Chapter 266: Thoughts

Madam Xue entered Madam of Dongyang’s room once again, and Madam of Dongyang was still drinking tea.

This time, Madam Xue didn’t scold her. She sat down beside her and even took a sip of tea, her expression complex.

“You know what’s going on, right?” Madam of Dongyang asked, raising an eyebrow. “The news has spread outside, hasn’t it? Unexpected, isn’t it?”

Madam Xue turned to look at her sister’s gleeful expression and frowned. “What are you happy about? Yes, it’s unexpected that the truth is Prince of Chu has a beloved maid, and they even have a child together. He entrusted the child to Jingyun’s care, and now he has finally obtained the Emperor’s permission to marry her. Prince of Chu is indeed deeply affectionate, but what about Jingyun caught in the middle? Not only does this confirm those rumors, but it makes it even worse. His affections were in vain, and he’s just clinging desperately.”

Madam of Dongyang was stunned for a moment, then uttered an “Oh.” “I forgot about that.”

Forgot about what? Forgot that Zhou Jingyun was injured? She only seemed interested in watching the drama unfold. Madam Xue increasingly felt that her sister’s mind might be malfunctioning.

Was it because of these messy affairs? Madam Xue subconsciously raised her hand to touch Madam of Dongyang’s forehead.

“What are you doing?” Madam of Dongyang brushed her hand away in annoyance. “I’m not talking nonsense.”

Madam Xue looked at her. “Then tell me, how did Jingyun get injured? Was it really because of unrequited love and he tried to force the issue by threatening to die?”

It really was because of unrequited love. Madam of Dongyang couldn’t help but laugh. “Trying to die wouldn’t have worked either.”

Madam Xue was baffled, then immediately became angry. She raised her hand and punched her sister’s shoulder. “I can’t get a single useful word out of you. I might as well listen to the rumors on the street, they sound more believable.”

Madam of Dongyang cried out “Ouch!” and clutched her shoulder.

She really hit her!

Why hit her!

She wasn’t the one faking it!

Bai Li didn’t say that she would get beaten for just watching!

Imperial Physician Sun’s disciple peeked through the landscape gauze curtain, seeing the woman sitting by the bed lower her head and laugh in response to something Zhou Jingyun said.

Before he could take a closer look, Imperial Physician Sun slapped him on the head.

“What are you looking at!” Imperial Physician Sun scolded in a low voice. “How many times have I told you, keep your eyes blind and your mouth shut in the Imperial Medical Academy.”

As if, the disciple thought to himself, rolling his eyes. The Imperial Medical Academy was the place with the loosest lips. The news of Zhou Jingyun’s love-driven suicide attempt first spread from their very own Imperial Medical Academy.

But now, new news had come from the palace. Prince of Chu already had a beloved woman and even a child.

And Prince of Chu’s beloved woman and child were entrusted to Zhou Jingyun’s care.

So this wasn’t Zhou Jingyun’s new lover and daughter, but Prince of Chu’s.

How messy.

The disciple glanced at them again and couldn’t help but whisper to Imperial Physician Sun, “I don’t think it’s like what the rumors on the street say.”

If this maid was entrusted to Zhou Jingyun’s care by Prince of Chu, logically, the maid should show respect to Zhou Jingyun. But from what he had seen, this young lady didn’t seem to respect Zhou Jingyun; instead, it seemed like… they were deeply in love.

Not the overly sweet kind, but more like… an old married couple.

From the looks of it, they should be a family.

Could it be that after being entrusted to Marquis Zhou’s Heir’s care, the maid fell deeply in love with him, captivated by his charm known to all, and then Marquis Zhou’s Heir, to stay true to Prince of Chu, chose to die to prove his loyalty?

Lost in his imagination, the disciple received a kick from Imperial Physician Sun.

“You think, you think, keep thinking and get your ass back home.” Imperial Physician Sun cursed under his breath. “Now that His Majesty has spoken, if you dare spread rumors again, I’ll pull out your tongue.”

The disciple hurriedly retracted his head and repeatedly agreed.

Imperial Physician Sun shoved his medical kit into the disciple’s hands, gave him another warning glance, and walked out, stopping in the hall.

“Marquis’s Heir, today’s medicine is ready,” he said.

Zhou Jingyun’s voice came from inside. “Thank you, Imperial Physician Sun.”

Footsteps sounded, and Bai Li walked out, smiling. “Imperial Physician Sun, please have a meal before you leave.”

Imperial Physician Sun declined politely. “No need, I still have work to do when I get back.” He bowed. “I’ll come back to check on you in three days.”

Zhou Jingyun’s injury had stabilized, so there was no need to watch over him day and night. It was enough to check on him every few days.

Bai Li expressed her gratitude and called for Chun Yue.

Chun Yue entered, lifting the curtain from the doorway, and handed a red envelope to Imperial Physician Sun’s disciple.

Imperial Physician Sun expressed his gratitude again and walked out with his disciple. He saw that Young Lady Bai was standing in the hall, giving instructions to the maid.

“I think…” he mumbled, then seeing his disciple’s wide-eyed stare, he quickly coughed and warned him, “Don’t talk nonsense after we leave.”

“We’re having lotus leaf braised chicken for lunch.”

Bai Li walked back into the room.

“I’ll make you some soup and rice.”

Zhou Jingyun looked at her smiling face and said, “It seems you’re more excited about what I eat every day than I am.”

Bai Li chuckled. “Your mouth is so pitiful, having to avoid so many delicious foods.”

He said he wasn’t picky, but not only was he picky himself, he was also picky on his behalf. Zhou Jingyun pursed his lips into a smile, then thought of something and asked, “The matter between you and Prince of Chu should have spread, right?”

“It should have spread. I haven’t asked.” Bai Li sat down by the bed and tested the temperature of the tea. “But I could tell from the looks in Imperial Physician Sun and his disciple’s eyes.”

She said, laughing.

“They looked at me like I was a ghost.”

“You’re still laughing.” Zhou Jingyun said, “Do you want to avoid them? You could move out and live elsewhere, after all…”

After all, to the outside world, she was now Prince of Chu’s… wife.

Before, it could be said that it was to conceal her identity, but now that everyone knew, she should avoid them.

Bai Li fed him tea with a spoon.

She said, “This is home, who should I avoid? Madam Zhuang? Chun Yue? Nannan?”

Zhou Jingyun chuckled and drank the tea.

“As for what Imperial Physician Sun and the others think, it doesn’t matter.”

“The Emperor has spoken, even if they don’t believe it, they have to.”

“And you got hurt because of me.”

✿✿✿

Bai Li said, looking at him with a smile.

“I’m taking care of you to atone for my sins.”

Zhou Jingyun shook his head. “That’s not right.”

Bai Li was puzzled. “What’s not right?”

Zhou Jingyun said, “It’s not atonement, it should be repayment of gratitude.”

Bai Li laughed heartily. “Marquis’s Heir is learned and wise. You’re right.”

Seeing the two of them joking inside, Chun Yue hesitated to interrupt, even with the food tray in her hands.

But Mama Xu hurried in from outside.

“Madam Xue is here to see Marquis’s Heir.”

Although she didn’t avoid her family, it was better to avoid Madam Xue.

“Madam, as your mother, can’t escape being implicated by us, but there’s no need for Aunt to suffer and worry.”

Zhou Jingyun nodded with a smile. “Alright.”

Is it alright just because she said so? Bai Li glanced at him and retreated.

As Madam Xue stepped into the courtyard, she caught sight of a woman’s figure entering the side room.

Although it was just a fleeting glimpse of her back, her graceful figure was clearly that of a beauty.

The sound of a baby could also be heard from that side room.

“That is…” Madam Xue hurriedly lowered her voice and asked Madam of Dongyang.

The maid who was going to be Prince of Chu’s Princess?

Madam of Dongyang lazily uttered an “Oh.”

Madam Xue glared at her. “Don’t look down on her because of her background.”

Madam of Dongyang scoffed. “Who would I dare look down on?”

Madam Xue snorted coldly and sized her up. “I see you don’t have any respect for anyone now.”

These two sisters, even at their age, always seemed to be arguing. Mama Xu smiled and said from the side, “Madam, please go see Marquis’s Heir quickly. He’ll be sleeping soon, and he’s not feeling well right now.”

Madam Xue hurriedly stopped talking and hurried into the room.

However, even after seeing Jingyun, Madam Xue didn’t find out much. Zhou Jingyun only said that he accidentally stabbed himself and that Aunt shouldn’t believe the rumors outside.

Madam Xue didn’t press further, afraid of affecting Zhou Jingyun’s recovery. After chatting for a while, she left.

Madam of Dongyang didn’t personally see her out. After Madam Xue was escorted out by Mama Xu, she sat down again, not speaking to Zhou Jingyun.

Zhou Jingyun took the initiative to say, “Thank you, Mother, for dealing with these matters.”

Madam of Dongyang uttered an “Oh.” “It’s not hard. I only had to deal with your aunt. I didn’t see anyone else.”

Zhou Jingyun chuckled. “Dealing with family is even harder.”

Madam of Dongyang ignored him and slowly sipped her tea.

“Is there anything else, Mother? Go and rest early.” Zhou Jingyun said.

Madam of Dongyang said slowly, “I have nothing to do, and I’m not tired. I’m staying here to give you a chance. You can take this opportunity to cry.”

Zhou Jingyun was somewhat amused. “Why would I cry?”

Madam of Dongyang smiled faintly. “You went to such lengths, even threatening to die, but she still went to marry someone else. Shouldn’t you cry? You couldn’t even find a chance to cry before, now I’m here to cover for you, go ahead and cry.”

Zhou Jingyun was almost amused. He pressed his hand against his wound. “Mother, I have nothing to cry about. It was all fake.”

He smiled slowly.

“Those who can distinguish between truth and falsehood don’t need to cry.”

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

As the sunlight slanted, the Imperial Consort’s Husband walked in and saw Li Yu kneeling in the courtyard.

“How long have you been kneeling?” He hurried forward and asked, lowering his voice, “Can you still hold on?”

Seeing him, Li Yu’s sun-kissed face was full of smiles.

“I came this afternoon,” he whispered. “Not long after I arrived, she went to take a nap, and then I didn’t kneel anymore, I sat for half a day.”

The Imperial Consort’s Husband breathed a sigh of relief and asked in a low voice, “That woman, is she real, or…”

Just a pretense to appease Princess Jinyu and stop her from controlling his marriage?

Before the Imperial Consort’s Husband could finish speaking, Li Yu nodded.

“She’s real.” His eyes were full of smiles, sparkling in the afterglow of the setting sun. “She’s the one I want to marry.”

Looking at his youthful face, the Imperial Consort’s Husband was momentarily lost in thought, as if he saw his past self. Unfortunately, he never had the chance to say those words.

He reached out and gently patted Li Yu’s shoulder, saying with relief, “Good, good, that’s good.”

I only wrote half a chapter today, so it’s a bit short.