PNB Chapter 304 Fukuzawa
Chapter 304 Fukuzawa
Lu Yun nodded. "Of course. If you think they're good, you can call them over to question them."
Cen Miao picked out four little girls who looked only seven or eight years old. All of them were thin and pale, and their clothes had the most patches than the others. It was obvious at a glance that they all came from poor backgrounds.
The girls stood in a row in front of the distinguished guest, their faces showing nervousness and anticipation.
"Where are you all from? Can you sew? Why were you sold?"
The girls answered one by one. Lu Yun was surprised that they were all from the north. The reasons for being sold were similar: their families were poor and they couldn't afford to eat. They all knew some needlework, but only one of them said that she could embroider.
Lu Yun frowned. "The imperial court has been promoting improved varieties of seeds, potatoes, and recently sweet potatoes. How can we be so poor that we can't even afford to eat?"
The little girls were probably frightened and stammered, unable to explain themselves.
Cen Miaoxin answered for her, a sigh etched in her words, "Princess, the reason poor people can't afford to eat isn't because they can't grow food, but because they don't have land to grow it on."
No land to farm? Lu Yun's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you all from the Northern Territory?"
The little girls all nodded. The one who said she could embroider timidly said, "The adults said that the Tartars were attacking and there was not enough food at home, so my father sold me to raise money for moving."
Cen Miaoxin looked at Lu Yun thoughtfully, then suddenly frowned, covered her chest with her hands, her face turned pale, her lips tightly closed, and she said nothing.
Lu Yun noticed her abnormality and asked, "Miss Cen?"
Cen Miaoxin just waved her hand without saying anything. Seeing that her face became even uglier, Lu Yun had a bad feeling in her heart. Just as she was about to speak again, she saw her turn around and retching.
Lu Yun's expression changed again and again, and finally calmed down.
Cen Miaoxin avoided Lu Yun's gaze and apologized, "Maybe I had a stomach upset this morning. I made fun of you."
Lu Yun's mouth twitched slightly. She didn't know if Cen Miaoxin was making fun of her, but she felt like she might become a laughing stock. "Zhou Boli, you're really awesome!"
Lu Yun no longer had the heart to accompany Cen Miaoxin to pick out any maids. She waved her hand and signaled Cen Miaoxin to take everyone to Xiuzhu Pavilion, then turned around and headed straight for Muyang Residence.
Halfway through the walk, Lu Yun regained her composure. Cai He whispered, "Master, it might not be what you think? Maybe, maybe—"
Lu Yun's anger was still lingering. "Sister Caihe, are you trying to say that maybe Cen Miaoxin really has an upset stomach?"
"Do you remember what you told me yesterday about Cen Miaoxin's face not looking right? She didn't sleep well yesterday, and she had a stomach upset today. You believe everything. Why don't you just help her come up with some excuses that won't be able to hide her belly in the future? She won't have to go through the trouble of trying to fool us while she's pregnant."
Lu Yun returned to Anlan Courtyard with a lot of anger. The wet nurse came over with her son in her arms to talk to her. Lu Yun saw little Bi Ga sleeping soundly in the cradle, and stretched out two fingers to pinch her son's chubby face.
He gritted his teeth and said, "Son, your dad is amazing and he never misses a shot. Isn't he amazing?" It was incredible. Before he could clear himself of the suspicion of drunken promiscuity, he already had a child.
The wet nurse was so frightened by the nobleman's behavior that half of her body was frozen. Caihe slapped away her master's claws with a distressed look on her face, but fortunately there was no mark on her face.
Zhou Boli, shocked at the news, didn't care about his subordinates waiting for a reply, and rushed to Anlan Courtyard with his robe lifted. The wet nurse, who was carrying the young master, was full of grievances. Seeing the prince, she subconsciously wanted to move forward, but saw the precious prince pass by like the wind.
The next moment, the door of the main room slammed shut from the inside.
"Wow--" The little boy in the cradle protested loudly. Mother Dong was not surprised and quickly pulled the wet nurse into the house.
Inside the room, Lu Yun rolled up her sleeves and narrowed her eyes. "You said you didn't touch her, so what's going on now?"
Zhou Boli was speechless and unable to defend himself. "Ayun, this is really strange. Let's ask the doctor to go to Xiuzhu Pavilion to take a look first? What if the time doesn't match—"
Lu Yun sneered, "Zhou Boli, I'll trust you just this once, or we'll meet on the training ground!"
After summoning Mother Chen and giving her a few brief instructions, Lu Yun led her men straight to the Bamboo Pavilion. The gate to the pavilion was wide open, and the gatekeeper was startled to see so many people and hurriedly bowed.
Cen Miaoxin's face looked even uglier than before. Seeing Lu Yun's expression, she bowed her head.
Lu Yun sat down in the hall with a cold face. "Miss Cen, it's not that the palace can't afford a doctor. If you're worried about the trouble of not feeling well for a few days, there happens to be a mother in my courtyard who is skilled in medicine. Mother Chen, please take Miss Cen's pulse."
Cen Miaoxin knew that she had no way to avoid it, so Mother Chen and Caihe helped her sit down on the chair.
Mother Chen took out a porcelain pillow from her small box and said, "Miss Cen, please stretch out your arm and rest it on this pillow."
Cen Miaoxin smiled sadly and admitted directly, "My Lady Princess, I am indeed pregnant. There is no need to ask for the pulse."
Lu Yun glanced at her and said in a tone that brooked no refusal, "Miss Cen, you have been feeling unwell for a few days. It would be good for both you and your unborn baby if you take your pulse."
Cen Miaoxin pleaded, "Princess, could you please ask the others in the house to take shelter for a while?"
Lu Yun frowned. "Mother Chen, stay. Everyone else, leave."
The door closed and Lu Yun nodded to Mother Chen. Mother Chen exhaled lightly, raised her hand and placed it on Miss Cen's arm, concentrating on taking her pulse.
Time passed by minute by minute. Lu Yun stared coldly at the other person's every move, her heart was like a mess. What if the time was right? What if it was really Zhou Boli's?
Finally, Mother Chen stopped, and Miss Cen lowered her head with her back slightly bent.
Lu Yun clenched her fists. "How?"
Mother Chen frowned and said, "Miss Cen, your baby is at least two months old."
Two months!!! Lu Yun suddenly stood up with a humming sound, her voice rising slightly, "If I remember correctly, it's only been a little over a month." Excluding the time it takes for the egg to implant, it should be at most one and a half months.
Cen Miaoxin slumped in her seat. "My Lady Princess, what are you going to do with me?"
Lu Yun's thoughts raced as she confirmed again, "Miss Cen, when did you react?"
Cen Miaoxin closed her eyes in despair. "It was about a month ago. I—I don't know who it was. Just when I was thinking of ending my own life, he came. I thought my life was worthless, and dying was not a pity, but I shouldn't have implicated him."
Cen Miaoxin fell over the table and wept bitterly, "Dad and Mom lived innocent lives. Mom taught me to be upright and live up to my conscience, but I haven't done a single thing. I did such a shameless thing and still want to live in shame. I'm sorry for them and the reputation of the Cen family."
A low voice called "Miss Cen" came from my ear.
Cen Miaoxin stopped crying and slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with determination. "My Lady Princess, I don't know what happened that night. When I woke up, I saw myself lying in disarray with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The public outcry was unbearable, and I had no choice. His Royal Highness simply placed me in a mansion and never touched me."
Lu Yun sighed and said, "Miss Cen, I will help you with this matter."
Cen Miaoxin was stunned, her tear-stained face full of disbelief. "My Lady Princess, what are you trying to help me with? Don't you blame me?"
"If I said I was helping you out of pity, you wouldn't believe me," Lu Yun said bluntly. "Although General Cen has been dead for many years, countless South Vietnamese soldiers have benefited from his kindness. To this day, General Cen's prestige in the South Vietnamese army is still very high, including your mother, Madam Qiong. Now that South Vietnam is about to send troops, there are many objections in the army. The palace needs to win over the army by treating you, General Cen's only descendant, well."
Cen Miaoxin covered her mouth and cried bitterly.
Mother Chen advised softly, "Miss Cen, being too sad is not good for your pregnancy. You've been worrying too much lately, and the pregnancy is not looking very stable."