Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1092 - 1089_1

Chapter 1092: Chapter 1089_1

When Xiao’er arrived at the Cining Palace, the imperial doctor had already taken the pulse.

The Empress Dowager’s health was not in any great danger. She had eaten some fruit because she had no appetite, and now with the weather being extremely cold, and being an elderly person with a weak spleen and stomach, the freezing fruit irritated her fragile digestive system which led to vomiting.

Upon hearing the imperial doctor’s words, the Emperor immediately demoted all the palace maids serving the Empress Dowager to the Clothing Bureau. Such a thing had happened during the New Year which almost scared everyone to death!

In such cold weather, even if the Empress Dowager wanted to eat fruit, she should not have been allowed to eat it!

The palace maids felt extremely wronged. They had advised her against eating, but when the Empress Dowager did not listen, what else could they do?

Seeing that the Empress Dowager was all right, everyone left the Cining Palace.

After the palace feast, all the ministers and their wives returned to their residences for the New Year’s Eve vigil.

Worried that Xiao’er might not be able to last through the New Year’s Eve due to her health, the Empress convinced both her and Shangguan Xuanyi to return to their mansion to sleep. Initially, Xiao’er wanted to persist, but Shangguan Xuanyi simply pulled her away and the couple returned to the Prince Rui’s Mansion.

At the palace gate, they coincidentally met Fu Ranhui and her husband who were also leaving the palace. Fu Ranhui ignored Xiao’er and Shangguan Xuanyi and quickly got into the carriage.

Zhao Youhe had returned on a horse, but at this time, he naturally had to share the carriage with Fu Ranhui. He nodded to them and then got in the carriage.

Xiao’er looked pensively at the carriage as it departed.

All the way, Fu Ranhui just lifted the curtain of the carriage window to watch the snowy street scene, without uttering a word.

Zhao Youwei was a thoughtful person and he clearly noticed that Fu Ranhui was angry. But he had just returned and no matter how he thought, he couldn’t figure out what had made her angry.

Could it be that his mother had upset her while he was away?

That was the only reason he could think of.

After some thought, Zhao Youwei asked, "Princess, is there anything that has displeased you?"

"No," Fu Ranhui replied without even turning her head.

"Did my mother treat you well? Did she give you a hard time while I was away?"

"Mother treats me like her own daughter. You worry too much, my dear husband!"

"Then why is the princess mad at me?" Zhao Youwei no longer tried to be subtle. He was a straightforward person and being a general, he liked a no-nonsense approach. He was incapable of playing the double-talk, beating-around-the-bush games of the civil servants.

"Why do you ask that, dear husband? What have you done to upset me?" Hearing this, Fu Ranhui finally turned around and looked at him.

Zhao Youwei instinctively furrowed his brow upon hearing this. If he knew the reason, would he still need to ask her?

"If I have done anything wrong, princess, feel free to point it out."

He paused before continuing, "Is it about me reprimanding you earlier in the Imperial Garden? I was only worried about you falling and couldn’t help but raise my voice a bit. If it displeased you, I apologize." He had been stationed outside all year round, leaving her alone at home. It was not easy for him to come back just to argue. And it was quite normal for the princess, who had been pampered since childhood, to be slightly temperamental. Zhao Youwei felt it was better to be conciliatory where he could.

A true man can bend as well as straighten.

"No, I am not mad at you! You’re overthinking!" Hearing him mention the incident from earlier, Fu Ranhui felt even more irritated, turned her head away again, and decided not to bother with him.

Zhao Youwei: "..."

Zhao Youwei quietly sighed. Compared to dealing with his wilful wife, he would rather go to the battlefield to fight against enemies! The saying ’a woman’s heart is as deep as the sea’ indeed holds true.

Since she didn’t say anything, he decided to let it be, perhaps he could find out more after returning to the mansion.

Both of them remained silent in the carriage. The silence within the cabin was punctuated only by the sound of the carriage wheels on the stone road, making the atmosphere between them even more tense.

Zhao Youwei had been on the road for half a month. They encountered an avalanche halfway which caused the heavy snow to block the mountain. He returned to their house after helping to clear the road. Now that everything had calmed down, the fatigue in his body surged like a tide and he fell asleep leaning against the carriage wall.

Observing that he had been silent for a long time, Fu Ranhui turned to look. Was he actually asleep?

Seeing this made her even angrier. His display of concern must have been born out of obligation! He wasn’t genuinely worried about her feelings, so after asking, he felt his duty was done. He had no intention of digging deeper or cheering her up.

How else would explain him falling asleep as soon as his back was turned!

If she were the woman he deeply loved, would he have done the same?

Fu Ranhui remembered all the kindness Shangguan Xuanyi showed Xiao’er, she dared not ask her husband to treat her the same way Shangguan Xuanyi treated Xiao’er. All she desired was for him to only have her in his heart. Was this request too much?

The commander-in-chief’s mansion was quite far from the Imperial Palace and the road was slippery due to the snow. It took the carriage almost an hour to finally arrive.

"Young Master, Young Mistress, we’ve arrived."

The coachman’s voice came from outside. Zhao Youwei immediately opened his eyes. He only rested for a moment but he felt much lighter.

He jumped off the carriage briskly, turned around, extended his hand, intending to lend support to Fu Ranhui.

Fu Ranhui ignored his extended hand, alighted from the carriage herself, and went straight towards the courtyard where they stayed.

Zhao Youwei frowned slightly, then followed her in.

However, having just returned home, he went to the main courtyard to pay respects to his parents, thus he didn’t follow Fu Ranhui back to their own courtyard.

That night, Fu Ranhui and Mrs. Zhao kept vigil together.

Mrs. Zhao couldn’t keep awake and went back to sleep halfway through.

Zhao Minhua, too, could not resist the call of sleep and fell asleep on the couch.

With the war about to start, the commander-in-chief sat in the study with his son, talking throughout the night.

As Fu Ranhui kept watch alone, she couldn’t help but feel saddened when she thought about how she had not been able to keep vigil with her husband on their first year of marriage.

If they deeply cherished their wives like Shangguan Xuanyi and Shangguan Ruixi, they certainly wouldn’t let their wives keep vigil alone on such a night of reunion - Fu Ranhui sighed softly.

Having spent most of the night conversing with his father in the study, Zhao Youwei left only when dawn was about to break.

Concerned that returning to his room might wake Fu Ranhui, he went to the library instead.

Haven’t slept all night, he felt somewhat excited from the talk with his father and was not the least bit sleepy.

As warriors, their stage was the battlefield. He originally thought that if he wanted to accomplish something notable, he had to wait until he was in his prime. He did not expect the opportunity to come so soon.

If they successfully conquered Nangong Country, it would be greatly beneficial to his empire, a feat equivalent to being bestowed a title or appointed as a minister.

He was summoned to return in secret and did not know before returning that the Emperor had intended to attack Nangong Country.

Now, upon suddenly finding out this piece of news, how could he not get excited?

As he couldn’t sleep, Zhao Yongwei decided to take out the map of Nangong Country for an in-depth study.

Maps from every country were extremely precious, not easily obtainable, and he managed to get this map accidentally at Zhan’er Island.

However, he had forgotten where he had placed it, hence, he started rummaging through his belongings.

...

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