Chapter 39 Waiting for the Bed

In addition to eight hundred taels of silver, the emperor also rewarded two pieces of colorful floating brocade, four kesi round fans, two boxes of snow rhinoceros incense, two peach-red jade seals and rose pendants, and a set of pearl-inlaid head ornaments.

This reward is quite generous.

Now that he has money and things in his hands, Pei Tingyue is not stingy with his subordinates.

There is no need to reward the four palace maids, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. The gold hairpins and bracelets given last night are enough.

She would have to reward the remaining few.

Pei Tingyue thought about it and rewarded Liang An and Liang Fu with ten taels of silver each, and also gave Liang An some ointment.

As for Yunshu and Liuzheng, they were each given ten taels of silver plus a piece of silk material, and the snow rhinoceros incense was also divided between them.

Pei Tingyue doesn't like to use spices, not only because she is cautious, but also because she doesn't like the smell of strong fragrance, so she never burns incense.

After receiving the reward, several people hurried to express their gratitude.

After Liang An and Liang Fu left, Yun Shu pushed back the silver she had been rewarded with: "Talented lady, I don't need the silver."

Pei Tingyue knew from the beginning that her monthly allowance had been given to the original owner, and she hadn't kept any of it, so she started to persuade him, "Take it. You finally got the reward, and the next one will have to wait until the New Year. You won't feel at ease without some money."

At least that's how she felt. She felt anxious when she had no money.

After Pei Tingyue's repeated persuasion, Yun Shu accepted it.

The weather was exceptionally clear today. Pei Tingyue had the imperial concubine's couch moved to the corridor. She then went to the front hall and told the imperial concubine about Liang An's self-recommendation, and brought Tuantuan with her.

A man and a cat lay down on the porch, basking in the sun, feeling particularly comfortable.

Touching the smooth fur, Pei Tingyue fell asleep unknowingly.

Slowly, she felt her chest getting heavier and heavier, as if she was about to suffocate, and her consciousness suddenly returned.

Pei Tingyue opened her eyes and saw Tuantuan, the cat, lying on top of her. With difficulty, she moved Tuantuan away and let out a small tantrum: "I'll punish you by eating... um... half a bowl of rice."

Tuantuan screamed and huddled beside her, not knowing whether she understood or not.

Not long after waking up, Yun Shu slowly came out of the yard with Liu Zheng.

Yun Shu approached and said, "The talented person gave her something as a reward, and she wanted to express her gratitude in person."

Liu Zheng knelt on the ground, her voice still hoarse: "Thank you for the reward, talented lady. I feel unworthy of it."

The sun was shining brightly. Pei Tingyue squinted at the person who came. "I'll give it to you, just take it. Take good care of your injuries and come back to work early."

Liu Zheng said firmly, "I'll remember this."

She had changed a lot in just one night.

The depressed mood in his body dissipated a lot, and there was more determination between his eyebrows.

When he had some free time, Pei Tingyue asked about her background in detail.

Liu Zheng explained that her family had been practicing medicine for generations, and her grandfather had served as the Vice Dean of the Imperial Hospital during the previous emperor's reign, a sixth-rank official. Because of his excellent medical skills, he enjoyed considerable prestige in the capital.

Later, he was inexplicably involved in the court struggle, and the late emperor ordered the confiscation of property and exile.

When her house was raided, she was sixteen years old and engaged. According to the laws of this dynasty, women who married out of wedlock would not be subject to disaster.

If the man could have taken her in immediately, she could have escaped. Unfortunately, the man was afraid of being implicated, so he didn't even let her be his concubine and unilaterally broke off the engagement.

It's human nature, so I can't blame him.

Later, she entered the palace and worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Now it is the fourth year of Xining, she is twenty-two years old and has been in the palace for six years.

At this point, Liu Zheng's face was filled with endless gratitude, tears welling in her eyes: "If it weren't for you, my master, I thought my life would be over..."

She was the descendant of a criminal and could not be released from the palace at the age of 25 like girls from good families.

From the moment she entered the palace, she was destined to die of old age in the palace.

He rotted into a pile of mud and was beaten to death in the despair day after day.

She never thought that someone would come to rescue her.

Liu Zheng took a deep breath, looked at Pei Tingyue and said seriously: "Master, please give me a new name. I want to start over."

Pei Tingyue thought for a moment and said to her, "How about Yun Zheng? Leaving a word here doesn't mean you'll dwell on the pain of the past, but it means you won't forget where you came from."

Don’t forget where you came from!

Liu Zheng's tears still flowed. She repeated the name and nodded solemnly: "From now on, this servant will be called this name."

The person who was happiest about the name change was Yunshu.

She boasted, "Great! This name sounds like my sister's. Yun Zheng, if you're willing, you'll be my biological sister from now on!"

Pei Tingyue glanced at her and reminded her, "Yun Zheng is older than you."

Yun Shu felt a little guilty after failing to deceive. She stuck out her tongue and said, "She's my sister..."

Yun Zheng smiled and said, "Of course I am willing."

Yun Shu jumped up and took her arm: "Great!"

The two of them were intimate for a while, and Pei Tingyue asked some questions for a while.

I didn't expect there would be such a pleasant surprise.

Yun Zheng actually knows pharmacology and medical skills.

After hearing this, Yun Shu hurriedly pulled her into the hall and whispered, "Hurry up and see if there is anything harmful in our room. Cairen is always sleeping!"

The last sentence made Yun Zheng instantly alert.

This is not a good sign.

She cheered herself up and checked the hall carefully, leaving no place unchecked.

After a round, Yun Shu, who had been busy for half a day, said breathlessly, "How is it going? Did you find anything?"

Yun Zheng shook her head: "The palace is very clean, there is nothing in it."

Pei Tingyue had already come in, carrying Tuantuan. She sat on the couch and watched the whole process. She said at the right moment, "Is it possible that I love sleeping just because I'm lazy?"

Yun Shu: “…”

Yun Zheng stopped talking too.

Pei Tingyue smiled. She didn't stop him because she also had some doubts, but they didn't want to make her lazy or sleepy.

If there's no problem, that's best.

She stopped smiling and waved to Yun Zheng: "Can you take my pulse?"

Yun Zheng nodded and placed her hand on her snow-slender wrist.

After a while, Yun Zheng said, "The talented person is a little weak, but there is no serious problem."

Pei Tingyue lowered her voice and asked, "Will a weak body affect pregnancy?"

"Not really."

Pei Tingyue frowned slightly: "What's the reason..."

During this period, she and the emperor had sex many times, but there was no movement in her belly.

It wasn't that she was in a hurry to have a child, but she felt something was wrong.

Since there is no problem in the palace and her body is fine, then where does the problem come from?

The emperor is not capable?

Pei Tingyue quickly denied the idea.

No one knows better than her whether the emperor is capable or not.

Moreover, it was clear that Concubine Jiang was pregnant, so there was no way the emperor could have any problem.

Or is pregnancy a matter of chance?

Seeing her lost in thought, Yun Zheng comforted her, "Don't worry too much about having children, my dear. You are in good health. Relax and you may get pregnant soon."

Pei Tingyue's mind moved: "Check my food later. If there is no problem, you can come with me next time I sleep with you."

She first eliminated these external suspicions one by one, and then considered the issue of opportunity.

During lunch, Pei Tingyue dismissed the servants and left only Yun Shu and Yun Zheng in the room.

It was quickly checked and found that there was no problem with the diet.

Pei Tingyue's tone turned cold: "Then let's wait for the bed."