Chapter 18: Fragrance

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Su Ye turned her head away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Is that so?” Shen Tubai idly played with her fingernails. “What exactly was put into that calming soup?”

Su Ye’s expression changed drastically. Without hesitation, she was about to speak, but Shen Tubai pressed her index finger to her lips and whispered, “Think carefully before you answer.”

Su Ye’s eyes darted around, then, as if making up her mind, she straightened her back. “That calming soup contained several medicinal ingredients—ones that are hard to detect by taste but have contraceptive effects.”

Shen Tubai gave no indication of belief or doubt. “Is that all?”

Once she had started, Su Ye spoke more smoothly. “The prince didn’t give the lady any medicine. Consort Lu can’t afford to be too obvious, so she had to act secretly. The calming soup’s effect lasts only one day.”

“During the days the lady was favored, the small kitchen’s pear soup was also mixed with those same medicinal ingredients, but…”

“But I never drank it.” Shen Tubai finished the sentence she didn’t say, yet she neither confirmed nor denied it.

Suddenly, Su Ye knelt on the ground and swore to the heavens, “I, Su Ye, swear on my life that the calming soup is absolutely harmless to Miss Shen’s body. Otherwise, may thunder strike me down and leave no burial place. I have told you everything I can. Please, do not let that matter be spoken of.”

Shen Tubai rested her head on one hand and asked another question, “What kind of person do you think Miss Qin is?”

“Ah?” The sudden change of topic caught Su Ye off guard.

Noticing Shen Tubai’s displeased gaze, she stammered, “Miss Qin doesn’t talk much and is meek and obedient before Consort Lu. I don’t have much impression of her.”

“Understood. Help me deliver something to the person who asked you to deliver a letter last time. Once that’s done, you can halve the debt you owe me.”

“Alright.” Su Ye answered without hesitation.

After the others left, Chunchan came in from outside, her face full of indignation. “Fortunately, you were clever and didn’t reveal the pregnancy. Otherwise, Consort Lu would have scented it out and gotten rid of the child.”

Shen Tubai rubbed her brow. “Do you think what she said just now was true?”

Chunchan thought for a moment and nodded firmly. “She even swore by the heavens. She wouldn’t say such things if they were lies.”

“But if it were the truth, she could have just sworn that every word she said was true. Instead, she circled around it.”

“You mean…”

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Shen Tubai stood up. For some reason, she had felt extremely fatigued these past couple of days. “Take out everything Consort Lu has sent and check it thoroughly.”

“Yes.” Chunchan complied without complaint.

After all, if Shen Tubai truly were pregnant and gave birth to the prince’s first child, even if she could not rise in rank, her status in the mansion would change. As her servant, Chunchan would naturally benefit as well. It was better to be cautious during pregnancy.

Chunchan hurriedly pulled all the fabrics out of the wardrobe. Shen Tubai glanced inside and added, “Also carefully inspect the things the prince has sent.”

“Yes.” Chunchan rolled up her sleeves, ready to work.

Shen Tubai didn’t idle either. Although she came from the entertainment quarters and might not be familiar with all medicines, abortifacients and contraceptive soups were common knowledge in Pingkang District.

She was certain the calming soup given by Consort Lu that day contained none of the ingredients used in contraceptive soups. That was why she dared to drink it directly.

But Su Ye had spoken so confidently; there must have been something in that soup. What could it be?

Shen Tubai unconsciously placed her hand on her lower abdomen, a faint suspicion growing in her heart.

Sold to the entertainment quarters at five, Shen Tubai had always regarded the housekeeper as a mysterious figure, almost omnipotent in a way.

The housekeeper had told them repeatedly since childhood that a woman’s pregnancy and childbirth were like passing through the gates of hell, thus she had always drilled them on precautions during pregnancy.

Many girls were naive and only knew that pregnancy causes nausea and vomiting, but even those who had given birth once could not grasp the patterns.

If Shen Tubai hadn’t been taught by the housekeeper, she would now firmly believe she was truly pregnant.

But she knew well that pregnancy symptoms varied by constitution, and morning sickness lasted either sooner or later, but at most half a month. This symptom was simply too early.

Therefore, she forbade Chunchan from spreading the news—not only to protect the child in her womb but also because she was waiting.

Even if the medicine Consort Lu gave was truly miraculous, taking effect only after ten days of use, its effects lasting three to five days should have worn off by now.

Shen Tubai didn’t even bother with lunch. She thoroughly examined all the jewelry and ornaments sent by Li Tinghan and Lu Yuanshuang, inside and out, but found nothing unusual.

Chunchan spread the fabrics on the table and shook her head as well.

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Just as Shen Tubai wondered if she was overthinking, a plain-colored piece of cloth hidden at the very bottom was revealed. The strange fragrance made Shen Tubai involuntarily gag.

Chunchan hurried over to pat her back. “Miss, why is your morning sickness so bad? Maybe we should tell the prince…”

Shen Tubai shook her head, covering her mouth and nose as she pointed to the fabric on the table. “Who sent this?”

Chunchan hurriedly replied, “This was a gift from the prince. When the weather gets cold, I thought it would be perfect for making curtains.”

Shen Tubai beckoned her closer. “Lean in and smell carefully. Do you detect a particular fragrance?”

Chunchan closed her eyes solemnly and sniffed carefully. After a long quarter of an hour, she looked up but honestly shook her head. “Miss, are you sure you’re not imagining it?”

Fearing Shen Tubai’s displeasure, Chunchan added, “I heard from the women in the countryside that when a woman is pregnant, even the faintest sounds and smells are magnified many times over. If you don’t like it, I can put it away somewhere else.”

Shen Tubai shook her head, convinced this piece of fabric was problematic.

Before she could act on it, Li Tinghan suddenly entered with a furrowed brow, followed by an old man with a goatee carrying a medical box.

“Why can’t you just speak up? You’re feeling unwell and yet you have to make a fuss in front of Wen Niang, causing her unnecessary worry. People might think the Yan Prince’s Mansion is mistreating you.” Li Tinghan’s face was tinged with mild anger.

Shen Tubai looked at the man behind him and immediately understood the Cui family’s plan—they wanted to see if she was really pregnant and used this as an excuse.

She forced down her anger and smiled lightly, “I just caught a slight cold last night. It’s nothing serious. I didn’t expect that after I complained casually, Miss Cui would go out of her way to find a doctor.”

Li Tinghan’s expression softened. “Wen Niang is kind-hearted. You shouldn’t trouble her with such things in the future.”

Shen Tubai scoffed inwardly: I doubt Miss Cui is pleased at all.

Outwardly, she obediently agreed.