Chapter 111: Woke Up! Text/Ji Jin

  The meal on the seventh day of summer is unbearable.

  She bit her chopsticks, glanced at the princess who was chatting with those women, made an excuse to go and change, slipped away from the table, took Qingluan and went to the backyard of the Hou Mansion.

  Having seen Xie's suicide and Zhao Ziyue's suicide, she secretly thought that the women of this era, when they couldn't solve their problems and had lost face, would only use the same trick - suicide.

  Xia Zuqi wasn't one to meddle in other people's business, but she had found a perfect excuse for her own actions. Zhao Runa was Zhao Shijiu's niece. So, she was her aunt. How could she just stand by and watch a young girl end up dead?

  In contrast to the hustle and bustle in front, the backyard is very quiet.

  Chen Daniu was a noble marquis and a prominent figure in the current dynasty, but there were no other women in his rear courtyard. Today, something happened in the mansion, and the rear courtyard was even more quiet than usual. Without much effort, Xia Chuyi soon found Zhao Runa's courtyard under the guidance of an old woman.

  As soon as she entered the house, following the direction of Xiaoyao's pointing finger, she was stunned.

  Zhaoruna, dressed in simple and plain clothes, was leaning against the headboard of her bed, holding a book in her hands, looking calm and serene. Except for that hint of subtle sadness that never seemed to dissipate, she looked no different from usual. She was living well, and there was no sign of her being suicidal as she had imagined.

  It's terrible!

  In this era, a woman who can achieve this is already among the best, isn't she?

  The little girl laughed and shouted, "Princess, Princess Jingyi has come to see you."

  Zhao Runa seemed to have just come back from a book, looked up at Xia Chuqi with a hint of blame in her eyes, but didn't show too much surprise.

  "Lu'er, there is no county princess in the Hou Mansion, from now on call me Ce Furen."

  Lu'er felt a little sorry for her master's daughter and pouted before lowering her head.

  "Yes, Count... Lady."

  Zhao Runa nodded and stood up, making a very polite bow to Xia Chuyi.

  "I pay respects to Lady Jingyi of the imperial clan."

  Seeing Zhao Runa like this, Xia Chuyi felt there was nothing more to say.

  Or, to put it another way, the words she had prepared in advance to encourage a woman who had been insulted to face her future life with positivity and courage were no longer needed in front of this noble lady. She was a clever and transparent woman, and she must have had her own ideas in mind long ago, and she would definitely make herself live a good life.

  Have you eaten?

  Summer begins on the seventh day with a smile, leaving only this sentence behind.

  "Not yet." Zhao Runa smiled, "No appetite."

  "Even if you don't have an appetite, you still have to eat. Today's dishes at the Hou Mansion are quite sumptuous."

  "Okay, let's eat soon."

  Zhao Runa looked at her with a gentle expression, her pretty melon-seed face was haggard, no matter how she concealed it, the desolation in her eyes could not be hidden, and the gratitude she felt when looking at Xia Chuiqi.

  "Jingyi County Master, thank you for what happened that day."

  "Never mind, we're all women, I understand you. Alright, my mother is waiting for me outside, I'll leave first, remember to eat. No matter what time it is, there's nothing more important than eating."

  Xia Chuiqi finished speaking and quickly walked out.

  Some things are better left unsaid; saying too much can hurt people's dignity.

  As they left the Ding'an Marquis's residence, the sky had already darkened. Along the way, the wife of Chengguo Gong sighed over this absurd marriage, and Xia Chuyi knew she was a devout Buddhist who always had a kind heart, so he just smiled and comforted her.

  The horse carriage entered the Guo Gong Fu, bid farewell to Madame Guo, Mei Zi led the way with a lantern, Xia Chuyi pulled up her cloak to ward off the chill, looked up at the small buildings of Jing Yi Yuan, and walked into the house amidst the rustling sound of banana leaves, suddenly stopped, turned sideways and glanced at Qing Lian and Mei Zi.

  "You two don't have to follow me, it's getting late, go wash up and rest."

  She was a casual and lazy person, treating her servants without the airs of a mistress. Qing Lian and Mei Zi had long been accustomed to it and didn't say much before responding with a "yes" and retreating together.

  At the beginning of summer, on the seventh day, she carried the lantern handed over from Mei's hand, pursed her lips and continued to walk in. As soon as she pushed open the door of her own house, a black shadow slipped in from the side and swept over, picked her up horizontally and lowered her head to kiss her.

  "Isn't it disgusting? The great Prince has learned how to be a flower thief?!"

  On the seventh day of summer, her neck was itchy from being nibbled on, and she giggled softly with her mouth. One hand held a lantern, and the other deliberately hung around his neck, tightly embracing him before kissing him. The two people hugged each other breathlessly, their breathing uneven, until he finally had enough excitement, holding her to sit on the edge of the bed, turning on the lights in the room.

  "How did Ah Qi know it was Grandfather who came?"

  With her head held high, Xia Qi's face showed a hint of smugness.

  "I smell something beastly on you."

  Zhao Zun grabbed her nose, "Nonsense, what kind of dog are you turning into?"

  One kick flew over, Xia Chuyi glared at him with a sideways glance, and immediately pulled his shoulder towards herself, "I'm not a dog, I'm a kitten." Zhao Zhuo couldn't stop himself, and he fell onto her body, pressing him down into the bedding.

  They looked at each other, and he raised his hand to smooth her hair.

  "Grandfather has told Father Emperor about what happened with Ziyue."

  At the beginning of summer, Qi'er nodded in understanding. She knew that such a big thing couldn't be kept secret, and if anything went wrong, it would all fall on her head again. These men were thinking for her sake. With a surge of joy in her heart, she wrapped her arms around his neck, gazing at his face against the light, with a deep shadow under his high nose bridge, feeling a little drunk.

  "Zhao Shi Jiu, how did I end up running into you?"

  "Nothing wrong?" He grasped her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

  "It's great, it's just too good, how can I be a little worried?"

  "Stupid girl." He wrapped her in his arms, lying together on the couch, one hand gently stroking her back, lost in thought. Xia Chuqi listened to his rhythmic heartbeat and breathing, leaned into his chest, and whispered, "Don't worry, at most ten more days will pass, I'll be giving birth to Zhiyue's child, there won't be any danger."

  Zhao Zhu's arm tightened and he hugged her tightly.

  "Ah Qi, I will definitely not let you suffer the same fate."

  "Huh?" Xia Chuqi looked up at him with a puzzled expression.

  Zhao Zhu lowered his head, rubbing her face with the palm of his hand. His words were low and serious, "Let's have a son, one daughter is enough. Women suffer too much when giving birth to children."

  "On the seventh day of summer, a certain part of my heart felt stifled. Looking at him, my eyes were burning, and I couldn't tell if it was sour or sweet, the taste was extremely complex. 'Yesterday, didn't you say you wanted to have many children and grandchildren? I was just thinking, if you want to have many children, you can only find another woman to help you give birth to more...'"

  "You're quite good at teasing me, aren't you?" He smiled and pinched her nose again, changing the subject, "Did you go to the Ding An Marquis' residence today?"

  Thinking of that wedding which turned a joyful occasion into a sad one, Xia Chui's heart felt stifled.

  "Hmm, Big Brother Niu is really ruthless. You men are really something else."

  "This is rare." Zhao Zun glanced at her and asked, "What's the matter with Guan Gong?"

  "Hmm! Don't think I don't know, that day when His Majesty summoned you, what did you say to him? To be honest, with such harsh conditions from Big Brother, His Majesty agreed, and I really can't believe it. I think there's something behind this because of you? What did you say to protect him?"

  Zhao You looked at her, his eyes deep and serious, "My Ah Qi is indeed clever."

  "Speak quickly and don't beat around the bush!"

  She spoke in a soft and low voice, but he tightened his arm, "I'm just telling the truth, and then I told His Majesty another story."

  "What story? What's the story?"

  "Big Cow has not yet passed the gate of his daughter-in-law." Zhao Zun stroked her face, telling Xia Chuyi what Chen Daniu had told him in the heavenly prison. Finally, he said lightly, "Big Cow's tone is not going down, and he will not compromise. It's a loss for Da Yan, but Your Majesty values talent, and... before Your Majesty ascended to the throne, you were also imprisoned by Zhang Huang's father, almost starving to death. It was Zhang Huang who secretly brought him food that saved his life..."

  Two stories overlap, and Xia Qiqi couldn't help but sigh on the seventh day of summer.

  "That's men's business, if your father has a guilty conscience, he can go and apologize himself. What does it have to do with your niece? She is innocent, after all. Just a woman, isn't she taking on too much?"

  Zhao Zhu's eyes were deep and dark, following her hair, but he didn't say a word. Xia Chuqi felt injustice for Zhao Renna, and in anger, she told him about today's events, but he still didn't utter a word, sinking into silence in the darkness. Xia Chuqi knew that on some concepts, she was different from Zhao Zhu, it was hard to use modern ideas to convince an ancient person to put women's status on par with men's, thinking about it, she couldn't help but sigh.

  "Are you saying that Mr. Niu will be good to her?"

  He remained silent.

  She also said, "In this world, there are too many unhappy people. I have such a good relationship with my grandfather, and I really hope they can have a good outcome too."

  He finally stroked her face and opened his mouth, "Daniu is a stubborn person, but he's not a ruthless man. Your Majesty must have recognized this point too."

  Xia Zhong Qi looked at him and was slightly taken aback.

  Nowadays, the old emperor is a calculating person. How could he have lost a daughter without gaining any benefits? Since ancient times, heroes have found it difficult to pass through the beautiful woman barrier. Zhao Runa's temperament, tolerance, kindness and good temper make her very attractive to men. I reckon the old emperor had already calculated that Chen Da Niu would fall into his granddaughter's gentle trap.

  After a moment of silence, Xia Qiuzi rested her head on Zhao Yu's arm and let out a soft sigh.

  "I hope they can use their bodies to overthrow the shackles a little earlier and complete an era-defining revolution."

  "......" Zhao Zhu's body stiffened, looking at her as if she were a monster.

  "Don't you get it? It's too profound, your IQ isn't enough, don't ask me."

  Zhao Zhu's face turned dark, "Go to sleep."

  She shifted her body into his arms, and Xia Chuyi let out a snicker, knowing that she had scared him with her words about "using her body to break free from shackles". A normal woman wouldn't dare say such frightening things. But she was proud of herself for being straightforward and unbiased. As for Zhao Runa's current life, it seemed like this was the only path left for her. Was there a better way out for her, given her cruel fate and the twists and turns that had brought them together?

  Just as she was using her thoughts to console herself and speculate about Zhao Runa's fate, Chen Daniu, who had been drinking excessively at the Ding'an Marquis' residence, was being supported by two people and stumbled into Zhao Runa's room.

  "County master... uh, sister-in-law... the general is all yours." The person who helped him in was Chen Daniu's deputy commander Geng Sanyou. His voice was like a loudspeaker, and he didn't dare to look at Zhao Runa, who was sitting quietly. He called out and then led another person away in a hurry.

  Zhao Runa put down the book in her hand, looked at the man who was leaning against the table with a crooked posture, his face flushed with drunkenness, bloodshot eyes, and a clearly visible "concubine's joy" but didn't even bother to shave his beard cleanly. She frowned and turned to look at Lü'er beside her.

  "Green, help Master Fu go to the bathroom to wash up."

  "Yes. Side wife..."

  Lu'er's eyes lit up and she obediently walked over to support Chen Daniu.

  "Master Hou... watch your step..."

  At present, there is a convention that when the hostess marries into another family, her dowry maid also belongs to the male master. Zhao Ruhua understands this, and so does Lü'er. Although she feels a bit shy and nervous, looking at Chen Dabao's sturdy body and his handsome face, Lü'er likes him in her heart. This young master is much more handsome than what she had imagined when she only heard his name before, and he is also younger than she had imagined.

  Green girl supported Chen Da Niu and left, Zhao Ru Na was stunned for a moment, then picked up the book on the table again, adjusted the lamp wick, and continued to read with her head down. But in less than a minute, Green girl came running back, wet and dripping, "Madam..."

  Zhao Runa looked up and asked, "What's wrong?"

  Lu'er hung her head in distress, not daring to look into her eyes.

  "The young master said he could do it himself and drove the slave out."

  Zhao Runa took a glance at her flushed face and let out an "oh".

  "Go and get Lord Hou a bowl of hangover soup ready."

  Chen Daniu, a military man by training, treated taking a bath as if it were a battle, so he didn't bother with many niceties or formalities. Before Zhao Runa had even turned the page of her book, he was already out and about, bare-chested.

  He was used to being careless, wearing only a pair of pants with his upper body exposed, water droplets on his skin hadn't been wiped clean, his clothes were loosely draped over his shoulders, he belched after drinking, and came out waving his hand.

  "Get out, get the hell out..."

  After washing up, he looked much more sober, and his gait was no longer as unsteady as before. However, his face was still flushed with intoxication, and every word that came out of his mouth was irritable.

  "Master Hou, you should drink a bowl of hangover soup first."

  Lu'er, like Zhao Rouna, was a sheltered daughter. When had she ever seen a big, half-naked man swaggering in front of her? For a moment, she blushed and was about to go over and help Chen Daniu sit down. But before she could even get close, she was brushed aside by the drunken Chen Daniu with a stumble.

  "Get lost."

  He opened his mouth to speak and burst out with a loud, hoarse voice, his emotions clear on his face. When had Green ever seen such a man? She was startled by his roar, her face turned pale, and she fell to her knees with a thud.

  "Master Hou, spare my life, I'm just..."

  Looking at his furious expression with nowhere to vent, Zhao Runa finally walked over.

  "Green, you go down first."

  "Yes, I'll withdraw first..."

  Lu'er was so scared that she ran away in a hurry. Zhao Runa looked at Chen Daniu, who was sitting heavily on the chair and shaking his head, found a large woolen scarf in the cabinet, and put it over his shoulders, saying with a humble expression, "Master Hou, drink some soup and rest early."

  The room was filled with the smell of incense, which made Chen Daniu's head ache dully. He lifted his heavy head and looked at the pale-faced woman in front of him, almost failing to recognize who she was.

  "Get out of here! Scram!"

  Zhao Runa had never expected him to have a good temper towards her, seeing that he only told her to "get out", she felt it was already being polite. With a bitter smile, she didn't argue with him saying "this is her house, the one who should get out is you", but instead turned around, flipped over a set of bedding and hugged it, then bowed and bid farewell.

  "I'll go and squeeze in with Green, you should rest early, Master Hou."

  She said and turned away without looking back, even letting out a long sigh of relief.

  "Wait, come back."

  The footsteps stopped at the door, Zhao Runa turned back, her face slightly surprised. Chen Daniu seemed to have just reacted to who she was, slowly getting up, but didn't speak, only picked up the wine and water that had been prepared on the table, and poured a large bowl into his mouth, then walked towards her with big strides.

  Thinking he was going out, Zhao Runa stepped aside.

  His eyes were blazing like fire, but they stopped in front of her.

  Zhao Runa's face changed, "Hou Ye..."

  Chen Daniu didn't answer her, he suddenly pulled off the quilt from her hand and threw it to the ground, then grabbed her waist with one hand and lifted her up. Amidst her cries of surprise, he strode towards the "wedding bed" that was not covered in red, but only had a plain white sheet, and tossed her onto it before pressing down on top of her.

  "Lord Hou..."

  Zhao Runa's mind went blank, she struggled for a moment, and then stopped moving. The room was lit with white candles today, the wick was slightly jumping, making her pale face even whiter than paper. Looking at this strong and powerful man with deep eyes and thick eyebrows, she slowly closed her eyes.

  Her mother had passed away many years ago, so before she got married, there was no usual daughter's family getting married before the mother's teachings, and no one taught her how to deal with her husband on their wedding night. However, she wasn't foolish, knowing that once she entered the Ding An Hou Mansion, it would be his sooner or later, and she had to accept her fate. Previously, when she pushed Green to him, she also wanted a peaceful night. But he was not willing, and she could only follow his will.

  He remained silent, his heavy breathing mixed with a faint smell of alcohol. The unfamiliar breath, the unfamiliar person, was her husband, the one she would have to rely on for the rest of her life. Her tense fingers clutched the bedding tightly, her eyebrows furrowed, and her teeth lightly chattered, not daring to look at his eyes or expression.

  She silently counted her heartbeat, repeating "Amitabha Buddha, Amitabha Buddha" over and over again. Suddenly, she felt a chill run down her spine as he impatiently undid the buttons on her clothes, tearing open her undergarments to reveal the small clothes inside, along with a patch of snow-white skin that dazzled her eyes. She stopped breathing, stiffening like a wooden board.

  He still didn't speak, nor did he even look at her, only she alone stared at him as he stripped himself like a peeled white bamboo shoot, his body covered in scars yet sturdy enough to frighten her, pressed tightly against hers.

  She was chilled to the bone, but he was scorching hot. Without any prelude or waiting for her to prepare herself, he plunged in directly, like a knife stabbing an enemy on the battlefield, leaving no room for sentiment.

  She bit her lip tightly and didn't breathe, her body shaking like a sieve.

  He raised his head to look at her for a moment, paused slightly, closed his eyes tightly, and then swung his sword to attack the enemy again, moving fiercely and violently. She could only clench the quilt with both hands, staring straight at the tassels on the tent that swayed back and forth, biting her lip until a thread of blood seeped out...

  Chen Daniu is a rough man, including in this matter. Compared with Zhao Runa's previous imagination of being a maiden in the boudoir, embracing her lover, whispering and weeping, with elegant words like "like a thief", "like a knife cut" and so on, it was simply a subversive difference.

  It has nothing to do with gentlemen, and even less to do with literature. He seems to be furious enough to tear her apart, venting all his anger on her body. No, he just made her his battlefield, his own personal battlefield, or maybe she was just his warhorse, letting him whip and ride as he pleased...

  He was sweating profusely, thoroughly enjoying himself from start to finish without saying a word. She had her mouth tightly shut, the pain piercing through her bones, also without saying a word from start to finish. The two of them didn't kiss, nor did they exchange glances, neither of them looked at the other's expression, silently completing the most sacred and primitive union between man and woman.

  ……

  When Zhao Runa came to from the pain that felt like being cut by a knife, the person beside her had already fallen asleep with his back turned. She looked at his stiff back for a while, counting the heartbeats and breaths that hadn't calmed down yet, wiped off the sweat on her body that she didn't know was from pain or exhaustion, pulled over the quilt to cover his shoulders, and herself supported her painful body to go fetch water.

  The nanny had taught her before entering the marquis's mansion: after doing something, she couldn't take care of herself, but had to consider the marquis.

  So she hastily washed her uncomfortable body, then poured in warm water and called him to the bed.

  "Master Hou, I...". She had never said the words "nu bi" before, but YaYa had taught her that she was a slave. It didn't come out smoothly, but she managed to say it calmly, "I'll help you wipe your body."

  He remained with his back to her, lost in thought, not speaking, and unwilling to turn around to look at her. Zhao Runa didn't see him respond for a long time, so she could only lower her head, wring out the towel soaked in warm water, bend down to wipe the sweat off his back, and then go around to prepare to wipe his face. He finally seemed impatient, suddenly raised his hand to block her, rolled up the quilt and stuck it to the wall root, and fell asleep.

  "Don't mind me, go to sleep."

  Zhao Runa was stunned, looking at the man who was as stiff as a stone, and smiled bitterly as she retreated to pour water, tidied up the room, and then quietly returned to the bed, pulled over another quilt to wrap herself in, and slept along the edge of the bed, keeping a long distance from him.

  All night, he didn't move closer and neither did she.

  Two people slept soundly until the next day, when they were woken up by a knock on the door. Zhao Runa suddenly realized that she had fallen asleep at some point. She glanced sideways at the man who was still sleeping soundly and slowly got out of bed, but as soon as her foot touched the ground, she felt a sharp pain and almost fell over.

  "Hiss..."

  She let out a sigh and still supported her waist to go open the door.

  The gate was green, and Liu Pozi, who was in charge of the servants in the mansion, led a servant girl to ask, "Madam, the Ministry of War's Zhou Shilang's family has sent two concubines to our lord, I've come to ask which courtyard should they be accommodated in?"

  Zhao Runa was slightly stunned.

  "Imperial concubine? Isn't she also an imperial concubine? The only difference is that she was personally appointed by the emperor. She smiled wryly at Liu's wife and said, "I've just arrived too, I'm not clear about the household matters, why don't you let the old lady handle it?"

  Liu's old eyes narrowed, gazing at the bright red mark on her neck, smiling somewhat ambiguously. "The elderly lady said that you, Consort Ye, are from a noble family and understand the rules of aristocratic families the most. These matters... can be left to you..."

  Zhao Runa hadn't even seen the old lady yet, but she had already said so much. What else could she do? Taking a slight breath, her hand rested on the door frame as she smiled and said, "Then let's find a good house closer to the marquis' residence to settle down first, don't keep them waiting."

  It's said that the princess from the palace is precious, and can't be compared to other women. But today, for the first time, she saw her and was so magnanimous, completely beyond Liu's expectations. With an ambiguous gaze, Liu smiled and said.

  "Alright alright, I'll go and make arrangements."

  "Wait—"

  Before others had gone far, a somewhat tired voice came from inside the house after Chen Daniu's hangover.

  Liu's wife was stunned for a moment, and then hurried back to wait at the door.

  "Is there anything else you'd like to instruct me, Master Hou?"

  Soon, Chen Daniu came out wearing clothes. Zhao Runa's face was embarrassed, and she slightly turned to one side, but saw him tying his buttons while impatiently saying in a low voice, "Hurry up and get rid of all of you..."

  "Lord Hou, this, this isn't right?" Liu Pozi glanced at him and then at Zhao Runa, smiling as she said, "The old lady says that Lord Hou's family line is not prosperous, just needs to branch out..."

  "Go, go, go! What's with the branches and leaves? Why do I need so many women? It's costly to raise them! Listen up, from now on, whoever sends someone over will be thrown out. Tell them I can't afford it."

  His voice was originally bright and loud, but after waking up from a hangover today, it's slightly hoarse, yet exceptionally thick and powerful, with no room for negotiation in his words. As he spoke, he swung his head, grabbed the heavy armor hanging on the rack, slung it over his arm, picked up the helmet and strode away, startling Old Lady Liu so much that she didn't dare to breathe.

  "Madam, what's going on? What can be done?"

  Zhao Runa pursed her dry lips, glanced at the back of the person who hadn't looked at her from head to toe, and casually replied "Let's do as Master Hou says" before closing the door. Leaning against the door panel, she lifted up her clothes and took a look, only to see that they were covered in bruises and fingerprints everywhere.

  She hesitated for a moment, then slowly squatted down and rested her head on her knees.

  ……

  From that day on, Zhao Runa would often go to the Chengguo Gongfu to chat with Xia Chuzi for a while. Sometimes she would also take the fool from the East Palace and go together to find Xia Chuzi.

  At this time, the fool would be extra happy, and Xia Chuyi was also happy. To be serious, Xia Chuyi and Zhao Runa didn't have much in common to talk about, but she was a very quiet woman, sometimes bringing a book or embroidery when she came. Xia Chuyi made medicine, the fool made trouble, and she quietly embroidered flowers on the side.

  With her, Xia Qiuzi gained a lot.

  A pouch, a shoe pad, and a handkerchief, all made by the talented young mistress of Jinghua County. The embroidered objects were so vivid that Xia Chuyi couldn't help but feel admiration for her skills.

  Admiring him, she couldn't resist the temptation and finally one day "Embroidered Heart" was greatly inspired to prepare a sachet herself to give to Zhao Zun. Because she heard that sachets were currently the token of affection between men and women. But in the end, when she embroidered a mandarin duck that didn't look like a chicken or a duck or a goose, she thoroughly gave up the idea of having an affair with him.

  In the days of getting along with each other, she rarely saw Zhao Runa smile.

  Of course she wasn't very sentimental either.

  According to her, since that night when Chen Daniu left the Hou Mansion, he went straight to the military camp and never came back. Or maybe he did come back, but she didn't know about it. Anyway, he never slept in her room again, and there were no other women added to the Hou Mansion. Every time others mentioned it, they would envy her, saying that Ding An Hou was a good man. When Zhao Runa heard this, she just smiled and said "yes".

  He didn't go back, and her days were also very good. Chen Daniu's parents were honest people who didn't give her a good face, nor did they make things difficult for her. After all, her identity as the county princess was there, and the current emperor was her own grandfather. Except for Chen Daniu's sister-in-law, who occasionally made some sour remarks when she saw her, she said that her days were very good.

  Xia Chuqi had asked her about what happened that night with Chen Daniu, but she didn't want to talk about it. Even the phrase "they slept together" was only revealed after Xia Chuqi had repeatedly and earnestly asked her about it. Xia Chuqi thought to herself, this kind of marital life is really terrible. To be honest, isn't this just a cold war?

  In life, except for losing a Zhao Runa, Xia Chuyi didn't change much.

  She still went to the palace every day.

  In these days, her efforts were not in vain. Empress Zhang's complexion improved, and Zhao Ziyue's face also had some rosiness. When going to the Kun Ning Palace, she would always "happen to meet" Zhao Mianze, who would always have various excuses to talk to her for a few words. However, unlike that day in the garden, he had restored his warm and elegant demeanor, full of courtesy and refinement.

  Every time he saw her, he would politely let her be and wouldn't say much. The only key sentence was to tell her, "I haven't told the Emperor about your matter."

  In other words, he didn't expose her identity after careful consideration?

  "In return, Xia said with a smile, 'Then thank you, Your Highness, the Crown Prince's grandson.'"

  Apart from this, there was no intersection, but Xia Chuqi suddenly knew that the situation in the court became clearer and clearer. The rumors of Zhao Mianze succeeding to the throne were getting more and more frequent. However, Zhao Mianze would occasionally appear in the Kun Ning Palace, even Empress Zhang felt something was off. This imperial grandson had always been filial, but he had never come so frequently before. Finally, one day, after Xia Chuqi left, Empress Zhang kept Zhao Mianze behind alone.

  "Son, have you taken a liking to the 29th household's daughter?"

  Ginger is still spicy, but Zhao Mianze won't admit it.

  "The grandson is thinking of his imperial grandmother, if the imperial grandmother dislikes the grandson, then the grandson will not come again."

  What else can Empress Zhang say?

  After a sigh, he just persuaded, "Son, a man has something to do and something not to do. You can take a fancy to any other girl, but you can't touch the one from the 19th house, remember?"

  A sentence "Lao Shi Jiu Jia" hurt Zhao Mianze's heart.

  For a moment, he really wanted to tell Empress Zhang that the woman was not from the nineteenth uncle's house, but should be from his own family. But he knew he couldn't, at least...not for now.

  He didn't actually want to come to Kun Ning Palace every day, but he just couldn't control his legs. In the twenty-one years he had lived, he had never been so moved by anyone. He didn't need to do anything, just watching her doing things, watching her smile and laugh as she sewed for Empress Zhang, watching her frown as she wrote prescriptions, watching her as a princess not being constrained by etiquette and playing with the palace maids, watching her little triumph when she shamelessly begged for money from others, watching her eyes pass over his face without stopping, he felt like he was enchanted.

  Every night, he closes his eyes and it's her, her smile, her face, her waist, the evil glint in her eye when she threatened to cut him down in that small garden... everything about her pierces him, sets his body aflame, makes him cry out in loathing for her, yet he yearns for her like a starving man.

  He wants her, but he has to wait.

  Zhao Mianze's change of mind would naturally be unknown to Xia Chuyi.

  All I know is that the person suddenly became obedient, which is also a good thing. She has been busy these days and can't spare time to clean up after him. As long as he doesn't come looking for trouble with her, she's willing to wait for a better opportunity.

  She was busy with Zhao Zhuo's passionate love affair, busy looking at her wedding dress and dowry, busy asking people about Li Mo's news everywhere, busy thinking about the prescription for Zhao Ziyue's illness, busy...

  Zhao Ziyue's thing, she actually has a headache about it.

  In this era, without the convenience of "cesarean section", Zhao Ziyue was still in a coma, taking medicine to induce labor, which could easily lead to incomplete abortion and affect her body. But this fetus had to be aborted anyway.

  It was March 25th of Hong Tai's twenty-fifth year.

  Having calculated the date, Xia Qi knew she couldn't wait any longer.

  Otherwise, when the fetus is too big, it can't slip out anymore.

  She entered the palace early in the morning, took out the medicine she had picked and gave it to Zhao Ziyue's personal palace maid Qingteng, asking her to decoct the medicine first, prepare some warm water for washing, feed Zhao Ziyue some food, and then take her pulse again, making preparations for a miscarriage.

  There aren't many people in Yunyue Pavilion.

  To prevent this from getting out, only a handful of people know about it.

  There were not many people, but everyone was very tense. Even Hong Tai Emperor, who had not seen Xia Chuyi for a long time, personally came to Yunyue Pavilion. In the gloomy house, his first words when he saw Xia Chuyi were, "Will there be danger?"

  On the seventh day of summer, I sighed secretly in my heart.

  There is no great danger, but small dangers... how can they not harm the body?

  She didn't answer truthfully, after all, once the emperor starts worrying, she'll be worried again.

  So, looking at the "man-eating lion" in front of her, she told a lie and also rounded out a lie. She remembered that when she was in Tianlao, Zhao Zhu had asked Mei Zi to bring food with medicine that changed the pulse, and at that time, she knew that he must have lied to the emperor saying that she was pregnant. Now that her identity has been exposed, she can't deceive the emperor anymore, so she can only continue speaking along those lines.

  "Your Majesty, please be at ease, I've tried it myself, don't you see that I'm fine?"

  Hong Taiyi narrowed his eyes slightly, gazed for a moment, and spoke in a somewhat solemn tone.

  "Saving my daughter is a great merit for you."

  Xia Chuqi really wanted to say that the old man's great merit was something ordinary people couldn't afford. But in the end, she still swallowed it back down. Since ancient times, emperors have been like tigers, and their majesty is not something anyone can easily touch. Xia Chuqi didn't get a "free pass" from the King of Hell when she crossed over, so she didn't dare speak nonsense.

  "Thank you, Your Majesty."

  The old emperor sat in the main seat, quietly waiting. Xia Chuqi stood at the side, also quietly waiting. Before long, Qingteng brought up the cooked slippery birth medicine and Xia Chuqi instructed her to take it first and glance at the old emperor sitting there.

  "Your Majesty, this medicine is mild in nature and will take some time to work. Why don't you go back and wait for news?"

  "No need, I'll just wait here."

  Unexpectedly, such a ruthless emperor still had such tenderness, Xia Chuyi's eyebrows involuntarily twitched, and he nodded slightly, lowering his head to say, "Then I'll go prepare."

  Princess Zhao Ziyue liked incense, so her bedroom had the scent of incense all year round. On the seventh day of summer, Xiaochi slowly walked in and felt that today's incense smelled particularly heavy-hearted. She approached the bedside, looked at Zhao Ziyue's pale face, rolled up her sleeves, and let Qingteng support Zhao Ziyue's body upright.

  Azusa...

  Xia touched her soft and fluffy body on the seventh day of summer, called out, and then went to rub her face.

  "So it won't hurt so much later, I'll give you a few shots first."

  She said and turned her head to look at Qingteng, "Hold the princess steady, with her back towards me."

  "Yes." Qingteng's eyes were red-rimmed and her hands were shaking.

  At the beginning of summer, her heart was not calm. She had never killed anyone, nor had she harmed a young life. Thinking of Er Ye who had already passed away, thinking of the small thing in Zhao Ziyue's belly that had not yet taken shape, her eyes turned icy cold. But she was a doctor, and things that needed to be done still had to be done.

  Looking at Zhao Ziyue's back, she twisted the silver needle and inserted it...

  "Princess... Princess..."

  Qingteng saw the silver needle enter her body, and her voice trembled with fear, "Princess, please wake up! If you wake up, I'll make your favorite dishes for you, and I won't force you to study anymore, Princess..."

  Listening to her chatter, Xia Chuqi focused solely on the silver needle in his hand.

  Suddenly, that slender back trembled slightly, and Xia Chui thought she was seeing things. Her hand had just paused when she heard Qingteng's excited shout, "Princess, Princess, it seems like the princess is moving, it really is the princess moving..."

  At the beginning of summer, Qiurui quickly put down the silver needle and laid Zhao Ziyue flat on the bed.

  "Zi Yue, Zi Yue... wake up and open your eyes."

  She shouted for a long time without any response, and then she leaned over to pat her face. The little face was thin and gaunt, with half of the flesh gone from the pointed chin, and it felt icy cold to the touch. Slowly withdrawing her hand, Xia Chuqi's eyes were heavy with sorrow.

  "Zi Yue, you still won't wake up? If you don't wake up soon, the little baby in your tummy will be gone..."

  As soon as the words fell, Zhao Ziyue's dim eyes slowly opened. She looked at her, then at Qingteng, her gaze drifting aimlessly, her faint voice weak and seemingly about to be blown away by the wind at any moment.

  "Husband... you, what did you say... something about a little baby?"