Chapter 18

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

She felt a little happier after she had blamed Li Baojia. “This is a good thing. You haven’t been to the East Palace for just a few days, yet His Highness personally sent Mr. Huang to urge you to return. So it is obvious that His Highness is very interested in you.”

“You should seize this opportunity,” she continued.

After she finished her speech, she remembered the upcoming Lantern Festival. “Have you embroidered the handkerchief for the Lantern Festival?”

Li Baojia pulled Taotao away and ran off in a hurry. “I’ll go back and study how to make the soup.”

Madam Huang shook her head and sighed. And in the twinkling of an eye, she went back happily with the help of Nanny Lin.

On the way, she could not restrain her joy. “We finally made it. Do you see the attitude of His Highness? I think there won’t be any change in this matter.”

Next to her, Nanny Lin also agreed. “Yes. As long as Miss Baojia puts in more effort, the position of the crown princess will be hers.”

Nanny Lin was a little hesitant. “Madam, should we talk to Mr. Li about this matter? In that case, he can explain this to the emperor earlier and settle the marriage.”

Madam Huang said, “Of course, we have to talk to him. And I want to let Qin Ke see that this will never change, no matter how many teacups she breaks.”

Nanny Lin said happily, “Then I will go and invite Mr. Li to come over to the courtyard when he returns.”

The two of them were happy, but Li Baojia was leaning on the table, too worried to move.

Taotao asked, “Miss Baojia, what does His Highness mean by this?”

Li Baojia propped up her head and closed her eyes to rest. “I don’t know. If this continues, Mom and the others will certainly feel that there is hope for things and will have to marry me into the East Palace.”

She did not know what was wrong with Zhao Yi again. She thought, “Does he have to force me to be his shield?”

At this time, a young maid with a pretty face came in somewhat urgently with tea. “Miss Baojia…the people watching the Zhang family say that Assistant Minister Zhang has returned.”

Li Baojia sat up straight in her bed and asked, “So soon? Quickly prepare a carriage for me. I want to go to the Zhang family.”

Li Baojia went straight to Li Jiaying’s courtyard when she got out of the carriage. But just when she reached the main hall, she saw that everyone was there.

Li Jiaying was very surprised to see her coming. “Jiajia, why…why are you here?”

Obviously, the current situation had caused her some panic and embarrassment.

She sat on one side of the seat, and on the other side sat a man who looked about 30 or so. He wore a green robe and casual clothes and should be Assistant Minister Zhang, Zhang Jian.

The woman sitting below him should be Ping something. She was wearing a rose-red dress and holding a handkerchief. Although she was already the mother of a seven-year-old child, her face did not show any signs of age.

Looking at the two people opposite Li Jiaying, those who didn’t know would think they were a legal couple. They were so close that Li Jiaying, who was sitting alone on one side, looked lonely.

Li Baojia said, “I suddenly wanted to see Sister Jiaying today, but I didn’t expect to run into my brother-in-law coming back.”

Zhang Jian was also a little surprised to see a girl suddenly appear in the house.

But this girl looked still young and should not yet be married. She wore a green dress, and two small bells hung on both sides of the hair bun. Her eyes curved when she smiled, and everyone who met her would like her.

He asked, “The girl is?”

Li Jiaying said, “This is Uncle Wangde’s second daughter. Her name is Baojia.”

Zhang Jian listened and said, “So you are the daughter of Grand Preceptor Li. Then I will call you Sister Baojia.”

Then he turned his head and asked someone to get her a seat.

Li Baojia said to herself, “I don’t have a brother as old as you.”

In fact, Zhang Jian did not look bad. He was an ordinary man and not old, but because Li Baojia was now full of hatred toward him, she thought he looked ugly.

Next to him, Ping something interjected, “Sister Baojia is such a beautiful girl! We are talking…”

Li Baojia interrupted her and directly asked Li Jiaying next to her, “Sister Jiaying, who is she?”

Ping something pulled out her handkerchief, and she managed to smile again.

Li Jiaying said, “This is our family’s concubine, Madam Ping.”

“So you are the concubine of the family.” Li Baojia deliberately said the word “concubine” louder. “Then how do you call me sister? I don’t want a sister like you.”

Her tone was full of dislike, and she proudly tilted her head. Although her words were a bit mean, coming from the mouth of such a young girl, these words only made people feel that she was indulgent but also straightforward and lovely.

Ping something’s face turned pale, and the anger in her eyes was already thick enough to spill out. She grabbed the handkerchief and turned to Zhang Jian. “Jian…”

Zhang Jian soothingly held her hand. “Sister Baojia is still young and does not know these things. So do not bother with her.”

She was speechless at his words. But seeing that Zhang Jian was reluctant to help her, she could only stop speaking and keep quiet at the side.

Zhang Jian said, “Sister Baojia, you may not know that Jiaying…She just told me she wants to return to Su Province to rest, and we are discussing this matter.”

“Then what do you think?” Li Baojia asked.

“I think this is a long way to travel, and it is not good for the baby…Moreover, if she returns to her mother’s house when she just gets pregnant, people who don’t know will think that our family can’t afford to keep her.” Zhang Jian frowned slightly.

He did not look like he was lying. He didn’t appear to be so evil that he would abandon the child for the sake of Ping something. He still had some feelings toward the child.

Li Baojia smiled faintly. “But some time ago, when I came over, Sister Jiaying even missed her mother in her dreams. I don’t know if she was having a nightmare, but she kept shouting for her mother to save her. So I asked Sister Jiaying to return to Su Province to rest so that she could see her mother and father.”

Li Jiaying was stunned. She thought, “Did that happen?”

Li Baojia secretly squeezed Li Jiaying’s hand under the seat, signaling her not to speak.

Zhang Jian asked, “Who would harm her at home? Why would she do that?”

“You should not blame her. Pregnant women are always sensitive. Perhaps Sister Jiaying missed her mother too much. Besides, this is her first pregnancy. I will also go back together to take care of Sister Jiaying, so you don’t have to worry. It is also not good for the baby if she is sad and depressed all the time at home.”

“Besides, if you let your wife go back to her mother’s house to nourish her fetus because she misses her mother, outsiders will only say that you are considerate of your wife when they hear about it and will never say anything more,” Li Baojia continued.

Zhang Jian was in a daze and said, “Well…then…”

Next to him, Ping something also heard this and immediately interjected, “But the distance is too far…Baojia herself is just a little girl, and in case something goes wrong, others will blame us behind our backs.”

Zhang Jian’s soft-hearted, indecisive, and cowardly nature had been brought out to the fullest. He was in a dilemma and asked, “Then…what should we do?”

Li Baojia said, “You don’t have to worry about this. I already sent a message to my brother a few days ago. He will pick us up and take us to Su Province.”

Ping something paused and didn’t know what to say.

Zhang Jian finally said, “Okay then. But you should wait for the fetus to stabilize at home before you go.”

Li Baojia smiled and said, “Of course. We will leave a few days after the Lantern Festival.”

Ping something was a bit anxious and tugged at Zhang Jian’s sleeve. “Jian…”

Zhang Jian turned his head and asked, “Qingqing, what’s wrong?”

Perhaps she realized that, as a concubine, it was suspicious for her to say anything more to persuade them to stay. So, with the eyes of the three people in the room on her, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and say, “Nothing. I’m just a little tired.”