Forcing me to become a concubine? Remarrying the Ninth Prince, she'll be pregnant all over the

"What did you say?"

Lin Wantang was taken aback upon hearing this. Her pupils constricted, and her already worried and somber expression darkened further. "My father... is alright? Who told you that?"

"It's the master..." The servant rubbed his hands in confusion. "Miss, the doctor in the manor has checked his pulse several times. The master is in good health and there's nothing wrong with him."

Another "no problem" response.

Lin Wantang, however, turned away in surprise and anger, her chest pounding with disbelief.

Both Wei Wujiu and Lin Rucong were poisoned by some unknown substance at the palace banquet. She suspected it was mirage sand from Miao territory, and the antidote was still unknown.

Both of them exhibited similar hallucinogenic and violent symptoms on the evenings of the previous two days.

He's perfectly fine during the day, but at night he's like a completely different person.

Can it heal itself today without medicine or cure?

Lin Wantang initially thought that Wei Wujiu was preoccupied with the sealing ceremony and the silkworm-raising ceremony tomorrow and was deliberately trying to appease her, but why did Lin Rucong also send such a message through the servants?

Something's not right.

Lin Wantang was suspicious and cautious, and did not want to say much to the servant, so she let him go to rest. The next day, after the palace curfew, she returned to the mansion and helped Chunhen into the palace. Hua Ershisan was still sitting in the official's hat chair drinking tea.

Jiang Fulu stood to one side serving them. The two were about the same age, but their personal relationship was extremely bad. At this moment, they joked around and whispered their witty remarks to each other.

"Miss," Jiang Fulu couldn't change his way of addressing people, "Eunuch Hua has finished all his business, this old servant will see him off now."

Hua Ershi snorted coldly, ignoring the order to leave, and instead stared intently at Lin Wantang.

They didn't say anything, just watched.

Lin Wantang didn't feel any pressure from his gaze. She gracefully bowed and said, "Eunuch Hua, it's late and the dew is heavy. I'll have someone prepare a warm sedan chair for you."

After a long pause, Hua Niansan finally let out a long "hmm," but she didn't get up and showed no intention of leaving.

Jiang Fulu frowned and turned his head away, lowering his voice: "Old man, know when to stop. Do you want to displease the master?" Then, Jiang Fulu bowed and leaned closer: "Come, Eunuch Hua, let this old servant help you. It's time to kneel and take your leave."

Hua Ershisan was already used to Jiang Fulu's two faces. He sneered and ignored him, slapping Jiang Fulu aside while keeping his eyes fixed on Lin Wantang: "This humble servant should be leaving now, but Miss Lin, don't you have anything to say?"

This sentence is a suggestion.

It also happened to be exactly what Lin Wantang had just seen.

Logically speaking, Hua Niansan and Jiang Fulu were both eunuchs, of similar age, and had served in the palace for many years. It was reasonable for them to have some private friendships or to celebrate holidays together. However, their current positions were worlds apart.

Hua Ershisan was the chief eunuch serving the emperor. It could be said that he was truly second only to the emperor in both the imperial court and the harem. Even the old ministers in the court, including the princes, kings, and concubines, dared not offend or disobey Hua Ershisan.

Jiang Fulu only served Wei Wujiu. To put it nicely, he was the emperor's bestowed title of "Nine Thousand Years Old," but who would dare to overstep the distinction between ruler and subject?

Even if Jiang Fulu had a grudge against Hua Niansan, even if he hated her, how many times would Jiang Fulu dare to openly contradict and argue with Hua Niansan!

"Since Eunuch Hua has brought this up, then this humble woman dares not conceal anything. There are indeed some things to say, but I am not speaking them; rather, I am asking them."

Lin Wantang followed suit and slowly began to speak.

Seeing that she had gotten the hint, Hua Ershisan stopped pretending and glared fiercely at Jiang Fulu: "You old eunuch, get lost!"

Jiang Fulu glared at her, then waved to Hua Ershisan, dismissing the eunuchs he had brought. After a moment's hesitation, he finally led the maids and attendants in the hall to leave.

Now that there was no one else in the hall, Hua Ershisan put down his teacup. "There's no one in the way anymore. Ask me anything."

Lin Wantang took a deep breath, pondering what to ask first.

Actually, asking any question is inappropriate.

She asked directly, "What's going on between you and Eunuch Jiang?"

Is she bored out of her mind? She has a ton of things to do, but she's worrying about this mess between two old eunuchs?

Then she asked whether Hua Ershisan knew about Wei Wujiu's poisoning, and if so, why was he able to recover suddenly without medicine? And was the person who poisoned him Shen Huai'an?

This question was asked too hastily, making her appear not only unable to hide her feelings but also thoughtless and foolishly trusting others.

After much deliberation, Lin Wantang finally lifted her skirt and knelt down to perform a deep bow: "Your subject, Lin Wantang, greets my godfather."

"Since my marriage to the Governor is already arranged and will be completed in a little over a month, I should follow my husband and be grateful to my godfather for his understanding and acceptance of my three bows."

Hua Niansan was taken aback. She hadn't expected that Wei Wujiu would acknowledge her so readily and show her such respect.

After she kowtowed three times, Hua Ershisan was at a loss. He quickly got up to help her up and reached into his sleeve, saying, "Good child, since you have accepted me as your husband, I can't let you suffer."

As Hua Niansan spoke, he took out several items: a jade pendant with excellent clarity, a name card he always carried, and a thick stack of silver notes.

He only took back the name cards, giving the rest to Lin Wantang: "Keep them, consider them a small gift."

Unable to refuse such hospitality, Lin Wantang accepted the tea and helped Hua Niansan sit down again. She also refilled the teacup: "Godfather, I can't keep things to myself, so please don't blame me for being stupid. I have something to ask you."

Hua Ershisan carefully scrutinized her. Perhaps it was Lin Wantang's impeccable manners that pleased him, but the more he looked at her, the more pleasing she became, and the more satisfied he was. He smiled and said, "Yes, please speak freely."

"I want to know everything about the Governor..." Lin Wantang cleverly avoided directly stating the answer, and added, "If there is anything inappropriate, I hope my godfather will forgive me. I really just..."

She was too embarrassed to continue, and lowered her head to hide the just-right blush on her cheeks.

Hua, at her age of twenty-three, surely understands everything. She couldn't help but laugh, "You've fallen for my godson and want to know more about him, right?"

"But is your affection genuine?" Hua Niansan still probed with disbelief.

Lin Wantang gripped her embroidered handkerchief tightly, but before she could speak, Hua Ershisan chuckled and said, "Let me put it this way: if your father and Wei Wujiu were both falsely accused and framed, they would both face execution, but you had a way to legally save one of them. Who would you choose?"

Lin Wantang fell silent, feeling awkward.

This is like asking a man, if his mother and wife both fell into the water at the same time, who would he save?

"Can't decide?" Hua Ershisan's expression remained smiling, but a shrewd glint flashed in her eyes. She shook her head with a snort: "You're nothing special..."

Before she could finish speaking, Hua Niansan was stunned by what Lin Wantang said.