I Can Smell Your Secrets

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Chapter 36: "She is kind to you, but do not call her mother."

The doctor’s arrival went smoothly, but trouble arose as he was leaving. He had barely stepped out from Du Yinsui’s side room when several rushing women frightened him back inside. They were Liu family members who had heard rumors and came to seize the doctor. Liu Yaozu didn’t come; it was his three wives, bringing the children.

The three children looked quite pitiful, with either broken heads or limping legs, but the prison clothes they wore stopped the old doctor from acting on his own.

The courtyard was small, and any noise quickly drew the guards. Tan Wang arrived but didn’t handle things well. To the pleading Liu family members, he pointed towards Du Yinsui’s side and said, "The doctor was paid for by their money. If you want him to see you, ask them."

The guards watched like they were enjoying a show.

Du Yinsui had no wish to argue. To the Liu family, who looked hateful but seemed about to beg, she just said, "Scram."

She showed no heart, not even consulting Jiang Wu or the Qin family, which made Tan Wang raise an eyebrow.

The Liu family didn’t leave. They turned to Tan Wang, who was watching the scene, then to Du Yinsui, who seemed impatient. Finally, they aimed for Jiang Wu, who always seemed the softest and easiest to sway.

"He is your cousin!"

"We’re family. Forget this fight. Let them treat the injuries!"

"They’re only children. How can we ignore these wounds?!"

…

The women’s cries mixed with the loud sobs of the boys. They counted on Jiang Wu’s kindness, sure that with guards around, Du Yinsui and the Qin family wouldn’t dare do anything harsh.

Du Yinsui glanced at Tan Wang, unsure if this was the guards’ cruel fun or Tan Wang testing something.

But it didn’t matter.

"The doctor is right here. Pay for his service. Does Master Tan look like a man who refuses money? Or do you think begging will get it for free?" Du Yinsui threw the problem back. "Yes, your children are your treasures. Is spending a few hundred taels for them too much? Don’t they deserve that? Or has Yong’an Bo given you nothing? Master Tan hasn’t left yet—why do you think that is?"

Du Yinsui’s words, though quiet, felt like slaps to both the Liu family and Tan Wang.

The two wives from the Liu family had no silver. Instead of grabbing Jiang Wu’s hand, they pulled at Wang Yuerong beside them.

"Master Tan, how much silver to bring the doctor with us?" Wang Yuerong clutched her sleeve, looking at Tan Wang.

Tan Wang actually laughed this time.

Before, he never sought out a doctor, but if one happened by, he wouldn’t stop prisoners from seeing him—as long as it wasted no time and they paid for medicine.

He meant to watch the show, but now he saw extra profit.

Yes, the Deposed Crown Princess was right; he wouldn’t pass up money.

"Two hundred taels," Tan Wang demanded, asking for far too much.

Wang Yuerong didn’t agree or refuse. She said she had to ask Liu Yaozu, then left with Liu Shunan.

The other two concubines and their sons fell silent under Tan Wang’s cold stare, just guarding the doctor so he couldn’t run.

"You’re heartless; he is your kin," Tan Wang said to Du Yinsui, while waving to someone behind him.

Zheng Yi quietly entered, lugging three big bundles, and dumped them on the dusty kang.

"Winter clothes and bedding, plus this supply of food." Tan Wang pointed at two large bundles, then pulled several small paper packets from his robe and tossed them over. "Take the brown packet for diarrhea, the white one for colds, and sprinkle the yellow one for deworming. You used too much injury medicine last time. We’ll give you more during the next supply run."

Fine. Though the man was annoying, at least the deal was done.

"Thank you, Master Tan. Your word carries weight." Still awaiting the donkey cart, Du Yinsui clasped her hands politely.

"Aren’t you checking? Don’t come complaining later." Tan Wang pointed at the bundles again, glancing with interest at the Liu family huddled nearby.

Du Yinsui saw no reason not to inspect everything.

The daily medicine packets were meager but enough for emergencies. After smelling the herbs the doctor brought earlier, she’d had him prepare extra remedies for colds, shock, and stomach ailments from the leftovers. They were somewhat prepared now.

For four adults and two children, six thick cotton outfits looked passable—loose but wearable. Though worn and patched with hardened cotton inside, they were cleaner than what they currently wore. Each person’s spare clothes were acceptable—better than nothing. Three similarly worn quilts (two double, one single) would suffice.

The food bundle was dominated by a sack of mixed-grain flour and black flour, plus dried vegetables, a small jar of pickled radish strips, and two narrow salted meats. Honoring the promise of guards’ rations, it even included a tiny bag of white flour—barely a fifth of the mixed-grain sack. A small packet of brown sugar and another of salt were tucked beside it.

Du Yinsui froze at the brown sugar, turning to glance at Jiang Wu. Her long-absent period suddenly reminded her: she might need ginger tea.

"Master Tan, could we have some ginger and extra brown sugar?" Du Yinsui asked bluntly—he’d invited feedback.

Tan Wang: "…" She actually complained?

He’d noticed her look at Jiang Wu.

Fine. For the Deposed Crown Prince’s sake…

"Don’t expect this again." Tan Wang left, taking the gawking guards, doctor, and Liu family with him.

In the courtyard, he met Wang Yuerong clutching her face.

The 200-tael banknote she handed him made him sigh. Perhaps he’d been too lenient before.

Tucking away the note, he let the doctor follow the Lius.

The silent Zheng Yi finally spoke: "You hate prisoner fights. Why provoke the Lius earlier?"

"Wanted to see," Tan Wang murmured, gazing north. "Wanted to watch someone tell hated relatives to get lost."

"Du Yinsui said it—not their relative Jiang Wu," Zheng Yi corrected.

"What’s the difference? Didn’t Jiang Wu and the Qin family choose her as their voice?" Tan Wang eyed the side room. "That crippled Du Yinsui’s sharp. Watch her closely."

Du Yinsui overheard the courtyard exchange. Unsurprising. Silence gained nothing; boldness drew eyes. Still…

"People don’t change—they pretend. When needing you, they’ll grovel or eat dirt. Soften, and they’ll stab your back." She turned to Qin Chongli, who’d shielded them wordlessly during the Liu confrontation. "Teacher, you know: full granaries teach courtesy; full bellies teach honor."

Qin Chongli nodded sheepishly. "I rarely confront women. I froze. Next time I’ll speak properly."

"Just tell them to get lost. Attitude matters." Du Yinsui’s tone hardened. "Never believe relatives who refused help will ever support you. Expect them to drag you down."

Qin Chongli found her pessimistic but couldn’t argue. Having survived seven harsh years of betrayal, Du Yinsui spoke bloody truths. This group needed that ruthlessness.

"Teacher, you’re senior—your words matter. Stay clear-eyed. When Jiang Wu softens, you must wake him." Without turning, she pressed a struggling Jiang Wu back down.

Jiang Wu had to lie down and whisper, "I didn’t…"

"Hmm, when they rushed in with the child, you weren’t feeling sorry; I must have been blind to see wrong," Du Yinsui snapped irritably.

Jiang Wu: "…"

"Teacher, did you see that?" Du Yinsui scoffed coldly.

Qin Chongli had no choice but to nod honestly.

Truth be told, he felt guilty every time the little Du girl called him "teacher." He should be the one calling her "teacher" instead.

But…

"I’m old and my eyes are weak. If he softens, you must wake him up," Qin Chongli said with a friendly smile.

"…" Du Yinsui paused, then said slowly, "More people mean more eyes; we all need to watch out."

Qin Chongli smiled and nodded, not missing that this was the first time since their ginseng trip that the little Du girl said "we" instead of "you all."

Jiang Wu, dizzy and weak from pain, didn’t catch Qin Chongli’s sharpness. He only felt stung by their words.

Was he really so useless? Did he need so many eyes on him?

Not only was he no help, but they worried he’d cause trouble… Sister Chu had wiped Du Yinsui’s mouth…

Jiang Wu’s stomach ached, the pain spreading to his heart.

Only after Chu Xiulan sneaked back with two bowls of medicine and whispered about Du Yinsui eating the ginseng with dirt in the woods did that strange sour feeling ease a bit.

Then, Jiang Wu realized something was off—something unclear but not worth sharing.

The doctor’s calming tea worked well. Given to the little one by evening, the fever dropped a lot by night, and the child slept more peacefully.

But Jiang Wu found little relief after a bowl of bitter medicine and ginger tea with brown sugar; he just had to tough it out.

Since the night the little one was caught feeding Du Yinsui moldy mung bean cake, she often slept snuggled in Du Yinsui’s arms on the road. With no extra clothes or blankets, Du Yinsui liked the warmth. After a night outdoors, she’d lift her warm ‘baby’ and praise it in the morning.

Tonight, though, the warm ‘baby’ had to be lent out.

"You’ll sleep with Sister Jiang. Her stomach is cold, and you’re warm, so you’ll both be cozy," Du Yinsui said, stopping the little one from wriggling back and tucking her into Jiang Wu’s arms. "My warm ‘baby’ is for you to use. Hold her tight and press her against your stomach; it will help both of you."

The two, pressed together unwillingly, finally gave in to Du Yinsui’s firm push.

This time, the rundown yard had a door. They blocked it with furniture so everyone could sleep.

Poor Du Yinsui, trying to be kind, tossed and turned. She only fell asleep after grabbing a cotton coat from the new bundle to hug.

The room went quiet, with just soft breathing sounds. But anyone awake knew it wasn’t real silence.

After a while, Jiang Wu couldn’t take the wriggling and pulled the little one up, touching her forehead. "What’s wrong? Can’t sleep? Your fever’s gone; are you uncomfortable?"

"Lending to you."

"What?" Jiang Wu almost missed the little one’s sleepy mumble.

"Me!" The little one patted her chest. "Warm ‘baby’."

"…" Jiang Wu didn’t get the pride but soothed her. "Okay, you’re a warm ‘baby.’ Be good and sleep."

"I’m a warm ‘baby’ lending to you. Return it!" Her words were slow but clear.

Jiang Wu understood this time and chuckled. "Fine, I’ll return it. You’re not feverish now—why not go back over there?"

"No…" The little one squirmed. "This time, I’m lending it to you."

Jiang Wu: "…"

Luckily, the little one was easy. As they talked, their voices faded.

Jiang Wu was nearly asleep when a small hand patted him.

"I’m lending it, no thanks. When I’m better, you can’t take her," the little one said. "She’s nice to you, but don’t call her mom."

Jiang Wu: "???"