Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Night Companion

Zhuang Li was indeed exhausted. She forced herself to let Doctor Zhang take her pulse, took her medicine, and lay down to sleep. When she woke up again, the bed curtains were dim yellow.

As soon as she moved, someone leaned over from the bedside.

“Awake?”

Zhuang Li looked up and saw Zhou Jingyun’s face. In the interplay of light and shadow, his features were gentle.

“Is it already evening?” she said, looking past him.

Outside the window, the night was dark, and the house and courtyard were quiet.

Zhou Jingyun hummed in response and asked, “Do you have the strength to sit up?”

Zhuang Li nodded. Just as she was about to prop herself up, Zhou Jingyun had already leaned over, one hand on her shoulder to help her up, the other hand stuffing a pillow behind her back.

“Thank you, Marquis Zhou’s Heir,” she said, then quickly added in a low voice, “I’m fine. I’ll be better after some rest.”

Zhou Jingyun didn’t speak. Chun Yue and the other maids in the outer room, hearing the commotion, came in, carrying medicine and bird’s nest porridge.

“Marquis Zhou’s Heir, let us handle this,” Chun Yue said.

Zhou Jingyun remained seated by the bed and gestured for them to put the things down. “I’ll do it.”

Chun Yue wanted to say something but was pulled back by Chun Hong.

Zhuang Li also spoke up, “I feel much better after sleeping. It’s getting late. Leave the night watch, everyone else go and rest.” She smiled, “Don’t wear yourselves out.”

But no one laughed at this joke. Chun Yue’s expression was filled with self-blame. She should have stayed here last night to sleep with the Young Madam, but Chun Hong pulled her back. She bowed her head and, taking the others, retreated.

“Sister, didn’t you see that the Marquis Zhou’s Heir wanted to personally take care of the Young Madam?” Chun Hong whispered reproachfully.

Chun Yue said wistfully, “I did see it, but I was worried the Marquis Zhou’s Heir wouldn’t be able to take good care of her. You don’t know what the Young Madam looked like when I woke up and came in…”

The Young Madam was slumped over the edge of the bed, her entire body so pale she was almost transparent, as if she would disappear at any moment.

It was terrifying.

“Doctor Zhang said the Young Madam’s spirit was injured. Now that the Marquis Zhou’s Heir is taking such good care of her, her mind and spirit will be at peace, and she will recover quickly,” Chun Hong said.

Chun Yue looked back. The Marquis Zhou’s Heir was indeed very attentive to the Young Madam. When he learned that the Young Madam was unwell and rushed over, his face was pale as well.

Faint voices came from the corner of the veranda ahead.

“You should go back.”

“Chun Xiang, I’m just worried.”

Hearing this, Chun Yue was fine, but Chun Hong’s expression changed, and she stormed over.

A dim lamp under the veranda illuminated the figures of Chun Xiang and Concubine Mei.

“Who allowed you to come here!” Chun Hong gritted her teeth and whispered harshly, then sneered, “How dare you disregard the rules just because the Marquis Zhou’s Heir spent a night there.”

These words were truly unpleasant, and Concubine Mei’s face changed.

“I’m worried about the Young Madam,” she said mournfully. “I’m truly worried.”

Chun Hong sneered, “I think you have ulterior motives.”

Chun Yue tried to smooth things over. “Alright, alright. The Young Madam is taking her medicine. Stop arguing.” She pushed Concubine Mei. “Go back quickly. Don’t cause trouble here.”

Concubine Mei couldn’t help but glance towards the main room, muttering, “Young Madam, please don’t do anything rash. Marquis Zhou’s Heir, you must explain things clearly.”

“That’s even more inappropriate,” Chun Yue said angrily, pushing her away. “Concubine, go quickly. Otherwise, if you are caught spying on the mistress here, it will be even harder to explain.”

Concubine Mei let out a mournful sigh. “I’m wronged!”

If she were to be disliked by the Young Madam and driven out because of this, she would be truly wronged.

The Marquis Zhou’s Heir didn’t do anything at her place.

But she couldn’t say that out loud.

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

A few more lamps were lit in the room.

Zhuang Li finished her medicine, and Zhou Jingyun handed her a piece of preserved fruit.

Zhuang Li took it.

“My mother brought up the matter of children,” Zhou Jingyun said, watching her eat the preserved fruit.

Zhuang Li was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood. Of course, a husband and wife naturally should have children, but she was a fake wife.

“I’ve delayed you,” she said quickly, looking at Zhou Jingyun.

Zhou Jingyun, seeing her looking at him, suddenly smiled and touched his face. “Yes, I’m getting old.”

Old? Zhuang Li couldn’t help but chuckle. Looking at Zhou Jingyun’s bright eyes under the lamplight, he looked serious when he wasn’t smiling, but when he smiled, he still revealed a youthful exuberance.

“You’re already old? You’re only a few years older than me, and I still feel like a clueless child,” she said with a smile.

✿✿✿

He was indeed still a child, Zhou Jingyun thought, but he didn’t say it out loud, only smiling.

“Chun Mei is a bit older,” he continued. “Even if my mother asks, she’ll ask her first.”

He was still explaining to her about going to Concubine Mei’s place last night. Zhuang Li swallowed the preserved fruit and nodded. “I understand.”

Actually, she didn’t understand anything, Zhou Jingyun thought. He hadn’t finished what he wanted to say…

He and Chun Mei were just putting on a show from the beginning. Back then, Lu San Niang was too virtuous. As soon as she entered the household, she wanted to arrange for him to take concubines and add new people to the family. He could only pull Chun Mei out. At that time, he had made it clear with Chun Mei, and she was happy to agree. Last night, when he went to Chun Mei’s place, he reiterated it once again.

“It’s the same as before. Can you accept it?” he asked.

Concubine Mei nodded repeatedly, yes, yes, yes. As long as he didn’t drive her away and she had food and clothing, she was content.

Since that was the case, he felt relieved. Chun Mei, as before, slept on the small bed beside him, while he had the big bed to himself. For the first time since he came home, he could stretch out and sleep soundly. But then, Zhuang Li had her episode.

He knew that it wasn’t truly because of Chun Mei spitting blood.

But it was because she had her episode on the night he wasn’t there. He still needed to explain what needed to be explained.

However, there was no need to tell her about Chun Mei. As he hesitated, he heard Zhuang Li’s voice continue.

“Master Zhuang saved my life, but my health is still poor. If I don’t sleep well or if I overexert myself mentally, I’m prone to these episodes.”

“Last night, I remembered some things from the past, about my sister.”

About Consort Bai, Zhou Jingyun looked at her intently.

“Do you know how my sister was chosen to enter Prince Changyang’s Residence?” Zhuang Li said. “With our family’s status, we weren’t even considered.”

Zhou Jingyun remembered the emperor bestowing new consorts upon his sons back then.

At that time, the Crown Prince was convicted of treason, but he refused to allow the officials sent to arrest him to enter. He closed the gates of the Eastern Palace and set it on fire.

The fire in the Eastern Palace burned for three days. The Crown Prince, the Crown Princess, their four-year-old son, the Grandson of the Emperor, and hundreds of eunuchs and palace maids all perished.

Everyone was terrified. The markets in the capital closed, and everyone stayed indoors.

At that time, the emperor ordered the selection of virtuous women to be bestowed upon his other three sons, as a show of fatherly love.

The women bestowed upon the princes were all from prominent families. Bai Xun was just a minor military official in Fengzhou; his daughters should not have been on the list.

And so came the rumor that Bai Xun had pledged allegiance to Empress Jiang and offered up his daughter.

The rumor wasn’t entirely baseless. Not long after Bai Ying entered Prince Changyang’s Residence, Bai Xun was transferred to the Longyou Protectorate and promoted three ranks to the position of Army Strategist.

Thinking of this, Zhou Jingyun couldn’t help but sigh softly.

“Your father does have military talent,” he said. “His promotion was well-deserved.”

But in this world, too many deserved things went unnoticed. When someone actually achieved it, it became undeserved instead. Zhou Jingyun lowered his gaze.

Zhuang Li was stunned by his sudden remark, then she understood. Did Zhou Jingyun mean to praise her father, not believing that he got promoted because he pledged allegiance to Empress Jiang?

It didn’t matter anymore. Even if he was falsely accused, her father wouldn’t care.

“My father said that he served the country, ensuring peace and stability for the people, and he had no regrets. Even at the moment of his execution, he didn’t regret going to the Longyou Protectorate,” Zhuang Li said.

Zhou Jingyun looked at her, pursed his lips as if he wanted to say something, but didn’t.

“It does sound like a follower of Empress Jiang, unrepentant even in death, right?” Zhuang Li said with a smile.

She could still joke. Zhou Jingyun couldn’t help but smile. This girl always had a kind of detachment from the world, a carefree spirit.

“A person whose ambition is the peace and stability of the country would indeed remain unrepentant even in death, dying without regret,” Zhou Jingyun said.

Zhuang Li smiled and continued, “Before the imperial decree of marriage, my father was summoned to the capital by Shangguan, but…”

She looked at Zhou Jingyun.

“Neither the emperor nor the empress summoned my father.”

“My father only reported to the Ministry of War and only met with the officials there. He returned to Fengzhou within half a month.”

“And then, the imperial decree of marriage arrived.”

Zhou Jingyun was stunned. In other words, Bai Xun hadn’t even met Empress Jiang, let alone pledged allegiance to her.

“Then…” he hesitated.

“When my father went to the capital, my brothers stayed behind in Fengzhou, and my sister went with him,” Zhuang Li said. “She said she had never been to the capital and wanted to see it, so my father took her.”

Zhou Jingyun realized something and looked at her with unconcealed surprise. “You mean—”

Bai Ying met Empress Jiang?

The one who truly pledged allegiance to Empress Jiang was Bai Ying?