Chapter 92 Gongsun Li's Worries
Chunzhi first helped Ji Shu to lie down on the bed, touched her cold hands, and said softly, "Young lady, would you like a hot water bottle to warm yourself up?"
Ji Shu nodded weakly. Chunzhi busied herself, first bringing her some tea to rinse her mouth, then wiping her face with a warm handkerchief.
Only then did she run to the East Garden to find something. Ji Shu lay on her side on the bed, her lower abdomen throbbing and aching. She had never experienced such unbearable pain during her period before.
I couldn't help but recall the reason why I had taken contraceptive medicine several times before. When the pharmacy prescribed the medicine, they had already told me that I shouldn't take too much of it because it was too cold in nature and would be bad for a woman's body.
Such a dosage is only used by women in brothels.
When Pei Yanzhi returned from his busy day outside, he figured she must have woken up by now, and he had just stepped into the West Garden.
He smelled the strong smell of medicine in the room, and his heart tightened. He quickly went into the bedroom.
She, who had been radiant last night, was now pale and leaning against the headboard.
"What's wrong?" he suddenly asked, startling Chunzhi so much that her hand, which was feeding the medicine, trembled slightly, while Lian'er awkwardly hid the menstrual belt behind her back.
As he approached, he saw the medicine in Chunzhi's hand, and her aura became increasingly chilling.
Ji Shu's face was pale, but she forced a smile and said, "It's nothing, it's just that I'm on my period, so I'm afraid I won't be able to serve you for the next few days."
Pei Yanzhi was slightly taken aback when he heard her words. He was no stranger to women's affairs, but he had never seen her suffer so much during her menstrual period when Madam Gu was still alive.
He was so uncomfortable that he had to stay in bed and take medicine, and his brows were furrowed.
His hawk-like eyes scanned her several times before he asked in a deep voice, "Have you called a doctor to come and take a look? Why are you in so much pain?"
Chunzhi awkwardly made way for him, and after hesitating for a while, she closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and said, "The doctor has been here, and this medicine was prescribed by the doctor."
"The doctor said, the doctor said—" Just as she was about to finish speaking, Ji Shu's expression changed, and she interrupted, "Alright, I'm fine."
Pei Yanzhi looked at the master and servant speaking in riddles with displeasure. "Why are you stammering? Just tell me what the doctor said."
Chunzhi said loudly, "The doctor said that the young lady is still young and should not have sex so frequently. She should pay more attention to rest."
"Only then can it benefit your health!"
The room fell into a deathly silence, and Ji Shu's hand, which was under the covers, clenched even tighter.
Pei Yanzhi was also a little uncomfortable at this moment, and cleared his throat to say, "Well... if that's the case, then take good care of yourself from now on..."
Chunzhi and Lian'er stood there awkwardly. Ji Shu waved for them to leave, and after they left, the room became quiet again.
Pei Yanzhi took the remaining medicine from the bowl, intending to feed it to her, and asked in a low voice, "Was it always this uncomfortable before?"
Chunzhi's words had created a subtle atmosphere, and both of them looked somewhat uneasy.
She simply shook her head slightly. "I've never felt this bad before. It's probably related to all the running around I've been doing these past few days."
Pei Yanzhi felt a strange sensation. He knew that if it weren't for him, she wouldn't have followed him on this journey, and she wouldn't have suffered such torment today.
After giving her the medicine, Pei Yanzhi covered her with a light blanket. "You should rest. I'll be handling official business here today. Just call me if you need anything."
Ji Shu thought to herself: You might as well just go back to your study. What are you doing standing here?
But in the past two days, she has gradually figured out that she can't force this kind of person; the best approach is to "boil the frog in warm water" (a metaphor for a slow and gentle approach).
By the afternoon, Ji Shu finally felt less uncomfortable. Feeling sticky from the sweat, she called out through the bed curtains, "Chunzhi, prepare water for my bath!"
Then came the sound of steady footsteps from inside the room. The bed curtains were lifted, and a tall figure blocked out the light, making the room even darker.
Ji Shu opened her eyes and stared blankly at him, her eyes full of surprise.
He smiled slightly: "You just sweated, so it's best not to take a bath today. I'll just wipe you down with a towel."
After saying that, he pointed towards the door and ordered hot water to be brought in.
Ji Shu tried to stop him, but Pei Yanzhi's lips curled up slightly. "What are you afraid of? I've seen you all over before. Why are you feeling shy now?"
Her ears immediately burned; what kind of lewd talk was this person saying?
After Chunzhi bowed her head and carried the hot water into the room, she quietly withdrew.
Pei Yanzhi pulled her out of the quilt, and saw that she was only wearing a light pink top, and her fair and smooth arms were completely exposed.
The surface is dotted with specks, all traces left from last night.
Thinking of this, a dark desire welled up in his eyes, but considering her body, he suppressed it and took a towel to gently wipe her down.
After getting ready, Ji Shu felt much better. The medicine was taking effect, her stomach was no longer so painful, and she felt drowsy.
Pei Yanzhi tucked the blanket around her and waited until her breathing stabilized before quietly leaving.
Back in the study, Wu Yang stepped forward and reported, "My lord, I have discovered something."
Pei Yanzhi lowered his eyes to look at the memorial in his hand. "What is it?"
"It seems that Young Master Wei is investigating you and Madam Ji. Yesterday, people in his household gathered some information, and today news came from Chongzhou that they are investigating you and Madam Ji."
Pei Yanzhi paused slightly in his hand holding the brush, but said nonchalantly, "Let him investigate. Release the news. There's no need to stop him. Let him investigate as far as he can."
"Yes, my lord."
Just as Wu Yang was about to leave, he said at the door, "My lord, Mr. Gongsun requests an audience."
"Enter."
When Gongsun Li entered, Pei Yanzhi stood up to greet him and asked, "What brings you here, sir?"
"Since we have nothing to do today, how about we play a game of chess with the lord?" Gongsun Li stroked his beard and smiled.
Pei Yanzhi nodded in agreement and had someone set out the Go set.
The two were drinking tea and playing chess in the study. Gongsun Li, holding a chess piece, joked, "My lord's chess skills are becoming more and more exquisite. I remember when you were learning chess, you were only about the same age as the young prince. Now, in the blink of an eye, the young prince has grown up to be this big."
Pei Yanzhi remained calm. "Sir, have you seen the Crown Prince?"
Gongsun Li paused in stroking his beard. "Yes, I saw the young master heading south. I'm afraid his destination is Chongzhou."
Pei Yanzhi glanced up and said calmly, "Now that he's grown up, I believe he knows what he should and shouldn't do."
"Doesn't my lord have any worries...?"
Pei Yanzhi tossed the jade chess piece back into the jar, twirling his thumb ring as he asked, "Sir, are you here today to play chess or to question me?"
Gongsun Li's breath hitched. "I dare not."
"But... since my lord is so fond of Lady Ji, has he considered that the young master will surely discover something amiss during his journey? And what should my lord do when the young master returns?"
"The Crown Prince is your carefully chosen successor. If a woman causes a rift between you and your son, my lord, you must not!"
If the Crown Prince were to find out that Lady Ji was no longer in Chongzhou, but had been taken back to Yanzhou by the Lord, he dared not even imagine the uproar that would ensue.
What if the father and son start fighting again?
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