Chapter 95

 The next day, after Pei Yuan left, Bao Ning sent Liu Momo away and stayed in the room alone. She took out the box and the key.

Turning the key half a turn to the right, she heard a soft "click" from the lock, and the lid popped open slightly. Bao Ning had guessed what the keepsake might be—probably a hairpin or some jewelry. Pei Yuan’s mother was Consort Xian, Qin Xiang, one of the four concubines, once the most favored in the palace, and she had countless jewels. Sure enough, when opened, it was a hairpin.

But it was not luxurious at all—on the contrary, it felt eerie. That was Bao Ning’s first impression upon seeing it.

It was a peach wood hairpin, darkened by time into a brownish-black hue, with clear wood grain. It didn’t bear the usual floral or auspicious cloud designs. The entire hairpin looked like a small sword. On the left end were three carvings in the shape of old copper coins. When touched, they felt cool and smooth—not peach wood at all, but rather like teeth. Bao Ning studied it closely and confirmed her suspicion. She had raised many dogs—she was sure they were dog teeth.

But… how could a favored royal concubine use such an unadorned, rustic-looking hairpin, like something a village woman would wear? And it even had dog teeth—such a strange thing.

“Little Madam,” Liu Momo knocked lightly outside. “Madam Su is here.”

She’s here again?

Bao Ning frowned. She quickly put the box away and returned it to the cabinet before going to open the door.

Su Mingyou, supported by Zhao Qian, was standing at the courtyard gate looking at the fish in the tank. Bao Ning stood facing the light, squinting slightly. This woman was really tall—about a finger taller than Su Mingyou, with a slim waist and long legs, a striking beauty.

Bao Ning called out, “Sister-in-law, you’re due in a month. Why don’t you rest properly at home? Why always find time to come visit me?”

Pei Yuan had told her she could drive Su Mingyou out, but Bao Ning couldn’t bring herself to be that rude. So her words carried a bit of mockery and sarcasm, hoping Su Mingyou would feel embarrassed and leave on her own. Unexpectedly, she only smiled gracefully and walked toward her: “I missed my dear sister-in-law. If I don’t see you for a day, I feel itchy in my heart, so here I am. You’re not unhappy to see me, are you?”

Bao Ning smiled. “It’s fine.”

She stepped aside: “If sister-in-law wants to come in, then come in.”

Su Mingyou and Zhao Qian walked in together.

Bao Ning’s head throbbed. How could she have guessed Su Mingyou would be so shameless? Wasn’t she the Crown Princess? The beloved daughter of the upright Minister Su? Why couldn’t she take a hint? Did she need to be literally chased out with a broom to understand? But Bao Ning wasn’t that kind of loud, unreasonable woman. She couldn’t blatantly drive her away.

Liu Momo watered the flowers while glancing at Su Mingyou’s back, shaking her head helplessly.

Bao Ning whispered, “Don’t serve tea later. She’ll leave when she gets thirsty.”

Liu Momo nodded.

Inside, Su Mingyou called out, “Bao Ning, what are you doing? Come on, I brought you something nice. See if you like it!”

Bao Ning responded and dawdled a bit before going in.

Su Mingyou studied her face and gently asked, “Did you sleep well last night?”

“Quite well,” Bao Ning forced a smile. “Are you sleepy, sister-in-law? Want to head back and nap?”

“I’m not sleepy! It’s the middle of the day—why would I be?” Su Mingyou waved her hands. She glanced over at the shelf and saw the box was still there, neatly placed. Her expression froze briefly before she asked, “Did you ask Fourth Brother about that matter?”

Bao Ning replied, “Why does sister-in-law care about such things? It’s a matter between husband and wife—not something to discuss outside.”

Su Mingyou laughed awkwardly. “Just… concern, you know?”

Bao Ning gave a dry “haha” laugh, then her expression turned flat as she sat silently across from her, saying no more.

Su Mingyou felt utterly humiliated. She wasn’t stupid—of course she could tell when someone didn’t want to talk to her. Her heart started pounding. Had she exposed something? But then she reassured herself—no way. Her dealings with Pei Xiao had been discreet. Even if she had been a bit too eager yesterday, it wouldn’t have been discovered so easily.

Still, it seemed her words yesterday hadn’t worked.

Su Mingyou grew anxious. She was running out of time. Once her child was born, Bao Ning would surely kick her out. Then what use would she and Zhao Qian be? Let alone Zhao Qian staying with her—Pei Xiao might even have her killed in secret.

After a night of thinking, Su Mingyou regretted ever accepting Pei Xiao’s offer. Now she was caught in the middle, accepted by neither side. If she told Pei Yuan everything, he’d kill Zhao Qian and never forgive her. But if she kept helping Pei Xiao, once she was of no use, wouldn’t she be discarded too?

Even so… she still wanted to protect Zhao Qian. She just wanted to feel loved—just for a few months, or even a few days, she wouldn’t regret it. There were plenty of women in the world who loved so desperately—those who ran away with men, abandoned everything. They weren’t much better than her.

Bao Ning asked, “What are you thinking about, sister-in-law?”

Su Mingyou snapped back to attention. “Nothing, nothing.”

Zhao Qian discreetly nudged her back. Su Mingyou remembered her real purpose for coming and calmed down. She pulled a small box from her sleeve and handed it to Bao Ning with a smile: “Bao Ning, I was out shopping a few days ago and saw an interesting little trinket. Thought of you and got it.”

A box—again. Bao Ning now felt a chill at the sight of any box. Nothing good ever came from one.

“Well, thank you, sister-in-law,” she said, taking it. When she opened it, she saw a delicate bracelet made of dog teeth.

Dog teeth… Bao Ning thought of the peach wood hairpin Pei Yuan’s mother had left behind, with those dog tooth-shaped “coins.”

Su Mingyou explained, “This is a great item—used to ward off evil. You should wear it often.”

The moment she heard “ward off evil,” a flood of thoughts rushed into Bao Ning’s mind. She recalled a conversation at the marquis’ manor’s banquet with her second sister, where they discussed Consort Xian’s life. It was said that when she entered the palace, the imperial astrologer had declared her birth chart to be one of misfortune—she would bring ruin. The same year she died, there was a large earthquake in the capital region.

Peach wood was also used to ward off evil. So that hairpin—was it meant to suppress her ill fate?

That realization gave Bao Ning a chill. She couldn’t help but wonder—how did Consort Xian actually die? Was she ill? Did she drown by accident? Or was it a man-made tragedy? Did the Emperor kill her? That was far too terrifying to consider.

Pei Yuan was so clever—he surely knew something. And those things he said last night...

Something was beginning to surface—but Bao Ning couldn’t quite grasp it.

“Do you like it?” Su Mingyou asked. “Wear it often—it’s good for girls. Girls have more yin energy, and they’re more likely to attract evil things. That would be troublesome.”

This time she was smarter—not blatantly sowing discord. Pei Yuan hated these kinds of things, maybe because his mother had liked them. Su Mingyou never understood why such a stunning beauty would wear things like that. But no matter the reason, Pei Yuan hated them now, and that was enough. If Bao Ning wore the bracelet around him, he would surely be annoyed. But he was the type who wouldn’t say so directly. They would argue, Bao Ning would feel wronged, and a rift would grow.

Su Mingyou was no longer in a rush. She’d take her time.

Bao Ning put the bracelet away and politely thanked her. Su Mingyou continued chatting, but Bao Ning was distracted, only half-heartedly responding. Su Mingyou wouldn’t leave. When Bao Ning grew tired and hinted it was time to go, Su Mingyou pretended not to understand and stayed put. She even went to fetch a pear herself and eagerly offered to peel it for Bao Ning.

Baoning leaned on her hand, drowsy. Seeing this, she quickly waved her hand. “No need, no need.”

Su Mingyou said, “Oh, we’re family. Why be so polite? Staying here has already caused you enough trouble. Doing a little thing like this—it’s fine as long as it makes you happy.”

Baoning felt something was off. It was rare for Su Mingyou to say something so sensible, and the change felt too sudden. She sat up straight and realized that the tall little maid who was always by Su Mingyou’s side had disappeared. Curious, she asked, “Where’s Qian’er?”

Su Mingyou’s face turned a little unnatural. “Don’t know. She should be back soon.”

She lowered her head and continued peeling the pear. Baoning’s gaze followed the knife, circling slowly around Su Mingyou’s fingers.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. It sounded like Chen Jia was talking. Su Mingyou’s expression instantly turned tense. Baoning looked out. Su Mingyou tried to distract her, but Baoning ignored her and got up to go outside. She saw Chen Jia and Zhao Qian arguing under a tree by the courtyard gate. Chen Jia’s face was as dark as ink. He took a few steps back, then suddenly reached out and shoved Qian’er, sending her tumbling hard to the ground!

Su Mingyou, holding the knife, rushed out in a panic and also saw the scene. She gasped in alarm.

Baoning exclaimed, “Chen Jia! Why are you pushing her?!”

“Madam, this little girl keeps trying to seduce me,” Chen Jia said indignantly, stepping forward. He was blunt, not caring how others perceived him. He held up a pair of black cloth shoes with layered soles and said to Baoning, “She brought me shoes. I didn’t want them, but she kept shoving them at me. You can’t just accept shoes from someone. If I take them, she’ll think I want to marry her! But I don’t want to marry her, and she still kept pushing them into my arms. I panicked and pushed her.”

Baoning looked over at Qian’er. She was standing there on the verge of tears, full of sorrow.

Baoning had a headache. She thought of Su Mingyou’s strange behavior earlier—was she just trying to stall for Qian’er? Didn’t she like Qian’er anymore? Why was she letting her deliver shoes to Chen Jia? What a mess.

Su Mingyou said awkwardly, “Just a misunderstanding. It’s a matter between the servants. Let them deal with it. No need to worry yourself.”

She quickly tried to change the subject, holding up the knife and the pear. “Still want some?”

Before Baoning could answer, Su Mingyou said again, “I’ll peel it for you.”

Her emotions were unstable, and her hand was trembling badly. With one slip, instead of cutting the pear, she sliced a deep gash into her own hand. Blood gushed out and dripped onto the ground.

Baoning gasped sharply. A chill ran down her spine, and she instinctively took a step back.

Su Mingyou looked at her in surprise, ignoring the wound. “Are you afraid of blood?”

“No,” Baoning shook her head. She was dizzy from Su Mingyou’s antics and said anxiously, “Mama Liu, get some medicine and gauze. Wrap up Madam Su’s hand.”

Su Mingyou seemed to understand. “I see now. You’re not afraid of blood—you’re afraid of blades, aren’t you? You fear that moment when the blade touches your skin…”

Baoning snapped angrily, “Just leave already!”

Su Mingyou was stunned by her rudeness and hadn’t reacted yet when Baoning gave Chen Jia a look. He understood, went to the woodshed, unlocked it, and let Lucky out. The big dog barked madly and ran wildly around the yard. Su Mingyou screamed and was pulled away by Zhao Qian as they fled.

As they left, Zhao Qian gave Chen Jia a resentful glare, cursing him silently as a dull, unromantic block of wood.

Then he thought of Pei Yuan. Pei Yuan was married and understood the charm of a woman. He definitely wasn’t like Chen Jia! Zhao Qian began plotting—he wasn’t foolish enough to try seducing Pei Yuan to earn his favor. All he needed to do was create a few situations to make Baoning misunderstand. Men get jealous, but don’t women as well? And when Baoning was feeling low and neglected, he would offer his care and concern. Wouldn’t that be killing two birds with one stone?

…

When Pei Yuan returned, Baoning was sitting on the bed, fiddling with the dog tooth bracelet. Seeing him enter, she raised it and complained, “Is your sister-in-law trying to harm me again?!”

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