SWNOVELXO Chapter 94 - Fright
Luoyu had always been on guard, anticipating that someone might try to harm her.
The news of her having twins was another point of concern.
If someone wanted to take action, the most covert method would be to use poison. Unaware and unsuspecting, after being struck, she could suffer bleeding or even a miscarriage. Therefore, she was very cautious and followed her aunt’s advice: to avoid any kind of fragrance in the room. If she wanted to smell something different, she could just place a basket of fruit, which would naturally emit a fruity aroma.
She was familiar with various spices but wasn’t the type to feel the need to smell them.
After becoming pregnant, she had stopped using them and had adjusted well. The Fourth Prince noticed but didn’t inquire further.
Pregnancy could lead to a myriad of unusual reactions; not being able to tolerate the smell of fish and avoiding incense were minor issues. As long as she and her baby could eat and sleep well, nothing else mattered.
The food was managed by the large kitchen, which was the Fourth Prince’s personal domain, so even the main wife had no authority over it. Therefore, Luoyu wasn’t too worried about the food preparation in the kitchen. Her greater concern was the potential dangers on the way to retrieve the meals, which was why she always took two people with her whenever she went to fetch food, to prevent any dark schemes.
The kitchen staff were also very careful with her meals; if anything went wrong, the kitchen would inevitably be implicated. Once embroiled, the value of human life was negligible, and it was likely that everyone from the top down in the kitchen would face a purge.
Another concern was her personal clothing. Some garments might have been soaked in medicinal herbs beforehand, carrying medicinal properties. With so many items in her quarters, if someone with a malicious intent found an opportunity to slip something in, it might not be discovered in time…
These potential avenues for sabotage had been discussed with her grandmother and aunt, and they had fortified her courtyard to be as secure as a fortress.
She knew that her courtyard had people from the Fourth Prince and the main wife, and even Concubine Li had someone there.
She was basically sure of her personnel, but she wasn’t certain if Concubine Song had anyone in her courtyard.
Her status was not high, but she was the Fourth Prince’s first woman, with deep connections. Who knew if she had already laid down plans a long time ago?
Once they grasped their identities and knew they were spies, they became less threatening.
Because after she became aware of them, these people had nothing left to fear. The information they wanted to know was something Luoyu could control; she would tell them what they needed to know. If she didn’t speak, what could these spies possibly uncover?
If necessary, she could even deliberately feed them false information to help achieve her own goals.
In Luoyu’s courtyard, they had no opportunity to take action, so they could only strike when she left her quarters.
Luoyu was also on guard. She felt she wouldn’t encounter any mishaps, but to be safe, she always brought plenty of people with her when going out.
After the physician diagnosed her with twins, her visits for greetings changed from daily to once every five days.
As her belly grew larger in the later stages, it became inconvenient for her to visit, and she would stop going to pay her respects. For now, her burden was not too heavy.
However, these five-day outings were also her most vulnerable times.
Moreover, in the courtyard, she moved about as usual. However, when she left the courtyard, there were people around her at all times. If she fell, there would be someone to support her no matter which direction she fell in. She would take her time walking to the main wife’s courtyard, which appeared normal to outsiders.
Being pregnant, it was only natural for her to be careful; this caution also indicated that she was timid.
Unable to poison her, there were other ways. So, one day, while Luoyu was on her way back from paying her respects, she unexpectedly encountered a wild cat that suddenly sprang out from the bushes.
The wild cat burst forth with a piercing scream, “Miao—!”
Anyone who has heard a cat’s cry knows that some cats make truly eerie sounds. With its green, glowing eyes staring at you, it’s easy to feel alarmed. The maid in front was so startled that she instinctively wanted to jump back to avoid the cat. However, remembering who was behind her, she bravely reached out her hand and grabbed the cat that was pouncing towards her.
This cat was not a domestic one; it was highly aggressive. Seeing her action, it extended its claws and swung them fiercely—
“Ah!” The maid’s hand was scratched, drawing blood, and in pain, she let go. The cat quickly darted back into the bushes and disappeared.
All of this took only a few seconds.
Everyone’s hearts raced with fright.
Niu Hulu, who was walking alongside the Side Consort, was following behind and saw it from a distance, gripping her maid’s hand tightly in fear.
“Was that a cat?”
Her maid was also quite frightened: “Yes, it was a cat.” If she heard that sound at night, she suspected she would crawl under the covers, shivering. It was absolutely terrifying—enough to give someone nightmares.
Luoyu’s heartbeat slowed slightly as she watched the cat disappear into the grass. She took a deep breath to calm herself and didn’t rush to have anyone catch the cat. She turned to the head maid and asked, “Are you hurt? You should go back. Someone, go fetch the doctor.”
At this point, the maid regained her composure and asked, “Side Consort, how are you feeling?”
Luoyu replied, “I’m fine, thanks to you.”
The maid smiled and felt reassured. “Then let’s head back. It’s not too late to call the doctor once we’re back.”
If someone went to fetch the doctor, the staff would be spread thin. With such a small injury, it was nothing; she could wash and bandage the wound herself once they returned.
What if there weren’t enough people around and something similar happened, like the wild cat charging at the Side Consort?
Thinking of this, they not only didn’t leave but also huddled together even closer.
They didn’t dare stay here any longer. Luoyu said nothing and nodded at Niu Hulu before heading back to her courtyard.
Niu Hulu stiffly returned the gesture, watching her departing figure. Suddenly, she seemed to realize something, and her expression changed. “Let’s go, we should head back too.”
Before the Side Consort gave birth, aside from going to pay respects to the Consort, she planned not to leave the house at all.
These days seem to be a time of troubles.
Upon returning, Luoyu instructed someone to summon the doctor and also sent word to the Main Wife.
How could there be a wild cat in the Prince’s residence?
Luoyu first checked her clothes and jewelry, as the cat had jumped out in her direction.
Why?
Was there something special about the clothes she wore, or was it the color?
This light yellow outfit was the first time she had worn it.
She didn’t have many pieces of jewelry on her; which one could have been the problem?
She changed out of all her clothes and had a maid who understood medicine check to see if anything could be discovered.
When the doctor arrived, he found that the maid had been scratched by the cat quite badly, and the wound was not shallow. The doctor prescribed some medicine, and Luoyu told the maid to go back and rest properly. “Thanks to you today, I will remember your kindness. Take care of your injuries, and once you’re healed, I’ll still need you here.”
Soon, a trusted maid from the Consort’s side came back with a report: “Reporting to the Side Consort, that wild cat has been driven away. It was probably sneaking in from outside.”
Luoyu frowned. “Didn’t you catch it?”
Her dissatisfaction was evident. “Can we still have wild cats sneaking into our residence? And let it slip away like this? Where are the guards? If this continues, will the next intruder be a snake? Maid, you don’t think such a thing could happen, do you?”
The maid’s heart skipped a beat, but her smile remained flawless. “The Side Consort is joking. That wild cat can catch birds; our residence may have high walls, but they can’t fly better than birds!”
She avoided answering Luoyu’s question about snakes. “Rest assured, Side Consort. The Consort has already ordered everyone to check every corner of the residence to ensure that, apart from the pets raised by the masters, no other wild cats have sneaked in.”
Luoyu sighed softly. “Of course, I trust the Consort. The Consort is in charge of the household and manages the staff. As long as the Consort wants to do a good job, she will certainly be able to manage it well.”
The maid replied, “…The Consort can certainly manage it well.”
This was a double entendre—was she hinting at something?
After leaving the Side Consort’s courtyard, the maid’s expression turned serious.
Why did the Side Consort say such things? Did she guess something?
But even if she guessed, what difference would it make?
The wild cat sneaking into the residence was just an accident, one that the Consort couldn’t control.
That it happened to scare the Side Consort was even more of an accident, and the Consort had done nothing.
As for her mention of a snake, Concubine Li wouldn’t actually do such a thing, would she? The danger of a snake is no less than that of a cat, especially a venomous one… She wouldn’t go that far, would she?
—
The area where the cat appeared was a necessary route for Luoyu to return. Niu Hulu saw it, and others saw it too; the news spread quickly.
When Concubine Li heard that a doctor was called, she was somewhat pleased, but upon hearing that the doctor was attending to a maid who had caught the cat, she felt furious. Side Concubine Lin was unscathed!
“What an annoying creature!”
“Useless!”
“What about that cat? Was it killed?”
The maid lowered her head, not daring to look at her, and replied, “No.”
Before Concubine Li could feel happy, the maid continued, “The Consort sent someone to catch it, but they didn’t manage to and drove it away instead.”
Concubine Li snorted, “Alright, I understand.”
At that moment, footsteps could be heard approaching, and Concubine Li fell silent, watching the doorway as her daughter entered with two maids. Concubine Li’s expression softened: “Yahui, have you been looking at the fish again? I really don’t understand what’s so interesting about them; you never seem to get enough.”
Sister Yahui glanced at her, slightly lowering her head: “Mother… what were you just talking about?”
Concubine Li smiled: “I was talking about your younger brother. That little rascal is quite mischievous. Spend more time with him and keep an eye on him; you two should get closer, understand?”
Yahui softly responded, “I know, Mother… you should also spend more time with my brother.”
Concubine Li felt a bit helpless: “Alright, alright, you go on with your business. I have some matters to attend to here.”
She couldn’t help but wonder who this child resembled; her way of speaking and acting was always lacking in decisiveness.
Yahui wanted to say something else, but upon seeing her expression, she slowly closed her mouth and left in a huff.
Fourth Prince had been quite busy lately because the Emperor had taken the eldest brother and the Crown Prince to the frontier. Among the princes left in the capital, he and the Third Prince were the oldest and had the most responsibilities.
Even so, he was still aware of the affairs in the household.
Upon returning, he heard Su Peisheng mention this matter and immediately headed towards the Side Concubine’s courtyard, speaking in a deep voice: “Investigate.”
“They haven’t caught that cat yet. Send someone to capture it. Even though it’s a wild cat, it still has a fixed range of activity.”
“The doctor hired from outside won’t do; send for the imperial physician to examine the Side Concubine.”
Su Peisheng replied, “This servant will carry out the order.”
He replied and slowly withdrew.
It would be best if this was indeed an accident; otherwise, there would be turmoil in the residence again.
As he was leaving, Su Peisheng glanced in the direction of the main courtyard; perhaps this turmoil had already begun with the death of Prince Honghui.