Chapter 216 [Extra] If Uncle Hadn't Died 2
In the Zichen Palace, the incense burned out, and the last wisp of smoke came out of the incense beast's mouth and dissipated without a trace.
The palace maid carefully lifted the incense cover and caught a glimpse of a man who was supporting himself with one hand, sleeping lightly with his eyes closed, but his aura was undiminished as she added incense.
Suddenly, the thick eyebrows wrinkled slightly, and the palace maid was so scared that her hand trembled, and the incense cover fell straight down, making a slight but harsh sound.
The man's eyelids moved slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes, revealing his phoenix eyes. A fierce light flashed in his dark and deep eyes, and there was a hint of impatience between his brows.
Seeing this, the palace maid fell to her knees with a thud, her body shaking like a sieve: "Your Majesty, please spare me. This servant did not mean to disturb your peace!"
The temples felt like they were being stabbed by sharp needles, his head ached, and a violent look flashed in Emperor Jingxuan's eyes.
The palace ladies below were filled with despair, quietly waiting for the order of death to come.
Suddenly, a faint fragrance entered his nose. Emperor Jingxuan reached out and took out a piece of silk scarf from his sleeve, put it under his nose and sniffed it gently until the sharp pain in his head gradually disappeared and his eyes returned to calmness.
"Go down and let Jiang Fusheng come in." He ordered in a cold voice without moving his eyes.
"Yes, yes, I'll go right away!"
The palace maid felt relieved and crawled and rolled out of the hall to find Eunuch Jiang, the chief steward of the imperial court.
Jiang Fusheng rushed over upon hearing the news and hurried into the palace, "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
Emperor Jingxuan ordered with a sullen face: "Go check among the women who entered the palace that day, are there any whose names contain..."
He lowered his eyes to the pattern on the lower corner of the green silk scarf in his hand. He rubbed it with his fingertips, and a word inexplicably emerged in his mind.
"cloud."
"Go look for the one with the word 'cloud' in it."
Emperor Jingxuan didn't know why he thought this way, he just had this idea when he woke up.
If that woman is not in the palace, then she is outside the palace.
He wanted to see who the person was and why he could cure his headache. If he had evil intentions, he would dig three feet underground to find him.
Although Jiang Fusheng was full of doubts, he still responded: "Yes, I have made a note of it. I will do it right away."
"No rush."
The headache eased a little, and Emperor Jingxuan put the handkerchief back into his arms. He casually asked, "Has anything interesting happened outside the palace recently?"
Jiang Fusheng pondered for a moment, then an idea struck him: "Well... there is one thing."
"Duke Lu's younger brother, the Third Master Lu, died of a serious illness. The old lady of the Lu family attempted to have her daughter-in-law buried alive with her son, and she actually poisoned her daughter-in-law at Bai Yan!"
"Dead?"
Emperor Jingxuan took a sip of tea from the cup with an indifferent tone.
Jiang Fusheng shook his head: "No, it was actually Madam Lu San who was lucky enough to escape. Afterwards, she took the marriage certificate and returned to Yangzhou with her uncle."
Emperor Jingxuan nodded lightly, showing little interest.
He was too lazy to ask whether he was lucky enough to escape or something else.
Jiang Fusheng smiled and said, "What a coincidence! Madam Lu's surname is Yun. She is said to be stunningly beautiful and she and Mr. Lu are deeply in love. It's a pity that the old lady was so foolish as to have such a vicious idea."
"Otherwise, given the affection between the two, Madam Yun might even voluntarily remain faithful to her husband."
"oh."
Emperor Jingxuan did not take it seriously and was obviously not interested in his ministers' family affairs.
He waved his hand and said, "Go down."
Upon seeing this, Jiang Fusheng stopped telling the story and turned to track down the women in the capital who had attended the banquet on his master's birthday and whose names contained the character "Yun".
This investigation was shocking.
Two days later, Jiang Fusheng tremblingly presented a document to Emperor Jingxuan.
After hearing his story, Emperor Jingxuan's eyes narrowed and his tone became dangerous: "Are you saying that the woman who approached me that day was the young widow of the Lu family who had just lost her husband?"
Jiang Fusheng quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded: "I dare not say for sure, but it is probably true."
"This is the handkerchief Madam Yun used every day. She didn't take it with her. The others were burned by the Lu family's servants. Only this one remains."
He pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.
Staring at the identical pattern on the handkerchief and the faint fragrance that had faded, Emperor Jingxuan had an idea.
His eyes were dark and deep, difficult to discern.
After a long while, he opened his mouth and said, "Tell me about her and the Lu family in detail."
Jiang Fusheng hurriedly reported everything he had found out in detail.
Emperor Jingxuan murmured softly, "So, no one around her knows what happened that night? She didn't tell anyone a word?"
After all, having physical contact with a man other than her husband is a devastating blow to a woman. It is enough to brand her as an adulterer, and those with fragile personalities may even commit suicide.
The young widow of the Lu family neither attempted suicide nor made any public announcement, indicating that she just thought it was an accident, or even wanted to pretend it had never happened. So she used the poisoning incident as an excuse to leave the capital and go to Yangzhou.
"It seems that the love between husband and wife is just like this." He sneered.
Jiang Fusheng was stunned. Was it his imagination? Why did this sentence sound sour?
"Then, Your Majesty, should we continue investigating? Should we stop Madam Yun and bring her to confront her?"
"Don't check, she's just a woman."
Emperor Jingxuan raised his chin slightly, his eyes revealing arrogance and composure: "Tell the Xuanlong Guards to stop, and pretend this never happened."
Since the other party had nothing to do with the person who framed him and was eager to distance himself from him, he, the emperor, naturally would not hold on to him.
Just a woman.
Emperor Jingxuan didn't take it to heart and didn't take it seriously.
However, as time went on, he became more and more irritated and unhappy.
When I wake up in the middle of the night, I always dream of that night in the bamboo attic.
The woman's soft waist, the rich fragrance all over her body, and her sobbing voice...seemed to be within reach.
But as soon as he stretched out his hand, it turned into foam and disappeared.
At midnight, Emperor Jingxuan woke up from his dream with heavy breathing and his whole body stiff and painful.
He lowered his eyes to glance at the figure standing tall below him, and his face suddenly darkened.
"Jiang Fusheng!"
Eunuch Jiang, suddenly awakened, adjusted his hat and quickly appeared, "What are your instructions, Your Majesty?"
Emperor Jingxuan pursed his lips and said coldly: "I want to take a bath!"
The palace maid quickly prepared hot water. Emperor Jingxuan stepped into the water, his thick brows furrowed, "The water is scalding."
Jiang Fusheng waved his hand to signal the palace maid to add cold water, but he did not forget to complain in his heart:
It's not the water that's hot, it's your body, your heart, and everything else that's hot.
When the water was almost cold, Emperor Jingxuan stretched out his arms and leaned against the wall of the bathtub.
As soon as I closed my eyes, I seemed to be able to smell her fragrance, and her face, vague and unclear, appeared in front of me.
He moved his lips: "As a widow, what status do you think I should give her?"
Jiang Fusheng hesitated, not knowing how to answer.
Before he could speak, he heard his master's voice: "Forget it, get out."
“........”
She's just a woman, he shouldn't be controlled by her.
Thinking this way, Emperor Jingxuan forced himself to stop thinking about the woman whose face he didn't even know what she looked like.
Half a month passed in a flash, and during a nap at noon, Emperor Jingxuan dreamed of the young widow named Yun Wan again.
In the dream, she turned her back to him and said in a cheerful tone:
She is getting married!
Clang——
The dream was torn apart, and Emperor Jingxuan suddenly woke up. He swung his long arm and swept the teacup off the table. The porcelain body broke into pieces and the tea splashed everywhere.
Hearing the noise, the palace maids knelt down one after another.
Glancing at his master's grim expression, Jiang Fusheng was secretly alarmed and asked with concern, "Is your Majesty's headache coming back again?"
Emperor Jingxuan raised his hand to support his forehead, his brows furrowed, and a look of deep displeasure appeared on his resolute and handsome face.
He recalled his dream and his expression became tense.
He actually dreamed that the young widow was getting married again.
absurd!
Her ex-husband had only been dead for a few months, and she was going to get married?
Is this reasonable?
Thinking about how I have been haunted and unable to sleep these days, a feeling of unhappiness arises spontaneously.
Emperor Jingxuan ordered with a sullen face: "Prepare the boats, I want to go to Yangzhou."
Recently he received a secret letter that some people in the Jiangnan area were illegally selling salt and minting coins. This was a major event that concerned the country of Da Qi. Once it became widespread, it would shake the foundation of the country. He planned to go and investigate in person.
I'll go and meet the young widow named Yun Wan and stop thinking about her as soon as possible.
He would never be swayed by a woman. Perhaps once he saw her, the inexplicable thoughts in her heart would dissipate.
.......
Yangzhou City, Fengshui Lane, Cen Family.
"Doctor, what's wrong with my Ah Wan? Is she sick?"
Seeing the doctor coming out of the house, Cen Zhuo asked nervously.
Since returning to Yangzhou, my niece's complexion has been getting better and better. However, this morning she suddenly fainted for no reason. This scared the whole family, and Cen Yuanzhou also returned home from the academy.
The doctor was quite familiar with the Cen family and had some friendship with them. He smiled happily and said, "Don't worry, Miss Yun is fine, she's just two months pregnant."
"Pregnant?"
The father and son of the Cen family looked at each other, both of them showing surprise.
After seeing the doctor off, they went into the house to visit Yun Wan.
Yun Wan was also surprised to learn that she was two months pregnant.
She lowered her head and stroked her flat belly, her expression stunned. She couldn't believe that there was a little life living here, following her from the capital back to Yangzhou, and she didn't even notice it along the way.
Just thinking of the child's father...
Yun Wan pursed her lips and said nothing.
She and her husband have not had sex for half a year, so this child cannot be her dead husband's. So there is only one possibility.
The child was born from that accident.
Thinking of that person's supreme status, Yun Wan's expression was complicated.
Unexpectedly, she and her husband had been married for more than a year but had not been pregnant. However, she got pregnant after an accident with that man.
Seeing this, Lin Xiu put away her smile and asked carefully: "A Wan, don't you want this child?"
"Although this child came at an inopportune time, doesn't it also prove that this child is destined to be with you and our family?"
"Let's give birth to this child. If you don't like it, your uncle and I can raise it."
Thinking of the sins committed by the Lu family, Lin Xiu was afraid that Yun Wan would feel disgusted and reject the child in her belly.
Moreover, it is always difficult for a woman without a husband to raise a child these days.
Cen Zhuo, who was delighted to learn that his niece was pregnant, agreed, "That's right, your aunt and I are still young, so raising a child shouldn't be a problem. If anyone asks, we can just say it's your cousin's child!"
Although this will have some impact on his son's future marriage, as a man, it is better for him to endure a few rumors at most than for his child to be scolded as a fatherless child in the future.
If their son really gets married in the future, they will naturally make it clear with his in-laws before the engagement.
As for having an abortion, they never even thought about it.
Firstly, abortion drugs are cold in nature. At the very least, they can harm your body and you will lose the chance to be a mother in the future; at the worst, you may lose your life, which is not worth the loss.
As for the Lu family, the Lu and Yun families, they had no intention of informing them at all, and were even determined to keep it a secret for the rest of their lives.
Cen Yuanzhou nodded in agreement and had no objection.
Meeting their cautious and expectant eyes, Yun Wan felt a lump in his throat and felt very uncomfortable.
She held Lin Xiu's hand, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "Uncle and aunt, what are you thinking? I never thought of not wanting this child."
"He came all the way from the capital to Yangzhou without making a fuss. He was so well behaved and strong. How could I bear to leave him?"
She looked at the handsome and thin Cen Yuanzhou and said helplessly, "And cousin, why are you fooling around with your uncle and aunt? You're unmarried and have a child. If the news gets out, which girl would dare to marry you?"
If she gave birth to the child, it might be her only bloodline in this life.
Because she never thought about getting married again.
To reassure them, Yun Wan simply said, "Don't worry, uncle and aunt. I won't do anything stupid. I will give birth to this child safely. I'll just have to trouble you two to help take care of it in the future."
Lin Xiu nodded hurriedly: "Yeah, no problem, we've been wanting to have grandchildren for a long time! It's just that your cousin is not doing his best!"
As she said this she glared at her son.
Cen Yuanzhou touched his nose. He was now concentrating on preparing for next year's spring examination.
After confirming that Yun Wan agreed to give birth to the child, Cen Zhuo and his wife finally breathed a sigh of relief. Happy, the Cen family got busy again.
Lin Xiu went to boil medicine for Yun Wan to maintain her pregnancy, Cen Zhuo went to find a craftsman in the east of the city to order a rocking cradle toy for the future baby, and Cen Yuanzhou went to the market to buy Yun Wan's favorite dishes.
Yun Wan's heart was filled with happiness, and she unconsciously raised the corners of her lips.
........
In August, Yunwan's pregnancy was three months old and gradually became apparent.
It is worth mentioning that this child is extremely well-behaved. He has never made any noise since she became pregnant. He is so well-behaved that sometimes Yun Wan, the mother, doubts whether she really has a child in her belly.
But this is also a good thing, which means that both mother and child are safe.
After three months, Yun Wan no longer stayed at home all day. She would occasionally go out and accompany Lin Xiu to buy groceries.
All the neighbors knew that the husband of Xiao Awan, the beautiful niece of the Cen family, had died. Both her parents' and her in-laws disliked her and could not tolerate her, so she was taken to Yangzhou by her uncle while she was still pregnant.
While discussing this, one couldn't help but sigh. There was also a nosy matchmaker who planned to come to Yun Wan's house to propose marriage after she gave birth to the child.
These days, beautiful widows who can bear children are more sought after than young girls.
Yun Wan didn't care when she occasionally received pitying and sympathetic looks from others. She felt that her life now was much happier and more comfortable than when she was in the capital.
As the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, Yunwan went out to get some fresh air and went to the street to buy some holiday supplies for her family.
She stopped in front of a bamboo basket on the street and asked, "Auntie, how much are these pomegranates?"
The old lady who had picked two baskets of pomegranates but hadn't sold many of them warmly welcomed me: "You have good taste, young lady. These pomegranates are grown at home. They have thin skins, are juicy and sweet, and can be sold for ten cents each."
"Although it's a bit expensive, I guarantee it's delicious. If you don't believe me, try it."
The old lady broke off a small petal and put it into Yunwan's hand.
The clear and plump pomegranate seeds are bright red. They are pinched in the fingertips of slender white hands, like rubies, which are very beautiful.
Yun Wan tasted one, lowered her brows and smiled, saying, "Auntie, give me five."
"Hey, okay!"
Seeing that she was straightforward, the old lady carefully picked out five good quality pomegranates for her.
Yun Wan stood aside waiting, her eyebrows curved, the breeze blowing, her profile soft and clear under the sunlight, her clothes fluttering, beautiful like a painting.
She didn't notice at all that a pair of sharp black eyes were staring at her with deep gaze at the corner of the street not far away.
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