Fu Ling walked into the door. After passing through two moon-shaped gates with hanging bead curtains, she finally saw Song Nanxin reclining on the imperial concubine's couch in the bedroom.
Song Nanxin had rested for a day, and her complexion was much better than the day before. However, traces of exhaustion and weariness still lingered in her eyebrows.
Fu Ling didn't dare to look too long. She lowered her head and bowed to Song Nanxin.
"Your humble servant pays respects to the young lady. May the young lady be in good health."
"Get up," Song Nanxin said lazily, reclined on the couch. "You did well just now. Now, tell me, what's been going on over there these past two days?"
Fu Ling lowered her voice and replied, "Fourth Miss got her period last night. She probably won't be able to serve the young master for some time."
"What?" Song Nanxin frowned. Disappointment flashed through her heart first, and then she sneered. "She sure knows how to pick the right time for her period."
"Alright, I got it. You go back and keep a close eye on her for me. Don't let her come up with any ideas. Stay vigilant. You've seen what happened to Bai Zhi. If anything goes wrong, I'll hold you accountable."
Fu Ling sensed the threat in Song Nanxin's words and agreed. She repeatedly assured Song Nanxin of her loyalty before finally leaving Yixiang Pavilion.
After Fu Ling left, Nanny Zhao massaged Song Nanxin's shoulders and sighed, "Fourth Miss still hasn't conceived. It seems she'll have to stay in the Prince Ning's Mansion for a while longer."
"However, it's not a bad thing. The princess sent someone to the young lady's side. We mustn't let Bai Shao know about the matter of serving the young master. In these few days, we should come up with a way. Either drive Bai Shao out or turn her into our ally."
Song Nanxin lowered her eyes and looked at the faded nail polish on her nails. She said calmly, "Nanny, don't worry. I already have a plan for this."
Nanny Zhao smiled and said, "It's good that the young lady is confident. By the way, should we send a message to Pine and Crane Courtyard and Surging Waves Courtyard to inform the young master and the princess that you won't be able to serve the young master these days?"
Song Nanxin clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms.
"No, Nanny, I..." She took a deep breath and said, "I want to serve the young master myself."
Nanny Zhao was shocked. "Young lady, this is inappropriate!"
"Why not?" Afraid that Bai Shao outside the room might hear, Song Nanxin said this in a hushed voice. "Nanny, have you forgotten that I'm the Princess Consort of Prince Ning? It's only natural for me to serve the young master. How can it be inappropriate?!"
Nanny Zhao knew she had misunderstood. She lowered her voice and said anxiously, "The doctor said that even if the bleeding has stopped, you still need to rest for a while. Young lady, you're different from others. You can't be careless!"
Song Nanxin said impatiently, "Wait, wait, all you know is to make me wait. All I know is that the young master is getting colder towards me. If it weren't for this, would he have ordered an investigation into Bai Zhi and caused me to lose a right-hand man? We just came back from the Duke Jiang's Mansion the day before yesterday. You don't know how many beautiful noble ladies were there. I've already lost his heart. If he finds out that I'm on my period and can't serve him, there might be new concubines entering the mansion!"
Taking a deep breath, Song Nanxin's eyes were determined. "In short, this time, I must do it myself."
Nanny Zhao couldn't persuade her and had no choice but to agree.
For tonight's service, Song Nanxin specifically asked someone to collect fresh flower petals and milk.
Nourished by the milk, her skin was fair and smooth, and her cheeks were flushed. She put on a bellyband and a sheer gauze dress before returning to Yixiang Pavilion.
"Bai Shao, go to Surging Waves Courtyard and tell the young master that I'm not feeling well. Ask him to come and check on me," Song Nanxin said, lowering her eyes to Bai Shao who was standing not far behind.
Bai Shao didn't suspect anything. She responded and left as ordered.
Song Nanxin sat in front of the dressing table and combed her long black hair in the mirror.
The bright candles in the room were blown out. Nanny Zhao was about to light a small lamp in the outer room for illumination according to the usual rules of serving the young master. But when Song Nanxin saw the room getting dark, she immediately turned around and said,
"Who told you to blow out the lights? Light up all the lamps in the room!"
Nanny Zhao stood there, holding the small lotus-shaped lamp, and said, "But every time Fourth Miss served the young master, she lit the lamps like this, and the young master never noticed anything strange."
Song Nanxin clenched her fists tightly and gritted her teeth. "She needs to cover up, but I don't. Light up all the lamps. I'll explain it to the young master myself."
Only then did Nanny Zhao relight all the lamps in the room.
The bright light illuminated every corner of the room. Even the patterns on the bed curtains could be seen clearly.
While waiting for Ji Lingchuan to arrive, Nanny Zhao walked to Song Nanxin with a small porcelain bottle in her hand. She opened it and took out a little fragrant balm, about to apply it on Song Nanxin. Song Nanxin stopped her and said coldly,
"What are you doing, Nanny?"
Nanny Zhao was stunned again. She thought Song Nanxin had forgotten and explained, "Fourth Miss has the fragrance of apricot blossoms on her body, but the young lady doesn't. When you serve the young master, you'll be very close to him. The young master will surely be able to tell the difference between you two. To avoid exposing the matter, the young lady should also apply this fragrant balm on her body."
Song Nanxin had indeed forgotten about this.
Taking a deep breath, she maintained her expression on her face and gritted her teeth. "Apply it."
Although she was going to serve the young master herself tonight, she was injured and couldn't conceive. In the future, she still had to rely on Song Yihuan. So she still couldn't be too different from Song Yihuan, lest Ji Lingchuan might notice something wrong.
On every night when Song Yihuan served the young master, Song Nanxin could faintly hear the sounds of their intimacy from the side room. Those sounds made her extremely uncomfortable, filled with hatred and regret in her heart.
She knew how amazing Ji Lingchuan's physical strength was. Now that she could finally serve him herself, her heart was filled with anticipation.
Tonight, she would surely serve this man who had haunted her dreams well and let him know her prowess.
After dismissing the servants, only Song Nanxin was left in the room.
Song Nanxin's gaze fell on the secret compartment of the cabinet again. She struggled in her heart for a long time. Finally, she couldn't resist the temptation. She took out the small porcelain bottle from it, poured out a vermilion beauty pill, and put it into her mouth.
After the pill entered her mouth, she lay on the dressing table for a long time before recovering from the aftereffect of taking the medicine. When she looked up again, Song Nanxin clearly saw her own appearance in the mirror.
The person in the mirror had a slightly blushing face, bright red lips, and watery eyes. She looked more charming and attractive than before.
Her long black hair was scattered behind her. Her oval face was adorned with delicate features. The sheer gauze dress and the red bellyband made her look pure and sweetly sensual at the same time.
From the back, she did look very similar to Song Yihuan.
Just then, the sound of salutations came from outside, getting closer and closer. "Paying respects to the young master."
A look of joy appeared on Song Nanxin's face. It was Ji Lingchuan. He had really come!