Chapter 69: Seeking Clues
Feng Tianzhu and Gong Changan returned to Old Madam Gong’s room, still dwelling on the matter of the “Li Di Huo,” constantly murmuring to Gong Changan.
Madam Wei asked with a smile, “What are you two little monkeys whispering about?”
Feng Tianzhu was not one to keep secrets, and since he wasn’t allowed to speak of it at Consort Song’s, he figured it would be fine here, so he said, “We’re talking about the Li Di Huo. Consubine Song’s room has a Li Di Huo!”
“What ‘huo’?” Everyone hadn’t understood, and Old Madam Gong asked with a smile, “What kind of rare trinket is that?”
“It’s a tiny person that disappears in the room with a flash,” Feng Tianzhu said.
“That’s nonsense,” Madam Feng said, “What kind of thing is that?”
“It’s not nonsense, it’s real! Chang’an, Gong Bao’an, and I all saw it.” Children are most afraid of not being believed, and Feng Tianzhu’s eyes widened in urgency.
Madam Feng and Wu Shi were worried about triggering his condition and quickly appeased him, “Alright, alright, you’re not talking nonsense.”
“Changan, you tell them!” Feng Tianzhu pulled Gong Changan over to be his witness, “Am I talking nonsense?”
Gong Changan explained, “A while ago, I was playing with Bao’an in Consubine Song’s room and caught a glimpse of a child in a red blouse and green trousers running into Consubine Song’s room. I chased after him and saw him duck under the bed, but when I went closer to look, he was gone.
I went back and checked my books, and it said this thing is called Li Di Huo, which can foresee five hundred years into the past and five hundred years into the future. It’s a treasure!”
Hearing him say this, everyone’s expressions turned somewhat grim. Children don’t know better; this was clearly an evil spirit, not a treasure.
Especially Old Madam Gong and Madam Wei, while outsiders didn’t know, their own family was well aware that Consort Song’s first son, Gong Kang’an, was wearing a red shirt and green trousers when he was murdered on his first birthday.
At that time, Consort Song held the lifeless child and refused to let go; the scene was still vivid.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Madam Wei smiled and said, “Most likely, Changan saw incorrectly. Children are prone to being easily startled.”
Only Wen Mingqian’s expression remained unchanged, and she said to Gong Changan, “You don’t focus on your studies and instead dabble in miscellaneous subjects, which is not good. When you enter the academy, you must study diligently.”
Madam Feng seized the opportunity to interject, “Yes, I was just about to say, I’ve already prepared the writing brushes, inkstones, and other items your Fourth Young Master will need for the academy, the same as Tianzhu’s. You don’t need to prepare them again.”
Old Madam Gong and the others naturally expressed their thanks, “Thank you for your trouble, Madam.”
“It’s no trouble. Having our children have a companion is better than anything,” Madam Feng also regarded Feng Tianzhu as her only hope and naturally paid attention to him.
The group then chatted for a while longer before the Feng family proposed to take their leave.
The Gong family insisted on them staying for a meal, refusing to let them go.
Feng Tianzhu was reluctant to part with Gong Changan, so Wu Shi said that if he didn’t behave, he wouldn’t be allowed to attend school. Only then did the disobedient child reluctantly let go.
He didn’t forget to instruct Gong Changan, “You must find that Li Di Huo.”
After seeing off the Feng family, Wen Mingqian said, “Old Madam must be tired after entertaining guests for so long. I’ll take Changan back, and you can rest quietly. I’ll have Zhang Ma send over some dishes later.”
After Wen Mingqian and her son left, Madam Wei had someone tidy up the room and personally helped her mother-in-law to the couch to rest.
Seeing Old Madam Gong’s displeased expression, Madam Wei cautiously asked, “Is Old Madam unhappy about something?”
Old Madam Gong said, “Listening to those two children, how can one not feel stifled?”
Madam Wei comforted her, “Children speak without malice, Old Madam, don’t take it to heart.”
Old Madam Gong said, “That’s what they say, but it’s still a bit too strange. Even if it’s just children babbling, it might not be so accurate. I don’t think she would tell him about that matter.”
Madam Wei said, “Yes! Changan is still young and can’t hear such things, let alone…”
Madam Wei didn’t finish, but Old Madam Gong knew what she was implying.
Furthermore, it was a lifelong stain on Wen Mingqian’s life; how could she tell her son?
Old Madam Gong said, “I’ve been thinking that Consubine Song has been restless since she became pregnant with this child, and I fear it’s inauspicious.”
“Let’s wait and see, perhaps she’ll stop being restless later,” Madam Wei said gently, “Old Madam, don’t worry about these baseless matters for now.”
Wen Mingqian brought Gong Changan back to Lingyue Pavilion. She sat down to drink tea, while Gong Changan stood beside her with a grin.
After taking a few sips of tea, Wen Mingqian asked him, “Did you go over there causing trouble today?”
Gong Changan nodded in admission, “It’s not my fault for causing trouble, who told them there was a ghost over there!”
“Tell me in detail,” Wen Mingqian slightly raised her chin, “What exactly are you planning?”
“Consort Song is carrying a ghost fetus, and I want to take this opportunity to scare her. It just so happened that the Young Duke of the Feng Family came today. As the saying goes, three people can make a tiger; if the three of us shout like this, everyone will surely become suspicious.
I also left a loose end, asking Gong Bao’an to act like a ghost in front of Consort Song. As long as he acts convincingly, Consort Song will be guilty and will surely reveal something.”
“Consort Song’s guilt must be seen by everyone. You should also put on a show at Old Madam’s place tonight,” Wen Mingqian advised her son, “Old Madam has already taken notice today anyway.”
“Son understands,” Gong Changan grasped it immediately, “No matter what, the events of that year must be investigated clearly to restore Mother’s innocence.”
“I was indeed innocent of the events of that year, but there’s something I’ve never understood for so many years. If Consort Song really framed me, how could she bear to poison her own son with her own hands?” Wen Mingqian’s brows furrowed slightly, “Back then, Wu Zetian framed Empress Wang and strangled her own daughter. Firstly, Wu Zetian was naturally ruthless, and secondly, it was a girl. Consort Song only had that one son at the time. If she couldn’t have any more sons in the future, even if she tried her best to drive me away, it would be useless.”
“Madam is right, the most crucial point is here! Otherwise, we could never make everyone believe that Consort Song intentionally framed you, because no one would believe a mother would kill her only son,” Zhang Ma also sighed.
“Madam, may I ask how Consort Song came to our mansion?” Sang Er, who had been listening quietly beside them, spoke up, “Speaking of which, she is quite capable, but unfortunately, her intentions are not righteous, and she resorts to deceitful schemes.”
“She entered the household on the third day of the second month of the Yichou year. As early as the winter of the previous year, Gong Xu had already quarreled with me and Old Madam several times because of her.
We all knew he had a daughter from a humble background outside. At that time, her brother hadn’t yet gained the favor of Prince Zhao,” Wen Mingqian spoke of the past, “Old Madam absolutely refused to let her enter the household, but unexpectedly, Consort Song attempted suicide once. It caused a great fuss, and we had no choice but to allow her to enter.”
“Madam, was she pregnant at that time?” Sang Er asked.
Wen Mingqian shook her head, “Not yet. I remember Old Madam specifically invited a doctor to examine her pulse. You know, large families pay special attention to the origin of children; an unclear origin would not be accepted.”
“Then, Madam, have you seen this child’s birth chart? Does it have the saying of harming the father and mother?” Sang Er asked again.
Generally speaking, if a child’s birth chart is unfavorable, it will affect the parents and is also considered inauspicious.
If this child was truly like that, it would be understandable for Consort Song to abandon him.
