CH 9

Biying explained, "This is medicine to fortify the body. The doctor said before that your body is weak and that you need more supplements."

Ming Zhu was born prematurely and had deficiencies from birth. She didn't really want to drink it and waved her hand, "You put it aside for now."

Biying had an expression that looked like she was about to cry, "You should drink it now."

Ming Zhu looked at her a few times and sighed helplessly. These people listened too much to Zhao Zhi's words, they didn't dare to disobey even one of his words.

Chapter 9

(3.3)

She finished her medicine with a grimace and then went to the courtyard to bask in the sun. She lazily leaned against the couch, narrowing her eyes while facing the sunlight. Suddenly, she asked, "Biying, is Ah Rou still working in the woodshed? Is she living well or not ?

Biying didn't dare to answer, the crown prince had orders, they were not allowed to say things that should not be said.

Ming Zhu let out a long sigh, "Forget it, I won't make it difficult for you."

Last night, during the time when Zhao Zhi was in a better mood after he was finished, she resisted sleepiness and, looking at him with wide-open eyes, in a whisper begged him to return Ah Rou back to her side.

Ah Rou grew up with her since childhood and she couldn't bear to let Ah Rou suffer hardships outside.

Zhao Zhi at that time didn't say if he agreed or not, he just told her in a faint voice to sleep.

Ming Zhu's sacrifice was great for this matter, she took the initiative to hug his waist and beg him.

However, Zhao Zhi was warm outside and cold inside and his heart was harder than stone. Even as she begged him in a low whisper, it was difficult to move him.

Biying changed the subject, "Would miss like some tea?"

Ming Zhu didn't like tea for she found the taste of it bitter. She said, "I want to eat sweet cakes."

Biying was a little uneasy, "Then... you can only eat two pieces."

When Zhao Zhi was not around, Ming Zhu strongly badmouthed him, "Why does he have to manage everything ? Even my father's control wasn't as large as his is."

Biying was on tenterhooks, "This slave will now go fetch the pastries."

*

After attending the morning court, Zhao Zhi was called over by his maternal grandmother. After a few pleasantries, she got to to the main topic, about how he had now reached the age to marry a main consort and side consorts.

The old lady showed him several portraits of talented and beautiful women and pointed to one of them, "This is the eldest legitimate daughter of the Ming family, if you like her, you can take her as a side consort."

She added: "This is the Xiangyang junzhu, this child is spirited and smart, she also looks pretty, and needless to say, her status is worthy of the position of main consort."

(TL's note : junzhu is generally a title given to daughters of imperial princes or princesses)

Zhao Zhi glanced at the portrait twice before he blandly withdrew his gaze, making little comment, "It is as you said."

She smiled, "It's good if you like them."

Zhao Zhi put down the cup of tea in his hand, "This grandchild has political affairs to attend to today, so I'll first take my leave. I'll come back to visit grandmother another day."

"You go ahead."

After Zhao Zhi came out of the palace, he had the guards turn the carriage around, and said, "I'm no longer going to Wangyue Pavilion, let's go back to the crown prince's residence."

"Yes."

For an entire half a month, the crown prince did not come to Wangyue Pavilion.

Ming Zhu didn't feel uncomfortable at all, she ate well and drank well, her complexion was rosy and she even gained one pound. Instead, it was the maid who served her that got very anxious, so much so that she couldn't eat, afraid that the miss would lose the prince's favor. She also heard that the palace was selecting a side consort for the crown prince, so she was feeling even more uneasy.

Biying asked, "Miss, you're not angry with His Highness, are you?"

Ming Zhu calmly said, "How dare I."

She would love nothing else more than for Zhao Zhi not to ever come over again in this life, for him to forget about her, so that she could find the opportunity to run away.

Biying's face was full of sadness, "Miss, listen to a word of advice, you do not want to confront His Highness, His Highness is sensible to softness, not coercion."

"I really didn't."

In order to leave smoothly, she had been enduring humiliation to accomplish her goal, not daring to provoke Zhao Zhi's displeasure.

A white ray of light suddenly flashed in Biying's mind, and she asked with extreme carefulness, "Could it be ......"

Ming Zhu asked, "What?"

Biying hesitated to speak, "Could it be that His Highness has been made aware of your desire for a child and is deliberately giving you the cold shoulder ?"

(4.1)

The yellow light of dusk fluttered with the wind. A cold wind was blowing. Sitting on the swing under the sun, Ming Zhu half-squinted eyes slowly opened.

She lowered her eyelids, her voice was warm and soft, "That would be good."

Biying did not hear her clearly and standing beside her, she asked quietly, "Miss, what did you say ?"

Ming Zhu shook her head, her eyes looking over the roof into the distance as her hands gripped the swing ropes tightly, "Nothing."

Ming Zhu did not want children in this life. Although it was not clear why Zhao Zhi would think that she wanted one, but it wasn't important. If he intended to give her the cold shoulder for a few days in order to break her spirit, that was on the contrary a good thing for her.

These white walls and red tiles had trapped her for a major part of her life.

Ming Zhu's understanding of Zhao Zhi was shallow, she and Zhao Zhi hadn't spoken much in her previous life. This man was calm and introverted, restrained and patient, cold-hearted and cold-blooded. He never allowed himself to give in to passion for something or someone. He was so devoid of feelings, he was close to inhuman.

Maybe what Biying said was true. Zhao Zhi also mistakenly thought she was too favored and got arrogant to the point she wanted a child, adding to the fact that he came two days in a row to Wangyue Pavilion. Thus he intended to give her the cold shoulder in order to make her come back to her senses.

But Ming Zhu, even without the cold wind blowing in her face, was already very clear-minded.