CH 43

~End of chapter 42 (before the flash-back)

Ah Ruo’s tears were about to fall from her eyes as she nodded her head while looked at her with eyes full of tears, “Miss, you definitely have to run far far away.”

The crown prince very soon was going to marry a wife, inside her heart, her young lady must definitely be feeling sad. If she could leave the capital and live a peaceful life for two years, she could forget all about the crown prince and wouldn’t be sad about these things anymore.

Ming Zhu chuckled, “Of course I will.”

She had already made all the preparations this time. She had stolen her travel documents and her slavery deed from Zhao Zhi’s study.

Chapter 43

(15.4)

Ah Ruo brought hot water to Ming Zhu, and after she had washed her face, she went to bed to rest for the night.

Before sleeping, she counted the days on her fingers. There were still fourteen days before the Lantern Festival. On that day, Zhao Zhi would have to go up the Changtai Mountain to offer incense and pray for blessings. There would be many people and it was the most suitable time to hide among the crowd.

Ming Zhu had already begun to fantasize about how good life would be after her escape. She would go to Jiangnan and open a pastry shop there, it would be a small business to earn a bit of money. She would then find a good man who would faithfully only love his wife.

She would give birth to one son and one daughter and live an ordinary life.

Ming Zhu slowly fell asleep. It was a dreamless night up until dawn, where she dreamed of the same scene she had dreamed of before.

It was as if she was trapped in this nightmare, she was back again in the other residence where she had been trapped in for years, like a wandering soul watching over this courtyard which had long since fell into decay.

The tree in front of the window seemed to be dead already. It produced no flowers in spring, no leaves in autumn, it had bare branches during all four seasons of the year.

Zhao Zhi seemed like he had been living there all along. He still looked no different from before, it still felt like he was as indifferent as always, his face was forever emotionless, his sadness, joy and anger were all hidden in the depths of his being, and he kept them tightly under control.

Ming Zhu watched him as he was sitting in front of the window, she looked at his side face that was visibly thinner and that was slightly sorrowful. She felt that he looked very haggard, he was more haggard than the last time she saw him in her dreams.

In this hazy dream, Ming Zhu watched Zhao Zhi’s every move and she heard his low, hoarse cough.

The man grabbed his coat and lightly put it on his shoulders as he got up in the middle of the night to write something. The cold wind was blowing in through the window and he covered the corners of his mouth as he coughed.

When he unfolded the handkerchief in his palm, it had already been stained red with blood.

The candle’s firelight wavered as the man suddenly raised his head, his eyes seemed to be looking in her direction. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with the handkerchief, he asked softly, “Is that you?”

Ming Zhu was so frightened that, without even thinking, she turned around and floated out of his study.

She ran without rest as it felt like someone was chasing behind her.

Then Ming Zhu woke up.

When she woke up, her four limbs felt weak and exhausted.

She really didn’t want to have these dreams anymore! In those dreams, she ran all over and when she woke up, she would always feel very tired and exhausted.

Biying lifted the door curtain and came in with hot water.

Ming Zhu, who was listless, gave a long yawn as she asked, “Biying, is there any temple in the capital that is effective against spirits ? I would like to ask for a talisman to ward off evil spirits.”

Biying asked, “Miss, did you have another nightmare?”

Ming Zhu nodded, “Yes, I’m tired of it.”

Biying thought about it and said, “You have to wait until the 6th to go offer incense to the temple. ”

These days, it was only open to the royal family, the rest of the people wasn’t able to enter the temple.

Ming Zhu said “oh” in a low voice and then casually waved her hand, “Then forget it.”

Biying helped her wash up and then ordered people to bring breakfast in. Taking a look at the dishes on the table, Ming Zhu was a little surprised, “Why is the breakfast so sumptuous today? Did the kitchen staff give you a hard time?”

She had never eaten this well at home before.

Biying shook her head, “They didn’t.”

“That’s really strange.”

When Ming Zhu had just finished having breakfast, Ming Ru had someone notify her that Xiangyang junzhu just sent an invitation card, summoning her and all the high born ladies of noble families into the palace to drink tea and enjoy the scenery.

It was called an invitation, but in fact, she had no other choice but to go even if she didn’t want to.

(16.1)

Ming Zhu and Xiangyang junzhu had never met face to face and when she received the invitation card, she was a bit stunned and had the same feeling of shame that small concubines had when they were caught by the main wife.

So she had the intention to refuse.

Ming Ru barged into her courtyard with her maid, acting in a much more restrained manner, she handed her the invitation card that was sent over from the palace, “The junzhu invited you to come to the palace to drink tea and enjoy the scenery and tea. That means she respects you, I advise you to go.”

Ming Zhu returned the invitation card back, “I’m not feeling well.”

Ming Ru looked at her coldly and laughed, “How long are you going to use this excuse for?”

Originally, Ming Ru couldn’t stand the sight of Ming Zhu. Yesterday, she even heard that the crown prince had pressured the Ming family, forbidding them to touch her. He was so protective of her and that made Ming Ru see her as a thorn in her side even more. Ming Ru would never risk being abandoned by the crown prince to deal with Ming Zhu, but now that the junzhu wanted to make trouble for Ming Zhu, she was naturally happy to see it.