“The rouge and powder bought from Cold Fragrance Pavilion, Butterfly Attracting Powder—Matron, smell it, it’s so fragrant!”
Chayu was somewhat agitated, her eyes even more tense. Could this old woman detect something?
Nanny Hua stared at her coldly, setting down a basket of osmanthus flowers. She pulled Chayu into the courtyard and carefully sniffed.
“How dare you! You actually dare to harm Concubine Shen!”
Nanny Hua suddenly slapped her to the ground, striking her across the face, and sternly shouted, “Someone, seize Chayu for me!”
The commotion in the courtyard instantly brought Shen Lingshu and Zhuxin out. Before she could move, Nanny Hua anxiously said, “Concubine Shen, there is musk in the powder on Chayu’s body. Concubine Shen should go inside and rest.”
“Musk.”
Shen Lingshu protected her stomach, taking two steps back as she said, “Nanny Hua, Chayu has served me for so many days. She would never harm me.”
“Whether she would or not, an investigation will reveal the truth.”
Nanny Hua looked at Shen Lingshu’s incredulous expression and thought: Concubine Shen is still too naive and kind-hearted.
“Alright, Matron must investigate clearly and never wrong an innocent person.”
Shen Lingshu repeatedly reminded her.
“Concubine Shen, please rest assured.”
Nanny Hua reassured her, saying, “Concubine Shen must remember not to get angry.” The child is most important!
Now, Nanny Hua looked at Shen Lingshu as if she were a precious jewel, fearing she might suffer even the slightest mishap.
Nanny Hua acted swiftly and decisively, quickly getting to the bottom of the matter. Chayu, having never gained Concubine Shen’s favor, grew resentful and wanted to harm Shen Lingshu’s child.
Chayu attempted to bite her tongue and commit suicide… but failed.
Prince Lin, whose injuries had not yet healed, had been running around everywhere, trying to help clear the Crown Prince’s name. He had not returned to the residence for a long time. Who would have thought that upon his return, he would hear Nanny Hua’s report? Prince Lin was furious.
“Your Highness, this concubine is guilty!”
Side Consort Fang directly knelt before Prince Lin, admitting her fault: “This concubine has been preoccupied lately with building a small Buddhist hall and copying sutras to pray for the child in Sister Shen’s womb, and thus neglected my duties.”
“It is this concubine’s failure to properly manage the rear courtyard. Please punish me, Your Highness.”
Side Consort Fang was filled with self-reproach.
“Bring the person here. I will personally interrogate her!”
Prince Lin brushed past Side Consort Fang and spoke in a deep voice. Lingshu had just become pregnant, and already someone couldn’t wait!
Side Consort Fang only felt a dark robe sweep past her eyes. She glanced back at Matron Gui, who helped her up, saying, “Don’t worry.”
Side Consort Fang hurriedly followed.
“Qingwu, conduct a thorough interrogation!”
Prince Lin went straight to the Secluded Orchid Courtyard. With the incident of Chayu attempting to harm someone having just occurred, the people in the courtyard were searching everywhere, checking if there were any other harmful items.
“Mistress, Chayu was truly too much. Mistress treated her so well, even asking her a few days ago if she was facing any difficulties!”
“She was often negligent and lazy in her work before, and Mistress never punished her. How could she have the nerve to say Mistress treated her poorly?”
“Could it be that Mistress should have enshrined her like a deity?”
Zhuxin felt deeply indignant on behalf of her mistress. She said gratefully, “Fortunately, when she wanted to give Mistress a massage earlier, Mistress wanted to rest and didn’t allow it. Fortunately, Mistress is fine, and fortunately, there was Nanny Hua.”
If Nanny Hua hadn’t detected the musk in the fragrance on her body, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
“Zhuxin.”
Shen Lingshu gently patted her arm and said, “You followed me into the mansion. Perhaps, Chayu feels that since I usually assign tasks to you, she thinks she isn’t valued.”
Her voice seemed to carry a tone of self-reflection.
“Master, with her lazy ways, what could she possibly accomplish even if assigned tasks? Besides, I’ve served you since childhood, so it’s only natural that you treat me more intimately.”
Zhuxin’s indignant voice rang out.
Standing at the doorway, Prince Lin took a deep breath. Lingshu was as kind as Qiu Rong—Qiu Rong had also treated every concubine with equal fairness. But how had they repaid her?
“Lingshu, you needn’t blame yourself. Some people, no matter how well you treat them, will never feel gratitude.”
Prince Lin suppressed his anger, afraid of frightening Shen Lingshu.
“Your Highness.”
Shen Lingshu turned around in pleasant surprise, her heart aching as she said, “You’ve lost weight.”
The travel-worn Prince Lin, with even the stubble on his chin seeming to speak of his hardships.
“Zhuxin, quickly prepare water for His Highness to bathe.”
Shen Lingshu instructed, “Today, the small kitchen prepared Dong’an spring chicken, braised turtle, shredded chicken with white fungus, and pork tripe soup. Would Your Highness like to try some?”
Her flower-like smile soothed his anger and dispelled the weariness from his journey. Having had little appetite lately, hearing her list the dishes actually made him hungry.
After bathing, changing clothes, and freshening up, a table full of delicacies was laid out. Shen Lingshu enthusiastically introduced, “Your Highness, try this Dong’an spring chicken—it’s sour, spicy, and delicious. And the braised turtle is both spicy and flavorful. The cook Your Highness found is truly wonderful!”
Shen Lingshu’s eyes were filled with joy. Prince Lin said, “If you like it, reward her.”
In the small kitchen, the cook received the reward and thought to herself: in the future, she must prepare even more delicious dishes to keep Concubine Shen happy.
After lunch, drowsiness overcame Shen Lingshu. Since becoming pregnant, she had been eating well without any morning sickness. The only difference was her increased need for sleep!
Shen Lingshu seemed to be possessed by sleepiness, feeling drowsy at all times.
One moment, she was chatting with Prince Lin; the next, she had fallen asleep.
Prince Lin carefully draped a blanket over her. Zhuxin whispered, “The mansion physician said the master’s pregnancy is progressing well. She doesn’t have morning sickness, just loves to sleep. The physician said more sleep helps the baby grow better.”
“Hmm.”
Prince Lin waved for Zhuxin to withdraw. Gently lifting Shen Lingshu’s sleeve, he looked at the faint scar and lightly stroked it with his thumb. “Lingshu, I will definitely protect you and our child.”
Gazing at her peaceful sleeping face, his eyes lingered on her abdomen, unable to look away.
A long while later.
Qingwu’s voice sounded. Prince Lin stood up, and Qingwu whispered, “Your Highness, Chayu has confessed. She accepted money from someone outside to harm the fetus in Concubine Shen’s womb.”
Prince Lin’s eyes instantly turned cold. “Investigate!”
“Take her to the front courtyard and beat her to death with rods. Let everyone see and think about what they must never do!”
As soon as Prince Lin finished speaking, Nanny Hua interjected, “Your Highness, Concubine Shen has just become pregnant. It’s not suitable to witness bloodshed. It would also be good to accumulate virtue and kindness for the unborn child.”
Prince Lin pondered and said, “Then give her thirty lashes and sell her to a brothel.”
“Yes.”
Qingwu acknowledged and immediately arranged for all the maids and servants in the rear courtyard to be summoned to the front courtyard.
Thirty strokes of the cane—for a woman like Chayu, she nearly lost half her life after just a few strikes. Blood soaked her clothes and dripped onto the ground. The maids and servants who witnessed it all had only one thought in their minds: never, ever provoke Concubine Shen.
“Everyone, open your eyes wide and see clearly. This is what happens to a traitor who betrays her master and forgets kindness. If it weren’t for praying for the child in Concubine Shen’s womb, she should have been beaten to death. Now, the Prince has shown mercy by sending her to a brothel—that’s her fortune.”
Qingwu’s voice rang out with vigor. Only after Chayu was dragged away, leaving a trail of blood, did he continue, “Even ten of your lives are not worth one ten-thousandth of the child in Concubine Shen’s womb.”
“If anyone dares to harm Concubine Shen again, think carefully in your hearts!”
After Qingwu’s stern warning, he finally returned to the study.