Chapter Thirty-Four: The Contraceptive Decoction

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Shen Tubai leaned against his chest, letting her tears soak his nightclothes. Li Tinghan thought to himself, indeed, she had wandered alone since childhood, living in constant fear and hesitation, probably too afraid to even ask for what she liked, how could she be as frank and open as his cousin? Come to think of it, from the moment she entered the residence, he had promised to personally teach her the rules. In hindsight, it was he who broke his promise and was too harsh. If he had truly taught her himself back then, would things be different now? This thought ignited a warmth in Li Tinghan’s heart.

Shen Tubai glanced subtly at Li Tinghan’s expression, her heart gradually settling. Judging by Cui Xiwen’s demeanor, it was clear that Lu Yuanshuang wasn’t the type he liked. Even if he was momentarily overwhelmed by her intense affection, over time, he would grow weary. Even if Lu Yuanshuang hadn’t made a fuss, as time passed, her love would become a burden in Li Tinghan’s heart, eventually turning to disgust.

Shen Tubai had intended to keep the news of her pregnancy secret until the dust settled, but with Li Tinghan’s arrival tonight, the secret could no longer be kept. So she had to find another way. With a sigh, Shen Tubai spoke.

“What’s wrong?” Li Tinghan, already somewhat sentimental, couldn’t help but think of her difficult past. At this moment, he felt a deep tenderness for her and, hearing her sigh, grew concerned.

Shen Tubai opened her mouth to speak but closed it again. “Maybe I’m just overthinking,” she said timidly.

Everyone knows that half-spoken words are the hardest to bear. Li Tinghan quickly said, “From now on, you can say anything directly to me.”

“But I’m afraid you’ll be angry,” Shen Tubai whispered.

Now even more curious about what she wanted to say, Li Tinghan immediately reassured her, “Just speak. I promise I won’t be angry.”

Shen Tubai touched her belly. “Lu, the consort, admires you so much. Do you think she will accept the child in my womb?”

Li Tinghan laughed out loud, affectionately twitching her nose. “How could she not? My cousin isn’t so unreasonable...”

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Li Tinghan’s words trailed off as a sudden thought struck him. Considering his cousin’s obsession with him, she might indeed do something reckless. Li Tinghan had been in charge of the household for many years, yet apart from Shen Tubai, no one else had borne him children. He felt this was largely his own fault. This time, Shen Tubai’s pregnancy might be a blessing from heaven. If his cousin went mad and harmed the child, he would truly be the last of his line.

Shen Tubai seemed unaware of the serious look on his face and sighed with relief, patting her chest. “I’m just worrying needlessly. This child is not only mine but also carries half of your bloodline.”

“Since Lu, the consort, loves you so much, she would naturally care for your child as well. I was foolish to think otherwise. No matter how much she dislikes me, she wouldn’t harm the prince’s child.”

Shen Tubai cleverly equated Lu’s love for Li Tinghan with how she would treat the child. A man like Li Tinghan could not ignore Lu’s blatant affection. Once she realized he noticed, she used it to control him. Her love became her trump card.

She could beat the maids to death out of “love,” hurt others in the household for “love,” but she would never harm Li Tinghan. Because he was unique, and such a life-and-death affection was the most precious thing to a noble like him, who lacked for nothing.

Even if he despised her actions, he still cherished this uniqueness, making it impossible for him to truly abandon Lu Yuanshuang.

But now, Shen Tubai added a condition to this love: Lu Yuanshuang’s love for Li Tinghan must include acceptance of his child with another woman.

In time, Shen Tubai would subtly impose more conditions on this love. If Lu Yuanshuang failed to meet them, her love would lose its value in Li Tinghan’s eyes, and he would begin to doubt whether it was all an act, a lie.

Time is the world’s greatest healer; it colors things differently, changing their original nature.

Li Tinghan slowly curled his lips, thought for a moment, and nodded in agreement with her reasoning.

That night, the two embraced and fell asleep.

The next morning, Shen Tubai woke to find Li Tinghan lying beside her, surprised. “My lord, aren’t you attending court today?”

“Court is nothing but listening to the ministers bicker with the Empress Dowager. I took leave to stay here and keep you and the child company,” Li Tinghan said tenderly, his eyes filled with warmth and affection.

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Shen Tubai’s mind wandered. She had heard some news from the court: the Secretariat had petitioned the Empress Dowager to ascend the throne. Many officials had voiced their support, while the rest neither agreed nor opposed. However, regarding the scale and rites of the enthronement, the Ministry of Rites had begun quarreling with the Empress Dowager. Even though the deposed emperor had left over half a month ago, the regulations for the Empress Dowager’s ascension remained unsettled.

Meanwhile, Shen Tubai noticed fewer officials visiting the residence, while Li Tinghan spent more time away. She had a strong intuition that he was dealing with those opposing the Empress Dowager.

“This is a medicinal decoction the consort ordered you to take,” a voice interrupted her thoughts.

Curious, Shen Tubai tiptoed out of bed and opened the door to see Yin Zhu, flanked by a group, confronting Chun Chan, about to force her way in.

With few people in Wutong Garden, Shen Tubai didn’t want Chun Chan to suffer and quickly said, “I’ve caught a cold recently, and the doctor advised against taking medicine rashly. I’m afraid I must decline the consort’s kindness.”

Yin Zhu snorted coldly, “This medicine was specially prepared because the consort knows you serve the lord diligently. You must drink it today, whether you want to or not.”

Shen Tubai raised her eyes slightly. “Is this a decoction to prevent pregnancy?”

“Yes, you should know. The lord’s eldest son cannot be born from your lowly womb,” Yin Zhu spat with relish.

Shen Tubai played along. “Is the consort not afraid the lord will blame her for this?”

“She dares to show off after just one day of the lord’s favor. Don’t forget, the lord has been staying in the consort’s chambers these days. What she wants is naturally what the lord wants.”

Shen Tubai had been speaking all this time just to say this.

Hearing no response from inside the room, Shen Tubai didn’t want to argue further with Yin Zhu and, flustered, said, “But... I’m already pregnant.”

“What did you say?” Yin Zhu was shocked, her mind flooded with images of the consort’s hysterics.

Shen Tubai dramatically placed her hand on her belly. “I am pregnant now. Without the lord’s order, I would never drink the medicine given by the consort.”