CH 31

Fortunately, Ming Zhu returned to the residence before it started raining, otherwise if she had to wait until the end of the rain, her trip outside would have been found out.

Seeing that she had only just returned, Biying asked, “Miss, where did you go this afternoon?”

Ming Zhu lied without any change in her expression, “I went to seventh sister’s courtyard for a visit and sat there for a while.”

Biying didn’t get suspicious, ” It turned out you were there.”

Ming Zhu thought in her heart that it was fortunate that she didn’t suspect anything, otherwise if she found out she had left the residence, that would have been a bit troublesome, as there was no guarantee that she wouldn’t tell Zhao Zhi.

“You get out.”

“Yes.”

Ming Zhu closed the doors and windows, took out the silver banknotes that were close to her chest, found a few needles and threads and then sewed them all into her clothes.

After she had finished hiding the money, Ming Zhu’s forehead was now covered with drops of sweat. She wiped the sweat and counted the days she had left on her fingers. After the New Year’s eve, Zhao Zhi would come to take her back to the other residence, but there were only a few days left before the 30th and that time was far from enough for her to prepare her escape thoroughly.

Ming Zhu fell back on the bed, with a worried face. She had to think of a way to make Zhao Zhi agree to let her extend her stay in the Ming residence for a few more days, the best would be to stay until the Lantern Festival.

But Ming Zhu had no assurance that Zhao Zhi would agree, if he really wouldn’t agree, she could only act, plead and beg.

Act like she was obedient, act to get what she desired. And then make a great escape while he was relaxed and not on his guard.

As Ming Zhu smelled the faint fragrance of the incense in the room, she fell asleep. That night of sleep made her whole body exhausted. She had several dreams, who all appeared in fragments, and she kept seeing Zhao Zhi’s cold and lonely back in her dreams.

From the beginning to the end, although his back was always turned on her, his overwhelming sadness couldn’t be concealed.

Ming Zhu felt that these dreams were really just dreams, because she had never seen such a sorrowful Zhao Zhi. He appeared lifeless, as if his soul was taken away from him.

There was this saying that one would dream at night of things he would ponder about during the day, but Ming Zhu didn’t think much about Zhao Zhi during daytime, and she really didn’t know why she would dream of him nine times out of ten.

The next day, when Ming Zhu had just woken up, Biying entered the room with a smile, bringing her two packets of sweet cakes that were still warm, “This is what the crown prince’s people delivered this morning, knowing that miss loves to eat sweet things.”

After the last time where she ordered to throw away the pastries Zhao Zhi had specially bought for her, Ming Zhu thought he would never buy her these little snacks ever again.

She opened the paper bag, picked up a piece and stuffed it into her mouth. Tasting a small bite, she found that it was moderately sweet and not too greasy. After eating two pieces, her stomach was somewhat full.

Although Zhao Zhi’s temperament was cold, but he did like to send her all kind of little toys, food and commodities. It didn’t look like he was trying to win her heart, it was more like he was throwing stuff to feed a pet.

“Has my eldest sister looked for me these past two days?”

Biying shook her head, “No.”

She packed the remaining sweet cakes and added, “They probably won’t dare to come over to find trouble for miss again.”

They still had to give face to the crown prince.

Ming Zhu was surprised in her heart. Her eldest legitimate sister would never let go of an opportunity to bully her, her being this quiet was really unusual.

By lunchtime, Ming Zhu knew why she was being like this.

It turned out that these days Ming Ru was busy with ordering around the female embroiderer who came to the residence to help her prepare her wedding dress, so she didn’t have time to come cause her trouble.

Ming Zhu was a little curious, the marriage decree hadn’t yet been sent to the Ming family, how could Ming Ru be in such a hurry, that she couldn’t wait even for a moment longer ? To put it bluntly, if Xiangyang junzhu couldn’t tolerate Ming Ru, this side consort, it was highly likely that the crown prince, all for the sake of his beloved, if she said don’t marry her, that he really wouldn’t marry her.

But none of this had anything to do with her.

Ming Zhu spent two more days of leisure, hiding in her courtyard. Zhao Zhi quietly came to visit her again one day. It was as if her bedroom was his own home, he would come when he felt like it and then leave when he felt like it.

The people of the Ming family all pretended they didn’t know anything. Ming Ru was the only who couldn’t stand it and got furious. Her mother, with some difficulty, persuaded her to calm down,”What’s up with this sudden anger ? You have to see the bigger picture, what is Ming Zhu’s status? And what is your status? What does the prince take her for, aren’t you clear about it ? There is no need to worry, all that is yours will be yours without fail.”

Ming Ru stomped her foot, “Mother, I just don’t feel comfortable.”

“You have to remain calm in every situation.”

“Alright, I got it.”

Zhao Zhi walked without a sound. When he entered the room, Ming Zhu had just finished washing her hair with perfumed soap and she was now lying on the soft couch while Biying was wiping her hair.