Perhaps it was due to extreme exhaustion that both Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu fell asleep almost as soon as their heads touched the pillows.
Song Chaoyu could feel Mu Changxi beside her. He was warm, like a burning ember, ensuring her side was never cold.
It seemed as though wherever he was, it was always like this.
In a daze, Song Chaoyu thought she had a dream.
In the dream, she was still the illegitimate daughter raised in the manor. She lived a life of freedom, adept at climbing trees and catching fish. Behind her, her neighbor, older brother Han Xi, always followed.
Han Xi had a smile warmer than the sun. He always called her name from behind: Ayu, Ayu!
—
"Boom—"
Song Chaoyu was awakened by a deafening clap of thunder.
The thunderous roar seemed to make the very earth tremble!
Song Chaoyu sat up abruptly from the bed, instinctively asking, "Your Highness, are you alright?!"
However, as she turned and felt the spot beside her, she realized the quilt was already empty, with no trace of Mu Changxi. wap.kanshuwu.net
Following the thunder, a fierce wind began to rage outside.
Qiu Qing and Tiao Hong also bustled in, carrying hot water and clothes: "Did that thunder wake up the Princess Consort? It's nothing, just wind and thunder, perhaps it will rain heavily. The sky darkened too quickly. His Highness went to the disaster relief camp an hour ago to check if their tents were secure."
He went an hour ago?
Due to the dark clouds pressing down, Song Chaoyu could not see the sky outside clearly: "What time is it now? How long have I slept?"
Tiao Hong placed the hot water in front of Song Chaoyu and then smiled, covering her mouth: "The Princess Consort has slept for a full six hours! Are you hungry? The kitchen has kept the food warm!"
Hearing her say that, Song Chaoyu indeed felt hungry.
She took a cloth, warmed in hot water, and wiped her cheeks, becoming more awake: "I slept too long, didn't I? You didn't call me, and when did His Highness get up?"
Qiu Qing went to prepare the food. Tiao Hong smiled even more: "His Highness got up after sleeping for over three hours. When he got up, he specifically instructed us not to disturb the Princess Consort. He said that you have been working hard and traveling these days, and that the conditions here are not good, so letting you sleep longer is also good."
Yes, just like Han Xi in the past, he always kept the best for her.
Song Chaoyu nodded, but then instructed Tiao Hong: "In the future, if he gets up, you must not let me sleep this long. It's fortunate we are here; if this were in the capital, and others knew I slept for six hours, wouldn't they laugh at our Chang Prince's manor?"
Tiao Hong stuck out her tongue: "Yes, I understand. I will definitely wake you up in the future!"
However, her eyes immediately became serious: "There is one more thing that I must let the Princess Consort know. Zhuzhu has been by our side these past two days, hasn't she? She said that since she has no home to return to, she wants to follow you, just like me and Qiu Qing, from now on."
In the capital, even the Noble Consort often said that Song Chaoyu had too few people serving her.
Normally, only Qiu Qing and Tiao Hong were close to her.
There were only three maids in the outer courtyard, which was indeed not many for Song Chaoyu's current identity as the legitimate Princess Consort of Chang.
However, this Zhuzhu…
Song Chaoyu glanced at Tiao Hong: "What do you and Qiu Qing think?"
As she spoke, Qiu Qing also entered with a food box. She placed the food box in front of Song Chaoyu and took out the exquisite dishes: "Look, these were all made by Zhuzhu. Her cooking skills are quite good. We don't have much rich food here, but she can make every dish exquisite."
Song Chaoyu nodded and smiled: "It seems Qiu Qing thinks I can keep Zhuzhu by my side."
Qiu Qing blinked: "This matter is up to you, Princess Consort, to decide. I've also observed Zhuzhu working efficiently these past two days, and she knows many things."
Song Chaoyu took a bite of the food and indeed found it good.
She nodded, then looked at Tiao Hong beside her: "Tiao Hong, what do you say? If she wants to stay by my side, she will be working with you day in and day out."
Tiao Hong pouted: "Princess Consort, why do you say that, as if you are going to marry her off to us?"
Her eyes rolled: "However, it's really too busy with only me and Qiu Qing serving. Zhuzhu seems honest, but we don't know her background. If we bring in a troublemaker, it won't be good."
Song Chaoyu chuckled: "Since you both praise her, keep her. After the matters here are concluded, have Xiao Ruizhi investigate Zhuzhu. If her background is clean and as she claims, it will be good to keep her by my side."
Speaking of which, Song Chaoyu remembered something else and looked at Qiu Qing: "By the way, Qiu Qing, I need to ask you something. What's going on between you and Ping Jiang? Normally, you don't talk much with anyone, but these days I see you two acting like fighting cocks?"
In fact, when they first met, Song Chaoyu felt that they disliked each other, and they were only "barely" getting along because of Mu Changxi.
Although Qiu Qing's temper and personality were not the best, she rarely offended others because she was not talkative.
Song Chaoyu didn't know what had happened between them.
When Ping Jiang was mentioned, Qiu Qing's eyes indeed showed a hint of anger: "I don't like to provoke him, but sometimes when I see him, I always hear him say..."
Qiu Qing paused before saying: "Since I can't afford to offend him, I'll just avoid him."
Song Chaoyu frowned, sensing there was more to Qiu Qing's words: "Always hear him say what?"
Qiu Qing turned her head away, seemingly unwilling to talk to Song Chaoyu: "It's nothing. Princess Consort, please eat quickly, or the food will get cold."
Actually, Song Chaoyu had some idea: "Always hear him say bad things about me, right? I'm afraid it's not just him; many people around His Highness privately think I'm not worthy of His Highness and have many complaints about me, right?"
Regarding this matter, Song Chaoyu had always been aware of it.
She also knew that Qiu Qing and Tiao Hong had probably heard a lot. But because they didn't want to cause trouble, and they weren't people who liked to gossip, they hadn't told her.
Qiu Qing turned her head away and said nothing more.
Tiao Hong stepped forward: "It's not as bad as the Princess Consort thinks. They only dare to speak in private and dare not let His Highness know."
Yes, but even so, Song Chaoyu still felt an indescribable sadness: "It's alright. If you hear anything, don't take it to heart. Time will tell. If they truly wish His Highness well, they will eventually accept it."