Drop of Cinnabar in the Heart (4)

Zhu Junyang was so frightened by her movement that he hurriedly moved to stop her, “Don’t pat, you’ll scare our daughter.”

“You’ve changed!” Yu Xiaocao revealed a wronged look as she scolded him, “With our daughter around, I’m no longer as precious to you! You only want to pamper our daughter, not me!”

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

“How could that be?” Zhu Junyang hurriedly began to soothe his wife, “In my heart, you will always be the most important person. No one could possibly replace you, not even our daughter. At most she could be the number two!”

“Then why did you yell at me when I just patted her ah?” Yu Xiaocao had become more temperamental with this pregnancy and was now a mood-changing imp.

Zhu Junyang explained, “I wasn’t yelling at you. Your body is yours alone but I was afraid that you’d end up hurting yourself. That being said, if the child in your womb was injured, wouldn’t the person most upset be you in the end?”

Zhu Junyang had talked to the imperial physician before and learned that pregnant women often had unstable moods. If he wanted to make sure that their child was healthy, it was best to go with her whims. It must be that the child in her belly wasn’t being kind to her that was causing her to act like this. His Cao’er had always been a kind and understanding young lady!

When he saw the clouds lift from her face, he continued, “Why did you agree to our son’s request to go to Medicinal Cuisine House? Don’t make yourself overtired.”

Yu Xiaocao rubbed at the slight swell of her body and smiled, “It’s not a big deal. I’ve already passed the most dangerous period of the first three months. The child is also very obedient and hasn’t given me any trouble. I’m able to eat, sleep, and I have tons of energy. My mother said that pregnant women should move around more as that will make birthing the child easier.”

“Alright then, tomorrow this prince will accompany you.” Zhu Junyang wasn’t comfortable with only Xiaocao and their son going by themselves. Little Baozi was at the age where he was lively and unpredictable, so he was afraid that his wife wouldn’t be able to control him enough. Furthermore, the fact Little Baozi wanted to see the army come back in glory clearly had been instigated by that fellow Fang Haolin. When those two got together, it was never a good thing! He needed to go; otherwise he wouldn’t feel at ease!

Yu Xiaocao laughed, “Don’t worry, what could happen to us at our own Medicinal Cuisine House? At that time, I’ll have Yuanzi come along with us. Little Baozi and Little Linlin won’t be an issue with him around. You, ah, just obediently go along with the emperor to welcome the troops back to the capital.”

When he thought about that stinky rock, who always flaunted its close relationship with his wife in front of his face, Zhu Junyang felt the pang of jealousy. In the past, it was so cute and adorable in its cat form, so why did it have to be so loathsome in its human form?!

“You, ah, is it really necessary for you to get so jealous over a stone?” Yu Xiaocao smiled, “The tea that you drink every day along with the water you use is all from the mystic-stone water that Yuanzi makes.”

If she didn’t bring this up, he would have actually felt better. That stupid rock always dropped the fact that the water and tea he drank was made from the rock’s bathing water. It caused a shadow to form on his heart to know this. Every time he drank some tea or soup, an image of that despicable youth floating around in a bathtub surfaced in his mind.

He wanted to have the guts to stop drinking it. However, that stupid rock jumped out again and informed him, “This divine stone’s bathing water has spiritual energy in it, so it is very nourishing to humans. It can even push back the natural effects of aging.”

“If you decide not to drink it, then when our Xiaocao is around sixty years of age, she’ll still look to be in her thirties, while you’ll be an old and decrepit stinky man. At that time, I’ll help our Xiaocao find a nice young fellow...”

Wasn’t this guy so infuriating? His wife was perfect in every way except for one little part——she would always take a second look whenever a handsome man or beautiful woman appeared. He reckoned that if he hadn’t been born with his stellar good looks, his Cao’er wouldn’t even give him a second glance!

If he became a white haired, stooped over old man, with wrinkles all over his face, he was truly afraid that his wife would abandon him. Even if she didn’t, his body would still be more sickly and weakly compared to his lively and energetic wife’s. Perhaps he would even end up leaving the world of the living early and leave her as a widow with children...

The more he dwelled on this, the more upset he became. Thus, Zhu Junyang could only figuratively hold his nose and continue to drink...the stone’s bathing water every day. Argh, he had finally experienced what it was like to be pushed into a situation that he had no choice but to endure.

“Don’t bring up that stupid rock[1] now...” Zhu Junyang truly felt exhausted now.

“Older Brother-in-law, just how did I offend you again? Why can’t my older sister even mention me in your midst?” Yu Xiaocao’s younger brother, Little Shitou, Yu Fan, walked over with a puzzled look on his face. Did he annoy his older brother-in-law recently? He couldn’t think of anything...

When he saw the younger brother-in-law who insisted on fighting over his wife with him, Zhu Junyang felt even more tired, “It’s almost time for the autumnal examinations. Why do you always come to the prince’s estate so often instead of staying at home studying?”

“Second Older Sister, just look at Second Older Brother-in-law, he doesn’t welcome me! Why, is the prince’s estate so high and mighty that I, a poor scholar from a humble background, have now means to step over the threshold anymore?” Little Shitou looked towards his sister with an aggrieved expression on his face.

Yu Xiaocao had already gotten used to the two men bickering constantly, so she smiled and said, “Imperial Prince Xu’s Estate is my home. Thus, no matter how high or lofty the status is, you will always be welcome. Alright, tell me the reason why you had time to visit today.”

“In actuality, I’m not really busy. You guys always believe that I need to study quietly whenever it gets close to the exams. However, I already know all of the books front to back, completely memorized. Those who rely on last minute cramming are people who are bound to fail anyway!” Yu Fan pointed at his brain in a proud manner as he explained.

Yu Xiaocao remarked in a gratified tone of voice, “That’s correct. The closer it gets to exam time, the more important it is to relax. Seeing you like this has relieved my worries.”

“Second Older Sister, you’re currently pregnant, so you absolutely cannot worry too much. My teacher said that as long as I don’t enter the exam with a blank head, I will have no trouble passing. In fact, if I’m not careful, I might even come back as number 1 in the exams!” Although there was a chair next to Little Shitou, he didn’t sit in it and instead squatted next to his sister like he used to do in their youth. His eyes glittered brightly and his entire face showed that he was looking for praise.

Yu Xiaocao ruffled his hair and grinned, “I believe in you. You’ve worked hard all these years, so it’s finally time for you to unfurl your wings and soar into the sky. However, remember that ‘an arrogant army is bound to lose’, so don’t be overconfident and it’s better to be more cautious.”

Little Shitou had passed the county level exams six years ago. At that time, he was only nine years old. In the past few years, he had spent time studying painstakingly at Rongxuan Academy and very rarely went home even on vacation days. Great Scholar Yuan loved to travel and lecture. Other than bringing his own grandson along, he also brought Little Shitou with him on every trip.

It wouldn’t be wise to underestimate Little Shitou due to his age. Compared to those old scholars who had only passed the county level exams, he knew more and was more creative than them by several magnitudes. Even Great Scholar Yuan had praised him, claiming that Little Shitou’s potential was even better than his own grandson’s, Yuan Yunxi.

“What did Great Scholar Yuan say about your prospects?” Just like any other parent of a child about to take their high school examinations, Yu Xiaocao couldn’t help but ask this question.

Little Shitou grinned toothily and said, “My master said that I am definitely guaranteed one of the top three places in the metropolitan civil service exams.”

“Then you need to do your best during the exams and not disappoint Great Scholar Yuan ah!” Even the great scholar himself had said this, so Yu Xiaocao finally could let her worries rest, “Tomorrow, we’re going to watch the army return in triumph and we plan on eating lunch at the Medicinal Cuisine House. Do you want to come along ah? We’ve reserved the best private room there, the second floor’s ‘literary park’.”

“Of course ah. How could you possibly leave me out of having fun and eating good food ah?” Little Shitou revealed his sparkling white teeth as he continued, “However, all of the delicacies I’ve had all of these years can’t compare to the deliciousness of the braised pig head meat you made all those years ago, Second Sister.”

[1] Shitou means rock/stone