Chapter 60: Moving like the sun and the moon (2) Pregnancy.
After many twists and turns, Meng Xuanli arrived at Anxiang's home according to the address she sent him.
Seeing Meng Xuanli arrive alone, Anxiang was stunned, surprised but also a little delighted. She was dressed in a light blue silk dress and hurriedly walked over to Meng Xuanli, inviting them into the courtyard.
"Madam... no, my lady, why are you here?" Anxiang's heart tightened, and she guessed that something big must have happened in Dongdu.
"I heard that Lingnan has beautiful scenery, so Fuyao and I came to visit you for a few days." Meng Xuanli deliberately avoided the matter of Dongdu.
An Xiang nodded, without asking any further questions, and busied herself with preparing tea and food. "Of course it's fine, but there are often bandits here. If my lady goes out, she must be accompanied by someone."
Fuyao nodded slightly: "Don't worry, young lady, I will follow you wherever you go." She deliberately showed the sword on her waist.
The three of them looked at each other and smiled through the warm air.
Meng Xuanli leaned back against a bamboo chair, her gaze wandering until it finally landed on Anxiang's face. She found this place somewhat reminiscent of her own courtyard in Xuzhou, with its vibrant red blossoms like raindrops and soft green mist shrouding the landscape. It was truly a delightful place.
Meng Xuanli's eyes were amber. When she saw Anxiang's eyebrows curved, she was about to say something, but the sour and nauseous feeling in her heart surged into her throat again, neither rising nor falling.
She tilted her head and retched a few times, her chest so stuffy that she couldn't utter a word.
An Xiang was surprised. She walked over quickly and patted her on the back gently. "Madam, are you tired from the journey? Or did you eat something unclean? How many days have you had these symptoms?"
Fuyao handed Meng Xuanli a cup of tea, looking frightened. "My wife has had these symptoms for almost half a month now, and they've been getting better and worse. I thought it was seasickness, but it didn't get better even after we got ashore."
Meng Xuanli's face paled as she took the tea and rinsed her mouth carefully. After a moment's rest, she straightened up, pressed her chest, and whispered, "Maybe this is my first time in Lingnan, so I'm a little uncomfortable. Anxiang, don't worry."
After a moment's hesitation, Anxiang waved her hand, telling her husband to prepare the meal. She leaned closer to Meng Xuanli and whispered, "Madam, has your period been regular lately?"
Monthly period?
Meng Xuanli pried open her eyelids, her amber eyes still, but her palm subconsciously rested on her lower abdomen. She had been away from the Eastern Capital for two months, exhausted by the travel and travel, and had completely forgotten about her monthly letter.
Thinking about it carefully, there really wasn't one. Could it be...she was pregnant?
Meng Xuanli actually couldn't remember these things. She closed her eyes and struggled to find one or two glimmering fragments of memory.
She remembered that during that month, they didn't talk much during the day, but late at night, after showering, he would snuggle up to her and tease her. It all came naturally, and they did it many times. Some nights, they did it until dawn.
Could it be that time?
But she had taken contraceptive pills before, and her body and hands were cold, so it shouldn't be the case.
Meng Xuanli leaned back against a bamboo chair, feeling inexplicably irritated. If this was true, she had no intention of raising a child under the current circumstances. Furthermore, this child was related to him.
Meng Xuanli sighed deeply, raised his head very slowly, and said lightly: "Anxiang, go find a reliable doctor." Whether this matter is true or not, it would be safer to confirm it.
Anxiang nodded immediately: "There is a doctor named Chen in the east of the town. He has a good reputation and a kind heart. I will go and invite him right away." After that, she hurried out.
The sun shone brightly, bathing the courtyard. A golden phoenix shone, stirring up the dust. Meng Xuanli's face was enchanted by it, yet she felt a chill on her body.
She frowned, because the fear was real, so she kept repeating in her mind: Don't have children, don't have any contact with him.
However, when she felt the warmth in her belly, her heart sank into a dark place. She honestly wondered if she had ever hoped for a child. The exact time was vague, perhaps after they got married, or in the first few months, but no matter how vague it was, it wasn't now.
Time passed silently. Meng Xuanli didn't like the ambiguous feeling. In other words, she didn't like the feeling of being played a joke by fate, as it would make her seem very passive.
She looked into the distance and heard footsteps. It was Anxiang coming back with the doctor.
Doctor Chen was a kind-looking old man in his fifties. He took Meng Xuanli's pulse, observed her complexion, and asked about her condition.
After a moment, Doctor Chen withdrew his hand, bowed to Meng Xuanli, and said with joy: "Congratulations, madam, it's a pregnancy. The pulse is smooth and round like a pearl, so it should be about two months."
"My wife's recent dry retching and fatigue are all normal reactions. Don't worry too much, just take good care of yourself."
After hearing Doctor Chen's words, Meng Xuanli felt like a withered lotus in early autumn, about to wither. Before she could recover, her eyelashes trembled, her fingers curled. "...Thank you, sir."
Doctor Chen took the medical fee, picked up the medicine box and left.
In the courtyard, Fuyao opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but was afraid of saying something wrong, so she closed it.
Seeing this, Anxiang suddenly realized and smiled: "My lady must be hungry. Fuyao and I will go out for a while and come back to make some nourishing meals for her."
After saying that, Anxiang pulled Fuyao out. When they reached the door, she stopped and said, "Fuyao, hurry up and follow Doctor Chen to buy some medicine to maintain the pregnancy. I see that my wife is silent, so I think she is still hesitating. But no matter what, for her health, it is safer to prescribe some medicine."
Fuyao nodded and hurried to Doctor Chen's side.
Meng Xuanli's vision was still filled with the beauty of the wind and the fragrance of the flowers. She closed her eyes, unwilling to accept the fact that she had a child. During the meal, her thoughts were in a mess. She ate a few bites, washed up, and lay down on the bed.
That night, Meng Xuanli tossed and turned and could not sleep all night.
Her amber eyes shone brightly in the darkness as she stared motionlessly at the ceiling. The wind rustled, and her mind felt like falling leaves. In the silence, two fierce voices emerged.
A voice like a red mist snake said, "You can't keep this child! If you do, you'll be haunted by his betrayal day and night! Besides, you loathe him, you hate him. Do you really want to raise a child related to him? You absolutely cannot keep this child!"
Another voice, like a smoky smoke, murmured, "The child is innocent. You should keep him. This is a life, your own flesh and blood. Can you really be so cruel? Are you going to kill your child just because you hate that man? You'll regret it later."
Life and death, reason and emotion, like two streams of turbulent cold water, stimulated her emotions, bewitched her choices, and almost swallowed her up.
Meng Xuanli turned over and looked toward the window. Daybreak had just begun, and a rooster crowed. Her earlobes felt cold, as if reminding her that it was time to make a choice.
Meng Xuanli slowly stood up, dressed himself, walked to the window and pushed it open.
The moist, slightly cool air rushed into my heart, a breath of new life. In the distant sky, the sun smiled and peeked out, the color of shrimp, as if smeared with rouge and powder, fresh and lovely.
Meng Xuanli lowered his brows, gently placed his hands on his lower abdomen, and felt the warmth coming from inside.
Kill it? she asked herself again.
She shook her head, paused for a moment, looked back, and made a choice: she wanted to keep the child.
No matter how hateful that man was, no matter how broken they were in the past, this child, coming from her body, would become an individual independent of anyone.
It shouldn't become a victim of her resentment towards others. From now on, it is just her child. She is its only relative.
The door was carefully pushed open. Meng Xuanli turned around and saw Fuyao bringing her some pregnancy-maintaining medicine. Since she had gotten up early, she still looked sleepy. "My dear, this is freshly brewed. Would you like to drink some while it's hot?"
Meng Xuanli turned around, took the medicine bowl, and asked in confusion: "How did you know?..."
Fuyao smiled and said, "It was Miss Anxiang. She said that no matter what choice you make, you must take good care of yourself."
Meng Xuanli narrowed her eyes and smiled. When the medicine was finished, her mouth was filled with bitterness. She frowned and said, "This medicine is so bitter. Fuyao, when you have time, come with me to buy some candied fruit."
"good."
#
One afternoon, Meng Xuanli was basking in the sun in the courtyard, listening to Anxiang recounting the past: "That day, I waited for my wife on the shore for a long time. Later, when it got dark, Uncle De found me and said that my wife and the Duke had returned."
"I was shocked and frightened at the time. Later..." Anxiang took a sip of tea and thought for a moment, "I later learned that my wife was safe and sound, so I returned home. However, not long after, Lingnan was hit by a flood. After much thought, I exchanged the money my wife gave me for rice and flour, and distributed it to the local people."
"I thought I was going to end up living on the streets, but then I met him along the way. After a few interactions, we both felt that we were good people, so we got married at the beginning of this year."
Anxiang's husband is a hardworking carpenter, but his income is meager and can barely provide for the two of them.
Meng Xuanli nodded and smiled faintly, saying, "You two are destined to be together, a match made in heaven." She paused and said, "Take all the money Fuyao gave you, and consider it our food expenses."
"Once everything is settled, Fuyao and I will rent a house in town and not disturb you two." Although Anxiang didn't say it, Meng Xuanli still felt it was a bit abrupt.
"My lady, don't say that. If it weren't for you, I would probably still be a maid in the Duke's Mansion. Although I live in poverty now, I am quite happy every day." Anxiang smiled.
Meng Xuanli also liked days like this. He picked up the teacup and blew on it: "But... I think it can be better."
An Xiang was puzzled: "What does my wife mean?"
"You'll know in the future." Meng Xuanli deliberately kept the secret, shook his head and refused to elaborate.
Meng Xuanli and Fuyao had been out and about these past few days, discovering that the town wasn't large, but it had a large population. The only pharmacy in town was a few blocks away, not only far away but also lacking in variety. If they had a headache or a fever, they either had to endure it or go to the even farther east to get medicine.
It’s really not cheap.
After thinking it over, Meng Xuanli called Anxiang and Fuyao and told them his idea: "Let's open a medicine shop."
"Pharmacy?" An Xiang hesitated. "Madam, is this possible? It seems that none of us know anything about medicine."
"We don't treat patients." Meng Xuanli said calmly, clearly thinking it through. "We only sell medicine."
"I have some knowledge of pharmacology and recognize quite a few medicinal herbs. We can purchase from reliable pharmacists and sell high-quality, commonly used herbs. We won't have a doctor on duty, just deal in herbs."
Meng Xuanli looked at Anxiang and said, "You are thoughtful and know the people in town. You can help look after the shop and greet customers." He then looked at Fuyao who was standing beside him and said, "You can read. You can help with the bookkeeping and manage the flow of medicinal materials."
"This..." An Xiang was still hesitant, "What about the capital and the shop?"
The two of them smiled, and Fuyao took out Jinling's bag of gold and silver: "With these, I should be able to rent a shop and order some medicinal herbs."
Anxiang looked at the two people opposite her, opened her mouth, and couldn't speak.
Meng Xuanli patted Anxiang's shoulder, his eyes firm. "I know this is risky, but we have to give it a try. We can't just sit back and enjoy our savings. With a business, our lives will be better."
"Don't you think so?"
Fuyao also looked at Anxiang. Thinking of Meng Xuanli's predicament, Anxiang gritted her teeth and nodded, "Okay, my lady, I'll listen to you. Although I don't know medicine, I can learn. Greeting customers and cleaning the shop are not a problem."
Fuyao also responded: "My wife, I will also keep good accounts and manage the herbs."
Meng Xuanli reached out and gently scratched the tips of their noses, then smiled and said, "Okay!"
After the three of them agreed, Meng Xuanli consulted experienced elders in the town based on his memory and drew up a list of medicinal herbs to be sold in the initial stage. Most of them were for treating colds, bruises and sprains, and clearing away heat and detoxifying.
Anxiang's husband helped find a shop in a good location in the town, and Fuyao was responsible for cleaning and customizing the shelves, medicine cabinets and plaques.
At the same time, Meng Xuanli went to the city in person and contacted several good-looking herbal medicine stores. After carefully checking the quality of the herbs, he ordered the first batch of goods.
In just a few days, a pharmacy, still unsigned, had taken shape. Standing outside the door, Meng Xuanli looked up, feeling an indescribable sense of security.
#
It is the 15th day of September, the air is filled with humidity, and the summer heat in Lingnan has not yet completely subsided.
The shop had been open for nearly two months. It wasn't large, but the furnishings were simple, the herbs neatly arranged, and the assortment complete. Meng Xuanli's prices were fair, Anxiang's hospitality was warm, and Fuyao's work was efficient. Gradually, the shop gained a good reputation in town.
As the pharmacy became more stable, Meng Xuanli's life gradually became peaceful and harmonious.
She rose early each morning, strolled through the courtyard for a short while, and after breakfast, went to the pharmacy. She would first review the previous day's accounts, then check the stock of herbs, and sometimes consult the town's old doctor for more advanced pharmacological advice.
Meng Xuanli's belly was already noticeably bulging, but fortunately the customs in Lingnan were relatively open, and she presented herself as a distant sister of Anxiang, so she did not attract much criticism.
That afternoon, the sun shone brightly, filtering through the door of the pharmacy and casting ripples of light onto the ground. The streets were sparsely populated, and the shop itself seemed somewhat quiet.
Meng Xuanli sat behind the counter, checking a new batch of herbs. Anxiang was tidying the medicine cabinet, and Fuyao was drying herbs in the backyard. Everything was proceeding smoothly.
At this time, several middle-aged people walked in. One of them, a woman in gorgeous clothes, stepped forward first, her tone somewhat anxious: "Mrs. Meng, please give me some medicine. Here is the prescription." She handed the prescription to the counter.
Meng Xuanli put down the Poria cocos in her hand, took the prescription and glanced at it. It was a prescription for treating palpitations and insomnia. She raised her head and said gently, "Madam, is this prescription for family members? How long have the symptoms lasted?"
The woman sighed and said sadly, "It's for my little sister. She's been restless lately and can't sleep well at night."
As Meng Xuanli listened, he gestured to Anxiang to get the medicine according to the prescription and said soothingly, "Madam, please comfort your sister. The root of this illness is in her heart and needs to be treated with medicine for the heart."
The woman nodded repeatedly. "Who says not? We've been trying to persuade him every day. But the child is stuck in a rut. I'm afraid he won't be able to get over it for a while."
She seemed to have opened up a chatterbox, and she sighed to the people around her: "Speaking of which, my little sister's illness is nothing."
"I heard that the duke in Dongdu... well, the one who was originally going to marry Miss Zheng, Duke Lu, have you heard about it?"
When Meng Xuanli heard this, his expression did not change, but his fingers paused, and the beads collided, making a crisp sound.
Another man took over the conversation, his tone somewhat lamenting, "How could I not have heard of him? He's a favorite of the current emperor, and the only son of the eldest princess and the old duke."
"Who could have imagined that such a precious person would be gone just like that? And that Miss Zheng, her husband died before she even got married. She's such a pitiful person."
The woman agreed, "That's right. I heard that an old injury had recurred and he had been ill for quite some time. The palace doctors were helpless, and he just died just like that... Alas, what a cruel fate."
"So, no matter how glorious and prominent a person may have been in life, in the end... they're just dead."
Meng Xuanli didn't hear what they said next. She knew Lu Guanque was injured and that he didn't have much time left, but she didn't expect him to die so soon.
A dark mist formed before Meng Xuanli's eyes. Her fingertips slid, and with a clatter, she knocked over the jujube kernels beside her. In an instant, the tiny brown fruits spilled onto the counter and even rolled onto the floor.
"Madam." Anxiang was surprised and hurried forward.
The people standing there were also startled, stopped talking, and looked back at the counter in astonishment.
Meng Xuanli took a deep breath, lowered her eyes, and said in a low voice: "Sorry, my hand slipped." She squatted down and, together with Anxiang, silently picked up the sour jujube kernels.
Seeing this, the woman thought she was pregnant and couldn't bear to hear such scary things. She was too embarrassed to discuss it any further, so she said awkwardly, "It's okay, it's okay. Shopkeeper, please go slowly. Don't be anxious."
Meng Xuanli stood up, paused for a moment, and handed the wrapped herbs to the woman, saying gently, "Madam, take them. Just boil them according to the prescription and take them. If you feel any discomfort, you must seek medical attention immediately."
The woman paid, thanked the doctor, and left the pharmacy with the medicine.
Seeing that there were people behind him, Meng Xuanli waved and said to Anxiang, "I'm not feeling well. You take care of the shop first."
An Xiang knew what was going on and nodded, "Madam, go to the backyard and rest. Fu Yao and I are here."
Meng Xuanli said "hmm", walked slowly to the backyard, picked up a chair and sat down.
She remembered that when Lu Guanque went to Yanjing to find her, he had contracted an epidemic. The imperial physician had said he wouldn't survive more than three years. The emperor had sent him to the border to reinforce the troops, but he returned covered in wounds. Later, while trying to save her, he was poisoned by an arrow and barely survived.
But he endured all these... and recovered well, so why did he die out of the blue?
Could it be that this is really a recurrence of an old injury?
Meng Xuanli shook her head slightly. She shouldn't be bothered by these thoughts, or rather, shouldn't be bothered by Lu Guanque. They had no relationship at all, so what business was it of hers whether he was dead or alive?
Then she came to her senses and realized that he was dead.
Meng Xuanli leaned back and closed her eyes, suddenly thinking of the past when she sat on him and asked him threateningly, "Lu Guanque, what are you most afraid of?" His expression was gentle, his eyes bright, and he said to her, "I'm most afraid of losing you."
She had truly loved him then, but what about now? He had abandoned her, and he was dead.
This should be a kind of retribution.
Meng Xuanli took a deep breath, opened his eyes, and stared at the shadows of the trees without the slightest fluctuation.
The past, the love and hate, the troubles, should all disappear with his death.
After a long while, she slowly stood up and walked to the counter. Seeing that it was already dark, she smiled and said, "Let's clean up and get ready to close."
#
In October, autumn deepened, all the flowers withered, and golden ginkgo leaves fell, covering the imperial road of the palace.
In the back hall of Zichen Palace, the doors and windows were tightly closed, blocking out the autumn sun and wind. The hall was filled with the strong smell of alcohol, and no one dared to disturb it.
Emperor Xiao Ting was dressed in plain clothes, without a crown, his dark hair held together only by a jade hairpin. He sat alone on a soft couch, clutching a white jade wine cup, his gaze fixed on the splendor of the distant sky.
The Xiao court had just finished arranging Lu Guanque's funeral, burying him with state ceremony and grand ceremony, including posthumous titles and honorifics. After the court officials expressed their condolences, some genuine and some feigned, everything calmed down again.
But he knew that the sharpest sword in his hand was gone.
Xiao Ting raised his head and drank a glass of wine, and the scene of his last meeting with Lu Guanque emerged in his mind.
"Are you crazy?"
Xiao Ting was furious and almost threw the hot tea in his face. "Have you forgotten how Zheng Wanruo hurt you and Meng Xuanli in the first place? Now that you're well again, you actually said you want to marry her?"
Lu Guanque knelt on the ground and said in a low voice: "I have made up my mind. I beg Your Majesty to grant my wish."
"Reason." Xiao Ting pressed, "Give me a reasonable reason."
Lu Guanque was silent for a moment, then stood up and said calmly, "General Zheng is old and has only one daughter. I feel guilty towards the Zheng family. Moreover, I and Madam Meng... have different personalities. We have already signed a divorce agreement, but we have never publicized it. Now that I have recovered from my illness, I need someone to take charge of the family. Miss Zheng is the most suitable candidate."
This excuse was so far-fetched that Xiao Ting didn't believe a word of it. He knew Lu Guanque; he was a man of unwavering stubbornness, determined to achieve anything he set his mind to. If Lu Guanque truly had no regard for Meng Xuanli, he wouldn't have asked for permission in the first place, much less muttered her name while fainting.
Xiao Ting suppressed his anger and advised, "Lu Guanque, listen to me. Let bygones be bygones. I've seen everything that happened between you and Meng Xuanli. Why do you have to continue..."
"Your Majesty," Lu Guanque interrupted him, saying firmly, "I have made up my mind."
"You can do it, you can do it very well." Xiao Yan couldn't persuade Lu Guanque, and wrote down the imperial decree granting the marriage with a sullen face.
"I bow to thank the Holy Spirit for His Grace."
…
Xiao Yan was so angry that he directly stamped the jade seal. Now when he thinks about it, he feels that everything is weird.
Why did Lu Guanque suddenly marry Zheng Wanruo when he was recovering? And why did he use such a lame excuse? And even more so, with such a resolute attitude?
Wait, that doesn't seem to make sense...
Imperial Physician Yu had clearly said that Lu Guanque had recovered well, so how could his old injury suddenly relapse, leaving even the Imperial Medical Bureau helpless?
Xiao Ting suddenly threw the wine glass to the ground, and with a "bang", porcelain pieces flew everywhere.
The eunuch on duty heard the sound and was so frightened that he trembled all over. He knelt on the ground in panic and dared not make a sound.
Xiao Ting seemed not to hear.
wrong.
None of this is right.
From Lu Guanque's insistence on divorce to his sudden proposal to Zheng Wanruo, and then to his sudden death, this series of events was really too tight.
Is he hiding something? Or is he doing all this to protect something?
Meng Xuanli?
There is only Meng Xuanli.
Xiao Ting stood up, his legs numb and his head a little dizzy. He held onto the table to steady himself and ordered, "Come here, pass on my instructions. Summon the commander of the secret guards to come to the palace to see me immediately. Do not disturb anyone."
"Yes!" The eunuch did not dare to be negligent. He bowed and retreated, leaving quickly.
No matter what the truth is, he must get to the bottom of it. This is not only to give an explanation to Lu Guanque, but also because as an emperor, he cannot tolerate being fooled.
-----------------------
The author has something to say: This chapter.
First couplet: The heroine is pregnant, and the hero is dead.
Second line: The emperor is angry, and the author is blind (my eyes hurt [cracked] from typing at night)
Horizontal banner: "Everyone suffers"
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