Chapter 21 Rescue
He rested in the inn that night and continued on his journey after the government office checked and signed the exile list the next day.
Because of Cheng Weiyao, the Qinghe Palace had more supplies than everyone else. The people from the Imperial Noble Concubine's family were jealous, but they didn't dare to say anything in front of Wen Chengyun. They turned around and whispered in the Imperial Noble Concubine's ears.
"I know you're kind-hearted and easily persuaded, and your Cheng Yun is also gentle. But look at the Cheng Weiyao you married. How can she be a good wife and mother? She behaves so arrogantly and domineeringly even in exile. Won't she cause chaos when she gets a foothold in the countryside?"
"That's right, what kind of young lady would behave like this? I'm scared when I see her. If I don't take good care of her now, she'll definitely bully you and act like a tyrant in the future..."
A few gossipers visited the imperial concubine's room and started gossiping with her as soon as they came in. She felt so overwhelmed by their gossip, but out of courtesy she was too embarrassed to open her mouth and chase them away, so she had to stay alert and listen.
When Wen Chengming saw his mother being forced to work, he immediately ran to Cheng Weiyao and Wen Chengyun's room for help. His brother and sister-in-law were smart and they must have a way!
When she entered the room, Wen Chengyun was reading a book on the table in the outer room, while Cheng Weiyao was sitting on the bed in the inner room, worrying about what to do at night. Sleeping in separate rooms was obviously unrealistic, and she was not mentally prepared to sleep in the same bed. How about giving the bed to Wen Chengyun and sleeping on the floor herself?
Wen Chengming's unexpected request for help just broke the strange harmony between the two.
"I will go check it out, Madam, you can rest."
Wen Chengyun stood up from the table, put down the book at hand, and decided to go and take a look. His mother was a weak-willed woman, and if she let those women get involved, they might talk until very late. He had to travel tomorrow...
"My mother's side is full of women. You'll be in trouble if you go there. There's a saying that goes 'a guilty conscience'. They're talking about me. Don't worry, I'll go and scare them..."
Cheng Weiyao lifted the curtain and walked quickly out of the inner room to the table. She put one hand on Wen Chengyun's shoulder and glanced at the book he was reading calmly.
I had originally thought that Wen Chengyun, with his cunning demeanor, would mostly read books on military strategy and politics, but I didn't expect him to read about local humanities and anecdotes. Is this guy faking it down to the smallest details, or is he really that simple...
Wen Chengyun pursed his lips and sat down again, which was considered as his agreement.
Cheng Weiyao sent Wen Chengming back to his room to rest, and went downstairs to get a basin of hot water. She stood outside the imperial concubine's room and knocked on the door gently.
"Mom, are you asleep?"
The women in the side rooms changed color when they heard the sound. They all kept silent for a moment, not daring to make a sound.
"No, Wei Yao, is there anything wrong? I'm a little tired today..."
The Imperial Concubine received the women's pleading looks and had no choice but to speak up and try to reject Cheng Weiyao in a tactful way.
Wen Chengming didn't close the door when he went out. The door seemed to be closed, but it opened with a creak when he pushed it lightly.
Cheng Weiyao pretended to be blown away by the wind and looked at everyone in surprise: "It's so lively in Mother's room. What interesting things are they talking about? Why don't they tell me?"
When Cheng Weiyao said this, the women's faces turned red. The most embarrassing thing is to run into the person who is spreading rumors behind others' backs.
"It's all just some childhood gossip, quite boring. What's this, Wei Yao?"
The Imperial Concubine took the initiative to smooth things over, and her eyes fell on the basin of water in Cheng Weiyao's hand, with a hint of hesitation.
"Three hundred steps in the morning, a bowl of soup in the evening. I see my mother is very frail, so a ginger foot bath would help relieve her cold hands and feet..."
Cheng Weiyao came to the Imperial Concubine with a basin of water. There were some ginger slices floating in the hot water, and the rising steam moved the Imperial Concubine a little.
"That's thoughtful! What a thoughtful person! The Qinghe Palace is truly blessed. Such a filial daughter-in-law is hard to find even with a lantern!"
"That's right! I'm so envious of you. Your Chengyun is so lucky to have married Wei Yao. Unlike my wife, she's so taciturn and doesn't know how to care for others..."
The women implemented the term "fence-sitter" very thoroughly and immediately changed their stance and spoke well of Cheng Weiyao.
"Aunts and aunties, you're too polite. The feet are the root of a person, and they are the first to decline when a person ages. A foot bath at midnight is the best way to nourish the kidneys, as this is the time when the kidney meridian's qi and blood are at their weakest..."
Cheng Weiyao didn't care about the repeated expressions of others. Good or bad was just what others said. She just had to do her best.
"Although our lives are a bit hard now, we should still find joy in adversity and take care of our health..."
The women were instantly attracted by this theory of health preservation. As women are all afraid of aging, they immediately stood up and said goodbye.
The room that was packed just now suddenly became deserted. The imperial concubine felt that her breathing became much smoother. She also knew that Cheng Weiyao had come to help her out, so she opened her mouth to thank her.
"Mother, there's no need for polite words. The road to exile is long and arduous. Taking care of yourself is more important than a thousand words. You stay in the bath, I'll go back first."
Cheng Weiyao interrupted the Imperial Concubine's words. Everything she did now was for Wen Chengyun's favor. She came here with a purpose, so the words of thanks sounded a bit awkward.
These days, she has also realized that in the Qinghe Palace, the Royal Noble Concubine has the worst physical fitness. Even the young Wen Chengming can run and jump.
But the Imperial Noble Consort couldn't do that. She wouldn't be able to walk far before her face turned pale and her legs trembled.
The imperial concubine nodded slightly. After Cheng Weiyao closed the door and left, she stood in front of her door and hesitated for a long time before pushing it open.
To her surprise, Wen Chengyun had already made his bed on the floor and fallen into a sound sleep. Cheng Weiyao breathed a sigh of relief, blew out the light in the room, and quietly climbed around him onto the bed.
The room was silent, and soon only the sound of even and long breathing could be heard. Wen Chengyun opened his eyes in the darkness, glanced in the direction of the bed, and then closed his eyes again.
The next day, at cockcrow, Wang Gang and the officials knocked on the doors one by one, shouting at everyone to get up and prepare to set off.
After everyone had washed up, they gathered at the lobby of the inn. Cheng Weiyao looked at the sleepy Wen Liyu and Wen Chengming, feeling a little uneasy. Why didn't the Imperial Concubine come?
"Mother hasn't arrived yet. I'll go check on her."
Wen Chengyun obviously noticed this problem and walked straight to the upstairs room. Cheng Weiyao hurriedly followed him.
The door of the wing room was locked from the inside. The two knocked on the door but no one answered. At this time, the imperial concubine in the wing room really couldn't get up. She had sweat on her forehead and her face was as white as paper.
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