Chapter 99 Chapter 99 "Xie did not divorce."
After Xie Zhiyan led his troops to war, the Jingguo Mansion seemed to quickly return to its former tranquility.
Sheng Puzhu's life became unusually regular.
Although he did not have to visit his elders every morning and evening, he would get up at Chenshi and go to bed at Haishi every day. The rest of the time was spent taking care of the inner house and serving the elders, and he did everything meticulously.
She would go to Linlang Pavilion once every five days and laugh and play with the young men in the pavilion as usual, but she no longer read storybooks at night, ate fewer snacks, and even stopped liking desserts for her three meals a day.
Nanny Du was anxious, but there was nothing she could do. Naidong and the others tried different ways to cheer her up.
Most of the time, Sheng Puzhu sat alone quietly in front of the window, with his eyes distracted and unfocused, like a beautiful and exquisite puppet without a soul.
"Bozhu."
"Are you worried about Sanlang?" In Yishou Hall, the old lady looked at her face which was obviously much thinner, sighed softly, put down the teacup and asked.
Sheng Puzhu shook her head, subconsciously wanting to deny it, but when the words came to her lips, she met the old lady's kind eyes that seemed to have seen through everything. A subtle emotion arose in her heart, and somehow, she nodded as if possessed by a demon.
"Um."
"The conditions at Yumen Pass are harsh, and I'm worried that my husband won't be able to provide adequate food and shelter."
The old lady was not surprised, but extended her hand towards her with understanding.
His dry, withered palm gently rested on the cool back of her hand, patting it lovingly. "Good girl, I'm sorry for the injustice you've endured these past few years."
The old lady looked at the withered yellow leaves outside the window, as if she saw a distant past. Her mood became depressed, and she sighed and said slowly: "Come to think of it, I was not much better than you back then."
"The year Sanlang's grandfather married me, the date was set long ago, and it was also the emperor who granted the marriage."
"But he couldn't get back from Yumen Pass. On the day of the wedding, there were no male descendants of the Xie family left in Chang'an. I got into the bridal sedan by myself and married into the Xie family without hesitation."
"On the night of the third year of their marriage, he finally returned to Chang'an."
"He ended up sneaking into my room in the dark in the middle of the night. I had no idea what he looked like at the time, so I panicked and called for the maid. Everyone in the Duke of Jingguo's mansion thought the house had been robbed and that a lecher had broken in."
"Later, I don't know who spread the news, but the whole of Chang'an laughed at him for a long time."
The old lady narrowed her eyes, her expression indifferent, as if she had intercepted a certain period of her life from the long river of time.
"At that time, Great Yan was in ruins and not as strong as it is now. He spent most of his time at Yumen Pass. Every time he went on a campaign, I pretended to be calm in front of others, but in fact I often woke up in the middle of the night."
"Puzhu." The old lady thought for a moment and touched Sheng Puzhu's thin, pointed cheek. "There are some things that we can't think about, and we dare not think about them."
"I lived in fear every day, and dreamed countless times of hearing the news that he had died in battle."
The old lady frowned and said with great self-blame, "Later, when the news came from Yumen Pass that he had died in battle, I was so calm that I couldn't even cry."
"From then on, all I dreamed about was him coming back to see me often."
"Actually, living too long isn't good either." The old lady felt bad, but she jokingly sighed, "After he left, Yumen Pass couldn't be left unguarded. Later, Sanlang's father volunteered to go to the border, guarding every inch of land his father had conquered, even facing numerous dangers."
At this point, the old lady's calm voice choked slightly. "For hundreds of years, the Xie family has been around, generation after generation. Sanlang went to Yumen Pass when he was only a teenager, as if he was destined to live this life."
"I don't know what happened between you and your wife, but he's a reserved person. If he's done anything wrong, just tell me."
"It's okay even if she's a bit spoiled. Nowadays, every girl is rich and noble. Since he's your husband, he should spoil you unconditionally."
Sheng Puzhu looked at the old lady's silver hair and lowered her eyes slightly: "Grandma, what if it was my granddaughter-in-law who did something wrong?"
The old lady was startled, holding her chest and coughing softly. Her voice seemed to be laughing: "What can you do wrong?"
"Every month, I write to my family, covering every detail, helping him take care of the inner house and serve the elders."
"That's enough."
The old lady was coughing violently, her shoulders were shaking slightly, her aged body was like a fallen leaf in the wind, her clothes were loose on her body, and it made people feel uneasy.
Sheng Puzhu quickly stood up and patted her back, her brows slightly furrowed. She had clearly been taking care of her with Master Yundeng's prescriptions, and with Chen Ce visiting her every three days to diagnose her pulse and administer acupuncture, her health should have gradually improved under such meticulous care.
But in recent days, he has been coughing non-stop, his lips are pale, and the cough is even getting worse.
An inexplicable feeling of unease rose in his heart, and Sheng Puzhu asked gently, "Grandmother, how about I go to the palace tomorrow and see if I can ask Master Yundeng to treat you again?"
"No."
"It's just a cough caused by the cold weather."
The old lady waved her hand, her face flushing unnaturally. She said weakly, "It's nothing serious. It's almost the end of the year, and there's a lot going on in the Eastern Palace. When the weather warms up next spring, your health will naturally improve."
"Besides, I can walk and move around, but it's cold and I feel sleepy and lazy."
Sheng Puzhu held the old lady's hand and was about to persuade her again when Nanny Du hurried into the room: "Madam, someone is coming from the East Palace."
"Who is coming?" Sheng Puzhu asked.
Nanny Du frowned and said, "She is the personal nanny of the Crown Princess."
Sheng Puzhu nodded: "Okay, I'll go prepare it right away."
*
"Puzhu, you're here." Wei Yuanning leaned on the couch, his face slightly pale, but the smile in his eyes could not be concealed.
Sheng Puzhu stepped forward and asked uncertainly, "You, this is..."
She pointed to her lower abdomen.
Wei Yuanning nodded with a smile, a slight blush on her face: "Yeah."
"It's only been a month, and Master Yundeng said my pulse is weak for now, so it's best not to make it public."
"I'm feeling really uncomfortable and don't know who to talk to. After thinking it over, I feel like I should tell you."
She took Sheng Puzhu's hand and held it tightly. "It was not easy for this child to come. If it weren't for Master Yundeng who has been taking care of Your Highness's health, I'm not sure if the Saint would have added another child to the Eastern Palace after the spring."
Wei Yuanning must have been scared, even his voice was shaking: "Even though Jiulang promised, I also believed him."
"But……"
Sheng Puzhu listened quietly. Wei Yuanning shook his head at her, as if surrendering to fate. "The Eastern Palace cannot be without an heir. No matter how much I don't want to, there's no other way out."
It was a cold winter day, but the charcoal fires in the palace were burning brightly, so it wasn't actually cold.
Sheng Puju forced a smile, unable to utter any words of comfort. She wanted to ask her if she regretted it, but she knew that Wei Yuanning did not regret it.
Prince Xiao Changsui is actually a very good person, but no matter who you are, as long as you are in this world, there will be too many things that are beyond your control.
Wei Yuanning quickly calmed down and placed a hand gently on her lower abdomen: "Bozhu, are you okay?"
Sheng Puzhu smiled slightly: "Thank you for your concern, I am fine."
Wei Yuanning's eyes showed distress: "Zhenzhu, I don't think you're feeling well."
Sheng Puzhu was startled: "Why do you say that?"
Wei Yuanning pointed with her soft fingertips: "Eyes, Bodhizhu, your eyes won't lie."
Strangely enough, the two people who were originally strangers became close friends who could talk about anything in just over a year because of their common interests.
Seeing Sheng Puzhu didn't answer, Wei Yuanning smiled helplessly: "Why do you have to be so stubborn?"
"Ever since Xie Sanlang left Chang'an, I've noticed that you look listless every time you enter the palace. And you've lost weight again today."
Sheng Puzhu was touched by what she said and touched her cheek. "Is it really obvious that you've lost weight?"
Wei Yuanning nodded solemnly: "Yes, it's obvious."
"OK."
"Then I'll have half an extra cake for dinner."
Before curfew, Sheng Puzhu returned to the Duke of Jingguo's Mansion.
After returning home, she went to Yishou Hall to pay her respects as usual.
As soon as I stepped into the yard, I heard Qin's somewhat shrill laughter. Although the eldest wife was still not favored by the old lady, Qin would go to pay her respects at the right time every morning and evening.
When Sheng Puzhu entered, Qin took the initiative to greet him with a smile: "Puzhu is here."
"I'm afraid Qingshu hasn't told you yet. She's been pregnant for over two months. Qingshu should have come back to tell you in person, but she was worried about the baby's instability, so she only sent a maid back to announce the good news."
Qin couldn't hide the smile on her face at all. The previous incident of Xie Qingshu and Prince An's concubine competing for favor was known to everyone, but it still did not prevent her from giving birth to children for Xiao Xuan.
Sheng Puzhu felt it was ironic to see Qin Shi smiling happily. She didn't want to say anything, but Qin Shi's attitude towards her was obviously one of trying to please her.
The reason why Qin was so humble was also because of her brother Shen Ce's medical skills.
Master Yundeng was in the palace, and Qin had no way to deal with him, but Chen Ce was Master Yundeng's closed disciple. She wanted to ask Chen Ce to treat Xie Jiyan's leg, so she was naturally willing to be humble to Sheng Puzhu.
In fact, Sheng Puzhu would not stop it at all, but he would not beg for Qin either. Whether to treat it was entirely up to his brother's own wishes.
Perhaps because he was a kind-hearted doctor, Shen Ce agreed to Qin's request.
As to whether it can be cured, no one can say for sure.
Not wanting to deal with Qin, Sheng Puzhu smiled and congratulated her a few times, but there was not much ripple in his heart.
Although winter is long, it passes very quickly and New Year's Eve is here in the blink of an eye.
Sheng Puzhu was supposed to stay up all night with other families, but she was not in the mood. She just said she was tired and wanted to rest early. She had the so-called reunion dinner and left early.
After returning to Yunyu Hall, she drank half a cup of fruit wine alone. She was not drunk, but her mind became drowsy and confused.
She stood up shakily and rummaged through the bamboo basket to find the purse embroidered for Xie Zhiyan, thinking that since it was New Year's Day, she should stuff a few gold beans into it for good luck.
Sheng Puzhu searched for a long time in the bamboo basket where needles and thread were kept, but could not find the purse embroidered with plump mandarin ducks embracing each other on dark green satin.
"Madam Du."
"My purse is missing."
"Madam, what kind of purse is it?"
"Well, it's embroidered with plump mandarin ducks."
Sheng Puzhu rubbed his forehead, his voice filled with sleepiness: "I clearly put it in this basket, how come it's gone?"
Madam Du was equally puzzled. "That's strange. I also remember you putting it in the bamboo basket."
Sheng Puzhu stood there in a daze, feeling empty in her heart, and an uneasy feeling of powerlessness weighed on her.
Her heart felt like it was being pulled, and it hurt with every breath. She shook her head: "Forget it, maybe I remembered it wrong."
"I'm so tired. I should go to bed."
In the cold winter, the north wind is biting.
The sky was just beginning to turn a light fish belly white, but the tranquility at the beginning of the new year was broken by a burst of hurried horse hooves.
"Express for 800 miles to Yumen Pass."
"Go, go and invite the Duke."
"My dear husband was attacked by the enemy at Yumen Pass and died in battle..."
In front of the Marquis' Mansion, Sheng Puzhu could not hear a single word that the official said.
Her face was pale and she was surrounded by a group of people. She still couldn't stand steadily, and there were waves of dark shadows in front of her eyes, as if they were going to swallow her.
"What did you say?"
"Why don't I understand?" Sheng Puzhu blinked her eyes, and everything in front of her was blurred. She reached out to touch something, but her tears kept rolling down her cheeks.
Cangguan was covered in blood and kneeling on the ground.
His face was covered in blood, and he kowtowed heavily: "Madam, my husband is in danger. I have found his body... It has been confirmed..."
"Are you sure about what?"
"Don't lie to me."
"Isn't Xie Zhiyan the God of War of Dayan?"
Sheng Puzhu stood there in a daze, her ears ringing, the world in front of her seemed to have lost its color, and all kinds of noise filled her mind.
Her body swayed, and before she fell, she remembered Xie Zhiyan's cold and paranoid words before he went to the battle.
"Xie didn't divorce."
"Only widowed."
It turned out that his words had come true.
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