On July 13, You Yuji left home early in the morning and boarded a carriage to the Zhao residence. Today was Jiang Chun's due date. A few days ago, You Yuji had sent Madam Jing to help. It was said that Jiang Chun had started to have abdominal pain from time to time last night. The abdominal pain became more frequent and more severe this morning. She should be able to give birth today.
The wheels of the carriages rumbled in his ears. Zhenxu looked at You Yuji with some concern and said, "Madam, I heard that women like you who are in the early stages of pregnancy should avoid it. The birthing process there is so busy and chaotic, I'm afraid it will be bad for you."
You Yuji was leaning against the wall of the car, and after hearing what Zhenxu said, she couldn't help but look down to her belly. She was just over four months pregnant, but she was already showing her pregnancy. Her summer clothes were thin, and her waist was already slender, and now she was leaning against the side, and her clothes were clinging to her body, making her belly more obvious.
"It's okay." You Yuji smiled, retracted her gaze and continued to lean on the soft pillow, lost in thought.
Zhenxu stopped persuading her and poured a cup of warm water and placed it next to You Yuji.
You Yuji was thinking about Jiang Chun while thinking about the war. A few days ago, the front line was defeated. The news came back that the emperor vomited blood and fainted during the morning court, and then fell ill and could not get up. Now, people in the court and the public are saying that the emperor will not have much time left.
When His Majesty was young, he fought many battles and was wounded. Now at his age, he is no longer able to endure the hardships. Unifying the twelve kingdoms is his biggest worry, and it is the breath that holds the old emperor's spirit. His Majesty is too obsessed with it and is worried that he will not be able to win the time and wait until the twelve kingdoms are unified. When the news of the defeat came back, he could not bear it.
You Yuji lifted the curtain beside the bed and looked out.
Since the day His Majesty fainted, the number of officers and soldiers from various forces in the capital has increased day by day. His Majesty has been in a state of instability since his old age, because he is afraid that he will choose the wrong person and fail to inherit his ambitions. However, it is not a good thing that there has been no legitimate and convincing crown prince for decades.
You Yuji was looking at the soldiers walking hurriedly outside the window, thinking that something big might happen in the capital recently, when she suddenly saw Chen Qi turning from the corner of the street. You Yuji immediately lowered the curtain.
When the storm was about to come, You Yuji suddenly remembered that the last time Si Que came back, he calmly asked her to rest and take care of her pregnancy.
You Yuji frowned.
In fact, she knew what Si Que was going to do. She looked at the rippling water in the porcelain cup on the small table in front of her, feeling a little lost. She also didn't know whether the path Si Que had chosen was right.
On a hot summer day, the carriage passed by a roadside locust tree. The shrill chirping of cicadas in the branches penetrated the carriage and fell into You Yuji's ears.
You Yuji leaned forward, picked up the cup of warm water and took a few sips.
The frowned brows gradually relaxed.
Before You Yuji came to the Zhao Mansion, she imagined the scene of Ah Chun screaming and crying, Zhao Sheng walking around in sweat, and the maids and old women hurrying around.
But in fact, when she stepped into the courtyard, she saw two maids, about fifteen or sixteen years old, sitting under the eaves and dozing off. The courtyard was quiet.
When the two dozing maids saw the guests coming, they immediately stood up and greeted them politely.
Madam Jing also came out of the house to greet You Yuji. She looked stern and said disapprovingly, "Why is Madam here?"
You Yuji didn't answer, but asked softly, "How is Ah Chun?"
While asking, he went inside with a few people around him.
Jiang Chun in the room had already heard You Yuji's voice and said hurriedly: "Yuanyuan is here!"
When You Yuji heard this, she realized that Jiang Chun's voice was filled with laughter, which was not much different from the joyful and crisp voice of the past, but it did not sound like the voice of a woman who was about to give birth.
The maid opened the curtain for You Yuji, and You Yuji stepped into the tightly closed inner room and saw Jiang Chun lying on the bed with a book in his hand.
The midwife and several experienced maids were waiting on the side, all with happy smiles on their faces.
"Didn't it start last night?" As You Yuji walked to the bed, Jiang Chun put down the book in his hand and stretched out his hand to You Yuji.
You Yuji took her hand, sat down beside the bed, glanced at the book she had casually thrown aside, and was surprised to find that she was reading Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio.
"Yeah, after a night of hard work, he was well behaved this morning." Jiang Chun smiled and tapped his big belly, "But did he fall asleep?"
You Yuji looked at Jiang Chun's carefree smile and couldn't help but curl her lips and asked, "Where's Zhao Sheng?"
"I want to eat sweet-scented osmanthus cake. I'm making it in the kitchen." Jiang Chun smacked his lips, suddenly becoming even more greedy. He looked past You Yuji and towards the door, complaining, "You're so slow! Don't wait until I give birth before he's done making it!"
Jiang Chun just finished speaking when he uttered an "Ouch" and raised his voice: "It's time to give birth! It's time to give birth! This time it's really time to give birth!"
The maids in the room immediately started to work in an orderly manner. You Yuji had already stood up and pushed aside, waiting anxiously.
However, Jiang Chun felt pain for a long time and then stopped moving.
Jiang Chun snorted twice and complained: "It's all Zhao Sheng's fault!"
Jiang Chun repeatedly said that she was really going to give birth this time, but in the end, she didn't. At first, every time she said that she was really going to give birth, You Yuji would get anxious. But after a day of tossing and turning, when the sun was about to set, the baby in Jiang Chun's belly was born with a loud voice.
The midwife happily announced the good news that it was a boy.
You Yuji took a look at the newborn baby and went to see Jiang Chun. The woman who was usually very energetic and dared to ride a horse during pregnancy was now lying weakly on the bed, and it was unclear whether it was sweat or tears on her face.
You Yuji leaned over and wiped her face with a handkerchief.
"I'll do it!" Zhao Sheng came in quickly from outside, took over You Yuji's work, and took care of Jiang Chun personally. Jiang Chun was probably too tired, and closed his eyes quietly.
You Yuji went to the outer room and looked at the newborn baby for a while. Knowing that the mansion was busy, she did not let the maid inform Zhao Sheng when she left, so that he would not come to see her off.
You Yuji was busy all day and felt exhausted. On the way back, she leaned against the bumpy wall of the carriage and fell asleep. The carriage stopped in front of the You Mansion. Zhenxu tiptoed out of the carriage and put the footstool in place. Over there, Madam Jing was wrapping a large cloak around You Yuji and trying to carry the sleeping You Yuji down.
The pillow suddenly uttered a low "ah", and Madam Jing immediately turned around and accused her unhappily: "Don't wake up the Madam."
It was already dark, and when Madam Jing finished her words, she noticed Si Que standing beside Zhen Xu. He was dressed in a black robe with a scarlet belt and a blood-red mask covering his face, just like the owner of the Poison Tower.
The sky was dark and Si Que was getting closer, so Zhen Xu noticed him and was startled.
Si Que looked towards the carriage. There was a lamp on the small table in the carriage, and the dim light shone on You Yuji's body.
"Falling asleep?" Si Que asked.
"yes."
Si Que personally carried You Yuji out of the carriage. You Yuji opened her eyes dazedly and looked at him, and what she saw was his blood-red scary mask. She frowned and turned her face to one side and buried it in his arms.
Si Que tugged at the cloak wrapped around her and carried her into the You Mansion.
Madam Jing looked at Si Que's departing back and sighed silently. She was not very satisfied with Si Que. To be more precise, she was not satisfied with You Yuji's current situation. She always felt that this was not justified, and she even lacked company, which was unfair to You Yuji. But this was the path You Yuji chose herself, and she didn't seem to care much. As a servant, she could only hide this regret in her heart.
Chen Qi stood in an inconspicuous corner, frowning as he watched the owner of the Poison House carry You Yuji off the carriage and walk into the You Mansion. He remained standing there with a frown until the gate of the You Mansion closed.
That day in the East Palace, he wanted to take You Yuji away but was rejected. He really didn't understand, but then the owner of the Poison Tower appeared that day and caused countless casualties in a good Lantern Festival banquet, and the prince was also deposed. When he reacted and wanted to go to the courtyard to find You Yuji again, the house was already empty.
Next, news came from the Jinnan Palace that You Yuzhi returned to the You family to take care of her mother.
Is this really the case
He stood here waiting countless times, but never saw You Yuji. When he saw her again later, he stood far away and looked at her. She was still smiling and gentle.
Standing at a distance and looking at her had long become Chen Qi's habit.
Until a few days ago, he stood in the shadows and looked at You Yuji, who was wearing a thin summer dress. A gust of wind blew her thin skirt backwards, revealing her slightly protruding belly.
At that moment, Chen Qi was a little confused.
Did I see it wrong
The summer night wind was very stuffy. Chen Qi looked at the tightly closed courtyard gate in the distance and suddenly felt a little breathless.
Many things gradually have answers.
On the day he is assassinated, the owner of the Poison Tower will appear.
When she was taken to the East Palace by the prince, the owner of the Poison Tower appeared again.
At this moment, he saw with his own eyes the owner of the Poison Tower carrying You Yuzhi in.
Everything couldn't be clearer.
It turned out that she refused to go with him that day in the Eastern Palace, not because she was worried about getting him into trouble, nor because she thought his plan was too reckless, but because... he was not the one she was waiting for.
After figuring it all out, Chen Qi's brows furrowed even more.
Is a man like the owner of the Poison Building really a good match for her? The vague uneasiness in her heart made Chen Qi feel suffocated and painful even when breathing.
After a long time, Chen Qi turned back home dejectedly.
As soon as he returned to the Prince of Pinghuai's mansion, the servant came up to him and whispered something in his ear. Chen Qi walked towards his father's study with an expressionless face, but before he got close, he heard his father's furious voice.
"Father." Chen Qi stepped into the study and glanced at the mess on the floor.
"Your Majesty, are you senile?" Prince Pinghuai was furious. He strode towards Chen Qi, his eyes wide open with shock and anger on his face. "The name written on the edict is actually Prince Shengxiang? Ha, he must be senile! Prince Shengxiang was at odds with his brothers, framed the former crown prince to assassinate you, and was banished to his fiefdom. You actually made him the crown prince? Ha, your majesty is senile or crazy! That's right... Not senile, but crazy!"
He thought the throne was just around the corner, but a sudden imperial edict slapped Prince Pinghuai in the face, making him unable to accept it for a while.
Chen Qi looked at his furious father and suddenly felt tired.
He said calmly: "Fourth Uncle never assassinated me, nor did he intend to frame the former crown prince."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Touch your scars and speak for the murderer?"
Chen Qi followed his words and touched the scar on his arm. He stared at his father's distorted face in rage and spoke calmly, "Did father really not care about his son's life or death in order to frame others? If his son really died in that assassination, would father feel a little heartbroken?"
Prince Ping Huai was stunned and took a step back. He stared at the expression on Chen Qi's face carefully, and smiled unnaturally with his angry features. He asked, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Chen Qi sighed. Being in an imperial family, he had been mentally prepared for many things. But when he really knew that his biological father was using him as a pawn to frame others, the bitterness in his heart could not be relieved immediately.
"Father, have you ever thought that Your Majesty's decision to send Fourth Uncle to his fiefdom is actually a form of protection for him?"
Prince Pinghuai stood there frozen.
For a moment, his mind went blank. The next moment, a myriad of chaotic thoughts rushed into his mind. He watched Chen Qi turn around and walk out. He staggered two steps to the door and shouted, "Stop! Speak clearly!"
The moon shone down as cool as water, and Chen Qi walked out slowly without looking back. He was really tired of these disputes.
Si Que had held You Yuji back from the moment he brought her back. He leaned on the beauty couch, took off the mask on his face, and let You Yuji continue to sleep in his arms. You Yuji was carried back to the house, and slept in Si Que's arms for two quarters of an hour before she lazily opened her eyes and woke up.
"Awake?" Si Que lowered his eyes and looked at You Yuzhi.
You Yuji nodded and said softly, "I woke up because I was hungry."
Si Que then put the man down and called the maid to bring in dinner.
The table was full of dishes that all suited You Yuji's taste. You Yuji was already feeling very hungry, but when she sat down at the table, she couldn't eat much after eating a few meals.
"Is there nothing in particular you want to eat?" Si Que asked her.
You Yuji thought about it seriously for a while, but still shook her head. Finally, she just pointed to the porridge on the table and asked the maid to serve a small half bowl for her to eat.
After eating, just as the meal was cleared away, Baisui ran in from outside, his four little paws were all dirty. You Yuji picked him up with a smile. Baisui had now grown into a big cat, and You Yuji's hands could no longer easily pinch him. His dirty limbs dangled, and he meowed as You Yuji pressed him down on the table. You Yuji took a handkerchief and wiped the dirt off his little paws.
Whenever Baisui tried to struggle, Si Que would hit him on the forehead.
It hummed and moaned, then calmed down, resting its chin on the table, allowing others to do whatever they wanted.
Si Que frowned in disdain and said, "Did he fall into a manure pit?"
You Yuji curved her lips and smiled, "It's fighting with other cats again. Last time I saw it jump down from the top of the wall, and several wild cats that were taking a nap under the shade of a tree were scared away by it. It pounced on a lion cat and pushed it into the muddy water on the side of the road, scratching and biting it. Poor snow-white lion cat, its fur was all dirty."
"Meow." Baisui called out listlessly. He tried to turn over, but was hit on the forehead again.
The good-natured Cat King was pressed on the table and beheaded. Baisui was very unhappy, but fortunately his cat subordinates couldn't see it.
The little dirty claws were finally wiped clean, You Yuji let go, and Baisui jumped down immediately, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
You Yuzhi watched Baisui rush out with a smile and yawned lazily.
"Are you sleepy again?"
You Yuji nodded, but before she could say anything, she yawned softly.
Si Que immediately ordered the maid to prepare hot water for bathing.
When Lady Jing came in, she saw Baohe and two maids carrying an empty wooden bucket coming out of the clean room. She frowned and asked Baohe, "Are you not going in to serve us?"
Bao He's eyes sparkled as she said, "Your Highness is here, so we are not needed!"
Madam Jing tilted her head and looked inside. You Yuji and Si Que had just gotten up from the beauty bed and were heading towards the clean room.
Madam Jing walked in quickly and checked before You Yuji and Si Que entered the clean room. The floor was covered with a non-slip cotton towel. She was still worried, so she took another large cotton towel from the cabinet and spread another layer on the floor.
You Yuji and Si Que walked in. She looked at You Yuji worriedly: "Walk slowly, hold on to something at all times, don't fall."
You Yuji nodded: "I know."
Only then did Madam Jing walk out.
The door of the clean room was closed, and Si Que was still looking at the door. He asked, "Sister, do people around you think I'm unreliable?"
You Yuji sat down holding the armrest of the chair, looked over with a smile, and said, "Reliable, reliable. Come and help me."
Si Que then walked towards You Yuji, squatted in front of her, and took off her socks. He took You Yuji's jade feet in his hands and looked at them for a while, and couldn't help but lean over and bite her white toes.
You Yuji retracted her ankles, frowned and whispered, "Don't be silly. This is not allowed."
Si Que always felt that the second half of You Yuji's sentence had a deeper meaning.
He pondered for a moment before untying You Yuji's belt. The thin lapels slid to the sides, revealing a chest wrap of the same color over the light purple blouse. Because it was summer, the chest wrap had also been changed to a thinner material. Under the hem of You Yuji's blouse, her slightly bulging belly was revealed to Si Que's sight.
Si Que looked at it for a while before reaching out to touch it.
You Yuji looked at Si Que's expression and asked, "What's that expression on your face?"
Si Que withdrew his hand as if he had just come to his senses. He stood up, bent over and approached You Yuji, put his arm behind her waist, and unfastened the buckle of her bra.
He said: “I just never thought that I would become a father one day.”
You Yuji grasped his collar, gently pressed her face against his chest, and listened carefully to his heartbeat. She half-closed her eyes and said softly, "You will be a good father."
"Really?" Si Que seemed to be asking You Yujie, but also seemed to be asking himself.
To be honest, he himself has no confidence.
A summer rainstorm prevented the army from returning to the city. Even when the tents were set up, rain still poured in.
The atmosphere in the army is not very good.
When they went to the war, they were seen off by their relatives and friends. They were all full of energy and wanted to do something great to gain fame and honor. Even if they had no military merit, it was a blessing to witness the surrender of Ningguo.
But in the past six months, one defeat after another, like a rainstorm, completely extinguished the ambitions they had when they set out.
You Heng listened to the sound of rain outside, turning a knife in his hand. In the past six months, according to You Heng's previous character, he would have charged into battle and fought at the forefront, but he did not. People in the army were talking about General You becoming afraid of death as he got older.
In fact, You Heng's transformation occurred after he received the letter from You Yuzhi.
Until now, You Heng still half believed and half doubted what You Yuji said in the letter, and even disagreed more. However, he still followed You Yuji's words and did not formally fight with Ningguo's barbaric army, and tried to avoid fighting as much as possible.
You Jiamu was also in the tent. He paced back and forth in the tent, full of thoughts.
You Heng finally looked up at him and asked, "What happened?"
"Nothing." You Jiamu smiled and didn't explain. He stopped walking around and sat down in the corner.
He was about to return to Beijing, and he was increasingly hesitant about whether to get rid of Chen Anzhi before returning to Beijing. Along the way, he tried several times to deliberately put Chen Anzhi in trouble. But every time, Chen Anzhi was able to turn danger into safety by chance.
You Jiamu was extremely depressed.
Along the way, he could only try every means to put Chen Anzhi in danger, but he didn't dare to kill him personally, because he was still concerned about Chen Anzhi's identity.
He really hated himself for being able to do small things in secret, and he wanted to chop off Chen Anzhi's head and feed it to the dogs! But he couldn't...
He hated himself for being young and powerless. He could only hide all his hatred in his heart and try his best to use some shady tricks. He wanted to earn some military merits by following Brother Yuan Yi to the battle, but...
You Jiamu lowered his head again. He realized that even if he gained fame, he could not do whatever he wanted. A minister is always a minister, and status and class are a gap that cannot be crossed.
Chen Anzhi came in, his body wet from the rain. He bent over and used his body to protect the roast chicken in his arms.
"Jiamu, I brought this for you!"
You Jiamu looked at Chen Anzhi, smiled brightly at this man whom he hated so much, and happily called him brother-in-law: "Brother-in-law is so good to me!"
Chen Anzhi nodded to You Heng, then turned to You Jiamu and said with a smile, "Come on, it's better to eat it while it's hot."
"Hmm!" You Jiamu hurried over, tore off a chicken leg, bent his eyes and took a big bite.
"Don't worry, eat slowly. I'm leaving now."
"Yeah! Take care, brother-in-law!"
As soon as Chen Anzhi walked out of the tent, You Jiamu immediately spat out the chicken in his mouth in disgust.
You Heng looked at You Jiamu's reactions and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
You Jiamu's face fell, and he looked at You Heng in despair, muffled: "Brother Yuan Yi, is it extremely important to be able to reincarnate?"
You Heng was silent for a long time before nodding: "Usually, yes."
You Jiamu pursed his lips and said nothing, but his face was full of dissatisfaction.
Chen Anzhi went out and immediately distributed today's dinner with several other soldiers. By the time he was done, his clothes were already soaked. He returned to his tent, changed his clothes, and repeatedly wiped the rain off his hair with his head raised. He felt that the rain not only soaked his clothes, but also his skin.
Wang Jiang sat in the crowd, quietly looking at Chen Anzhi in the distance.
"Qingshan, eat this." Brother Hu threw a white flour bun into his bowl.
Wang Jiang withdrew his gaze and thanked him.
He jumped into the Lianshui River that day, leaving a resolute back to those who followed him. He was disheartened at that time, and he just wanted to use his death to conceal the secret between him and Chun Xing and clear her name. Being saved by Brother Hu was an accident.
The Lianshui River was rushing rapidly, and when he woke up, he was no longer in the capital, but in Gongcheng.
Brother Hu is not a good person, but a bully in Gongcheng. Brother Hu said that life in a muddleheaded way is meaningless, it is better to go to the border to make a fortune and asked him if he is willing to go with him.
He looked in the direction of the capital and hesitated for three days, but finally caught up with Brother Hu's departing team.
Brother Hu asked him his name, and he said his name was Qingshan. He hoped that Jiang would disappear completely along with the secret that he was determined to keep at all costs.
Brother Tiger laughed and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Good, good, good! As long as the green mountains remain, there will be no shortage of firewood! A good omen!"
The noise here reached Chen Anzhi's ears. Chen Anzhi looked over and saw Wang Jiang in the crowd. He couldn't help but frowned.
That day, he got lost in the mountains and happened to meet Brother Hu and his group. At that time, You Heng was trying to recruit bandits from the mountains. Brother Hu thought that the borderland was cold and bitter, and it would be a good opportunity to clear his name. He went down the mountain to look for You Heng's army, and happened to run into Chen Anzhi. In order to show his goodwill to You Heng, he took the lost Chen Anzhi down the mountain.
Chen Anzhi once angrily asked Wang Jiang why he betrayed him.
But Wangjiang said he had recognized the wrong person. He said he was not Wangjiang, but Qingshan. He had never been a servant for anyone and had always lived in the mountains.
How is this possible
How could Chen Anzhi not recognize Wang Jiang after knowing each other for so many years? This is impossible! But no matter how he pressed the issue, this man who looked exactly like Wang Jiang, even the small scar on the side of his neck was exactly the same, just refused to admit that he was Wang Jiang!
Chen Anzhi snorted coldly and angrily threw the wet clothes in his hand.
He thought that he was alone in the army and it was inconvenient. When he returned to Beijing, he would definitely take the man to jail and torture him!
However, before reaching the capital, the army was ambushed by the Ningguo brute force on the way back to the capital, resulting in numerous casualties. In the chaos, the commander of this expedition, General Zhou, fell off his horse and was about to be hit to death by a hammer from a burly brute force soldier. Wang Jiang was quick to shoot the brute force soldier in the eye, which gave You Heng time to rescue the fallen General Zhou.
After retreating to a safe place, General Zhou called Wangjiang to his side and praised him repeatedly, treating him as his adopted son.
Everyone else was congratulating him, but Chen Anzhi's brows were twisted into the shape of a "川" character. If Wang Jiang was really adopted as General Zhou's son, how could he still put him in jail and torture him to relieve his hatred
Chen Anzhi had a dark face and was extremely annoyed.
He only regretted that his father and mother did not allow him to bring anyone with him when he joined the army this time. If he could bring a few men with him, he would have dealt with Wangjiang long ago!
A soldier rushed in: "Your Majesty has collapsed!"
Chen Anzhi stood up and looked towards the capital. It was still some distance from here to the capital, and he couldn't get back for a while.
Listening to the discussions around him, Chen Anzhi slowly sat down.
The imperial edict had been issued two days ago, and at this time his fourth uncle had already ascended the throne.
Chen Anzhi suddenly thought that it would be better if his father could be more motivated.
In early August, the army returned to the capital. Unlike the time when they set out to fight, the streets were empty with people coming to see them off. The defeated army naturally did not have much glory, and they also had a state funeral. However, for every ordinary family, seeing their father, husband, and son return safely was enough to make them happy.
Chen Anzhi watched Tiezhu rush into the crowd, pick up his wife and spin her around twice. He shook his head disapprovingly, thinking it was very inappropriate.
Mingming had been in the army for half a year, eating and living with the common people. As soon as he set foot on the land of the capital, the aristocratic blood in his bones seemed to awaken all of a sudden.
After all, he is different from the people around him.
He looked around the crowd, looking for someone to pick him up. He glanced inadvertently and saw Wangjiang sitting on the horse in front of him. Chen Anzhi's joy paused. He thought it was just a polite remark from General Zhou that day, but he didn't expect that General Zhou would bring Wangjiang with him during his return.
But even if he was adopted by General Zhou, what would it matter? General Zhou was just a military commander, no matter how many merits he had. But he was born into the royal family!
"Young Master!" Wangshan squeezed through the crowd and greeted Chen Anzhi with a smile on his face.
"Why did you come just now?" Chen Anzhi frowned unhappily.
Wangshan immediately said with a smile: "I'm coming soon. There were too many people and we couldn't squeeze in. The carriage has been prepared for you a long time ago!"
Only then did Chen Anzhi follow Wangshan through the crowd and board the magnificent carriage of the Jinnan Prince's Palace.
He hadn't sat in such a comfortable carriage for a long time. Sitting in the carriage, Chen Anzhi breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking about the past six months now, it seemed like a disgusting nightmare.
Fortunately, he is back now, no longer a fireman who cooks for others in the army, but a noble and peerless prince. He is willing to bow his head and endure hardships to go through such a journey, and I think his father and mother have calmed down.
After returning to the familiar Jinnan Palace, Chen Anzhi saw many servants busy in the courtyard before he could even sigh.
"What are they doing?" he asked.
Wangshan quickly replied: "After the Mid-Autumn Festival, we will set off for our fiefdom."
Chen Anzhi said "Oh", frowned and nodded. He walked in quickly and saw King Jinnan waiting for him in the courtyard. Chen Anzhi's eyes turned red, and he immediately knelt down in front of his father: "Father, your son is back!"
King Jinnan looked down at his dark and thin son, feeling a little reluctant. He swallowed his words of reprimand and said, "Get up."
Chen Anzhi smiled and stood up, taking another step towards his father and getting closer to him: "How is mother? I heard that mother gave birth to my younger brother the day before yesterday, but are both mother and child safe? Is everything okay?"
Hearing him talk about his concern for his mother, King Jinnan felt much more comfortable. He nodded and said, "All is well."
"Then I'll go see my mother!"
King Jinnan nodded.
When Chen Anzhi entered the house and saw his mother, his eyes immediately turned red. Seeing how he had wasted his time on this trip, the princess' eyes also turned red instantly.
"Mother!" Without saying a word, Chen Anzhi threw himself into his mother's arms and cried bitterly.
The princess patted his shoulder gently and shook her head helplessly, laughing at him for still crying at such a grown man.
It was not until the King of Jinnan came in to stop him from causing the princess to worry that Chen Anzhi came out of his mother's room. He wiped the tears from his face, stood in the courtyard, and let the dry wind blow on his face. He smiled slowly.
Great, he's finally back.
He strode out of the courtyard and returned to his residence to change his clothes. Hongzan and Sihan were waiting politely at the roadside. Chen Anzhi touched the two shell bracelets hidden in his sleeves, glanced casually at the concubines, and then looked away.
I vaguely felt that there seemed to be a few concubines missing, but I couldn't remember who was missing for a moment.
He changed his clothes, shaved his beard, and even hung his beloved jade pendant and sachet around his waist. Then he hurried towards Tanxiang Yingyue, wanting only to see the two women who had decided to spend the rest of his life with him.
Wangshan followed behind Chen Anzhi, and told him with a smile what happened in the palace and the capital during his absence. Chen Anzhi was in a very good mood now that he was back in the capital, even more proud than the top scorer in the imperial examination. He listened to Wangshan's words casually, thinking about the two concubines he had just met.
It seems like he has more than two concubines
Hong Zan used to be Fang Qingyi's maid, and now he doesn't want to see Hong Zan at all. Si Han's origin is even more dramatic, not to mention that Si Han was once Sun Guangliang's concubine, so he won't touch her either.
He recalled the concubine who did not come to greet him.
Oh, Lin Yingying was kidnapped by bandits.
"Where's Chun Xing?" Chen Anzhi asked. Chun Xing had always been well-behaved and polite, so she shouldn't have failed to come and greet him.
"Aunt Chunxing is ill."
"Oh, and what about Ruby?"
"Who?" Wangshan was at a loss.
Chen Anzhi tapped his forehead and said, "I remembered it wrong. Her name is Cui Yu."
Wangshan looked at Chen Anzhi's expression and said carefully, "I made a mistake and was kicked out of the house by my wife."
Chen Anzhi frowned, then quickly relaxed his brows and said, "Just chase him away if you want."
Chen Anzhi didn't like Cuiyu in the first place. Her background in a brothel was enough to disgust him. He kept her in the mansion only for the sake of face. It was just right for her to be driven away by the mistress. Chen Anzhi thought of You Yuji driving away his concubine when he was away. Did it mean that she cared about him after all
Or was it that during the half year that he was away, You Yuji had calmed down, thought about the future, and planned to start over with him
He would first go to see his Princess Que, and then go to the You family to pick her up!
Chen Anzhi walked into Tanxiang Yingyue with a smile on his face.
Now, Tanxiang Yingyue has lost its former vitality. Chen Anzhi walked in and saw no servants. He continued to walk in and finally saw a maid sweeping the floor. The maid was also surprised to see him and hurriedly greeted him.
Chen Anzhi frowned and asked, "Why are there so few servants here?"
Wangshan hurriedly reported: "Madam has returned to the You family, and the servants in this courtyard have been sent to work elsewhere, leaving only two little maids to take care of it."
Upon hearing this, Chen Anzhi's face darkened instantly, and he questioned: "Princess Que still lives here, how can she be so lazy!"
Wang Shan said hurriedly, "Before she left, Madam said that Princess Que likes quietness and doesn't need so many people to take care of her."
Chen Anzhi thought about it and it seemed that Princess Que really liked quietness. His expression eased a little and he continued to walk in. He stopped in front of the door of the east wing, straightened his clothes, and coughed twice to clear his throat.
When knocking on the door, Chen Anzhi was still wondering if the gift he brought back was too cheap
Or he might not give the shell bracelet to Princess Que later. He would go buy some other precious gifts first and then give them to the princess together!
I knocked on the door three times, but still no one answered.
Chen Anzhi gradually became anxious: "Is Her Royal Highness the Princess resting?"
Still no one answered.
Why aren’t even the two maids beside the princess here
Could it be that something happened to the princess? Thinking of the princess's frail body and the rumors that she would not live past her twenties, Chen Anzhi's face turned pale and he pushed the door open with trembling hands.
"Princess!"
He staggered into the house, wondering if it was him who had come back.
The house was empty.
He searched the small room three times but didn't find a single person.
"What's going on! Where are the people?" Chen Anzhi loudly questioned the two maids standing in the courtyard.
The two maids looked at each other and knelt down tremblingly: "We don't know!"
"What do you mean you don't know? I'm asking where your people are." Chen Anzhi rushed out and stood in front of the two maids who were kneeling on the ground.
The little maidservant reported in a trembling voice: "Princess Que has not been in good health. I, your servant, have obeyed your orders and never dared to disturb you. Every time the kitchen sends food to the door according to the rules, the maidservants around Princess Que will take it away..."
Another maidservant replied, "Yes, yes, I saw the maidservant named Tingyun beside Princess Que last night! I really don't know why Princess Que was not in the room..."
"The maidservants around Princess Que often cook medicine in the small kitchen. Princess Que is so sick that she should not be able to leave the house by herself..."
Chen Anzhi’s face turned pale and his body swayed.
how so
Who broke into his home and kidnapped his sweetheart
At this moment, the person Chen Anzhi was thinking about was in a clean room filled with moisture, lying naked on a wet bench with his black hair disheveled.
You Yuji moved a small stool and sat beside him, concentrating on painting on Si Que's back with the ink in her hand.
Si Que twirled the coins between his fingers, feeling a little unhappy.
He has been tossing coins for so many years, but the coins still have no tacit understanding with him.
He lost again and could only lie here obediently and serve as a drawing board for his sister.
The author has something to say: The next chapter is (ending), hey, I'll try to update it tomorrow night, the word count is the same as this chapter, so I may not be able to finish it.