Widows in the Song Dynasty were easy to marry

Chapter 24

“I understand! You mean to place these clay boxes containing carrier pigeons at the crossroads where Wu Lang might escape, and then lure him out. As long as he, like the southerner in your story, can't resist his curiosity and opens the clay box, then everything will be easy. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!”

Xu Jinrong uttered "wonderful!" and quickly rolled up the curtains, got off the bed, and hurriedly put on his clothes.

Danmei quickly sat up, reached out and lifted the curtain, looking at her with puzzlement, and asked, "What are you doing?"

Xu Jinrong quickly dressed, and seeing her head peeking out of her tent, he said, "You can go to sleep now. I need to hurry back to the camp to make some plans."

Danmei then realized that he was also the kind of person who would leave on a whim. He hadn't even warmed up the bed before leaving again. Helpless, she could only say, "It's still raining outside. I saw you come back halfway through your clothes. Be careful on your way back. Take care of yourself while you're eating and sleeping there. Don't get too busy and not know when to stop."

Xu Jinrong had already reached the door when she heard her instructions. He stopped, glanced back at her, walked back a few steps, pressed her back down, pulled the spring quilt over her neck, and then smiled, saying, "I know. You're still growing, so you need to eat and drink more while I'm not home. Don't come back looking thinner; then you'll be in for a surprise." With that, he bent down and quickly kissed her forehead before striding away.

Danmei heard his footsteps, just as they had come, and he hurried downstairs. She couldn't resist getting off the couch, slipping on her embroidered shoes, and going to the window. She slightly pushed open the window and looked out. It was pitch black outside, and the rain was still pattering, the raindrops tangled together. Down in the courtyard, Xu Jinrong was standing on the veranda, talking to Xiqing, who was shining a lantern behind him to illuminate his path. She vaguely saw him looking up in her direction, so she quietly closed the window.

Danmei returned to her bed, her mind replaying the story she had just told him. Although it sounded good, things are always unpredictable, and until the very last moment, she didn't know how things would turn out. Suddenly, she felt uncertain and couldn't fall asleep for a while.

The story she just told about the clay box and the carrier pigeons actually refers to Ren Fu, a general of the Song Dynasty, and Yuan Hao, the Northerner. Danmei's grandfather was a history teacher who also loved raising pigeons. He was very knowledgeable about pigeons and related anecdotes, and this battle was the one he mentioned most often to Danmei. He often lamented that later historians focused too much on Central Plains culture, neglecting Yuan Hao, a brilliant and ambitious but also militaristic minority politician and military leader. This resulted in this surprise attack using carrier pigeons as signal flares being almost entirely omitted from official history, only appearing occasionally in the margins of historical records.

Although Danmei knew that the imperial court and Yuanhao of Western Xia had been at war for several years without any result, she had no idea whether this battle using pigeons to lure and ambush the Song army had actually taken place. Therefore, she cautiously probed before speaking. Judging from his expression, he had never heard of it, so it must not have happened yet. Otherwise, how could such a major event remain completely silent in the court and among the people?

That night, the spring rain drizzled continuously. Danmei spent the first half of the night thinking about Xu Jinrong's fight against the water bandits, and the second half about the peonies in her garden. The climate in Huainan was different from that of the capital; spring rains were more frequent. Fearing that the soil would absorb too much water and cause root rot, she didn't sleep well at all. The next morning, the first thing she did was check the soil in the peony garden, ordering people to dig ditches to divert water. After working for most of the day, she thought it would be better to build a rain shelter, which could be removed on sunny days and covered on rainy days, thus alleviating the drainage problem. The more she thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed, so she and Xiqing began planning it together. Time flew by, and ten days had passed since Xu Jinrong's departure.

For the past ten days or so, Jiang Rui had been by Xu Jinrong's side, only occasionally returning to deliver a message to the couple. A few days ago, Danmei received a handwritten letter from Xu Jinrong; after a lengthy, casual conversation, it concluded with the simple statement that everything was ready and they were just waiting to cast their nets. After that, there was no further news, and Jiang Rui never returned. Although Danmei knew Xu Jinrong was a cautious and meticulous person, waiting in vain for so many days gradually made her restless, fearing that her idea would ultimately fail. In the later days, she even neglected to tend to the garden. Several times at night, she heard footsteps on the stairs; though she knew it wasn't him, she secretly hoped she had misheard, and that he had returned victorious.

It was late March. That evening, just past dusk, Xiqing brought over a bowl of late-night snack. Seeing that Danmei had only lazily stirred the spoon a few times before putting it down, she couldn't help but laugh and said, "Madam and Master are truly a loving couple, the envy of all. When Master left last time, he specifically instructed me to take good care of Madam and not to let her miss a meal. Now, seeing that Madam has no appetite, could it be that she is thinking of Master?"

Xiqing was a steady and reliable person, and although they were now very familiar with each other, he rarely joked like this. He must have noticed that Xiqing seemed a little unsettled, and was trying to comfort him. After thinking for a moment, he asked with a smile, "Xiqing, do you think your master will successfully take down the bandit stronghold this time?"

"nature."

Without even thinking, Xiqing replied. Seeing Danmei raising her eyebrows at her, she then smiled and explained, "This servant has followed the old lady for many years and has personally witnessed the master's journey from Qingmen County to the capital, and now he's here. He's always been steady and reliable, without any mishaps. If there's anything he can't accomplish, then I'm afraid no one else in the world can. So this time, it will naturally be as smooth as before."

Xu Jinrong had become a perfect and unparalleled person in Xiqing's eyes, which surprised Danmei. She thought to herself that if she had half as much faith in him as Xiqing had in him, she probably wouldn't be so uneasy and anxious now. So she smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind words. I hope everything goes smoothly."

"Madam, please eat your midnight snack. You didn't eat last night, and if you don't eat today, the master will find out and I'm afraid he'll give me a hard time."

As Xiqing spoke, she smiled and pushed the bowl of fragrant rice balls in front of Danmei.

Danmei smiled, picked up a spoon and was about to eat when suddenly the little maid Chang'er pushed open the door and entered, smiling and panting, "Madam, Sister Xiqing, the lord and Guard Jiang and their group have returned. They are currently in the outer hall of the yamen and a group of officials in the prefecture meeting. I heard they won a battle!"

Upon hearing this, Danmei slammed down her spoon, spilling several glutinous rice balls onto the table. She stood up, intending to go downstairs. Looking up, she saw Xiqing and Chang'er by the door staring at her. Realizing her lapse in composure, she slowly sat back down, picked up her spoon again, scooped up a spoonful of rice balls, swallowed, and then looked up, saying, "Since they've just returned, they probably haven't had a proper meal on the way. Go tell the kitchen to prepare some fresh food so they don't go hungry."

Xiqing suppressed a laugh, gave a crisp reply, and left with Chang'er.

Danmei was the only one left in the room. But she had no appetite for dumplings. She first took a candle and hurriedly looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was as green as clouds and her eyes were gentle. There was nothing wrong with her. She changed into a bright yellow spring dress that she had never worn before and tidied her hair. She walked around the room a couple of times. Then she remembered that she had forgotten to ask someone to prepare water for her bath. Just as she was about to go out and find someone to prepare it herself, she heard heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. This time it was real. For no reason, her heart started pounding. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down and then turned to look at the door. Sure enough, the door creaked open and Xu Jinrong strode in.

Danmei smiled faintly and was about to step forward when he suddenly darted over, grabbed her waist, and gave her a big kiss. He then said, "My darling, thank goodness for your brilliant idea. Your husband is back."

Danmei looked up and saw that his face was unshaven and covered in dust, but his eyes were shining brightly as he looked at her, showing extreme excitement. She was instantly infected by his excitement, and her unease of the past few days vanished. Hearing his sickeningly sweet "My dearest little darling," she blushed slightly, not daring to look him in the eye, and lowered her eyelids, whispering, "Weren't you discussing matters with someone in the front office? Why did you return to the back courtyard so quickly?"

"Now that I have just returned victorious, they are all waiting at the yamen. What were they doing before? I was too lazy to deal with them, so I told them to disperse and we can discuss things tomorrow. I've been thinking about you and wish I could come over sooner."

As Xu Jinrong spoke, he picked up Danmei and burst into laughter, clearly in a very good mood.

Author's Note: 1. Regarding the clay box and flying pigeon, historically this event occurred in 1041, during the third year of the Song-Xia War. In my story about the female forensic doctor, I specifically mentioned that the Song-Xia War was moved forward a few years for plot purposes. According to the timeline of that story, this event hadn't happened yet, so I'm disregarding historical facts and assuming it didn't occur...

2. I will be taking a day off tomorrow and will not be updating.

\(^o^)/

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Just like last time, Danmei accompanied Xu Jinrong to wash away the dust of his journey from head to toe. While he was taking a bath, she heard from him about the many things that had happened in the past half month.

It turned out that Xu Jinrong, after being jolted awake by the incident of the clay boxes and flying pigeons, hurriedly returned to his camp and secretly discussed the matter with several trusted confidants. The next day, he sent people to order a large number of clay boxes, and to attract attention, he had them painted a shiny silver. The pigeons he bought were also equipped with pigeon whistles, which would immediately squawk loudly when the pigeons flew in flocks, providing excellent sound transmission at night. Once everything was in place, he ordered the siege to be lifted, ostensibly to recall the pigeons to the naval camp, but secretly he selected brave and skilled soldiers to lie in ambush at many crossroads.

These actions were carried out in great secrecy, keeping even the officials in Huaichu in the dark, who thought that Prefect Xu, like his predecessors, had finally given up in the face of difficulties.

Upon hearing the scouts' reports and receiving secret messages, Wu Lang learned that the government troops who had surrounded him for days had withdrawn. After observing for several days and seeing that there were indeed no further disturbances near the water fortress, and that fishermen were still fishing on the lake as usual, he finally breathed a slight sigh of relief. Because of his previous battles with the government troops, he had not gained any advantage and had suffered heavy losses; his original nearly a thousand men had dwindled to less than a hundred. He was also very wary of Xu Jinrong. Now that he knew Xu Jinrong had lifted the siege, he feared that he might return in a few days, and that he could not stay here any longer. He began to plan to abandon Wu Lang Water Fortress and secretly escape to another stronghold he had previously secretly established, where he would recover his strength and then make other plans.

Wu Lang was an extremely cunning man. After several days of restraint, fearing that a large group would make travel inconvenient, he chose a dark night, abandoning his remaining followers and quietly leading only seven or eight of his trusted men out of the village via a pre-planned route. Upon reaching the crossroads, they saw several large chests on the ground, gleaming silver in the pale moonlight, quite eye-catching. Before Wu Lang could decide what to do, his men, accustomed to plundering, could no longer resist the sight of these exquisitely crafted chests. Without hesitation, they drew their knives and hacked at them. The chests immediately shattered, and a large, dark mass of things flew out. They were then identified as dozens of pigeons with whistles, taking flight in unison, their whistling extremely loud and piercing in the otherwise silent night.

Wu Lang was stunned for a moment before suddenly realizing he had fallen into a trap. He had exposed his whereabouts so vividly. Furious and anxious, he tried to escape, but it was too late. A massacre had broken out on both sides of the road ahead. A dark mass of government troops, who had been lying in ambush, charged forward, wielding torches. In their panic, they scattered in all directions, but they were trapped like turtles in a jar. They had no chance of escape and were captured in no time. Ironically, the remaining bandits in the water stronghold only learned the next morning, when the government troops reached the entrance, that Wu Lang had abandoned the stronghold and fled, only to be captured alive. They no longer resisted, immediately throwing down their weapons and armor, opening the gates and surrendering. Thus, this group of notorious bandits who had roamed the waterways of Huainan for years were finally wiped out, along with their hideout.

Danmei was shocked by what she heard, and felt like she was listening to a storyteller. She wanted to ask more questions, but Xu Jinrong seemed a little absent-minded. He casually answered a few words and carried her back to the bedroom. As soon as they entered, he immediately closed the door and got into bed.

Perhaps it had been over a month since they had been intimate. Xu Jinrong stroked the woman's skin, which was as smooth and warm as jade, and teased her soft, luscious mounds with his lips and tongue for a moment. He was suddenly overcome with passion, as if drunk. That night, the brocade tent was filled with the warmth of spring tides and rain, an atmosphere of boundless charm that could not be captured in a painting. When the candles burned out and the incense had burned out, it was past midnight. Danmei, exhausted, finally lay down beside him and fell into a deep sleep.

Xu Jinrong, however, was still wide awake. He suddenly recalled the deafening shouts of the soldiers when they were besieging Wulang, and then the sweet, melodious cries of his little wife, who had been panting and trembling in his arms. For a moment, he felt that life's pleasures were nothing more than this. He couldn't help but gently stroke the still sweaty hair on the woman's forehead, and then lightly brush her soft lips before holding her waist and closing his eyes to fall asleep.

Danmei slept until late morning the next day, but Xu Jinrong was nowhere to be seen. She only heard Xiqing say that the master had instructed her not to disturb the lady's sleep. Danmei knew he must have felt sorry for her being pestered so much the night before. Seeing Xiqing's serious expression, she felt a little embarrassed. After washing up, she went to the peony garden as usual.

The backyard of the government office was quite large. After the New Year, Danmei chose a high-lying spot and specially cultivated a garden there, transplanting hundreds of peony and herbaceous peony plants that Xu Jinrong had bought for her from all over the city. After her careful tending, by early April, the garden was lush and green. Some early-blooming varieties, such as Zui Xishi and Ruilu Chan, had already begun to form flower buds and looked to bloom in at most half a month.

Danmei now cultivates flowers, and the initial feelings she had when she first married Xu Jinrong have faded somewhat. Seven or eight parts of her time there are now simply for leisure and amusement. Therefore, since Xu Jinrong now has more free time, she naturally spends much of her time by his side. Throughout the early summer month of April, Huaichu City and its surroundings are adorned with hundreds of pavilions and thousands of trees, flowers blooming in the distance, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene. The two seem to spend every day enjoying the spring scenery: admiring the new lotus blossoms at the Lotus Pond in the city, tasting green plums at the Jade Pavilion; viewing orange blossoms on Wulang Mountain outside the city, and admiring cherry blossoms at the Frost Pavilion. The days fly by, and in the blink of an eye, April has passed, and midsummer has arrived in May.

By the end of April, the peony garden was in full bloom. After several gatherings of ladies, the whole city of Huaichu was abuzz with the news that there was a peony garden in the governor's mansion, which was full of spring colors and had several peonies of extraordinary colors, so beautiful that even Luoyang could hardly find such a unique variety. It was just a pity that it was locked away in a high-walled courtyard and that ordinary people could hardly see its beauty.

The peonies with their myriad colors that outsiders talk about are actually new, multi-colored varieties grafted from peony roots by Danmei. She initially planted over a dozen, but only three have successfully bloomed so far. She named them Niyuhuang (Smooth Jade Yellow), Hehuanjiao (Delicate Joy), and Weizichuanfen (Pink Transmission of Fragrance) based on their colors and appearances. Niyuhuang is a mix of white and yellow, Weizichuanfen is a mix of purplish-red, pink, and white, and Hehuanjiao produces two flowers of different colors, red and pink, on the same branch. They are currently in full bloom, adorned with vibrant blossoms, and are extremely beautiful.

It happened to be the Dragon Boat Festival, and the government was closed for the day. During the day, Danmei took Huijie and went with Xu Jinrong to go boating and drinking tea on Ruizhu Lake in the city. They didn't return until it was almost dark. After taking Huijie back to her room and settling her in, Danmei brought the Dragon Boat Festival fruits wrapped in a plum-red box to the study.

When Danmei entered, she saw Xu Jinrong leaning back in his chair, looking at a letter on the table in front of him with a furrowed brow and an unhappy expression. Hearing her footsteps, he pushed it aside and covered it with a book.

Danmei didn't pay much attention, but went straight to his side, placed the box in front of him, opened the lid and smiled, "I know you don't like sweets, but since it's a festival today, I should at least eat something to celebrate."

Xu Jinrong's displeasure vanished instantly. He gently lifted her onto his lap, picked up a piece of perilla leaf from the box, and brought it to her lips, enticing her to open her mouth.

"I brought this especially for you to eat..."

Danmei avoided the question.

"I want to feed you, and then I'll eat after you've eaten."

Xu Jinrong smiled, waving the hand holding the pastries near her cherry-red lips, his tone even carrying a hint of seduction.

Danmei had no choice but to open her mouth, and the piece of perilla-flavored white cake was fed into her mouth. Before she could swallow it, Xu Jinrong had already picked up another piece of chestnut cake and brought it to her lips.

"Have another piece of this."

"Mmm..."

Danmei puffed out her cheeks and chewed a few times. Just as she swallowed the perilla-flavored white dumpling, her mouth was stuffed with chestnut cake. Seeing that he was about to bring her more cakes, she quickly covered her mouth and shook her head.

"You really can't eat anymore?"

Xu Jinrong asked, and seeing her nod hastily, he suppressed a smile, lifted her gently under her armpits, and adjusted her position so she was straddling him, facing him. Then he lowered his head and kissed her lips, his thick tongue slipping inside, teasing her sweet, warm mouth. The aroma of pastries lingering in his nose and the sweetness of her breath made him almost unable to resist. When he finally released her, Danmei's face was flushed, and she was breathing heavily.

"There's something I need to tell you..." Xu Jinrong wrapped his arms around her waist, hesitated for a moment, then looked down at her and said, "I remember mentioning to you before that Brother Liang was going to come with Steward Xu. I just received word that Steward Xu will arrive at the end of the month..."

Danmei naturally remembered this matter. Hearing Xu Jinrong mention it, she smiled and said, "I will have someone tidy up the house early tomorrow."

Xu Jinrong looked at her for a moment, and seeing that she didn't seem unhappy, he felt a little relieved. He lowered his head and rubbed her forehead, then said, "There's something else..."

Danmei looked up, waiting for him to continue, but he only said half a sentence and then stopped there. He stared at Danmei for a long time before shaking his head and smiling, "Nothing much. I just wanted to tell you that in about half a month, the imperial envoy sent from the capital will arrive. I might be busy in a few days and won't be able to stay by your side as often as I do now."

Danmei knew that the "imperial envoy" he mentioned must be someone sent down from the capital after receiving the official document from Huainan Road. He was probably here to observe and to convey the emperor's commendation order. Although she felt that his change of topic was a bit abrupt, and it seemed that what he originally wanted to say was not this matter, she didn't ask any further questions since he didn't want to bring it up again. She just smiled slightly and nodded.

Author's Note: I started this new site the day before yesterday based on the editor's suggestion. Feel free to check it out! I'm going to be a chatterbox, and all sorts of scoops and gossip will be posted here first!

Chapter fifty-eight

Xu Jinrong was indeed busy for the next few days. Without his company during the day, Danmei naturally turned her attention back to her flowers. Seeing the garden full of beautiful blooms, she felt at ease and lived a carefree life.

Xu Jinrong went out early that morning. Danmei got up and remembered that her father was not feeling well before she left the capital last time. She had not received any news from her family for a long time and wondered how he was doing. She also missed Qin Shi and thought of writing a letter and asking Xu Jinrong to send it to the Prime Minister's residence via post in the capital next time.

Danmei went to the study and sat in Xu Jinrong's usual chair to write a letter. She had only intended to inquire about his well-being, but as soon as she picked up the pen, she remembered Qin Shi's past kindness and her words flowed like a torrent, filling four or five pages. She even mentioned her brother and sister-in-law's greetings before finally stopping. Fearing her family would recognize the difference in handwriting, she added a note at the end stating that she had slightly cut her hand on a broken flowerpot the other day, but it was fine; only writing was slightly difficult, which was why she had a literate maid write it for her. After checking it herself and finding nothing to add or delete, she pulled out the drawer where Xu Jinrong usually kept his letter envelopes, intending to take one to put in. However, it was empty, so she bent down and pulled out several drawers below to search. The envelope wasn't found, but a letter was found in the bottom drawer. The red-edged kraft paper cover immediately caught the eye, and it looked just like the letter he had hurriedly pushed aside and covered with a book when he saw me come in on the Dragon Boat Festival a while ago.

Danmei wouldn't have bothered to look for it, and several days had passed; if she hadn't happened to see it again, she wouldn't have remembered it. Recalling his seemingly deliberate attempt to conceal things from her that day, she hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't resist her curiosity, pulled out the letter inside, and quickly glanced at it.

The letter was written by Steward Xu. The beginning was just a report on some business matters, which was briefly mentioned. Later, just as Xu Jinrong had told her that day, he mentioned that he would be bringing Liang Ge to arrive at the end of the month or the beginning of next month. However, he added a little bit at the end that Aunt Zhou had been making a fuss since she found out, and Liang Ge had been crying incessantly.

Danmei paused for a moment, then looked down again. The last two lines of text stunned her. It took her a while to wake up as if from a dream. She gave a slight bitter smile, folded the letter, and put it back.

It turned out that the last two lines of text from Steward Xu were related to her. He said that the old lady had been waiting anxiously in the capital for news of the young lady's good health for a long time. When he visited her last time, she instructed him to convey her message when he sent a letter next time, telling him to make sure to find a good doctor to examine her. If there was really something wrong with her health, since there were no doctors in Huaichu who were good at treating women's illnesses, she should be sent back to the capital for treatment and recuperation. If she did not recover properly, it would really affect her ability to have children, and other plans would have to be made, and so on.

Butler Xu's words were naturally very cryptic, but Danmei seemed to have just been awakened from a dream. She barely suppressed the turmoil in her heart, got up and went to the drawer under the bookshelf against the wall to find another envelope, put the letter she had just written into it, and then sat back down in her chair and silently lowered her head to think.

Perhaps she had been living too comfortably in her daily life, and had gradually begun to feel somewhat detached from worldly affairs, like someone living in seclusion in the mountains. Counting on her fingers, it had been seven or eight months since Xu Jinrong returned from his six-month absence from the capital last year, and she had been spending every day with him without any other people in between. It was no wonder that the old lady, who was eagerly awaiting the arrival of her grandson, was getting anxious and couldn't contain herself any longer, given the lack of good news about her pregnancy.

Thinking it over carefully, in other people's eyes, she was at the prime of her life, a time when she could easily bear children. Her husband, who had no legitimate son, had been doting on her for over half a year, yet she was still not pregnant. This was somewhat unreasonable in the eyes of any mother-in-law. Not to mention the old lady, even Xu Jinrong himself, though he didn't show anything on his face, probably had some doubts in his heart. She couldn't help but recall the scene from a while ago when they were intimate, when he asked her to have a child for him. At that time, she thought it was just a passionate remark, but now it seemed that there was some reason behind it.

Danmei closed her eyes and pondered for a moment, then finally let out a long sigh, got up and went into the house. As she passed through the courtyard, she saw Green Crow and Chang'er standing on the veranda, teasing two white-browed thrushes in a purple bamboo cage hanging in the middle with grass in their hands. When they saw Danmei, the two of them quickly dropped the grass and greeted her in unison.

Danmei glanced at the caged thrush, nodded slightly, and took a few steps over. A thought struck her, and she beckoned to Green Crow. When Green Crow came to her, she smiled and asked, "Do you know of any good clinics around here that treat women's ailments?" She added, "Just a few days ago, while playing games with some ladies and drinking tea, one of the ladies who had recently come here with her husband casually asked me. I didn't know either. Seeing you just now, and remembering you're a local, I asked you."

Green Crow, unsuspecting, thought for a moment and said, "Zhang Huichun Hall on Huobeizi Street in the city, and Jishetang in Xiejiao Alley, both specialize in looking after women and are very famous."

Danmei secretly noted it down and went back upstairs. After noon, she changed into casual clothes, took Xiqing and Miaoxia with her, and ordered Jiang Rui to prepare the carriage, first heading towards Huobeizi Street. Jiang Rui, seeing that the madam had given the order, dared not disobey, and personally followed, while also ordering two servants to accompany them from behind, before leaving the government office and heading towards that street.

Xiqing and Miaoxia didn't know why Danmei suddenly wanted to go out. They thought that she was feeling bored because the adults hadn't been spending much time with her these past few days, so she came out for a stroll. So they sat down beside her and chatted and laughed. After a while, Xiqing seemed to sense that Danmei had something on her mind and stopped talking. She just watched silently, occasionally pulling down the curtain to look at Miaoxia who was still chattering outside.

Danmei smiled, watching Miaoxia's joyful expression. She thought to herself that unmarried girls like this are so innocent and carefree; any worries they may have are gone by tomorrow. She then recalled how, just last month, she had secretly worried about getting pregnant too early. Now, reminded by the letter that morning, she thought carefully. She and Xu Jinrong had been together day and night for the past six months. He wasn't exactly abstinent in bed, and they hadn't deliberately used contraception. While her age might be considered early by later standards, it was perfectly time for her to have children here. Since he had no problems, could it really be, as the old lady thought, that there was something wrong with her body?

The thought, once it surfaced in the morning, came like a raging flood, unstoppable. Her not wanting to be pregnant and her inability to be pregnant were two completely different things. Only then did she ask Green Crow, and after noon she immediately drove over.

The carriage stopped after traveling for about a quarter of an hour. Jiang Rui outside announced that they had arrived at the north entrance of Huo Street. Danmei then put on her veil, alighted from the carriage, and instructed Jiang Rui and Xiqing Miaoxia to wait at the street entrance and not follow her. She then walked into the street. Remembering his master's instructions, Jiang Rui dared not be so presumptuous. After the figure ahead had walked several dozen paces, he instructed Xiqing Miaoxia to wait at a distance, and then quietly followed.

Huobeizi Street was bustling with activity, lined with shops and vendors on both sides, and teeming with pedestrians. Danmei walked no more than a hundred meters before looking up and seeing the "Zhang Huichun" sign. After hesitating for a moment, she went inside. After coming out, she returned to the street corner and then turned towards Xiejiao Alley.

Xiqing and Miaoxia accompanied Danmei back to the carriage. This time, not only Xiqing but also Miaoxia felt something was amiss, and the two exchanged glances. Xiqing looked closely and saw that her expression was completely normal, even the occasional look of bewilderment on her face when they arrived was gone. She really didn't know what her mistress was up to. When they arrived at Xiejiao Alley, just as before, she saw that Danmei had again ordered the two of them to wait at the street corner. So, following her previous thought, she said, "Madam is of high status. It's not appropriate for her to walk alone in the market like this. If the master finds out, I'm afraid he will scold us."

Seeing Xiqing's agreement, Danmei thought for a moment and didn't insist further. She simply smiled and went into the street. Xiqing hurriedly followed. When they arrived at what appeared to be a clinic, Danmei stopped and told her to wait at the door. She was filled with suspicion, but before she could ask anything, Danmei had already stepped over the threshold and gone inside. She could only wait patiently. After a long while, Danmei finally came out. Seeing her slightly furrowed brow and somewhat pale face, Danmei quickly stepped forward to support her and asked in a low voice, "Madam, do you feel something is wrong? You could have just told the master. Why did you have to come out here alone to seek medical help?"

Danmei glanced sideways and saw Xiqing's large eyes, beneath his thick eyebrows, staring straight at her with obvious concern. She smiled slightly and said, "You're right. Tell him when you get back."

***

In the evening, Danmei sat on the couch, her mind still wandering to what she had heard during her visit to the two clinics earlier that day. Lost in thought, she heard Xu Jinrong's footsteps coming out of the bathroom next door. She put on an outer robe, lifted the quilt, and went to greet him. He smiled and picked her up, carrying her back to the couch. The two chatted for a few minutes before mentioning the imperial envoy who would be arriving in a few days.

"Do you know which one it is in the court?"

Danmei leaned against the pillow and asked casually.

Xu Jinrong glanced at her, rubbed his temples, and said somewhat vaguely, "The court didn't mention it in the last document, only that an imperial envoy was coming down. We'll know when he arrives."

This was somewhat inconsistent with his usual behavior. Based on Danmei's understanding of him, even if the imperial document didn't explicitly mention the imperial envoy's name, he should have already found out through other channels. He wouldn't just sit and wait for the envoy to come to him to reveal his identity. Seeing that he seemed reluctant to mention it, and with her own mind preoccupied, she let it go. After a moment's thought, just as she was about to bring up the topic she'd been pondering for half the afternoon, he suddenly asked, "What were you doing at the clinics today? Are you feeling unwell? Tell me, and I'll arrange for a doctor to come. Why make you go through all that trouble yourself?"

Upon hearing him speak, Danmei knew that Jiang Rui must have reported her whereabouts that day to him. Suddenly, the image of the two thrushes in the cage hanging in the corridor that morning flashed before her eyes. For the past six months, she had been like a bird kept in a golden cage by him, pampered to the extreme, and thus complacent. If it weren't for the letter that morning that jolted her awake, she probably would have continued like this, never imagining that even the most extreme pampering would one day come to an end for various reasons.

Danmei sighed, turned to look at Xu Jinrong and smiled slightly, "I was just thinking of telling you. Since you already know where I went today, it saves me the trouble of going around in circles. So I'll tell you now, I did go to the clinic today."

Xu Jinrong sat up and looked at Danmei, hurriedly asking, "Where are you feeling unwell? Why did you keep it from me the other day?"

Danmei glanced at him and, seeing the genuine concern in his eyes, smiled slightly before slowly saying, "I accidentally saw the letter that Steward Xu gave you last time this morning."

Author's Note: This novel, "Female Forensic Doctor," has been signed for a traditional Chinese version. I'd like to ask if anyone would be interested in buying a simplified Chinese version if I were to offer a custom order?

Thanks……