funbook-pk Chapter 205 The Woman Called Xiao Lingzi
Chapter 205 The Woman Called Xiao Lingzi
The daughter she spoke of was not the same person Lan Zhi was thinking of, but she couldn't say it, yet she didn't want to admit it.
Lin Yuwei was the daughter she raised with the love of her own hands. It would be a lie to say she didn't feel sorry for her, but after all, she wasn't a piece of her own flesh and blood. Although she kept trying to convince herself, she could never truly connect with her by blood.
"And what about you? Do you also feel sorry for your mother?"
These words startled Lan Zhi.
She suddenly wanted to laugh. She really wanted to feel sorry for her mother, but she didn't have a mother, and she didn't have the chance to call anyone else "mother."
But she couldn't reveal her background, lest it cause unnecessary trouble.
So, she nodded against her will.
"Of course, my mother loves me very much too."
"That's good. You've gone from a country girl to the Crown Princess. Your mother must be very happy, right? By the way, you're pregnant now. Why hasn't she come to be with you?"
“My father is in poor health, so she has to take care of him. Besides, there are so many people in the Crown Prince’s residence who take care of me, so she doesn’t need to work so hard.”
"You're so thoughtful, you know how to care for your mother. Your mother must be very happy to have you!"
Lan Zhi smiled slightly and didn't say anything more. Madam Lin also stopped talking and just sat quietly, occasionally dozing off.
The seventh day of the first month
They finally arrived in Xinglong County, a day later than expected, but fortunately the journey went smoothly.
Tens of thousands of soldiers from the capital poured into Xinglong County. The people, who had already received the notice from the government, had prepared enough food and hid in their homes, staying indoors.
Lan Zhi and Madam Lin were arranged in the backyard of the government office. The magistrate's name was Liu Yucheng, and his wife was called Xiao Lingzi. She looked very young and was a warm-hearted woman.
After arranging for Lan Zhi and Madam Liu to stay in the backyard of the government office, she enthusiastically went to prepare a meal.
Ah Qi placed the hand warmer in Lan Zhi's hands and gently comforted her:
"Master, you are pregnant in front of outsiders, so you need to be more careful and not let anyone notice anything amiss."
Lan Zhi held the stove in her hand and smiled nonchalantly.
"So what if they figured it out? This isn't the capital; there aren't many people here who would pick a fight. Go and find out if there's any news from Tianwu Kingdom."
"Okay, Xiangxiu is going to prepare hot water. You rest for a while, I'll go now."
After Ah Qi left, Lan Zhi lay on the bed with a hand warmer in her arms, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
After marching for four days, the weather was cold and the journey was long. She was also constantly worried about Wei Jianning, so she couldn't eat or sleep well.
Now that she finally had a warm house and had finally reached her destination, her nerves relaxed a bit, and she fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
At dinner time, Aqi and Xiangxiu didn't call her, but instead reheated the food they had prepared for her again and again.
Xinglong County seemed colder than the capital. Snowflakes began to fall outside as darkness fell, and she was not awakened by a nightmare until dawn.
"Ms. sir..."
Lan Zhi, who was fast asleep, let out a scream. Xiang Xiu and A Qi, who were waiting in the outer room, rushed in together.
"master……"
Bluetooth took a deep breath, opened its eyes, and then breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness it was just a dream..."
"My lord, you dreamt of the Crown Prince being in danger again?"
For the past few days, she has had this dream almost every night, and she is awakened by it almost every night. Every night when they hear her cries, Xiangxiu and Aqi know that she is having this dream again.
Lan Zhi nodded while letting out a soft sigh.
"Yeah, I have the same dream every day. I wonder if it's trying to tell me something."
Upon hearing this, Ah Qi quickly comforted him:
"My lord, please don't think such things. His Highness the Crown Prince is very lucky and will definitely be fine."
Xiangxiu echoed this sentiment.
"Yes, you and the Crown Prince are a match made in heaven, and you will definitely have a good ending. Don't overthink it."
Lan Zhi looked at A Qi and asked anxiously:
"Have you found out any information?"
Ah Qi shook his head.
"No, at least not now, but I'll keep inquiring and make sure you hear about it as soon as I have any news."
Although she knew that the people from Tianwu Kingdom would come sooner or later, Lan Zhi was still very anxious. She desperately wanted to see Wei Jianning, or at least know that she was still alive and well.
"Your Highness, may I come in?"
The voices of Madam Liu Yucheng and Xiao Lingzi came from outside. Aqi glanced at Lan Zhi and, seeing that she didn't object, quickly called out to the outside:
"Please come in, Madam Liu."
Xiao Lingzi then carried a tray and quickly walked in, approaching Lan Zhi with a beaming smile.
"Your Highness, you didn't eat dinner last night. I just heard from Madam Lin that you are pregnant, so I ordered someone to cook chicken soup for you. Drink it while it's hot."
Lan Zhi frowned slightly. A Qi quickly went to the dressing table, took the silver needle, and went directly to the table. He placed the silver needle in the soup bowl to test it.
Xiao Lingzi was taken aback by her actions, and Lan Zhi quickly explained.
"Madam Liu, please don't mind. My girl knows a little about medicine and is always very careful about my diet."
Xiao Lingzi then realized that she was testing for poison, and hurriedly waved her hand dismissively.
"It's reasonable and understandable. After all, pregnancy is a big deal and cannot be taken lightly."
Seeing that there was nothing wrong with the silver needle, Ah Qi was relieved and gestured for Xiang Xiu to hand it to Lan Zhi.
Lan Zhi picked up the spoon, took a sip, and looked at Xiao Lingzi with eyes full of gratitude.
"Mrs. Liu, you've gone to so much trouble."
Xiao Lingzi shook her head and chuckled softly.
"I was so happy to hear you were pregnant, and I wanted to give you some nourishing food."
After taking another sip, Lan Zhi handed the bowl of soup to Xiang Xiu and patted the bed beside her.
"Madam Liu, please sit down and let's talk."
Xiao Lingzi pulled over a round stool and sat down, laughing as she said:
"I'll sit here. From now on, the Crown Princess can just call me by my name. My name is Xiao Lingzi."
Judging from her appearance, Xiao Lingzi was at least twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, almost ten years older than her. It was really inappropriate for her to call her by her first name.
After pondering for a while, Lan Zhi seemed to have an epiphany:
"Then I'll call you Sister Xiaoling!"
Xiao Lingzi nodded happily.
“Okay, I’m honored to have the Crown Princess call me sister.”
Lan Zhi smiled slightly and started chatting with her about everyday things.
How many children does Sister Xiaoling have?
Hearing this question, Xiaoling bit her lip awkwardly, twisting her handkerchief between her fingers, and shook her head, saying:
"No...no, but my two concubines each gave birth to a daughter."
what?
Lan Zhi looked at her with some curiosity.
"Why not? Is it because you can't have children, or because you don't want to?"
When she asked that question, she clearly felt Xiaolingzi's face darken, and she realized she had been a bit rash.
"Sister Xiaoling, please don't mind. I was just curious. If it's inconvenient, you don't have to answer me."
Xiao Lingzi let out a heavy sigh of relief and managed to utter a few words.
"I want to have a child, but... I don't have the ability."
As she said this, she transformed from the cheerful hostess she had been just moments before into a cautious and timid woman.
"I'm sorry, Sister Xiaoling, I shouldn't have asked..."
Xiao Lingzi hesitated for a moment, then shook her head with a slight laugh.
"It's no secret. Everyone in Xinglong County knows I can't have children. If it weren't for Yu Cheng's consideration for our marriage, he would have divorced me long ago. How could I be worthy of being the wife of the government official?"