Returning to one's parents' home
The excruciating pain from her period felt like a knife twisting in her lower abdomen, pinning Yan Shu firmly to the soft couch in Lingxiao Pavilion. For the past two days, she needed Chun Tao's full support even to get up, and her undergarments were often soaked with cold sweat.
The internal affairs of the Prince's residence were naturally handled by the steward. The new Princess Consort fell ill shortly after entering the household, which inevitably led the servants to view her as "weak and easily bullied."
Lingyuan knew she was unwell.
He continued his regular daily routine, practicing martial arts and handling military and political affairs. Occasionally, he would step into Lingxiao Pavilion at dusk, not to visit, but more like to inspect. He stood by the door of the inner room, his gaze calmly sweeping over the figure curled up on the bed.
"Has the imperial physician been summoned?" The question was concise and cold, as if confirming a procedure.
After receiving Chun Tao's hesitant reply, he said no more and turned to leave. His arrival and departure were like a cold wind, unable to dispel the smell of medicine or bring any warmth.
This expected indifference still added a touch of bitterness to his intense physical pain every time he turned around.
She can't stay "sick" forever.
Once her body had recovered somewhat, she forced herself to stay alert. Each day, she listened attentively to the steward's reports on household affairs, her demeanor humble, her questions cautious. She was learning the rules, observing the flow of events.
She began to try to fit in, but in an extremely careful manner.
Hearing that he often reviewed official documents until late at night, she discreetly slipped a small sachet containing refreshing herbs into the hand of the servant on night duty in his study, saying only, "There are many mosquitoes at night, this can repel them."
She instructed the kitchen to prepare soup, which she would quietly serve when he occasionally returned for dinner.
She kept Lingxiao Pavilion spotless, and the fragrance was calming, so that when he stepped inside, he could at least feel a cleanliness that was different from his study and belonged to his "residence".
When her stomach pains flared up, she would always try to avoid him. If he happened to come by, she would force herself to get up, suppressing the pain deep inside, not revealing a trace of it.
Ling Yuan was not entirely unaware.
He noticed that sometimes her face would turn almost transparently pale, yet she never uttered a complaint. He also noticed that although she was clumsy at managing the household affairs, she was quite attentive.
Late at night, after finishing his military affairs, he found himself inexplicably walking outside Lingxiao Pavilion. The lights in the courtyard were out, leaving only a dim glow in the inner room.
He pushed open the door and stopped Chun Tao from bowing.
Inside the room, Yun Shu had already fallen asleep, her brows slightly furrowed, her forehead damp with cold sweat, making her appear exceptionally vulnerable in the dim light.
He lingered by the tatami for a moment, the dim light casting his shadow on the wall. Finally, he reached out and, with utmost gentleness, tucked the fallen corner of the blanket around her, the movement carrying a stiff tenderness so different from his usual demeanor.
He then turned and left.
That brief pause and subtle movement may not have anything to do with romance, but rather it is more like an instinctive confirmation of the state of "possession" and a subtle, unexamined touch.
Unbeknownst to Yan Shu, on a night when he needed to stay up all night to handle military affairs, Ling Yuan took out the herbal sachet that he had once looked down upon and placed it on his desk.
The cool air spread out, and it did indeed bring a sense of refreshment.
He remained silent for a moment, then finally put the unassuming sachet deep into the drawer of his desk.
Seven days later
The Cui family mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and peonies and peonies covered the paths. The servants were all dressed in new clothes.
Ling Yuan possessed an innate air of authority. Yan Shu, dressed in a formal gown and with exquisite makeup, tried her best to conceal her haggard appearance from the past few days.
Cui Chong personally came out to greet them, beaming with smiles: "This old minister respectfully welcomes Your Highness and Your Highness."
"Father-in-law, you are too polite." Ling Yuan's voice was steady, revealing no emotion.
During the banquet, the table was laden with delicacies. Cui Chong served the food with great enthusiasm, but his words were full of probing questions, especially regarding the distribution of the canal transport funds.
"What are your thoughts on this, Your Highness?"
"The Ministry of Works will handle the matters of grain transport in accordance with regulations." Ling Yuan raised his cup, his words perfectly measured.
Yan Shu sat quietly to one side, feeling utterly bored. Her father's smile concealed a knife, and her husband's coldness was like ice; she felt as if she were standing beneath a precarious wall.
Wanting to get some fresh air, I walked to a quiet spot in the backyard of the kitchen, where I suddenly saw an old woman frantically pouring out medicine. The color and smell of the dregs were strangely familiar.
I overheard the maid whispering behind the wall:
"What a waste of all that ginseng and cinnamon..."
"Shut up! The Prime Minister has given orders that no one dares to utter a word about that prescription!"
"But wasn't the Second Miss drinking tonics? How come there are these dregs..."
"I told you not to ask! In short, it's good for the Second Miss's health!"
Ginseng, cinnamon, good for the second young lady's health—each word struck like a thunderbolt. That bowl of "tonics" she'd been drinking for half a year, that palace secret recipe that claimed to aid fertility… it was definitely problematic.
Back at the table, Cui Chong asked with concern, "Shu'er doesn't look well, what's wrong?"
Yan Shu was startled: "Father is overthinking it. It's just that my daughter is not used to such things."
On the return journey in the carriage.
Yan Shu took a deep breath and looked at Ling Yuan, who was resting with his eyes closed: "Your Highness."
He didn't open his eyes, but his eyebrows twitched slightly.
"Today, I overheard some gossip about the medicine I took before my marriage." Her voice trembled slightly. "To my shame, my health was fine before I got married, but after taking the medicine, my menstrual cramps became increasingly unbearable."
Ling Yuan slowly opened her eyes.
She lowered her head: "Perhaps I am unlucky and cannot bear such a 'precious' prescription. I have never dared to tell my father the truth, for fear of disappointing his good intentions."
A tonic meant to promote fertility actually worsened the pain?
Ling Yuan's eyes darkened. Cui Chong was incredibly shrewd; why would he seek out such a prescription? Unless… this medicine had another purpose!
He paused for a moment, then said, "Since you're not feeling well, let's stop."
"When I had abdominal pain a few days ago, I tried to stop taking the medicine a few times," she explained in a low voice. "But the nanny who delivered the medicine was watching me closely, so I didn't dare to be too obvious."
As expected, "If it is sent again in the future, you can decide what to do with it yourself. Do not make this public," Lingyuan said.
"yes."
He closed his eyes again, having made up his mind. That bowl of medicine must be thoroughly investigated.
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