Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved

"I think she must be pretending. How can someone change so drastically in just a few days, suddenly claiming they don't like something anymore? She treated Yang Shan to gain your trust, and then she conspired with the Second Prince to bring you down!"

Su Kai stroked his chin, speaking with a hint of seriousness.

"However, she definitely doesn't know about her elder sister, Murong Man, and her relationship with the Second Prince. Brother Yan, do you think if we tell her this, could we possibly turn her against them? Her medical skills are indeed quite impressive."

Her looks are somewhat lackluster, her facial birthmark is hard to look at directly, but being skilled in medicine is a talent in itself.

But it is also possible she conspired in advance with the Second Prince, who might have told her the antidote and treatment methods.

Thinking it over, Su Kai felt that Murong Jiu was a big problem; this woman gave off conflicting vibes.

"Brother Yan, give us your thoughts, what are you really thinking?"

"Her hatred towards the Second Prince doesn't seem feigned."

In the palace, the surge of hatred Murong Jiu felt upon seeing the Second Prince was very genuine.

Perhaps she's already aware of the relationship between Murong Man and the Second Prince.

But her hatred doesn't seem like that of a betrayed lover; it's more like the deep-seated loathing and murderous intent one has after a family annihilation.

This is odd as the Yongning Marquis Manor currently aligns with the Second Prince secretly, so the Second Prince would likely not harm her relatives.

"So, Brother Yan, you mean that Murong Jiu has betrayed the Second Prince and is now on our side?"

Su Kai asked.

"Perhaps," Jun Yuyan said softly, "She revealed her lethal weakness to me, which suggests her intention to surrender."

"What lethal weakness?" Su Kai was extremely curious, his dry mouth compelling him to grab a cup and take a sip of water.

"She is pregnant."

"Pfft—!"

The tea he hadn't yet swallowed was sprayed out as Su Kai turned his head, splashing right onto the face of the sleeping Yang Shan. Ignoring Yang Shan, who he had accidentally awakened, he exclaimed in shock:

"Brother Yan, you're actually going to be a father!"

"What, what?"

Yang Shan, upon hearing this, almost sat up in bed, pulled his wound, and gasped in pain. His already pale face lost even more color, but his eyes widened even more than brass bells.

"This… this…"

He struggled to speak for quite a while without being able to say anything.

Then he fainted from frustration.

Su Kai went to check on him and seeing that Yang Shan was not severely hurt but simply overwhelmed, he shook his head and said:

"Ah, Brother Yan, this is too much. Not only did she come as a substitute bride, but she also has another man's child in her womb. How can you tolerate this?"

"Not marrying her would mean marrying another woman. Her being pregnant is even better; she won't harbor illusions of getting comfort from me."

Su Kai thought it made sense, although Brother Yan was disfigured, many women still flocked to him relentlessly. At least Murong Jiu wouldn't be such a woman, saving Brother Yan some trouble.

"Brother Yan, the woman from that night, have you still not found her? Didn't you leave her a Jade Pendant? She should know your identity. Why hasn't she come to find you?"

At this, Jun Yuyan's deep eyes slightly narrowed.

He had been searching for that woman. On that night, because of the effect of the drug, he could not speak but had left behind a jade pendant that represented his identity. If she cared at all, she should have come looking for him by now.

Chastity is too important for a woman; his biggest worry was that she might take drastic actions, fortunately, such a tragedy had not occurred recently in the capital. Meanwhile, he continued seeking her in secret.

"Brother Yan, would you really marry the woman from that night? You don't even know her identity."

"Certainly."

Jun Yuyan replied without hesitation.

No woman could pique his interest, but she was different. He admitted that the drugs played a role that night, but later on, it was more about her attraction to him.

Thus, seeking her hand in marriage was not merely due to a sense of responsibility towards her.

Upon hearing this, Su Kai was quite surprised, but he also understood. He then shifted the conversation back to Murong Jiu:

"She is pregnant and it's not the Second Prince's child. It's unclear whose seed she carries, but this also indicates she's rather flirtatious. Such a woman must be guarded against."

Jun Yuyan did not agree. He was good at reading people, and Murong Jiu did not seem like that type of woman.

However, he did not say anything. Indeed, they needed to keep an eye on Murong Jiu.

From the moment she recognized Yang Shan and Yang Chuan's identities, it proved she knew quite a bit about the Second Prince's matters. Given the Second Prince's cautious nature, he wouldn't have let her know these things unless she was lying or she had some other hidden skills unknown to others.

Today, Murong Jiu saved Yang Shan as a way to declare her loyalty to him, but he needed to observe whether this woman could be trusted.

Meanwhile, Murong Jiu returned to Qiyun Courtyard. When Zhen Zhu and Cai Yun saw her, their faces showed disbelief, as if surprised she could still return.

But after exchanging glances, they quickly recomposed themselves and urgently said to Murong Jiu:

"Miss, there's trouble. Chun Tao was taken away by the people from the Prince Mansion. They said she carried poison and intended to harm the Prince!"

"Yes, Miss, what should we do? You haven't been blamed by the Prince, have you?"

Murong Jiu looked coldly at the two: "You're quite informed about events outside the manor."

The two felt nervous under her gaze. Zhen Zhu explained, "We saw Chun Tao sneaking out and were worried she might get into trouble and implicate you, Miss, so we specifically inquired about it."

"Is that so? Yet why did Chun Tao tell me that you said I had killed someone and was punished by the Prince, and you urged her to go out and seek help back at the Marquis Mansion? She also said that the poison on her was placed by you two."

At Murong Jiu's words, their faces turned pale.

"Miss, don't listen to Chun Tao's nonsensical words. We are utterly loyal to you. How could we possibly do such a thing!"

"We knew nothing about any poison. How could Chun Tao slander us like this!"

The two argued forcefully.

They believed Chun Tao had been thrown into the dungeon by Prince Ling. Based merely on her word, who would believe her?

What they couldn't understand was why Murong Jiu was still able to return! Did Prince Ling not suspect her?

"Chun Tao, come in."

At that moment, Murong Jiu suddenly spoke to someone outside.

Zhen Zhu and Cai Yun's faces stiffened as they watched Chun Tao walk in unharmed from outside the courtyard, their eyes betraying undeniable shock.

How could Chun Tao be unharmed?!

They even heard Chun Tao say:

"Miss, I was indeed persuaded by them, thinking you were in danger, that's why I tried to leave through the side door to go back to the Marquis Mansion for help! Before I left, only they had touched me, they must have hidden the poison on me!"

"It is not true! Miss, don't listen to her!"

Zhen Zhu and Cai Yun vehemently denied it.

Murong Jiu spoke calmly: "Kneel down."

The two immediately knelt on the ground.

"I have always trusted you both. I am deeply hurt by today's events. Surely one of you has harbored a heart of betrayal. If it cannot be figured out, I will have to hand you both over to the Prince and let his guards torture you severely."