Slap.
Matron Gui stepped forward and slapped Caolv across the face, scolding, “You can’t even serve tea properly! Get out of here now!”
Side Consort Fang also lost interest in talking and dismissed Shen Lingshu, telling her to take the jasmine flowers and leave.
“Side Consort, this Concubine Shen truly has no manners,” Matron Gui frowned. In the past, when Side Consort Fang wanted to torment someone, she would make them hold a bow without rising or serve scalding hot tea. Which of them hadn’t endured it?
“The Prince values propriety above all,” Side Consort Fang’s eyes flickered slightly. Whether she was pretending or genuine, the Prince would certainly not approve.
“Go to the front courtyard and summon Doctor Lin.”
As she spoke, Side Consort Fang placed her hand on her lower abdomen. The most important thing now was to have a child!
…
“Whew, that scared me to death.”
Once outside Autumn Crabapple Courtyard, Zhuxin’s face was pale with fright. “Mistress, when you threw the tea earlier, Matron Gui’s sharp shout nearly made my heart leap out of my chest.”
Holding the flowers, Zhuxin was filled with lingering fear. She asked worriedly, “Mistress, your hand is all red from the burn.”
“It’s fine, I threw it quickly.”
Shen Lingshu hurried back to her Secluded Orchid Courtyard. As soon as she entered the courtyard, Chayu came forward to greet her. “Mistress, what beautiful jasmine flowers! They smell so fragrant!”
“Since they were bestowed by the Side Consort, they naturally look lovely,” Shen Lingshu’s eyes darkened slightly. As a concubine, aside from Zhuxin, whom she had brought with her all along, Chayu was someone Side Consort Fang had assigned to serve her.
Said to be serving, but in reality, it was for surveillance.
“Flowers bestowed by the Side Consort naturally should be placed in a prominent spot.”
Shen Lingshu pointed to the most conspicuous position on the shelf. “Place the flowers here so we can enjoy their fragrance every day.”
“Alright!” Chayu volunteered to arrange the flowers properly.
Shen Lingshu said, “Chayu, go fetch the meals. While you’re at it, tell the kitchen to prepare a lotus chicken, and also have them make some fermented glutinous rice balls and taro pastries.”
After explaining the preparations to Chayu, the maid headed to the kitchen.
“Zhuxin, guard the door.”
Shen Lingshu gave the order. Once Chayu had left, she immediately pulled out the jasmine plant. With a forceful tug, she uprooted it, revealing the layer of soil at the bottom of the pot.
“Why does this smell strange?” Zhuxin was puzzled.
“This is musk.”
Shen Lingshu sniffed carefully, raised an eyebrow, and looked as if her suspicions had been confirmed. Side Consort Fang truly went to great lengths to prevent the concubines in the Prince’s rear courtyard from conceiving. Not only did she have them bathe with cold stone powder that caused infertility, but she also gifted flowers planted with musk.
Zhuxin’s eyes widened in shock. Covering her mouth, she exclaimed, “Doesn’t this cause infertility?”
“But… wouldn’t this be easily discovered?” Zhuxin couldn’t understand it no matter how hard she thought.
“Go dig up some clean soil and replace the soil at the bottom of this flower pot,” Shen Lingshu instructed. “Be quick about it.”
“Yes.”
Zhuxin acted swiftly. After the mistress and servant finished replacing the soil, Zhuxin wiped Shen Lingshu’s hands and asked in confusion, “Aren’t we keeping this as evidence? How could the Side Consort harm you like this!”
“Silly girl, what kind of evidence is a bit of flower soil?”
Shen Lingshu chuckled lightly. Her gaze fell on the blue-and-white porcelain flower pot. The real evidence was on the pot itself.
After leaving Secluded Orchid Courtyard, Chayu went straight to Autumn Crabapple Courtyard and reported, “Matron Gui, Concubine Shen really likes the jasmine flowers. She placed them in the most prominent spot in the main hall.”
Matron Gui praised, saying, “Your brother’s illness has already recovered.”
“Thank you, Matron.”
Chayu happily headed to the kitchen, all the way remembering the recipe for lotus chicken, muttering discontentedly, “What’s with eating lotus chicken and taro pastry? She’s just a concubine, so troublesome.”
Secluded Orchid Courtyard.
Gifts from the Concubine and the Prince arrived one after another. The Concubine bestowed a bolt of colorful cloud-patterned satin and a gold-inlaid hairpin, both bright and vivid in color.
The Prince’s gifts were a bolt of the latest fashionable soft smoke gauze—a pink fabric, light and comfortable—and a kingfisher-feather inlaid treasure butterfly hairpin.
Without some wealth, one truly couldn’t be a master. With gifts given every time someone enters, how much family fortune would that require?
“Zhuxin, take this soft smoke gauze and tailor a dress for me to wear tonight,” Shen Lingshu asked uncertainly, “Can it be finished today?”
If she remembered correctly, Zhuxin was exceptionally skilled in needlework.
“Yes, but there won’t be enough time to embroider patterns.”
Zhuxin took the fabric and immediately began cutting the dress, her movements so swift that Shen Lingshu was left stunned.
“No matter, such beautiful soft smoke gauze looks even better plain.” After a simple lunch, Shen Lingshu lay on the soft couch and soon fell asleep.
Tonight, she would still be serving the Prince!
Thinking of Prince Lin’s rough manner yesterday, Shen Lingshu needed to replenish her energy quickly; otherwise, she feared she might die in bed.
For dinner, lotus chicken was served, accompanied by sweet fermented rice balls. Shen Lingshu took a bite and praised, “This chef’s skills are excellent.”
The sweet fermented rice balls and the lotus chicken, crispy on the outside and bursting with juice inside, were flavors she loved.
“Chef Li complained that the lotus chicken was difficult to make. I exhausted my words and even spent five taels of silver before Chef Li agreed to prepare it.”
Chayu’s emphasis was on the five taels of silver.
Shen Lingshu, gnawing on a chicken leg, suddenly felt the chicken leg in her hand was no longer appetizing.
She still had to strive for favor; otherwise, such delicious lotus chicken and sweet fermented rice balls might not be obtainable even with silver in the future.
Shen Lingshu wiped her mouth, took a short walk in the courtyard after the meal, and then had water prepared for a bath. She applied jasmine fragrance all over her body.
She wanted the Prince to think of her whenever he smelled jasmine.
“Master, you smell so fragrant, and you look so beautiful!”
Zhuxin dressed her in the newly tailored clothes. The bright red bellyband contrasted sharply with her snow-white skin—slender where it should be slender, and full and plump where it should be.
Not to mention men, even she, a woman, felt her heart race and face flush at the sight.
Time passed little by little. Chayu dozed off at the door, while Zhuxin stood at the entrance and looked outside. The night was deep and dark. Returning to the room, she saw Shen Lingshu, who had fallen asleep leaning on the soft couch, nearly roll off and fall to the ground.
“Master, be careful.” Zhuxin rushed over in three quick steps and steadied her.
“What time is it? Has the Prince not arrived yet?” Shen Lingshu rubbed her sleepy eyes and asked.
“No.” Zhuxin said worriedly, “It’s so late, could it be that…” he isn’t coming.
“He will come,” Shen Lingshu said firmly. Prince Lin’s word was as good as gold; he would never break a promise.
After a nap, Shen Lingshu finally felt alive again. She stretched lazily, then suddenly turned her head and saw Prince Lin standing beside the screen, dressed in dark clothing.
Under the flickering, dim candlelight, his handsome and distinguished face appeared even more captivating.
Shen Lingshu was startled, her foot twisted, and she stumbled toward him. In her panic, her hand grabbed directly at his belt.
In disbelief, Shen Lingshu held onto the belt as the dark robe fell open, revealing the white undergarments beneath…