CHAPTER 688: CHAPTER 570: CONCEPTION MEDICINE

Zhaozhao’s blood actually seeped into the Dragon Stone, revealing a faint bloodstained pattern.

He was the confidant of Emperor Liang, who used the Dragon Stone to test many who claimed to be illegitimate children of the Lu Family, including Prince Jian and the Imperial Grandson.

When the blood of the two dripped on the Dragon Stone, it also displayed a similar blood pattern.

Otherwise, Emperor Liang would never have confidently recognized two grandsons from the civilian world.

However, this made him perplexed.

Didn’t the Crown Prince say that Zhaozhao wasn’t of Imperial blood?

How could her blood make the Dragon Stone react?

Could it be that the Dragon Stone was secretly tampered with?

Eunuch Yu glanced at the key on the table.

This key has always been personally kept by Your Majesty, only he and Your Majesty knew where it was.

Not to mention the key, neither the Crown Prince nor Prince Jin knew about the existence of this treasure, the Dragon Stone.

Eunuch Yu shook his head.

Today, someone knocked him out, leaving him dizzy and unable to understand what was happening.

Emperor Liang furrowed his brows and looked at the little one in his arms: "Is it really not a Gu cast on me?"

As a great nation’s emperor, one should prioritize national affairs, how could he put aside imperial dignity for a suckling baby?

Eunuch Yu laughed and said to Emperor Liang: "Blood is thicker than water, you have always cared deeply for Zhaozhao, and she respects you greatly."

Emperor Liang’s face suddenly darkened: "Didn’t you see how fierce she was toward me earlier? I am the Emperor! Being scolded by a little child, how undignified! Take her away!"

"Mm ah..."

Treasure Piggy, half-asleep, lazily stretched its little body, letting out soft, mellow noises that could melt anyone’s heart.

Emperor Liang’s arms stiffened.

Eunuch Yu asked: "Still want to take her away?"

Emperor Liang said coldly: "No more than a quarter of an hour."

Eunuch Yu: "..."

In the latter half of the night, Meng Qianqian awoke from a dry mouth and sore throat.

Opening her eyes, she found the sky was completely dark, all around was silent, even the wind seemed still.

The chilly moonlight shone on the lush branches, casting mottled shadows on the drapery.

After the utmost pleasure came overwhelming fatigue, she wanted to move, yet felt sore all over, even her bones were soft.

She felt a bit frustrated.

If only she hadn’t indulged him.

Suppressing for too long, though she was willing, in the end, she couldn’t withstand his repeated demands.

Though not a young lad, how could he be so unrestrained?

"Ban Xia..."

Great, her throat was hoarse beyond belief.

Why call for Ban Xia?

Ban Xia was in Miaojiang taking care of Changle.

Meng Qianqian lay helplessly on the bedding full of languid echoes, the faint aroma of him lingering on the pillow.

Her eyelids drooped back into sleep, awakening again only at dawn.

She raised her arm, slightly recovered some strength, and lifted the curtain hung with wind chimes.

The gentle sound of wind chimes slowly echoed.

A little maid quietly spoke at the door: "Miss, you’re awake, shall I come in to help you wash up?"

Meng Qianqian mumbled an acknowledgment.

She felt like she had overlooked something, but couldn’t recall it for the moment.

It wasn’t until the door opened, and a familiar figure came in carrying a basin of warm water, that Meng Qianqian sat up in surprise: "Ban Xia?"

Ban Xia’s eyes reddened, placing the copper basin on the stand, choked with emotion as she walked to the bed: "Miss!"

Meng Qianqian held her hand: "Is it really you? I felt as if I heard your voice... I thought I was dreaming..."

Ban Xia wiped her tears, but they stubbornly flowed, never ending!

Meng Qianqian’s thumb brushed away her tears and asked: "Weren’t you in Miaojiang taking care of Changle? How did you come to Great Liang’s Imperial City?"

Ban Xia sniffled: "Master sent people to Witch Mountain to fetch me, don’t worry about Miss Changle, she’s doing well there and doesn’t need my care."

Meng Qianqian relaxed: "That’s good."

She gently touched Ban Xia’s hair: "My Ban Xia has grown taller."

One sentence, my Ban Xia, made the maid, who had managed to stop crying, wail once again.

She missed her Miss.

She was aggrieved.

At seven years old, she had been by Meng Qianqian’s side, growing up together, though master and servant, deep down considering each other as family.

During this long separation, Ban Xia never stopped missing her.

Meng Qianqian quickly handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tears: "Last time I went to the border, I didn’t see you cry like this."

"Last time Nanny Li was around, this time neither of you are..."

The more Ban Xia thought, the more aggrieved she became.

Meng Qianqian suddenly realized, Ban Xia is still just an unmarried girl herself. She often overlooked, due to Ban Xia’s maturity and competence, that Ban Xia is only three years older than Tan’er.

She softly said: "I know I was wrong, next time, I’ll take you with me."

After crying, Ban Xia felt much better, sniffing and speaking with a sobbing tone: "Miss exaggerates, Ban Xia cannot bear it."

Meng Qianqian curved her lips: "I’m hungry."

Ban Xia quickly stood up: "I’ll go prepare food!"

Just then, she remembered something, and said to Meng Qianqian, "Almost forgot, there’s warm medicine in the kitchen, I’ll go get it for you!"

Meng Qianqian murmured in confusion: "What medicine?"

Ban Xia brought a bowl of medicinal soup into the room: "Master instructed, said once Miss woke up to bring it, also mentioned it’s something Miss drinks every time after... being with someone."

Speaking these words, she was slightly embarrassed, her cheeks flushed.

Meng Qianqian halted: "He really said that?"

Ban Xia replied: "Yes."

Meng Qianqian lowered her gaze.

It turns out, he knew everything.

Ban Xia giggled: "Miss, is it a fertility medicine?"

"A contraceptive."

Meng Qianqian replied.

Ban Xia’s smile froze.

"Miss, why?"

She asked, feeling hurt.

Meng Qianqian softly said: "I can’t... let my children inherit my grudges."

Ban Xia cried out: "What grudges, Miss...? What are you saying?"

Ban Xia couldn’t understand, but her heart ached.

She felt such pity for her Miss...

During her absence, what had Meng Qianqian gone through...?

When Lu Yuan returned to the room, Meng Qianqian had already washed up, was neatly dressed, and sat at the desk reading a secret message.

Half were intelligence gathered by Shangguan Ling in the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, the other half were news gathered by Chen Long, Ji Li, and Si Snake in the Imperial City.

Lu Yuan glanced at the empty bowl on the table, his expression unchanged.

Meng Qianqian looked up, smiled slightly: "As you left it on the table, I drank it."

"Mm."

Lu Yuan said, "Return to the Crown Prince Mansion tomorrow morning."

Meng Qianqian replied: "How long did I sleep?"

Lu Yuan casually said: "Not long, just two days, including the day we were together, a total of three days."

Meng Qianqian suppressed her embarrassment, forcing a smile.

Lu Yuan continued: "I heard from Ban Xia you haven’t eaten much, is her cooking not to your taste?"

Meng Qianqian smiled: "Ban Xia is generally not good at cooking."

Lu Yuan suddenly realized: "Ah, the one who can cook is Nanny Li."

Meng Qianqian said: "Back to the Crown Prince Mansion."

The leisure stolen over these three days had been luxurious enough.

Lu Yuan responded: "Why rush? There’s still seven days left of grandfather’s ten-day deadline, Gongsun Yanming has left the Imperial City, even if you return, you can’t kill him."

Meng Qianqian puzzledly asked: "Why did he leave the Imperial City?"

Lu Yuan smiled: "To seek reinforcements."