Chapter 138

Chapter 138: He Came Back

Imperial Physician Li said, “The situation is not good, but as long as she is awake, there is still a chance.”

After speaking, Imperial Physician Li went to write a prescription.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not stay long. As soon as Sheng Zhi Wan left, Meng Yang began to show off her filial care in front of Qi Shu Xian.

Meng Yang personally brought a cloth to wipe Madam Cui’s face.

As Meng Yang wiped, a foul stench suddenly rose from beneath Madam Cui.

Meng Yang’s face changed instantly.

Qi Shu Xian smelled it too, and Qi Shu Xian’s brows knitted.

Madam Cui finally stopped making hoarse sounds. Madam Cui stared with wide eyes and wished Madam Cui could die on the spot.

Madam Cui had been a proud noble lady from Qing He. Madam Cui had once held status and wealth, but now Madam Cui lay in bed, unable to control even her own filth.

Madam Cui squeezed her eyes shut.

Qi Shu Xian’s heart ached and twisted. Qi Shu Xian wanted to step forward, but Qi Shu Xian remembered it would be improper. Qi Shu Xian could only look at Meng Yang.

Meng Yang’s face tightened. Meng Yang held the cloth and could neither keep wiping nor stop.

Just then, Ting Lan came in from outside. Ting Lan smelled the odor and stepped back. Ting Lan said, “Heir Apparent, Princess sent me to remind Heir Apparent not to forget to deliver the house deeds and land deeds.”

Ting Lan bowed and turned to leave.

But Ting Lan took two steps and stopped. Ting Lan pinched her nose and turned back. “Eh? Why hasn’t Concubine Meng cleaned Madam yet?”

Ting Lan said, “When Heir Apparent went to Cang Nan, Madam once fell gravely ill too. Back then, my Princess cared for Madam personally, wiping Madam down and carrying out Madam’s urine.”

Ting Lan added, “This servant wanted to do it for Princess, but Princess refused.”

Ting Lan said, “Princess said that even though we are servants, we are still outsiders. Madam cares about her dignity and surely doesn’t want outsiders to see such private matters.”

Ting Lan looked at Meng Yang and pouted. “Concubine Meng doubts my Princess at every turn and fears my Princess will harm Madam. Then Concubine Meng should personally handle even more private things like wiping filth and carrying the chamber pot. Why is Concubine Meng not moving now?”

Qi Shu Xian looked shocked and guilty. So Zhi Wan had even done things like that?

Qi Shu Xian had never known.

Qi Shu Xian looked at Meng Yang.

Meng Yang bit her lip and held her breath, but the moment Meng Yang saw the mess, Meng Yang gagged.

Madam Cui, who had been keeping her eyes shut and wishing to die, was struck by that sound. Tears rolled from the corners of Madam Cui’s eyes at once.

Ting Lan clicked her tongue and muttered, “I thought she was so filial. Turns out she despises Madam.”

Ting Lan did not look at anyone’s expression. Ting Lan hurried away.

[It stank. It really stank.] If Ting Lan were not speaking up for Princess, Ting Lan would not have wanted to stand there and watch something so disgusting.

When Ting Lan left, Qi Shu Xian’s face turned dark.

Qing Xing endured the stench and said, “Heir Apparent, Concubine is pregnant and has been nauseous. It wasn’t because of Madam… that Concubine reacted like this.”

Qi Shu Xian’s expression eased a little.

But Qi Shu Xian still did not tell Meng Yang that Meng Yang did not have to clean.

Sheng Zhi Wan was a Princess, yet Sheng Zhi Wan could personally serve Mother-in-law without relying on anyone else. Meng Yang was a farm girl. Why couldn’t Meng Yang do it?

Qi Shu Xian had heard of many village women who still worked in the fields while pregnant, and even returned to the fields the day after giving birth. Compared to them, Meng Yang already had it far easier.

Serving Qi Shu Xian’s mother was hardly too much.

In the end, Meng Yang could only force it down and clean Madam Cui while fighting nausea.

After Ting Lan reported back, Sheng Zhi Wan could not help laughing.

In Sheng Zhi Wan’s previous life, Madam Cui had been extremely pleased with Meng Yang as a daughter-in-law. Now Sheng Zhi Wan had simply let Madam Cui enjoy that good daughter-in-law’s care ahead of time.

Madam Cui should have thanked Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan was in an excellent mood.

That night, Qi Shu Xian personally delivered the house deeds and land deeds to Ping Lan Residence.

Sheng Zhi Wan had just finished washing. Her hair still carried warm dampness, and her porcelain-pale face held a faint blush.

Sheng Zhi Wan had An Zhi take the documents.

Sheng Zhi Wan lifted an eyebrow and asked, “Does Heir Apparent have other business?”

Qi Shu Xian’s lips parted. Then Qi Shu Xian suddenly said, “The plum blossoms in Plum Grove have bloomed. You always wanted to see them before. How about I take you tomorrow?”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s expression faded. “That was before.”

Sheng Zhi Wan spoke with careless calm. “If Heir Apparent has time, Heir Apparent should spend it with Madam or Concubine Meng. Madam is ill, and Concubine Meng is pregnant. Either one matters more than me.”

Qi Shu Xian looked at Sheng Zhi Wan and felt both helpless and bitter.

But Sheng Zhi Wan was right. Qi Shu Xian truly could not leave right now. Qi Shu Xian had only spoken in a moment of emotion.

Qi Shu Xian sighed. Plum blossoms would keep blooming for some time. When Qi Shu Xian finally had time, Qi Shu Xian could take Sheng Zhi Wan then.

Because Madam Tao had entered the manor, Madam Cui was angered into a stroke.

Even if Duke Qi cared about Qi Shu Xian’s face, Duke Qi could not rank Madam Tao at such a moment. Duke Qi could only arrange for Madam Tao to stay in Xin Lan Courtyard for now, sharing it with Concubine Lian.

At morning court, Emperor Chong Sheng announced another major matter. The Northern Di Envoy would arrive in capital city tomorrow.

As a vassal state of Sheng Kingdom, Northern Di had to come each year to present tribute. By rights, this year’s envoy should have arrived long ago, yet they delayed again and again until now.

Not only that, the person they sent this time was the sickly Fourth Prince, the least favored son of the King of Northern Di.

Northern Di’s intentions were obvious. If the Northern Di Fourth Prince truly died in Sheng Kingdom, it would be a chance to start a war.

Emperor Chong Sheng wanted to fight, but Emperor Chong Sheng did not want to fight now. At the very least, Emperor Chong Sheng wanted to wait until Sheng Kingdom had recovered for two more years.

So in court, Emperor Chong Sheng handed the welcoming palace banquet for the Northern Di Envoy to Ministry of Rites Minister Wu Han Yue.

Then Emperor Chong Sheng’s gaze swept across the officials.

After a long time, Emperor Chong Sheng’s eyes landed on one person.

After court ended, Emperor Chong Sheng summoned Qi Shu Xian alone.

Nothing could intimidate a restless Northern Di more than a young military officer known for battle.

*The next day, the Northern Di Envoy entered the capital. It was said the escort alone numbered three hundred.

Many commoner braved the cold wind to watch.

Sheng Zhi Wan also sat in a restaurant. The Northern Di Envoy’s procession would pass by here.

Sheng Zhi Wan sipped hot tea.

Ting Lan craned her neck to look outside. Then Ting Lan suddenly cried out, “Young Master Shang Er?”

Sheng Zhi Wan paused with the cup in her hand.

“Princess, look. Is that Young Master Shang Er?” Ting Lan said. “This servant thinks it looks like him. We haven’t heard anything about Young Master Shang Er lately…”

Ting Lan sounded puzzled. “Why is Young Master Shang Er leading a woman’s carriage?”

Sheng Zhi Wan looked over.

Sure enough, a man with a back that looked just like Shang Xing Yu rode on a tall horse. Beside him, another exceptionally beautiful white horse pulled a luxurious carriage.

The wind lifted a corner of the curtain, revealing a delicate figure inside.

The white horse’s reins were clenched in the man’s hand.

As Sheng Zhi Wan looked, the man seemed to sense a gaze and turned his head.

Their eyes met.

Sheng Zhi Wan pressed her lips together. For some reason, Sheng Zhi Wan suddenly pulled the window latch down.

“Princess?” Ting Lan jumped at the loud bang of the window.

Sheng Zhi Wan took a deep breath and said, “The wind is a bit chilly. Close the window first.”

“Yes.” Ting Lan hurried to shut it.

Sheng Zhi Wan lowered her eyes.

It really was Shang Xing Yu.

He came back.

But why did Shang Xing Yu return at a time like this?

“Princess,” An Zhi said just then as An Zhi came in with steaming black rice cakes, “guess what this servant heard?”