Emperor's Cunning Wife

Ning Lou was currently sitting at the bed fretting about her situation when she heard a knock.

"Come in." She said after composing her agitated state.

The door opened and Xiao Qu appeared holding a tray. Ning Lou remembered the order she gave and nodded at Xiao Qu. Xiao Qu placed the tray near on top of the table. Ning Lou followed her to it and sat by the chair. The jade utensils glimmered and attracted Ning Lou's pair of eyes. She held the empty bowl and tactfully stared at the designed engraved. How much would this piece fetch? She thought while observing the phoenix engraved on it.

"Cough..Niang Niang." Xiao Qu interrupted Ning Lou's thoughts.

Ning Lou snapped out of her daze and placed the bowl back to its place. However her eyes never stopped appraising the jade treasures in front of her. Not just the bowl, even the pot, the cup, the spoon and pairs of chopsticks wasn't spared by her naughty hands, Xiao Qu didn't notice Ning Lou's greedy gazes and eventually filled the bowl of soup. She retreated afterwards and stood at the side waiting for further orders.

Ning Lou wasn't really in the mood for another meal but by the time Xiao Qu opened the lid, Ning Lou decided to eat out of consideration. She really wasn't expecting to taste anything but by the time she put the spoonful of soup in her mouth an unexpected thing happened. She could taste something sweet. She tasted another spoonful and experienced the same flavour. It was sweet. Ning Lou eye's sparkled at stared at Xiao Qu with an appreciative gaze. Does this girl possess some heaven defying cooking skills? I can't believe I can finally taste something. Ning Lou didn't use the spoon any longer and drunk from the bowl directly.

"Niang Niang. Slow down or you'll choke." Xiao Qu reminded her despite her happiness.

"Yatou. Your cooking skills are great. From now on, you'll cook for me." Ning Lou muttered sending the girl a thumbs up.

"Niang Niang. Nubi doesn't have such skills." Xiao Qu blushed denying Ning Lou's claim but her smile still showed her true feelings. It was good to see Her Highness very spirited in eating.

Ning Lou didn't continue the conversation and served herself another serving. She continued to enjoy the dish until her stomach churned from a sudden pain.

"Niang Niang?" Xiao Qu approached and held Ning Lou's trembling shoulders.

Not even a second later, Ning Lou pushed her. "What did you put inside the soup?" Her mind turned cloudier each second passed by. She could a metallic taste in her throat and vomited it out. A crimson blood painted the floor causing Vierre to widely open her eyes and stared at the fl.u.s.tered Xiao Qu in shock. "What did you put? It hurts like hell!"

"I…I….I didn't do anything." Xiao Qu gulped and became panic.

Ning Lou g.r.o.a.n.e.d and spat blood once more. "You…don't need….. to cook for me …anymore." She added enduring the fiery feeling in her stomach.

"I… I…" Xiao Qu was unable to articulate any sentence. She became more frantic watching Ning Lou became paler.

"What are you waiting for? Call a doctor…for a physician rather!" Ning Lou shouted squeezing the order through her gritted teeth. She didn't even mind the strange word she used as she continued to endure the deathly pain.

"Doctor?...Oh… Someone come. Someone…Niang Niang is hurt!" Xiao Qu shouted out of her lungs until her voice became hoarse.

Ning Lou extended her hand and was planning to grab the girl for some support but who knew that girl scurried towards the door shouting along the way. Ning Lou couldn't restrain herself from cursing.

"F.u.c.k..at least help me to the bed…Ow..F.u.c.k…F.u.c.k.. could this be the legendary laxative? Who the heck put laxative on the soup!" Ning Lou mumbled while holding her stomach.

"But maybe….I could go back…" Ning Lou breathed in the end as her vision spanned and became black.

Ning Lou eventually didn't hold on for much longer and dropped semi dead on the floor.

The series of footsteps also halted the moment the thud echoed on the room.

"Lou'er!" A pair of footsteps belonging to an old woman became hurried and made its way to the pale figure on the floor.

The mamas followed swiftly behind her and carried unconscious Ning Lou to the bed. Ning Lou's constant groaning and twisting expressions heightened the old woman's anxiety.

"Tang-Mama. Have you called for the doctor?" the old woman anxiously asked checking Ning Lou's breathing.

"He'll be here in a while." The mama replied reassuring the old woman.

It wasn't before long when the people gathered inside the room heard a voice from outside announcing the arrival of the prestigious man.

"The Emperor has arrived."

The door opened and the figure garbed in the golden yellow silk and jade crown made its way to the old woman. Behind him was another man carrying a wooden box.

"Your grandson has arrived." The figure held the trembling shoulders of the old woman ignoring the kneeling servants.

"Are you the physician?" The Empress dowager asked the man dress in officer clothes.

"Greetings Empress Dowager. May you have…"

"Forego with the formalities. Check the Empress' condition immediately."

"Yes…" The physician replied while snatching a quick look at the Emperor's expression.