Dethroned the Crown Princess? Then she became your mother

Everyone began to pack up and prepare to leave.

The moment she stepped out of the garden, Zhang Tianai couldn't help but look back, as if she was reluctant to leave this land.

-

At the same time, as the imperial carriage slowly drove into the palace, another scene was unfolding in the Weiyuan Marquis's Mansion.

Madam Yuan of the Weiyuan Marquisate finally returned to her long-absent mansion. She stared at the tightly closed door, knowing that no one within was aware of her return. She didn't want to alarm too many, hoping to return quietly.

She quietly told the servant to go and inform, and soon the doorman came hurriedly. When he saw it was her, he immediately bowed respectfully and then opened the door.

Yuan walked slowly into the house and ordered a kettle of water to be boiled. After all, she was indeed a little thirsty after such a long journey.

However, when she returned to her yard, she felt a sense of strangeness. Perhaps it was because she had spent too much time in the garden, always surrounded by people, and now returning to the empty yard, it seemed particularly deserted.

The yard was deserted, as quiet as when she had left it, not even the cleaners. She shook her head helplessly, an indescribable sadness welling up in her heart. But she paid no attention to it, simply telling Yu Ma to call for help and see if there was really no one there, and then boil a pot of water.

Nanny Yu took the order and left. She quickly called over a few servants and brought in a pot of clean water. Yuan poured herself a glass of water, but did not drink it immediately. Instead, she sat quietly and waited.

Soon, hurried footsteps were heard, and the eldest brother of Weiyuan Hou arrived. His voice sounded outside the door, but Yuan Shi did not respond, but just waited quietly for his arrival.

"Mother." Weiyuan Hou's voice sounded first, with a hint of anxiety and worry.

Yuan looked at him but didn't say anything immediately. It wasn't until he walked in front of her that she slowly spoke, "You're here."

Weiyuan Hou looked at her with some confusion, as if he didn't understand why she was so calm. But he soon understood. He knew that his mother had returned like this, and as the eldest son, he couldn't have been unaware of it.

He looked at his mother and found that she seemed to have lost some weight, and a sense of inexplicable worry welled up in his heart. But what he wanted to know more was why his mother came back so suddenly and why she was so calm.

"Mother, Zhao should be in her yard. Do you want to see her? Is there anything wrong?" Weiyuan Hou asked tentatively.

Yuan looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She knew that the eldest brother must be worried about Ci'er. After all, the news of Ci'er's premature birth and stillbirth had already spread throughout the mansion.

But she didn't answer his question immediately. Instead, she asked, "Are you asking about Ci'er? Ci'er was born prematurely and stillborn. Are you worried about what the Emperor and the Crown Prince think?"

Marquis Weiyuan nodded, his expression solemn. "Yes, mother. In a situation like Ci'er's, who wouldn't worry? The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince all care deeply about the child in Ci'er's belly. Their opinions on a sudden premature birth and stillbirth are crucial to our entire mansion. What if they get angry and even dislike our mansion even more? But if it's someone's fault, we just need to deal with it. But I have to ask first."

Yuan looked at him with some emotion. She knew that the boss was thinking about the whole mansion, but the truth of the matter was not as simple as he imagined.

She sighed softly and said, "I do know about Ci'er's affairs. But this is not the only thing I want to tell you."

Upon hearing this, Marquis Weiyuan was even more puzzled: "Then what else could it be? What could be more important than Ci'er's accident? I can't think of it."

He thought hard, but couldn't think of anything more important than Ci'er. He even began to worry about Ai'er, who was about to give birth.

But Yuan interrupted his thoughts: "It's not Ai'er, Ai'er is fine. She's fine."

Marquis Weiyuan heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but then asked nervously, "Could it be that Ci'er has something else going on?"

Yuan looked at him, her eyes filled with mixed emotions. She sighed softly and said, "Ci'er, what else could it be? You're quite good at telling me. But the truth I'm about to tell you will shock you."

Upon hearing this, Marquis Weiyuan's face changed drastically. He looked at his mother in disbelief, waiting for her next words.

"As soon as I see your expression, I know you know nothing. But as for Zhao..." Yuan suddenly stopped talking here, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

She looked at the eldest brother and felt that he really didn't know the truth of the matter. But what about Zhao? Was she also involved? Yuan was filled with doubts and uneasiness.

She continued, "I was also very sad at first when Ci'er was born prematurely and stillborn. I know someone harmed her, and like you, I hate that person. But when you find out the truth, you'll know what to worry about."

Weiyuan Hou was even more shocked when he heard this. He looked at his mother in disbelief, waiting for her next words. He was filled with doubts and uneasiness, not knowing what the truth of his mother's story was.

Yuan looked at him, her eyes filled with mixed emotions. She continued, "She actually caused what happened to Ci'er herself. To win the Crown Prince's favor, she did this. But she didn't expect it to backfire, leading to her own premature birth and stillbirth."

Weiyuan Hou was struck by lightning when he heard this. He couldn't believe his ears. He looked at his mother, waiting for her next words, hoping she would give more explanation.

"I didn't believe it at first, but after I looked it up, I had to accept it." Yuan continued, "Ci'er was so foolish. She was willing to do anything to win favor. But she didn't expect that this behavior would not only harm herself, but also the entire mansion."

Upon hearing this, Weiyuan Hou fell silent, his heart filled with shock and anger. He had never expected Ci'er to do such a thing, let alone that such behavior would harm the entire mansion.

He looked at his mother, waiting for her next words, hoping she could offer more advice. After all, the entire government was facing a huge crisis, and they needed to face and resolve it together.

Yuan looked at him, understanding his worries and uneasiness. She continued, "I know this is hard to accept, but we must face reality. Ci'er has done something wrong, and we can't change this fact. However, Zhao?"

"Ms. Zhao, Mother thinks she might know something? How did she find out? No, you're implying that Ci'er's incident was her fault, and not a frame-up? Who made these claims? Is this news true?"

Marquis Weiyuan was full of doubts and still found it difficult to accept.

"I naturally know that my mother has returned from the garden. My mother has been staying in the garden until now, so she may have heard something, but she may not be clear about the matter of giving my child." Marquis Weiyuan was a little hesitant in his words, repeatedly emphasizing "let's talk about it later."

"What else did you say?" Yuan pressed on.

Marquis Weiyuan chose to remain silent.

"I'm afraid you believe it about 70% in your heart. This matter was personally verified by the emperor, and it has become a hot topic in the city and known to everyone. Tell me, how could I not be worried and rush back? I came here for this matter. Do you understand its seriousness?" Yuan spoke sincerely, and her tone revealed deep worry.

Weiyuan Hou still refused to believe it, secretly speculating about the connection between his mother's return and the emperor, and how Ci'er and Zhao Shi could be involved in such a dispute. However, recalling Zhao Shi's past behavior, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

Perhaps, it is really possible as my mother said.

Thinking of his mother's mention that the emperor knew about this matter and that it was widely circulated in the market, Weiyuan Hou's doubts grew even more.

"Seeing how you look, why don't you and I wait together for Zhao to come and see if she knows about it. As the mother of the Crown Princess, if the Crown Princess really wants to do such a thing, how could she stand idly by?" Yuan suggested.

Marquis Weiyuan hesitated to speak and ultimately failed to refute.

He looked out the door, pacing back and forth, feeling extremely anxious.

If what my mother said were true, the consequences would be disastrous.

"Ci'er, please don't let your mother's words come true!"

He suddenly turned around and saw that Yuan was silent, waiting for Zhao's arrival with him.

Zhao's arrival did not make everyone wait too long. After Yu Ma went to inform them, she came back to report that the Marquis's wife had arrived.

"Okay." Yuan said softly.

Marquis Weiyuan strode out of the room, but paused at the door. Yuan signaled Nanny Yu to go greet Zhao. Zhao entered the room, looking normal, though slightly pale, as if she had just recovered from a serious illness.

"Mother." Zhao saluted quickly.

"Have you ever been sick?" Yuan asked with concern.

Marquis Weiyuan had no intention of listening to his mother's questions, nor did he want to wait for Zhao's answer. He felt it was a waste of time. He turned back into the house and said anxiously, "Zhao, you..."

"Let her finish first." Yuan interrupted him, her eyes moving between the two of them.

Zhao opened her mouth slightly, but was still confused. She had already known about her mother-in-law's return home, but soon after she learned the news, someone came to summon her.

She was full of thoughts in her mind, but when she entered the room and saw the expressions of her mother-in-law and the marquis, she seemed to realize something.

"I was indeed sick once. Not long ago, I caught a cold because I didn't pay attention during the change of seasons." Zhao answered softly.

"Is that really the case?" Yuan asked again.

"Change of season? Most likely because..." Weiyuan Hou had already secretly concluded that Zhao had fallen ill because she was worried about Ci'er. For some reason, the moment he saw Zhao, he suddenly believed her words without a doubt.

"Is it for Ci'er? Ci'er gave birth to a premature baby and had a stillbirth. Do you know about this?" Yuan asked directly.

"Yes, I... mother, you said that Ci'er gave birth to a stillborn baby. You also knew about this? Yes, you must have known something about it when you were in the garden. I... Ci'er..." When Zhao mentioned Ci'er, she couldn't help but feel sad.

The reason her mother-in-law and the Marquis had come to her was actually just this matter! If that was the case, she felt a little relieved.

"Don't be sad. I didn't call you here for this matter, but I wanted to ask you, do you know what Ci'er has done?" Yuan's words fell again.

Marquis Weiyuan wanted to immediately rush forward and grab Zhao, asking her to get to the bottom of the matter. "Zhao, tell me, tell me!"

However, he did not do so in the end, but just stared at Zhao.

"Mother, what did you say? You... Marquis, we?" Zhao stood there in shock, her face full of astonishment.

What is my mother-in-law talking about? How does she know this?

The Marquis also...

"To tell you the truth, you must be aware of Ci'er's affairs." Yuan refused to beat around the bush and asked Zhao to tell the truth directly: "You must understand that the emperor is aware of this matter and has thoroughly investigated it. It is precisely because of this that I hurried back."

She just wanted to know the truth and didn't want to hear any more excuses.

Zhao was silent.

"Tell me the truth right now!" Weiyuan Hou finally couldn't contain his anger and reached out to grab Zhao's arm.

"Mother, the Marquis..." Zhao looked up at the Marquis holding her hand, her mind in turmoil. Had the Emperor already known about this? Was this why her mother-in-law had returned?