After flirting with the aloof prince, the concubine ran away pregnant.

That night, Afu slept very restlessly.

The lower abdominal pain was less severe than during the day, but it still lingered dully in my waist and abdomen, making me feel uncomfortable all over.

She lay curled up on her side in the blanket, half asleep and half awake, when she suddenly felt some movement in the room.

The wind and the footsteps of the night watchwoman on the outer corridor of the side room suddenly fell silent, replaced by a sense of stagnation in the gaze behind her.

There was a faint breathing sound, but it didn't belong to her.

Afu's sleepiness vanished instantly. She didn't open her eyes, but the hairs on the back of her body stood up in layers.

She held her breath tightly, trying to keep it at its original rhythm, but her heart was beating so fast that she could hear the pounding of her heartbeat in her eardrums.

My mind quickly recalled what an old nanny had said: "It's not uncommon for someone to disappear silently in the deep courtyards of the inner quarters."

Her fingers moved very slowly and lightly under the pillow. She had a habit of keeping a silver hairpin under her pillow; it was the only thing she could use for self-defense.

However, just as his fingertips touched the end of the hairpin, the person in front of the bed suddenly spoke.

"Get up if you're awake, stop pretending to be asleep."

His voice was low and hoarse, tinged with fatigue, yet his tone remained familiarly nonchalant.

Afu's fingers froze under the pillow as she sat up and opened her eyes.

Moonlight slanted in through the half-open window screen, illuminating a cool, aloof figure.

Xie Xun stood in front of the bed, looking down at her. She was still wearing the same black casual clothes she had worn during the day, and her shoulders were still damp with the chill of the night.

The weight that had been hanging over Afu's heart suddenly snapped back to its original place. She was both shocked and angry, but dared not show it.

Why are you standing in front of her bed in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?

She propped herself up on her arms to get out of bed to greet him, but before her legs even left the covers, she realized he was standing very close, blocking her shoes.

"Young Master," she called softly, about to move to the side of the bed.

Xie Xun said calmly, "There's no need to get up."

His gaze fell on her face, the moonlight illuminating her pale features clearly.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked.

"...I feel much better after taking the medicine."

"You're much better, but you still look like this."

Afu was at a loss for words.

Xie Xun suddenly leaned down, gently lifted her chin with his fingertips, and carefully examined her for a couple of moments in the moonlight.

Caught off guard, Afu looked up at him, her eyes still holding a hint of wariness and defensiveness that she hadn't had time to hide. Her fluffy head was covered by a thin blanket, making her look like an uneasy kitten.

Xie Xun's eyelashes twitched almost imperceptibly, and then he released his grip.

He straightened up, his tone returning to its usual indifference: "Get well soon, it looks ugly."

Without waiting for her response, he turned and left.

The curtain fell and then rose again, and the sound of footsteps faded into the night along the long corridor.

Afu sat on the bed, watching the figure disappear through the door, and remained motionless for a long time.

A lump formed in her throat, and she finally couldn't help but mutter a curse silently: "...You're sick."

As the footsteps in the corridor faded into the distance, Afu immediately fell back onto her pillow, pulled the blanket over her head, and sullenly turned over.

In the darkness, she closed her eyes. Although her stomach still ached, the remaining vigilance and tension slowly dissipated.

.

Afu has been in a daze these past few days.

After that night, Xie Xun disappeared again, leaving Afu happy with the peace and quiet, and life slowed down.

No need for morning service or night watch; I can sleep until I naturally wake up every day. Breakfast has changed from plain porridge and side dishes to a bowl of hot red date and millet porridge, accompanied by a plate of osmanthus cake, and occasionally a couple of wontons filled with shrimp.

After lunch, I took a few leisurely walks around the yard to digest my food, basked in the sun, and then went back inside to take a nap. Compared to the gloomy and chaotic days of the past few days, it felt like a completely different world.

Occasionally, I would run into Tao Yao under the eaves. She would see me from afar, but her gaze would sweep across my face with a sharp, cold look.

Afu didn't dodge; she bowed when she should and made way when she should. Taoyao couldn't find a reason to lash out, so she could only snort coldly and walk away.

After resting for a few days, I feel much better.

She was preoccupied with the emancipation document, and yesterday she went specifically to the gate of Shi'an Courtyard to find Xie Xun, wanting to clarify things face-to-face. But Changsong kept saying that the young master hadn't returned yet.

Only then did she realize that Xie Xun had been almost entirely away from the manor these past few days, spending every night at the Dali Temple.

I reckon the case he's busy with is the one involving his poisoning, and I don't know when it will be over.

Afu sat listlessly in the sun on the veranda, a thin blanket draped over her knees, a cup of hot tea in her hands.

Bai Zhi moved a small stool to sit next to him, peeling an orange in her hands, but her mouth was not idle.

"Sister, have you heard? A Taoist doctor has come to the capital, and he's amazing!" Bai Zhi handed over a peeled orange, her eyes sparkling.

"Song Yu, the youngest son of the Prime Minister's family, was born with a weak constitution. Many imperial physicians said he wouldn't survive. But after that Taoist doctor gave him a bowl of talismanic water, he can now run and jump!"

Afu took the orange, broke off a segment, and put it in her mouth: "Wow, that's amazing?"

"you do not say!"

Bai Zhi leaned closer and lowered her voice, "Miss Tao Yao has been running around every day these past few days, trying to find connections. Her cold ailment has been treated by countless doctors by Granny Wen, but it hasn't been cured. This time, she's finally found a lifeline."

Bai Zhi glanced at her, her voice lowering slightly, "Sister, why don't you go see him too? I've heard that Taoist doctor is quite skilled at treating women's ailments. Sister's health..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.

"I'm not going." Afu neatly folded the orange peels and put them aside. "Eating well and sleeping well are more effective than any miracle doctor."

In this era, only traditional Chinese medicine still adhered to some scientific principles in its medical practices. The best way to seek medical treatment was through the orthodox methods employed by the Imperial Medical Academy.

Almost all wandering Taoist priests in the folk tradition have some metaphysical elements involved, and whether they are reliable or not depends entirely on fate.

Bai Zhi opened her mouth to try to persuade her again, but seeing that she was completely unmoved, she could only mutter, "If you change your mind, just let me know, and I'll go queue up for you."

Afu patted Baizhi's hand and said with a smile, "Okay."

.

The next morning, before Afu could wait for Xie Xun to return, the Marquis's people arrived first.

Bai Zhi lifted the curtain and came in, her face showing a mixture of nervousness and barely concealed anticipation: "Sister, Granny Cui is here. She says that Madam requests your presence at Cining Courtyard."

Afu was holding the medicine bowl when her fingertips paused for a moment.

Bai Zhi's eyes were full of joy. "The Lady of the Marquis will surely give you a nomination. Let me quickly comb my sister's hair and change her into a bright dress."

Afu shook her head: "No need, I can do it myself."

She got up and changed into a half-new lotus-root-colored jacket. She combed her hair back in front of the bronze mirror and then lightly dabbed her lips with lip rouge to make her face, which was still pale after several days of rest, look more energetic.

The person in the mirror had gentle features and was well-behaved; she looked like a dutiful maid.

She put down her lip rouge, turned around, and followed Granny Cui out of the side room.

Ci'an Temple is a bit larger than Shi'an Temple. The courtyard is paved with bluestone, and there are two rows of neatly trimmed Podocarpus macrophyllus trees under the corridor.

Afu stood at the door. Granny Cui went in first to announce her arrival, and came out a moment later, nodding to her.

She stepped over the threshold, stopped, and bowed respectfully: "This servant greets Madam."