The smile on Su Wanrou’s lips deepened.
“That’s wonderful. Cousin is truly blessed by fate. Now Mother and I can finally set our minds at ease.”
For the time being, she suppressed the wariness and resentment she felt toward Shen Yunshuang before turning to Madam Wang with a warm smile.
“My family recently sent over a rare Spring Orchid—Heavenly Lotus. Its blossoms are pure and flawless, an exceptionally uncommon variety. Only someone as elegant and noble as Mother is worthy of such a flower.”
Su Wanrou had always been exceptionally smooth-tongued and socially adept. In the past, she had kept Madam Wang thoroughly pleased with sweet words, enjoying two comfortable years as the favored daughter-in-law.
But now, even such a priceless orchid failed to stir Madam Wang’s interest.
No matter how exquisite the flower was, how could it compare to having grandchildren?
The moment she thought about what Su Wanrou had done, it became difficult to greet her with any warmth.
Still, Su Wanrou had wept bitterly that day and had since humbled herself, doing everything she could to please her. Madam Wang was not a hard-hearted woman. Besides, with her niece present, it would be inappropriate to embarrass Su Wanrou outright.
She waved a hand, signaling the maid carrying the orchid to step closer.
The orchid truly was extraordinary.
Though the plant itself was small and delicate, its petals were pristine white, its shape graceful and ethereal, carrying an almost immortal elegance.
Even Shen Yunshuang couldn’t help lingering her gaze upon it.
As Su Wanrou enthusiastically explained the orchid’s unique qualities to her mother-in-law, she secretly observed Shen Yunshuang.
The young woman had a graceful forehead, delicate brows, and a neck as smooth as polished jade. Standing beside such a noble orchid, she effortlessly drew every eye to herself instead.
It was no wonder Su Wanrou felt as though she were facing a formidable enemy.
Stories of cousins secretly falling in love had been written so often that they had become clichés in romance novels. Blood ties naturally bred closeness.
Not to mention that Shen Yunshuang possessed such breathtaking beauty.
Now that Su Wanrou’s infertility had been exposed, what if her mother-in-law decided to bring this cousin into the household?
If Shen Yunshuang were to bear even a single son or daughter, given Madam Wang’s affection for her, would there still be any place left for Su Wanrou in the Pei household?
Lost in these anxious thoughts, she suddenly heard Madam Wang say with satisfaction,
“This orchid is truly rare. You’ve put a great deal of thought into it.”
Su Wanrou’s face immediately brightened.
“As long as Mother likes it, I’m happy.”
Shen Yunshuang found her words unbearably cloying, but she revealed nothing on her face, merely standing nearby with a gentle smile.
Madam Wang knew Su Wanrou had certainly come today because she had something to discuss. With Yunshuang present, she likely wouldn’t speak openly.
So she asked Shen Yunshuang to return to her quarters, leaving Su Wanrou behind alone.
Shen Yunshuang obediently took her leave.
Having lived through her previous life, she understood Su Wanrou all too well. Naturally, she knew exactly what Su Wanrou intended to do.
Only…
In her previous life, there had been Lin Yaoniang.
In this life, in order to regain her mother-in-law’s and husband’s trust…
Who would Su Wanrou send instead?
“Take a concubine?”
Madam Wang repeated the words in surprise after hearing Su Wanrou’s proposal.
Although Pei Jingnian already had two bedchamber maids, bedchamber maids were only slightly above ordinary servants. They were nothing like official concubines.
Su Wanrou dabbed at the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief before nodding.
“My husband has yet to have an heir, and the fault lies entirely with me. Yanzhi is a house-born servant from my family. She’s obedient, gentle, and pleasing to the eye. I wish to present her as my husband’s concubine, hoping she will conceive soon and continue the Pei family’s bloodline.”
Madam Wang fell silent.
She understood that this was Su Wanrou’s concession.
If there could be a legitimate grandson born of the legal wife, who would prefer a child born to a concubine?
But there was little choice.
Whether Su Wanrou could ever bear children remained uncertain. Yet among noble families, divorcing a wife for infertility was virtually unheard of. The Pei family had no option but to swallow this bitter reality.
Since a legitimate heir seemed unlikely, then even a son born to a concubine would still carry Jingnian’s blood.
Raising him as though he were the legitimate heir was simply the only solution left.
Su Wanrou lived in Jinlan Courtyard, a spacious residence with two sections.
Besides its three main rooms, it had east and west side chambers, as well as rear quarters for servants. Such a courtyard, if located outside the marquis estate, would have been more than enough to house an entire extended family.
After returning from Fuxi Hall, she dismissed all the servants except for Nurse Zhou.
The doors and windows were shut tightly.
She leaned wearily against a large amber-colored embroidered pillow, pressing a cool silk handkerchief embroidered with koi playing in water against her forehead.
Standing beside her, Nurse Zhou looked at her with concern and handed her a soft cotton towel.
“Young Madam, quickly put this over your eyes. They’ve become so red from crying.”
Su Wanrou was in no mood for such things.
She didn’t even take the towel, merely staring blankly at the Korean paper-covered lattice window.
Knowing how deeply Su Wanrou loved the heir apparent, Nurse Zhou understood how painful it must have been for her to personally suggest taking a concubine for her husband.
She stepped closer and comforted her gently.
“Please don’t grieve, Young Madam. Yanzhi is nothing more than a tool. Once she enters the household and gives birth, this old servant will have plenty of ways to deal with her. You needn’t regard her as a threat.”
Though Nurse Zhou’s features were kind and gentle, a vicious gleam flashed through her eyes, chilling enough to send shivers down one’s spine.
Su Wanrou trusted her completely.
Hearing those words eased her heart considerably.
She gently rested a hand over her lower abdomen.
“Nurse… didn’t you say I would recover? Why, after so many years of treatment, is there still no improvement? Now I have to watch my husband take another woman into the household. It feels as though knives are carving out my heart.”
Su Wanrou’s cold womb stemmed from an accident during her very first menstrual cycle.
She had fallen into an icy lake, and the severe chill had left a permanent illness.
While her mother was still alive, she had sought renowned physicians for her and arranged for Nurse Zhou—who specialized in women’s medicine—to care for her.
Yet after years of treatment, the physician Madam Wang hired had still diagnosed her as having great difficulty conceiving.
How could Su Wanrou possibly accept such a verdict?
She could only ask Nurse Zhou again and again, desperately seeking reassurance.
Nurse Zhou sighed.
A condition like this was never easy to cure.
Given Su Wanrou’s constitution, whether she could ever become pregnant ultimately depended on heaven’s will.
Still, she pitied the young mistress she had watched grow up and never had the heart to speak bluntly.
So she continued to offer comforting words.
“Don’t worry, Young Madam. You’re still young. You’ll have children someday.”
Su Wanrou had heard those words so many times they had become meaningless.
She wanted to lose her temper, yet lacked even the strength.
What was the point of anger now?
Since she had already agreed to let her husband take a concubine, all she could hope for was that Yanzhi would bear a child as soon as possible.
Only then could she win back both her husband’s affection and her mother-in-law’s favor.
After steadying her emotions, she asked a few more questions about Yanzhi’s arrangements. Once she learned everything had been properly prepared, she finally relaxed.
As she held the cool cloth over her eyes, Shen Yunshuang’s beautiful face suddenly surfaced in her mind once more.
Unease crept back into her heart.
Logically speaking, she had only met Shen Yunshuang a handful of times.
Yet for some reason, she simply couldn’t like her.
Those bright, watery eyes…
They seemed born to steal men’s souls.
“Today, when I went to Fuxi Hall, I saw Shen Yunshuang again. I don’t know why, but I just can’t shake this feeling of unease.”
Nurse Zhou understood exactly what Su Wanrou was worried about.
But she believed those fears were unfounded.
After all, Shen Yunshuang was Madam Wang’s own legitimate niece.
No matter how much Madam Wang adored her, surely she would never make her own niece become her son’s concubine.
If Madam Wang truly cherished the girl, she would instead find her a talented young gentleman in the capital and marry her off honorably.
That was the proper course.
Patiently, Nurse Zhou explained all of this to Su Wanrou.
After hearing her reasoning, Su Wanrou also found it sensible.
Only then did she finally set the matter aside—for the time being.