The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 29
They had dinner together. With her gloom swept away, Xiao Beitang ate heartily.
“There’s another matter I’d like to discuss with Your Highness,” Song Qingqian said.
“Mm, go ahead,” Xiao Beitang put down her chopsticks and listened.
Song Qingqian dismissed the palace attendants, leaving only the two of them in the room.
She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Your Highness, could you possibly control your pheromones in the future?”
Xiao Beitang froze, her eyes widening in surprise as she looked at Song Qingqian.
Seeing her silent, afraid she might take offense again, Song Qingqian quickly explained, “What I mean is, your pheromones affect Omegas. As an Alpha, you should suppress them in front of Omegas.”
Xiao Beitang asked dully, “What do my pheromones smell like?”
“Oolong tea,” Song Qingqian replied, not quite understanding the intent of the question.
“Oo…long…tea…” Xiao Beitang murmured softly.
What’s going on with her? Song Qingqian looked at her, full of suspicion.
“Your Highness?” she prompted. The scent was getting even stronger, as though her earlier request had had the opposite effect. Was she even listening?
“…Alright,” Xiao Beitang finally replied.
“Then… could you suppress it now?”
“Oh, sorry.” She stood up and opened the window, restraining her pheromones.
That night, Xiao Beitang went alone to the Kunning Palace. She was unusually elated.
Just that morning, she had fainted from anger—with the Emperor present no less.
It had been a long time since either the Emperor or Empress had seen Xiao Beitang so cheerful. The Empress was the first to speak: “Tang’er, what has you in such high spirits?”
“Mother,” Xiao Beitang beamed, “Song Qingqian said my pheromones smell like oolong tea!”
She couldn’t hide her excitement.
The Emperor and Empress were stunned. Once they processed her words, the Empress asked in disbelief, “She… she told you that?”
“Yes, she told me today to restrain myself. But I was drinking Longjing tea at the time—not oolong!” Xiao Beitang replied excitedly.
“She can actually smell your pheromones?” The Emperor was both astonished and delighted.
“The Imperial Astrologer once said your pheromones couldn’t be detected by Omegas—like colorless, tasteless water. That’s why they couldn’t be used for marking.”
“He’s been out of the capital for four years now, searching for medicine for you, and hasn’t sent word since. Yet Song Qingqian can smell you?”
The Empress turned to Xiao Beitang to confirm: “Tang’er, have you ever released your pheromones around anyone else? Has anyone else mentioned being able to smell them?”
“I never restrained them because I didn’t think any Omega could smell them. But no—no one else has ever mentioned it,” Xiao Beitang replied after a moment. Truthfully, she wasn’t entirely sure. The Imperial
Astrologer had said her pheromones were abnormal, so she had never tried to suppress them. And most of the people she interacted with were either Alphas or Betas. Betas couldn’t smell them anyway, and Alphas weren’t affected.
The Empress thought for a moment, then said, “Simple. Just release them now, and let’s see if I can detect anything.”
“Alright,” Xiao Beitang nodded and began to release her pheromones slowly.
The Empress sniffed, but looked disappointed. “Still nothing.”
“That proves Song Qingqian is particularly sensitive to your pheromones,” the Emperor said urgently. “Did you tell her about this?”
“No,” Xiao Beitang replied hesitantly. “I wasn’t sure if it was true.”
The Emperor suddenly recalled something and asked, “If it is true, then your pheromones would have affected her. Didn’t Song Qingqian fall ill a few days ago and shut herself away?”
“Yes, she said she caught a chill,” the Empress added, now suspicious.
“I confirmed it with the Imperial Physician—it was a cold,” Xiao Beitang said, though she still had doubts.
“With her skill, she could easily keep the truth from you,” the Emperor said sharply. “Summon Physician Zhang at once!”
Zhao Yan responded immediately and hurried to the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Physician Zhang’s eyelid had been twitching all the way there—something didn’t feel right. When she arrived at Kunning Palace and saw the Crown Princess present, she realized this was no ordinary summons.
Zhao Gonggong had only said the Emperor wished to see him—not that anyone was ill.
She composed herself and bowed. “Your Majesty, Your Highness, Crown Princess.”
“Rise,” the Emperor said, eyes scrutinizing. “Do you know why I’ve summoned you?”
Physician Zhang had a sinking feeling—it must be about the Crown Princess Consort.
“I am slow-witted, Your Majesty. I await your enlightenment.”
“What illness did the Crown Princess Consort suffer from a few days ago?” the Emperor asked directly.
Physician Zhang’s heart clenched. She stammered, “She… caught a chill…”
“Still daring to deceive your Emperor!” The Emperor slammed his fist on the table.
“T-This subject…” Physician Zhang fell to her knees, trembling.
“Tell the truth and I will spare you,” the Emperor’s voice softened slightly—but was heavy with threat.
Physician Zhang bowed low. “Your Majesty, the Crown Princess Consort was not ill with a cold…”
“What was it then?” Xiao Beitang asked anxiously.
“She was… in heat,” the physician answered, her voice low. “She ordered me to conceal the truth.”
The Empress snapped, “Nonsense! How could she be bedridden for six or seven days just because of that?”
Physician Zhang didn’t dare raise her head. “I wouldn’t dare lie again. Your Highness’s pheromones have a strong effect on the Crown Princess Consort. Not only did her heat come early, but it was intense and prolonged. Though she took suppressant pills, they had little effect…”
“You’re saying Tang’er’s pheromones triggered her heat?” the Emperor narrowed in on the key point.
“Yes,” Physician Zhang explained. “According to the Crown Princess Consort, her heat typically lasts only three days and is quite mild. Suppressants usually suffice. But this time was entirely different. I suspect it’s because Your Highness and the Consort’s pheromones have a very high compatibility.”
Xiao Beitang stood there in a daze. So… that’s why she hadn’t seen her for days? She shut herself away… because of this? The orchid fragrance she’d smelled—it was her own pheromones…
“Today’s events,” the Emperor said sternly, “you will pretend never happened. Say only that you came to take a routine pulse. Do you understand?”
Physician Zhang nodded cautiously. After a moment’s hesitation, he added, “There’s one more thing…”
Xiao Beitang looked up, listening closely.
“She… the Crown Princess Consort asked me today to prepare a stronger suppressant. I wasn’t sure what to do…”
Xiao Beitang stepped up urgently. “What kind of medicine?”
“She wanted something stronger than the usual suppressant. Such medicines exist… but…”
“If you keep stammering, I’ll cut off your head myself,” Xiao Beitang said coldly.
“I wouldn’t dare. The medicine is extremely harmful. If taken excessively, it could cause infertility.”
“You gave it to her?” the Emperor asked, frowning.
“Not yet. I was afraid of the consequences and told her I needed more time to find it.”
Xiao Beitang said in a low voice, “Tell her tomorrow you’ve found it. Give it to her.”
“Tang’er…” the Emperor and Empress looked at her in shock.
Physician Zhang also looked up in surprise.
Xiao Beitang said calmly, “Replace it with a tonic. You’ve diagnosed her—her body runs cold. Give her something to treat that.”
“But still warn her that the medicine is harmful. Don’t let anything slip.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“If she asks again later, come tell me,” Xiao Beitang added. She wanted to see—if Song Qingqian knew the drug was harmful, would she still insist on taking it?
Physician Zhang hesitated. “But if there’s no effect, and she asks…”
“There will be an effect,” Xiao Beitang replied firmly, her gaze distant and thoughtful.
Physician Zhang was thoroughly confused but dared not ask further, only nodding repeatedly.
The Emperor gave Xiao Beitang a meaningful look. For the first time in a long while, he felt a sliver of comfort. She was finally taking something seriously. It seemed her feelings for Song Qingqian were… extraordinary.
After Xiao Beitang left, the Emperor remained dazed. The Empress noticed and asked, “What is it? Too happy to think straight?”
The Emperor pulled her into his arms and gazed at her tenderly. “Of course I’m happy.”
The Empress nodded. “If this is the case, perhaps Tang’er will hold less resentment toward you.”
The Emperor chuckled and asked gently, “Didn’t you notice how invested she was in everything about Song Qingqian?”
The Empress sighed with relief. “That’s a good thing. Perhaps we’ll be holding a grandchild sooner than expected.”
“Let’s hope. Still, it’s up to fate. I can’t interfere, but you might be able to help them.”
“How? We still don’t know how Qingqian truly feels about Tang’er. This isn’t something we can rush.”
“Then we’ll wait and see.” The Emperor scooped her up in his arms and carried her toward the bedchamber.