Volume One, Chapter 35: This Cup of Concubine's Tea—She’s Bound to Drink It

“Send for Doctor Wang.” After a moment’s thought, the Marquis of Grace, who had spent most of the past two months staying at Lin Wan'er’s residence, decided that matters of heirs could not be taken lightly. It was best to have Doctor Wang take a look, to be cautious.

The attendant received the order and hurried out of the courtyard.

“Marquis, since you’ve called Doctor Wang, perhaps it’s best to have Consort Lin rise first,” Xie Shu glanced at Lady Li, whose face was ashen, then turned to remind the Marquis, “Kneeling like this isn’t good for the child in her womb.”

“A child of a low-born woman—let her kneel all she wants. Does she think I’ll pity her?” Lady Li clenched her palm tightly, her long nails digging into her flesh until almost drawing blood.

“Are you saying the child of this marquis is illegitimate?” The Marquis’s voice was low and fierce, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes as he sternly confronted Lady Li. “Lady Li, is this how you behave as the principal wife of the Marquis’s household? Spouting nonsense!”

Caught off guard and scolded loudly, Lady Li’s grievance only deepened. Over the years, she had been aware of the Marquis’s indiscretions with various questionable women, but as long as they didn’t cause trouble in her household, she had turned a blind eye.

Now, they were boldly trampling over her authority—should she just endure it?

“Do you know how I’ve been the principal wife all these years? I bore you Sheng’er and Yue’er. Yue’er was premature and frail, unable to withstand the harsh winters in the capital, so she had to be sent to Shaoyang to be cared for every winter.”

Thinking of being separated from her own children, and now this shameless concubine endangering the child, Lady Li’s heart burned with injustice. She shouted and raged, “I’ve worked hard to raise your children and manage this household, and what do you do? Keep a courtesan to slap me in the face!”

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she lamented her ill fate, married to a man of duplicity and deceit.

If Old Nurse Liu were here now, she would surely restrain Lady Li from losing her temper, advising her to soften her stance lest she lose the Marquis’s favor. But Liu was absent; no one dared speak out.

The Marquis heard Lady Li’s complaints and thought, truly, only petty men and women are hard to manage! He had granted Lady Li the status of principal wife of the Marquis’s residence, yet she was still not satisfied? The household did not even have a concubine; wasn’t that enough to honor her?

“If you are so discontent, then you need not manage this household anymore,” he said coldly. Having suffered indignities himself at court the previous night, and further embarrassed by Lady Li’s outburst before the imperial hall, he was now more irritable than ever. The court had even reprimanded him on his way out for poor household management and inadequate parenting.

Now, everyone in the capital knew that Ning Rongsheng had taken advantage of the chaos to commit a scandalous act! Whether true or not, since it reached the ears of the emperor, it was a grave matter.

“I have warned you many times to keep the heir cautious and discreet, yet you allow him to disgrace us! And now you dare to lecture me!” The Marquis, venting his frustration, blamed Lady Li entirely.

As they bickered, Xie Shu quietly nudged Consort Lin, who was still kneeling, with her toe. Instantly, Lin clasped her belly and sweetly murmured to the Marquis, “Marquis… my… my stomach…”

At those words, the Marquis’s expression turned grave. This child must not be harmed.

Turning his gaze, he saw Lin Wan’er, face half-hidden and on the verge of tears, delicate and pitiable. Compared to the wild fury of Lady Li, she appeared fragile and heart-rending.

“Bring a chair for Consort Lin at once!” The Marquis glared at the attendant, who hurried to fetch a seat.

The title “Consort Lin” was clearly heard by all present.

“Consort Lin,” Xie Shu personally helped her up, her voice full of concern, “The Marquis cares for you deeply. You must take good care of yourself and soon give the Marquis a lineage to carry on.”

Lady Li wanted to argue more but was interrupted by a call from outside: “Marquis, Doctor Wang has arrived.”

“Send him in.” The Marquis responded, then kicked away scattered porcelain shards from the floor and took his seat in the main hall.

Inside, Autumn Moon’s thoughts were racing. Finally, she leaned close to Lady Li and whispered, “Madam, calm yourself first. If you damage your health with anger, it only benefits the schemers.”

Though still angry, Lady Li found comfort in those words.

Blood is thicker than water; enemies delight in one’s pain.

Taking deep breaths, Lady Li shot a fierce glance at Lin Wan’er, wishing she could tear her apart. Silently, she nodded to Autumn Moon, “Let them wait.”

The attendant led Doctor Wang inside.

“Please extend your hand, miss.” Doctor Wang stroked his beard and placed a wrist cushion on the tea table. Noticing Lin Wan’er had not arranged her hair like a married woman, he addressed her as “miss.”

Sweat faintly beaded on Lin Wan’er’s forehead. Though a flicker of nervousness crossed her face, she maintained composure like a graceful beauty stricken with illness, carefully offering her wrist. “Thank you for your trouble.”

Doctor Wang wrapped a gauze around her wrist.

He took her pulse, listened attentively.

When the doctor’s brows furrowed slightly, the Marquis anxiously asked, “Is it a pregnancy pulse?”

Lady Li pricked up her ears, tense beyond measure.

Doctor Wang’s face grew solemn. After sliding his finger gently over the wrist several times and confirming, he withdrew his hand, lowered his sleeve, and respectfully reported to the Marquis, “Your Grace, it is indeed a pregnancy pulse.”

At these words, Lady Li’s heart sank, her legs weakened as if about to collapse.

“Over a month, you say?” The Marquis asked cautiously.

Doctor Wang nodded. “Judging by the pulse, it should be. However…”

“However what?” The Marquis pressed anxiously.

“This young lady seems to have been frightened. Her pulse is restless, her qi unstable and weak. She must be carefully tended. The child is still very young and cannot endure any shock.” The pulse was sometimes faint, sometimes fluttering without rest. Doctor Wang added, “To ensure the safety of the fetus, the first three months require strict rest.”

Frightened? The Marquis recalled Lin Wan’er’s tearful, timid demeanor since rising, like a startled fawn, and immediately the fierce, snarling visage of Lady Li flashed through his mind.

Since the pregnancy was real, the bloodline of the Marquis’s household must not be lost to outsiders.

Thinking of Xie Shu’s words about “double blessings,” his mood shifted. He promptly instructed the maid, “Bring another bowl of tea.”

“What do you mean by this, Marquis?” Lady Li slammed her palm on the table. “Do you intend to let her into the household today?”

Before the Marquis could answer, Xie Shu gasped in surprise, then feigned covering her ears, concerned, “Tsk tsk tsk… Madam, please keep your voice down. If you frighten Consort Lin again, it would be cruel.”

Xie Shu fanned the flames while signaling Autumn Moon to pour a cup of tea.

Following instructions, Autumn Moon fetched the teapot from the stove, poured a cup of plum tea, and thoughtfully added some cool water so it was neither hot nor cold—just right.

Though the plum tea had boiled so long the water was nearly gone, the flavor was less than ideal.

“Consort Lin, do not be afraid. The Marquis is here with you today.” Xie Shu gently placed the cup before Lin Wan’er and kindly helped her approach Lady Li.

This cup of concubine’s tea—whether Lady Li wished to drink it or not—she had to.