Chapter 54

Chapter 54

After Meng Huaiqing left, I sat in my chair, my head spinning with rage.

Cuinong brought over a cup of hot water and gently rubbed my back. “Madam, please do not be angry; it is not worth it. You already intended to secretly drive a wedge between the Marquis and Lord Cheng, so he has merely done your work for you.”

I sneered. “He didn’t do it for me.”

Cuinong looked worried. “Mr. Meng is usually gentle and humble in his dealings with others, but why do I feel that he… sometimes seems even more terrifying than the Marquis?”

I looked down at the red marks on the back of my hand and scratched them hard twice. “Indeed. We have been cautious enough in our daily lives, yet this rash has appeared again, completely undetected.”

Cuinong knelt down, took my hand, and blew on it gently. “That wretched girl Ying’er has been running to Mr. Meng’s place constantly these past two days, claiming she wants him to check her pulse and give her a prescription. I didn’t expect her to have such a loose tongue. I will find a way to deal with this trouble.”

I closed my eyes and nodded.

…

Yuan Heng was feeling unwell, so I prepared some porridge and brought it to him.

He seemed to be in a good mood, finishing two bowls. He told me that menial tasks like stewing soup and boiling porridge should be left to the servants; I only needed to take care of my own body and make sure to take the medicine prescribed by Mr. Meng on time.

How could I do that? I continued to cook various dishes and brew tea for him as usual. This was what a virtuous wife must do.

Two days passed peacefully.

That afternoon, while I was learning how to read the account books, a servant came to report that the Marquis wanted me to join him for a meal in the Flower Hall.

When I arrived, I found that Cheng Wei was actually there as well.

Cheng Wei was dressed in casual home attire, talking warmly with Yuan Heng.

When he saw me enter, his face turned cold as usual. He stood up and said, “Then you two eat. I still have some business to attend to.”

“Don’t go yet.”

Yuan Heng pressed a folding fan against Cheng Wei’s shoulder and smiled. “No matter how busy the government office is, it can wait a moment.”

The Flower Hall was heated very warmly.

Yuan Heng had been ill for two days and had grown a bit thinner. He beckoned to me, signaling for me to sit beside him.

I took off my cloak and walked over, my heart trembling with apprehension.

Just as I sat down, Yuan Heng leaned in. His arm rested on the back of my chair, while his other hand used the folding fan to gently brush against my stomach.

“Qing Qiu, you must be over four months along now, aren’t you?”

I smiled and gave a soft hum of affirmation. Looking down, I realized that my pregnancy had become noticeable without me even realizing it.

“The Marquis is hosting Lord Cheng; surely you have matters to discuss.” I lightly brushed my hand against my cheek. “This concubine has been ill lately and is truly ashamed to see outside guests.”

Yuan Heng raised an eyebrow. “There you are mistaken. Second Brother is family; how could he be an outside guest?”

He opened his folding fan and waved it gently in front of him, his eyes full of smiles. “Qing Qiu, regarding the purchase of the new residence for your family, it was said that the man named Han simply wouldn’t sell, no matter what. Steward Li then went to beg Second Brother. It just goes to show that you have quite a lot of face as his sister-in-law; Second Brother paid a visit to the Han Family for you, and only then was the Han Family willing to sell.”

I looked at Cheng Wei in surprise. “Oh, is that so? Then I truly must thank Lord Cheng.”

Cheng Wei nodded expressionlessly, deliberately glancing at Cuinong behind me. “I was cared for by Steward Li when I was young. He does not ask for favors easily. Since he sought me out, I had to give the Steward face no matter what.”

Yuan Heng also looked at Cuinong and sneered. “These little female officials usually speak of rules this and etiquette that, but after just one trip to the manor to bury someone, a young maiden turns into a matron in the blink of an eye. Steward Li has been in the Marquis Manor for so many years and has seen the world, yet I didn’t expect him to like someone who looks dull on the outside but is flighty to the bone.”

Cheng Wei shook his head with a smile. “You’ve made the girl cry. Be careful she doesn’t file a complaint against you before the Empress Dowager when she returns to the palace to report.”

Yuan Heng curled his lip. “My aunt loves planting eyes around me; it’s truly annoying. When I have time later, I must deal with all of them.”

I glared at Yuan Heng and looked back.

Cuinong stood there with her head bowed, her lips pressed tightly together as tears fell in strings.

I sighed. “The deep palace is lonely and dangerous; they are also pitiable people, merely wishing for someone to rely on. Marquis, your words are perhaps a bit too harsh.”

Yuan Heng hadn’t expected me to talk back. He looked me up and down as if meeting me for the first time.

“Qing Qiu, I specially set this banquet today for Second Brother because he helped you with the house. Yet you call me harsh. It truly breaks my heart.”

I was about to speak.

Yuan Heng gently pressed his fan against my lips and gestured with his chin toward the wine pot on the table. He curled his lips into a smile. “How about this: you penalize yourself with three cups, and we’ll let this matter pass.”

I knew the wine pot likely contained a sedative.

Even if I hadn’t spoken back to him just now, he would have found another reason to force me to drink.

In Yuan Heng’s eyes, I was a pawn whose life was nearing its end, and Cheng Wei was a blade that only listened to him.

When he sensed that this blade seemed to have its own thoughts, he was naturally angry.

Today’s family banquet was likely intended to keep Cheng Wei in line.

If I drank the sedative, I would most likely have another encounter with Cheng Wei. Who knew if the child in my womb would survive?

Perhaps this was the show Yuan Heng wanted to watch.

*You, Cheng Wei, didn’t you inquire about Ye Qingqiu’s pregnancy? Then I’ll let you have a good look.*

Drink? Of course, I would drink.

When this blade was toyed with, belittled, humiliated, and suppressed to the point of breaking, I didn’t believe he could endure it any longer.

I glanced across the table. Sure enough, Cheng Wei’s face was grim. His hand on the table was clenched into a fist, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

But he remained patient and kept his mouth shut.

At that moment, Cuinong fell to her knees with a thud. “It is all this servant’s fault. Madam has a rash on her face and body; Mr. Meng said she must not drink wine.”

Yuan Heng frowned, a flash of murderous intent in his eyes.

I poured myself a full cup. “My rash keeps recurring, and Mr. Meng hasn’t been able to cure it for so long. It seems his medical skills are just so-so. His words should be taken with a grain of salt; there’s no need to take them seriously. Since the Marquis is angry, I will drink. It’s no big deal.”

I steeled my heart and was about to drink when a mess of footsteps sounded from not far away.

Steward Li shouted anxiously, “Mr. Yun Sheng, please walk slower, be careful not to slip! The Marquis is hosting an honored guest today and likely has no time to see you!”