Volume One, Chapter Five: My Lord, Your Servant Misses You

Five days later, with the pregnancy-supporting medicine finished, Doctor Zhou was summoned to examine Liu Wuyi again.

He said her health had greatly improved and she could start going out for some activity. Her qi and blood were still somewhat deficient, but no medication was needed—just nourishing food. He handed over a thick illustrated guide on medicinal cuisine to the kitchen.

Steward Liu escorted Doctor Zhou out of the mansion, slipping a heavy pouch into his hand. The little old man happily climbed into his carriage, suddenly feeling that dealing with Dantai Canaan was not as troublesome as he had imagined.

Early the next morning, snow began to fall outside again. Normally, it would be unwise to travel in such weather, but since the restrictions had finally been lifted, Liu Wuyi was determined to go out for a stroll.

Chunhua, who had long been frustrated by her mistress’s confinement, eager to showcase her talents, carefully styled Liu Wuyi’s hair into the most fashionable Chaoyun bun in the capital. But when she looked toward the jewelry box, she was dumbfounded.

On the day Liu Wuyi had arrived, her hair was adorned with only a few silver hairpins. Dantai Canaan, being a eunuch, had no use for gold or silver ornaments, so aside from those few somewhat worn silver pins, the box held no other jewelry.

Liu Wuyi smiled lightly, unconcerned. “Silver pins are quite nice.”

Once ready, Liu Wuyi sat before the dressing table for a moment. After applying snow-white cream, the purple bruises on her right shoulder had faded completely, leaving only a small patch on her neck, which was barely visible under a thin layer of powder.

The reflection in the mirror brought back her former delicate beauty. Cheerfully, she led four attendants to the garden to enjoy the snow.

In the four-cornered pavilion, thick bamboo curtains were hung for the impromptu snow viewing. The brazier burned top-grade silver frost charcoal. Chuntao gently parted the bamboo curtains for her, Chunlan and Chunhua stood on either side shielding her from the wind.

Wrapped in a thick bear fur cloak and holding a delicate copper hand warmer, Liu Wuyi leaned against the railing, quietly watching snowflakes fall onto the frozen lake through the cracks in the bamboo curtains.

From afar, Chun Yue approached along the corridor, carrying a food box.

“Mistress, the kitchen just finished simmering the blood swallow’s nest. Please try a bite.”

Liu Wuyi gently stroked her belly, her face clouded with worry. Still, she raised her hand to accept the bowl Chun Yue offered. She took a small sip but before swallowing, the taste swirled unpleasantly in her mouth and she promptly spat it out.

Chun Yue took back the bowl, Chunlan handed her a cloth, Chuntao and Chunhua each held a copper basin and a porcelain cup filled with purified water, performing the routine smoothly and without hesitation.

The nausea, rising from her stomach to her mouth, forced her to spit up two more mouthfuls of sour liquid before it subsided.

Since the trip to Zhaoyu Prison half a month ago, her stomach had grown sensitive. The precious blood swallow’s nest was tolerable yesterday but now she could not bear the smell.

Doctor Zhou said these were early pregnancy symptoms, only her reactions were more severe. He advised more food-based nourishment, eating smaller meals more frequently.

Dantai Canaan instructed no expense spared in nourishing her, which troubled Steward Liu, responsible for purchasing. To provide Liu Wuyi with rare ingredients every meal, he used all means to source precious food and medicinal herbs in the capital.

“Mistress, the snowstorm worsens. Let’s return,” Chunlan said after cleaning her hands.

Having lost the mood to enjoy the scenery after the ordeal, Liu Wuyi rose with the four attendants and headed back to Shaoguang Court.

Inside the main hall, warmed by a heated floor dragon stove, she shed her heavy cloak. Several maids helped her change into lighter clothes and remove the elaborate hair ornaments.

“Mistress?” Chuntao looked puzzled holding the hand warmer.

Liu Wuyi took the hand warmer calmly, pressing her fingers to her temple and murmuring, “I suddenly feel sleepy. I want to rest a while. Please go out.”

The four complied and left. Liu Wuyi quickly approached the bed, noticing a corner of a jade pendant peeking from under the pillow—an item she had not seen before leaving the house.

Lifting the pillow, a half-piece of clear jade caught her eye. One side was carved with a phoenix pattern, the other half a dragon. Her mother had said this dragon-phoenix pendant was a family heirloom, split between her and her brother.

Liu Wuyi froze, eyes instantly reddening. Trembling, she picked up the jade pendant, revealing a note beneath.

She pulled a cloth from her sleeve to wipe her eyes before unfolding the note.

“See you at the Zhenlong Pavilion in five days.”

The handwriting was exquisite, a legacy from the golden-age master of the previous dynasty—each stroke effortless and elegant. Liu Wuyi clutched the note and pendant to her chest, whispering, “You truly are still alive... Brother.”

After a moment’s daze, she returned the pendant beneath the pillow. Hesitating, she threw the note into the hand warmer and set it aflame. The black ashes fell beneath the bed, where she casually tucked them away, then opened the window to air the room.

Fifteen minutes later, Liu Wuyi summoned someone to set the meal. She instructed Chun Yue to notify the steward that after eating, she planned to go out. On the day of the raid, her brother had been forcibly taken away by guards; his family’s child had been executed in his stead.

Her brother’s current identity was something that could not be revealed. Liu Wuyi could not wait five days to go out—she had to prepare early to avoid suspicion.

Unexpectedly, Chun Yue returned with news: “Steward Liu said you must have the overseer’s permission before leaving.”

Liu Wuyi froze mid-bite. “Is the overseer returning today?”

“I don’t know.”

The next morning, Liu Wuyi went to the front courtyard and blocked Steward Liu. “Did the overseer say he’s returning today?”

Liu Liu smiled and bowed. “The overseer’s affairs are beyond us servants’ knowledge.”

“Then have someone inform him...” Liu Wuyi hesitated before pulling a fragrant sachet from her sleeve. “Tell him I miss him.”

Though it was winter, a fine sweat beaded on Steward Liu’s bald head. He dared not wipe it, eyeing the sachet hesitantly. “That might be inappropriate.”

Half a month ago, the overseer came home holding this woman. Steward Liu thought the overseer, long solitary, must have finally brought a companion back. But the imperial doctor later said she was two months pregnant, with an unstable fetus and signs of miscarriage. So she surely wasn’t the overseer’s woman.

One night when the overseer was leaving the mansion, Steward Liu boldly asked how to care for her. The overseer was silent for a moment, then said to treat her like a lady and report any problems. Since then, he had not returned for half a month.

“If anything happens, I’ll handle it. You just inform him,” Liu Wuyi said, mimicking the commanding tone of a famed courtesan she once knew, lifting her chin defiantly.

Perhaps this woman was once the overseer’s kept mistress, caught in an affair and spared death only to be brought into the household. But the overseer, unwilling to face such humiliation, ceased returning.

Now she was desperate, sending a fragrant sachet to regain favor? That was beyond Steward Liu’s control.

Having convinced himself, Steward Liu took the sachet. “Mistress, I will send someone shortly to wait at the palace gate with this. When the overseer leaves court, he will surely know.”

Satisfied, Liu Wuyi turned to leave. Just as she relaxed, the thought of meeting Dantai Canaan again made her hesitate.

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