Glass House (Jinshi x Reader)

Reducing Two to One

Your POV

"A letter from Concubine Gyokuyou?" Fengming asked.

"Yes," I answered, offering it to her, "We were told to deliver it directly.

"I'm sorry. Lady Ah-Duo is out for tea."

Perfect.

Maomao cracked the box open slightly, telling her, "Since she's away, there's something we would like to discuss."

"I understand."

Fengming took us to a small room which was relatively dark. The shutters were closed and there were no candles or lanterns lighting the room. It wasn't dark enough to not see, just enough to give the room an ominous aura.

She began using a cleaver to slice a loaf of bread for us while Maomao and I sat at the table. The thought of this woman having a cleaver and the dark room put me on edge.

I also happened to notice that all of the luggage seemed to be packed, confirming our suspicions.

"Please," Lady Fengming set a plate of honey-covered bread on the table, along with three tea cups and a teapot. "Not to be rude," she spoke, sitting across from Maomao and me, "but why are you here today? We've finished tidying up the palace."

"So, when are you moving out?" I asked, cutting straight to the chase.

She was quiet for a moment, her smile never leaving, "Ah, well, aren't you clever ones."

"The big cleanup was just a smokescreen," Maomao continued, "A new high-ranked concubine is going to be introduced during the new year's celebration. And Concubine Ah-Duo will be forced to leave."

"The consort... She can't have children anymore," I concluded, "We want to know what happened when she gave birth."

"To be blunt, I fail to see how it's any of your business," Fengming replied.

Maomao and I held our ground as the former answered, "It has more to do with us than you think. The doctor who was in charge. He was my father." Lady Fengming stood bolt upright, her face showing horror and fear.

"The birth of Concubine Ah-Duo's child coincided with another delivery," I continued, "One deemed more important. The empress dowager's son. That delivery took higher priority. And Concubine Ah-Duo was forced to wait. She must have lost her uterus during the delay. Sadly, the child that was born to Concubine Ah-Duo passed away soon after. It would seem you're still blaming yourself for that, Lady Fengming. While Concubine Ah-Duo was spending time recovering from giving birth, caring for her child fell to you, the head lady."

"So, you figured it all out. Despite the fact she's the daughter of that incompetent charlatan," Lady Fengming said, sitting back down in her chair.

My fists clenched at my sides, hating the way she was speaking about Luomen. Had it not been for his kindness, I would be dead.

"That's right," Maomao replied, also not liking the way she was speaking, "There was a rumor. How the child fell ill and died as a result of the toxic face powder. But that's not the case is it? After all, that 'charlatan' would have banned the makeup from the palace. But you're a clever woman. You wouldn't have let the baby die from that."

"The real cause of death... was this."  I removed the lid from the box, showing her the bottled honey and the flower inside. I picked up the bloom, twisting it in my fingers as I spoke, "So many plants, so many poisons. Aconite, azalea, the list goes on. Their nectar is known to be toxic."

"I am aware," Fengming replied, her voice a bit shaky and regretful.

"At this moment you are. Not back then," I replied, "Regular honey isn't poisonous. You thought it would be a nutritious supplement. To an infant though, it can be lethal. Thus, Concubine Ah-Duo's child passed away. The cause was seen as a mystery. Her father, Luomen, the attending doctor at the time, was blamed for repeated mistakes including the one at childbirth, and was expelled from the rear palace. Only later would you learn the truth. And accidentally discovered what caused the baby's death."