to tell him about what happened to you."

Side Consort Hu felt waves of hate crash over her. Ever since she entered this luxurious and splendid residence, Jin Wang Mansion, she was no longer the top call girl of Yihong Courtyard.

She has forgotten that she once had another name, Miss Mingyu.

At that time, the madam of the brothel saw that she was gorgeous and was reluctant to let her be listed. She had said that her first time must be sold at the highest price possible.

But for a small broken place like Linyun County, how could there be any nobles? Only the poor scholars were good-looking and only the old men were rich. But one day, the madam grew impatient and wanted to sell her first time to Master Qian. Master Qian was fat and had weird hobbies. He had slept with not a few girls in the brothel and they all ended up real bad. Hu Mingyu was terrified and was very unwilling.

But she was fortunate. That day, two very strange guests came to the brothel. One with a cold face, and the other so handsome that he didn’t seem to be a mortal man. The two were in a rush, and the cold-faced man put the handsome man into a nearby room then left.

The sky was blue and the sun was still high. Business hadn’t started yet and Hu Mingyu, who lived next door, planned to go outside to take a breather. Upon leaving her room, she happened to witness this scene. Thinking that she would be crushed by that fat pig at night, and tossed till half her life was gone, she made up her mind. Anyway, the men who came to the building were all here to wander through wildflowers and willows. By then, the madam would have nothing to say. It wasn’t like the man couldn’t pay the money.

That day changed her destiny. From a call girl in a brothel to a side consort in the prince’s residence.

When Hu Mingyu was still in the brothel, what she liked most was to pray to gods and worship Buddha. A lot of the other girls were also like this. It seemed that after soaking in bitter water for so long, they couldn’t help but trust in ghosts and gods. They especially liked comforting themselves by saying that the good days are still to come. This was how they endured, day after day.

Hu Mingyu also liked to hear these words. Whenever she went to pray for divination sticks at temples, the monks would always say that she has a wealthy life ahead, filled with endless blessings.

Was it not so? Doesn’t she have riches and honour now?

Side Consort Hu returned from her thoughts and looked at the ugly, crying, Tao Shan in front of her. She said with disdain, "He still wants to use that matter to threaten this consort? Blind his dog eyes!" 

Back then, that man was Jin Wang and it was him who redeemed her from the brothel. To deal with her, that bitch Consort Jin often spreads rumours about her low birth in private. The entire residence already knew about her past so Side Consort Hu was not afraid of the man using this to threaten her.

Tao Shan hesitated and said, "He said that it was not the noble person who opened your bud that day, but someone else…"

This surprised Side Consort Hu and she was reminded of her nightmare last night. She stared at Tao Shan closely. "What did you say?! Say that again!"

"Feng Heizi said that the person who took your virginity that day was not His Highness, but someone else! He also said, whether you believe it or not, the consequences are at your own risk." This was why Tao Shan was so scared. Feng Heizi didn't know the nobleman’s identity but she knew very well, so she came in haste.

The bracelet on Side Consort Hu’s wrist broke with a snap. Round shiny pink pearls, the size of a thimble fell to the ground and rolled away.