“Let us go in for the meal.” Shen Ruochu sniffled and fought back her tears.

Jiang Zhibai bowed his head and did not dare say anything more. He carried Shen Ruochu into the side chamber.

Yuncai stood rooted to the spot, as though struck by lightning.

Inside the side chamber, Shen Ruoyi saw Jiang Zhibai carrying Shen Ruochu in his arms and was instantly stunned.

Jiang Zhibai stepped past her. The maids, sharp-eyed, pulled out a wooden chair. Shen Ruoyi watched as Jiang Zhibai set Shen Ruochu in the chair, then picked up a ladle and served her soup.

“A’Bai, A’Jie, you two…”

“Yiyi, come and have your meal.” Shen Ruochu smiled and beckoned her over.

Shen Ruoyi concealed the astonishment in her eyes and walked slowly over to sit beside Jiang Zhibai.

“Ruochu, eat more.” Jiang Zhibai picked up his chopsticks and chose a piece of stuffed tenderloin, placing it in Shen Ruochu’s bowl.

“A’Bai, you do not need to tend to me.” Shen Ruochu pressed her lips and smiled. “Stuffed tenderloin is what Yiyi loves to eat — why did you give it to me?”

Jiang Zhibai was a little surprised. He remembered it being what Ruochu loved — there had even been a time he had refused to let her eat it and she had cried.

“A’Bai!” Shen Ruoyi pouted. “A’Jie dislikes tenderloin the most.”

Jiang Zhibai cast her an indifferent sidelong glance.

Shen Ruoyi’s heart gave a lurch. “A’Bai, what is the matter with you?”

A’Bai had never looked at her that way.

Jiang Zhibai did not respond to her. He looked at Shen Ruochu anxiously. “Ruochu, why have you not touched your chopsticks? You must not skip a meal.”

Shen Ruochu’s expression grew dim. “A’Bai, everything on the table is what Yiyi likes to eat. I am not used to it.”

Jiang Zhibai looked toward the attending maids and said coolly, “Take everything away. From now on, all meals are to be prepared according to what Ruochu likes to eat.”

The maids froze for several seconds and hesitated, not daring to step forward.

The manor master had previously instructed them that everything in Yuanjin Manor was to follow the Madam’s wishes — even his own words were not to be heeded; the Madam’s word took precedence in all things.

“Still standing there?” Jiang Zhibai’s expression chilled several degrees.

Yuncai glanced at Shen Ruoyi, then signaled the maids behind her with a wave of her hand.

Once all the dishes had been cleared away, Shen Ruoyi’s eyes reddened. She gingerly took hold of Jiang Zhibai’s hand. “A’Bai, what has come over you?”

Jiang Zhibai shook her off and picked up his handkerchief to wipe his hand.

“Jiang Zhibai!” Shen Ruoyi cried out.

The girl’s eyes brimmed with tears, her hands clenched into fists. A pang shot through Jiang Zhibai’s heart. “What… what is it?”

“A’Bai, how could you have them take all the food away?” Shen Ruochu said in a gentle voice. “Yiyi and I have very different tastes. I will go back to my own courtyard for the meal — you and Yiyi eat together.”

“No.” Jiang Zhibai turned his head and took Shen Ruochu’s hand, cradling it in his palm. “Ruochu…”

Jiang Zhibai frowned. He had been about to say that Yiyi could eat alone, yet he could not bring the words to his lips.

Shen Ruochu drew her hand back and asked with a smile, “A’Bai, why are you behaving so strangely today?”

Jiang Zhibai’s brow furrowed slightly. “Ruochu, am I being strange?”

“Very strange, Jiang Zhibai.” Shen Ruoyi’s tears of grievance slid down her cheeks.

“Why are you crying?” Jiang Zhibai frowned and wiped her tears away.

Meeting the man’s detached gaze, Shen Ruoyi’s breath caught. A’Bai no longer loved her…

Was he going to abandon her and the baby?

“Yuncai, push me back to the courtyard.” Shen Ruochu suddenly spoke up.

Yuncai quickly moved behind her. The manor master had been behaving strangely toward Miss Shen today. If Miss Shen left, the manor master would comfort the Madam, and the Madam would no longer be upset.

But a moment ago it was the manor master himself who had carried Miss Shen in, and Yuanjin Manor had no male attendants…

“Ruochu, you have not yet eaten. Go back after you have finished your meal.” Jiang Zhibai pressed his lips together. “From now on, you will move into the main chamber.”

“Jiang Zhibai, what are you saying?” Shen Ruoyi’s nose turned red.

On their wedding day he had sworn an oath to her that he would never take a concubine. The main chamber was their bridal room — how could A’Jie be moved there?

“Yiyi, what is this fuss about?” Jiang Zhibai’s voice was cold.

Shen Ruoyi felt a wave of cramping pain in her lower abdomen. Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Jiang Zhibai, you…”

“A’Bai, go outside for a moment — I have something to say to Yiyi.” Shen Ruochu heaved a sigh.

Jiang Zhibai hesitated briefly. “Very well.”

“A’Jie, what is wrong with A’Bai?” After Jiang Zhibai stepped out of the side chamber, Shen Ruoyi’s tears flowed unchecked. “Ever since I met A’Bai, he has never treated me like this. Is he going to abandon me…”

The more the girl said, the harder she cried, her shoulders heaving in small tremors, her eyes full of nothing but hurt.

“Yiyi, it is A’Jie’s fault. It seems A’Jie may have mixed up the elixir pills.”

Shen Ruoyi wiped her tears, her voice anxious. “A’Jie, will it affect A’Bai’s health in any way?”

Shen Ruochu curved her lips. “A’Jie thought you would first ask whether there is an antidote. I did not expect you to ask after A’Bai’s health first.”

“A’Jie, I would rather he ignore me.” Shen Ruoyi’s voice was thick with a nasal edge. “As long as he is well.”

Shen Ruochu took her hands and soothed her with a smile. “Put your heart at ease. It will not harm A’Bai’s health. It only causes him to develop feelings of affection toward the person who prepared the elixir. A’Jie will go back and make an antidote right away. Within a few days, A’Bai will have recovered.”

“Mm.” Shen Ruoyi hugged Shen Ruochu, hiccupping. “A’Jie, I thought A’Bai was going to abandon me.”

“He would not. How could he ever abandon you?” Shen Ruochu gently patted her back.

Shen Ruoyi nodded. “A’Bai has said it — he will never abandon me.”

The hand patting her back stilled for a moment. “Yiyi, you are truly fortunate to have found A’Bai.”

“One more thing, Yiyi — you gave Young Master Qi too much antidote. Whatever you do, do not let your guilt cause you to let something slip.” Shen Ruochu cautioned her. “A’Jie can see that they are clearly not ordinary people. Do not bring trouble to Yuanjin Manor.”

“A’Jie, I did not. I prepared it exactly according to your medical text — not more, not less.” Shen Ruoyi said, red-eyed.

She had been very careful. It was impossible that she had made an error.

“Yiyi, A’Jie took Young Master Qi’s pulse that day. The amount of medicine he had taken was clearly excessive. There is no need to hide it from A’Jie.”

“A’Jie, I am not hiding anything.” Shen Ruoyi concealed the dejection in her eyes.

A’Jie did not believe her.

Shen Ruochu frowned. If it was not Yiyi, then who?

Surely he had not taken too much himself?

Would anyone be so foolish?

Did he not know that medicine could not be taken in excess?

Especially her medicine.

……

“Achoo.” Yan Shiyao rubbed her nose.

Yan Yunning’s brow gave a faint twitch. “A’Jie, don’t tell me you’ve caught a chill again?”

A’Jie had fainted, Qi Qingchen had fainted, Qi Qingchen had recovered — would A’Jie now faint again?

“No, it is perhaps just that Mother is thinking of me.” Yan Shiyao smiled.

Xuan Yanyu hooked his arm around Yan Yunning’s neck and drew her a little closer. “Yan Yunning, that day your Lu step-mother also said she was thinking of you — yet you did not sneeze. It would seem the Chancellor’s wife does not think of you. Do not take her words to heart.”

Yan Yunning tamped down the flutter in her heart. He was worried she would feel hurt that the Chancellor’s wife thought only of A’Jie and not of her.

Across from them, Qi Qingchen imitated Xuan Yanyu and hooked his arm around Yan Shiyao’s neck.

Her forehead knocked against the man’s chin. Yan Shiyao winced, her brow scrunching with pain.