Only then did the weight hanging in her chest finally fall away. She let out a long breath of relief.
Without wasting a second, she activated her teleportation technique. Her figure vanished instantly and reappeared steadily by the window of her bedroom.
After entering the room, she headed straight into her spatial realm and took out the Condensing Dew Immortal Ganoderma, placing it beside the alchemy furnace.
The moment it neared the furnace, the ganoderma began to emit a dense surge of spiritual energy on its own, rushing wildly into her meridians.
Her somewhat stagnant early-stage Foundation Establishment spiritual power instantly grew thicker and stronger. Spiritual energy repeatedly washed through her meridians.
There were even faint signs of breaking through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
Ecstasy flashed across Meng Wantang’s eyes. She quickly sat cross-legged and circulated her cultivation technique, thoroughly refining the sudden influx of power.
The aura around her became more condensed and steady. Even the sluggishness she once felt when teleporting dissipated by more than half.
When she finished and stood up, the sounds of maids moving about could already be heard outside the courtyard.
The sun had risen high—it was time for lunch.
Stepping out of her space, she saw her son sitting in his cradle, playing with a rattle drum.
Smiling, she walked over, lifted him into her arms, and instructed the maids to prepare ingredients in the small kitchen.
Now that her spiritual power had greatly increased, even her sense of smell and taste had become sharper. She decided to cook personally, using fresh ingredients she had just collected into her space.
She stewed a pot of rich chicken soup and stir-fried several light dishes. The aroma drifted out through the windows, spreading throughout the courtyard.
“Smells wonderful.”
A deep voice suddenly sounded. Meng Wantang turned around.
She saw Xiao Jingyuan step in, his gaze settling on the dishes on the table. A trace of admiration flickered in his eyes.
“You made this yourself?”
“Yes. If Your Highness does not mind, please stay and dine with us.”
Meng Wantang smiled gently, her tone so natural as if this were how they had always been meant to interact.
Xiao Jingyuan did not refuse. He sat down smoothly, watching her skillfully feed the child while occasionally placing food onto his own plate.
The air was filled with the fragrance of dishes and a faint milky scent.
For the first time, he felt a warmth he had never known before.
During the meal, Meng Wantang casually remarked, “Your Highness, the expenses in the courtyard have been a little tight recently. The monthly allowance is almost used up…”
Before she could finish, Xiao Jingyuan understood.
He directly took out a stack of banknotes from his sleeve and placed them on the table. “Use this for now. If it’s not enough, tell me.”
A trace of amusement flashed in Meng Wantang’s eyes.
She thanked him obediently, secretly thinking—
This man is truly generous.
At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed outside, followed by a maid’s cry:
“Your Highness! The Princess Consort has fainted!”
Xiao Jingyuan frowned.
“Your Highness, you should go,” Meng Wantang said softly.
The man moved, irritation flickering in his heart.
Meng Wantang carried the child and followed.
As soon as they arrived outside Meng Wanqing’s courtyard, they saw several maids gathered around her collapsed figure on the ground.
Her face was deathly pale, her lips bloodless—clearly shaken to the extreme.
When Xiao Jingyuan arrived, the old nanny beside Meng Wanqing rushed forward, weeping, “Your Highness! You must seek justice for the Princess Consort! When we went to inventory just now, her dowry storeroom was empty! The ten villas have also been completely emptied! Not only the gold and jewels—even the cattle and sheep raised there, the stored rice and flour, the bird’s nest soup she used, the rose dew—everything is gone!”
“What?” Xiao Jingyuan’s face darkened, shock filling his eyes.
Last night valuables were stolen.
Today even her dowry and villas were emptied.
This was a blatant slap to the Prince’s residence.
Meng Wanqing conveniently woke at that moment.
Seeing Xiao Jingyuan, she burst into tears.
“Your Highness! Everything is gone! That was all the dowry my family gave me! And those villas—I raised cattle and sheep there for fresh milk for the child, and the rose petals I use for bathing… all gone! You must seek justice for me!”
She wept as though grievously wronged.
Standing aside, Meng Wantang timely displayed a look of shock and concern.
She stepped forward, gently patting Meng Wanqing’s back, her voice tender and appropriately worried.
“How could Sister encounter such a thing? It’s terrifying! The Prince’s residence is so heavily guarded—how could anyone be so bold as to steal even dowry and villas? Your Highness, you must investigate thoroughly. Sister must not suffer such injustice.”
Though her words seemed supportive, each sentence subtly reminded Xiao Jingyuan that this had occurred within the Prince’s residence.
As the one in charge of household affairs, Meng Wanqing could not escape responsibility.
Already trembling with fury, Meng Wanqing nearly fainted again upon hearing this. Yet she could not lash out, only grinding her teeth inwardly, cursing Meng Wantang’s hypocrisy.
Xiao Jingyuan frowned, looking at the sobbing Meng Wanqing and then at the concerned Meng Wantang.
“This matter is serious. Report it to the authorities at once. Have them investigate thoroughly.”
Officials arrived quickly. But after investigating all afternoon—whether the dowry storeroom or the ten villas—not a single clue was found.
It was as if the valuables had vanished into thin air.
The officer in charge, sweating profusely, could only repeatedly apologize and promise to continue the investigation.
Meng Wanqing sat to the side, staring at the empty storeroom.
Thinking she would never again bathe in fresh milk or freely access gold and jewels, she cried even harder.
Meanwhile, Meng Wantang held her child and stood among the crowd, a faint smile flashing in her eyes.
Those items had long been absorbed into her spatial realm.
They were now transformed into rich spiritual energy, nourishing her spiritual fields.
Even her strength was slowly rising.
Even if the authorities exhausted themselves, they would never suspect that the mastermind stood right before them.
The news that Meng Wanqing’s dowry and villas had been stripped clean spread throughout the capital within half a day.
People discussed the Princess Consort’s “misfortune” in streets and alleys.
Storytellers in teahouses embellished the tale of the “mysterious theft at the Prince’s residence,” and citizens clicked their tongues in amazement, saying Meng Wanqing must have terrible luck.
Even the Meng family became the subject of gossip.
As for the true instigator, Meng Wantang, she sat under the corridor holding her son Xiao Muyan, basking in the sun.
The little boy nestled sweetly in her arms, calling “Mother” in his soft voice. The sight of mother and son smiling at each other was heartwarming.
To Meng Wanqing, watching from a distance, it was like a needle piercing her heart.
Her grip on her handkerchief tightened until veins bulged, venomous light surging in her eyes.
Why?
Why could Meng Wantang, a lowly concubine-born daughter, not only survive but return with a child and monopolize the prince’s attention?
And now live so comfortably?
Especially when she saw Xiao Jingyuan head straight to Meng Wantang’s courtyard after court, the three sitting together at a table for dinner, Xiao Jingyuan even personally placing food onto Xiao Muyan’s plate—the scene resembled a harmonious family of three.
Meng Wanqing nearly ground her teeth to pieces, her nails digging into her palm until blood seeped out unnoticed.
Meng Wantang caught her resentful gaze completely, a faint cold curve lifting her lips.
Immediately, she switched back to her soft and delicate demeanor.
When Xiao Jingyuan approached, she rose with Xiao Muyan in her arms, a trace of timid unease in her eyes, her voice soft as cotton.
“Your Highness, I think I saw Sister watching us just now. Her gaze… was somewhat frightening.”
She lowered her eyes slightly, appearing startled.
“I’m not afraid for myself, but I worry about Muyan. Sister has been upset lately after losing her belongings. What if she vents her anger on the child…”
Xiao Jingyuan followed her gaze.
He happened to glimpse Meng Wanqing’s resentful figure turning away, and his brows instantly furrowed.
He reached out and patted Meng Wantang’s shoulder reassuringly.
“Don’t be afraid. I am here.”
Then he summoned an elite guard and commanded solemnly,
“From today onward, guard Meng Wantang’s courtyard closely. No one is allowed to approach. If there is any unusual movement—kill without mercy.”
Upon receiving his promise, a trace of triumph flashed in Meng Wantang’s eyes.
Then she looked up at him, eyes glistening with moisture, her voice soft and sweet.
“Thank you, Your Highness. With you here, Muyan and I can feel at ease.”