The Head Imperial Physician took turns checking the pulses of both Pei Yu and Jiang Wu, the perplexity on her face growing heavier and heavier. The woman half-reposing on the soft couch tilted her head slightly, adjusting the head resting against her chest into a more comfortable position.
“How is it?”
“Your Majesty, both your health and that of Lord Jiang are completely fine.”
Yet, whatever medicine Jiang Wu had fed the emperor was somehow able to make a fetal pulse that was originally extremely unstable and fragile become so peaceful.
Who knew which reclusive medical expert it came from, or how Jiang Wu even managed to meet her and obtain such a gifted remedy.
The dagger had not damaged her vital organs, and it still remained warm against her body. The alpha was buried entirely within her embrace, curling up even in unconsciousness, parting her lips from time to time to softly murmur in pain.
Her gaze grew gentle and warm, gradually condensing with a subtle, unnoticeable trace of reluctance and pity.
The imperial physician said Jiang Wu would wake up soon. Pei Yu gently soothed the head whimpering in pain against her chest, re-opened the bandages, and personally changed Jiang Wu’s medicine.
The wound was gruesome. Pulling the blade out had required great force, tearing the surrounding flesh and blood into a messy blur.
As the medicinal powder was sprinkled around the edges, the alpha’s body trembled slightly, and she began to whimper again, sleeping with extreme restlessness.
Pei Yu clenched her palms, hesitated for a moment, and then lowered her head, her red lips parting slightly. A warm breath brushed gently across the wound dusted with fine medicine, the woman’s earlobes curling inward slightly and flushing crimson.
It was very childish, but back when she was little, her mother used to blow on her wounds just like this.
A gentle blow and it would not hurt anymore.
Unwilling to take the miscarriage-prevention medicine, curling up in pain from the agony, using a tearful voice to stop the alpha from approaching her, and stabbing her because she mistakenly thought she was going to kill their child on purpose.
Even while feeding the medicine, still in pain, she could still be kissed to such a sensitive, responsive degree.
Would that foolish A think she was simply that reluctant to part with the child in her womb, preferring to act childishly and refuse medicine just to keep her around a little longer? Or would she think she was overly lustful, starving, and simply fond of her approach?
No matter which scenario or conjecture was picked out, she felt she had no way to face a conscious Jiang Wu in the short term.
Therefore, late at night, she personally led a team to send Jiang Wu back to that small thatched hut in the paramour quarters.
Bounced around on the road, the driver wiped the sweat from his brow after receiving his third reminder from the female emperor to drive slower and steadier.
If she went any slower, dawn would break.
But there was no help for it. Once Pei Yu gave the order, he could only slow down even more.
Dallying all the way to the thatched hut, the edge of the sky was already tinged with the white of fish bellies. After putting the person onto the bed, Pei Yu had the others wait outside while she carefully inspected the wound herself, wiped the hands and feet of the unconscious puppy, and then stepped out to close the door properly.
The speed of her trip back was much faster. Pei Yu half-leaned against the soft couch, one hand unconsciously covering her still-flat lower abdomen.
A curve naturally formed at the corners of her lips.
She so much wanted to tell this tiny child curled up within her womb that mommy had already confirmed the other mommy loved her, and for her sake, mommy would treat mommy a little better.
Everything here belonged to her; what could that unambitious, easily satisfied little puppy possibly ask of her?
Nothing more than some insignificant food, or perhaps her tender affection.
It did not matter. She could indulge her a little.
For the sake of the child, and for that lingering guilt she held toward her.
Opening her eyes, what greeted her view was not a modern concrete ceiling, but an ancient thatched hut, with a poverty-stricken interior where one could see the end at a glance. Jiang Wu felt like her entire world was collapsing.
Why was she still not dead?!
Did that knife from the female emperor miss her vital organs?
Her lips were still moist, as if someone had fed her plenty of water previously. The wound was on her chest, and sitting up did not pull too much on the surrounding area, but she still bared her teeth in a wince of pain.
Catching the glowing orb floating around her in one swift grab, she narrowed her eyes.
“You saved me?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“You are out of your mind!”
Jiang Wu forcefully threw the glowing orb away, but within a few seconds, the system slowly drifted back on its own.
“Host, the mission target did not damage your vital organs. The system only dampened your pain perception. If you feel unwilling, it can be cancelled.”
A faint grievance tinged the numb, mechanical voice.
Jiang Wu let out a dry laugh and scooped the glowing orb back into her embrace. “No need.”
Apologies for accidentally injuring friendly forces.
Even with the pain dampened, it was already so hard to endure; she had no idea how agonizing it would be if she turned it off.
And then there was Pei Yu. Just how much must she detest her to throw her back into a thatched hut to fend for herself after stabbing her with a dagger?
Straightening her upper body, her gaze fell onto the only wooden table in the thatched hut, where a small plate of pastries sat quietly.
Carved into the shape of rabbits, they were very exquisite.
She curled her lower lip.
Well, at least the empress had enough conscience to leave some food for the wounded.
After finishing her morning wash outside, she sat holding the plate of pastries, pondering the mission progress while eating.
Yesterday, when she fed the empress the pregnancy-preservation medicine, the system rewarded her with twenty points, which was already enough to redeem a bottle of painless delivery potion, alongside the bottle of anti-nausea potion she had saved up.
Maybe she should just give these to the empress and then commit suicide.
She completely failed to see any future in this mission. Forget about figuring out the empress’s ideals and redeeming her, simply staying alive right now was a challenge for her.
Besides, how was she supposed to explain carrying a bottle of pregnancy-preservation medicine on her person? Would she not be mistaken for an accomplice of those two in the prison?
In the evening, Zhang Lingzhou looked at the pot of ice-chilled tea on the table.
She would never have imagined the method of putting ice cubes into tea and adding sugar and milk.
It was simply an insult to the art of tea.
Yet it was all bought with her money. People were truly strange sometimes; clearly, the moment she saw Jiang Wu appearing pitifully at her doorstep, she had already started warning herself not to be tricked out of food and drinks by the pretty puppy again.
Yet when the other person simply looked at her with sparkling eyes, the silver in her treasury inexplicably flew away in large amounts.
She was even sitting right here, committing the sacrilege of listening to the battle-damaged version of the pretty puppy complain about Pei Yu.
Lost in thought for a long time without chiming in, when she finally snapped back to reality, she met the direct, exceptionally expectant obsidian pupils of the person before her. Her throat felt dry as she slowly deliberated and parted her lips.
“Are you saying that after Her Majesty stabbed you with a dagger, she had people send you back and only left you a single plate of pastries?”
Zhang Lingzhou took a small sip of the milk tea, momentarily unable to tell whether Jiang Wu was complaining about Pei Yu stabbing her or about only leaving a single plate of pastries.
Mentioning the pastries, Jiang Wu took a small paper package out from her bosom, carefully opening it to reveal two somewhat bumpy and irregularly shaped rabbit pastries inside.
“Zhang Lingzhou, saved these for you.”
The two she had kept previously had already crumbled, and she felt this plate tasted exceptionally good as well.
Zhang Lingzhou had been very enthusiastic toward her these past few days, sharing whatever she ate with her, so whenever she had food, she had to leave a little bit for Zhang Lingzhou too.
The person who had allowed herself to be sponged off for many days lowered her gaze, her eyes landing on these ugly rabbits with visible disdain.
Having lived a life of luxury since childhood, she had no great desire for food, especially since she was particular about aesthetics and disliked ugly things.
“I am not hungry.” Dropping those light words, she raised her hand and poured herself another cup of tea.
Unexpectedly, tea with so many impurities added to it tasted unexpectedly good.