I originally wanted to ask Wan'er about her background, but then I thought better of it. It would be too reckless to trust someone so easily.
"Madam, is there something you want to ask me?"
I wrote on the paper: "It's alright, you can go now." Luckily, I learned how to hold a calligraphy brush back then.
After Wan'er left, I touched my belly. If I could find that pawnshop owner now, I might be able to find out some things.
Bizhu had just passed away, so I asked her to prepare a carriage and go to the pawnshop with the same name.
"Madam, you are not able to move around easily right now, so it would be better if you didn't go out to compare prices."
"We can't worry about that now. It's not dark yet, let's go and come back quickly."
Bizhu called Lin Chao over. While I was sitting in the carriage, I kept praying that the pawnshop manager would be there this time.
However, they returned disappointed, as the waiter said the manager hadn't returned since leaving last time.
I'm leaning against the soft cushion; there's absolutely no hope left.
Since then, I have lost my appetite, have nightmares every day, and my once round face has become thin.
Bizhu was pacing anxiously beside me. I comforted her by saying that the weather was getting colder and I was not moving around much, which was why I had no appetite.
I consulted many medical books and researched the foods that pregnant women could eat. Whenever I found something wrong with a food, I would not eat it.
Li Zhaole came to cause trouble a few more times, but I was preoccupied with my own thoughts and wearing a veil, so she just laughed a few times and left.
"Madam, today is Frost's Descent, let's go inside."
The weather is getting colder and colder.
After the Frost's Descent, Ji Ying will be nineteen years old. I touched my belly and thought it was still not too late. I wondered if I would travel back in time during childbirth because of the excessive pain.
"Bizhu, how long have you been at the Marquis's residence?"
“I entered the Marquis’s mansion when I was ten years old and stayed there for nine years.”
"So you know what Yuancheng likes the most?"
“Madam, this has stumped me. No one in the entire household can figure out what the Marquis likes. However, the Marquis always seems to be very happy when he is with you.”
That's true. Xie Yuancheng is such a cunning person, how could he possibly reveal his preferences? If it weren't for him being with me, the Marquis's mansion wouldn't always have to be on guard.
I should leave him something. In case I travel back in time, when he sees it and thinks of me, will he remember the time we spent together?
Recently, Wan'er has been preparing my medicinal meals, and my stomachache has subsided, and my spirits have started to improve. I've witnessed her medical skills a few times; back in Heqing Palace, when Granny Zhang and a guard were feeling unwell, it was she who cured them.
What do you think of Wan'er?
"Miss Wan'er is easy to get along with, but she often stays to one side thinking about things and doesn't like to talk to the people in the manor."
I rolled up my handkerchief. Wan'er used to be very lively and cheerful. When she first came to Heqing Palace, she knew not only the palace maids and eunuchs, but even the guards.
"Madam, is something amiss?"
“She wasn’t the type to daydream before. Ask her another day if she has something on her mind or if she’s encountered any trouble.”
I felt Bizhu was laughing, and when I turned around, she really was: "Bizhu, what are you laughing at?"
“Madam, I think Miss Wan’er is missing that ‘imperial son-in-law’. When Consort Ji came last time and arranged the marriage for her, I saw it clearly from the side. Her face was flushed and her eyes were full of spring light. She must have met someone she likes.”
"well."
It can't really be like that, can it?
"Madam, please don't sigh. This time, it's all thanks to Miss Wan'er's reminder that I'm here to help you."
"Forget it, you can't split me in two, one side a woman, the other a man."
"Hehe, Madam, don't even think about it. If the Marquis knew that you could split into two groups, he would keep both men and women hidden."
Bizhu has a sweet tongue; I always smile whenever I talk to her.
"Alright, you're so good at talking."
Xie Yuancheng said before that he would come back when I gave birth. At first, I was worried that he would be distracted and suffer a defeat on the battlefield. Now I actually hope he can come back. If I'm still alive, I must tell him that giving birth to your child is really too hard.
I spent a whole day walking around the entire Hou Mansion, from top to bottom and front to back. It had everything I needed.
Later, I thought of sewing a purse for Xie Yuancheng, but as soon as I started cutting, Bizhu and Wan'er snatched it away.
It seems I can only practice writing now; I can't draw. Thinking about it now, if I had known it would turn out like this, I would have often gone on trips with him, even just riding horses and enjoying the scenery in the countryside.
"Madam, what have you been looking for these past two days? You mustn't touch these scissors again. You're not feeling well right now, so it's not advisable for you to handle sharp objects."
I nodded. These scissors are so dull, how could they possibly hurt me?
With nothing to do in the room, I took Wan'er and Bizhu's hands and walked out. As soon as we stepped out the door, an arrow was shot from the opposite side.
"Madam is worried." Luckily, Wan'er pulled me aside and we avoided her.
I leaned against Wan'er, still shaken. This was Xie Yuancheng's residence, and they dared to attempt an assassination in the middle of the day.
A sound came from the front yard, and several servants rushed over in a panic. "Madam, Brother Lin said you should stay inside and not come out. We'll protect you at the door."
"What happened?"
Bizhu's voice trembled; she probably remembered the assassination attempt in Jinglin, in the western suburbs.
“A group of masked assassins. We’ve already subdued several of them. Brother Lin saw people coming towards the backyard, so we rushed over. Madam, please come inside quickly.”
Bizhu and Wan'er hurriedly helped me inside. I thought to myself, thank goodness that my nanny had taken leave to go back to the countryside these past few days, otherwise, she would probably be terrified to see me like this at her age.
A little while later, I heard the sounds of fighting. I had experienced this before, so I wasn't panicked. But Bizhu and Wan'er were quite scared. I pulled them to sit on the edge of the bed and patted their hands to comfort them.
"My dear husband, rest assured, I will protect you for your sake."
I wanted to laugh; Wan'er was already pale and still trying to protect me. But after hearing what she said next, I couldn't laugh anymore. It was all because of my past misdeeds that I made that girl think such things.
"Miss Wan'er is truly affectionate."
“I have been practicing medicine with my parents since I was a child. Besides my parents, he is the first person to be kind to me.”
I sighed. Those are all very common things, and the fact that she can remember them for so long is much more real than those exaggerated love stories of famous people in history.
"Miss Wan'er has such good taste! The prince consort is not only handsome, but also has a good personality."
I glared at Bizhu, but she got more and more excited as she spoke: "Don't even mention you, I once heard people in the manor say that the Marquis also liked the Prince Consort very much."
I wiped the sweat from my brow. The fighting was still going on outside, but inside they'd already started gossiping.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
