Chapter 8

Feng Yuanyuan was awakened and given medicine by Weiyun, but Princess Huarong had already left.

Feng Yuanyuan was in a daze from the fever and had no idea what had happened that morning. She weakly leaned against Weiyun and obediently drank a large bowl of medicine, leaving not a drop behind.

Weiyun was amazed and asked, “Is it bitter?”

Feng Yuanyuan shook her head understandingly.

Weiyun was touched by Feng Yuanyuan’s obedience. As someone who had been sent to the palace as a maid, she could empathize with Feng Yuanyuan’s experiences.

“The princess just came to see you and told you to rest and recover. When you’re better, you can go and pay your respects to her. Also, until you’re fully recovered, I will stay with you.”

Feng Yuanyuan looked at Weiyun in surprise.

Weiyun gently pinched her nose and whispered, “Just wait, there are more good things to come for you.”

Feng Yuanyuan couldn’t guess what those good things might be, but she knew that the princess treated her too kindly, as if it were a dream.

However, being able to lie in bed while sick meant she didn’t have to immediately face the unfamiliar faces in the royal household, which relieved some of the pressure in her heart.

On the first day of recuperation, Feng Yuanyuan mostly slept.

The next day, she felt better, and Weiyun took the opportunity to introduce her to the masters in the palace.

“The Lord and the Lady have a deep affection for each other, but after many years of marriage, they only have the Lord and the Second Lord as their sons.”

“The Lord and the princess have yet to have any offspring.”

“The Second Lord married Qiao Shi and has two sons. The eldest son is ten years old, and the second son is only seven.”

Upon hearing this, Feng Yuanyuan couldn’t contain her curiosity and asked softly, “How old is the Second Lord?”

Weiyun thought for a moment and replied, “The Lord is thirty, and the Second Lord is two years younger, twenty-eight.”

Feng Yuanyuan exclaimed, “So the Second Lord became a father when he was only seventeen or eighteen?”

Weiyun nodded and said, “Yes, the Lord is picky with his choice of spouse, so he married late. But the Second Lord found his true love early and couldn’t wait.”

In fact, when the Lord was twenty years old, he started discussing marriage arrangements. Unfortunately, his mother passed away, and he had to observe mourning, which delayed the process. By the time he finished mourning, the court was in turmoil. The cunning old Lord arranged a marriage with their own princess for the Lord.

As for the Second Lord, Zhou Du, it was said that he impulsively accepted a marriage proposal as a child, so he had to marry before his older brother. But such secrets couldn’t be mentioned to a child.

“Be careful not to discuss these matters in front of the Second Lord, or you might get beaten!”

To be cautious, Weiyun deliberately threatened Feng Yuanyuan.

Feng Yuanyuan was indeed frightened and imagined Zhou Du as a fierce and evil person.

After three days of taking medicine, Feng Yuanyuan’s illness was almost cured. After all, she was from a common family and not so delicate.

On this day, it happened to be the day when Lord Zhou Wen of Zhen nan took a break.

Almost everyone in Ningzhou knew that the Lord and Princess Huarong had a distant relationship. They would only spend time with each other on the tenth day of each month.

But the people didn’t know that on the days Zhou Wen took a break, he would have breakfast alone in the front yard of the mansion.

After breakfast, Zhou Wen went to the martial arts training ground in the mansion.

Zhou Du had two sons, but he was impatient and lacked the patience to educate them. Fortunately, Zhou Wen, his brother, was willing to take on this responsibility.

“Uncle.”

Ten-year-old Zhou Ling and seven-year-old Zhou Jiao came early. The two brothers respected their uncle and were willing to learn martial arts from him.

Zhou Wen smiled and said, “Let’s start with a run. Zhou Ling, five laps. Zhou Jiao, two laps.”

After speaking, he took the lead and started running.

Zhou Ling was more steady, while Zhou Jiao, curious from the idle chatter he heard from his parents, approached Zhou Wen and asked, “Uncle, I heard that the princess brought a little girl back to the mansion. Why hasn’t she been seen outside?”

Zhou Wen replied, “She’s sick.”

Zhou Jiao asked, “What illness?”

Zhou Wen answered, “A cold. She’ll recover soon.”

Zhou Jiao asked again, “Where does she live? Can I go and see her?”

Zhou Wen replied, “You can ask the princess for permission first.”

Zhou Jiao:…

The princess was icy cold. Even the uncle couldn’t invite her to family banquets during holidays. How could he dare to approach her to ask questions?

After finishing the run, Zhou Wen taught his nephews archery.

“Dad!”

Zhou Jiao was the first to spot his father’s figure.

Zhou Wen turned his head and saw his younger brother, Zhou Du, approaching with his nose twitching.

While the younger ones practiced archery, Zhou Du took his older brother aside and raised his chin towards the main courtyard. “What’s the girl’s background? She hides and doesn’t show her face.”

Zhou Wen replied, “She has no particular background, just an orphan.”

Zhou Du said, “There are plenty of orphans in the world. Why did she catch her attention? Chen Jing only listens to you, I asked him, and he didn’t say anything.”

Zhou Wen remained silent.

Zhou Du raised an eyebrow. “Could it be that you haven’t even seen that child?”

Zhou Wen replied, “I’ve seen her once when she was unconscious with a cold. There was nothing remarkable about her.”

Zhou Du said, “Then can’t you visit her more often? She can’t be unconscious for three days, right?”

Zhou Wen remained silent.

Zhou Du wore a frustrated expression. “This is our Zhou family, not her princess’s mansion. Aren’t you even brave enough to visit without permission?”

Zhou Wen said, “Zhou Jiao’s posture while drawing the bow is incorrect. Go help him correct it.”

Zhou Du:…