The couple’s tender moments lasted several days before being disrupted by an incident.

One day while Xiao Huayong attended court, Bu Shulin rushed to seek her help. Upon seeing Shen Xihe, she disregarded Eastern Palace protocol, grabbed her hand, and pulled her inside, distraught: “Youyou, I’m finished.”

Shen Xihe offered her a peach blossom drink: “Have some water, speak slowly.”

Bu Shulin, sweating anxiously, grabbed it and drank it in one gulp, wiping her mouth with her sleeve before Shen Xihe could offer a handkerchief.

Bu Shulin hadn’t noticed these details. After setting down the cup and hesitating several times, she finally took a deep breath and said: “Youyou, I… I… I forced myself on Cui Shitou!”

Shen Xihe: …

After speaking, Bu Shulin closed her eyes, heavily slapping her forehead with regret: “It’s all because that day I went drinking with Ding Zhi and others. They were discussing intimate matters between men and women, which made me curious…”

Her curiosity, combined with both her and Cui Jinbai’s drunkenness, somehow led to them ending up together.

“When did this happen?” Shen Xihe suppressed her shock.

“Half a month ago…” Bu Shulin said very quietly, carefully watching Shen Xihe’s reaction. Seeing her slightly cold expression, she hurriedly explained, “I thought I could hide it. I woke up first and ran away. Later, the Court of Justice received a strange case, and His Majesty sent Cui Shitou away. I thought the matter was over. But yesterday when he returned, he came to my residence trying to remove my clothes. Fortunately, my martial arts are better than his, otherwise…”

Otherwise, her secret would have been exposed.

Shen Xihe composed herself. If things happened this way, it made sense that Bu Shulin only came to her now. As the Eastern Palace consort, it wasn’t easy for Bu Shulin, an “outside man,” to meet her.

“You still don’t want to be honest with him?” Shen Xihe felt at this point, directness might be best.

Bu Shulin’s mind was in chaos. She knew she could escape yesterday, but not today or tomorrow. At this point, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to confess to Cui Jinbai or flee far away – but where could she flee to?

“Alin, Cui Shaoqing isn’t one to hide things. You might as well be honest with him,” Shen Xihe advised.

Bu Shulin struggled silently.

Shen Xihe didn’t press her. She understood why Bu Shulin refused to relent – she wanted to maintain restraint and caution. As long as she remained Young Master Bu in Cui Jinbai’s eyes, she could control herself. She feared that removing this disguise would make her feelings for Cui Jinbai uncontrollable, causing her to inadvertently forget her identity and reveal herself.

It wasn’t distrust of Cui Jinbai but of herself.

In the silence, Shen Xihe thought of something else: “Alin, did you… take medicine afterward?”

“Hm?” Bu Shulin didn’t understand.

“Contraceptive decoction,” Shen Xihe said directly.

Bu Shulin’s eyes widened, her face pale.

She had forgotten!

“It… it couldn’t be… that coincidental…” Bu Shulin stammered. After the incident, she was so panicked about facing Cui Jinbai. When he was sent out of the city the next day, she felt relieved but still worried whether he knew.

She had completely forgotten about pregnancy. Now reminded by Shen Xihe, she realized she truly was in trouble.

“Zhenzhu!” Shen Xihe called, “Check Young Master Bu’s pulse.”

Zhenzhu bowed to Bu Shulin before taking her wrist. Her expression gradually became serious, making Bu Shulin increasingly anxious and pale.

“Crown Princess, it’s too early to be certain,” Zhenzhu believed it was highly likely.

Though early, Bu Shulin’s pulse showed subtle differences from non-pregnant women, though these differences could have other causes. Hence Zhenzhu wasn’t certain.

But Bu Shulin had already collapsed in her chair, her eyes darting frantically before grabbing Zhenzhu: “Regardless, give me abortion medicine first!”

Shen Xihe: …

“Have you considered how you’ll explain to Cui Shaoqing if it’s true?” Shen Xihe reminded.

If Bu Shulin was truly pregnant and terminated it this way, she and Cui Jinbai might have no future together.

“I can’t think that far ahead. How can I hide a ten-month pregnancy?” After blurting out about abortion medicine, Bu Shulin gradually calmed down. “Once my identity is exposed, my father and I, along with all the uncles who follow him in South Shu, would be guilty of deceiving the emperor – grounds for clan execution! Youyou, you should understand me best.”

Shen Xihe understood – their situations were so similar. One wrong step would lose everything and endanger dozens or hundreds of lives.

“We’re not yet certain about the pregnancy. Abortion medicine is harsh – if you’re not pregnant, it will still harm your body,” Shen Xihe softened her voice, holding Bu Shulin’s hand reassuringly.

“Youyou, ask His Highness to find a way to send Cui Shitou away again until I can confirm,” Bu Shulin gripped Shen Xihe’s hand, pleading.

“And after confirmation?” Shen Xihe asked.

“If I’m not pregnant, I’ll tell him my identity.” She would exercise more self-control afterward, leaving Cui Jinbai’s choice to him. If pregnant, she could only hide it from him forever – she couldn’t keep this child.

She couldn’t bear the child. Rather than cause him pain and suffering, better he never knows.

Shen Xihe disagreed with Bu Shulin’s solution but couldn’t decide for her: “Alin, think carefully about the consequences of your choice.”

Bu Shulin closed her eyes, her tone low and beseeching: “Youyou, don’t persuade me, don’t make me hesitate anymore.”

Any choice would exact a cruel price.

She could never be a true lady her whole life. Perhaps this would be her only chance to bear a child, and it was with her beloved, yet she couldn’t keep it – having to kill it herself. How could her heart not ache?

But could she risk it?

“Youyou, if I am pregnant, I must cut this knot quickly. If exposed, he too would face punishment.”

With a child, Cui Jinbai would discover her female identity. His failure to report this to the emperor would make him an accomplice in deceiving the throne. The emperor might even use this against the entire Cui clan.