Repeatedly broken branches

Chapter 111 Punishment

In the golden autumn, the weather is clear and crisp.

News of Zhou Tingxi's second defeat spread throughout the capital, causing widespread panic and speculation that Chaoyang might also be annexed by Hisamitsu.

With a month to go before her due date, Xiao Mu was already resting peacefully in Zi Ning Palace, with Ruan Cifeng and Xiao Shao staying by her side every day.

Yu Yanjing was extremely busy and worried about Xiao Mu, so he lost his appetite and lost a lot of weight.

She was already slender, and now she looks even more frail.

Wei Lan felt a tightness in her chest and tried every means to nourish him. Sometimes the tonics needed to be stewed for a whole morning. After finally stewing them and sending them to Zhongzi Palace, she was scolded by Yu Yanjing for not staying by the Empress's side.

It's clear that he cherishes the Empress more now than ever before.

Deng Yizhi's friend was just a businessman. Despite having ample financial and material resources, he still couldn't find out even a trace of the secret doctor in the Western Regions.

Ruan Cifeng studied medical books diligently, scouring all the books about the Western Regions royal family, and finally found a record of secret medicine in a book called "Biographies of the Western Regions".

Legend has it that the secret medicine is passed down only to women, not men, and the lineage will not be severed. This means that even if the previous poison-making secret medicine dies, there will be another one.

In other words, the antidote is in the hands of the new secret healer.

But who knows who the new secret healers are? They won't reveal their identities, much less easily tell outsiders the formula for the antidote.

This is good news, but he doesn't have much time left; he must go to the Western Regions in person.

Xiao Shao didn't know the purpose of his trip to the Western Regions. He told her that he was going back to Lin Yue. She only knew that Ruan Cifeng looked at her with pleading eyes before he left, asking her to take good care of the Empress.

The Empress was like a sister to her, and she would serve her wholeheartedly without him asking. But his actions really chilled Xiao Shao's heart.

"Your Majesty, what is this?" Siwan showed her her 'painting'.

Xiao Mu stopped her needlework and looked intently at Si Wan's drawing, saying, "Is it a little deer?"

Siwan nodded and said, "Father took me to see the deer a few days ago, and there was also a strange woman there! Empress, is your baby girl in your belly being well-behaved?"

"Good girl." As soon as Xiao Mu finished speaking, the baby in her belly seemed to hear her and kicked her hard, making her ribs hurt.

"She's being naughty now. She just kicked me."

Siwan said angrily, "Then when she comes out, I won't give her glutinous rice cake, Auntie. How about we give her egg rolls instead?"

Siwan dislikes egg rolls the most; it seems she dislikes all food made with eggs, just like... Ye Wanwan.

Xiao Mu couldn't help but laugh and said, "Okay, give her the egg roll with hibiscus filling, but not the glutinous rice cake."

Just then, Deng Yizhi suddenly walked in.

Siwan excitedly jumped off the chair, skipped and hopped to him, and reached out her hands for a hug.

This time, however, Deng Yizhi did not hug her. Instead, he bent down and said something to her. She then muttered, "I'm going to find my wet nurse to eat pea flour cakes," and ran away from Zining Palace.

He deliberately sent Siwan away; he must have something to say.

"What do you want to say to me?" Xiao Mu asked bluntly.

Deng Yizhi's dark eyes showed no emotion, but a hint of tenderness flickered in them as he whispered, "I've found Siwan's mother."

"Ye Wanwan?"

Sometimes it's really unexpected; you might think of someone just a moment ago, and the next second you're involved with them again.

"Yes."

Xiao Mu said unhurriedly, "So the strange woman Si Wan was talking about is her."

“Hmm.” Deng Yizhi’s eyes flickered. “She was sold into slavery and ended up with a rough man, where she had a child.”

Xiao Mu could tell he was very disappointed.

“When I found her, she was kneeling and begging for a steamed bun for her child. I couldn’t bear it, so I bought her and her child’s slave status and brought them back to Chaoyang.”

Xiao Mu was a little annoyed, her fingers gripping the edge of the table tightly as she tried to control her emotions. "Back then, she pinned all the blame on you in order to clear herself of any wrongdoing."

She could never forget when Deng Yizhi and Ye Wanwan's affair was exposed, and Ye Wanwan, in order to gain Zhou Tingxi's trust, pinned all the blame on Deng Yizhi.

How could a woman like that be worth him doing this?

"But she is Siwan's mother, the only person I love."

A bitter feeling welled up in Deng Yizhi's eyes, and a self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips.

"Where is she now?"

Deng Yizhi said calmly, "I didn't bring her to the capital, Your Majesty can rest assured. I have settled her and her son Zhong'er in a small mountain village in Nanxing. A few days ago, I took Siwan to see the deer, so she could see Siwan from afar."

“I can’t forget her pitiful eyes. I thought about giving her a proper status, but she didn’t want it. I just wanted to tell Her Majesty the Empress that Wanwan has been found.”

"Well, even if you want to give her a title, I can't say anything, but you have to consider Siwan's feelings. How do you expect her to accept a mother like that?" Xiao Mu said in a muffled voice.

After seeing Deng Yizhi off, Xiao Mu couldn't help but sigh. She hadn't expected him to be so deeply in love with Ye Wanwan. If she had been with Ye Wanwan from the beginning, the three of them would have been a happy family that would have been the envy of everyone.

Ouyang Meixi didn't like Siwan very much because she had already heard about Ye Wanwan and Zhou Tingxi's affair. She looked down on Ye Wanwan and by extension, she looked down on Siwan.

But how could she possibly reveal such a thing? Anyway, whenever Siwan came to her and Xue's palace, she would take the opportunity to go out for a stroll, so as not to see her and feel unhappy.

Jiao'er didn't like Siwan very much either. She always felt that Siwan was just like her mother, seductive and lowly. Besides, her mother was already a slave, which meant that Siwan was a slave at heart, and she was not as good as herself.

Jiao'er couldn't help but look at Ouyang Meixi and say, "General, you've been defeated again. Some people in the palace say that if you are defeated again, your life may be in danger."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Meixi couldn't help but frown. She scolded her daughter, "You must not say such things again. The general will surely return safely."

"Yes."

As we walked, we arrived at Zining Palace. The Empress there is probably due to give birth next month.

Ouyang Meixi thought to herself, "If only she were a princess, princesses are more likable." But then she thought, "What does it have to do with me? Whether she's a princess or a prince, it's none of my business."

She bumped into Princess Qin, also known as Little Spoon, who was carrying a plate of rose pastries. Jiao'er couldn't help but scoff inwardly, "Does the master have to do this herself?" Oh, she forgot that she used to be a servant herself. Perhaps it was her ingrained servility that made her do this?

Ouyang Meixi gracefully bowed to Xiao Shao, and Jiao'er reluctantly followed suit.

"Where is Princess Qin going?" Ouyang Meixi couldn't help but ask.

Xiao Shao said slowly, "Siwan is with you, right? When Her Majesty the Empress found out, she asked me to send her some of the rose pastries I made myself."

"Yes, Siwan is with me."

Jiao'er said meaningfully, "Why would Princess Qin personally deliver things? Isn't that something the palace servants do?"

Ouyang Meixi glared at her back, then immediately smiled apologetically at Xiao Shao and said, "Jiao'er doesn't know how to speak, Princess Qin, please don't blame her."

"It's alright, I was just going that way." Little Spoon didn't care about such things, so Jiao'er became even more unrestrained.

"Princess, you must have a lot of free time. Zining Palace isn't even on the way to our place."

Even with her good temper, Xiao Shao could understand Jiao'er's unspoken meaning.

"What? This princess can go wherever she wants, and it's none of your business to interfere?"

Still not satisfied with what she said, she put down the food box in her hand, raised her hand, and slapped Jiao'er with all her might.

The sound was crisp and melodious, causing Ouyang Meixi and Jiao'er to freeze in place. She slowly turned her head to look and saw that there were five finger marks on Jiao'er's face, as well as tears that immediately streamed down her face.

"Why did you hit me?" Jiao'er covered her face, looking completely innocent, clearly unaware of what she had done wrong.

Xiao Shao slightly raised her lips and slapped her again. The slap made her ears ring, and Ouyang Meixi, who was standing next to her, screamed in fright.

"To dare to address me as 'Princess' is a lesson in itself."

Jiao'er cried and pleaded with Ouyang Meixi for help, "Madam, I didn't say anything, but the princess is so unreasonable."

Ouyang Meixi knew her maid's personality. She wasn't a bad person, but she was a bit unreasonable and didn't know the rules. However, Xiao Shao slapped her in front of everyone, which was making a mountain out of a molehill.

“Princess, if my daughter has made a mistake, you can punish me. Why hit her in public? She is proud and this is too harsh on her.”

Xiao Shao was once again shocked by Ouyang Meixi's words. Everyone said that she was a well-bred young lady who knew the most manners. It seems that the rumors were just rumors. Since she said so, it would be unreasonable not to punish her.

It's already autumn, a chilly time of year, and the Imperial Garden is windy, so let's punish her properly.

"Since you've said so, I, the princess, will punish you by making you kneel here for three hours to reflect on your actions."

Ouyang Meixi stared at her in astonishment, but dared not disobey. She had no choice but to lift her skirt and kneel on the cold stone path.

Jiao'er looked at her with a wronged expression. Even though she was extremely unwilling, she had to kneel down. She lowered her head and cursed Xiao Shao in her heart.

Xiaoshao picked up the food box and glanced one last time at the two kneeling servants. She pondered in her mind how she had become like this.

She once shared the same status as Jiao'er. If it weren't for the Empress, she probably wouldn't have had such a prestigious appearance in her life.

She should be serving the Empress with all her heart.

Little Spoon looked up at the sky, wishing the Empress a safe delivery.

Just then, Cifeng suddenly wanted to return to Linyue. He didn't say why. That's how it is between them. They don't ask each other too much. That's fine, but I always feel like something is about to happen. I feel uneasy and uncomfortable.

The story of Princess Qin punishing Ouyang Meixi and her servant in the Imperial Garden spread throughout the palace. Some people said that the little girl had indeed been arrogant and disrespectful in the palace on several occasions, and that Princess Qin had done a good job.

However, some people, unable to distinguish right from wrong, said that she had gone from a pheasant to a phoenix, and that she had become arrogant and looked down on others because she thought she was the only princess of Chaoyang Kingdom. They used to be of the same status.

Xiao Mu knew Jiao'er's character and was still gratified that Xiao Shao would defend her. However, she was also afraid that Xiao Shao would find out about the rumors circulating in the palace, so she sent Rou Rou to find the palace maid who first spread the malicious rumors, gave her fifty lashes, and expelled her from the palace.

After that, no one dared to discuss it anymore.

Since then, Xue Shi and she have become quite estranged. It's no wonder, since Ouyang Meixi is a member of the Zhou family, and Xiao Mu's actions were a slap in the face to her. But it doesn't matter, she doesn't have time to waste.

The baby in her belly kept her up all night. The nanny said it was a sign of impending labor, and that the baby's movements would be more frequent before birth.

Looking at her haggard face, Yu Yanjing felt a pang of pain in his heart. She had gone through so much for this child, what would she do if she couldn't keep it?

Xiao Mu held up the plum blossom sachet she had just embroidered and waved it in front of him, proudly showing off, "How about it? Isn't it pretty? Although it took a bit of effort to embroider it."

Yu Yanjing glanced at the sachet in her hand. He had never said that he liked plum blossoms, so how would she know?

Why aren't you saying anything? Don't you like it?

He took the sachet from Xiao Mu's hand and placed it in his palm. The small and exquisite sachet was embroidered with plum blossom petals, which floated in the air. With the addition of scattered snowflakes, it was very beautiful.

he likes.

However, he couldn't utter the words stuck in his throat; the weight in his heart felt like a huge stone pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.

Yes, he was afraid, afraid that the girl who was showing off to him would leave him like his mother had.

For the first time in so many years, I felt fear, and it was so unbearable.

Yu Yanjing was unwilling to face it, so he began to run away. He even fled in a panic without saying a word. Xiao Mu stared at his departing figure with disappointment, and at the sachet that had fallen to the ground.

You could tell he had something on his mind.

But he promised to come and stay with her every day until she gave birth, and he wanted to be by her side during her most anxious and fearful times.

Has he changed his mind?

Did she go through all that trouble to come back here just to see him change his mind, neglect her, and despise her, so that he could marry many, many concubines afterward?

For the first time, Xiao Mu felt that loving someone was so tiring. Even though Yu Yanjing hadn't done anything yet, this terrible fantasy was shattering her.

Ruan Cifeng is back. With him here, my anxiety has lessened a bit, because his medical skills are more advanced than those of the imperial physicians in the palace.

The first thing he did upon returning was to check his own pulse. No matter what Xiao Mu asked, Ruan Cifeng would always reply, "Very good, the child is healthy."

Isn't this the result I wanted to know?

Her gaze fell on Ruan Cifeng's right ring finger, which was wrapped in a black bandage. She asked with concern, "Are you injured?"

Feeling guilty, Ruan Cifeng hid his hand behind his back and stammered, "Um...yes, I accidentally cut myself."

"It's good that you're alright. I'm a little tired. You haven't gone to see Xiao Shao since you got back, have you? Go see her. I want to sleep for a while." She had originally wanted to ask him if his brother had summoned him back this time, but she was too sleepy to ask.

After Ruan Cifeng left, she fell into a deep sleep.

Instead of going back to find Xiao Shao, he went directly to Zhong Zigong.

Yu Yanjing learned that he had discovered the poison was called "Parasitic" during his trip to the Western Regions, and had also found the disciple of the secret doctor, a seventeen-year-old girl. Although she did not hand over the antidote, she gave him the formula for the poison.

"Thank you very much this time," Yu Yanjing said gratefully, looking at him.

Ruan Cifeng smiled politely and said, "It is my duty. Your Majesty the Empress has been kind to me."

Back in his room, Ruan Cifeng unwrapped the black bandage from his ring finger. His once long and beautiful finger was now missing a section! What remained was a bloody, mangled stump!

He still remembered how he went through countless hardships to find the secret doctor, kneeling humbly at the entrance of the doctor's house, ignoring the disdainful looks of passersby.

He only remembered the secret doctor smiling and saying, "I can't see your sincerity. Your hands are very beautiful. Unless you voluntarily cut off a finger to show your sincerity, I really dare not give you the formula."

The secret healer stood on the steps and tossed him a dagger.

Ruan Cifeng picked up the dagger, drew out its sharp blade, and the cold light emanating from the weapon stung his eyes. The blade reflected his pupils, and despite his inner struggle and hesitation, he still tremblingly extended his long, slender, and fair hands.

If this finger is severed, I will never be able to carve beautiful hairpins for her again, will I?

What do these things matter compared to her life?

Ruan Cifeng chuckled and cut off a finger in front of the secret doctor. The doctor was so frightened that he backed away repeatedly, muttering, "I didn't expect you to actually..."

She took a piece of paper from her sleeve, folded it, and threw it in front of him. Ruan Cifeng picked it up with his other hand and examined it. It was indeed a recipe for making poison.

He endured the excruciating pain of his severed finger, stood up, bowed slightly to the private physician, and left with a smile.

The secret healer trembled as she looked at the pool of blood on the ground, not knowing what she was feeling. She had only wanted to tease the gentle man, but she never expected that he would actually cut off his own finger because of her joke.

Her master had said that men were the least trustworthy people in the world, but this man in front of her made her admire him. Just how important must his friend be to make him do this?