Chapter Ten: The Blurring of Bloodlines

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When Li Tinghan and Shen Tuba arrived at the estate, Cui Xiwen was seated in the pavilion, practicing her painting.

The moment she saw Li Tinghan, she rose excitedly, then restrained herself and stopped where she was, offering a proper bow. Even so, no one could have failed to notice the joy on her face.

“This servant, Shen, pays her respects to Miss Cui.”

Shen Tuba knew that Cui Xiwen held an unusual place in Li Tinghan’s heart. Since she had claimed to have come to offer her thanks, she naturally intended to play her part to the fullest. At once, she knelt and kowtowed.

Cui Xiwen raised a gentle hand. “Rise.”

Shen Tuba gave her a grateful smile, then stood behind Li Tinghan without saying another word.

There was nothing amiss with the scene before him, yet Li Tinghan inexplicably felt uncomfortable.

If he insisted on tracing the source of that discomfort, it seemed to lie with Wenniang. He looked at her. Her expression remained as gentle as ever, and she was as mild toward others as always, yet somehow he felt it was not enough. Wenniang seemed a little too cold.

He shook his head, dismissing the unease in his heart. It had to be an illusion. Wenniang was the kindest person in the world. How could she be cold toward someone who was sincerely grateful to her?

Had Shen Tuba known what he was thinking, she would certainly have laughed aloud.

Every day, countless people knelt and kowtowed before Li Tinghan in the prince’s residence. Among them were many who were so grateful to him that they would gladly repay him with their lives.

Yet Li Tinghan treated those people no better than he treated Cui Xiwen.

Ultimately, it was because Shen Tuba had suffered his reprimand in order to come and see Cui Xiwen. Li Tinghan had witnessed all her grievances.

Shen Tuba had given him the false impression that she and Cui Xiwen shared a profound bond, and instinctively, he wanted to see the same emotional devotion from Cui Xiwen.

But Shen Tuba had met Cui Xiwen only twice. Their feelings could hardly be called deep, and their identities were worlds apart.

Cui Xiwen’s attitude today was already more gracious than usual because Li Tinghan was present.

Seeing Li Tinghan gaze at her in silence, Cui Xiwen assumed he liked her appearance that day. She smiled with even greater shyness.

“Your Highness, what brings you to the Cui estate today?”

“It has been many days since I last saw you. I wanted to come and visit.”

At that moment, the entire world seemed to contain only the two of them.

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Behind them, Shen Tuba rolled her eyes. She had always thought herself quite skilled at deceiving others, but now it seemed this married couple was no different.

“Your Highness, the Chancellor requests your presence.” A servant appeared at just the right moment, interrupting their exchange of tender sentiments.

Li Tinghan was displeased, but Cui Xiwen hurriedly urged him, “Your Highness, you should go. Do not keep Father waiting. As it happens, I have some private matters between women to discuss alone with Miss Shen.”

Once Li Tinghan had gone far enough, Cui Xiwen’s expression changed completely.

“Come with me.”

Cui Xiwen and Madam Cui sat on opposite sides of the main hall. When Shen Tuba entered, Madam Cui merely lifted her eyes slightly before summoning a female physician to examine her pulse.

Shen Tuba tried to pull her hand back, but two maids held her down firmly.

“What does Madam Cui mean by this?”

Madam Cui ignored her and merely watched the physician. When the woman shook her head, Madam Cui looked away in disappointment.

She set down her teacup, walked over to Shen Tuba, and lifted her chin.

“I was the one who arranged for you to enter the prince’s residence. I did so in the hope that you would soon bear His Highness a child. I never imagined you would be so useless. What a waste of such a breathtaking face.”

Shen Tuba jerked her head away from her hand.

“Madam sent me a letter because you wished to see His Highness. He has come now. What more do you want?”

Madam Cui smiled.

“I knew you were clever. I was not mistaken about you that day. But this time, it is you I wished to see.”

“Me? What could I possibly do for you?” A chill crept up Shen Tuba’s back.

Madam Cui paid no attention to her question. She opened a hidden compartment and took out a red medicine bottle, which she placed in Cui Xiwen’s hand.

Patting her daughter’s hand, Madam Cui soothed her softly. “Mother cannot stay with you all your life. There are some things you must do yourself.”

As she spoke, Madam Cui gave Cui Xiwen a push at the waist.

Cui Xiwen’s hands trembled, but she still moved forward one hesitant step at a time.

Shen Tuba instinctively knew that the medicine could be nothing good. She struggled desperately as she backed away.

“What are you trying to do?”

Madam Cui clapped her hands. From the dim chamber emerged a bald monk with a sorrowful, compassionate expression.

Pressing her palms together, Madam Cui wore an air of mercy. Yet the words she spoke sent a chill down the spine.

“His Highness the Prince of Yan has been established in his own residence for five years, yet he still has no heir. On careful consideration, perhaps the problem does not lie with you after all.”

“To ensure that the Prince of Yan’s line continues as soon as possible, I have specially invited Grandmaster Liaji of Cold Mountain Temple to pray for an heir.”

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Even Shen Tuba, who prided herself on her emotional composure, was frightened by her words.

“You’ve gone mad! You actually intend to confuse the imperial bloodline?”

Madam Cui remained unmoved, murmuring prayers as she slowly turned the beads in her hands.

Shen Tuba could only turn to Cui Xiwen.

“His Highness has eyes for no one but you. Are you truly willing to let some bastard take the place of his firstborn?”

Cui Xiwen drew a deep breath. Her hands were still trembling, but her steps had grown firm.

“His Highness is destined to have no heirs. So long as you keep your mouth shut, this child will be regarded as His Highness’s own flesh and blood. It will also bring him comfort.”

Cui Xiwen seized Shen Tuba by the chin.

“You came from an entertainers’ house. You should know that this medicine is only meant to spare you unnecessary suffering.”

Unwilling to resign herself to fate, Shen Tuba urged her loudly, “His Highness is not incapable of fathering children. He deliberately prevents the women in his household from conceiving. She wants you to bear him a legitimate son—”

Cui Xiwen’s hand stopped.

“Wenniang!” Madam Cui shouted sharply.

Cui Xiwen’s hand trembled in fright, but in the end, she did not force the medicine into Shen Tuba’s mouth.

She turned around and knelt beside Shen Tuba.

“Mother, is there truly no other way? His Highness treats me so well. I should not betray him like this.”

Madam Cui pulled her to her feet.

“If you refuse to betray him, then you will have to betray the Cui family. It is not easy for a woman to survive in this world. You must understand that the prosperity of your clan is the foundation of your standing.”

Seeing Cui Xiwen waver once more, Shen Tuba seized the opportunity to wrench herself free of the two maids’ grasp. She crawled forward on her knees and fell at Madam Cui’s feet.

“This servant is worthless. Half a month after entering the residence, I have still failed to win His Highness’s favor. I remain a virgin to this day.”

“His Highness has eyes only for Miss Cui. This servant is truly useless.”

Her words were half true and half fabricated, yet they moved Cui Xiwen deeply. Madam Cui, however, remained utterly unmoved.

She cast a glance at the maids in the room. A broad, powerfully built matron rushed forward and roughly tore away Shen Tuba’s outer garments.

Humiliated tears slid down Shen Tuba’s cheeks. She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing down the hatred surging through her.

“Enough.”

Madam Cui threw the red medicine bottle back onto Shen Tuba.

“One month from now, I expect to hear good news from you. When the time comes, someone will tell you what to do.”

Shen Tuba readily agreed to everything.

Madam Cui pressed her palms together and began reciting Buddhist scripture once more. But as Shen Tuba stepped over the threshold, Madam Cui threw her contract of servitude at her.

“Do not think that hiding in the prince’s residence will keep you safe from all trouble. If anything happens to the Cui family, the palace will deal with you on account of your status.”

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