Chapter 50: Furtive Plan (4)
Wanqing’s residence was in the secluded southwest corner of the Zhang family compound. Xue Dongting saw Song Yuming off and went back with Wanqing hand in hand to her quarters. Xue Dongting saw the maidservant tidying up in the room and looked at Wanqing, who just shook her head slightly.
Xue Dongting knew that the maid was not Wanqing’s. She smiled and said, “Look at , I forgot sothing really important! We have so incense at ho that Yuming found on an island when he was out at sea. Its aroma fills the room when you burn it. I head the shopkeeper at the incense store in town say that the imperial family in the capital is in high demand for the stuff. I brought so for you, as well as Mother Zhang and Mada. I almost forgot about it!” She reached into her robe and took out three small celadon canisters. “It’s almost bedti, so better to have them sent over now. If Mother Zhang and Mada like it then they can light it.” She cast a casual glance at the maidservant and signaled with her eyes to Wanqing.
Wanqing understood and laughed. “So thoughtful to bring such rare gifts. Mother Zhang and Mada will certainly like it.” She took two of the celadon canisters and said to the maid, “Rosecloud, take these canisters of incense and deliver them.”
The maid, Rosecloud, ca forward and took the canisters. Xue Dongting smiled. “It’s called dragon saliva incense, in case they ask.”
Rosecloud assented with her head down and went out.
Xue Dongting moved away and opened the other celadon canister and said to Wanqing, “Big Sis, I know you don’t like incense. You can regift it to soone else later.”
Wanqing was puzzled. She had never said she didn’t like incense. She frowned. “The incense?”
Xue Dongting looked to the door the maid had just closed and smiled. “Song Yuming found it when he was out at sea. Legend has it that it’s the congealed saliva of a dragon, so it’s called dragon saliva incense.”
Wanqing clearly wasn’t asking about where the incense ca from. She thought it over and realized Dongting had said that to guard against eavesdroppers and had been stalling. “It’s stuffy in here, open the window and let so air in.”
Xue Dongting went over and pushed open the window and a cool draft poured in. The moon shone brightly in the courtyard and the shadows of the old plum trees were swaying. There was not a soul in the elegant little courtyard and a delicate scent of wintersweet wafted in the air. She laughed. “What a nice, quite little courtyard.!”
“What is it you wanted to say?” Wanqing said softly.
Xue Dongting gently shut the window and turned to Wanqing. “Big Sis, don’t co in contact with any incense in the future, and don’t eat anything Lady Yu sends you.”
Wanqing was taken aback. She had no idea what Xue Dongting was talking about.
Xue Dongting stepped up and took hold of Wanqing’s wrist, her fingers pressing on her pulse, checking. She whispered, “Big Sis, you’re already three months or so pregnant.”
Wanqing was dumbstruck at once. “What… What did you say?”
Xue Dongting looked at her. “There’s no mistake… Did you not have any inkling at all?”
Wanqing collected herself and said, “My period’s always been irregular, so I didn’t think anything of it. I never thought that…” She put a hand on her belly, her brows furrowed with worry. She didn’t look the least bit happy.
“Lady Yu won’t tolerate this child,” Xue Dongting said flatly.
Wanqing nodded but said nothing.
“That maid, Rosecloud, is she one of Lady Yu’s?”
“Mm,” Wanqing said. “She tends to every day. I likely won’t be able to keep it from her.”
“What’s she like? Can she be trusted?”
“That girl is clever, but she’s not a bad person. I once tried to win her over, but to no avail.”
Xue Dongting frowned. “Lady Yu is an, why would Rosecloud be willing to be ordered about? Does she harbor so secret or vulnerability that Lady Yu is taking advantage of to keep her under her thumb?”
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