Bizhu cleared her throat. "Madam, if the Marquis knew about this, he would probably rush back from the battlefield overnight. So, please don't think that way."
Lin Chao nodded in agreement. "I'm just making a vow; I still value my life."
Bizhu embroidered a thin veil wrapped in gold thread for me. It was so sheer, yet she still embroidered some patterns on it.
"Madam, you may not know this, but these are our Wanxiu patterns. In case anything happens later, anyone who recognizes these patterns will protect you."
I quickly examined the patterns on it closely: "You guys have so many secret codes."
"There's no other way. Since we've followed the Marquis and are serving him, we know what the road ahead will be like, so we need to take many precautions in advance."
I put the veil aside, took Bizhu's hand, she should be about my age, and she has to do many things that ordinary people cannot imagine: "You have really worked hard."
"No, when the Marquis was getting married, we were wondering what kind of person could be with him. We never expected it to be you. When you first entered the manor, many of the maids blushed when they saw you, and the Marquis even glared at them a few times. Later, everyone realized that you were originally the Marquis's people. No wonder you were assigned to the west wing."
That west wing really shocked me: "It's not as good as you say, it's all just everyone's praise."
"No, at first we thought he was a male consort, but later we found out he was a woman. The maids in the mansion were disappointed for a long time."
“There are plenty of men in the world, you will have many opportunities to get married.” Bizhu just smiled at me, and I could tell she was both expectant and worried. The Great Zhao Kingdom appeared peaceful on the surface, but the things that happened behind the scenes were enough to send chills down my spine.
My belly is slowly getting bigger. It's only been four months, how come it's already showing?
"Don't worry, Madam, these are all normal." The wet nurse would whisper things to me every day, and I would follow her instructions. As a result, my morning sickness really did decrease, and I was able to eat a lot every day.
"If I eat any more, I'll get as fat as a ball."
"No, pregnant women should eat more. One person eats for two."
I've become familiar with everyone in the manor, from the kitchen to the backyard. There are a hundred servants and more than fifty guards, who patrol every day.
At first, I thought the butler was very serious, but after getting to know him better, I realized that he was a treasure of a middle-aged man. Every day, he would surprise us like a magician.
The servants in the Marquis's mansion all possess martial arts skills; even the cooks in the kitchen can show off some kung fu. I was quite surprised when I first found out.
Aside from the guards, most of the other servants were girls. There were only five or six household servants, most of whom stayed in the front yard and rarely went out to the back yard.
"Why are they all in the front yard? Aren't they allowed in the back yard?"
"They were changing shifts with the guards in the front yard to avoid being seen. Moreover, at that time, the Marquis pretended to stay in the mansion drunk every day, just writing and painting, and didn't care about many things. He only started to put on an act after the Prime Minister came."
No wonder there are so many paintings and calligraphy in the mansion; they were made for others to see. If this were modern times, Xie Yuancheng could win an award for Best Actor.
I feel heavy and not in good spirits. Now that the weather is hot, I take a thin fan and lean back in the recliner to fan my stomach while I sleep. I only get up when it's time to eat.
Later, I couldn't stand this kind of life anymore, so I started to do some exercise, and Lin Chao and the housekeeper scolded me for a long time.
Then I resumed my life of lying around like a corpse, counting down the days and hoping for Xie Yuancheng's return.
"Madam, the Marquis has sent a letter." Bizhu waved a letter in front of me. I quickly sat up, opened it, and found that it was very simple. It just told me to eat well and listen to the steward and Lin Chao.
But I held it like a priceless treasure, and only now do I understand the meaning of Du Fu's poem: "Beacon fires have raged for three months, a letter from home is worth a thousand pieces of gold."
"I just heard from the steward that the situation at the front is improving. The Marquis and General Ji have worked together to repel many enemy soldiers."
Did they say when Yuancheng would be back?
Bizhu shook her head: "But it'll probably be soon."
"Bizhu, quickly burn all the letters. Li Zhaole has already arrived at the city gate. We need to act quickly."
Lin Chao rushed in, his face full of worry: "I didn't expect her to actually come. We'll have to be careful about the food in the manor from now on."
"Although Li Zhaole has a bad temper, she is not a bad person at heart."
“Madam, have you forgotten the day Consort Ji came? She wanted nothing more than to kill Wan’er, but she held back.”
My palms were sweating. She was half a year younger than Ji Ying, how could she have kept it so well hidden!
"No way."
The butler also came in: "Madam, you should be careful and avoid being with her. Bizhu, you must stay by her side from now on."
They're all so tense. In my memory, Li Zhaole was a girl who could be heartbroken for a long time because of love. Why is everyone starting to be wary of her?
Bizhu applied some medicine to my face: "These are all made from flower juice, so there won't be any problems. From now on, Madam will have to disguise herself. Luckily, I embroidered a veil in advance."
I still don't want to believe that Li Zhaole is the Empress's henchman, but now that Xie Yuancheng's child is with me, I'd better be careful.
After I put on the veil, Bizhu brought me a mirror to look in. Ji Ying's big eyes were revealed, and the thin veil only accentuated her unique temperament.
"That's so unfair!" They're both women, so why does Ji Ying have to be so beautiful?
"What's wrong, Madam? Did you make it look bad?"
I shook my head, thinking about my appearance, it's true what they say, comparisons are odious.
Li Zhaole arrived quickly, and she went straight to me as soon as she entered the door.
"Let me see my new sister-in-law! I'm so curious!" Her voice was as loud as ever.
I got out of bed early and sat at the table, waiting for her to come in.
"You are Ji Sishuang, Yuancheng's wife, my new sister-in-law."
"Li Zhaole, could you please shorten your statement?" I thought to myself, but I had to keep a straight face and nodded with a smile in my eyes.
"Why are you wearing a veil? The sun is so strong outside today, it must be so stuffy to wear a veil."
Just as Li Zhaole was about to step forward and pull off the veil, Bizhu hurriedly blocked her way: "Princess, the lady is currently pregnant and not feeling well. She has developed something on her face, which may disturb Your Majesty's journey."
"I can look if I want, you lowly servant, get out of my way." Li Zhaole pushed Bizhu aside, and just as I was about to help her up, I saw Anxiang walk in and shake her head at me.
Bizhu, who had been lying down, quickly stood up and said, "Princess, if you're angry, take it out on us servants. Just don't let it touch Madam."
"Hmph, what business is it of yours if I'm talking to my new sister-in-law? Oh~ I remember now, my new sister-in-law can't speak, but it's none of your business, you lowly servant. Anxiang, drag her away and slap her."
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