Chapter 26 The Duke's Mansion presents a generous gift, is she worthy of it?
"I am guilty. I ask to be fined for half a year's salary and copy scriptures to pray for Sister Shen. I hope that Sister Shen can give birth to a child safely." After confessing her guilt, Concubine Fang even told her about her punishment.
Prince Lin looked at her without saying a word: "Concubine, I will hand over the backyard to you. If anything goes wrong with Aunt Shen's pregnancy, you..."
"Don't worry, Your Highness. I will protect you with my life." Concubine Fang raised her head and said firmly.
After Concubine Fang left, Nanny Hua arrived. Prince Lin asked, "In your opinion, is this matter related to Concubine...?"
If it was really someone from outside, it was probably because the Third Brother didn't want him to have children. But if it was a concubine in the backyard, or a concubine...
Aunt Hua pondered for a long moment before replying, "It shouldn't be anything to do with it."
"During the time I've been in the backyard, Concubine Fang has always cared for Concubine Shen and even exempted her from the daily greetings. Now, Concubine Fang has been with the backyard concubines in the small Buddhist temple, praying and chanting for Concubine Shen's unborn child."
"Mrs. Lin is not in good health and rarely goes out."
"Mrs. Li only thinks about seeing the prince every day, while Mrs. Hai is always under house arrest."
Aunt Hua told the news she had heard in the backyard and said with emotion, "If it weren't for Aunt Shen's kindness, a lazy girl like Chayu would have been expelled from Youlan Courtyard long ago. How could she be so presumptuous?"
"In Youlan Courtyard, Aunt Chen never scolded a maid, nor smashed a tea bowl in anger."
Aunt Hua has seen a lot. Some people appear gentle and charming on the surface, but behind the scenes, they often beat and scold their maids and never treat them as human beings.
"Ling Shu... is indeed kind-hearted."
Prince Lin sighed, his eyes darkening slightly as he said, "She treats others well, but others may not treat her well."
Just like Qiu Rong back then, wasn’t it good enough to treat the concubines in the backyard?
"Madam Hua, thank you for your hard work."
Prince Lin said solemnly that he was in the front yard and had many things to do in the court, so he might not be able to protect Shen Lingshu in everything.
Back then, he failed to protect Qiu Rong, which led to her death in childbirth, resulting in two deaths. Now, he must protect Shen Lingshu.
"Your Majesty, this is what this old servant should do."
Aunt Hua retreated immediately.
King Lin was organizing the evidence he had collected over the past few days.
There are three reasons why the crown prince was deposed this time. First, the evidence now points to the crown prince as the assassin who assassinated the emperor.
All the assassins were killed, and if they wanted to overturn the verdict, they had to find his real master.
Secondly, the white fox, which was regarded as a symbol of good fortune, was killed by an arrow through the head, which was exactly the same as the death of the deer king shot by the prince.
There must be a traitor among the people around the prince, or even someone who saw the prince shooting the Deer King with his own eyes.
The third and most important point is that his father is young and strong, and the prince is already grown up. Even if he finds evidence to overturn the prince's case, how can he pardon the prince's crime if his father remains suspicious?
In the study, King Lin's lamp burned all night.
When Shen Lingshu woke up and heard that Cha Yu was beaten with a stick thirty times and sent away from the house, she was silent for a long time.
"Auntie Shen, Chayu betrayed her master and was ungrateful. It's her blessing that she wasn't beaten to death."
Aunt Hua spoke up to remind her, worried that Shen Lingshu was worrying too much, which would make her upset and cause miscarriage.
"Um."
Shen Lingshu lowered her eyes. She had already given Cha Yu a chance. Since she was willing to sacrifice her life to harm her and her child for her gambling brother, she naturally would not sympathize with her!
Sympathize with the maid who wanted to harm her child?
She's not mentally ill, but... she still needs to save face.
Qiutang Courtyard.
After seeing off Duke Xiao's wife, Lady Hu, Concubine Fang looked at the two gifts on the table and her eyes suddenly darkened. "A concubine is pregnant, and yet the Duke's wife is so eager to send gifts. How can she deserve it!"
"Don't be angry, Concubine. Now that the Crown Prince has been deposed, the Prince's status is different now."
Nanny Gui said soothingly: "They also have their eyes on the baby in her belly!" After all, it is Prince Lin's first child. If the child is born safely, Prince Lin will be the next crown prince.
"That's right."
Speaking of this, Concubine Fang's face was full of red. She had been out of the house several times recently, and the treatment she received was completely different from before. She had heard countless words of flattery, as if the prince had already ascended to the throne of the crown prince.
A trace of regret flashed in Concubine Fang's eyes: It's a pity that the prince recently ordered her not to attend banquets, otherwise, how glorious she would be!
Seeing that all the things given to the Duke's wife were double, the gift given to her was two points heavier than Shen Lingshu's!
She frowned: "Madam Gui, please send the things over and take a good look at that bitch. She can't even lose the child while riding a horse!"
Concubine Fang was so angry that her teeth were itching, but unfortunately, Youlan Courtyard was protected by Aunt Hua like an iron barrel.
After Nanny Gui returned, Concubine Fang asked, "How does the bitch's fetus look like?"
Aunt Gui: "Not bad."
More than that, the pregnant Shen Lingshu seemed to have added a touch of unique gentleness, with a rosy complexion, and it was obvious that she was well taken care of.
'Snap'
Concubine Fang slammed the table in anger.
"It's only been three months. I just went to check and her belly is already very obvious. Even her coat can't hide it. Maybe she's pregnant with a girl."
Nanny Gui's words made Concubine Fang happy. She gritted her teeth and said, "Yes, she's definitely pregnant with a girl! She's not destined to have a son!"
"Concubine, the medicine is ready."
Cao Lu brought the medicine into the room. Concubine Fang drank it without changing her expression. Then she asked, "I've been drinking this medicine for so long, why is my stomach still not moving?"
Over the past month, she asked Li, Lin and Hai to copy scriptures and pray for blessings. She had served the prince so many times, but there was no movement in her stomach.
"Don't worry, Concubine. Children are all fate. Who knows, they might be on their way."
Aunt Gui tried to comfort her, but Concubine Fang said angrily, "How long have you been saying this? Tell mother to find more prescriptions."
…
Youlan Courtyard.
When Shen Lingshu saw this precious gift, she was stunned. The brocade woven with gold and silver threads was dazzling.
A century-old ginseng is hard to find even if you have money.
The seed material of mutton-fat white jade is even more precious.
"Is this really a gift from Madam Xiao, Duke of Xiao?"
If she remembered correctly, Duke Xiao was the biological uncle of the Crown Prince and Prince Lin. As the Duke's wife, Hu's status and position were self-evident, but she was just a concubine in the prince's backyard!
"That's what Aunt Gui said."
Zhu Xin spoke cautiously, her eyes captivated by the auspicious clouds woven from the gold and silver threads on the brocade. She asked, "This brocade is really beautiful. Are the gold and silver threads on it made of real gold and silver?"
"Yes, these are real money."
Aunt Hua looked at her belly and said, "It seems that the Duke's Mansion also values this baby in your belly!"
"But, if we are going to give it to someone, shouldn't we give it to a concubine?"
Shen Lingshu was puzzled and shocked. At this moment, she understood the imperial power even more.
The crown prince was deposed, and the prince had not yet been named the crown prince, but the Duke's Mansion had already sent such a precious gift. When the child in her belly was really born safely, and the prince became the crown prince, and even succeeded to the throne, how glorious would it be in the future?
"Master, this brocade will make a new dress and it will look beautiful when you wear it." Zhu Xin had already thought about how to cut the clothes.
Shen Lingshu stopped him and said, "Don't move, Zhuxin, keep these things for now. Go to the study and see if the prince has come back. I have something to ask the prince."
"Yes." Zhu Xin was puzzled, but didn't ask any more questions.
Aunt Hua's eyes moved.
When Prince Lin arrived and heard Shen Lingshu's words, Aunt Hua looked at Shen Lingshu with admiration.
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