Several hours ago, Prince Mu’s Mansion.
Princely Heir Mu suddenly died, and Prince Mu’s Mansion was plunged into grief.
At dawn, a funeral tent was set up in Prince Mu’s Mansion, and the mourning hall was also arranged.
After the morning court, an attendant of Prince Mu brought words back from the Imperial Palace, saying that Emperor Yongye fainted during the morning court. Prince Mu and a group of senior ministers were standing guard outside the palace, unable to return for the time being.
The funeral affairs of Princely Heir Mu were temporarily entrusted to Princess Consort Mu.
Princess Consort Mu, grieving over the death of Princely Heir Mu, had been lying in bed since last night. Even after consuming several prescriptions from the doctor, she remained listless and could only summon her elder daughter-in-law "Princess Mingyue."
"Mingyue, in the past it was Prince Mu’s Mansion that wronged you. Now that the Princely Heir has just passed away, your father and I are old and frail, and from now on, the affairs of Prince Mu’s Mansion will be handed over to you."
Princess Consort Mu grasped Feng Bailing’s hands, her face displaying a remorseful expression.
Beside them, Princess Anyang hesitated to speak.
Feng Bailing readily agreed, taking up the child and busying herself in the mourning hall.
"Queen Mother, how can you hand over Prince Mu’s Mansion to her. She belongs to Prince Shun’s Mansion; moreover, she only bore a daughter, and that loss-making commodity will likely squander the family fortunes of Prince Mu’s Mansion. I am your daughter; you should trust me with the affairs of Prince Mu’s Mansion instead."
Princess Anyang expressed her dissatisfaction.
Princess Consort Mu thought silently to herself.
"Aren’t you also a loss-making commodity yourself, at least your sister can serve the Emperor in the palace, what can you do? I asked you to marry, but you preferred Dugu Wu. Although Ah Ning is a daughter, she is at least the flesh and blood of your brother."
Thinking of her deceased son, Princess Consort Mu started sobbing again.
Princess Anyang kept denouncing it as ominous and left with an angry face.
In Prince Mu’s Mansion, the visitors who came to pay their condolences were gradually arriving.
Mo Qianqian, as the concubine of the Eldest Prince, also represented the Eldest Prince in expressing condolences today.
She and Princess Anyang were close friends; seeing Princess Anyang walking over with an indignant face, she hurriedly greeted her.
"Anyang, who has made you angry?"
"Who else could it be? My Queen Mother is biased, and now she wants to hand over Prince Mu’s Mansion to Mingyue, that harbinger of bad luck."
Princess Anyang glared at Princess Mingyue, who was nearby holding her baby girl.
That woman was nearly discarded, but now, relying on that loss-making commodity, she was about to rise and become the Matriach .
"It’s because she has a daughter. If she didn’t have a daughter, I bet my Queen Mother would have driven her out long ago."
Mo Qianqian insinuated meaningfully.
Princess Anyang picked up on the implication.
"I heard that recently in the town there’s someone who takes advantage of other people’s family events, stealing infants. What if, Princess Mingyue loses her guard and the child goes missing..."
Mo Qianqian gave Princess Mingyue a sidelong glance.
Last night, the Eldest Prince had spoken some words to her.
If she managed to accomplish this, she would at least become a noble consort, perhaps even higher.
Princess Anyang wasn’t foolish either; her eyes flickered.
"I’ll think of a way to get Princess Mingyue out of the way later."
The two of them whispered amongst themselves.
Feng Bailing, holding her baby girl, was directing the servants.
Although busy, her mind was racing.
At this hour, Dugu Wu must have already entered the Imperial Palace, but it was uncertain what the group from the Eldest Prince intended to do.
Before leaving, Dugu Wu reminded her to be careful with Ah Ning’s safety.
Following the list provided by Lady Nan Shiu, Dugu Wu had secretly gathered several girls and women matching the Extreme Yin Destiny and taken them under protection.
The Empress was urgently seeking a new "Seal Nourisher." Desperation drives a cornered dog over the wall; she would inevitably make her move during the mourning ceremony at Prince Mu’s Mansion.
Among the visitors, there were all sorts of people from various walks of life.
Feng Bailing did not recognize these people. Some came forward to offer their condolences and sympathies, and she just responded casually.
"Sister-in-law, you have been working hard all morning, holding Ah Ning the whole time. Let me hold him for a while and give you a hand."
Princess Anyang came over, her tone filled with concern.
Feng Bailing furrowed her brows. Princess Mingyue had told her that before the death of Mr. Mu, almost no one in Prince Mu’s Mansion really liked Ah Ning, they all thought of her as a liability, especially Princess Anyang.
Was she really that kind-hearted?
"Princess Mingyue, let Anyang hold her. After all, she is Ah Ning’s aunt."
Behind Princess Anyang, Mo Qianqian also said earnestly.
Mo Qianqian... Upon seeing Mo Qianqian, Feng Bailing had a thought.
She was on guard against the Empress sending someone, but she had not noticed the accomplices of the Empress.
The Eldest Prince was in league with the Empress; it was very likely that Mo Qianqian was brought by the Empress.
"You’d better hold her well; this child can be quite fussy."
Feng Bailing touched Ah Ning’s diaper, which needed to be changed.
As soon as the child was handed over to Princess Anyang, her face brightened.
But as soon as she held her, Ah Ning, uncomfortable because of the diaper and Princess Anyang’s awkward holding, started crying and fussing, causing Mo Qianqian to wave her little hands and scratch her face.
Mo Qianqian was furious.
"Miss Mo, let me take you to check your face and apply some ointment. Anyang, I will leave the guests to you, I’m going to change Ah Ning’s diaper."
Mo Qianqian had no choice but to follow Feng Bailing to put on ointment.
In the guest room, Feng Bailing applied ointment to Mo Qianqian’s face, and with ointment on, the wound looked rather ghastly. Out of necessity, Mo Qianqian covered her face with a gauze scarf.
"I’ll go find a diaper for Ah Ning, please watch the child for me in the meantime."
Saying this, Feng Bailing got up and walked out.
Mo Qianqian was thrilled; no sooner had Feng Bailing left than she took the child and headed towards the side door of Prince Mu’s Mansion.
She had only taken a few steps when she suddenly felt numbness on her neck, and before she could recover, she passed out.
Feng Bailing sauntered out, unobtrusively changed Mo Qianqian’s clothes, and covered her face with the scarf, then carried Ah Ning towards the side door.
"Why are you so slow, the Empress is getting very anxious."
At the side door, a nanny was waiting.
Feng Bailing recognized her as one of the Empress’s personal nannies.
"This naughty child is not used to strangers; she scratched up my face, which wasted some time."
Feng Bailing, whose build was similar to Mo Qianqian’s, lowered her voice, and the nanny did not suspect anything.
The two, along with the child, then boarded a horse carriage covered with grey cloth.
Inside the Imperial Palace, Feng Bailing followed the nanny into the Luan Palace.
"The Eldest Prince is inside."
The palace maid said to the nanny in a low voice.
"Mother, you have to come up with a plan. Father Emperor might really be in bad shape this time; Dongfang Yu was not fooled, and Noble Princess Consort Xiao has disappeared. He has already gone to Father Emperor’s chamber; you quickly go beg Father Emperor; if you speak up, Father Emperor will surely agree to appoint another Crown Prince."
Dongfang Cheng’s voice intermittently came from inside the chamber.
He really could not understand why his mother was still hiding in the Luan Palace instead of seeing Father Emperor at such a crucial time.
"Disaster-monger, who asked you to curse your Father Emperor!"
Behind the bed curtain, the Empress trembled with rage.