The Beauties of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 90

"Let go! Let go of me... Ugh!" She should be angry... She should ignore him...

A broad hand landed on her tense back, gently stroking it in an attempt to ease her pain.

She twisted her body to break free from his grasp and pushed him away, saying, "I...don't want to see you right now, go away!"

"Wanlan".

"Get out!"

"sorry."

She whimpered, almost crying out in pain, and quickly covered her mouth to suppress the sobs. She finally stopped struggling and collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face.

This man is absolutely despicable. His calm and unhurried attitude back then, even though she's heartbroken and upset now, just one "I'm sorry" from him shattered all her resentment and left her unable to recover.

Suddenly, she was lifted into the air. Startled, she quickly reached out and wrapped her arms around him. Her tearful eyes met his pained and remorseful gaze. All her anger and resentment vanished, leaving only a deep longing.

Did she like this person so much that she abandoned herself?

This wasn't their first separation, but it was the most heartbreaking for her, because this time, he was the one who pushed her away. The pain... almost made her hate him.

Zhao Defang sat on the bed with her in his arms, holding her close. He said slowly in a hoarse voice, "My brother's temperament remains unchanged. I can't find the reason or the way to make him recover. It was just a coincidence that I learned he was in Xingze County, and it was a last-minute decision to have you see him. I thought my brother would recover after seeing you... I'm sorry, Wanlan."

She didn't say anything, but bit his shoulder hard, then snuggled into his arms and wept silently.

“After you and Xuan’er came out, Lan Wen and I followed.” He seemed to sigh softly. “I never expected my brother to turn out like this. Although Lan Wen had told me about it, seeing it with my own eyes is a different story.”

"I've never seen my brother smile so happily. If it weren't for you, I would have wanted him to always be happy—" But there's only one Wanlan, and he would never let go. "I watched him take you to the bamboo house, watched him hold you… I—"

She would never know that when he saw them embracing as they entered the bamboo house, he almost rushed forward and took her away, frozen in place.

Wanlan stared wide-eyed in his arms. Had Zehua been following them all along?

"Wanlan, I'll take you back tomorrow." He overestimated his own magnanimity; he was far from being that generous.

Wanlan lowered her brows and did not reply.

go back?

Was Zehua trying to comfort her, or was he deceiving himself? If he truly could let go of Zhao Dezhao, they wouldn't be here today.

She hoped to resolve the matter completely before leaving, and see what Zhao Dezhao really wanted.

Volume Five, Chapter 88: A Few Raindrops and the Wind's Resistance

Thunder rumbles

A sudden downpour trapped the group inside the courtyard, leaving them unable to move. Zhao Dezhao hadn't returned, and Su Li, panicked, disregarded the torrential rain and went out alone to search for him. Zhao Defang sent Lan Wen to help her search, leaving only Wanlan, Zhao Defang, and Xuan'er in the courtyard.

Wanlan didn't even get out of bed. She vomited until her stomach was empty last night, but she still couldn't eat anything. By this morning, she was so hungry that she was weak all over. Zhao Defang forced her to eat half a bowl of porridge. She slept in a daze until 3:45 AM before she was fully awake.

As Xuan'er helped her get dressed, she asked, "Would Madam like something else to eat?"

"No need. Where is the Prince?"

"I'm here."

Zhao Defang carried the porcelain bowl into the room, smiled, and walked over to take her hand. "Here, drink your medicine."

Wanlan frowned, pulled away from his hand and took a few steps back. "I don't want to!" If she vomited like she was going to throw up her stomach again like yesterday, she would be miserable.

Zhao Defang shook her head and chuckled, placed the medicine on the table, and pulled her to sit down with her. "The doctor instructed that you must take this medicine. You can't not take it. Even if it's for the sake of the child, you have to take it."

Wanlan carefully moved the medicine bowl away from her, looking pitifully at the man opposite her. "This medicine is so bitter. I can't eat anything after drinking it. Can I not drink it?"

"No." He shook his head with a smile and took out a paper package from his sleeve and handed it to her. "I bought this for you. The shopkeeper said that pregnant women love to eat this and it greatly improves morning sickness symptoms."

"Boss?" Wanlan frowned as she glanced at the torrential rain outside the window. "When did you run out? It's raining so hard, you—Yangmei!"

Staring at the red berries spread out in front of her, Wanlan took them with delight, eagerly picking one up and biting into it. "Isn't it only the beginning of June? How come there are bayberries so soon?"

Seeing that she was about to eat again, Zhao Defang chuckled and reached out to cover it, pointing to the medicine on the table without room for argument, "Drink your medicine first."

Sticking out her tongue inwardly, Wanlan resignedly picked up the medicine, closed her eyes, and drank it all in one gulp. Before the familiar chill could even rise, a bayberry was immediately stuffed into her mouth. She smiled and bit into it, "So sweet."

Zhao Defang softened her gaze and quietly looked at her for a while before turning to Xuan'er. "Xuan'er, go cook. Madam only drank half a bowl of porridge this morning, she must be hungry now."

Xuan'er smiled and her eyes narrowed. "Yes, Master, I'll go right away."

Watching Xuan'er walk to the door, open her umbrella, and head towards the backyard, Zhao Defang turned her gaze to the woman beside her who was happily eating bayberries. She spoke warmly, "Wanlan, after this rain stops, let's go back to Xingyang. What do you think?"

Wanlan stopped chewing, glanced at him, and continued biting into the bayberry in her hand, asking casually, "If you can really let go, I won't object to any of your decisions." Suddenly remembering something, she propped her chin up and looked at him wide-eyed, "Zehua, where's Lanwu? Did you ask him to do something, or did he do it himself?"

Zhao Defang looked at her silently without answering. His unfathomable dark eyes made Wanlan feel inexplicably flustered. "Zehua? Why aren't you saying anything?"

He lowered his eyes slightly and asked calmly, "You care about him a lot?"

Wanlan was taken aback. What did he mean by that?

"Shouldn't I care?" She raised an eyebrow, glancing at his clenched jaw, and chuckled softly.

He turned his face away from her gaze, "I don't know..." He also realized that he seemed to be thinking unnecessary things, but he couldn't control his thoughts.

Covering her mouth with a soft laugh, Wanlan put down the bayberries in her hand, leaned over and wrapped her arms around his neck, her clear eyes brimming with laughter as she gazed at his handsome face, which was flushed with a suspicious blush. She then sat down on his lap and asked with a smile:

"Zehua, are you jealous?" Although she felt that his jealousy was really inexplicable, her and Lan Wu? Was Zehua overreacting? It would be easier to accept if he were jealous of her and Zhao Dezhao.

Zhao Defang weakly pressed her head against his shoulder to stop her from staring at him, sighed deeply, and said softly, "That child likes you." He was worried that the other person would like him more and more, which might cause trouble later.