Chapter 88 Pei Yue is missing and pregnant? I'm pregnant?
"... He conquered Huaping and pacified the lands, beheaded the Nabuza leader. He wore armor himself, his loyalty and bravery etched in the sun and moon; his achievements were brilliant, his reputation resonating throughout the Dragon Desert. He deserves a promotion to reward his staunch contributions. I hereby grant him the following promotion: General Zhenbei, bestow upon him the rank of Honored Senior Guardian, grant him a fief of three hundred households, and a reward of one thousand pieces of silk. This announcement shall be made to all, both domestically and internationally, for the full knowledge of this!"
Inside the main hall of the Pei Mansion, the eunuch announcing the decree uttered the last word in a shrill voice. He closed the bright yellow scroll in his hand and handed it to Chu Yufu with both hands, his face full of smiles. "Congratulations, Madam Chu!"
"Thank you for your grace, angel." Chu Yufu took a deep breath, respectfully took the imperial edict, and signaled Lan Zhu to present the prepared thank-you gift and send the angel out.
Looking down at the imperial edict in his hand, an indescribable feeling of helplessness quietly spread in his heart. He felt it was heavy, pressing on his chest and making it difficult to breathe.
Mrs. Huang, having received the news, rushed over to congratulate her. As soon as she entered the main hall, she saw Chu Yufu's pale, unsightly face. The joy on her face faded, and she slowed down her pace, gently approached, and shook her hand, saying worriedly, "Fu'er, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell, or is it..."
Chu Yufu's eyelashes fluttered gently, and she raised her eyes to look at her. She put one hand on her chest, and her voice trembled slightly: "Aunt, I'm fine... It's just that my heart is beating so fast, and I'm very panicked."
Madam Huang smiled knowingly and gently patted her back to calm her down. She thought she was young and naive, worried about the war in the northern border, so she said gently, "Silly child, don't worry! We won the battle, didn't we? The emperor has commended us, so everything must be going well. Don't let your imagination run wild and scare yourself."
Chu Yufu nodded silently.
The imperial edict commended the emperor, and the entire household celebrated. As the mistress of the Pei family, there was no reason for her to be sad. She quickly cheered up, ordered the kitchen to go shopping, and decorated the entire mansion with lanterns and colorful decorations, making it a lively occasion. She also announced a reward of 100 coins for each of the servants. In an instant, the Pei residence was filled with a bustle of activity, immersed in a joyous atmosphere.
Seeing that she was in a bad mood, Mrs. Huang took the initiative to stay and help with some chores. They had the evening meal together before leaving.
After seeing Madam Huang off, Chu Yufu seemed to have been drained of all her strength. She stood in front of the mansion gate, holding onto it, her eyes looking over the rooftops and gazing far into the north.
Since she came into this world, the whole story has quietly changed a lot: Grandmother Wei is still healthy, Cousin Lu was not pushed into trouble by her elder sister, and Aunt Bai has been favored and has a child...
What about Pei Yue? Could Pei Yue's fate be changed because of her? She asked herself if she had done her best.
"Madam, it's snowing again." Lanzhu's voice sounded softly, interrupting her drifting thoughts.
Chu Yufu raised her face.
There was no wind at this time. Under the dim light of the lanterns, fine snowflakes were floating quietly, like specks of bright dust.
She murmured, "Lanzhu, do you think it's snowing in Huaping now?"
Lan Zhu knew she was thinking about the general again, so she hurried forward, held her cold hand, and gently changed the subject: "It must be raining. Huaping is much colder than here. Madam, don't think about it. You've been tired all day today, so you should rest early."
-
After serving Chu Yufu and leaving only a red candle on the round table, Lan Zhu tiptoed out. Just as she closed the door, she turned around and saw a straight black shadow standing in the corridor. Her heart skipped a beat, and she patted her chest and whispered angrily, "Hey, Dawei! You're so silent! You really scared me to death!"
Hearing this, the dark shadow took a step forward and walked under the lantern, revealing a handsome face with a scar at the corner of his eye.
Lan Zhu brought out the charcoal basin and sewing basket from the side room, then sat down in the corridor. She patted the seat next to her and greeted with a chuckle, "It's so cold, are you planning to stand there as a door god all night again? Come sit down and warm yourself by the fire."
Seeing that he didn't move, Lan Zhu curled her lips and said, "Don't worry, our wife is very kind and won't mind whether you stand or sit on duty."
Dawei moved his lips and finally walked to the other side of the charcoal brazier and sat down. Warm air hit his face: "I know Madam is a very good person. She saved my life." He said in a low voice.
Lanzhu's old jacket had a slightly frayed cuff. She was threading a needle, preparing to mend it. Hearing this, she bit off the thread and deftly tied a knot. Looking up, she asked curiously, "What do you mean? You were fighting in the barracks with the general, and the lady had never seen you before. How could she have saved you?"
"In the first half of the year, I followed the general across Baihu Gorge and was ambushed by the Turks. The enemy outnumbered us, and the terrain was unfavorable, so we could only fight and retreat. I was hit by an arrow in the thigh. All the medicine I had on me at that time was lost, and the blood was flowing like water, and I couldn't stop it. I became more and more dizzy, and my whole body was cold. At that time, I really thought I was going to die there." Dawei pointed to his right leg.
Lanzhu stopped sewing and listened nervously: "What happened next?"
Dawei grinned, revealing a row of white teeth. He looked somewhat naive in the firelight. "Then the general tossed me a bottle of elixir! I quickly applied it, tying it tightly with strips of cloth. Soon, the bleeding really stopped! I've never seen elixir work so quickly! I later learned that it was made by the Madam herself for the general. So, tell me, wasn't my life given to me by the Madam? Who could have imagined that I'd be chosen to serve in the palace and become her bodyguard?"
"What a fate." Lan Zhu sighed, her hands moving without stopping. She sewed her cuffs in just a few strokes and cut off the excess thread with a click.
While putting away her needlework, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that Dawei's sleeve was also torn, revealing the white cotton inside. She said simply, "Your sleeve is torn too. Hold it out and I'll sew yours up."
Dawei hesitated for a moment, then, seeing Lanzhu had moved closer to sit, he had no choice but to extend his arm. His palm, from years of holding knives, was broad and rough, with a thick layer of calluses covering his knuckles and base.
Lan Zhu pinched the torn cuff of his sleeve and threaded the needle with great skill. While sewing, she looked up at the scar on Dawei's face and couldn't help but whispered, "Are you afraid of going to the battlefield?"
She had grown up in the inner chambers, interacting with servants and doormen. The most she had ever seen was the shops a few blocks away. Now, listening to Dawei talk about the events on the battlefield in the northern border, it seemed both distant and fresh, and she couldn't help but ask more questions.
The girl exuded a clean and pleasant soapberry fragrance, which lingered on the tip of his nose. Dawei was slightly distracted, and after a moment, he coughed lightly and whispered.
"Afraid? How could I not be? The first time I went into battle to kill the Turks, I vomited all over the place. But after that... I didn't care about being afraid anymore. On the battlefield, it's either you or me, so there's no time to think about whether I'm afraid or not."
Lanzhu felt a little admiration in her heart. Her hands would tremble even when she killed a chicken, but Dawei had already gone to the battlefield to defend his country and had experienced many battles in the sword and blood.
The sparks in the charcoal brazier crackled softly, and the snow in the courtyard had unknowingly formed a thick layer.
In the quiet warmth, Dawei's eyes fell on the light pink hairpin in Lanzhu's hair, and his Adam's apple rolled slightly: "This hairpin on your head is really beautiful, it suits you very well."
Lan Zhu finished sewing the last stitch, withdrew her hand, and touched the hairpin with some embarrassment. "This is nothing, it's just dyed with chalcedony. Madam, you have a hairpin with pink gemstones, which is really beautiful. Each petal is translucent and can sparkle when the sun shines on it. It's a thank you gift from the eldest prince."
As she spoke, she picked up a pair of small scissors and snipped the thread with a click. She packed up her sewing basket and prepared to go back to her side room to rest. Now she was considered a half-housekeeper in the mansion. She only kept watch until midnight, leaving the rest of the night to the other maids.
At this moment, Dawei's voice sounded hesitantly, "A thank-you gift from the eldest prince? Wasn't that something the general bought for his wife? How could it be a gift from the eldest prince?"
"Ah?" Lan Zhu stopped packing and looked at him blankly.
Dawei asked, "Is it the hibiscus flower with a silver stem? I bought it with him in Lingzhou after I recovered from my injury and was transferred to the general's side. Besides the hibiscus hairpin, there was also a jade gourd! I remember it clearly. Just these two items cost a full 1,100 taels of silver! The general didn't have enough cash with him, so he asked me to go back and get some banknotes!"
"Oh my god! How could this be?" Lan Zhu covered her mouth in shock. "These two things came with the eldest prince's thank-you gift. Everyone in the palace thought it was..."
Inside the main room, the subdued voices of Lan Zhu and Da Wei's conversation seeped in quietly through the cracks in the window lattice like fine snow powder.
Chu Yufu listened quietly, then slowly opened her eyes after a moment. She threw back the quilt, sat up, and walked barefoot to the dressing table.
When she opened the jewelry box, the hibiscus hairpin was lying on the top. Even in the dim candlelight, it still shone brightly and looked gorgeous.
She picked it up gently, held it up to her eyes, twisted the silver rod with her fingers and looked at it for a long time.
An inexplicable emotion eventually turned into a low, angry complaint: "Fool, big fool! A taciturn person with a sawed mouth! You can't even give a gift... You didn't say anything, who would have known it was you..."
-
As the year draws to a close, the situation at court becomes increasingly complex, like a frozen river, seemingly calm but surging beneath the surface. Everyone awaits the finality of the crown prince's appointment. With the Bixu Pavilion deserted, Chu Yufu simply stays indoors, concentrating on managing government affairs.
No matter how the court changes, the New Year must pass, and there are a lot of things waiting for her to decide.
The house inside and outside had to be thoroughly cleaned, and the lanterns and peach charms in front of the door, as well as the curtains and bedding inside the house, had to be replaced one by one.
Potted kumquats and wintersweets were placed in every hall, and strings of delicate lanterns were hung under the corridors. Just these embellishments filled the air with the rich flavor of the New Year.
Furthermore, rice, flour, fish, meat, snacks, candies, salt, sugar, tea, and wine all needed to be purchased in large quantities. Chu Yufu personally reviewed the household accounts and the reserves in the various warehouses. The sudden increase in the number of sixty elite guards left behind by Pei Yue when he left the capital also made her more worried than usual.
This kind of non-stop busyness actually made Chu Yufu feel better. After all, when you are busy, you don't have time to think about trivial things.
The second day of December is already the coldest time of the year, and it is less than a month away from the end of the year.
At daybreak, Chu Yufu rose. She had Lan Zhut tie her hair into a neat bun, inserting the pink hibiscus hairpin, and prepared to take the New Year gifts she had carried back that morning and head to the Duke of Xin's mansion.
In the past, Duke Xin and his wife had taken good care of her, and the annual festival rituals were indispensable. By the way, I also wanted to inquire about the war situation in the northern border and when Pei Yue would be able to return.
The last time the angel announced the victory, it clearly stated that Huaping had been recaptured and the Turkic leader had been beheaded. She had originally thought that since they had already won a great victory, they could just clean up the mess and return. However, she had waited and waited, and there was no news of the army's return. She had been feeling a little uneasy for the past two days.
By the time everything was packed up, daybreak had just arrived. Yinsuo spread out the neatly-kept mink cloak and draped it over Chu Yufu's shoulders. He carefully fastened the ribbon at the collar for her.
The flawless white mink fur was like a handful of flowing clouds, its fur fluffy and dense. It enveloped her whole being, brimming with warmth. Chu Yufu turned around in front of the brass mirror and smiled, "It's really warm, and it looks good, but it's also heavy."
Yinsuo smiled and said, "Miss, staying warm is the most important thing. Cotton clothes are light, but they can't keep out the wind and keep you warm like leather."
Speaking of keeping warm, Chu Yufu suddenly thought of down jackets: "There really is something that is both light and warm."
Yinsuo was curious: "What kind of rare thing is it?"
"Take the softest down from the goose's belly, wash and dry it, and fill it into the jacket instead of cotton. It will be light and warm. Why didn't I think of this earlier? When we have some free time, let's try making it." Chu Yufu said.
"Just the goose belly down? How many geese would be needed..." Before Yinsuo could finish his words, he was interrupted by a rapid knock on the door.
Lan Zhu pushed the door open, glanced at Yinsuo, closed the door tightly with her backhand, walked quickly to Chu Yufu, lowered her voice and said hurriedly: "Madam, Madam Shen is here!"
Chu Yufu was stunned. Why would Madam Shen come to visit so suddenly at this hour?
Before she could ask in detail, Lan Zhu continued, her voice lowered even more: "Not only Madam Shen! There is also the Empress and a young lady! I have already invited them to the front hall to serve tea!"
Lan Zhu had met the Queen once at the Duke's Mansion and would never make a mistake.
Chu Yufu's heart suddenly sank, and her eyes instantly cleared. She raised her hand to take off her cloak and stuffed it back into Yinsuo's arms. She said to Lanzhu, "Let's go to the front hall."
Before leaving, Pei Yue had told her that if anything happened in the palace, the Empress and the Third Princess would take refuge in the Pei Residence. The sixty elite soldiers were prepared for this very purpose. The Shu Cinema next door had already been tidied up, but she hadn't heard anything for a while, and she'd thought it was more than that. But she hadn't expected someone to suddenly arrive at this moment, catching her off guard.
When Chu Yufu entered the flower hall, she saw Queen Wu sitting in the main seat. Next to her sat a pretty girl of about ten years old, who must be the third princess Jiang Xian.
She stepped forward quickly and bowed, "Your humble servant Chu Yufu pays respects to Her Majesty the Queen and Her Royal Highness the Princess."
Queen Wu raised her hand to signal her to stand up, while the third princess Jiang Xian opened her clear big eyes and looked at her without any concealment.
Madam Shen put down the teacup in her hand and explained in a slightly hurried tone, "I just received the letter from the palace last night, and I hurried to the palace this morning to respond. It was an emergency, so I didn't have time to inform you first."
Queen Wu nodded and motioned Chu Yufu to sit down and talk.
Chu Yufu then noticed that the queen and the princess were both wearing the clothes of the maids of Duke Xin's mansion. It was obvious that Madam Shen had secretly entered the palace to replace them.
She sat down below Madam Shen and said with a smile, "Your Majesty and Your Highness, please rest assured. My general has made clear arrangements before leaving. The Shuying Theater next door has all the necessary supplies ready and can be accommodated at any time...but..."
She bit her lip and looked at the Queen. "Has the situation become so critical? Do you need to send a message to my general immediately, asking him to bring his troops back to the capital for protection?"
This was her biggest concern: when would Pei Yue come back? Only when she saw him in person could she feel at ease.
Empress Wu's eyes darkened as she sighed, "The Second Prince petitioned His Majesty to leave the palace for the winter hunt as per custom. His ulterior motives were other than hunting, yet His Majesty seemed willing to give him another chance and granted his permission. He was only concerned about the possibility of something happening to my daughter and me, so he allowed us to leave the palace secretly and stay in your mansion for a few days. The situation is seemingly under control."
She paused, looking at Chu Yufu with a look of pity, "As for General Pei... you don't know yet, right? The palace and the Northern Frontier army have been out of touch for several days. The several groups of people sent to contact them have all disappeared without a trace. I'm afraid that's why the second brother dared to act so confidently..."
"Lost contact... for several days?!" Chu Yufu's head buzzed as if hit by a heavy hammer.
She stood up suddenly with her hands on the table, and her vision went dark in an instant.
How could this happen! Did he still get into trouble?
"Yu Fu, don't worry! I heard that there was a sudden heavy snowfall in the northern border area, and the roads were blocked, so communication may be disrupted..."
"What A Zheng said does make sense..."
Madam Shen's voice was so distant, as if separated by a thick curtain of water. Empress Wu's face became blurry and distorted. Even the bright light outside the hall dimmed in an instant.
Chu Yufu felt her hands and feet were somewhat weak, but she still forced herself to take a deep breath, trying to steady her shaky body. She spoke with difficulty, "No, it's okay, I'm fine, I know... Your Majesty and Her Highness, please move to the Shuying Theater to rest. Lanzhu, quickly take Your Majesty and Her Highness there, if you need anything..."
Before she could finish her words, the breath that held her body together had already given up. The last bit of light in front of her eyes was swallowed by darkness. She felt dizzy and her body went limp, and she fell to the side uncontrollably.
In a daze, she seemed to hear the crack of a teacup shattering, Lanzhu's terrified scream, and Madam Shen's voiceless cry: "Yu Fu——!"
-
Chu Yufu felt like she had slept for a long time, but it was not a peaceful sleep because she had a dream.
The dream was of an endless expanse of ice and snow, a chill wind whistling with icy shards. A solitary military tent stood in the blast. Inside, Pei Yue sat with his head lowered, leaning against the cold ground. His usually calm and beautiful peach blossom eyes were tightly closed, casting a shadow on his pale face.
The iron armor on his chest was cracked by the knife, and dark blood was constantly flowing out, spreading out under him little by little.
She walked over and reached out to touch his face, but she couldn't touch him. A huge fear swept over her body, and she began to call him, she wanted him to wake up, Pei Yue, you can't sleep, wake up quickly, you can't...
You can’t die, you can’t leave me——!
Chu Yufu suddenly woke up, opened her eyes and sat up. Her heart was beating wildly, she was gasping for breath, and cold sweat was soaking her back.
Looking at the familiar green tent in front of me and smelling the familiar fragrance of the fence in the house, my consciousness slowly returned - it turned out to be just a dream.
"Madam!" Lan Zhu was standing at the foot of the bed, stirring the charcoal fire. When she heard the noise, she turned around and saw Chu Yufu had woken up. She immediately dropped the fire tongs and rushed over, crying out to the outside, "Madam is awake!"
Hearing the bead curtain being lifted, Chu Yufu tilted her head slightly and saw that Doctor Xu had arrived, followed by Madam Shen who looked worried.
"Doctor Xu..." she called out weakly, "Why are you here?"
Doctor Xu looked down at her face and sighed softly, "Madam, do you know that you are already pregnant?"
Chu Yufu was still confused at this moment, her mind was groggy. When she heard this suddenly, she thought she had misheard and said blankly, "Body? What body?"
Mrs. Shen couldn't help but take a step forward, sat down beside the bed, took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her forehead: "Silly girl! You are a doctor, and you treat other people all day long, why are you so careless about yourself? You are pregnant! Doctor Xu felt your pulse and said it's been about a month."
Chu Yufu subconsciously retorted: "How is that possible? The general and I have always avoided..."
At this point she suddenly paused, "One month?"
Come to think of it, it seemed they had indeed failed to take precautions once, a month ago. That day was their second visit to the Zhouqiao Night Market, where they ran into two acquaintances: Li Younian from the Li family, and the young man who had frightened the horse at the polo match.
When they saw her, they came up to greet her and exchanged a few words. That was all, but Pei Yue didn't know what had gone wrong. He had a sullen face all the way and pushed her onto the bed as soon as he came back. He was so distracted and passionate that he didn't even have time to take the sheep intestine.
Is it possible that I will win just this once?
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