The next morning.
Lu Qing Wan, eager to get to her clinic, got up exceptionally early. As she groggily opened her eyes, she realized she was trapped.
The man's arms were like iron walls, holding her tightly, his legs pinning hers. His chin rested on her head as he slept soundly.
No wonder she had dreamt of being bound and gagged, so scared she thought her undercover identity had been exposed and she was to be drowned.
She struggled free from the man's embrace and nudged him with her head. *Clunk.*
Feng Xi Wu woke up, his voice raspy with sleep, "What are you fussing about so early in the morning?"
"Fussing about my head! I'm a person, not your hugging pillow!"
Lu Qing Wan chided him in a delicate voice, "My neck is about to break, and you're sleeping soundly. Get off, I need to get down!"
"Don't fuss. Why are you getting up so early? Sleep a little longer."
Feng Xi Wu closed his eyes and reached for Lu Qing Wan, but his arm met empty air.
Lu Qing Wan, on the other hand, found herself staring into a pair of bright, round, grape-like eyes. "Yuan'er, why are you awake so early?"
The child pouted aggrievedly, "Yuan'er clearly slept between Father King and Mother Consort yesterday. When I woke up, I was outside. Father King hugged Mother Consort, but he didn't hug Yuan'er~"
Lu Qing Wan: …
What else could she say, other than feel guilty?
She petted the child's head and said sheepishly, "Be good. Your father King was groggy. Study well with your tutor today, and Mother Consort will sleep with both of you tonight."
The child's eyes lit up, and he nodded resolutely.
Lu Qing Wan breathed a sigh of relief. "Sleep, it's still early. Li Yang will come to wake your Father King. You can get up and wash up with him."
"Okay."
With the promise of sleeping with his parents again that night, the child obediently snuggled back under the covers.
Only a round head peeked out from the thick quilt, making Lu Qing Wan blush with affection.
She leaned down and planted a kiss on the child's cheek. "Sleep, Mother Consort will bring you something delicious when she returns."
With that, she slid off the bed and went to wash up without calling for any attendants.
She didn't notice the father and son on the bed, who were supposed to be asleep, now exchanging glances.
The little bun's face was flushed from the unexpected kiss. He shyly said to Feng Xi Wu, "Father King, Mother Consort smells nice. Yuan'er likes Mother Consort."
Feng Xi Wu, with a solemn and aloof expression, replied childishly, "My Princess Consort doesn't need your liking. You are not allowed to kiss her anymore."
The little bun blinked innocently, "It was Mother Consort who kissed Yuan'er."
Even though his face felt ticklish and warm, he still loved Mother Consort's kisses.
"Then don't let her kiss you."
Feng Xi Wu pulled the quilt over the little bun's face, his eyes glaring resentfully at Feng Xi Wu's back.
She'd rather kiss this brat than him. Did she even know who her husband was?
Lu Qing Wan, who was washing up, inexplicably shivered. "Did the temperature drop in August?"
After washing up, just as she was about to leave, Feng Xi Wu, who had also woken up at some point, appeared. "Are you going to Bai Xing Lin for clinic?"
Lu Qing Wan turned to look at him. "What, am I not allowed to go?"
She knew that women were heavily restricted in this era, but she never imagined she would be one of those bound by inner-house rules.
The thought of not being able to leave the house in the future made her delicate brows furrow into a worried line.
Fortunately, Feng Xi Wu only said softly, "Take two people with you. They can help with tasks or run errands. It's better than you going alone."
Being allowed to go out was already a great privilege, and she couldn't push her luck.
Considering what happened last time, Lu Qing Wan wasn't opposed to this.
"Let those two shadow guards from last time follow. Many people have seen their true faces, so they don't need to hide in the shadows anymore."
Feng Xi Wu had intended this already. Seeing that Lu Qing Wan didn't object to his people, he readily agreed.
However, when Lu Qing Wan reached the back door, she discovered Feng Xi Wu's arrangements were even more thorough than she had imagined.
Ying Yi was driving, and Ying Er was holding a box. Lu Qing Wan asked suspiciously, "What is that?"
"It's not a long-term solution for the Princess Consort to change clothes at the ready-made garment shop every time. His Highness instructed me to prepare some men's clothing and a set of disguise tools for you.
The carriage is spacious enough, so the Princess Consort can change in the carriage from now on, and you won't have to detour to the ready-made garment shop."
"Your Prince is very thoughtful."
Lu Qing Wan hopped into the carriage. "You know the way. Let's go."
From the manor to Bai Xing Lin, they had to traverse the bustling city. Since they had left early, it was precisely the time when servants from various households were out shopping. The carriage moved slowly, so Lu Qing Wan lifted the curtain to watch the lively scene.
She noticed that the food stalls here resembled the cuisine of the E-Gan region in modern times. Lu Qing Wan neither particularly liked nor disliked them.
She patted her stomach, feeling a bit peckish.
She glanced at the carriage, where writing materials were stored. Lu Qing Wan picked them up and quickly wrote something, then handed it to Jing Er as she alighted.
"Prepare these things when you have time. The toys and snacks are for the young Prince. The rest can be put in Wu Tong Yuan. I'll handle them myself when we return tonight."
Jing Er read through it at a glance. Besides toys and snacks, there were also ingredients.
However, what were these iron skewers and tea troughs for?
His mind was filled with questions, but the first rule of a shadow guard was: don't ask what you shouldn't ask, don't listen to what you shouldn't listen to, and don't look at what you shouldn't look at.
Thus, the excellent Ying Er was left scratching his head, unable to inquire about Lu Qing Wan's purpose for these items.
"Princess Consort, it seems that carriage ahead belongs to Prince Chen's manor."
Ying Yi's voice reached them. Lu Qing Wan followed his gaze and saw a carriage bearing Prince Chen's manor insignia slowly making its way towards Bai Xing Lin.
Lu Qing Wan immediately turned her head. "Enter through the back door."
She had important matters to attend to today and no time to deal with Lu Si Wan, that little "green tea" (a term for a deceitful woman).
They circled around to the back door, and Ying Yi stepped forward to knock. The person inside quickly opened the door.
Upon seeing Lu Qing Wan, Meng Sheng joyfully exclaimed, "Grand-Mentor, you've come so early today."
Lu Qing Wan nodded. "Don't open the door in a hurry. I have something to instruct you and Meng Tang about."
Lu Qing Wan had visited three times, and each time she had revitalized Bai Xing Lin, transforming it from an empty hall to a bustling establishment.
Furthermore, Lu Qing Wan's medical skills were superb, and she was not stingy with her knowledge. Although the basic books she had shown them last time had given the father and son headaches, they were indeed very informative.
Meng Sheng now regarded his Grand-Mentor as a deity and eagerly went to call Meng Tang.
The latter, like Meng Sheng, dropped his work the moment he heard Lu Qing Wan had arrived and rushed over.
He bowed respectfully, "Master, you are here."
Lu Qing Wan was now accustomed to having such a disciple and calmly nodded. "I asked you to look into nearby residences last time. How is that progressing?"
"Thanks to you, Master, your subordinate managed to procure a little more money. The residences to the front, back, left, and right have all been negotiated."
Meng Tang said, seeking praise, "This is an overview of the residences purchased so far. Except for the ready-made garment shop on the left, which needs time to inventory its goods, everything else is being moved."
"Then offer a bit more money, buy all his goods, and have him move out today."
Meng Tang was slightly surprised. "So urgently?"
"These few days, I need to treat a special patient. The ward and medical equipment need to be specialized, and preferably hidden. See where is suitable, give me the place, and I will make the arrangements."
Meng Tang had already seen that his Master was of extraordinary status. Hearing this, he immediately became nervous.
Ying Yi, standing nearby, said respectfully, "Princess Consort, may I choose the location of the ward?"