“Then I’ll trouble you, Concubine.” Shen Lingshu couldn’t help but admire Side Consort Fang.
Shen Lingshu glanced discreetly at Prince Lin. Though she couldn’t clearly see his expression, she sensed that the Prince’s anger had subsided.
“Concubine Shen, I am also willing to forfeit my stipend and copy sutras to pray for the well-being of Concubine Shen and the child in her womb.” Though Hai Jiaren spoke of copying sutras for Concubine Shen, her gaze remained fixed on Prince Lin.
“Forfeiting stipends and copying sutras is not enough. You are confined to your quarters for one month.” With a single sentence from Prince Lin, Hai Jiaren’s face paled. She lowered her head and expressed her gratitude: “Thank you, Prince, for your mercy.”
Since entering Lin Prince’s Mansion, this was her third confinement. Fortunately, the matter was now settled.
With the Crown Prince’s deposition, the Emperor lost all interest in hunting and immediately set off back to the capital.
Unlike the journey there, where the Crown Prince had accompanied the Emperor and Prince Lin had found moments to speak with her, on the return trip, Prince Lin seemed even busier, constantly surrounded by many people.
Even she, now pregnant, could only have Qingwu deliver things to her.
“Mistress, the kitchen learned that you are with child and specially prepared chicken soup to nourish you today. They also made these chestnut pastries and glutinous rice cakes just for you.”
As Zhuxin brought out the dishes, she said happily, “Mistress, I feel like the kitchen staff have been much kinder to me lately. Could it be that my smile has grown sweeter?”
Zhuxin was puzzled, but Shen Lingshu looked at the delicious food on the table. If they were at Secluded Orchid Courtyard, it might not have seemed unusual, but they were on the road.
Chicken soup required long hours of simmering, and making chestnut pastries and glutinous rice cakes was even more troublesome.
The kitchen wasn’t trying to please her—they were trying to please the Prince.
With the Crown Prince deposed, Prince Lin, also born of the late Empress, became the strongest candidate for the next Crown Prince. Coupled with her pregnancy—potentially the first child of the future Crown Prince—the kitchen naturally sought to curry favor.
It wasn’t just the kitchen; even the noble ladies who had previously ignored her now greeted her with warm smiles.
Who would have thought that these same ladies, who had once looked down on her status as a concubine, would change their attitudes so quickly.
After eating her fill, Shen Lingshu, having sat in the carriage all day, decided to find a quiet place to walk around to avoid feeling stiff from lying down.
Deliberately avoiding the crowds, Shen Lingshu had just found a rock to sit on and admire the wild scenery when she was startled by the sound of sobbing.
“Shen Lingyi?” Shen Lingshu recognized the figure’s back at a glance—it was her seemingly kind but malicious elder sister.
“Who’s there?”
Shen Lingyi wiped her tears and turned around. The moment she saw Shen Lingshu, her gaze fell on Shen Lingshu’s abdomen, her eyes filled with jealousy and resentment.
“Were you crying?” Shen Lingshu asked, noticing her reddened eyes.
“Who’s crying?”
Shen Lingyi glared at her angrily. “It was just dust in my eyes. What, are you here to laugh at me?”
“What is there to laugh at?”
Shen Lingshu looked at Shen Lingyi, who had grown noticeably thinner, and felt nothing but sorrow.
When Shen Lingyi was the Crown Prince’s concubine, she was the center of attention. Now that the Crown Prince had fallen from power and lost his usefulness, everyone felt free to bully her.
“The Crown Prince will be reinstated. I, Shen Lingyi, will never lose to you!” Shen Lingyi forced herself to stand tall and proud, unwilling to lose face in front of Shen Lingshu.
Shen Lingyi hurried away. Zhuxin whispered, “Mistress, I heard that the food sent to Side Consort Shen yesterday was all cold.”
“Fawning on the powerful and trampling on the weak.”
Shen Lingshu sneered coldly. The evening breeze blew in, bringing a hint of coolness that sharpened her mind: the more splendid and prosperous things appeared now, the more cautious she had to be, ensuring no one could seize any leverage against her.
Otherwise, Shen Lingyi’s fate today would become hers tomorrow.
In the following days, Shen Lingshu remained in the carriage, using physical discomfort as an excuse to politely decline any overtures of goodwill from others.
In contrast, Side Consort Fang was delighted to socialize every evening until Prince Lin issued a warning, after which she quieted down.
They arrived safely in the capital.
Back at Lin Prince’s Mansion, Shen Lingshu returned to Secluded Orchid Courtyard, feeling an extraordinary sense of familiarity.
“Concubine Shen, walk slowly, be careful with the child.”
The moment Nanny Hua saw Shen Lingshu, she treated her like a fragile doll, rushing forward to support her while reminding her of precautions to take during pregnancy.
Shen Lingshu listened, feeling a bit dazed. Nanny Hua quickly said, “Please forgive this old servant, Concubine Shen. I am just worried about the child.”
“Nanny speaks wisely. This is my first pregnancy, and if there is anything I do not understand, I hope Nanny will guide me.”
Shen Lingshu smiled warmly at Nanny Hua and added, “Zhuxin, learn well from Nanny Hua!”
“Yes,” Zhuxin replied.
Seeing that Shen Lingshu was not angry, Nanny Hua continued, “After the concubine became pregnant, this old servant will take care of you. I have already removed all the flowers from the room. Please forgive this presumption.”
Shen Lingshu glanced around and noticed that the jasmine flowers gifted by Side Consort Fang were nowhere to be seen on the shelf, sparing her the trouble of dealing with them separately.
A flicker of understanding passed through Shen Lingshu’s eyes as she smiled and said, “Thank you for your hard work, Nanny.”
Shen Lingshu now understood the benefits of being pregnant and favored. As soon as she returned, the small kitchen had already prepared steaming hot meals, each dish inspected by Nanny Hua.
Shen Lingshu ate with peace of mind, her appetite hearty. After finishing her meal, she went straight to sleep.
A steady stream of rewards flowed into Secluded Orchid Courtyard—gifts from the Emperor, from Consort Rou who had raised Prince Lin, from Prince Lin himself, and even from Side Consort Fang. For a time, Secluded Orchid Courtyard became the liveliest place in Lin Prince’s Mansion.
In Leaning Lotus Courtyard, Hai Jiaren, who had been confined to her quarters for another month upon returning to the mansion, was nearly driven mad.
They had all gone on the same hunt, yet others had gained life-saving favors and pregnancies. As for her, not only had she endured hardships along the journey, but after serving the Prince several times, why had her belly shown no signs of movement?
Hai Jiaren, weakened by her monthly cycle, lay in bed and said, “Jindian, write a letter home and see if there are any prescriptions for pregnancy.”
Hai Jiaren’s eyes hardened with determination: once Shen Lingshu gave birth to the child, wouldn’t the position of Secondary Consort be hers?
In Autumn Crabapple Courtyard, during the routine morning greetings.
Shen Lingshu, who was pregnant and injured, did not attend. Hai Jiaren, confined to her quarters, was also absent. Only the haggard Concubine Lin and Concubine Li were present.
Shen Lingshu’s pregnancy was like a massive stone thrown into the calm lake of Lin Prince’s Mansion, which had long been without good news.
The next moment, a single remark from Side Consort Fang made Concubine Li scream.
“Secondary Consort?”
Concubine Li stood up excitedly. “Side Consort, did the Emperor truly say that whoever gives birth to a child will become a Secondary Consort?”
Concubine Li’s eyes burned with fervor, while simultaneously filling with jealousy and resentment toward Shen Lingshu. How had she managed to get pregnant?!
“The Emperor’s word is as good as gold. How could he go back on it?”
Side Consort Fang smiled reassuringly. “Don’t be anxious. Children will come in time.”
“…”
Concubine Li glanced mockingly at Side Consort Fang. Such hypocrisy—she didn’t believe Side Consort Fang wasn’t anxious.
“Starting today, this Concubine will copy sutras and pray for blessings every day, wishing Prince Lin’s first child a safe and peaceful arrival.”
As Side Consort Fang’s words fell, Concubine Li nearly rolled her eyes out of her head. This Concubine truly knew how to put on an act.
She gritted her teeth so hard they nearly shattered. “How magnanimous of the Concubine!”
Copying sutras and praying for blessings—that wretched Lady Shen, it would be better if that child never came to term.
When she herself became pregnant, she would surely be promoted to a higher-ranking concubine!