Chapter 8

Chapter 8

After my bridal homecoming, I had people spread word in front of Linglong that Concubine Shen was actively trying to conceive.

On top of that, ever since the night of the wedding, I had been constantly pushing Fu Huai toward Shen Ru, which made Linglong truly believe that Shen Ru was doing everything she could to compete for his favor.

Naturally, Linglong could no longer sit still. She was no longer young; in a few more years, it would be even harder for her to become pregnant.

A concubine without a child to rely on would sooner or later become an abandoned pawn. Even the Old Madam could not protect her forever.

Cui Niang came to report, “Madam, Concubine Linglong went to the Old Madam and cried her grievances. The Old Madam has already given the Lord Duke a warning. Tonight, the Lord Duke will be staying in Concubine Linglong’s courtyard.”

Linglong’s looks were ordinary, and she was already twenty-three.

Fu Huai had long since grown tired of her.

According to what Cui Niang had found out, Fu Huai had not touched Linglong in a very long time.

If Linglong wanted to get pregnant, she would have to rely on certain shameful little tricks.

Soon, Cui Niang uncovered something else. She reported it to me truthfully, “Madam, Linglong did indeed send someone to a pleasure house and obtained some aphrodisiac incense.”

Heh. Those were all tricks I had long since played out.

Some incense was easy to identify.

How could something from a pleasure house possibly escape Fu Huai’s notice?

The Bliss Powder I used was a priceless treasure nearly impossible to find.

That night, Fu Huai did indeed go to Linglong’s courtyard. But before long, he strode out in large steps and came straight to me.

His eyes were dark and heavy, the rims bloodshot, his breathing uneven. He pulled me into his arms and called urgently, “My wife, I have missed you terribly! These past few days, you have kept pushing me away. May I stay tonight?”

But just as the two of us were about to become intimate, I pushed him away and covered my nose in feigned distaste.

I did not say much, but it was enough for Fu Huai to understand.

Fu Huai explained, “My wife, Linglong… she actually drugged me.”

I widened my eyes as if frightened and said, “What? Such a thing happened? B-but… I truly dislike this scent. No matter how generous I am, I cannot accept my husband carrying another woman’s smell on him.”

Fu Huai immediately understood. Looking ashamed, he smiled and said, “Then your husband will go bathe at once.”

Ever since the night of the wedding, whenever Fu Huai wanted to spend the night, I had always found some excuse to brush him off.

Tonight, he most likely would not leave.

I beckoned Cui Niang over and had her handle something for me. “Go let Concubine Shen know that after the Lord Duke was drugged by Linglong, he came to my courtyard instead.”

Cui Niang immediately did as instructed.

Fu Huai soon came out from the washroom. He was extremely impatient, but he still took me into consideration.

There was no other reason. Even he himself felt that he had not completely won my heart yet, so naturally, he was careful and cautious.

Before long, Shen Ru truly came storming over in a rage.

She called out several times from outside the door, but unfortunately, Fu Huai had no mind to pay her any attention.

I deliberately began to cry aloud, my voice soft, lilting, and tender enough to stir the heart.

Fu Huai was very pleased by it.

But Shen Ru outside the door was probably about to go mad.

Fu Huai had been drugged and had come straight to me instead of going to her. What did that mean? Shen Ru understood it better than anyone.

Early the next morning, Cui Niang came to report, “Madam, last night, Concubine Shen took a whip to see Linglong, and even beat her.”

I burst out laughing.

What Linglong wanted was power and status.

But Shen Ru wanted Fu Huai himself. She naively believed that Fu Huai belonged to her, and that the bond between them was something no one else could interfere with.

Shen Ru could not directly make trouble for me, but she could target Linglong.

Yet Linglong was the Old Madam’s trusted confidante. With this, the inner household was sure to become lively.

No wonder Fu Huai had been summoned away by the Old Madam first thing in the morning.

Right now, his head must be aching twice over.

However… I still needed to add more fuel to the fire.

I asked with a smile, “Has that little sister-in-law of mine had a private meeting with her lover?”

Cui Niang replied, “Madam’s foresight is divine. The Second Miss of the household did indeed meet a man in secret last night.”