Chapter 11

Chapter 11

After daybreak.

Enduring the pain in my lower abdomen, I rose from bed with the help of my maidservants.

While changing my nightgown, I discovered that I was bleeding.

It wasn’t much, but that smear of red was a startling sight.

Cuinong was terrified and wanted to report it to the Marquis immediately.

I told her not to make a scene yet. Then, I subtly reminded her that Hongyu had been brutally slapped just yesterday because she hadn’t looked after me properly. Did she want to be punished by the Marquis as well?

As expected, a flash of fear crossed Cuinong’s eyes. After hesitating for a long time, she said, “Then let this servant invite Mr. Meng to come and take a look at you.”

…

Just as I had finished dressing and washing, Meng Huaiqing arrived.

I had heard a few things from Cuinong earlier; Meng Huaiqing was a Master of the Apricot Grove whom the Marquis had hired at a great expense.

To make it easier for him to treat my injuries, the Marquis had specifically ordered the small courtyard in the southwest corner of the manor, the one facing the street, to be cleared out for Meng Huaiqing to move into.

I didn’t dare move, so I remained half-reclined on the bed.

Cuinong took a thick, soft pillow and tucked it behind my back.

A moment later, Meng Huaiqing entered, carrying a medicine chest.

He kept his gaze steady, walking over to offer a formal greeting before asking in a deep voice, “Is the wound on Madam’s face painful? I recall adding pain-relieving herbs when I prepared the Jade Beauty Cream yesterday.”

Cuinong replied vaguely, “Madam felt some discomfort after waking up early this morning.”

As she spoke, she pulled back the gauze curtain that separated us and moved a small round stool to the bedside.

Meng Huaiqing looked at me immediately, observing me closely.

His gaze was open and honest, his face filled with integrity.

The charcoal fire crackled loudly, its heat melting the frost on his face. One or two tiny droplets of water hung lightly from his eyelashes.

“Let me check your pulse.”

With that, Meng Huaiqing sat on the round stool, rolled up his right sleeve, and placed his fingers against the inside of my wrist.

Through the thin silk handkerchief, I could clearly feel that his fingertips were ice-cold.

Meng Huaiqing’s expression turned grim, his brow furrowing deeply. “Forgive my intrusion, Madam, but did you see blood this morning?”

Before I could speak, Cuinong said anxiously, “Your diagnosis is divine, sir! That is exactly what happened. What should we do?”

Meng Huaiqing withdrew his hand. “Madam’s fetal qi has been slightly disturbed; there is a risk of miscarriage.”

He turned to ask Cuinong, “Has the Marquis been notified?”

Cuinong looked at me hesitantly and shook her head. “Not yet. Madam said this morning that she was fine and there was no need to disturb the Marquis.”

Meng Huaiqing said quite seriously, “This is a grave matter. Have someone fetch the Marquis back to the manor as soon as possible.”

I quickly intervened. “Wait!”

Meng Huaiqing looked at me, puzzled.

My palms were sweating as I asked, “Mr. Meng, can the child be saved?”

Meng Huaiqing pondered for a moment. “It can be saved, but…”

“That’s good then.” I interrupted him, forcing a smile. “Let’s not mention this to the Marquis for now.”

Meng Huaiqing looked at me with doubt but remained silent.

I tried my best to relax, resting my hand gently on my lower abdomen over the quilt. “As you know, the Empress Dowager has only one nephew, the Marquis. She places great importance on the heirs of the Marquis Manor.”

“Yesterday, because Hongyu bumped into me, it caused the injury to my face and made me fall. The Marquis punished her severely for it. If we report that my fetal qi has been disturbed now, even if the Marquis is magnanimous enough to spare her, I worry that if word reaches the Empress Dowager’s ears, Her Majesty will surely punish these servants in her fury.”

I looked at Cuinong with a sympathetic, pitying tone. “These palace maids have been trapped in the inner palace for half their lives, serving their betters with caution every day. Being punished or even put to death is a common occurrence. Their lives are already difficult. If they were to lose their lives because of me, I would never find peace for the rest of my days.”

Cuinong looked moved. “Madam…”

I looked at Meng Huaiqing expectantly, testing the waters. “What I mean is, the three of us should keep this quiet. You will provide the treatment to stabilize the pregnancy. This way, no one will be punished, and the matter will pass quietly. Wouldn’t that be for the best?”

I was gambling.

I had bled while Cuinong was attending to me; she didn’t dare take the responsibility, and the disturbance of the fetal qi was closely related to her fellow maid. She only wanted to minimize the issue.

As for Meng Huaiqing, he knew from the start that I was doomed to die this time. Whether the pregnancy was saved didn’t actually matter to him-only my face did.

Meng Huaiqing was a clever man, and a kind-hearted one. He should also…

“Very well.”

Meng Huaiqing nodded firmly and smiled. “Madam has the heart of a Bodhisattva. We shall follow your arrangements.”

At this, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.