Chapter 67 (1/2)
Glossary
石 | dan | dry measure for grain around one hundred liters
儿 | er | (lit. child) diminutive marker used as a form of endearment
时辰 | sichen | time system comprising of 12 two-hour periods of the day; one sichen is the equivalent of two modern hours
Xuanyuan Zong Zhi gently stroked his wife’s back, the expression on his face both delighted and distressed: “It’s all right now. You are in your own home and there will be no one to bully you.”
Own home? Ruan Zhu looked at her surroundings, her eyes full of doubt. The room that she was staying in was unspeakably luxurious and could be encapsulated in the four words ‘The Gem of Life.’[a] Famous calligraphy hung on the walls; Ru ware was placed on the tables; even the small ornaments on the tables and the hooks on the bed to hold the red muslin curtains were manufactured with gold.
The bedding was made of cloud brocade from Jiang Nan and were embroidered with large red tree peony blooms. Cloud brocade was extremely precious, and the majority of people used them to make clothes; it was quite rare to see one use it as a quilt.
“This is not my home.” She looked at Xuanyuan Zong Zhi, her eyes full of questions.
“This is my home, so it is also your home.” Xuanyuan Zong Zhi noted that his wife’s still-pale lips yet remained full and captivating and couldn’t help but to pull her closer for a kiss. His actions were very gentle as he was afraid of hurting her. Sucking on her tongue, he could feel that her internal temperature seemed to have returned to normal, and his heart eased. After a long kiss, he lamented: “Fortunately, you are all right. It was my fault. Everything would have been fine if I had assigned a few imperial bodyguards who knew martial arts to protect you.”
“You don’t need to blame yourself; it was me who was at fault. Who could have thought that would happen?” She extended her hand to caress his chin, and the places she touched were pricked by stubble. He had previously paid very close attention to his appearance; unexpectedly, even the thought of taking care of his facial hair hadn’t crossed his mind.
“Those bailiffs and jailers should die. I will not let them go.” He would definitely have them pay the price. They dared to harm the Prince of Qi’s most important person. Even if the other was the Emperor, who cares? He would still spare no effort.
“Bailiffs are all like that.” She sighed. In her previous world, there was even the incident of playing hide-and-seek! What’s more, in the ancient era, one was captured with one’s name and the others would not give up until one’s fortune was completely gone. Fortunately, Elder Jia had sent some money, otherwise she would be even more out of luck.
“You have become hungry, correct? I will have some servants send some dishes over.” Last night while she was still unconscious, he had fed her half a bowl of porridge as he had thought it was best for her to eat a little since she was pregnant with his child.
“No appetite.” Her body was soft, as if she was floating among the clouds, while her head still felt extremely heavy. Speaking these few words with him had already made her tired.
“You must eat a bit otherwise it will not be good for the child.” Xuanyuan Zong Zhi became solemn. Seeing she felt unwell, he moved her from within his arms to on top of the pillow.
“The child is still in the Ruan residence. The majestic general is speaking incoherently yet is not afraid of others laughing at him.” Ruan Zhu mocked him. She had said too much and her throat was extremely painful, leading to a fit of violent coughing that made breathing difficult and caused her face to flush completely red.
“All right, all right, do not speak anymore. When your illness has become better, you can speak for three days and three nights if you prefer, but right now you cannot.” Xuanyuan Min Zhi pat his wife’s back, hoping it could help relieve some of her suffering.
“Isn’t it all because of you……” Ruan Zhu pointed at him.
“I know, all right, don’t speak anymore.” Xuanyuan Zong Zhi hurriedly cut her off and yelled outside the bedroom: “Qu Gao, instruct the kitchen to send in the meal.”
“This slave understands.”
From behind the door came a tapered voice. Ruan Zhu thought, Such a thin voice that was not yet an adult’s and was very likely a child whose voice had just changed. She did not even consider that the man outside was a palace eunuch.
When Qu Gao and He Gua delivered the food, the dishes were on the lighter side and could be considered as to her liking. Xuanyuan Zong Zhi picked up a spoon and fed her, one mouthful at a time. She reluctantly finished a bowl and then pointed at him, indicating for him to also have some.
Xuanyuan Zong Zhi had also truly became hungry and his table manners were rather crude. Ruan Zhu pursed her lips in an attempt to not smile. Ever since he had associated with the old and grizzled men of the army for a long time, the originally elegant Lu Piao Xiang had picked up quite a few coarse habits. But that was good, as this more resembled a man. When all was said and done, being too refined made one too aloof and remote and also caused others to feel they could not and must not long for them.
“Prince, Elder Jia has brought some food from Lu Yin Ge and is currently waiting in the outer courtyard to seek an audience.” A palace eunuch walked to the beaded curtain and made a report.
“Send him in!” Having said that, Xuanyuan Zong Zhi smiled towards his wife: “This time, you did not have any issues thanks to him. However, we can also blame him for letting something happen to you while in Lu Yin Ge. But since he has done a meritorious deed to make up for his mistake, I will not count this against him.”
“Why are they calling you ‘Prince’?” She mouthed the question to him, suspicion flashing in her eyes. Lu Piao Xiang had been bestowed the title of a Prince? How could that be possible? Based on what she knew, surnames different from ‘Xuanyuan’ did not have the qualification to be awarded the title of ‘Prince.’
“Because……” Xuanyuan Zong Zhi became awkward and he forced a laugh: “After two days when you are better, I will explain everything clearly.”
“Fine, then!” She agreed, despite not being fully satisfied.
Elder Jia did not dare to enter. He bowed towards his Master while separated by the beaded curtain and handed the food box to a palace eunuch for the latter to bring it inside. He also asked about niangniang‘s status, and only after finding out her fever had reduced and she was currently recuperating did he relax his manner of speaking. These few days, he had shouldered ample worries. He had feared that because Ruan Zhu had met with mishap, the Prince would be angered and take it out on him; it would be disastrous if he ended up without his head.
Ruan Zhu was even more confused. Wasn’t Elder Jia her own Lord Husband’s father? Under what sky would the father salute his own son? She then recalled that they were not of the same surname–one was Jia; one was Lu–but it was very possible that Lord Husband’s name was a stage name.
Ai, it’s been this long yet she still doesn’t comprehend him. In her opinion, he had always been a mystery.
Xuanyuan Zong Zhi accepted the food box that the palace eunuch presented. Displayed inside were several quite delicate dishes that were all made according to the tastes of the patient and leaned to the lighter side. He ladled a spoonful of the gorgon fruit seeds and white fungus soup to his wife’s mouth. Seeing that she didn’t reject it, he fed her a few more bites.
At this time, a palace eunuch entered and reported that Imperial Physician Zhang was here to check on niangniang‘s condition. Just as Ruan Zhu was pondering who exactly ‘niangniang‘ was, Imperial Physician Zhang walked in and bowed to the two in front before placing his hand on her wrist. After a moment, a smile appeared on his face.
“It appears there will be no further complications with niangniang and a complete recovery can be made if the medicine is taken for another two days. This lowly one will now prescribe a medicine to stabilize the fetus. Niangniang‘s body is frail and must be properly nurtured to be beneficial to both the fetus and the adult.”
Fetus? Were they talking about her? Full of doubt, Ruan Zhu felt her stomach and abdomen. Her becoming pregnant–when did this happen and how was it that she herself was not aware? No wonder this month’s period still hadn’t come. But it had also been abnormal before so that’s why she didn’t think much of it.
“What, you are a mother yet you still don’t know?” Xuanyuan Zong Zhi teased her. Thinking about how his own child was in her belly, his heart was full of unspeakable happiness. He beamed at Imperial Physician Zhang: “You saved niangniang‘s life. You can say whatever it is you want. Gold and silver jewelry are all easy to handle.” As long as it was within his power, then all was possible.
Imperial Physician Zhang shook his head: “This humble one’s family can no longer open the pot.[b] This humle one does not want gold and silver jewelry and would only like grain, oil, and salt. Being able to have a little bit of mutton and chicken would also not be bad.”
The current political situation was full of unrest and the previous year’s drought and this year’s flood were something that Tian Chu saw once in a century.
The families of the doctors in the imperial hospital were also living with difficulty and painfully chewed brown rice every day. Don’t even mention meat, even merely white rice was something they had not eaten for a long time. The ‘Chen Jie Cai Lu’ he had mentioned to Xuanyuan Zong Zhi that he had purchased with an enormous amount of money was a lie. In actually, he had thickened his face and used the Prince of Qi’s good name and reputation along with threats to blackmail the other for it.
Xuanyuan Zong Zhi smiled and commanded a palace eunuch: “Go find the steward and have him send to Imperial Physician Zhang’s home: ten dan of rice, a hundred catties of oil, thirty catties of salt, and fifty each of sheep and chicken.”
Imperial Physician Zhang plopped onto his knees and loudly called out: “Thanks to Prince.” Ten dan of rice was exactly two thousand catties. There was also oil and salt; so many delicious foods that even if one was wealthy, one may not necessarily be able to buy them on the streets at this time. The Prince was truly too generous.
Once everyone had withdrawn, Ruan Zhu was extremely exhausted. Xuanyuan Zong Zhi fed her the medicine and pulled her into his arms. Under his coaxing, she fell asleep not too long later.