Chapter Sixteen: The Oddity

“Of course it’s true,” Shen Tuobai answered firmly.

“I was raised in the Thousand Gold Pavilion. On that street, many noble officials kept concubines outside their homes. Among them was one who, eager to bear an heir and enter the main household, sought out the Purple River Elixir. Unbeknownst to her, she was already pregnant. After ten months, the child she bore…”

Shen Tuobai closed her eyes and shook her head, her brow furrowing as if recalling a distressing image. Her usually beautiful face twisted into something almost grotesque. “In short, it was not human.”

All eyes immediately turned to Concubine Lu.

Lately, the court had been abuzz with talk of the crown prince’s succession, and naturally, the women of the inner chambers had caught wind of it as well. It was impossible for them to be indifferent. The legitimate heir, especially the eldest son, had always been different. If any of them had drunk that elixir to conceive, only to give birth to a child neither human nor ghost…

Lady Lu truly harbored a poisonous heart!

Her face pale, Concubine Lu forced herself to steady on her silver-painted hands. “Impossible. It must be the filthy bodies of low-born women that cause such monstrous births.”

Shen Tuobai did not argue, only shook her head with regret. “Many women fall into hard times and bear children, but those born as ghostly beings only come from those who took the Purple River Elixir.”

Lady Zhu’s face also paled, but she had calmed down enough to ask, “All of them? So more than one woman who took the Purple River Elixir gave birth to ghost children?”

“Exactly. That year, a woman living across from us boasted after taking the elixir, sparking envy and competition in the same alley. Two others also obtained the elixir.”

“That year, three ghost children were born in that alley. If Your Majesty doubts it, you can inquire at Pingkang Lane. Though everyone remains silent now, the memory of those events lingers.” Shen Tuobai shook her head, full of sorrow.

Her expression only made her words more credible.

She looked at the bowl of soup on the table. “After that incident, the lane invited a master to examine it. He said that the elixir attaches to the fetus and results in the birth of ghost children…”

“Aaah!” a sudden scream shattered the silence, throwing the room into chaos.

Lady Tang quickly twisted her prayer beads, muttering prayers, while Miss Qin collapsed weakly onto the table, helplessly clutching her maid’s hand.

Lady Zhu shuddered at the thought of nearly swallowing the soup, her hands nervously rubbing together after touching the bowl.

Concubine Lu stared at the soup as if seeing a ghost. Upon hearing the scream, she slapped the table sharply. “Silence!”

Pointing at the bowl, she commanded, “What are you waiting for? Remove this soup at once!”

---

“No, fetch the master and have this bowl—no, this thing—removed immediately.” Concubine Lu was frantic, trying to hide behind her maid, but everyone present was too frightened to approach.

Shen Tuobai bowed slightly. “Concubine Lu, why do I feel such a chilling atmosphere? I’m truly afraid. I will take my leave now.”

Seeing this, Lady Zhu and the others hurriedly excused themselves.

Concubine Lu was utterly unsettled. She had ordered this concoction herself. If Shen Tuobai’s words were true, the elixir might one day attach to her own child.

Her crimson nails dug into her flesh so deeply she hardly heard what Shen Tuobai said next.

Meanwhile, Su Ye subtly tugged Concubine Lu’s sleeve as Shen Tuobai prepared to leave.

Seeing her, Concubine Lu slapped her hard. “It’s all your fault, you lowly maid! If that ghostly thing attaches to my child, I will make you pay with your life.”

Shen Tuobai understood then that all this was Su Ye’s scheme.

Su Ye knelt silently, still trying to send her a warning glance.

Finally recalling her duties, Concubine Lu forced herself to speak. “Sisters, you’ve all been startled today. The kitchen has prepared a calming soup. Drink it before you go.”

Having just heard about the Purple River Elixir, no one dared touch the soup.

But Shen Tuobai could clearly feel Concubine Lu’s gaze flickering toward her.

She nodded slightly, detecting no obvious medicinal scent, then raised the bowl and drank it clean.

Only then did Concubine Lu wave them away.

The two ladies-in-waiting walked ahead, followed by Shen Tuobai and Miss Qin.

Lady Tang’s courtyard was adjacent to Concubine Lu’s; she nodded slightly and chanted prayers as she returned.

A few steps ahead, Lady Zhu suddenly turned back. “Those words earlier—did you say them to scare her on purpose?”

Shen Tuobai frowned in confusion. “I merely recounted rumors I’d heard to Concubine Lu.”

“A fine rumor indeed,” Lady Zhu bit her lip, but her expression softened. “Well done, Miss Shen.”

---

“Today, I’ll let it go because you stopped me in time. But if you dare stir trouble in the inner chambers again, I won’t forgive you.” With that, Lady Zhu swept her sleeve and strode away.

Bamboo shadows swayed as Shen Tuobai bowed deeply, watching her retreating figure down the narrow path.

“Why do you help her? She’s always been proud and disdainful, barely acknowledging even our not-yet-married princess. You open your heart to her, but she may never appreciate it.”

A soft complaint whispered in her ear.

Shen Tuobai smiled and walked on, then paused after a few steps, turning to the person behind her with a puzzled look. “I thought Sister Qin and Lady Zhu lived together. It’s late—shouldn’t she have gone back already?”

Qin Hongmian stepped forward naturally and linked her arm through hers. “After such a big event tonight, I’m too scared to sleep. I just want someone to talk to.”

Shen Tuobai stopped and looked her straight in the eyes. Qin Hongmian shuddered under the gaze. “What are you looking at? Is there something on me?”

“If I’m not mistaken, this is my first time meeting Sister Qin today. Why would you speak to me?” Shen Tuobai’s voice was softer than usual, but the refusal in it was sharp as a blade.

Qin Hongmian seemed not to notice and earnestly began to confide. “Before you came, I was the only one here without a rank. Being with them always felt off, made me uneasy. Luckily you arrived—maybe we can be companions…”

“Sister, you feel different from them, but I also feel ashamed in front of you.” Shen Tuobai laid her refusal plainly.

“Why would you say that?” Qin Hongmian frowned in confusion.

Shen Tuobai replied, “Though you’re a remarried woman with children, our Great Ye encourages widows to remarry. Even the former Empress Dowager was remarried.”

“That cannot be said…”

Shen Tuobai continued undeterred, “You come from an official family. If you bear children in the future, you will gain rank and promotion. Perhaps another remarried princess will emerge. How could I possibly compare?”

Qin Hongmian flared up, flicking her sleeve angrily. “I sincerely wanted to be friends. If you don’t want to, just say so plainly—no need to chill me with your words.”

Shen Tuobai remained calm and took her hand, admiring the delicate filigree bracelet on her wrist with genuine praise. “This bracelet is truly beautiful.”