The Female Regent’s Daily Guide to Spoiling Her Wife - Chapter 37

“Sister, if you leave, Xiaxia will go with you.” Yunxia closed her eyes, her lashes trembling slightly as she leaned down and pressed a kiss onto Ah Zhao’s pale lips.

This was the scene Song Jin walked in on. In an instant, her blood boiled, and a fire of jealousy consumed her heart. She hadn’t even realized that this servant boy was actually Third Young Lady Xu in disguise; what a cunning move!

Song Jin wordlessly signaled for her attendants to leave. She grabbed Yunxia, pulling her up, and delivered a fierce slap. The sound echoed sharply in the empty room.

“You enchantress! Sister Ah Zhao is already betrothed to me by imperial decree, yet you still sneak in here. Have you no shame?” Song Jin glared at Yunxia, her eyes wide with fury.

Caught off guard, Yunxia stumbled back, knocking over a blue and white porcelain vase behind her. Her hand pressed down onto the shards, and blood began to flow from her palm. Yunxia kept her head low, clenching her fist and biting her lip, stubbornly refusing to let the moisture in her eyes fall.

She had no defense. Even though she had heard of the marriage decree, she still couldn’t help but come to see Ah Zhao. She couldn’t let go; she simply did not believe it and wanted to be by Ah Zhao’s side, selfishly wishing for a different outcome. She wanted to see her recover, even if they couldn’t be together in the end. Besides, her sister had told her to believe in her. Why had things turned out like this?

The commotion in the room disturbed the attendants waiting outside. Fearing trouble, a maid immediately went to inform Gao Han.

When Gao Han entered with a dark, silent expression, Song Jin was already busy attending to Ah Zhao with meticulous care, while Yunxia stood to the side, looking utterly despondent.

Seeing Gao Han enter, Song Jin knew the noise earlier had been too loud. She threw herself into Gao Han’s arms, tears streaming down her face. “Aunt Han, I, I only want to take good care of Sister Ah Zhao. I did not expect some people to take advantage of loopholes and use such low tactics. Jin’er just feels so wronged.”

Gao Han patted Song Jin’s back impassively. “Jin’er, this Princess knows your heart for Ah Zhao.” She turned her gaze toward Yunxia. The young girl’s eyes were filled with unshed tears, and she bit her lip hard as if she were enduring an immense grievance. Her pale, elegant face was so stunningly beautiful it was heart-wrenching.

Gao Han sighed inwardly. With such looks, it was no wonder her prideful daughter had been moved and protected her like the pupil of her eye. She said to the two of them, “Jin’er, stay here and watch over Ah Zhao. Third Young Lady Xu, follow me.”

Yunxia followed Gao Han with trepidation, nervously tugging at her skirt, vaguely guessing what the woman was about to say.

Gao Han had lived a free-spirited life for half her years and was naturally quite easygoing. She was not one to make things difficult for others, especially for the person Ah Zhao had clearly identified as her beloved.

Gao Han took Yunxia’s hand and sat down in the courtyard. Casting aside her stature as the Eldest Princess, she stroked Yunxia’s hair like an elder and said softly, “You were just wronged, weren’t you?”

Hearing this, Yunxia’s nose felt a sting of sorrow. The gentleness and tone were exactly like that person’s, making her feel an inexplicable sense of grievance. She shook her head. “It is nothing.”

Gao Han said softly, “Xiaxia, I did not want to tell you this. But I fear if I do not, you will be hurt even more deeply. At the family banquet, although the Emperor did not issue the marriage decree, the intent was only interrupted by the white deer’s madness. Otherwise, the decree would likely have been issued by now.”

“I know Ah Zhao has you in her heart. But now that the Song family has shown such goodwill, and Song Jin has been caring for her without even undressing for rest, what would the Emperor think of her if she wakes up and insists on rejecting this marriage? What would the people of the world think? The Song family would likely turn against her entirely. How could she continue to hold her ground in the imperial court?”

Gao Han said with a hint of apology, “Xiaxia, as someone who has lived through much, I understand your heart. It is just that, by being here, you yourself will prevent Ah Zhao from making the choice that is best for her. So I hope you can understand Ah Zhao’s situation and leave. I will send people to escort you, your aunt, and your cousin away. You can choose any place in the world to go.”

Yunxia’s lips trembled, and her vision grew blurred. She squeezed the wound in her palm hard to keep herself conscious. After a long while, she uttered a low “Alright.”

Gao Han let out a sigh of relief and pulled her into a soft embrace. “Good child. You are still young; you will meet someone better.”

Yunxia closed her eyes in pain, and the hot tears in her eyes finally escaped. Could anyone be better than Ah Zhao? Even if there were, so what? It would not be her. She only wanted her.

Three days later.

Ah Zhao’s hand twitched, and she struggled to open her eyes. The first thing she saw were the concerned gazes of her mother and Song Jin.

“Master Liu, she is awake! She is awake!” Gao Han cried out excitedly.

Liu Xiangru stroked his beard, brushed through the crowd, and sat by the bed to take Ah Zhao’s pulse. With a face full of joy, he said respectfully, “Congratulations, Eldest Princess. The Regent is no longer in danger.”

The heavy stone in Gao Han’s heart finally dropped. Tears streamed from her eyes as she kept murmuring to herself, “Thank the Bodhisattva for his protection!”

Wenyuan’s grinning face appeared before her. “Lu Ah Zhao, I saved your life. How are you going to thank me?”

The lingzhi had been found by him and Song Ziyan together. Thinking of Ziyan, the smile on Wenyuan’s lips deepened. This poisoning of Lu Ah Zhao’s had turned out quite well!

Ah Zhao covered her eyes with her hand and said wearily, “How long have I been asleep?”

Wenyuan replied, “Five or six days. If you had not woken up now, you probably never would have!”

Ah Zhao frowned at his words. Five or six days. She must be so worried. She did not know how anxious the girl would be upon hearing news of her injury. She struggled slightly and called out, “Mother, help me call Xi Gui over.”

Gao Han’s heart skipped a beat. Knowing what she was after, she stammered, “Xi Gui is not in the manor right now. As soon as you were injured, I sent him to find your father and Master.”

Gao Han pushed Song Jin toward the bedside and said, “Why are you looking for Xi Gui the moment you wake up? You have been unconscious for so many days, and Jin’er has been the one taking care of you. Look, she has even grown thin.”

Being suddenly so close to Ah Zhao, Song Jin’s heart raced. She said softly with a red face, “Sister Ah Zhao, Jin’er is not tired.”

Wenyuan winked at Ah Zhao mischievously and stood to the side with his arms crossed, enjoying the show.

Ah Zhao felt a sense of unease. She waved her hand wearily. “Mother, have them all leave. I have words to say to you.”

Before Song Jin could react, Wenyuan grabbed her by the shoulder and pushed her out. “Miss Song, we have worked hard taking care of Ah Zhao. Come, let us go and rest together.”

Once everyone had left, Ah Zhao said slowly, “Mother, please send someone to the Xu residence to inform them that I have awakened. Ask the Third Young Lady not to worry.”

Gao Han’s expression became unnatural. She stammered, “You just woke up; focus on nurturing your body. If the Emperor hears you are awake, he will likely come in person. Do not worry about anything else.”

Ah Zhao struggled to sit up, her face as pale as paper. She stared fixedly at Gao Han. “Mother, tell me the truth. While I was unconscious, what exactly happened? Why was Song Jin here taking care of me?”

Gao Han bit her lip and said resentfully, “Lu Ah Zhao, wake up! Do you not understand why Song Jin came? Although the marriage decree has not been issued, do you think it will not be now that you are awake? Are you going to ignore the entire Eldest Princess’s Manor for that Third Young Lady of the Xu family?”

Ah Zhao’s fine brows knitted together. Her face grew even paler, and her breathing became rapid. “Mother, what did you do to Xiaxia?”

Gao Han placed a hand on her shoulder and said earnestly, “Ah Zhao, Mother will not mistreat her. Her disappearing from your life is for the best for both of you.”

Beneath the quilt, Ah Zhao’s hand clenched into a fist, her knuckles turning white. She gave a faint, powerless “Mhm” and closed her eyes as if she had fallen back to sleep.