Chapter 52 -52 You are carrying my only child
鈥淒on鈥檛 talk nonsense, Murong Jiu said that with proper care and recuperation, you can live a long and healthy life!鈥
Jun Haoze gripped his cousin鈥檚 hand tightly and spoke in a deep voice.
But Yun Weiwei started coughing again, breaking free from his hands. She picked up a handkerchief from beside her pillow to cover her lips and coughed for a long while before stopping, her face growing even paler.
鈥淢iss Cousin is coughing up blood again!鈥
The maid cried out at the side.
On Yun Weiwei鈥檚 handkerchief, there was nothing but bright red blood.
...
鈥淲here is the Imperial Physician? How is it that the Imperial Physician hasn鈥檛 arrived yet!鈥
Jun Haoze鈥檚 expression turned urgent, veins bulging on his forehead, bloodshot eyes fierce.
鈥淵our Highness, we have already sent for him, the Imperial Physician should be here shortly.鈥
鈥淗urry, make haste and bring him to me!鈥
鈥淐ousin, don鈥檛 be hard on the Imperial Physician.鈥
Yun Weiwei extended her hand and tugged at Jun Haoze鈥檚 sleeve, speaking weakly:
潡堭潣凁潡答潟?co
鈥淚 understand my body. Rather than dying soaked in a tub of medicine, I would prefer to live unrestrained these last few months, and not have lived in vain.鈥
鈥淲eiwei, what do you mean 鈥榯hese last few months鈥? You鈥檙e just a little frail, you can live many more years. Don鈥檛 let your mind wander, all those at the Imperial Medical Office are quacks! I鈥檒l have Murong Jiu come and treat you. Didn鈥檛 she tell you to your face that you were recovering well?鈥
With that, Jun Haoze stood up intending to send someone for Murong Jiu.
But then he realized that Murong Jiu was now Princess Consort Ling, no longer someone he could casually summon with a word.
At this moment, a maid knelt down and said, 鈥淵our Highness, Miss Cousin has caught a cold recently and has been unwell, bedridden.鈥
The marks of her suffering runs deep; lest you worry, she forbade us from telling you. Please, you must ask Miss Murong Jiu to examine Miss Cousin. We are afraid she might suffer in silence鈥︹€
鈥淶i E, do not speak out of turn.鈥
Yun Weiwei chided, although her voice was so soft it lacked authority.
Jun Haoze looked at her and said, 鈥淲hat is hidden in your heart that troubles you so? Weiwei, if something is on your mind, tell your cousin, so I may put your mind at ease, alright?鈥
Yun Weiwei shook her head and lowered her gaze, saying softly, 鈥淐ousin, Weiwei is fine.鈥
The maid named Zi E on the floor hastily said, 鈥淵our Highness, Miss Cousin has been longing for your visit. You only came today after more than half a month鈥︹€
鈥淶i E!鈥
Yun Weiwei furrowed her brows and turned to Jun Haoze, 鈥淐ousin, I know you鈥檙e busy. It鈥檚 fine, you mustn鈥檛 listen to this maid鈥檚 nonsense.鈥
Jun Haoze felt a pang of guilt.
He had indeed been neglecting his cousin lately because of some matters, and since Murong Jiu married into Prince Ling鈥檚 Mansion, things had not been going smoothly for him, so naturally, he hadn鈥檛 taken good care of his household.
When the Imperial Physician arrived and after taking her pulse, he shook his head repeatedly, saying that Miss Cousin鈥檚 melancholy and joylessness had lingered too long, inevitably eroding her health severally. Even the gods would struggle to cure such a condition.
Jun Haoze ordered the Imperial Physician to use the best medicines, but the Imperial Physician responded that Miss Cousin had a psychological issue, and no medicine could help, and moreover, there was an old toxin in her body that, when it flared up, could endanger her life.
Jun Haoze cursed him as a quack and waved him away in dismissal.
鈥淐ousin, don鈥檛 get angry, it鈥檚 not good for your health. Honestly, whatever the outcome, Weiwei can accept it.鈥
Bai Weiwei lowered her head, hiding the sadness in her eyes.
But Jun Haoze saw it, gently lifted her chin, and said to her, 鈥淢urong Jiu is skilled in medicine. I will have her come tomorrow to take your pulse. Those in the Imperial Medical Office are just a bunch of incompetents.鈥
鈥淐ousin鈥︹€ Bai Weiwei鈥檚 eyes brimmed with tears, 鈥淎ctually, as long as I can be with my cousin, Weiwei fears nothing.鈥
Jun Haoze鈥檚 heart softened even further, and he drew her into his embrace.
After taking her medicine, Bai Weiwei was coaxed to sleep by Jun Haoze. He watched her serene sleeping face until she was fast asleep before he left.
The moment he left, Bai Weiwei opened her eyes and a faint smile played upon her lips.
鈥淶i E, is everything taken care of?鈥
Zi E respectfully said from the side, 鈥淢iss, rest assured, Imperial Doctor Qian has resigned from the Imperial Medical Bureau and will leave the capital with his family tomorrow. With such a large amount of silver coins, I guarantee he will keep silent. His Highness the Second Prince won鈥檛 learn about your feigned illness with the coughing of blood.鈥
鈥淚 trust your work,鈥 she said, 鈥渂ut I just don鈥檛 know when my dear cousin decided to arrange for Murong Man to marry into Duke of Suen鈥檚 Mansion.鈥
She feigned illness merely to make her dear cousin come to a decision sooner.
Although she had been convalescing in the rear courtyard of the Prince鈥檚 Mansion and seemed ignorant of everything, in fact, she knew even more than Murong Man.
After Jun Haoze left New Moon Pavilion, he immediately left the mansion. The Hidden Guard reported that Murong Jiu was on her way back to Prince Ling鈥檚 Mansion.
He hurried along and finally managed to stop her carriage before she reached the mansion.
鈥淢iss, it鈥檚 His Highness the Second Prince鈥︹€
Chun Tao glanced outside and whispered.
鈥淪hould we let the guard take action?鈥
Murong Jiu: 鈥淣o need, let the coachman stop in a secluded place.鈥
Chun Tao鈥檚 eyes widened with anxiety, wanting to persuade her otherwise. The Prince was still treating the Miss well, and they were almost at Prince Mansion. If the Prince found out that the Miss still had contact with His Highness the Second Prince, and if it became impossible to conceal her belly, wouldn鈥檛 the Prince become even more suspicious of His Highness the Second Prince?
鈥淒on鈥檛 panic, I just want to say a few words to His Highness the Second Prince.鈥
Knowing that the Miss had her own plans, Chun Tao reluctantly nodded and went out to speak with the coachman.
The carriage stopped at the corner of the alley, and Jun Haoze鈥檚 heart leapt with joy as he quickly dismounted.
If it were usual times, he wouldn鈥檛 feel so jubilant, but lately, he had been rejected by Murong Jiu too many times. Murong Jiu suddenly giving him a chance to talk made him unwittingly realize how joyful he was.
Moreover, he felt that this was the beginning of Murong Jiu caving in to him.
鈥淵ou all step back.鈥
Murong Jiu lifted the corner of the curtain and said to Chun Tao, the coachman, and the guard.
They all obeyed her command, although they did not like His Highness the Second Prince, they still obediently stepped back.
鈥淛iujiu鈥︹€
Jun Haoze looked at her with affectionate eyes.
Murong Jiu did not dismount. She sat inside the carriage and, upon hearing him, lowered the curtain.
She dreaded seeing Jun Haoze鈥檚 hypocritical face to the point of nausea.
鈥淪peak directly if you have something to say. I am now Princess Consort Ling, and it is not good to invite idle gossip.鈥
Jun Haoze understood her concerns. He looked around and spoke in a low voice, 鈥淛iujiu, don鈥檛 be angry with me anymore. Today, for your happiness, I willingly conceded the spices. Are you still mad at me?鈥
Murong Jiu was almost amused by his thick-skinned nature.
The spices were clearly acquired by her quick actions in exchange for colored glaze wares, yet in his mouth, it turned into him willing to concede.
鈥淲hat exactly do you want to say?鈥
Jun Haoze, hearing her cold voice, slightly furrowed his brow. The current Murong Jiu had changed too much from the past, and he couldn鈥檛 comprehend her thoughts anymore.
鈥淛iujiu, you know you are the only one in my heart. You misunderstood my interaction with your elder sister. I am already arranging a marriage between Marquis Mansion and Duke of Suen鈥檚 Mansion. You will soon hear about your elder sister鈥檚 engagement.鈥
鈥淩eally?鈥
As Murong Jiu raised her voice, Jun Haoze felt a surge of joy in his heart.
Indeed, she was only concerned about the relationship between Murong Man and him.
That would be easy to handle.
鈥淥f course. When have I ever deceived you? Moreover, the child in your belly is my only child. The person I have loved has always been you and only you. How could I pursue your elder sister then?鈥