Chapter 1501 - 1499: What Exactly Happened?
Chapter 1501: Chapter 1499: What Exactly Happened?
Chapter 1499
"Is there any news?"
"Has something happened in the city?"
Zi Yue shook her head.
"Nothing at all! I haven’t heard any commotion until now!"
"Rest assured, if something happens, the Taishang Huang will definitely not keep it from you!"
Hearing this, Xia Ruqing slumped back down, murmuring softly.
"I can’t help but feel..."
"It’s like something bad has happened!"
Zi Yue soothed her while tucking in the blanket.
"Madam, don’t overthink it!"
"There are just more refugees in the city, and some issues have arisen!"
"Perhaps the Emperor couldn’t resolve it and asked for Taishang Huang’s assistance!"
Xia Ruqing nodded in disbelief, responding gloomily.
"I understand!"
"You may leave now!"
Feeling uneasy, Zi Yue still gave up insisting.
She tucked the blanket well and got up to leave.
Suddenly, Xia Ruqing called out to her again.
"By the way!"
"Get someone to deliver his medicine!"
"His medication must not be stopped; it must be taken on time and in the right dosage!"
Zi Yue agreed, performed a courtesy, and turned to leave.
Xia Ruqing lay on the bed in a daze for a long time, then turned over to face inward, tears silently rolling down her cheeks.
She reached out to wipe her tears dry, thinking angrily.
’Zhao Junyao, you better not deceive me!"
Last time in Guangnan, he deceived her so badly.
This time, she’s afraid he might do it again...
When they were young, they could mess around, cry, laugh, and argue.
Now that they are old, she just wants to peacefully stay by each other’s side.
She... can’t afford to be tumultuous anymore!
...
Over at Zi Yue’s side.
Leaving the room, she went to the kitchen to personally pack the Taishang Huang’s medicine and then turned to instruct Zi Ning.
"You stay here to serve the mistress; I’ll be back soon!"
Zi Ning was puzzled.
"It’s just delivering medicine; does Sister really have to go in person?"
Zi Yue was worried.
"It’s the Taishang Huang’s medicine; if I don’t go, it’s not suitable to entrust it to others!"
Something to be ingested should only be handled by those close to heart; how could it be given to others?
Zi Ning nodded and reminded her.
"Then, Sister, take a few more people and go early, come back quickly, the mistress cannot do without people here!"
"I know, it’s not far from here to the city, I can return before noon!"
Zi Yue finished speaking and turned to walk outside.
Zi Ning escorted her to the blue cloth carriage at the doorway before turning back.
...
The sky gradually brightened.
Exhausted from crying, Xia Ruqing turned over and drifted off to sleep.
When she woke again, it was already mid-morning.
She stretched, rubbed her eyes, sat up, and only when she felt the cool bedding beside her did she come to her senses.
’Zhao Junyao didn’t return all night, while I didn’t sleep at all!’
While in a daze, Zi Ning suddenly walked in.
"Mistress, how are you feeling?"
"It’s not early anymore; are you hungry? How about getting up and having some breakfast?"
Seeing it was Zi Ning, Xia Ruqing instinctively asked.
"Where is Zi Yue?"
After all, her diet and living arrangements were always managed by Zi Yue.
While Zi Ning was responsible for organizing and preserving her personal items.
Hearing her question, Zi Ning smiled.
"Sister Zi Yue went to the city to deliver medicine to the Taishang Huang; today I’m here to serve the mistress."
Hearing this, Xia Ruqing was stunned for a moment, then said nothing and merely nodded.
After washing and dressing.
She absent-mindedly had some clear porridge and small dishes, eating less than a third of her usual amount, and then losing her appetite.
"Madam, why have you stopped eating?" Zi Ning asked with a smile.
Xia Ruqing replied weakly.
"I can’t eat anymore, just clear it away!"
Finishing, she asked casually.
"Did Zi Yue say when she’ll return?"
"She did!" Zi Ning smiled.
"Sister Zi Yue said she’d be back before noon!"
Xia Ruqing quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Without saying anything, she rose and went to the courtyard.
Yes!
She just sat in the courtyard to wait.
She wanted to know what exactly happened in the city!
Sitting on the stone block under the wooden pavilion, she cupped her cheek and stared fixedly at the entrance.
There was nothing else on her mind, nor did she want to do anything, just kept watching.
Suddenly, she felt somewhat ironic.
Her son, her husband, the two men she loved most were at this moment in the desperate Guangnan City.
Yet she herself could not contribute anything, and not only that, she was a burden.
She hated herself!
A lifetime spent just eating and drinking.
Hardly read any books, never learned music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, knew nothing.
Others who transmigrate acquire all kinds of useful skills, while all she knows is eating.
Hehe...
Heaven dealt her such a good hand, provided such favorable conditions, and yet she wasted it, becoming a useless person.
She felt so miserable!
The more she thought, the more she felt she had lived in vain, her face turning increasingly pale.
Her hands tightly griped the blanket.
Her fingernails broke and dug into her flesh, but she didn’t notice.
Zi Ning felt both worried and heartbroken.
Yet she didn’t dare to comfort, only quietly placed a thick cushion on the stone block, and brewed a pot of steaming hot tea on the stone table.
The weather was humid; drinking something hot was always needed to drive away the moisture.
...
Not knowing how long had passed.
Just as Xia Ruqing felt the pain and withdrew her hand.
Suddenly, the sound of distant carriage wheels rumbling closer was heard outside.
Excited, she disregarded her broken nail, jumping up immediately.
"Are they back?"
"Have they returned?"
Zi Ning hurried forward to support her.
"Careful, madam!"
Xia Ruqing grabbed her hand, and they trotted outside together, muttering.
"Are they back?"
"How is Chenchen? What exactly happened?"
Muttering as she exited the door.
Regretfully, only Zi Yue awaited her.
Coming down from the carriage and seeing her mistress expectantly standing at the entrance, Zi Yue felt somewhat ashamed.
"Madam!"
"They haven’t returned?"
Both spoke almost simultaneously.
Zi Yue shook her head.
"I’m sorry to disappoint, it’s only myself!"
Indifferent, Xia Ruqing stepped forward and continued to ask.
"What about Taishang Huang, the Emperor? Did you see them? How are they? What happened in the city?"
A stream of questions overflowed, causing Zi Yue to lower her head, unable to answer.
"Reporting to the Madam!"
"I’m ashamed; Guangnan City is heavily guarded, I... couldn’t even see Taishang Huang!"
"Only saw Eunuch Li Deming from the Emperor’s side!"
"He said Taishang Huang and the Emperor are discussing matters in the study; I didn’t dare interrupt, so... I handed over the medicine to him!"
Xia Ruqing was somewhat disappointed.
But hearing they were discussing in the study, she breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as it’s safe, right?
It must be that trouble arose with the refugees, and Chenchen couldn’t handle it, so the two were deliberating a solution.
It’s certain!
She quietly laid her worries to rest, relaxed, and asked casually again.
"What exactly happened? Do you know?"
Zi Yue shook her head.
"Madam, I only saw many refugees on the streets; they were so hungry, their faces yellow and thin!"
"But don’t worry!"
"I overheard Li Deming mention that the Emperor has transferred tens of millions of stones of food from Jiangnan, they are on the way, so soon they can eat clean white rice porridge!"