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Even though Mother Luo tried her best to persuade her, Luo Xinyue remained unmoved and could not wait to enter the Marquis of Changxia’s House and live with her lover.
Zhou Qing looked on coldly and secretly sneered. Before she could say anything, there was a sharp knock on the door from outside, and Mother Luo murmured, “Ah Yu shouldn’t be home at this time. Who’s there?”
Biting her lip, Zhou Qing was afraid that something had gone wrong in the Xie Manor and hurried out of the hut and opened the wooden door. When she saw the female official wearing a green waist dress, a stunned look appeared on her face.
“Madam Luo, tomorrow happens to be the 15th day. The County Princess wants to invite you to go to Puji Temple with her to burn incense and worship Buddha. I wonder if your Ladyship is free?” The female officer named Yan Hui grew up serving Princess Zhaowei’s side and was the most loyal. Earlier, the County Princess’s husband used the soul-rejuvenating plum to deliberately damage her master’s body, and Yan Hui nearly went mad. Fortunately, she still had a trace of sanity, so she did not make a big mistake.
Zhou Qing did not expect that the County Princess would send someone over. She hesitated for a moment, nodded, and answered, “Puji Temple is not far from the capital, and I can come back on the same day. Please tell the County Princess that I will meet her at the city gate tomorrow.”
Yan Hui always remembered Zhou Qing’s kindness in her heart. Even if the woman in front of her was just an ordinary merchant woman, her attitude was still very respectful and she couldn’t pick out any mistakes.
After the person left, Zhou Qing closed the door. As soon as she turned around, she saw the pale Luo Xinyue standing behind her, her eyes bright and creepy, “Sister-in-law, you actually know the County Princess? Tomorrow when you go to Puji Temple, take me with you, so I can see what a real gold leaf really looks like.”
The Luo family was not rich. Luo Xinyue was all grown up, and the only high-ranking person she knew was Wu Yongye. That was why she was willing to be his concubine. Even if she would have no title or share, she would give birth to the child in her belly. But the County Princess was different. That was a genuine relative of the Royalty. If she befriended her, getting the Marquis’s permission to enter their House would become a matter of nailing the coffin, right? Even if Hua Shi was a tyrant, she wouldn’t dare go against the Emperor and the Nobles.
The calculations in Luo Xinyue’s heart were snapping, but Zhou Qing frowned and refused, “I don’t know the County Princess well. If I take you there rashly, there is no guarantee that you won’t offend the Noble people. You are not well, so you should stay home to recuperate lest something happens.”
“What health problems? What is my sister-in-law saying? Why don’t I understand?” She was afraid that Zhou Qing would find out about her pregnancy. This bitch had a vicious mind. If it was publicized, how could she still see others?
Zhou Qing didn’t want to argue with Luo Xinyue, so she turned around and went straight into the kitchen, fried vegetables, and made a pot of bean curd soup. At night, Luo Yu came back, and when he saw her, his narrow phoenix eyes were full of joy, and he spoke in a rough voice, “Qing’er, you’re finally back.”
“After marrying someone, there is no reason to stay at your mother’s house all the time.” Lowering her eyes, she held a bowl of vegetable soup in her hand and slowly drank it. Her attitude was a bit cold, but Luo Yu didn’t care half a bit. The corners of his mouth rose slightly.
Although Zhou Qing was pregnant, seeing her son being so attentive to her, Mother Luo was still not too comfortable in her heart and could not help but scold her a few times.
The couple returned to their room when Zhou Qing said, “I haven’t been able to sleep well. I always move in my sleep. Why don’t we sleep separately? It just so happens that there is a spare bed in the side room
”
The happy color in his eyes slowly dissipated. Luo Yu furrowed his eyebrows and retorted, “Why do you want to separate rooms? You are not well. I, as the husband, should take care of you.”
“There is nothing to take care of. It is already hard for you whenever you deal with official business in Imperial Court during the day. If you do not rest well at night, how can you stand it?” While she said that, Zhou Qing put the bedding in his arms and went directly to the hut next door.
Staring at the woman’s still slender figure, Luo Yu’s handsome face showed a trace of gloom, and both hands formed into a fist. Anyone could see that his mind was not calm.
The next morning, Zhou Qing got up just after dawn, carefully cleaned up, ate a bowl of porridge to pad her stomach, and only then went outside. She did not notice that a sneaky figure was following behind her, and when she reached the city gate, Yan Hui prayed for her body and asked with a puzzled look, “Madam Luo, who is this?”
At that question, Zhou Qing looked back and saw the familiar face of Luo Xinyue. She was wearing a new skirt, and her waist was tight. Since she was not showing much, nothing could be seen on the surface.
“This is my Little Aunt, surnamed Luo, first name Xinyue,” Zhou Qing explained. Her attitude was not warm, the servants who came out of the palace were all human beings, and they could even figure out the taste.
Yan Hui felt displeased in her heart by the woman’s calculative gaze. But since she was already here, if she drove her back, it would appear a bit rude. Helpless, she could only let Luo Xinyue sit in the back of the carriage and not bother her Master.
At present, Zhaowei was nearly seven months pregnant. Previously, she had smelled musk. Although it was not long, she always felt a little unsettled in her heart. So she wanted to go to Puji Temple to pray to the Bodhisattva, hoping that God would bless her child.
Holding Zhou Qing’s hand affectionately, Zhaowei asked questions again and again, and Zhou Qing answered unhurriedly. The more she talked, the happier she was, and the more she talked, the more she could not hide the smile on her face. If they had not yet arrived at the mountain gate, one feared they would have talked for a long time.
The two women got off the carriage together, followed by Luo Xinyue. What Zhaowei disliked the most were deep-minded women; she did not even give her a side glance. This obvious cold attitude made Luo Xinyue’s face turn angry red. But due to the other party’s status, she simply did not dare to say anything.
Whenever Zhou Qing was free, she would transcribe Buddhist scriptures. She was not proficient in Buddhism, but she was very devout. Ever since she was reborn, the scene on the lookout platform was deeply engraved in her mind. Even if 10 or 20 years passed, she still would not forget it.
Puji Temple was full of incense, and there were many devotees. Zhou Qing liked the quiet it brought. Eyebrows slightly folded, she walked forward. Before stepping into the Great Hall, a woman’s scream suddenly echoed in all directions. Zhou Qing was horrified. She forced herself to calm down and looked back in the direction of the sound.
She saw dozens of reckless men dressed in gray and brown cloth walking in with swords, looking vicious. Their blades were still stained with blood. Those red eyes appeared savage, not to mention the creepy feeling.
Zhou Qing never thought that she would run into mountain bandits when she came to the temple to light incense. When she saw Zhaowei’s pale face, she lowered her voice to soothe her, “Don’t be afraid, Your Highness. Puji Temple is very close to the capital. The guards will come to our rescue soon when they get the news.”
Zhaowei, as the County Princess, could be considered someone who had seen big scenes. She gritted her teeth and nodded her head. She did not panic or shout. Compared to her, Luo Xinyue was really not calm. Horrified by the two fights happening, her pants turned wet and became incontinent.
The mountain bandits did not kill all the devotees but drove them to the main hall and sent people to keep a close watch. Zhou Qing and the others were escorted by the servants and hid in one of the corners of the hall. But the thieves were not honest; they scanned the place and saw the beautiful woman. Their eyes crossed with lust. With such obscenity, they strode closer to them.