Chapter 23: She is not alone
Zhou Ying found Song Zhichen's words ridiculous. She wanted to ask Song Zhichen, if Ru Niang was really as kind as he said, how could she survive in such a place of prostitution? How could she climb up step by step and become the most beautiful courtesan?
But when she raised her eyes and saw the familiar tenderness that appeared between Song Zhichen's eyebrows when he talked about Runiang, she suddenly felt that there was no need to ask.
When they were in love, Song Zhichen often showed her this expression.
But this is not unique to her.
This tenderness could appear in her back then, or in any concubine in the backyard, even a lowly prostitute.
Over the years, Zhou Ying had only her son in her mind, and she thought her emotions would no longer be affected by Song Zhichen.
But at that moment, she felt like a joke and she hated herself so much.
I hate my ignorance back then and I hate my lack of vision.
"I originally thought that my granddaughter's life would be like this." Zhou Ying lowered her eyes, hiding the expression in them. "But grandma, I really don't know what to do."
In the past, for the sake of her son, Zhou Ying could endure and continue to flatter Song Zhichen no matter how disgusting it was.
As long as her son can live a good life in the future, she would accept it even if he had to suffer like this for the rest of his life.
Now, she can hardly bear it anymore.
However, if she couldn't bear it, how would her son cope with life in the Duke's Mansion in the future?
Will his future be affected?
As for the Zhou family, with a divorced daughter like her, the reputation of other female members of the family, and even the official reputations of the eldest and second uncles, will be affected.
After all, it was common for men in Daliang to take concubines.
In the eyes of the world, a woman should not feel jealous of her husband taking a concubine, but should happily arrange for her husband to take a concubine.
If she only thought about herself, she would make a big deal out of this.
Who knows, there might be an imperial censor who would impeach her for being jealous. Then they would definitely point the finger at her grandfather and uncle, and accuse the Zhou family of not having strict family education.
My grandfather had a good reputation throughout his life, and he must not bear such a stain in his old age because of her.
When Old Madam Zhou and Mrs. Zhou heard this, they felt a pain in their hearts.
Zhou Ying has been living a mediocre life these years, depressed and unhappy. She was in great sorrow some time ago, and now she seems to have no energy at all.
Zhou Ying pursed her lips and wanted to say something else, but suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen and became weak all over.
Shen Huazheng noticed that Zhou Ying's brows were furrowed and her face was pale, and she immediately became anxious: "Cousin Ying, what's wrong with you?"
Madam Zhou and Mrs. Zhou were also frightened by Zhou Ying's cold sweat on her face. "Ying'er, what's wrong with you?"
Zhou Ying endured the severe pain and squeezed out a sentence with difficulty: "I'm fine, I just have my period."
*
Zhou Ying was helped to the room to rest, while her personal maid Sang Zhi was kept by Old Madam Zhou for questioning.
"Since giving birth to the prince, the young lady's body has become much weaker. Every time she has her period, she always feels pain for a few days. I wanted to get her some brown sugar water to relieve the pain. But the young lady can't stand the smell of brown sugar water, so she can only endure it."
Usually, when women have their period, drinking brown sugar water can relieve lower abdominal pain.
But Zhou Ying couldn't do that. She wanted to vomit as soon as she smelled the brown sugar water, let alone drink it. She could only endure it and get through it.
"This is absolutely ridiculous! Why would you keep such a thing a secret?!"
Old Madam Zhou's face was as gloomy as water. Zhou Ying had been keeping it a secret, and they had no idea that her body had become so weak.
Sang Zhi lowered her head and said, "The young lady didn't let us tell the first lady and the old lady about this. She also kept a schedule every time she came back, because she didn't want the elders at home to worry."
Zhou shook her head. "Silly child, we are her family, why are you saying such polite words?"
After Sang Zhi left, Old Madam Zhou was worried.
"Ying'er has been stubborn since she was young. She always keeps things to herself. If she really refuses to divorce, are we going to watch her return to the Duke of Wei's Mansion?"
Old Madam Zhou had a strong premonition that if she failed to keep her granddaughter this time, she would regret it later.
"Mother, don't worry." Mrs. Zhou understood Mrs. Zhou's concerns. "Zheng'er just told me that she was going to make some desserts for her cousin. She will definitely persuade Ying'er."
Madam Zhou felt relieved after hearing this. She sighed, "I hope Ying'er can figure it out."
*
While Old Madam Zhou and Mrs. Zhou were asking questions, Zhou Ying endured the pain and was helped by the maids to change her clothes and menstrual pads, and then was helped to the bed.
"Girl, drink a cup of hot water and lie on the bed for a while."
Zhou Ying drank a cup of hot water, then took a hand warmer from the maid and pressed it tightly against her abdomen. She felt better then.
She lay on the bed, feeling dizzy, and soon fell asleep.
In a daze, Zhou Ying seemed to smell a strange fragrance.
It seems to taste like ginger, but it is also slightly sweet.
Moreover, the smell seemed to be getting closer and stronger.
Zhou Ying opened her eyes faintly and found Chen Huazheng walking into the room with a tray.
"Cousin Ying, you're awake."
Seeing Zhou Ying wake up, Chen Huazheng immediately put the tray on the table, walked quickly to the bed and looked at her face. "Cousin Ying, are you feeling better?"
"Better now," Zhou Ying managed to stand up and forced a smile.
Although it still hurts a little, it is not as bad as it was at the beginning.
Chen Huazheng said with concern, "I just went to the kitchen to make ginger milk. You should feel better after eating it."
Ginger milk?
Seeing Zhou Ying's puzzled look, Shen Huazheng explained considerately, "It's a sweet made with milk and ginger juice. It can warm the stomach and drive away the cold."
Eating ginger milk has many benefits, such as improving skin quality, relieving cough and promoting sleep.
The most important thing is that it can strengthen the spleen and dispel the cold, warm the stomach and reduce heat, and dispel cold and promote blood circulation. It is most suitable for Zhou Ying to eat it at this time.
Zhou Ying leaned on the bed and looked at Shen Huazheng with a smile. "I didn't expect that milk and ginger juice can be made into a dessert. It's quite novel. The name is also quite unique."
The sweet smell I smelled just now, I think it was the ginger milk.
Chen Huazheng also smiled and said, "Then cousin, do you want to try it?"
Zhou Ying naturally wanted to eat the food that her little cousin made for her.
But when I think of the taste of milk...
Although drinking milk regularly can strengthen the body, Zhou Ying doesn't drink much on weekdays because she can't stand the smell of milk.
No matter what, she had to try Zheng'er's cooking.
"Okay, then I'll trouble Zheng'er."
"No trouble, no trouble~"
Shen Huazheng brought the porcelain bowl from the tray over with a smile, wanting to feed Zhou Ying.
Zhou Ying was just about to tell Shen Huazheng that she didn’t need to be fed, she could eat by herself.
[It just so happens that there is buffalo milk in the kitchen today. The ginger milk made from buffalo milk and old ginger is the most delicious. ]
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