"I can persuade my father to agree to let you take the hand token and go to Wuyin Mountain."
The hand holding the medicinal soup paused, and Gu Qianying looked up at Wu Zhiruo.
Wu Zhiruo's complexion was still a little pale, but her spirits had improved considerably.
"Why the change of heart?"
Gu Qianying helped Wu Zhiruo sit up, placing an embroidered pillow behind her for comfort, and then handed her the lukewarm medicinal soup.
She did not have the habit of feeding medicine to outsiders.
After finishing the pregnancy-preserving medicine, Wu Zhiruo handed the empty bowl to Gu Qianying and looked at her, "You saved the child in my womb, and it is only right that I thank you with such conditions. However, I still hate you!"
Placing the empty bowl aside, Gu Qianying stood up, her voice faint, "Likewise, I hate you!"
Since Wu Zhiruo was no longer in serious condition, she turned to leave.
But as Gu Qianying turned, Wu Zhiruo suddenly grabbed her sleeve.
Gu Qianying turned back, frowning, "Is there something else?"
Wu Zhiruo looked up at her, "I often bully Ata Wumeng, calling her a slut, so... you hate me, right?"
Gu Qianying looked at her, remaining silent.
Wu Zhiruo bit her lip, and after a while, she said again, "When I was young, my father thought I was not as good as her and always praised her in front of me, so I hated her. The more my father praised her, the more I hated her, and the more I wanted to bully her..."
Gu Qianying pried Wu Zhiruo's hand away, her voice very cold, "What exactly do you want to say?"
One moment she was so arrogant and overbearing, and the next she was spouting so much nonsense.
What did this woman Wu Zhiruo want?
"If I apologize to her and let her bully me back, will you be my friend?"
When she was unconscious, she vaguely remembered Gu Qianying rushing over to hold her.
Her embrace was warm and comforting.
She hadn't felt the sensation of being held in a long time.
Not since that person abandoned her.
For the past six months, she had been alone.
Sleeping alone, eating alone, venturing into the martial world alone.
She endured the pregnancy sickness, vomiting, and loss of appetite by herself.
She had gone away to study medicine to treat her father's illness.
She left for five years, and during that time, she met a man she loved and married him.
But... that man abandoned her for wealth and status, and afterward, she discovered she was pregnant.
This time, if she hadn't heard that her father had improved, she wouldn't have returned.
Her thoughts returned, and Wu Zhiruo saw that Gu Qianying had not responded.
The corners of her mouth drooped, and she slumped back dejectedly.
Gu Qianying turned her back and walked away. Just as she was about to step out the door, her clear voice came, "Once you are feeling better, go and apologize sincerely. If my Lu Zhu forgives you, then I might consider being your friend."
"Really? Okay, it's a deal!"
Wu Zhiruo instantly became happy.
In the outer room.
Meng Xiangxiang hesitated for a long time, drinking cup after cup of tea. Under the encouraging gaze of Lola Yata, she finally stood up and approached Du Chun.
"Young Master Du, long time no see. How have you been recently?"
As she said this, Meng Xiangxiang felt extremely contemptuous of herself.
In truth, she wanted to say, Du Chun, I miss you so much.
Beside them, Lola Yata and Sixth Prince Nangong Li watched with smiles, like spectators.
Nangong Mo sat upright, saying nothing.
His gaze was fixed only on the faintly swaying bead curtain inside.
Hidden by the screen, they could not see what was happening inside.
He did not care about the eldest daughter of the Wu family; he only cared about when his wife would come out.
His wife was pregnant and should not be overexerted, yet she had been inside for a long time.
He didn't know when she would emerge.
Tianji Wuchang, who paced back and forth, sighed and turned his back, not wanting to look at Du Chun and Meng Xiangxiang.
Du Chun put down the teacup in his hand, looked up, and said in a calm voice, "Yes, I'm fine."
Their eyes met.
Meng Xiangxiang's cheeks flushed.
Her heart pounded like a startled deer.
"The sachet, the robe, they are very suitable."
The gentle voice startled Meng Xiangxiang, who was lost in thought.
"What? What did you say, Young Master Du?"
Meng Xiangxiang was very excited. She leaned forward slightly.
They were separated by a table, but their distance had closed considerably.
Du Chun was not a man of many words.
He picked up the teapot and personally refilled Meng Xiangxiang's tea, "Thank you for the gift, Miss Meng."
"You're welcome. As long as... you think... it's suitable..."
Finally catching up with Du Chun's pace, Meng Xiangxiang realized what he was talking about.
She was overjoyed, so happy that she was a little agitated and couldn't speak fluently.
Du Chun poured her tea personally. Without thinking, Meng Xiangxiang picked up the teacup and drank it down in one gulp.
At this moment, her cheeks were even redder.
Her heart felt as sweet as if it had been dipped in honey.
"Young Master Du... if you need anything in the future, please just tell me..."
Meng Xiangxiang's voice was a little quiet; she lacked confidence.
"The lotuses in the pond outside have bloomed. Miss Meng, would you like to accompany me to enjoy the flowers?"
Since Gu Qianying was inside treating Miss Wu, it was inconvenient for the men outside to linger.
"Ah... Young Master Du, you mean..."
"Miss Meng, please."
To ease Meng Xiangxiang's embarrassment, Du Chun led the way out first, lifting his robe.
Meng Xiangxiang was stunned, looking at Du Chun's retreating back in disbelief.
Lola Yata walked over, nudged Meng Xiangxiang with her elbow, and whispered, "You silly girl, hurry up and follow him. You two have a date, and you're not needed here."
Meng Xiangxiang looked at Lola Yata with a wry smile, "But... I drank too much tea and need to... go... go to the restroom."
Lola Yata: "..."
"Actually, this Princess suggests you hold it. If you miss this opportunity, you might not be able to catch your Young Master Du."
Lola Yata was half a head taller than Meng Xiangxiang.
She hooked Meng Xiangxiang's neck like a tomboy and suggested with a grin.
Meng Xiangxiang nodded as if she had made a momentous decision, "Yes, thank you for your suggestion. I'll hold it!"
Watching Meng Xiangxiang chase after Du Chun, Lola Yata burst into laughter.
Sixth Prince Nangong Li walked over. She glanced at him and asked with a smile, "This Princess did a good deed for you, ensuring your brother is no longer lonely. Do you want to reward me?"
Nangong Li played with his folding fan in one hand and put his arm around her waist, looking into the distance, "What reward do you want? Just say the word, and I'll satisfy you with anything."
Lola Yata raised her slender fingers, tracing Nangong Li's chin, neck, and chest, then sliding down.
"I want this!"
*Crack!*
The folding fan in Nangong Li's hand dropped to the ground.
He held Lola Yata's hand with a look of despair, his face a picture of misery, "Woman, how about another day?"
"It's fine. I just got some aphrodisiac supplements from Physician Du Chun. Physician Du said this medicine is very effective. Why don't you try it?"
Nangong Li: "..."
The next moment, Nangong Li immediately released Lola Yata and ran away, with Lola Yata chasing after him.
When only Tianji Wuchang and Nangong Mo were left in the outer room, Gu Qianying finally emerged from inside.
"Divine Doctor, how is my daughter?"
Tianji Wuchang hurried over.
At the same moment, Nangong Mo also stood up and approached Gu Qianying, handing the warm stove he had been holding to her.
His wife felt cold after becoming pregnant.
"Miss Wu's fetus is currently very stable. She only needs to rest in bed to preserve the pregnancy. For other matters, Wuchang can go in and ask her."
She knew Tianji Wuchang desperately wanted to know whose child Wu Zhiruo was carrying, but she didn't know that either.
"Thank you, Divine Doctor."
Learning that his daughter was out of danger, Tianji Wuchang breathed a sigh of relief.
He walked towards the inner room.
Nangong Mo helped Gu Qianying sit down.
"Wife, are you tired?"
Her belly, nearly four months along, was already showing.
"Not tired."
Gu Qianying warmed her hands with the stove, while Nangong Mo stood behind her, massaging her shoulders.
After a moment of affection, Nangong Mo reached for Gu Qianying's belly, "Wife, didn't you say it was okay after three months? Tonight... can we...?"