As winter began, Ning Wanwan became pregnant. Hearing the news, Si Zhan was overjoyed, caressing her belly each night until dawn. However, Ning Wanwan remained troubled, especially following the news of Lu Chuan’s death.
She remembered Xu Man Yao and learned from Yuan Zhu that she had disappeared. Ning Wanwan’s attempts to find Xu Man Yao proved futile, prompting her to visit Mi Yue, who was also pregnant.
“Why are you so determined to find Xu Man Yao?” Mi Yue asked, thinking it was due to Xu Man Yao’s situation in the Yi Wang Mansion. Ning Wanwan had initially promised to help rescue Lu Chuan, but the timing wasn’t right; they had agreed to wait until their departure to Qian Nan.
Unexpectedly, Lu Chuan had died in the Ministry of Punishment’s prison within months, and the circumstances seemed suspiciously orchestrated.
Mi Yue looked at Ning Wanwan and sighed, “Xu Man Yao is dead.”
Ning Wanwan was shocked, “Dead? When?”
“Three days ago, in the palace…”
Stroking her swollen belly, Ning Wanwan stood in the corridor, watching snowflakes fall and cover the black soil and bluestone, draping a pure white garment over the dirty world. But sunlight would eventually emerge, snow would melt, revealing the truth.
When Si Zhan returned home after court, he saw Ning Wanwan in a thin jacket, watching the snow.
“It’s so cold. How can you come out dressed like this? Be careful not to catch a chill,” he softly reproached, removing his white fox fur to drape over her shoulders.
After entering the room, Si Zhan pressed her down onto a stool, and Fuyun brought over a hot water bottle. As Si Zhan was about to place it in her hand, she looked up and said expressionlessly, “Xu Manyao is dead.”
Si Zhan paused, nodded, and softly responded, “Hmm,” placing the hot water bottle in her palm.
“Was Lu Chuan’s death your doing?”
Si Zhan said nothing, instead pulling her hand over to hold the hot water bottle together. This was tantamount to tacit admission.
He had ordered Lu Chuan’s murder, framing the Empress Dowager and making Xu Manyao believe she had killed Lu Chuan. This would provoke Xu Manyao’s hatred, leading her to wound the Empress Dowager, introducing a life-threatening curse into her body. Realizing her fate, Xu Manyao bit her tongue and committed suicide.
