Chapter 35: Not Enough Love

Back inside the room, Li Tinghan had already returned to sitting on the edge of the bed.

Shen Tubai forced a weak smile at him. "The Prince is awake. Did I disturb you?"

Li Tinghan shook his head, but Shen Tubai suddenly buried her face in his chest, her eyes welling with tears. "I am so afraid. Once the Secondary Consort knows I am pregnant, she won't treat me like this anymore, will she?"

Shen Tubai looked at Li Tinghan timidly, desperate for a reassuring answer.

Li Tinghan nodded, and Shen Tubai, as if relieved of a heavy burden, burst into tears of joy.

Just then, a commotion erupted in the courtyard. Shen Tubai opened the window to see Lu Yuanshuang personally leading a group of people, storming in with a fierce, aggressive air.

In less than a breath, the servants in the courtyard had all been pinned to the ground.

Shen Tubai stepped from behind the screen, bowing to her with impeccable etiquette, but before she could finish her greeting, she was seized by two palace maids.

The scene was all too familiar, yet the difference this time was that Shen Tubai remained far more composed.

She lifted her head and looked at Lu Yuanshuang with calm indifference. The woman wore thick layers of powder, but it could not hide the dark circles under her eyes.

Usually, someone who never left her quarters without being perfectly adorned, today she wore neither bracelets nor earrings—it was clear she was consumed by rage.

A faint hint of provocation danced in Shen Tubai’s eyes, yet when she spoke, her words were entirely submissive. "What is the meaning of this, Secondary Consort? I do not know what I have done wrong—"

Before she could finish, Lu Yuanshuang slapped her across the face.

She then took a bowl of medicine from Yin Zhu, grabbed Shen Tubai by the chin, and began forcing it down her throat, sneering, "Your lowly body is the greatest offense, carrying my cousin’s child."

Shen Tubai had not expected Lu Yuanshuang to act so quickly. She struggled with all her might, knocking the medicinal soup to the ground. "This is the Prince’s only heir in my womb! If you do not care for me, Secondary Consort, do you not even care for the Prince?"

Her only response was the medicine bowl being pressed toward her lips once more.

"Enough!" Li Tinghan finally emerged from behind the screen.

Shen Tubai’s eyes filled with tears as she called out timidly, "My Prince..."

Li Tinghan immediately stepped in front of her, his gaze toward Lu Yuanshuang filled with disgust.

Lu Yuanshuang was visibly panicked. She hurried to explain, "Cousin, everything I have done is for you! How can your firstborn child be born from the womb of such a lowly creature..."

"If it were truly for me, you would be finding ways to protect the only child I have now," Li Tinghan interrupted without hesitation. "Lady Shen is a concubine personally appointed by the Empress Mother. In what way is she lowly?"

Lu Yuanshuang looked at him in disbelief. "Lady Shen is of base status..."

"Enough! Lady Shen comes from a respectable family. I do not wish to hear any more talk of 'base status' from this day forward." Lu Yuanshuang clutched her chest, tears welling in her eyes as she stood frozen, seemingly devastated.

Li Tinghan had no intention of letting her brush this aside. "If the Secondary Consort does not understand, she must be suffering from some form of dementia. Since the affairs of the Prince’s estate are busy, perhaps they should be handed over to Concubine Tang. If you still feel the estate is not a suitable place for your recovery, I can have you sent back to the Lu residence..."

Once Li Tinghan’s threat was uttered, even Shen Tubai was stunned. For someone as prideful as Lu Yuanshuang, being driven back to the Lu residence would be worse than death.

Li Tinghan usually appeared gentle, but he was of royal blood after all; when he turned cruel, he was no less formidable than anyone else.

"Cousin!" Lu Yuanshuang was heartbroken, but seeing that Li Tinghan remained unmoved, she had no choice but to kneel in despair. "This concubine understands. I will never do this again."

Shen Tubai noticed that it was only at this moment that the maids behind the Secondary Consort followed suit and knelt as well. It seemed that during the days when the Secondary Consort was in favor, not only had she lost her sense of propriety, but those around her had as well.

Today’s events appeared to be Li Tinghan standing up for her, but if he had truly cared, he would have stepped in the moment Lu Yuanshuang entered. The fact that he didn’t suggested he wanted to use this opportunity to teach the Secondary Consort a lesson.

Li Tinghan docked the Secondary Consort’s allowance for half a month and confined her to the Frost Garden until Shen Tubai gave birth. To Shen Tubai, this punishment was neither here nor there, but it certainly dealt a blow to the woman's prestige.

However, from here on out, she would need to be on high alert.

After all, there were many strange and exotic poisons in this world. Having offended the Secondary Consort so deeply, if the woman were to secretly use something unheard of to ensure both mother and child perished, there would be nowhere for her to turn for justice.

Furthermore, beyond Lu Yuanshuang, there was the Cui family. They had always wanted her to bear an heir quickly, hoping to use the pregnancy to their own ends. If they learned she was with child, they would certainly not let the matter rest.

Shen Tubai lay on a daybed in the corridor, basking in the sun. Winter was approaching, and she couldn't help but feel lazy. She knew she should stay alert, but her body felt uncontrollably heavy, and she remained motionless on the couch.

Concubine Tang and Concubine Zhu arrived together. Seeing her state, they couldn't help but smile knowingly. "You look radiant. Your health must be excellent; in ten months, you will surely give birth to a healthy son."

Shen Tubai couldn't help but curve her lips. At this moment, there was no better blessing than safety. She moved aside to make room and invited them to sit.

Concubine Tang was a devout Buddhist, not one for many words. She looked at Shen Tubai’s belly with gentle, benevolent eyes, offered a few words of advice, and muttered some auspicious phrases before falling silent.

Concubine Zhu, however, was direct. "We all live in the same courtyard. It is only proper that we give you something to show our goodwill."

"But this is the first child in the Prince’s mansion, and we aren't sure what to provide. Besides, this pregnancy is precious; we fear that even if we gave you something, you wouldn't dare use it."

These words were so blunt that even Concubine Tang, who had come with her, couldn't help but look away, her lips moving faster as she recited her Buddhist scriptures.

Shen Tubai, however, found herself intrigued. Concubine Zhu’s words were rarely pleasant, but after observing her for several months, Shen Tubai realized she was simply straightforward and transparent. She didn't dislike her, let alone harbor any hatred.

Hearing this, Shen Tubai was even more curious.

She watched as Concubine Zhu clapped her hands, and four young eunuchs brought over two chests.

Concubine Zhu said seriously, "Concubine Tang and I have pooled together five hundred taels of silver. If you need anything, just have your maid buy it."

Concubine Tang refused to take the credit. "While we say we pooled it, in truth, Sister Zhu is looking after me—the bulk of it came from her."

Shen Tubai hurriedly said, "The fact that you both are willing to think of me this way is enough to make me feel deeply grateful."

Concubine Zhu snorted, insisting on drawing a clear line. "Do not let this money pass through your own hands, and preferably not through your personal maids either, lest something happen and the blame be shifted onto us..."

Before she could finish, Shen Tubai hugged Concubine Zhu’s arm with a sweet smile.

Concubine Zhu jumped up in alarm, shaking her off. "What are you doing?"

Shen Tubai, unabashed, said, "Once I give birth to this child, how about I let you raise it?"