Chapter 90 Su Yuyao is sick
"Yao'er, when are we leaving?" Fei Hua sat to the side, staring blankly at Su Yuyao, who was being punished by standing.
"Shut up! Can't you see I'm being punished by standing in the corner?" Su Yuyao pouted.
"Tuan Yue! Tuan Yue! Are you done with your work? I'll come pick you up..." Lang Zhi's cheeky voice drifted over from afar. Seeing Su Yuyao standing as punishment at the entrance of the stone house, he asked in surprise, "Eh?! Yao'er?! Why are you being punished again?!"
Su Yuyao quickly turned around and said, "Grandpa Langzhi! Don't say anything when you go in! Don't plead for me! Don't speak up for me! Do you hear me?!"
Langzhi looked at Su Yuyao, who was covering her bottom and puffing out her cheeks, and said indignantly, "You got beaten up again?"
"I'm willing to take the beating! Grandpa Langzhi! I beg you, please don't say anything!" Su Yuyao knew she was in trouble again just by looking at Langzhi's face, so she quickly pleaded.
"This is outrageous!" Langzhi said with a dark face as he strode toward the stone house.
"Lord Langzhi, you've come at the perfect time! I was just about to look for you!" Guan Yue welcomed Langzhi inside and said to Su Yuyao, who was standing at the door, "Su Yuyao, you should take Fairy Feihua back first. We still have a long time to discuss!"
“But… Her Majesty…” Su Yuyao was wary of Qingyue’s temper and dared not make any rash moves.
Seeing Su Yuyao's frightened expression, Guan Yue smiled and stepped forward, handing her a bag of copper coins. He said softly, "You two go play first. I'll plead for you. If I succeed, you'll have had your fun and your food! If I fail... you'll just get another scolding..."
Su Yuyao took the copper coin, thought about it, and it seemed... to make some sense!
She chuckled and pulled Fei Hua along, weighed her money pouch in her hand, and said softly, "Thank you, Brother Yue'er! We'll be going now, you said you'd plead for us!"
Guan Yue smiled and nodded, watching Su Yuyao and Feihua's figures gradually disappear into the distance.
From the stone house behind them came Langzhi's roar, "Tuanyue! Did you hit Yao'er again?! Hey? Let me tell you, don't glare at me! Lord Guan Xiao is watching! What mistake did Yao'er make that you're hitting and punishing her?! Hey! Tuanyue! Don't you have any manners as a lady?! Hey? If you hit her again, I'll... Hey! Are you ever going to stop...?"
Guan Yue sighed deeply, walked into the stone house, and bowed to Lang Zhi, saying, "Lord Lang Zhi, I have followed your instructions and sent Su Yuyao to take Fairy Feihua to play."
Langzhi, who was holding Qingyue's wrist, frowned and asked in confusion when she heard Guan Yue say that, "What did you say? Oh! Tuanyue..."
Lang Zhi, rubbing his nose and covering his private parts, slowly knelt before Qing Yue, and said in a strained voice, "You really kicked me hard... Um... Young Master Guan Yue... what's the matter? Speak quickly, I still have to go to the academy..."
Qingyue's eyes shot out like two knives, stabbing towards Langzhi's face.
"Tuanyue...don't think nonsense...I'm going to find Granny Zhong..."
Qingyue glared at Langzhi and said coldly, "Lord Guan Xiao, Young Master Guan Yue, let's continue!"
Su Yuyao pulled Feihua and ran out of the Vermilion Bird Palace, where they ran into Fangchun, who was anxiously waiting, and Baier, who was calm and composed.
"Fairy!" Fangchun quickly stepped forward to check on Feihua. "Are you alright?"
"Yao'er got beaten again!" Fei Hua pointed at Su Yuyao.
Bai Er seemed completely unsurprised, examining Su Yuyao from head to toe. "Miss, is it no longer in pain?"
"Hehe..." Su Yuyao said with an embarrassed smile, "It doesn't hurt at all anymore. Feihua and I are going to the tofu shop. You guys wait at home!"
"No way!" Bai Er grabbed Su Yuyao and said with a righteous expression, "Empress Qingyue definitely didn't agree to you going!"
Su Yuyao guiltily withdrew her arm, "Her Majesty agrees! Don't worry!"
After saying that, she grabbed Feihua and ran, leaving Fangchun stamping her feet in frustration and Bai'er, who was used to it all...
"Auntie Mi! Auntie Mi! We've come to see the white rice cakes!" Su Yuyao pulled Feihua and ran into the tofu shop. "It smells so good! What delicious food are you making?"
A neat and efficient middle-aged woman looked at Su Yuyao and Feihua running in and said with a helpless smile, "Miss Yao'er! Fairy Feihua! You two have such sharp noses! I just fried some tofu!"
Aunt Mi turned around and brought out a small basket of golden-brown fried tofu, stuffing it into Su Yuyao's arms. "Here, have some!"
"Thank you, Aunt Mi!" Su Yuyao said with a smile.
Holding Feihua's hand in one hand and carrying fried tofu in the other, she walked through the tofu shop to the backyard. Bai Migao was leisurely chewing on bean curd residue, watching Uncle Mi pushing the millstone round and round.
"Uncle Mi, hello! You're grinding the millstone yourself again?!" Su Yuyao pulled Feihua to sit next to Bai Migao, eating fried tofu while watching Uncle Mi work in circles with a dark face.
Uncle Mi glanced sideways at the old men, his anger rising. He muttered, "What kind of good laborer bestowed by the goddess? It's more like they sent me an ancestor! These two aunties are here every day! I can't hit this mythical beast ancestor, I can't scold it! It's lazy and fat! Even bean dregs aren't enough to feed it..."
"The fried tofu smells so good!" Su Yuyao exclaimed while chewing on the tofu. "Hey? Uncle Mi, what are you saying?"
"Oh, haha, it's nothing..." Uncle Mi replied with an awkward laugh, "Um...would you like some soy milk? Let Aunt Mi get you two bowls?"
Su Yuyao nodded quickly and said with a smile, "Thank you, Uncle Mi! Thank you so much, Uncle Mi!"
"Huh?" Uncle Mi originally wanted to send these two ladies to the front yard, but unexpectedly, he ended up taking on the work for himself.
"What are you doing out here again?" Aunt Mi said with displeasure. "Trying to go to the academy to enjoy the scenery again?"
"Look at what you're saying, what scenery are you looking at! Those two ladies inside want to drink soy milk!" Uncle Mi said helplessly.
Aunt Mi smiled, ladled out some soy milk, handed it over, and said softly, "Shouldn't you thank Miss Yao'er properly? If it weren't for her, would you have had the chance to visit the academy and enjoy the scenery?"
Uncle Mi glared at Aunt Mi, somewhat annoyed, and said, "Stop talking nonsense! The important thing is to figure out a way to get rid of these two old ladies! It's one thing for that ugly horse to watch me work, but when these two come, they just sit there! I..."
"Stop talking!" Aunt Mi winked at her.
Uncle Mi quickly stopped talking, just as Su Yuyao's voice came from behind him, "Uncle Mi! Isn't it ready yet?"
"Ah, okay, okay," Uncle Mi said awkwardly.
Despite Uncle Mi's disapproving looks, Su Yuyao led Feihua through a delicious meal. Before leaving, she hugged and kissed Bai Migao repeatedly, saying reluctantly, "Baimigao, you must eat well. Aunt Mi has some delicious soybean dregs here, you must eat more..."
Uncle Mi's eyes twitched as he listened. Eat more? I can't even keep up with this amount of food you're eating now!
"Uncle Mi, Aunt Mi, we're leaving now. Thank you for taking care of Bai Mi Gao!" Su Yuyao pulled Fei Hua along, wiping her mouth as she took out some copper coins from her purse and placed them in Aunt Mi's hand. "This is the money we've used for food these past few days!"
"Huh?" Aunt Mi was quite surprised and tried to decline, "Oh...no need..."
"Please keep it! We'll come back for more next time!" Su Yuyao said with a smile.
"Oh! Okay! You can't give me any next time you come!" Aunt Mi said with a smile, and neatly put away the money.
Su Yuyao pulled Feihua along, but instead of returning to the small courtyard, they headed towards the academy.
"Let's go home," Feihua said, pointing to the path back to the courtyard.
"We're not going home," Su Yuyao said, holding onto Feihua tightly. "Didn't you hear what Aunt Mi said? She said Uncle Mi went to the academy to see the scenery! I want to go and see what kind of scenery it is!"
"You'll get yelled at!"
"If you don't talk too much, you won't get scolded!"
The sounds of children laughing and playing came from the school. Su Yuyao, holding Feihua's hand, peered through the gate for a long time. Apart from the school being cleaner and tidier, there was nothing else to see.
Undeterred, Su Yuyao pulled Feihua, who was still resisting, and quietly walked into the courtyard. They happened to see a familiar face with a coarse cloth headscarf and coarse linen clothes, swaying as she tidied up the courtyard.
"Yu...Yu Qing?" Su Yuyao exclaimed in surprise.
Yu Qing looked up at Su Yuyao, "Miss Yao'er? What brings you here?"
Su Yuyao looked at Yu Qing and immediately understood what scenery Uncle Mi was looking at.
Yu Qing was already living under someone else's roof at the academy, and with Lang Zhi not coming even once these past few days, she felt both wronged and helpless, her face full of frowns and melancholy.
Although she was dressed neatly, it did not conceal her charming figure at all; instead, it added a sense of helplessness and fragility to her image as a young widow.
This pitiful sight is heartbreaking; what man wouldn't feel sorry for her?
Su Yuyao looked Yu Qing up and down and said, "I'm fine, I just came to... see... you."
"Look at me?!" Yu Qing was surprised. She brushed a stray hair behind her ear and said with a smile, "I... I'm fine..."
"Oh, that's good. We're leaving now." Su Yuyao didn't want to have too much contact with Yuqing, so she pulled Feihua and turned to leave.
"Miss Yao'er!" Feihua called out to Su Yuyao, "Did... Brother Langzhi send you?"
“No! Grandpa Langzhi has been with the Empress these past few days, he probably doesn’t remember to come see you!” Su Yuyao said with a righteous expression.
"Oh," Yu Qing said, lowering her head somewhat sadly, "Then... thank you for coming to see me..."
She hesitated for a moment, then slowly raised her head. "Miss Yao'er, if... Her Majesty isn't so angry anymore, and Brother Langzhi has some free time, could you please tell him for me... that I'm fine..."
"No! I won't pass on your message!" Su Yuyao refused decisively. Although she sympathized with Yuqing, she hated Yuqing's feelings for Langzhi even more, so she said coldly, "What are you thinking? You actually want me to pass on your love? I advise you to give up on this idea! If Grandpa Langzhi had feelings for you, how could he not come to see you?"
“That’s true… never mind…” Yu Qing said dejectedly in a low voice, “I didn’t expect you to be able to help me anyway, Miss Yao’er, take care.”
Seeing Yu Qing's pitiful state, Su Yuyao couldn't bear it and couldn't help but reply, "Oh... okay, I'll pass on the message for you! But don't expect Grandpa Langzhi to come. Even if he wanted to, I wouldn't let him!"
Yu Qing's eyes lit up. She smiled, bowed her head, and said, "Thank you, Miss Yao'er!"
"Oh dear, get up quickly!" Su Yuyao looked at Yuqing, puzzled. Grandpa Langzhi sees Yuqing every day, has he really managed to control himself?! I'm a woman, and I'm losing control...
"Yao'er," Fei Hua patted the dazed Su Yuyao, "be careful you don't get scolded!"
"I understand," Su Yuyao whispered to Feihua, "Feihua, you mustn't tell anyone. If the Empress finds out, I'll be..." She pulled Feihua and turned around, only to be met with Qingyue's cold and dark face. "I'm doomed..."
"Mother, Your Majesty..." Su Yuyao's legs went weak, and she knelt on the ground with a thud.
Qingyue glanced coldly at Su Yuyao, not even sparing Yuqing a look, and walked straight in.
"Yuqing! You've really ruined me!" Su Yuyao said in annoyance.
Yu Qing was also a little flustered, unsure whether she should follow Su Yuyao inside or kneel down with her.
Before long, Granny Zhong came out with Qingyue carrying her medicine box. Upon seeing this, Su Yuyao quickly stood up and walked over to Qingyue with a smile.
Qingyue avoided Su Yuyao and said calmly, "If you want to stay in the academy, then stay here. Anyway, I know what message you want to pass on, and I'll pass it on for you!"
As she spoke, she took Feihua's hand and said softly, "Feihua is the best girl, let's go home."
Feihua looked at Su Yuyao, whose face was full of regret and who was holding back her tears, and said, "Yao'er, go back too!"
Qingyue simply pulled Feihua to her side and said, "She's not going back!"
"Huh?" Su Yuyao stared in shock at Qingyue walking further and further away, then burst into tears.
"Ah—! I want to go home too!" She ran forward crying, grabbed Qingyue's sleeve, and followed closely behind Qingyue. "Your Majesty—! I was wrong—!"
Su Yuyao's crying followed them all the way, and Qingyue was annoyed by her crying. It wasn't until they stepped into the courtyard that Qingyue finally softened her heart and turned around to say, "Shut your mouth! What kind of behavior is this!"
Su Yuyao had just shut her mouth after sobbing when she heard Lang Zhi's voice from inside the room, her voice strained, "What's wrong, Yao'er?! Why are you crying again?! Why can't Tuan Yue change her temper?!"
Qingyue whispered to Granny Zhong, "Granny Zhong, wait for me a moment."
After saying that, he strode into the house, and Langzhi screamed in agony again.
Su Yuyao felt a chill run down her spine. That voice of Grandpa Langzhi… no wonder he called Granny Zhong! It was impossible for him to pass on Yuqing's message; protecting herself was the priority! Without waiting for Qingyue to come out, she quickly scurried back into her room and hid.
"Yao'er!" Feihua reminded her, "You still need to pass on that woman's message!"
"Shut up!" Su Yuyao shouted from inside the house.
“She said she’s fine!” Fei Hua shouted.
"Shut up!"
"You agreed! But you won't let me tell Consort Qingyue..."
"Shut up! Shut up now!"
Fangchun pulled Feihua aside with some concern, trying to stop her from saying anything more. Bai'er didn't even offer any words of advice; seeing that Su Yuyao had closed the door, she sat under the eaves and comfortably did her needlework.
Qingyue came out with a livid face and invited Granny Zhong inside. After a long while, Granny Zhong came out and said to Qingyue, "Your Highness, Lord Langzhi is fine, but he should not be too excited in the next few days and needs to rest..."
"Can Jingxue still do her job?" Qingyue didn't seem to care about Langzhi's health.
"Uh... although it's possible, but..."
"I understand." Qingyue interrupted Granny Zhong and turned to Su'e, saying, "Su'e, go find Young Master Guan Yue and have him send someone to escort Lord Langzhi back. Don't let him miss his mission!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Tuan Yue... Tuan Yue..." Lang Zhi called out weakly as she was carried out.
Qingyue walked into the house without turning her head.
"That woman told you she's doing well!" Feihua ran up to Langzhi and said, "Yao'er was trying to deliver a message to you, but the Empress found out and said she's finished..."
"What?!" Lang Zhi sat up firmly and looked towards Su Yuyao's room. "Yao'er! Be careful, Your Majesty Qingyue! She's too ruthless! Grandpa can't protect you anymore!"
"Shut up!" Su Yuyao shouted angrily...
As dusk fell, the moisture intensified, and the clear skies of the past few days vanished into thick, dark clouds.
Qingyue stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the gloomy sky, her heart filled with worry. Could Jiujiao Mountain really be struck by floods? Did she really have to risk invading Yimu's territory? If she stayed here, would she be safe? If she took them away now, would it be too late?
"It's going to rain," Feihua said blankly. "It's going to rain heavily!"
Qingyue looked at Feihua with a puzzled expression. "Feihua, how did you know it was going to rain heavily?"
"They're here!" Feihua exclaimed, pointing to the sky.
Qingyue looked at the dazed Feihua and suddenly remembered that when Su Yuyao's face was blackened by the explosion, Feihua had said something similar.
"Feihua, you said before that they would come, did you mean... it would rain?" Qingyue asked nervously.
"It's raining!" Feihua opened her palm and caught the fine raindrops. "They're here!"
"Feihua!" Qingyue thought of something even more terrifying. She suddenly grabbed Feihua's wrist, her eyes wide and trembling as she asked, "Didn't you say... Yao'er saved us?"
"Yao'er will save us..." Fei Hua looked into Qing Yue's eyes, slowly grinned, her eyes widening into a terrifying smile. "Your Majesty, don't be afraid! Yao'er is here..."
Qingyue stared at Feihua in disbelief, struggling to suppress her fear, and asked in a low voice, "Feihua... Yao'er... will she be in danger?"
"Hehehehe..." Feihua grinned and giggled, making Qingyue tremble with fear. She didn't want to delve into whether she and Su Yuyao had a past life connection, because regardless of whether they did, their fate in this life seemed unbreakable...
"Your Highness! Your Highness!" Bai Er rushed over and reported, "Miss has a stomachache! She says... it hurts terribly!"
Qingyue was calming her panicked emotions by watching Feihua's eerie smile when she was startled by Bai Er's anxious report.
She completely forgot that she was angry because of Su Yuyao and Yu Qing's agreement, and disregarded her image, lifting her skirt and quickly stepping into Su Yuyao's room.
"Yao'er! What's wrong?!" Qingyue looked at Su Yuyao curled up on the side of the bed, her head buzzing. She quickly sat down on the edge of the bed and held Su Yuyao in her arms. "Yao'er! Are you feeling unwell?"
Su Yuyao's face was deathly pale and she was covered in a cold sweat. Leaning against Qingyue's chest, she slightly opened her eyes and weakly replied, "Mother... Mother... I... feel unwell..."
As Qingyue listened to Su Yuyao calling out "Your Majesty" intermittently, her heart ached terribly. She recalled the despair and heartache she felt when she woke up with an empty stomach.
She hugged Su Yuyao tightly, glared at Bai Er, and shouted sharply, "Bai Er! What happened?! How did you take care of her?! How could you make Yao'er look like she's in so much pain?!"
Seeing Qingyue's anger, Bai Er quickly knelt down and replied, "Your Highness, Miss has been very uneasy since she returned. She only drank a few sips of soup for dinner. Just now, Miss suddenly said that her chest felt very tight, she couldn't breathe, and her stomach felt like it was going to explode..."
"What are you good for?! How come you only just noticed?!" Qingyue scolded angrily. "You weren't feeling well after dinner, why didn't you report it?!"
"Little slave... Little slave..." Bai Er had never seen Qing Yue so angry, and for a moment she didn't know how to reply.
Hearing the sound, Su'e went into the room, glanced inside, and asked softly, "Your Highness, should we invite Granny Zhong over?"
"Then what are you still standing there for?!" Qingyue turned all her worries into anger and attacked everyone indiscriminately.
Su'e paused for a moment, then bowed and replied, "Yes!"
Su Yuyao hunched over again, the bloating in her abdomen turning into dull aches, occasionally accompanied by sharp, cramping pains. She weakly groaned, "It hurts...am I...going to die...?"
"No! Yao'er, don't be afraid! Your Majesty is here!" Qingyue hugged Su Yuyao tightly, pressing her face against Su Yuyao's warm, damp forehead. The maternal instincts that had been dormant in her heart were instantly awakened. She gently patted Su Yuyao's back, swaying slightly, and murmured, "Yao'er, don't be afraid, Granny Zhong will be here soon..."
Su Yuyao leaned against Qingyue's soft chest, smelling the same scent on Qingyue as her mother. The memory of the fire she dared not recall resurfaced in her mind. She shrank her neck, trying to avoid it, but she could not escape the flames rushing towards her. She waved her hands frantically, trembling with fear.
Qingyue quickly grasped Su Yuyao's hand and placed it on her chest. Su Yuyao touched the sense of security she craved but lacked, and murmured, "Mother... Mother... I miss Mother..."
Qingyue's heart ached again. She pressed her lips to Su Yuyao's burning forehead and asked anxiously, "Why hasn't Granny Zhong arrived yet?"
Bai Er quickly replied, "This servant will go and take a look!" After saying that, Bai Er got up and left.
Feihua, peering through the door at Qingyue and Su Yuyao's complex emotions, suddenly pinched her nose and ran off shouting, "It stinks! It stinks!"
Qingyue didn't have time to watch over Feihua, so she could only shout, "Fangchun! Keep an eye on Feihua! Don't let her run around!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Fangchun replied loudly.
Su Yuyao gradually calmed down in Qingyue's arms. She was still in a lot of pain and discomfort, but Qingyue noticed and comforted her every frown and every moment of hesitation. She enjoyed this familiar yet unfamiliar care and brazenly demanded Qingyue's affection because she was unsure if she would ever have the chance to be loved like this again...
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