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In late spring, the wisteria trellis at the Duke's Residence was carpeted with pale purple petals. Liu Ruyi leaned against the beauty couch, her fingertips gently brushing over her slightly protruding belly. It had been two months since Yuan Yingwu had departed for the northwest, and the fetus within her had begun to show signs of life, lightly kicking in her palm every day at dawn, reminiscent of its father’s temperament on the battlefield—impatient yet affectionate.
“Madam, the Qi Wang Mansion has sent some supplements,” Zhang Yue said, holding a gilded food box with a vigilant expression. “They say Prince Qi heard you are with child and specially ordered someone to procure Changbai Mountain Ginseng.”
Liu Ruyi stared at the cinnabar seal on the food box and suddenly recalled a secret letter she had received three days prior. The letter stated that Zhenguo Grand General had mixed a trace of cinnabar into the supplements, which could cause fetal deformities if consumed over time. She caressed her belly and smirked coldly. “Please thank Zhenguo Grand General for me, and say that the Duke's Residence appreciates his thoughtfulness, but the doctor advises that I have a special constitution and require my own medicinal dishes.”
Zhang Yue complied and left. Liu Ruyi signaled for her wet nurse to bring over a charcoal basin and tossed the ginseng from the food box into the fire. The golden ginseng roots ignited upon contact with the flames, crackling loudly. As she watched the dancing flames, she suddenly remembered a military report she had received last night—Yuan Yingwu had discovered an abandoned armory in the northwest desert, where the armor bore an uncanny resemblance to that privately cast by the Crown Prince years ago. Even more bizarrely, the lining of the armor was embroidered with Zhenguo Grand General’s secret pattern.
“Miss, Old Madam requests your presence at the Buddhist Hall,” Zhang Yue returned with a string of sandalwood prayer beads in hand. “These were blessed by a high monk from Baiyun Temple; they say they can ensure safety for both mother and child.”
Inside the Buddhist Hall, Old Madam was reciting scriptures before the Guanyin Statue, her voice deep and distant. Liu Ruyi knelt on a mat, gazing at the placard for fetal protection on the offering table when she suddenly noticed fine cinnabar characters along the edge of the talisman—Yuan Yingwu’s secret code meaning “beware of internal traitors.”
“Liu Ruyi,” Old Madam turned around, holding a Sending Guanyin statue in her hand. “This is what I offered when I was pregnant with Yuan Yingwu; take it back and place it by your bedside.”
As Liu Ruyi accepted the statue, her fingertip brushed against a mechanism at its base. With a gentle press, a hidden letter sprang out. She quickly scanned its contents, her pupils dilating in shock—it contained clear records of transactions between their kitchen maid and Qi Wang Mansion, explicitly noting “monthly delivery of fetal protection medicine” and “two hundred taels of silver.”
“Does Grandmother know,” she gently placed the statue back on the offering table, “that there have been strange occurrences in our residence lately? Just yesterday, my fetal protection medicine was swapped for miscarriage medicine.”
Old Madam’s prayer beads snapped with a loud crack as wooden beads scattered across the floor. “What did you say?”
Liu Ruyi bent down to pick up a bead, her tone chillingly calm. “Just now, Zhang Yue investigated; that medicine was switched by our kitchen maid. Coincidentally, her daughter works at Qi Wang Mansion.”
Suddenly, a sound of shattering porcelain came from outside the Buddhist Hall. Both women turned to see Mei Xin leaning against the door frame, her face as pale as paper, with a broken bowl for fetal protection at her feet. Liu Ruyi then recalled that since Liu Rumeng’s exile, Mei Xin had frequently visited the Buddhist Hall under the pretense of “atonement,” but it now seemed she was delivering messages.
“What do you mean by this, sister-in-law?” Liu Ruyi stepped forward slowly, her gaze sweeping over a corner of paper peeking from Mei Xin’s sleeve. “Are you perhaps eager to taste what Zongrenfu has to offer?”
Mei Xin took a step back, dropping the paper on the ground with a thud; it bore the words “From Zhenguo Grand General” that stung one’s eyes painfully. She suddenly knelt down and grasped Liu Ruyi’s skirt: “I was forced! Zhenguo Grand General said if I didn’t do his bidding, he would annihilate my entire family…”
“Enough!” Old Madam interrupted sharply. “Someone take her to the woodshed; do not let her out without my command!”
Watching Mei Xin being dragged away, Liu Ruyi gently placed her hand on her belly where it began to kick again. She suddenly recalled Yuan Yingwu’s words before his departure: “If there comes a day when I am not here, remember that every brick and tile in Duke's Residence may conceal an enemy.”
Late at night, Liu Ruyi sat before her vanity mirror, gazing at her slightly pale face. Zhang Yue entered with fetal protection medicine but stumbled as she crossed the threshold; the bowl shattered on the ground, splattering brown medicinal liquid everywhere.
“Miss, there are silver needles in the medicine!” Zhang Yue picked up one bent like a hook, trembling as she spoke. “If you drink this…”
Liu Ruyi sprang up abruptly, feeling dizzy. She steadied herself against the table and watched as the medicinal liquid seeped into the cracks between bricks. Suddenly recalling Old Madam’s prayer beads from earlier—each bead inscribed with "peace," except for one cracked bead hiding half a piece of cinnabar.
“Go fetch Midwife,” she pressed down on her abdomen where kicks became frantic. “Also seal off all exits from our residence; today’s events must not be disclosed to anyone.”
At quarter past midnight, Midwife emerged wiping sweat from her forehead while holding blood-stained fetal membranes: “Madam need not worry; young master is very healthy; it’s just this fetal membrane…”
Liu Ruyi took it from Midwife and saw three deep knife marks across it as if someone had attempted to strangle the fetus within. She clenched her fists tightly; this marked the third assassination attempt against her child this month—the first two were through castor beans in meals and musk in warmers.
“Deliver this fetal membrane to Niu Peng immediately; have him send it to the northwest overnight,” she whispered urgently. “Also prepare ink and paper; I need to write to my husband.”
Under the candlelight, Liu Ruyi's handwriting was clear and forceful: "I have discovered the dark pattern related to the Northwest Armory and the Grand General of Zhenguo. There are frequent traitors within the residence, likely connected to the royal family. The fetus is safe, do not worry." She blew on the ink to dry it, folded the note, and placed it in the carrier pigeon’s foot ring when she suddenly heard the call of an owl outside the window.
"Miss, regarding this fetal tissue..." The Midwife hesitated, a flicker of fear in her eyes.
"Burn it," Liu Ruyi said as she turned to gaze out the window at a particularly bright star among the myriad in the sky. "Remember, if a single word of today’s events leaks out, I will have your tongue."
At dawn, the Grand General of Zhenguo's reward arrived as expected—a pair of jade qilin ornaments, symbolizing "the qilin delivers a child." Liu Ruyi looked at the hidden compartment in the base of the ornament and indeed found fine medicinal powder concealed within. She signaled Zhang Yue to put it away, her fingertips gently brushing over the qilin's eyes, where a tiny ruby was embedded, reminiscent of the blood-red hue in Liu Rumeng's eyes from her past life.
"Madam, the Minister of Justice requests an audience," Niu Peng's voice came from outside, tinged with urgency.
In the main hall, the Minister of Justice held out a scroll with a grave expression. "This was discovered this morning at the mass grave site; I suspect it is related to our residence."
As he unfurled the scroll, it revealed a portrait of Liu Rumeng, dressed in princely attire with a white silk ribbon around her neck, standing on the double fish-patterned floor tiles of the Duke's Residence. Liu Ruyi focused on the signature at the bottom right corner: "Artist from Qi Wang Mansion," and suddenly recalled yesterday's secret report—Liu Rumeng had "died from illness" during her exile, yet the Grand General of Zhenguo had set up a ceremonial tomb for her in his residence.
"Please inform His Majesty for me," she turned to retrieve a sealed letter. "There are many doubts surrounding Liu Rumeng's death, and she had close ties with the Grand General of Zhenguo; I hope His Majesty will investigate thoroughly."
The Minister took the letter and paused for a long moment on the words "dark pattern related to Grand General of Zhenguo." "Madam, do you realize you are opposing the Grand General?"
"I am merely seeking justice for my husband, for Duke's Residence, and for this unborn child," Liu Ruyi placed her hand on her abdomen where gentle kicks began anew. "Moreover, I believe the Grand General has forgotten that my husband holds evidence against his privately minted weapons, and I—" She suddenly smiled, her expression sharp. "I have plenty of time to wear him down."
After sending off the Minister of Justice, Liu Ruyi went to the armory and personally opened the deepest hidden compartment. Inside were not only copies of Taizu Wujing but also a wolf hair brush sent by Yuan Yingwu, with his name engraved on its handle. She held it and wrote down "Grand General of Zhenguo" on paper before slowly blotting it out until it became an ink stain.
"Miss, it's time for your prenatal medicine," Zhang Yue entered with freshly brewed medicine in hand; this time it was covered with a silver dish that held a silver needle.
Liu Ruyi took the bowl but paused before bringing it to her lips. Looking out at the wisteria flowers outside, she suddenly recalled Yuan Yingwu mentioning that wisteria sap mixed with vermilion could induce hallucinations. The prenatal medicine she had been taking these past few months had subtly carried a wisteria fragrance.
"Zhang Yue," she pushed back the bowl. "From today onward, my meals and medicinal herbs must be handled by you personally. Also—" she pointed at the copper mirror on the wall. "Take down this mirror and replace it with a wooden screen."
Zhang Yue was momentarily stunned but quickly understood—the copper mirror was a gift from Grand General of Zhenguo and might have already been tampered with. She hurriedly began removing it but discovered small engravings of "Qi" on its back.
"Miss, how did you find this?"
"Because I will no longer trust any 'kindness' from Grand General of Zhenguo," Liu Ruyi stood up and walked towards the courtyard while supporting her waist. "Go fetch the Sending Guanyin statue from Buddhist Hall; I want to personally offer it in my room."
In the courtyard, wisteria flowers bloomed profusely as a gray crane flew over from above—a carrier pigeon belonging to Grand General of Zhenguo. Liu Ruyi watched its departing figure while gently placing her hand on her abdomen. She knew this child was hard-won; not only was it a union between her and Yuan Yingwu but also an important bargaining chip for Duke's Residence in this power struggle.
As dusk fell, the carrier pigeon flapped back to its perch under eaves with Yuan Yingwu's reply attached to its foot ring: "The Northwest Armory has been sealed; I will handle matters regarding dark patterns myself. Take care of yourself and our child until I return." Liu Ruyi folded up the letter and hid it in her jewelry box when she suddenly heard distant sounds of night watchmen signaling—it was already midnight.
She extinguished the candlelight and lay down on her bed, allowing darkness to envelop her. The child within seemed to sense her unease and kicked gently as if saying “I’m here.” Liu Ruyi smiled as she pressed her hand against that small bump and whispered softly: “Don’t worry; we will be fine. Your father will return soon, and then we three will no longer have to fear anyone.”
Outside, wisteria swayed gently in the night breeze as if echoing her vow. That night, Liu Ruyi slept particularly soundly; in her dreams she saw Yuan Yingwu returning on horseback with a beautifully crafted infant in his arms. Sunlight bathed them both warmly enough to bring tears to one’s eyes.
She knew this was not just a dream but an impending reality. As long as she could hold on until that moment arrived, all schemes would dissipate like smoke leaving only peace and fulfillment that belonged to them.
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