"The incense in the border town is extremely expensive, and our general is a warrior. I didn't expect him to be so meticulous. It's even more impossible for the First Madam to send incense."
Since entering the household, the concubine has never used incense.
Xiangling was initially terrified, but after careful consideration, she couldn't find any flaws in her story.
Aunt Xiang was also quite frightened. She tightened her grip on her daughter, afraid that the child would slip away from her arms in the blink of an eye.
Upon hearing this, Lu Qiqi recalled that when Xiangling went to cook rice porridge, she had checked the furnishings in the room.
As Xiangling said, the incense was not lit inside the house.
After all, it's difficult to disperse the incense that's being lit indoors all at once.
Even if you open the windows for ventilation, it will still take some time.
Moreover, new mothers should not be exposed to drafts after childbirth, and windows should not be opened to allow passing servants to peek inside.
At that time, in Aunt Xiang's room, besides Madam Wu and her servants, there were only two midwives left.
It's strange that none of these people smelled any unusual fragrance.
Suddenly, Lu Qiqi remembered the maid who had bumped into her face earlier and knocked over the blood in the copper basin.
The musk she smelled after entering the room gradually faded. If the musk were made into a sachet, her maid could carry it with her.
After the maid leaves, all evidence will disappear without a trace.
Lu Qiqi summarized her conjectures and told Aunt Xiang the key points.
"Auntie, this must have been an order from the First Madam!"
"What should we do? Should we tell the general?"
When Xiangling heard that it was because the maid was wearing a sachet, she became anxious and flustered, and began to speak recklessly.
"Shut up!" Aunt Xiang scolded, "Don't talk nonsense!"
It's common for the first wife to fear that the child born to the concubine will threaten her position and to compete for the inheritance of the legitimate son.
It would be impossible for the First Madam not to be jealous or wary.
Who would want to share a husband with another woman, even a concubine of low status?
Women in this era not only could not stop their husbands from taking concubines, but they also had to adopt a tolerant and magnanimous attitude, manage the whole family, and allow their husbands to take good concubines into the family so that their husbands' families could have more children.
Only he himself knew the bitterness he had endured.
However, Lu Qiqi believed that Madam Wu would not make any moves at this critical juncture.
If something happens to Aunt Xiang, she will be the first person suspected.
"Not the First Madam."
Before Lu Qiqi could speak, Aunt Xiang spoke first.
Why not her?
Lu Qiqi was curious to know how Aunt Xiang had figured it out.
Aunt Xiang seemed to be lost in thought, looking down at the baby's face, and after a moment she sighed almost imperceptibly.
"The First Madam lost her first child, a full-term boy, because of musk."
Just because you've been rained on, does that mean you won't tear someone else's umbrella?
"From now on, General, fearing that this will sadden the First Madam, no incense shall be used in the mansion, and the sachets shall only be made with the fragrance of herbs from the pharmacy."
"The scent of medicine is not as pleasant as other fragrances, so over time, the people in the mansion stopped wearing it."
"This man dared to wear musk in front of the First Madam, so he must have prepared everything. There's no point in us investigating now."
Aunt Xiang's insightful remarks impressed Lu Qiqi.
Just as Aunt Xiang said, going to investigate now would not only leave us without help, but also General Wu's wounds are torn open and he is still unconscious in the military camp.
Are you suggesting that a woman in labor should be made to run around the entire household?
Fortunately, now that we know someone is planning to harm us, it's better to wait and see what else this person will do.
Once General Wu returns to his residence and someone is in charge, he will recount the whole story.
What Lu Qiqi didn't expect was that Aunt Xiang didn't want to make a big fuss.
He also instructed Xiangling not to complain to General Wu, and even more so not to let anything slip.
"Auntie, why? We've been so tolerant, and Miss was almost killed. Why can't we tell the General?"
Aunt Xiang was somewhat angry when she questioned Xiangling repeatedly.
But she knew that Xiangling was just worried and acting out of concern for her, and she didn't blame her.
She said gently, "As a concubine, you should abide by your duties. Have you forgotten what happened to Aunt Cen?"
Upon hearing the name Aunt Cen, Xiangling's face turned pale, and she pursed her lips, unable to utter a single word.
Upon hearing this, Lu Qiqi raised an eyebrow.
It seems that the inner quarters of General Wu's mansion have been unsettled for quite some time.
The methods used in the inner quarters were also endless.
After scolding Xiangling, Aunt Xiang turned to look at Lu Qiqi and said, "I'm sorry to have made the village head laugh."
"I am deeply grateful to the village head for saving my life today. Please keep this a secret and do not tell the general about the strange fragrance."
The affairs of General Wu's household were not her business to concern herself with, she said with a light smile, "Of course."
Just as she was about to take her leave, Granny Gui and her servants entered the room carrying medicinal food.
Granny Gui greeted Lu Qiqi with a smile, and then said to Aunt Xiang, "Aunt Xiang, this is a medicinal meal specially ordered by the Madam, so that you can nourish yourself and take care of your health so that you can serve the General as soon as possible."
Aunt Xiang, holding the child, nodded respectfully, "Thank you for the medicinal meal, Madam. I'm grateful for the trouble you made, Granny."
Granny Gui instructed a servant to give the medicinal meal to Xiangling, then took her leave, clutching her handkerchief.
After Granny Gui and her entourage left, Lu Qiqi stepped forward, walked to Xiangling, picked up the porcelain spoon in the bowl, and stirred the medicinal food a few times.
The freshly cooked medicinal cuisine, still steaming, was stirred with a porcelain spoon, and wisps of steam slowly rose.
Lu Qiqi smelled the aroma and checked, finding that the nanny had only brought ordinary medicinal food, and there was nothing wrong with it.
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