The heavy rain arrived as expected.
The sky was dark and oppressive, thunder was deafening, as if it would destroy all of heaven and earth.
The violent wind followed, rampaging arrogantly, making the old house as cold as an ice cellar.
Dry branches were set ablaze, and Yu Tingwan added a few more logs, the dancing flas driving away the chill from her body.
In the pot, radishes brought over from the Wei Family were being cooked, chopped into chunks, with so wild mountain onions picked from the hills sprinkled in.
The taste wasn’t great, but the hot soup ward her stomach, bringing so color back to the girl’s pale face.
Her lower abdon ached dully; her nstruation was coming soon.
Yu Tingwan’s periods were always irregular, but each ti they ca, it felt like it took half her life.
She went to lie on the couch, covering herself with a quilt, listening with open eyes to the cold wind howling outside.
In a past life, Mrs. Xiao went into labor around these days. It wasn’t yet ti, but the roads were slippery due to the rain, and she fell because she couldn’t stand steadily. The fetal position was already unstable, and the fright caused signs of a difficult labor.
Blood was everywhere.
Mrs. Wang heard the noise and rushed out, frightened, sternly ordering Yu Tingwan to find the village midwife.
The snow outside was thick, each step could sink up to the calf. The kerosene lamp Yu Tingwan was carrying was also quickly blown out.
At that ti, how could she have known that Mrs. Wang had already negotiated a deal with the Dong Family, just waiting to send her off at an auspicious ti?
Out of gratitude for the Hu Family’s kindness, she stumbled along, ignoring the bone-chilling cold, moving forward in the dark.
By the ti she brought the midwife back to the Hu Family, she was soaking wet, and her lower abdon hurt so much she couldn’t stand straight.
But in her ears were the cries and wails of Mrs. Xiao, along with Mrs. Wang’s reproaches.
"Stop screaming! What’s the crying for? Falling just from walking, what are you really capable of? If anything happens to my dear grandson, see how I’ll deal with you."
Mrs. Xiao was in so much pain she could barely breathe, her forehead covered in sweat, her hands gripping the bed covers tightly, veins bulging.
"But mother, it hurts."
"Which woman hasn’t given birth? You’re the only one making a fuss!"
Seeing her pale face, Mrs. Wang frowned and directly told the midwife: "If anything happens, save the child."
Thinking of the silver promised by the Dong Family, Mrs. Wang was overjoyed, paying no regard to Mrs. Xiao who was still in labor, proudly saying,
"I’ll find another bride for the eldest son afterward."
What kind of talk is this?
And a mother of a scholar!
The midwife, annoyed by her interference, directly chased Mrs. Wang out.
"Stop making trouble, do you want the birth to go on or not? If you’re fine, go to the kitchen and boil water."
Mrs. Wang, disliking the dreariness inside, reluctantly went out. Her gaze brushed over Yu Tingwan, who was biting her lip and leaning unsteadily against the corner.
"Didn’t you hear? Why are you standing there? Go boil the water."
Yu Tingwan spoke very lightly, almost drowned out by Mrs. Xiao’s moans: "Aunt, I’m not well, I might..."
But Mrs. Wang looked down at her condescendingly.
"Does it hurt that much? How co it hasn’t killed you? Maybe you’re just pretending to be lazy. If I tell you to go, then go! I can’t even order you?"
Yu Tingwan didn’t want to rember.
But these scenes, against her will, crept inch by inch into her mory.
She turned over, a cold smile spilling from the corner of her mouth.
She wanted to see how chaotic the Hu Family would be without her.
After all... Mrs. Xiao gave birth to a daughter.
Yu Tingwan suddenly rembered sothing more important. In just over ten days, it would be New Year’s Eve, and she still hadn’t married herself off.
Would her New Year’s Eve dinner also be plain vegetables and radishes?
Yu Tingwan couldn’t lie down anymore; she was particularly lancholy.
The rain showed no sign of letting up, seemingly able to punch a hole in the roof.
Next door, Wei Zhao was also awake, his eyelids drooping.
He didn’t care about the news of deaths reaching Shangjing, causing chaos across the court.
The Wei Family Army was Da Jin’s most elite troop, forged through real skill. Which barbarians wouldn’t fear them?
But with Wei Zhao’s incident, who could take over the Wei Family Army? Those soldiers only obeyed him.
Wei Zhao also didn’t care about other countries taking advantage of the chaos to invade.
Da Jin doesn’t bear his surna, what does it have to do with him?
Why should he protect this world for the Da Jin Emperor?
His eyes flashed with cold fierceness, a mocking smile on his lips.
Hui Niang ca over with dicine at this ti.
"There are plenty of beans at ho, and the rain outside looks terrifying. Thinking the mountain roads are muddy, we decided not to go out tomorrow and to stay ho to make tofu for you."
Saying this, she added,
"We’ll send so to Wan Niang on the way, and maybe bring so more vegetables."
"In the countryside, these things aren’t lacking. When she initially moved out, that aunt of hers didn’t give her anything. What she brought today didn’t even cost four coins. We can’t let a girl like her suffer."
Saying this, she placed the dicine on the bedside.
At this mont, Wei Shouzhong’s voice ca from outside.
"Hui Niang, the kitchen is flooded."
The kitchen had all the firewood piled up; how could Hui Niang still bother talking to Wei Zhao, she turned to go out imdiately.
But as she stepped out the door, she didn’t forget to call out: "The dicine is on the bedside. Once it cools, don’t forget to drink it."
Wei Zhao looked indifferently at the dicine on the bedside.
The sll of the dicine was pungent, just slling it was bitter.
Wei Zhao picked it up, slowly walked to the window, and opened it. The fierce wind blew in, large raindrops hitting his body.
The last ti it rained this heavily, he was still in Shangjing.
That was two years ago.
At that ti, the Duke Shun Mansion was solemn, and not even the servants dared to breathe loudly, all acting carefully.
Wei Zhao attended to the Duchess Shun who was bedridden with a cold, respectfully.
"Gui Zhi, your mother dread of your father again."
Gui Zhi, his courtesy na.
The Duchess Shun spoke softly: "He’s been gone for three years, and on his deathbed, his greatest worry was you."
"Why must you go to the frontier to fight, wouldn’t it be better to stay in Shangjing? You are the only heir of the Duke Mansion, what if sothing happens to you, how would I face your father?"
"I will enter the palace to petition the Holy Emperor, asking him to summon you back to the Capital..."
These words were vivid in Wei Zhao’s mind. But at so point, the face of the Duchess Shun beca blurred and unfamiliar.
Wei Zhao appeared lifeless.
In his ears, Hui Niang’s voice brought him back from his mories to reality.
"Dear, hurry, bring the firewood into our room before it gets all wet; otherwise, it’ll be troubleso."
"Why is the roof leaking, when the rain stops, we’ll have to re-tile and repair it."
Wei Shouzhong donned a rain cloak, cradling the firewood in his arms, trying to save as much as he could.
As he rushed out of the kitchen, he saw Wei Zhao holding the dicine in a daze, giving him an inexplicable bad feeling.
Wei Zhao also saw him.
His gaze drifted over lightly before indifferently pulling it back.
Wei Zhao rembered the purpose of opening the window, twisting his wrist to pour out the dicine.
Wei Shouzhong: ???
I was watching you!!
"You..."
He wanted to scold but couldn’t bring himself to.
After all, his son’s ntal state wasn’t normal now.
The silly nephew of Granny Fan, the sa age as Lang but unable to take care of himself, still ssing his pants. That was truly troubleso.
Wei Zhao felt no guilt, nor did he think there was anything inappropriate. After pouring out the dicine, he turned to leave.
Oh, and he didn’t forget to close the window brightly and boldly.
Wei Shouzhong: ...
He felt sowhat comforted, at least he didn’t catch cold.
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