Xiao Yun lay down behind her, his long arms wrapping around her. He buried his head in her loose hair and said in a muffled voice, "Don't always push me toward other women. It makes me feel bad."
Perhaps it was because she was feeling emotional due to her illness, but when Wang Qingyao heard his words, she felt a pang of sadness.
She had always considered Xiao Yun to be just her boss, but after months of marriage, her heart was full of love for him. What she saw as acting, Xiao Yun perceived as genuine affection, and he reciprocated her feelings with equal passion. In this light, she felt less than human.
With this thought, she turned and hugged Xiao Yun back. She wanted to say something but couldn't find the words, so she simply held him. Xiao Yun held her tightly as well.
Xiao Yun had a comforting scent, which Wang Qingyao had grown accustomed to over time. As she held him, she fell asleep in his arms.
When she woke up the next morning, Xiao Yun was already gone. Wang Qingyao felt much better, as if her weakness had subsided. She called for Zhizi and Yin Zhu to come in and walked around a few times. Indeed, she had recovered considerably.
It seemed the side effects of her clairvoyant eyes had been fierce but had also passed quickly.
She felt light and relaxed, but Zhizi and Yin Zhu remained cautious in their service.
After breakfast, the doctor examined her pulse and declared that her blood and qi had largely recovered. Zhizi and Yin Zhu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The doctor said, "The Princess Consort has a good constitution and recovers quickly. Honestly, I've never seen anyone recover from such a depletion of blood and qi so fast. It usually takes at least seven or eight days. The rumors outside about the Princess Consort's noble destiny seem to be true."
This doctor was quite imaginative, connecting a mere depletion of blood and qi to a noble destiny.
With her health restored, Wang Qingyao's mood also improved. She instructed Yin Zhu to give out rewards and then dressed herself beautifully.
Going out to have fun was out of the question. She was well, but Nian Mama wouldn't allow her to leave. So, she summoned the four concubines, including Bian Ruren, to play. They played the zither, practiced swordplay, and listened to music for over an hour, filling Kangping Courtyard with laughter.
Later, Bian Siyue, feeling that Wang Qingyao was still recovering from a serious illness and needed rest, persuaded her to lie down on the bed again. When Wang Qingyao couldn't sleep, Bian Siyue hummed lullabies for her. They were gentle folk songs from Jiangnan, and Bian Siyue's soft, sweet voice made them particularly pleasant. Listening to them, Wang Qingyao eventually drifted off to sleep.
Bian Siyue, afraid that Wang Qingyao would have trouble sleeping at night if she slept too long during the day, decided to stay and watch over her, planning to wake her when it was closer to evening.
Who knew Xiao Yun would return early?
Before the servants could report his arrival, he pushed open the door and shouted, "Yaoyao, I'm back!"
Wang Qingyao, still asleep, frowned slightly.
Almost instinctively, Bian Siyue glared at Xiao Yun and snapped, "Keep your voice down! The Princess Consort is sleeping."
The moment she finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the room.
Xiao Yun stared at Bian Siyue, his mouth agape in surprise.
Bian Siyue pursed her lips, stood up, and in a barely audible voice, said, "Greetings, Your Highness." She then gave a perfunctory bow.
Xiao Yun's eye twitched.
Bian Siyue tiptoed out of the room. Seeing Xiao Yun still standing there, she gestured for him to come out as well.
Xiao Yun lifted the curtain and glanced at Wang Qingyao. Seeing that she was sleeping soundly, he also quietly stepped out.
Bian Siyue instructed Yin Zhu, "Wake the Princess Consort in another quarter of an hour. If she sleeps too long during the day, she won't be able to sleep at night."
Yin Zhu nodded.
Bian Siyue looked at Xiao Yun again. "Your servant takes her leave."
Without waiting for Xiao Yun to speak, she turned and returned to the West Garden without looking back.
Xiao Yun looked in the direction of the West Garden and then at Yin Zhu. "Yin Zhu, do you think her gaze just now... well, was a bit unfriendly?"
Yin Zhu replied, "It was very unfriendly."
Xiao Yun was speechless.
Fearing he might disturb Wang Qingyao, Xiao Yun went to the study to wait. After a quarter of an hour, when Yin Zhu had woken Wang Qingyao, he entered the room.
Wang Qingyao always felt relaxed when she saw Xiao Yun. Even in intimate moments, she struck a perfect balance between shyness and nervousness.
However, this time, for some reason, she suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
She glanced at Xiao Yun, her face flushed, and lowered her head slightly.
Xiao Yun stepped forward and took her hand. "How are you feeling today?"
She then looked up, a blush still lingering on her cheeks. "The doctor has seen me. He said I've recovered quite well. I think I can attend the sacrificial ceremony on the fifth."
Xiao Yun seemed a little skeptical. "So soon?"
It was only the third day, counting from the start. How could anyone recover from such a depletion of blood and qi so quickly? She hadn't even taken much nourishment!
When it came to serious matters, Wang Qingyao's mind was much calmer.
She said, "The doctor said I have a good constitution and recover quickly. If you're still worried, you can ask another doctor to come."
Since she had said so, Xiao Yun had no reason not to believe her.
However, the next day, he didn't go to the Ministry of Revenue until after the doctor had made his rounds.