Xiuzhu’s expression softened slightly, but she still said stiffly, “If you really thought that way, you wouldn’t have answered like that just now. You… you don’t have that intention at all.”

Ding Yang sighed and said, “It’s not that I don’t have the intention, but that I don’t have the ability. I lost my father when I was young, and my mother exhausted her health raising us three brothers. Now mother is elderly, and my two younger siblings are still unmarried. Our family’s circumstances are difficult – what do I have to marry you with? Even if I forced myself to marry you, it would only make you suffer.”

These words deeply moved Xiuzhu, and she said impulsively, “As long as I can be with you, I don’t mind any hardship.”

Ding Yang smiled bitterly, “You don’t mind, but I do. You’ve given me your whole heart – how could I let you suffer? Fortunately, Consort Ji treats me fairly well and occasionally rewards me with things. So I’m thinking that if I work diligently for a year or two and save up some money, then I can properly marry you.”

“Is that really what you think?” Before Xiuzhu finished speaking, Ding Yang had already raised his finger and said solemnly, “I, Ding Yang, swear to heaven that if there’s a single false word, may I be struck by lightning…”

Xiuzhu hurriedly covered his mouth, “I won’t let you say such things.”

Ding Yang pulled down her hand and said tenderly, “Do you believe me now?”

Xiuzhu nodded, “Yes, I believe you.” She then said guiltily, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lost my temper with you without understanding the situation.”

“It’s my fault for not telling you earlier, which made you overthink things. I should be the one apologizing.” He then looked at Xiuzhu and said, “Can you wait two more years for me?”

Xiuzhu now completely believed him. How could she say no? She said shyly and timidly, “As long as you have me in your heart, let alone two years – even if it were a lifetime, I would wait for you.”

Guilt flashed through Ding Yang’s eyes, and his heart felt unbearably heavy. At this moment, he desperately wanted to tell Xiuzhu everything, but he couldn’t say a word. He could only hold Xiuzhu tightly and say, “You’re so good.”

After parting from Ding Yang, Xiuzhu carried the box back to the Prince of Qin’s residence as if nothing had happened. On this very day, Li Yuan assembled three hundred and fifty thousand troops, led respectively by Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin to counter Xue Ju and Zhong Juchou.

Yunyi was afraid that Zhangsun Shi would harm her health with worry, so she came early to keep her company, bringing some freshly made pastries. She stayed until after sharing the noon meal with Zhangsun Shi before leaving.

Not long after she left, Xiuzhu brought in the freshly brewed pregnancy-stabilizing medicine and said softly, “Miss, it’s time to take your medicine.”

Zhangsun Shi took the medicine and looked at Xiuzhu, whose forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat. She said with concern, “The kitchen is so hot. Perhaps you shouldn’t go there to brew medicine anymore. Let the kitchen staff do it.”

Xiuzhu smiled and said, “Brewing medicine doesn’t take too much time, and this servant can endure it. I don’t want them to bring you another bowl of burnt medicine to drink.”

A few days ago, the kitchen staff had carelessly burnt the medicine. Afraid that Zhangsun Shi would blame them, they didn’t dare tell the truth and just threw away the burnt portions and re-brewed it. But Xiuzhu still detected it by smell and scolded them severely. From then on, she personally brewed all of Zhangsun Shi’s pregnancy-stabilizing medicine, not allowing others to handle it.

Of course, this so-called carelessness wasn’t really accidental but was Xiuzhu’s deliberate scheme – she had sent the kitchen staff away, creating the appearance that they had burnt the medicine, then naturally took over the task of brewing medicine to facilitate her manipulations.

Right now, the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine in Zhangsun Shi’s hands was exactly what Xiuzhu had brewed with the pale bamboo leaf added. After brewing it, she immediately removed the pale bamboo leaf from the medicine dregs and discarded it, completely undetected.

Zhangsun Shi took a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her forehead, saying warmly, “After the lesson from last time, I’m sure they won’t dare to do it again.”

“Since it concerns Miss and the young master’s safety, it’s better to be cautious.” While speaking, seeing Zhangsun Shi looking at her intently, Xiuzhu touched her cheek and asked puzzledly, “What is Miss looking at? Is my face dirty?”

Zhangsun Shi shook her head, “No, it’s just… I’ve been frequently scolding you lately, and you haven’t been talking to me much. I thought you were angry with me.”

Xiuzhu was stunned, then said with a complex expression, “No matter what happens, you will always be this servant’s dearest miss. This will never change. It’s just… I’m afraid Miss no longer likes this servant.”

“Who said that?” Zhangsun Shi stroked her cheek and said warmly, “I will never forget that when I was sent back to my maternal uncle’s house, it was you who stayed by my side without abandoning me. To me, you’ve long been no different from family.”

These words touched Xiuzhu’s heartstrings, and she said emotionally, “Miss, do you really mean that?”

“Silly girl, why would I lie to you?” Zhangsun Shi said with feeling, “I still remember when you first came to my side – we were both just little children. In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed.” After pausing for a moment, she continued, “After I give birth and regain my strength, I’ll find you a good marriage and let you marry in style. Consider it my thanks for your companionship these past ten years.”

“Miss!” Xiuzhu hadn’t expected Zhangsun Shi to remember her so well and was deeply moved. She blurted out, “This servant won’t marry. This servant wants to stay with Miss forever.”

Zhangsun Shi said with a smile, “How could I not want that? But ultimately, finding you a good destination is more important. If you remained lonely for life because of me, I would never have peace of mind.”

“Thank you, Miss.” Xiuzhu had only spoken impulsively in her emotional state. Her heart was now entirely devoted to Ding Yang – how could she truly want to stay by Zhangsun Shi’s side forever?

Zhangsun Shi smiled slightly and lifted the warm pregnancy-stabilizing medicine to drink. A trace of struggle flashed through Xiuzhu’s eyes. Although Miss was now close to Consort Yang, Miss’s heart still remembered her. In comparison, she was scheming against Miss like this – wasn’t it going too far?

Thinking of this, she almost wanted to speak up and stop Zhangsun Shi, but this thought only appeared for a moment before she suppressed it. She was doing this for Miss’s own good, to prevent her from being harmed by the Yang woman without knowing it. Besides, the pale bamboo leaf would only make her pregnancy unstable – it wouldn’t harm the child, so there was no need to worry.

While Xiuzhu was reconsidering, Zhangsun Shi had already drunk the bowl of medicine and handed back the empty bowl, saying, “I’m a bit tired and want to sleep for a while. You should go rest too.”

“Yes.” After tucking in the blanket for Zhangsun Shi, Xiuzhu withdrew. She was indeed somewhat tired. After instructing the maid Wenlan to keep good watch outside, she returned to her own room to rest.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when Xiuzhu drowsily heard someone calling her name incessantly. She half-opened her sleepy eyes and said lazily, “What’s the matter?”

“Something’s happened to the Princess Consort! Sister Xiuzhu, get up quickly! Hurry!” Wenlan said while forcefully pulling at Xiuzhu.