The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl

27. An Ordinary Life

Translator: Iris Guo

“Alright! I’ll take care of my great grandchildren.” Mrs. Chen grinned from ear to ear. Her wrinkled hand caressed Chen Qingxuan’s face gently and repeatedly.

…

A’Chou dared not stay too long in the market because she worried about Zhong Mingwei being alone. She found a clinic in the market, described his symptoms to the doctor, and spent three qian[1] of silver ingots on ointment for two months. She had been gnashing her teeth in anger since she left there. The ointment was so expensive, and she couldn’t even bargain. A ripoff in broad daylight! Damn!

[1] Note: Liang, an ancient unit of weight (5 grams)

A’Chou stared at a meat stall by the roadside while calculating how much ointment she could buy with the money left. The doctor told her that nutrition was also important for curing bedsores. Porridge was already extremely delicious for her, but for Zhong Mingwei…

After hesitation, A’Chou spent one qian of silver ingots on pork, and more than one qian of silver ingots on necessities including a rolling pin, a washbasin, fruits, bean vermicelli, and a comb. Almost six qian of silver ingots were spent in such a short time, so A’Chou dared not stay longer in the market but went back with the big basket full of various things.

…

Zhong Mingwei had been staring at the beam for a long time. He heard A’Chou cleaning up the house, locking the door, and leaving. It was dead silent in the room, like when A’Chou hadn’t come here, so he got a little anxious. Although he knew that she just left for the market, he still felt somehow uneasy.

It was just two days.

Two short days.

Zhong Mingwei heard A’Chou drawing water and cooking before dawn. He could hear clearly the bucket crashing the wall of the well, her slight gasps when she carried the water to the kitchen, and her opening the door. Soon, he heard her pouring the water into the pot.

At that time, Zhong Mingwei was a little proud of his good hearing, but immediately he felt very bored and turned his face. However, the sound of cooking disturbed the quiet morning. After a while, the door of the kitchen was opened again, and A’Chou walked closer perhaps to feed him.

That girl didn’t bind her feet, and her feet were big enough. She wasn’t like the women in the Imperial Palace at all, who bound their feet, pursued the female grace in the Chu and Han Dynasty, and moved as silently as a mouse. Even the imperial maids imitated them by walking affectedly.

He was familiar with and even liked all these sounds made by A’Chou. They also reflected an ordinary life. Zhong Mingwei lay on the bed, listened to all kinds of sounds made by her. He felt warm, comfortable, and secure.

The person who had been sleepless could even fall asleep peacefully being surrounded by these sounds.