Western Xia had left, but the disasters never stopped. Hua Chun’s belly grew bigger and bigger, and more and more things kept happening in Great Liang. Some palace maid had contracted smallpox without telling anyone, and by the time it was discovered, many palace staff had already been infected.
The palace was thrown into panic, and Yuwen Jie immediately ordered Hua Chun sent to the Marquis’s residence to avoid infection.
“Is His Majesty himself alright?” He Chang’an asked, deeply worried. “I noticed him coughing a bit some days ago.”
Hua Chun’s mood was heavy. She held her belly, saying nothing. Qing Niao beside her, face pale, said quietly, “His Majesty does seem to genuinely be ill. The imperial physician said it’s a chill.”
Catching a chill in the middle of a smallpox outbreak looked dangerous no matter how you saw it. He Chang’an frowned, quickly ordering someone to go into the palace to gather information, then sat with Hua Chun to wait.
“Am I truly a star of misfortune?” After a long silence, Hua Chun asked. “Terrible things really do keep coming one after another.”
“Don’t think like that,” He Chang’an frowned. “Having you here is Great Liang’s blessing.”
Qing Niao nodded gently, saying quietly, “The star of misfortune might be this servant instead.”
Hua Chun was startled, glancing at Qing Niao. He Chang’an was confused. “Why would it be you?”
“Because…”
“Don’t talk nonsense.” Hua Chun cut Qing Niao off firmly. “You must be exhausted these past two days, your complexion doesn’t look good at all. Go rest first.”
Qing Niao paused, then sighed softly. “Yes.”
Sensing something was off with Hua Chun, He Chang’an frowned. “Your Highness…”
“Second Brother needn’t worry about me,” Hua Chun smiled. “Is your wedding all prepared? Now would be a good time for a joyous occasion to counter the bad luck.”
He Chang’an pressed his lips together, about to speak, when someone entered from outside.
“I’ve been wanting to pay my respects, but never had the chance. The Marquis surely can’t keep stopping me today,” Hua Xiayu said gently, coming forward and half-kneeling before Hua Chun. “This lowly girl greets Consort De.”
He Chang’an frowned, glancing toward the door, and the steward shrank back to the side guiltily.
Hua Chun was stunned for a moment before recalling this was the Hua family’s former Fourth Young Lady, and quickly had her rise.
“Never expected to meet again under these circumstances,” Hua Xiayu said, her gaze falling on Hua Chun’s belly, sighing softly. “How has Eldest Sister been faring?”
Switching from calling her “Eldest Brother” to “Eldest Sister” still sounded a bit awkward to Hua Chun’s ears, but seeing her attitude was so agreeable, Hua Chun smiled. “Everything’s fine. Congratulations to you and the Marquis as well.”
“Thank you, Eldest Sister.” Hua Xiayu looked at her, seeming to want to say something but hesitating.
Hua Chun raised an eyebrow, glanced at Qing Niao and the Marquis of Gongyu, and smiled. “We sisters haven’t seen each other in a long while—why don’t you two step out and give us girls some private time to chat?”
“Alright.” He Chang’an stood, glanced at Hua Xiayu, and withdrew together with Qing Niao.
Watching the door close, Hua Chun turned to ask Hua Xiayu, “What did you want to say?”
Tears welled up in Hua Xiayu’s eyes, and she tugged at Hua Chun’s sleeve pitifully. “Eldest Sister, if you still value our sisterly bond, please don’t come to the Marquis’s residence.”
Slightly startled, Hua Chun raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Haven’t you heard what people outside are saying? They all say the Marquis’s heart truly belongs to you, that I’m merely your substitute.” Hua Xiayu pouted, looking utterly wronged. “How could anyone feel good hearing words like that? If you’re not around it’s fine, but when you come, how am I supposed to hold my head up?”
Hua Chun’s mouth fell open. “You actually believe such nonsense talk?”
“Is it nonsense?” Hua Xiayu frowned at her. “Do you know that the Marquis still has your portrait hanging in his study?”
Huh? Hua Chun shook her head—she truly hadn’t known this. He Chang’an had always kept proper boundaries with her, never showing any special feelings, and besides, she was about to give birth now—how could he still be preoccupied with her?
“Even if Your Highness won’t consider Xiayu’s feelings, please consider your own reputation,” Hua Xiayu said. “With smallpox in the palace, you could stay at the detached palace instead.”
Was this her way of driving her out? Hua Chun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Thinking it over, she supposed her position here was indeed rather awkward—might as well just go along with what Hua Xiayu wanted.
“Alright.”
Hua Xiayu brightened, bowing to her. “Thank you, Eldest Sister!”
It had to be said, Hua Xiayu knew how to handle people. If she’d come in today ordering her around imperiously, Hua Chun certainly wouldn’t have left, but stating things so plainly like this, with some reasoning behind it, she could only comply. After all, Hua Xiayu was the one about to be married, while she herself was just an outsider here.
Sighing, Hua Chun watched her leave, then called Qing Niao back in and told her what had happened.
Qing Niao couldn’t understand. “How did you become so easy to push around? She tells you to leave and you just leave? The Marquis wouldn’t agree to this either.”
“I know I currently hold the absolute advantage—whoever it is, they’d side with me over Hua Xiayu,” Hua Chun shrugged. “But what she said wasn’t wrong. She’s about to get married, and me staying at the Marquis’s residence really is awkward, especially with all those messy rumors floating around. Me leaving is better for everyone—staying here would just make everyone uncomfortable instead.”
Qing Niao frowned, staring at her for a moment, her eyes suddenly reddening. “It’s this servant who’s brought you trouble.”
“What are you talking about.” Hua Chun pouted. “What does this have to do with you, dragging yourself into it?”
Biting her lip, Qing Niao extended her palm toward Hua Chun. “Look.”
Hua Chun stared in confusion at the patch of blue-black on her palm. “What is that?”
“I don’t know, but normal people don’t have this. This servant thinks it might be related to what the King of Hell spoke of, the price to be paid,” Qing Niao said quietly. “This color keeps getting darker, and more and more disasters keep happening around us. This servant thinks, perhaps once this servant dies, Great Liang can return to peace.”
The price for disrupting yin and yang could hardly be small, could it?
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Hua Chun said. “You’re guessing wildly with no evidence at all. If you died, what would I do?”
“You have His Majesty.”
“Men can’t be relied on—even a sow could learn calculus first!” Rolling her eyes, Hua Chun said, “Do you trust yourself, or do you trust the Emperor?”
“…This servant will never betray you.”
“Well, there you go then,” Hua Chun said. “Alright, stop overthinking things. Pack up, I’m going to let Second Brother know.”
Qing Niao hesitated. She could truly, clearly sense that the problem lay with herself, but leaving Hua Chun alone here also didn’t sit right with her.
What should she do?
He Chang’an was preparing dinner for Hua Chun when she suddenly appeared behind him. “Second Brother, I’m leaving.”
“Hm?” His handsome brows furrowed, He Chang’an looked at her, unable to understand. “It’s chaos out there right now, where would you go?”
“To stay at the detached palace,” Hua Chun said. “Can’t be helped—staying here, His Majesty would be unhappy again.”
Wasn’t it the Emperor himself who’d sent her here in the first place? He Chang’an frowned. “I’ll go to the palace once.”
“No need, no need,” Hua Chun waved her hand. “Some things I need to say myself. You rest. Just focus on preparing for your wedding.”