Shen Yunjie carried the medicine back. As he walked past two streets, he sensed someone following him but he did not look back. When he rounded a small alley, he stopped as he slid the dagger from his arm to his fingertips. Since the last time he was entangled by those ruffians, he had specially made a dagger to keep close.
The sound of footsteps grew closer. As the figure just flashed out, the dagger was already pressed against his neck.
“Why is it you?” Shen Yunjie’s fingertips paused.
Zhao Sheng’s forehead broke out in a cold sweat, and he smiled sheepishly, “Y-yes, it’s me.”
Shen Yunjie hesitated for a moment, but he did not lower the dagger as he asked, “Why are you following me?”
Zhao Sheng’s face flushed, and he stammered, “I, I was originally going home, but I happened to see you coming out of the medical hall. I was worried that those people from last time might look for trouble with you again, so I…”
“So that’s how it is.” Shen Yunjie retracted the dagger, bowed slightly as he said, “It was rude of me.”
“No, it’s nothing.” Zhao Sheng quickly waved his hand. “It’s not safe for you to be out alone, let me walk you home.”
Shen Yunjie shook his head, turning sideways to create distance from Zhao Sheng as he said, “My husband doesn’t like me getting too close to others. Please excuse me.” After saying that, he did not linger and left.
Zhao Sheng watched the distant plain-clothed figure while silently clenching his fist.
The bitter smell of the decoction was strong and lingered in the courtyard. Although the child in his belly was growing fast, Shen Yunjie’s appetite had been consistently poor. Not even two cups of tea time after drinking a bowl of medicine, he threw it all up. When Xiao Ning returned, he happened to see Shen Yunjie leaning against a tree, vomiting until tears streamed down his face.
“What’s wrong?” Xiao Ning quickly supported the tottering Shen Yunjie.
“It’s nothing, my stomach felt uncomfortable, and I will feel better after throwing up.” Shen Yunjie took a breath, enduring the dizziness.
Xiao Ning picked him up without a word, carried him upstairs before settling him on the bed, “If you don’t feel well, lie down. Why are you stressing yourself out? Did you go out today?”
Shen Yunjie supported his aching lower back, nodded and said, “I went to see Old Zhou for a pulse check, got some medicine and came back. I didn’t go far.”
“Where is the medicine?”
“Downstairs.”
Xiao Ning pulled the quilt over Shen Yunjie, turned around to go downstairs and re-decoct the medicine. The herbs were placed on the stove in the kitchen. He untied the hemp rope and poured them into the clay pot. The rank, bitter medicinal smell diffused even before boiling. Xiao Ning picked up an herb from the pot and smelt it. If he was not mistaken, this herb was called ‘Gui Dian Deng’, which has the effect of clearing toxins and protecting the heart, but why would it appear in an anti-miscarriage prescription?
When Xiao Ning carried the medicine upstairs, Shen Yunjie had already fallen into a drowsy sleep. Xiao Ning watched him for a while but ultimately did not have the heart to wake him. He simply placed the medicine on a small stove to keep it warm and put Shen Yunjie’s hand, which was hanging over the side of the bed, back under the quilt.
After the lovemaking on the roof last time, Xiao Ning was addicted, and the jar of pomade was noticeably nearing the bottom.
Although Shen Yunjie remembered Old Zhou’s advice about restraint, he was unwilling to refuse Xiao Ning, accompanying him in whole nights of indulgence. As time went by, he also tasted the pleasure of it. Coupled with the pregnancy, both his heart and body became more dependent on Xiao Ning.
After several times, the two were thoroughly accustomed to each other. Now, it only took a moment of teasing from Xiao Ning to make Shen Yunjie soft as cotton and willowy in his arms, melting into a puddle of spring water.
In Xiao Yuan’s eyes, ‘Father’ just liked sleeping in more.
When the autumn frost dispersed and the red leaves were in contrast, Shen Yunjie was already seven months pregnant. The neighbors seemed to have become accustomed to having such a beautiful and refined proprietress at the cake stall. After gossiping about others for more than half a year, all that remained was envy.
Today, Shen Yunjie bought a basket of lotus roots from the fishermen by the river. It was the season for it, and it was particularly sweet and delicious. Xiao Yuan’s taste seemed to be like Xiao Ning’s, he preferred sweets, so Shen Yunjie planned to make osmanthus glutinous rice lotus root. The lotus root flesh was white and tender, stuffed with glutinous rice, cooked with osmanthus syrup, and simmered over a low fire. Although sweet, it did not mask the delicate fragrance of the lotus root at all.
Just as he was about to take it out of the pot, Shen Yunjie suddenly felt his vision go dark. He subconsciously supported himself on the stove as a sweet, metallic taste surged in his throat, and he unexpectedly spat out a mouthful of blood. The sharp pain in his chest nearly made him faint. It took a long while before his vision gradually cleared. He half-knelt on the ground while holding his belly, and after recovering for a long time, he took out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe the blood from the corners of his lips. He threw the firewood stained with blood into the bottom of the stove, where it burnt to ashes.
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