Chapter 37 (1/2)

Chapter 37 Rising Wind: Crisis

Feng Luodi did not sleep well that night. She spent her time in bed tossing and turning, trying to recall what little she knew of Feng Luodi’s past 17 years of experience. The people she interacted with, the significant incidents that had happened, and the usual habits the body had had before she transmigrated into this world. Of course, the Chamberlain’s order  preventing her from seeing Situ again added further distress. Father has always only concerned himself with his work in the Judicial Bureau, and I don't see any reason for him to interact with Situ, who’s the General-in-chief of the North, at all. What does he have against Situ?

“Arghhhhh.” Feng Luodi sat up in bed, frustrated by her string of idle thoughts. She ruffled her long hair and sighed heavily. “Why should I even be bothered with what Father thinks of Situ anyway? I’ll have to return to my world sooner or later, and will never see any of these people again.” She comforted herself and smacked her forehead. Ignoring the worry in her stomach, she quickly got dressed.

I’d better head to the antechamber to have breakfast with the family today, seeing as how Father was so upset last night.

Feng Luodi had braced herself for the open displeasure of her father when she entered the antechamber, but was shocked when she saw him sitting by the dining table. Is that man with the wide grin on his face really Father? Feng Luodi rubbed her eyes hard, closed them, and opened them again. Is that really the father that was fuming at me just last night?

“Luodi, why are you sitting there? Come and sit here.”

Is it really a good thing that his mood has completely turned around in such a short time? Feng Luodi was a little hesitant as she walked over. She glanced around the room, quietly checking to see if there was another “Father” sitting around.

Fu Bo brought a bowl of porridge to her, and quietly whispered. “Young miss, you might not have heard the news yet, but the Second Lady is pregnant. She was feeling unwell today morning, and the physician had confirmed her pregnancy when he was called in for the diagnosis. You’ll be having a younger brother or sister soon!”

Fu Bo’s face was lit up in joy too. After all, it was indeed good news that the Second Lady is now pregnant. She had been married into the household for ten years, and it was definitely a surprising ‘present’ for the Chamberlain to receive another child.

Feng Luodi could feel the joy radiating from her father; while he barely ever smiled on a normal day, his eyes had almost disappeared beneath his ever-widening grin today. At least he’d already forgotten about my disobedience last night.

“Luodi, go and check on your Second Mam after breakfast.”

“Yes, Father.” Feng Luodi spoke into the bowl of porridge in front of her.

After breakfast ended in the antechamber, and the Chamberlain got ready for court, Feng Luodi slowly made her way to the Second Lady’s courtyard. She could hear the flurry of noises coming from the courtyard far away as the servants busied about, tending to the Second Lady’s needs and wants.

“Quick! Change this table into a rounded one. And remove that vase in the corner! Remember, nothing with a corner could be allowed in this room!” The wet nurse hired by the Second Lady gave out orders briskly.

“Yes, I’ll get to it now.”

“You! Go and get some soft furs from the store and lay them in the Lady’s room!”

“Yes.”

When Feng Luodi reached the entrance of the courtyard, a handmaiden was helping the Second Lady to her chair that sat in the sun. The Second Lady was all smiles, glowing with all the pride and bliss of a soon-to-be mother.

Feng Luodi looked up at the skies, and took a deep breath before entering.

“Young miss?” The handmaiden was the first to see Feng Luodi.

The Second Lady raised her head, and waved Feng Luodi over quickly, surprise written all over her face. “Quickly come over and sit by me, Luodi!”

Feng Luodi smiled, and sat down by the Second Lady. “Second Mam.”

“It is your first time in my courtyard, isn’t it?” She turned to the handmaiden. “Turquoise, go and bring out some desserts and tea.”

“No need for them, Second Mam, I won’t be staying much longer here. In fact, I’ll be leaving the household again in a bit.” Feng Luodi looked concernedly at the Second Lady. “How are you feeling right now? What did the physician say?”

The Second Lady was a little surprised by her question, but hid it quickly with a gentle smile. “He said that the baby is in a stable condition, and that I should just continue resting as per normal.”

“That’s good to hear. I’d met Father in the antechamber just now and he was elated.”

The Second Lady suddenly looked shy. “I’ve been married to your father for ten years, and now we finally have a child to call our own.”

“Mmmmm.”

They engaged in a little more idle chatter, before Feng Luodi took her leave.

“Luodi.” The Second Lady called out, just as Feng Luodi was about to leave the courtyard.

“Yes, Second Mam?”

The Second Lady hesitated, then shook her head. “It’s nothing, go on now.”

“Rest well, Second mam.” Feng Luodi turned and left the courtyard. With a heavy heart, she made her way towards her mother’s rooms.

The First Lady now spent most of her time in her room, her body too weak to go outdoors ever since her last spell. Signalling to the few handmaidens in the courtyard to not alert her mother, Feng Luodi quietly made her way into the house. Through the window, Feng Luodi could see her mother half-leaning against the bed. She had a set of bamboo slats held in her left hand, and was reading it intensely. A small bench had been sat by her bed, and on it were writing instruments of brushes and ink. An elegant smile graced the face of her mother, who often picked up the brush to make notes on the scriptures she read.

Feng Luodi rubbed her eyes. Mother must not know about the Second Lady’s pregnancy yet.

She watched from afar, and could feel tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. The Second Lady will have children playing around her knees in the future, and will have pieous sons and daughters always by her side. But Mother…Mother only has me now. What will become of Mother, once I leave this world?