This chapter has been brought to you by me, Adnana, and Vivie.
府 fu: compound or estate; (jun)wang fu: prince’s estate/compound
氏 shi: clan/maiden name
郡王妃 junwang fei: the official wife of a junwang
郡王 junwang: second-rank prince
王 wang: short for qinwang or first-rank prince; also called wang ye, i.e. “His [Your] Royal Highness”
太监 taijian: court or palace eunuch
世子 shizi: heir apparent to a qinwang (first-rank prince)
王妃 wang fei: princess consort; the official wife of a wang or prince
Chapter Fifty: Suspicions
“What are you thinking about?” Seeing Hua Xi Wan’s brow furrow, Yan Jin Qiu’s face held concern. “Why are you frowning?”
“Nothing, I just felt strange seeing a certain decoration in Sheng Junwang Fu.” The grape decoration was something in Hou shi’s room, so it would not be appropriate for Hua Xi Wan to speak of it in too much detail to Yan Jin Qiu. “I don’t know why the Crown Princess would give something of that material to Sheng Junwang Fei.”
She did not know if the Crown Princess knew that night pearls were unhealthy if they were kept in close contact with people, especially those who were pregnant. The Crown Princess herself wanted children badly, but in front of power, someone else’s child would not be so important.
The Crown Prince and Sheng Junwang were at odds to start with, not to mention that the rumor circulating in public was that Sheng Junwang had more ability to rule than the Crown Prince. If Sheng Junwang first had a son, from the Emperor to the Crown Princess, no one would rest easy.
When she thought about this, Hua Xi Wan rubbed the corner of her eyes. No wonder the Crown Princess had hurried to get to Sheng Junwang Fei so early. So she had been going to confirm if the miscarriage was true or not. This was very bothersome.
“If you do not feel well, rest after eating.” Yan Jin Qiu saw Hua Xi Wan’s expression become uglier, and his worry became more evident on his face. “If I had known beforehand, I would not have let you be dragged into these matters.”
It clearly was a very normal sentence, but when it reached Hua Xi Wan’s ears, her heart jumped. “Wang Ye seems to have something that you have not told me.”
Yan Jin Qiu sighed. “Those who are too smart tire the head.” He walked to Hua Xi Wan and reached out a hand to wrap around her from the back. “A few days ago, the Crown Prince and I talked about the night pearl, and I said that it is not good for night pearls to be put in the bedroom as they are unhealthy for the body.”
Hua Xi Wan abruptly turned to look at Yan Jin Qiu. Just as Yan Jin Qiu thought she would utter words of blame, she suddenly smiled. “Jin Qiu should be more careful when you talk in the future, otherwise, people will use you.”
“Wife is right; this husband will definitely remember.” Yan Jin Qiu stole a kiss behind her ear and then said, “In the future, if there is something you want to know, ask me. As long as I know it, I will tell you everything.”
Hua Xi Wan looked at his perfect side profile and put a hand lightly on the back of his hand. “Jin Qiu’s thoughts always surprise me.”
“It is not that I surprise you, but that you do not believe me.” Yan Jin Qiu seemed to have changed his method of interaction with Hua Xi Wan, taking off his mask and becoming more direct. “I know that you do not like these matters, but it is a part of being in the Imperial Family—otherwise, our children will live days of decline, with the name of Imperial Family members, but where any prestigious family in Jing is better off than them.”
There were many Imperial clansmen in Jing who were in decline. A portion of them were the descendants of wang and junwang who failed in trying to get the throne. There were also people who did not have any ability and just struggled through their days. But most representative were the Imperial Family relatives who were the descendants of the losers in the fight over the throne, or the people who had been disliked for generations by previous emperors. The fate of their lives was almost predetermined from birth. Unless they were truly one of the geniuses found once in a hundred years and loyal to the emperor, they would only be able to live out an average and boring life.
Right now, Xian Wang Fu’s position seemed grand, but it was actually wavering. If the Emperor had a few more sons or the Crown Prince had many children, then imperial nephews like Yan Jin Qiu were not worth anything.
The reason why Sheng Junwang had the support of so many people in court was due to this, because no one dared to guarantee that the Crown Prince would not mess up the entire Zhao Dynasty. If the Crown Prince had as few children as the Emperor, then there would only be one path to take in the future: adopt someone from the Imperial Clan to take the throne.
The two branches that were closest in blood to the previous emperor were Sheng Junwang and Xian Junwang, so in the hearts of many people, because the Crown Prince was not a good one, they unconsciously were respectful of these two people.
“I understand what you mean…” Hua Xi Wan already understood why Yan Jin Qiu did not plan on having children in the next two years. One reason was because she truly was too young and therefore unsuited to a have a child now, the other was that the Emperor and Empress would not be willing to see Xian Wang have a firstborn son before the Crown Prince did.
The events of Sheng Junwang Fu were what waited for their Xian Wang Fu.
Some things Hua Xi Wan could guess. For example, while she was in charge of the inner compound, when she found that some taijian and servant girls vanished without a sound, she would not do anything after summoning Mu Tong and asking a few questions.
She never asked where the people who disappeared went to, and Yan Jin Qiu never asked her why she would practice the martial arts of her maternal family. If she thought about it, the two of them were similar in many aspects, but she was more willing to close her eyes and let it pass, while Yan Jin Qiu was truly vicious in mind and action.
The news of Sheng Junwang Fei’s miscarriage quickly spread through Jing. Some people felt pity, others felt that the matter was of no concern to them, and some felt the matter was fishy. However, no one asked questions.
Hou shi, however, had a burst of anger a few days later and even smashed the grape decoration that the Crown Princess had given to her.
When Hua Xi Wan’s expression had not been right when she asked the question, Hou shi had noted it down. Now she had found out that night pearls were not good for pregnant women, and could even cause miscarriages.
She had been sleeping too well in the previous days. She had originally thought that it was because she was pregnant, but thinking about it now, it definitely was the influence of the night pearls.
In reality, the night pearls did not have such a strong effect. Most of the cause of Hou shi’s miscarriage was on her. For example, she still ran the household after she got pregnant, and then she was extremely nervous due to caring too much about the child in her belly. Under such heavy pressure, her pregnancy that was not so stable to start with miscarried.
But after a person encountered an unfortunate event, what they hoped to find was a place to vent. The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess became the targets of Hou shi’s hatred.
If it was not for the scheming of the couple, her male baby would gradually take form and then be born, to become a shizi of whom she would be proud.
But all of this turned to nothing. She hated. She wanted to carve out the eyes of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. But she remembered that she was a junwang fei—she could not act impulsively. Everything had to be planned long-term.
When Yan Bo Yi learned of this matter, his expression also darkened. When he finished listening to Hou shi narrate how she had found out, he raised a brow expressionlessly. “You say that it was Xian Wang Fei?”
Hou shi nodded.
Yan Bo Yi sighed. Truthfully, he would rather play against three couples like the Crown Prince and Crown Princess rather than have anything to do with the Xian couple. These two were really experts at acting. No one knew what they really thought inside. Being enemies with people like this meant that one might become cannon fodder in the next round.
For example, this time. The one who implied that there was something wrong with the grape adornment was Hua shi, but she did not say anything directly. She only waited for them to have their doubts and discover it. Then after increasing hate for the opponent, there was nothing on her and she left freely, while the people involved in the matter were conflicted about what to do.
Or right now. He had doubts about whether Hua Xi Wan really knew that the night pearls had negative effects, pretended to accidentally say it, and caused their fu to be on bad terms with the Crown Prince.
However, listening to Hou shi’s narration, Yan Bo Yi felt that this was not likely. No one in their Sheng Junwang Fu knew that the night pearls had negative effects on pregnant women. Where would Hua Xi Wan learn this from?
Translator Ramblings: Yan Jin Qiu, I wonder if he predicted that Hua Xi Wan would say something or he had some other way of getting the information to the Sheng couple to point them at the Crown Prince and Princess.
**In reality, the night pearls did not have such a strong effect. Most of the cause of Hou shi’s miscarriage was on her. For example, she still ran the household after she got pregnant, and then she was extremely nervous due to caring too much about the child in her belly. Under such heavy pressure, her pregnancy that was not so stable to start with miscarried.**
Thank you dear author for pointer it out
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**Yan Bo Yi sighed. Truthfully, he would rather play against three couples like the Crown Prince and Crown Princess rather than have anything to do with the Xian couple. These two were really experts at acting. No one knew what they really thought inside. Being enemies with people like this meant that one might become cannon fodder in the next round.**
Too many enemies all around. All the more, Xian couple are growing more of a threat even though YJQ isn’t outright vying for the throne. I think, at this point, he’s just trying to survive by making other fight each other.
** If she thought about it, the two of them were similar in many aspects, but she was more willing to close her eyes and let it pass, while Yan Jin Qiu was truly vicious in mind and action.**
^^^ Right there. When YJQ retaliates, it truly is vicious. Sad that he had to learn to be that way due to the imperial family.
As to whether or not YJQ predicted everything, who could know? I do think it was deliberate of him to mention the night pearls issue to the prince though. However, I think he didn’t want his wife to get involved. That, I believe, was by chance.
Anyway, thanks for the chapter! A rift grows anew and Hou Shi is out for blood. I wonder what will happen next…
Hah, Sheng Junwang’s back at it again with suspecting HXW of everything.
It’s truly a matter of who is the cleverest and most cunning when it comes to surviving in the imperial family.
Does that mean YJQ is on his way to getting ‘adopted’ to be the next emperor?
I’m sure that’s his end plan
Part of it is them getting closer as a couple, but I also think that YJQ is changing his approach because he has no other choice.
Like he says, it’s difficult when someone is so smart. HXW has proven she’ll figure things out and get drawn into affairs even if she doesn’t want to be. He has to bring her in himself and explain so as to keep her from getting hurt by stumbling into something.
I don’t think he meant for HXW to be the one to point it out – he’s smart, not clairvoyant. But I’m sure he expected YBY with his suspicious nature to look into gifts given by the crown princes’ household and cause discord in that way (considering the dubious strength of the night pearls miscarriage effects, he probably didn’t plan for the miscarriage. Causing discord by the fact that the gift was given with bad intentions was probably enough for him.)
I think that YJQ knew that HXW would point that out else he wouldn’t say, “If I had known beforehand, I would not have let you be dragged into these matters.” and also there’s that time when YJQ sent night pearls to HXW. If HXW like it, she would keep it and he can mention the harms that it has. And if she knew, he would ask for assurance. I actually thought it was weird of him to suddenly ask why HXW didn’t accept the gift when he knows she isn’t fond of jewelry or riches (with all of the eyes and ears he has I’m sure he’s very clear of HXW personality at some degree).
Also, YBY thinking like that just further support the point that YJQ is that crafty and vicious.
I don’t know what to write 😑
Oh thank you for the double chapters..
Hua xiwan really can’t do anything without being suspected by yan boyi. Seems like yan jinqiu halo is still going strong. No one can imagined that its actually the scholar husband thats bad not the lazy wife.
Thank you for the chapter~
I raise my hands up in the air for YJQ
Thank you for the chapter (๑♡⌓♡๑)fu
Oh my gosh I’m loving it!! The story is way tooo amazing. I could never get bored with this novel!! Thank you soooo much for the update!!
Poor Hou shi…..in the end, it’s mostly her fault the baby miscarried, but sigh. She’s so young anyway, how would she able to have a steady preganancy…
And YJQ and Xi Wan are getting closer, I love it. They’re really adorable, altho YJQ is truly vicious omg… It’s just product of growing up in that kind of family tho…
Thank you for the chapter 💖💖💖
Wife is right; this husband will definitely remember.” Yan Jin Qiu stole a kiss behind her ear and then said, “In the future, if there is something you want to know, ask me. As long as I know it, I will tell you everything.”
Wow YJQ really fall in love with HXW. He’s very faithful and trust his wife. The man whose cunning like YJQ he gladly told everything to her.
Thank you for the update. As always i will give you a kiss 😘
thank you very much for the new chapter!
Actually YBY, you overthink HXW’s intention, I believe she does you no harm
I for one find myself not believing the author about the night pearls. Hou shi was staying home and not getting out into the catfight world. So that should have relieved some stress. Unless there was something wrong with her nutrition or her own body was weak or the fetus had some abnormality that caused it to abort I just can’t believe that the stress of running the household would cause a miscarriage. Many women carry to term even in harsh physical conditions and much more stress than running a household. There had to be something to tip it over the edge and help weaken her physically and I like to think it was the night pearls. The author is just trying to give YJQ a way out of having indirectly caused the death of a poor innocent not even yet child.
Just my thoughts. I just couldn’t get myself to believe running the household caused this miscarriage but I know a certain percentage of pregnancies end in miscarriage through no one’s fault. Just life.
Actually, from the narration, it was said that the child was “already” unstable. Couple that with stress from worrying for the child’s health and managing the household.
Nightpearls just brings bad luck. Sending one is like cursing the child to die. Maybe that’s what sealed his fate.
I think the level of stess one can take in is something that differs individually, One pregnant woman can remain strong no matter how much stressful things are; yet another pregnant woman can´t take everything in resulting to the instability of the foetus. This is just one factor amongst many.
Just finished rereading from the first chapter, and I realized that in a couple of chapter back, HXW was actually the one who told YJQ about the night pearls in the first place, not quite significant, but I just wanted to point it out haha
Yeah, it doesn’t seem to be a very common superstition in this time/place. For Hua Xi Wan to know this is not likely, but not impossible, if the information is to have originated in this lifetime. If it came from her previous life, then it is (oddly) more reasonable.
YJQ simply took this information, and imparted it to someone who would certainly misuse it to great effect for YJQ. He’s too self-centered (out of necessity in this rotten scheming family) to feel badly on behalf of the bereaved would-be parents.
HXW is annoyed that her not-obviously-common-knowledge would be used to harm a child. The children can have done nothing wrong, especially prior to actually being born, and they ought to be kept out of it. Which is a pretty fantasy when you live in shark infested families.
It is absolutely critical that the crown prince either have a child first (who later falls ill, or proves to be mentally incompetent early, before YJQ and HXW have children. For the sake of keeping those children alive. The two years wait is going to be necessary to get some serious chess played out before reproduction can reasonably come into things.
On a further side note – I have this sort of fantasy version of Yan Bo Yi as a man of his time/setting who doesn’t adore his wife, but respects her as he sees it, and who eagerly awaits the birth of their heirs. I think his children will be more than just political power plays and pawns to use against his rivals. I said fantasy, alright?
If I remember correctly, Xian Junwang already changed into Qinwang, right?
I´m actually curious as to what type of birth control YJQ and HXW were using in that particular era. Anyone with some ideas?
The easiest would be not having sex at certain times of the month.
I was actually thinking of some wild concoction
Maybe traditional Chinese medicine. I’m sure there are some, though the usual case is to increase fertility.
tons of methods: rythym and method (based around ovulation), pulling out, they had condoms often made from animal skin, douches, and various medicines that sort of induced miscarriage or worked similarly to the morning after pill
At this point, can I just say I’m quite amused that almost all of Yan Jin Qiu’s scheming is attributed to Hua Xi Wan?
… Although that also brings up the unlikely but possible scheme of this is exactly how Yan Jin Qiu wants it to be and he wants to burn Hua Xi Wan by making her out to be the one scheming everything in the end.
… Granted, I doubt he would do that considering how lovey dovey he is with her but… distinct possibility. … if he wasn’t the ML. 😛
I have zero empathy for these characters but keep reading because 1)it is well written and 2)still interesting it is like watching House of Cards, the ancient version (with love). I find it easier to build empathy for a character when you watch them grow and change into what they are, not through a handful of flashbacks. I.e. like empress of china was ruthless but we were made to be very sympathetic to her. Here I am just sort of like…meh
“Yan Jin Qiu seemed to have changed his method of interaction with Hua Xi Wan, taking off his mask and becoming more direct. “I know that you do not like these matters, but it is a part of being in the Imperial Family—otherwise, our children will live days of decline, with the name of Imperial Family members, but where any prestigious family in Jing is better off than them.””
Precisely what I’ve been saying… he has to do something if he wants to live a decent life. His father was the brother of the emperor and he must have seen or heard of some of the struggles that went on before the emperor got the seat. He also knows that the emperor and crown prince have it in for him, hence the mask he wears, and hence his ‘dark’ actions to try and 1. save himself (assassination was mentioned in the first few chapters) and 2. create a better situation for himself and any future kids he wishes to have.
Maybe it is because I read TBVW that I see/saw this almost right away. When you are from the imperial family, pretty much from birth, you are destined to use or be used somehow, if its one or the other, I prefer to use, establish myself then dictate how things will be run. This seems better so I dont have to suffer and I can hopefully establish the things that I think are better.
I really dont see this guy and his wife later becoming oppressive hurtful people… they seem to be likely to live good lives, caring and helpful as much as they can, their people so their kingdom will prosper.