Time flew by. Wei Dongling's leg injury hadn't fully healed yet, but she was on the verge of being fattened up into a ball.
At noon during the meal, Shangguan Yun looked at her with a smile in his eyes and waved his hand, ordering another table full of delicious dishes to be served.
The chef in the prince's mansion was truly an outstanding cook. It was estimated that his culinary skills were even better than those of the imperial chefs in the palace. As soon as the camphor tea duck was served on the table, Wei Dongling's saliva couldn't help but drip. Supported by Cui Huan, she slowly got out of bed and limped to the table to have her meal.
Shangguan Yun personally served her a bowl of rice, picked up a duck leg with his chopsticks and put it into her bowl. Seeing her munching on the duck leg with gusto, the corners of his lips gradually curled up.
Wei Dongling, with the duck leg in her mouth, looked up at Shangguan Yun and mumbled, "You should eat too!"
Shangguan Yun nodded with a faint smile. He casually served her a bowl of delicious fish soup and then picked up a handkerchief to wipe the oil stain that had accidentally gotten on the corner of Wei Dongling's mouth.
At this moment, there was a soft thud at the door.
The three of them turned their heads and saw Qi Jinxuan standing at the door, looking flustered and about to avoid them. She was still carrying a food basket in her hand.
Oh no, Miss Qi had seen clearly how considerate the young master Yun was to her.
Wei Dongling was panicking inside. She wanted to stand up and explain, but was pushed back by Shangguan Yun.
Shangguan Yun stood up and said to Qi Jinxuan amiably, "Miss Qi is here? Come in and take a seat."
Qi Jinxuan hesitated at the door and bowed to Shangguan Yun, saying, "Greetings, senior brother. I'm sorry to bother you."
Shangguan Yun nodded and said to Wei Dongling, "You can invite Miss Qi to have a meal with you. I still have some things to attend to." With that, he got up and was about to go out.
Qi Jinxuan quickly spoke up to persuade him to stay, "I... I've stewed ginseng and mother hen soup for senior brother and Dongling. Senior brother, please stay and have a meal with us?"
Shangguan Yun nodded with his head down and said, "Thank you for your kind intention, Miss Qi. I've never liked greasy food. You two can drink it." After saying that, he walked away without looking back.
"No, it's not greasy..." Qi Jinxuan looked sideways at his straight back as he left, looking a bit dejected.
"Miss," Wei Dongling stood up and quickly invited her in to take a seat.
Cui Huan went down to add a set of chopsticks and bowls.
Qi Jinxuan gently put down the food basket and took a seat. After hesitating for a long time, she bit her lips and asked, "Dongling, you and the young master..."
Wei Dongling forced a smile, timidly glanced at Qi Jinxuan and whispered, "The young master Yun has indeed taken good care of me."
Qi Jinxuan silently shook her head and softly said, "Senior brother's feelings for you are probably not just about taking care of you."
Wei Dongling lowered her head and said nothing.
Qi Jinxuan hesitated for a long time and then said, "If you and senior brother have feelings for each other... then, what about Young Master Yu..."
Wei Dongling lowered her eyes, pulled Qi Jinxuan's hand and said seriously, "Young Master Yu and I are in love with each other. Even if there were no Young Master Yu, I wouldn't fight with you, miss, for a man."
After a long silence, Qi Jinxuan carefully probed, "If senior brother really has feelings for you, after I marry into the prince's mansion in the future, it's not impossible for me to take you as a concubine..."
Qi Jinxuan buried her head, and her voice became smaller and smaller.
Wei Dongling held Qi Jinxuan's small hand and shook her head like a rattle, "You really think too much, miss. There's absolutely no possibility between the young master and me."
Qi Jinxuan was about to say something else when she saw Cui Huan come in with a tray carrying chopsticks and bowls. So she didn't say any more.
Wei Dongling timely served Qi Jinxuan a bowl of chicken soup and repeatedly urged Cui Huan to come and sit down to have a meal. Cui Huan refused to sit at the table, but Wei Dongling still divided a portion of the dishes for her.
"By the way, miss," Wei Dongling said with her head buried in drinking the chicken soup, not even having a moment of silence, "Please go back and tell the guards for me. If an old beggar comes looking for me, make sure to let him come to the prince's mansion to find me."
There had been no news of Uncle Li, and Wei Dongling was faintly worried.
Qi Jinxuan nodded and said okay, then picked out the ginseng from the chicken soup and put it into Wei Dongling's bowl.
Wei Dongling wasn't happy and mumbled, "Miss! I've gained so much weight!"
Qi Jinxuan waved her hand and said, "You've just recovered from an old injury and now have a new one. How can you not supplement more?"
Well, it seemed reasonable.
With this excuse, Wei Dongling buried her head and ate heartily.
Two days later, Wei Dongling started to indulge herself. After eating the midnight snack, she lay on the bed, hugging her plump belly and feeling drowsy.
Cui Huan rushed in in a hurry and kept shouting, "Miss Wei, Young Master Yu is here. He's waiting for you outside."
Wei Dongling mumbled and shrank into the quilt, "I'm so sleepy at this late hour. Can we do it tomorrow during the day?"
Cui Huan raised her hand and gave her a light knock on the head. Wei Dongling grimaced in pain. "You'll get fatter and fatter if you just lie down after eating. Hurry up and get up!"
Wei Dongling rubbed the forehead that had been knocked and slowly got up with a bitter face.
Cui Huan helped her put on her clothes and combed her long hair. Then she carried her huffing and puffing outside. Along the way, she also discussed with her, "Should we eat a bit less in the future? It's getting quite strenuous for me to carry you recently."
Wei Dongling wrapped her arms around Cui Huan's neck and felt like crying.
As she walked out of the main gate of the prince's mansion, she locked eyes with Shangguan Yun who was just about to get into the carriage.
Seeing Wei Dongling come out, Shangguan Yun quickly walked over and asked with concern, "It's so late. Where are you going?"
Wei Dongling said awkwardly with a smile, "Hey, Zixi is waiting for me up ahead."
Shangguan Yun's eyes darkened a bit. He nodded and said, "Pay attention to your safety and come back early."
Wei Dongling nodded, looked at Pin Hao in the carriage and asked Shangguan Yun, "You're going out so late. Is there something urgent?"
Shangguan Yun said in a muffled voice, " Yunxi had an accident. She still hasn't returned to the palace so late. I have to rush to the Lake Heart Pavilion to check."
The Lake Heart Pavilion? What new tricks was Princess Murong Qi up to?
Wei Dongling silently mourned for Qi Jinxuan in her heart for a moment and then nodded, saying, "Go and come back quickly. Be careful not to get splashed by the green tea."
Shangguan Yun looked at Wei Dongling in confusion and then turned around and walked away in a hurry.
In the alley across the street, Tian Qi was driving the carriage waiting in the shadow under the tree. Seeing Wei Dongling and Cui Huan coming from afar, he waved to say hello.
Yu Zixi got out of the carriage, picked up Wei Dongling and smiled brightly, "Hey, my wife has actually gained a lot of weight?" As he said this, he sized up the person in his arms up and down.
Wei Dongling wrapped her arms around Yu Zixi's neck and buried her head in his arms shyly.
Yu Zixi smiled softly and got into the carriage, saying, "Don't worry. No matter how much heavier you get, your husband can still carry you."
Wei Dongling instantly blushed and rolled her eyes, saying, "Bah! Who said I want to marry you?"
Yu Zixi sneered and held her and sat down properly, saying, "Once you're on this young master's boat, can you get off?" With that, he leaned over and gently kissed her on the forehead.
Just then, Cui Huan lifted the curtain and was about to come in to take care of Wei Dongling. Seeing the two of them looking at each other with affection, she quite sensibly closed the curtain and sat outside with Tian Qi to drive the carriage.
The two people in the carriage hugged each other tightly in the darkness.
Wei Dongling only felt that the atmosphere had unknowingly become ambiguous, and her breathing also became a bit more rapid involuntarily. She tilted her head up, and Yu Zixi's passionate kiss landed on her lips.