Chapter 5: Father's Discovery
That evening, before my father, Minister Marcus Song, even reached home, he heard people on the street gossiping.
Passerby: "So interesting! That Miss Song not only likes eating... excrement, but she actually crawls into cesspits to eat it!"
Father: "Huh? Miss Song? Which family in the capital has a Miss Song besides mine?"
Passerby: "And she's having an affair with her future brother-in-law too! Maybe her brother-in-law also likes eating it?"
Father: "Oh? There's more gossip? Let me listen..."
Passerby: "Hard to say! These wealthy families hide so many dirty secrets!"
Father: "That's true, but our family is very clean..."
Today, almost everyone on the street was discussing this matter. Father listened to gossip the whole way home. When he finally arrived at the Song estate, he was still pondering which family's Miss Song was having an affair with her brother-in-law while diving into cesspits.
Just as he was about to ask his attendants, he smelled an indescribable stench wafting through the Song household.
When he saw Sweetie's maid hurrying toward the back courtyard carrying a filth-stained dress, Minister Song fell silent.
The Miss Song from the rumors was from his own family.
He'd been decisive and capable his whole life, but for the first time, he felt utterly lost and helpless.
His Song family was no longer clean.
"Father! Your daughter is unfilial and has brought shame to the Song family! Waaah..." Sweetie lay in bed, her face pale from her injury, looking especially pitiful.
Seeing his youngest daughter so pitiful after being injured, Father couldn't stay angry. He was about to say some comforting words when an indescribable smell invaded his nostrils.
Standing to the side, I spoke up sweetly: "Father, Sweetie just accidentally fell into a cesspit, that's all. She's already bathed."
Even though Sweetie had bathed countless times despite her wound and used two bottles of perfume, it couldn't mask the strong stench on her body.
Father stepped back in shock. "Sweetie, you... you rest and recover well. I'll have someone send you some supplements shortly."
With that, Father turned to leave. At the doorway, probably worried Sweetie would overthink, he held his breath, turned back, and added: "Um... Father still has official business to handle. I'll go to my study first."
Sweetie's eyes immediately reddened again. She lay in bed, crying pitifully.
I forced myself not to laugh, walked forward, pinched my nose, and comforted Sweetie: "Sweetie, you know you smell really bad. Father is old and can't handle strong odors. Please be understanding and don't be difficult."
I placed a small wooden box on Sweetie's bed. Inside was a fragrant ointment that Dominic had just sent over.
His original words were: "This is special incense from the Western envoys, perfect for a soft, adorable girl like Sweetie. It can temporarily suppress the smell on Sweetie's body."
I told Sweetie: "Sweetie, the Second Prince says you smell too bad. Only this special Western incense can suppress the poop smell on your body. You should apply it quickly. Don't disappoint the Second Prince's kind intentions."
Sweetie's sobbing paused. The next second, heartbreaking cries erupted from the room.