Four Seasons Brocade – CH 250

Chapter 250 ☆、

The next morning, Ah Wu returned to Willow Alley.

“Why are you back so late? You did not even send someone to tell me beforehand. Your father went to the yamen today,” Lady Cui said when she saw Ah Wu, carefully looking her up and down. “Why have you been sick for so long again? I sent people to the Prince’s Mansion, but could not find you. This is the second time. What about Prince Qi…” Lady Cui was worried.

“His Highness has treated me very well. This time I went to Jiangnan with His Highness, so I pretended to be sick and could not see anyone,” Ah Wu said sweetly.

Hearing this, Lady Cui was relieved. “I am relieved to hear that. But what about your belly…”

Ah Wu lowered her eyes to look at her belly, placed her hand on her lower abdomen, and said softly, “Madam, please find me a physician quietly, without letting the people of Prince Qi’s mansion know.”

“That’s exactly right. I’ve wanted to advise you for a long time, but your father said it’s up to you. I’ve already inquired. Physician Shan of the Changsheng Hall in Moli Alley is most skilled in treating women. The eldest young mistress of the Ma family had not conceived for five years after marriage, but after taking his medicine for two months, she became pregnant. He’s here.”

Ah Wu nodded. “It would be best to call him to our residence. Tell him that my sister-in-law’s health has not been good since giving birth to Huan’er, and she needs his help. Madam and sister-in-law can inform him. Once a date is set, send someone to the Prince’s Mansion. I will definitely be back.”

After returning from Willow Alley, Ah Wu still had to busy herself with arranging Nanny Hao’s return to her hometown. She needed to return in style, with carefully selected carriages, attendants, and gifts for her fellow villagers. Regardless of whether Nanny Hao accepted Ah Wu’s kindness, Ah Wu could not refuse.

In the afternoon, after taking a nap, Ah Wu learned that Chu Mao was not at the residence, so she led her maid to Bingxue Forest.

Lu Ruoxing naturally did not dare stop Ah Wu. Ah Wu picked up a book on the history of the Jin Dynasty in the study of Bingxue Forest and began to read it. Chu Mao’s books were mostly historical records, military strategies, and some notes and travelogues from previous generations; there was not a single storybook among them.

As the sun set, Ah Wu finally saw Chu Mao appear in Bingxue Forest, wearing his outdoor clothes, clearly having just returned from outside.

Ah Wu got up to greet him, standing on the steps, looking at Chu Mao.

“What are you doing out here? It’s windy outside; be careful not to catch a cold.” Chu Mao pulled Ah Wu into the house. Ah Wu obediently nestled against Chu Mao’s chest, carefully inhaling his scent—a faint smell of perfume, yet also a hint of none.

“What are you smelling?” Chu Mao asked.

Ah Wu’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up and giggled, “Let me see if I smell any other woman.”

“Can you smell it?” Chu Mao pinched Ah Wu’s nose.

“It’s like there is and is not,” Ah Wu answered honestly.

Chu Mao readily took off his cloak and outer robe in front of Ah Wu. When he went into the inner room, he even took off his inner garment, leaving himself bare-chested. He threw all his clothes into Ah Wu’s arms. “Here, smell them carefully; smell them very carefully.” He turned and went to the bathing room.

Ah Wu tossed the clothes aside. She slapped her forehead, finding herself quite ridiculous. If Prince Qi were so easily swayed, he would not have remained single for so many years. She was just blinded by concern.

Blinded by concern?

Ah Wu was startled. She straightened up, clutching her chest, her heart pounding rapidly. Could she have fallen for Chu Mao?

“Why the long face? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Chu Mao said, having finished washing up, finding Ah Wu sitting blankly on the couch.

Ah Wu glanced at Chu Mao, thinking to herself, how could she possibly like someone so hot and cold towards her? She must be overthinking it.

Chu Mao pulled Ah Wu into his arms and sat her down. “Tell me, what did you smell?”

Ah Wu playfully tapped Chu Mao’s chest with her finger. “I did not smell anything. Your Highness, you should confess. Confess, and you will be treated leniently; resist, and you will be punished severely.”

“I am innocent; why would I need to confess?” Chu Mao took Ah Wu’s finger and played with it in his mouth. “I am already struggling to deal with you alone; how could I possibly have someone else?”

“What’s so difficult?” Ah Wu’s eyes widened. “You are lying, I…”

Her bright, sparkling eyes… A streak of light swept across the sky, dazzling and breathtaking. Chu Mao turned Ah Wu around, pinning her beneath him, and whispered in her ear, “Is it because I have not touched you for a day that you are already thinking about all sorts of things?”

Chu Mao’s eyes were frighteningly bright. Ah Wu stared at him, forgetting to speak or refute. She gently stroked Chu Mao’s brows and eyes, murmuring, “Your eyes are so beautiful.”

Chu Mao lowered his head and licked Ah Wu’s lips, as if she were the most delicious delicacy in the world, each bite a precious treasure, making him both yearn for her and dare not take a bite.

“But Your Highness has indeed been acting strangely lately,” Ah Wu pouted. “Otherwise, I would not be overthinking things.”

Chu Mao’s heart skipped a beat. He said, “Having Ah Wu in my life is enough. Besides, if there were a second or third, you’d devour them whole. How could I dare?”

Ah Wu kicked Chu Mao. “You are calling me a shrew, a jealous woman.”

“I think you are a jealous woman. You’ve already suspected something without even a trace.” Chu Mao pinched Ah Wu’s chest.

“What do you mean by ‘without a trace’? You were not like this before, Your Highness. Stop talking to me about being awkward. I was even more awkward at the beginning. Why not understand me?” Ah Wu pouted. She was beginning to understand Chu Mao’s personality. Openly discussing these things might be more effective; secretly investigating behind his back would only make him more resentful.

“Can I not even rest for a bit? I am burning the candle at both ends; even the strongest person cannot last forever. You are just going to keep squeezing me dry!” Chu Mao rolled off Ah Wu, feigning exhaustion.

“Who squeezed you dry?!” Ah Wu was speechless with anger; this was clearly a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Ah Wu tried to get up, but Chu Mao grabbed her.

“Let go of me!” Ah Wu shook her head.

“What’s wrong now?” Chu Mao put his arm around Ah Wu’s waist.

“You are always bullying me! I am not talking to you anymore; I am going back to Yulan Hall.” Ah Wu kept twisting and turning, trying to break free from Chu Mao’s grip.

“I have not even started bullying you yet,” Chu Mao chuckled.

Ah Wu hated Chu Mao’s nonchalant attitude, always changing the subject. Feeling extremely wronged, she blinked, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Chu Mao did not speak but gently kissed away Ah Wu’s tears.

Ah Wu’s shoulders trembled as she said, “I do not know what’s wrong, but something’s definitely not right. I just cannot figure it out. Your Highness, please do not try to comfort me with words. I can tell the truth from lies.”

Chu Mao sighed, pulled her tightly into his arms, and rested his chin on her head, saying, “Do not worry, I am here for you no matter what. I will handle everything.”

Ah Wu remained silent, only shedding tears in quiet grief.

“Crying like this is bad for your health.” Chu Mao kissed Ah Wu’s wet cheek. “There’s no one else in my heart, and there never will be, because Ah Wu is a little jealous woman; she shut the door as soon as she came in.”

Ah Wu hummed twice in disbelief. “If I really am in Your Highness’s heart, why does Your Highness never confide in me?”

Chu Mao paused before saying, “Then what do you want to hear?”

Ah Wu left Chu Mao’s embrace, lowered her head, and thought for a moment. “The current situation is turbulent and unpredictable. I worry at home too, but Your Highness never tells me anything. For example, this time, did the Emperor approve Your Highness’s proposal on river management?”

“He kept it in the archives and did not issue it,” Chu Mao said.

Ah Wu raised her head, extending her tear-streaked face to Chu Mao, gesturing for him to wipe her tears. Chu Mao chuckled and gently took Ah Wu’s handkerchief to wipe her tears.

Ah Wu then said, “His Majesty certainly does not have the energy to deal with these things; he’s leaving them for the new Emperor.”

“My second brother went to Fenghu in Luobei. Did he write to Your Highness about the situation there?” Ah Wu asked again.

“After the battle in Luobei, Jinguo Erhan was severely weakened and is finding it difficult to suppress other tribes. The Tatars are also eyeing Luobei covetously, but the border is currently relatively peaceful. I’ve already told your second brother to prepare for war.”

“War?” Ah Wu immediately thought of Gu Tingyi. If war were to break out, and Second Brother Gu could achieve a resounding victory, firmly suppressing the Tatars and preventing Chu Mao from finding a reason to replace him, then the Princess’s safety would be more assured.

“What are you thinking about, so engrossed?” Chu Mao’s voice carried a slight chill.

Ah Wu naturally dared not mention Gu Tingyi in front of Chu Mao. Her intuition told her that His Highness might not like to hear about the Princess’s family.

“If there’s a war, I am worried about Second Brother and Sister Yin’s safety. Sister Yin is pregnant again.”

“Your brother will definitely send your sister-in-law back first. If you are really worried, have He Chun take some men to fetch her.” Chu Mao smoothed Ah Wu’s hair.

Just then, Lu Ruoxing came in and asked where they should eat. Chu Mao said to Ah Wu, “Let’s eat here and rest in Bingxue Forest tonight, Ah Wu?”

Ah Wu was already quite used to both places and did not want to argue with Chu Mao on such a small matter.

That evening, His Highness Prince Qi remained very proper. Ah Wu stared at the gilded, openwork magnolia-patterned incense burner on the canopy bed ceiling, wondering: She had been so frank; what was wrong with Chu Mao? But she could never bring herself to take the initiative.

“Unable to sleep?” Chu Mao asked.

Startled, Ah Wu closed her eyes, turned to her side, and continued sleeping with her back to Chu Mao.

Chu Mao chuckled behind Ah Wu, his hand reaching for her waist.

Ah Wu shifted away, trying to avoid Chu Mao’s hand. His laughter was utterly irritating, as if she were a resentful woman confined to her chambers—a fact Ah Wu refused to acknowledge.

Unfortunately, Prince Qi’s hands were long; even pressed against the bedpost, Ah Wu could not avoid them. She could only let Chu Mao massage her waist and back, and gradually, she drifted off to sleep.

“Ah Wu,” Chu Mao called softly twice, but Ah Wu did not respond. Listening carefully to her breathing, which was regular and long, Chu Mao threw back the covers, got out of bed, put on his robe, and went outside to call Lu Ruoxing, “Go and invite Imperial Physician He and Imperial Physician Jiang.”

Chu Mao trusted He Nianfang’s medical skills, and Imperial Physician Jiang was the most skilled gynecologist in the Imperial Medical Bureau. Having both of them take her pulse would give Chu Mao more peace of mind.

A few days ago, Ah Wu slept in Yulan Hall, and Chu Mao did not want to summon the two imperial physicians. He was afraid that if the people of Yulan Hall saw them, he could not very well put pressure on everyone in the courtyard; it would arouse suspicion.

Only when Ah Wu came to Bingxue Forest, with everyone inside and outside controlled by Chu Mao, did he feel at ease. His cold treatment of Ah Wu these past few days was partly intended to provoke her and lure her to Bingxue Forest.

Thinking of this, Chu Mao could not help but smile. This was something he would not have dared to believe before, but now Ah Wu had already proactively come to Bingxue Forest to inquire about him. As for Gu Tingyi, he would eventually remove him from Ah Wu’s heart.