Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1090 - 1087_1

Chapter 1090: Chapter 1087_1

After the Laba Festival, every household started getting busy with the New Year’s gift preparations, and all the shops began doing their year-end summaries. It felt as though the New Year was closing in all of a sudden.

Even Xiao’er had to spend time, both in the morning and the afternoon, to inspect the account books and gift lists every day.

Shangguan Xuanyi was even busier, rushing here and there every day. The two of them remained busy like this until the eve of the Lunar New Year.

On New Year’s Eve, Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er went to the Imperial Palace early in the morning to wish the Emperor and the Empress well.

The palace feast was held on this day. After that, they had to stay up late into the night. They had to stay in the Imperial Palace for the entire day.

After Shangguan Xuanyi brought Xiao’er to visit the Emperor in Zichen Palace, they then went to pay their respects in Cining Palace.

"Your Imperial Grandmother isn’t feeling too well. Once you’ve paid your respects, go to your mother’s place. Don’t disturb your Imperial Grandmother’s rest." The Emperor instructed.

After Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er complied, they went to the Cining Palace.

This winter was especially cold. The Empress Dowager’s health fluctuated. Two days before New Year’s Eve, it snowed again, and the Empress Dowager caught a cold. She felt so weak that she could hardly get out of bed.

Even when her royal children and grandchildren came to pay their respects on New Year’s Eve, she hardly had the energy to acknowledge them and dismissed them after a brief meeting.

Emperor and Prince An had already paid their respects earlier. Shangguan Xuanyi, Xiao’er, Shangguan Ruixi, and Du Yijin, being the last, were turned away by the Empress Dowager, who was too tired to get out of bed.

The four then headed directly to Kunning Palace, where the Empress resided.

In Kunning Palace, the eldest princess, Fifth Princess, King Anqing’s wife, Shangguan Wanru, and Fu Ranhui were playing mahjong, along with some Imperial Court ladies, at another table.

Outside, it was snowing and there weren’t any other interesting activities, so they ended up playing mahjong. Regardless of gender, age, or era, the game of mahjong was loved by many as soon as it was created.

The Empress, seeing the four walk in, promptly called over Xiao’er and Du Yijin, "You two don’t need to bow since you’re both pregnant. Come and sit by the heated platform; it’s too cold outside. Don’t let the children in your bellies catch a chill."

Regardless, Xiao’er and Du Yijin insisted on bowing before sitting at the heat platform.

This place was a paradise for women. After paying respects, Shangguan Xuanyi and Shangguan Ruixi went to Zichen Palace to receive ministers alongside the Emperor.

Because the Empress was playing mahjong, Xiao’er didn’t sit there.

She and Du Yijin sat down next to Fu Ranhui. "Princess, aren’t you joining the mahjong game?"

"I arrived late, and they had already begun."

"Princess, you seem to have lost weight. What happened?" Du Yijin asked, expressing concern.

Xiao’er looked over; she had also intended to ask this.

"Really? I didn’t notice." Fu Ranhui touched her face.

"You have indeed lost some weight. You should eat more. Otherwise, General Zhao will be heartbroken when he returns." The Fifth Princess ended her game of mahjong upon seeing Xiao’er entering, intending to join the conversation.

Upon hearing this, Fu Ranhui lowered her head to hide the bitterness in her heart.

How could he possibly be heartbroken? She was never in his heart.

"Didn’t General Zhao return to the Imperial Capital this morning? He’ll be heartbroken very soon." Xiao’er saw General Zhao’s figure entering the palace when she arrived with Shangguan Xuanyi in the morning. She was surprised - why was he back?

Shangguan Xuanyi explained that war was imminent, and General Zhao would be one of the leading generals on the frontlines. The imperial court allowed those generals who had just married but were stationed at the frontier to return home for one month so that they could rest and regain their strength.

Xiao’er understood then. This was an opportunity for those young generals who had no offspring to leave a descendent. After all, on the battlefield, swords didn’t discriminate. Nobody knew if they would return victorious or not.

"He’s back?" Upon hearing this, Fu Ranhui looked at Xiao’er in shock. Zhao was back, and she, his wife, didn’t know. But Xiao’er did!

Was he really eager to appear in front of her?

"You didn’t know? He probably had to report to the Emperor first before going home." Seeing Fu Ranhui’s reaction, Xiao’er explained.

"General Zhao is back? That explains why Ranhui lost weight and has dark circles under her eyes. She must have received the news early, couldn’t eat or sleep from joy. Right?" Fifth Princess joked upon hearing this.

Seeing this, Fu Ranhui managed a bitter smile. In reality, she was unaware that he would return. He hadn’t sent her any letters. How could she possibly lose her appetite and sleep from joy? If only that were true.

Although her father-in-law had mentioned that he was likely to return for the New Year, the letters from the south didn’t hint at this. As today was already New Year’s Eve, they assumed that he wasn’t coming back.

Little did she know, not only had he returned, others knew about it too. Except, that person wasn’t his wife.

"Now that General Zhao has returned, Princess, do take this opportunity to conceive a child quickly. That way, a year from now, our children can all play together." Du Yijin said with a chuckle.

"You need not concern yourself!" Fu Ranhui responded with annoyance before walking off.

One was the Crown Princess married to the man she had loved for many years, the other was the woman in her husband’s heart. She didn’t know how to face them.

Seeing them so happily in love, her life seemed like a joke. What she wanted, she never obtained.

An awkward expression flashed across Du Yijin’s face. It seemed she had meddled too much.

Although she had married Shangguan Ruixi and was technically related to the Princess, their relationship had remained superficial over the past year. Because she came from a lower status, she couldn’t connect with someone of such high standing as the Princess. Thus, they didn’t have any personal understanding of one another; their interaction was shallow and brief.

Xiao’er and Fifth Princess were a bit surprised at Fu Ranhui’s attitude.

The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.

After Fu Ranhui walked away, Xiao’er spoke, "Princess seems to be in a bad mood, that’s why she sounded harsh. Don’t take it to heart."

Xiao’er presumed that Fu Ranhui was still having a hard time dealing with the fact that Du Yijin, the woman whom Shangguan Ruixi loved, was present and thereby had aversion towards her.

Fifth Princess also added, "Ranhui is usually in a bad temper when it’s that time of the month. I’ve been on her bad side before. It must be her menstrual cycle starting again. Don’t dwell on it, she’ll apologize when she sees you next time."

So, it was that time of the month. No wonder she reacted like that earlier. If General Zhao has returned and they can’t consummate, then there’s no possibility of her getting pregnant. No wonder Fu Ranhui responded in such a way. They had inadvertently touched on her pain points because of misunderstanding the situation. Du Yijin felt relieved and smiled slightly, "It’s alright. When I’m on my period, I also get easily upset."

In the past, Du Yijin suffered from frigidity, which caused severe pain during her periods, hence she understood what it felt like to be irritable during those times.