Chapter 45: Haunted by Nightmares
The next day, Liu Cuiyi heard the news and hurried to see Wen Mingqian. At this moment, Wen Mingqian was leisurely burning incense and sipping tea.
“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be recuperating at home?” Wen Mingqian did not wish for her to come.
“My mother-in-law and the others went out on business today, so I slipped away. Elder Sister, I am truly worried. I heard your Master had an accident. Is there any method to get him out safely?” Liu Cuiyi asked.
“Cuiyi, I know you are worried about me. As you know, this matter is not easy to handle,” Wen Mingqian said, pulling her to sit down. “So you shouldn’t bother worrying about it.”
“Elder Sister, you are truly composed,” Liu Cuiyi said, looking at Wen Mingqian with admiration. “If it were me, I would have been beside myself with worry and unable to sit still.”
“I see your complexion has improved significantly compared to a few days ago, and your face is even more radiant. Your cheeks have filled out, making you look younger and more energetic,” Wen Mingqian observed, appraising Liu Cuiyi.
Her face originally had a somewhat sorrowful look, but after some care, it had indeed improved a lot.
Liu Cuiyi felt a little embarrassed, yet she couldn’t help but ask suspiciously, “Elder Sister, aren’t you worried about Second Master Gong at all?”
Wen Mingqian merely smiled. “Hasn’t it been decided yet? Besides, he isn’t the main culprit.”
She then turned to Zhang Ma and said, “Bring me the face cream I prepared for Cuiyi. You can also change her dietary therapy prescription!”
“Thank you, Elder Sister, for worrying about me so much,” Liu Cuiyi said gratefully.
“How is everything at home now?” Wen Mingqian asked her.
“Just as Elder Sister advised, I’m not managing any household affairs. Every day, I just recite scriptures and focus on health preservation in my own courtyard, taking care of myself and my two children.
My mother-in-law naturally has her complaints, but I just pretend not to hear them. Seeing that I’m not involved in anything, a few concubines have started to quarrel, and I’ve let them be,” Liu Cuiyi replied truthfully.
“That’s good. No matter how well you do, your mother-in-law will still find fault with you. It’s better to think of yourself. Let her say whatever she wants,” Wen Mingqian smiled.
“Yes, ever since I started eating vegetarian meals, my mother couldn’t force me to eat those strange soups like frog soup or snake soup anymore,” Liu Cuiyi said, referring to the various peculiar fertility remedies her mother used to make for her.
Half of her poor health was due to eating these things, and the other half was from emotional distress and being constantly upset.
“After three months of a vegetarian diet for health preservation, you can start eating meat and fish again. Eating only vegetarian is not sustainable,” Wen Mingqian said. “It’s not that I want to rush you away, but now that something has happened at home, and you’ve come here, if your mother-in-law finds out, she will surely blame you. There’s no need to cause yourself trouble over this, you should go back quickly! Remember to give the coachman some benefits so he doesn’t speak carelessly.”
Liu Cuiyi had brought two sets of clothes and shoes and socks she made herself this time, all for Gong Changan.
After she left, Wen Mingqian said to Zhang Ma, “Tomorrow, go to Duke Feng’s Family and bring Changan back. The Old Madam is returning, and he cannot stay at someone else’s house.”
“Yes, I will go first thing tomorrow morning,” Zhang Ma replied.
Wen Mingqian then fell silent, taking out an ancient book on incense blending to study carefully.
Birds chirped by the sunny window, and the quiet room was filled with the aroma of incense, a scene of true peace and tranquility.
However, Consort Song’s situation was the complete opposite.
“Little Madam, you must eat something!” Granny Yang and a group of maids urged, “No matter what, you have to think about the child in your belly.”
Consort Song wore a troubled expression. She was already feeling unwell in the early stages of pregnancy, and with Gong Xu’s accident, she had lost her appetite.
“You don’t know how my heart feels,” Consort Song sighed deeply, but the gloom in her heart could not be dispelled.
“The Old Madam will be back in a couple of days, and we’ll all figure out a way together,” Granny Yang said.
“What can the Old Madam do? At most, she can burn incense and pray to Buddha,” Consort Song held no hope.
“Little Madam, why don’t we also pray to Buddha?” Granny Yang suggested. “It is said that sincerity moves the gods.”
“Alright, then let’s visit several efficacious temples. It’s better than brooding in my room,” Consort Song decided to seek divine intervention as a last resort, as she didn’t usually believe in Buddhism.
“Yes, yes! It will also let everyone know that the Little Madam has done her utmost for the Master,” Granny Yang said as she helped Consort Song prepare to go out. “Unlike that person, who acts as if it has nothing to do with her.”
“I think she’s just hoping the Master has an accident!” Consort Song sneered. “If you ask me, she’s a jinx! If she hadn’t returned, how could the Master have encountered such bad luck?!”
Consort Song vented her resentment onto Wen Mingqian, whom she disliked the most.
“Hmph, when the Old Madam returns, she’ll know that she harbors such thoughts,” Granny Yang said. “Then we’ll see if she can be kicked out!”
They knew that Old Madam Gong didn’t particularly like Wen Mingqian to begin with. Later, after the incident with Gong Kang’an, the Old Madam was furious.
If it weren’t for the persuasion of the couple from the Main House, she would have even wanted Gong Xu to divorce Wen Mingqian after she gave birth.
“Oh dear! I feel so dizzy,” Consort Song’s face turned pale as she swayed, nearly fainting.
Everyone quickly helped her and slowly laid her down on the bed.
“Heavens above!” Granny Yang exclaimed dramatically. “What shall we do? Quickly send for a doctor!”
“Don’t! If people find out, they’ll think our household is in chaos!” Consort Song stopped them. “I must not have slept well, and I haven’t eaten anything.”
“This pigeon soup is still warm! Please drink it quickly!” Cuiyi quickly brought the soup over and fed it to Consort Song spoonful by spoonful.
“I can’t move right now. I’ll go burn incense tomorrow!” Consort Song said. “I want to sleep for a while.”
“Alright, alright, please rest,” Granny Yang said, ushering out the unnecessary people. She then asked Hua Hong to put some benzoin in the incense burner to help Consort Song sleep.
Consort Song drifted off to sleep.
In a daze, she heard a voice.
“Mother, Mother…” a childish voice sounded right by her ear.
Whose child is this?
Consort Song thought to herself but couldn’t open her eyes.
“Mother, Mother…” the child kept calling.
Consort Song knew it wasn’t Gong Bao’an’s voice. Gong Bao’an was already six years old, and this child’s voice was clearly that of a baby.
“Mother, Mother… I’m back…” In her dream, Consort Song felt a pair of small hands touch her wrist.
Very small, very small, and ice-cold.
“Ah!” She woke up with a start, screaming as she sat up.
“Little Madam, what’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?” Granny Yang and the two head maids rushed over.
Consort Song’s face was deathly pale, cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and her eyes were vacant.
“Little Madam…” Granny Yang held her and called out again.
Consort Song slowly regained her senses, calmed down a little, and said, “It’s nothing. I’m just restless, unable to find peace even in my dreams.”
“You are too worried about the Master,” Hua Hong said, using a handkerchief to wipe away Consort Song’s cold sweat. “Just turn over and go back to sleep.”
