Yinzhu knocked from outside the door, "Your Highness, Your Highness, the meal is ready."
Xiao Yun asked them to set the table in the room. Wang Qingyao, wearing a heavy cloak, tried to get out of bed. As soon as she stood firm, her head swam.
Xiao Yun quickly helped her back down and ordered a small table to be placed by the bed. He personally picked up the bowls and chopsticks and fed her bite by bite.
After eating and drinking her fill, Wang Qingyao felt her strength return. She let Xiao Yun help her out of bed, but as soon as her feet touched the ground, her head spun again.
"Oh, my dear lady," Xiao Yun hurried her back to lie down. "Stop fussing and just rest. If you need anything, just tell the maids to do it."
He paused, then looked at her with displeasure. "Don't do this again. This time it was just spitting blood and fainting. Who knows what will happen next time. Even if you don't care about your own body, you should think about me and the two children. If anything happens to you, what will become of me and the children?"
Xiao Yun still felt a lingering fear when he thought of the scene.
Wang Qingyao had not expected such a strong reaction, and she had even spat blood.
She nodded, "I know, I cherish my life too."
Yinzhu called for people to come in and remove the small table and dishes.
Zhizi brought in the prepared medicine, a dark bowl that smelled bitter.
"Your Highness, it's time to take your medicine," Zhizi handed her the bowl.
Wang Qingyao frowned. "What medicine is this?"
Xiao Yun replied, "It's to replenish blood and qi. The doctor said you've greatly depleted your vitality and need to recuperate. For the next few days, you'll stay in bed and go nowhere."
Wang Qingyao was very obedient. Since it was medicine prescribed by the doctor, there was no reason not to drink it. She held her breath and gulped it down in one go.
Yinzhu quickly handed her a small porcelain cup with a blue floral pattern on a white background, containing preserved fruits. Wang Qingyao picked up two and put them in her mouth.
"It's really unpleasant," she said.
"Good medicine tastes bitter."
Although Wang Qingyao couldn't get out of bed, she was in good spirits and not sleepy. She leaned against a large bolster and asked for Pingping and An'an to be brought over to play for a while.
Xiao Yun played with the two children for a bit and said, "Your spitting blood and fainting at the state banquet startled everyone. They even thought someone had poisoned you! Later, the imperial physicians confirmed it was a relapse of an old illness. The Emperor summoned me for questioning, and I said it was a lingering effect from the incident with Consort Wei years ago. You should have seen Consort Wei's face change."
So now, rumors were circulating that Concubine Wei had attempted to harm the Consort of Ding'an, and although she had failed, she had left the Consort of Ding'an with a deep shadow.
However, logically speaking, the Consort of Ding'an was not such a timid person. It was possible that Concubine Wei, relying on the Wei family's power, had done something even more outrageous, thus causing the Consort of Ding'an's health to deteriorate so severely.
Wang Qingyao hadn't expected that her fainting spell would cause the Wei family to take the blame. She immediately decided to stay in bed for a few more days.
As for the Emperor, he was so angered by this incident that he neglected Consort Wei for several days, even spending the night at Consort Chen's Ruhuai Palace for several consecutive days.
This was another unexpected joy.
In less than two months, the Consort of Ding'an had fallen ill twice.
The last time was feigned, but this time it was real.
When Wang Qingzhen came to see her, her eyes were still red. "Second sister, I was so scared when I heard you spat blood and fainted."
After getting married, Wang Qingzhen gradually understood what it meant to have someone who truly cared about you.
Her grandmother, the old Madam Wang, had always treated her descendants as mere pawns in a game. She was a distant ancestor who could not tolerate any defiance.
Her father, now the Minister of Revenue, only loved himself and women. To climb higher, he would trample on anything.
It was strange that such a rotten root as the Wang family could produce people like Wang Zijing and Wang Qingyao.
"I'm fine," Wang Qingyao said with a slight smile. "My body is just a bit weak. I'll be fine after a few days of rest."
"Really?"
Wang Qingyao nodded. "Don't worry about me. The Ding'an Prince's mansion has no shortage of precious medicinal herbs. In less than ten days, I'll be as lively as ever."
Wang Qingzhen's tears turned into a smile, and she was in the mood to gossip.
"...Fourth sister had a miscarriage, did you know?"
Wang Qingyao was surprised. "When did that happen?"
Wang Qingzhen shook her head. "I don't know the exact time. She didn't tell me, nor did she send word to the Wang family. I only found out when I ran into the wife of Marquis Jinxiang while accompanying my mother-in-law to a temple for blessings."
"How did she miscarry?"
"Marquis Jinxiang's wife didn't explain clearly, but from what I gathered, it had something to do with Pang Yan's cousin, who is now a favored concubine."
Wang Qingyao sighed softly. "This marriage was something Fourth Sister schemed to snatch from you. She must want people to think she's living a happy and blissful life. Last time, I wanted to help her, but if she's too proud to tell us the truth, what can we do?"
Wang Qingzhen said, "I really don't understand her. With an elder sister who is a princess supporting her, what is there to be afraid of?"
Wang Qingyao smiled. "You understand how to make good use of resources and connections."
Wang Qingzhen smiled shyly.
With a father like Wang Da, who was obsessed with women and had many wives and concubines, Wang Qingzhen didn't have high expectations for Weng Zhicheng.
However, Weng Zhicheng didn't even have a concubine in his household, which was an unexpected joy for her.
But...
She sighed. "Pang Yan doesn't favor Fourth Sister, yet she managed to get pregnant so quickly. And my husband only has me, yet I'm still..."
Alas, another woman worried about getting pregnant.
Wang Qingyao offered her some advice. "The days after your period ends are more likely to lead to conception. After intercourse, place a pillow under your waist..."
Wang Qingzhen's face flushed, but her eyes sparkled, clearly having taken her advice to heart.
Wang Qingyao: "Sigh, why do I always end up doing things like this?"