Spirit Musk Incense

"It's all part of my duty," Grace said. "Rest assured, Your Majesty."

Wendy Zhu personally saw her off.

Grace then headed over to see Consort Vivian.

But as soon as she entered, she caught a whiff of something unusual.

It was the scent of incense.

However, this wasn't ordinary incense—it contained a medicinal ingredient: musk.

This stuff is great for pregnant women—it helps protect the pregnancy.

But musk should absolutely never be mixed with rouge red.

If they’re combined, it turns into poison that causes miscarriage!

Grace quickly stashed the hand warmer in her sleeve into her Sanctum, just in case the scents mixed. Only then did she step inside.

"Hmm? What kind of incense is this? It smells so fresh!" Grace remarked as soon as she walked in.

Consort Vivian smiled, "Miss Lawrence, you really do have a sharp nose."

"That's right! I'm very sensitive to scents," Grace replied. "I quite like this one. What kind of incense is it?"

"It's musk incense," answered a clever-looking maid nearby with a smile. "The imperial physician prescribed it—he said it's good for Her Ladyship's pregnancy!"

Grace glanced at the maid, smiled slightly, and asked, "Consort Vivian, do you know if you're having a boy or a girl yet? Has the physician diagnosed it?"

"How could he? The imperial physician said it’ll take at least three or four months before he can tell! Right now, I’m just over a month along," Consort Vivian replied.

"I know a way to find out right away," Grace said with a smile. "Would you like to try it, Your Ladyship?"

"Really?" Consort Vivian exclaimed in surprise. "Miss Lawrence, do you know medicine too?"

"I wouldn’t call it medicine," Grace said, "but the doctor who treated my mother mentioned it once. Supposedly, it’s foolproof!"

Consort Vivian pondered for a moment. "So how does it work?" she asked.

Grace took out a powder from her Sanctum and said, "Your Ladyship, add this to your urine. If it turns red, it’s a girl. If it turns green, it’s a boy."

"Oh? That magical?"

Grace nodded.

"Then I’ll go try it right away," Consort Vivian said.

"Great, I’ll help you," Grace said, following her.

Naturally, something this private shouldn’t have a crowd.

Inside the restroom, it was just Grace and Consort Vivian.

Consort Vivian did the test—it turned red.

Which meant she was having a girl.

Seeing Consort Vivian’s unhappy expression, Grace said, "Your Ladyship, I have two things to say—I’m not sure if I should."

"What is it?" Consort Vivian asked.

"First," Grace said, "that maid who burns incense for you shouldn’t stay by your side anymore."

When Grace arrived, there hadn’t been any incense burning. But after she returned from the Empress’s place, the maid lit the musk. That was no coincidence.

"Oh?" Consort Vivian’s eyes narrowed. "Is there something wrong with the incense she’s burning?"

"It’s musk incense," Grace explained. "It helps protect the pregnancy. But musk incense must never be mixed with rouge red, or it’ll cause miscarriage."

"Rouge red? What’s that?"

"It’s another kind of spice," Grace said. "So I suggest you avoid burning incense during your pregnancy, just in case someone tries something."

Consort Vivian frowned and said nothing.

"Also… my method for predicting the baby’s gender is ninety percent accurate," Grace said. "So you’re probably having a princess. That’s truly a blessing!"

"A blessing? How so?"

Grace simply said, "In any case, Your Ladyship, you must be extra careful. When the physician can confirm the gender, announce it right away! As long as everyone knows it’s a princess, you’ll be much safer!"