The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl

67. The Money

Translator: Iris Guo

“I’m fine. I have to practice step by step.” Zhong Mingwei was lying prone on his bed. A’Chou had put the tray beside his pillow, and the bowl was on it. He held the bowl in one hand, and seized the chopsticks in the other. He awkwardly dipped in the noodles in difficulty, and had a really hard time putting a strip of noodle in his mouth. Then, both of them breathed a long sigh of relief and smiled.

“You are the one who wants noodles.” Finally, A’Chou started to eat and couldn’t stop complaining: “It’s obvious that your hands are still stiff, so why do you want noodles? Aren’t you asking for trouble?”

“Tomorrow I also want noodles.” Zhong Mingwei looked calm when he squeezed the chopsticks and struggled to put some fungi in his mouth. Then, he chewed with great delight.

Of course A’Chou understood Zhong Mingwei. He was so desperate to recover that he used every opportunity he had to practice, even when he was eating. However, she felt badly sorry for him looking at his sweaty forehead.

“It’s really good.” Zhong Mingwei had another bite of fungi. He used to be bored with all kinds of costly foods including abalone, trepang, shark fin, and fish maw, but now he was curious and pleased with everything A’Chou made, as if he had found the gate to the new world. “Very refreshing.”

“Seriously? I’ll make you fungi salad tomorrow, and that’s refreshing for real.” A’Chou smiled while biting the tip of her chopsticks. She felt overjoyed when seeing Zhong Mingwei gobble the noodles she made.

“Why taught you cooking?” After finishing the meal, A’Chou made Zhong Mingwei a large bowl of jasmine tea. He smelled the strong fragrance and felt lazy all over.

“Every imperial maid knows how to cook. We had to support ourselves. Do you think I got any help?” A’Chou snorted while applying some ointment to Zhong Mingwei’s back. There was still a palm-sized area of bedsores, so she helped apply ointment twice a day. “Still painful?”

“A little.” Zhong Mingwei squinted and moaned.

A’Chou saw Zhong Mingwei lying at ease and knew that he was comfortable. She got envious and wanted to punch him, but she still tried to make him more comfortable.  She thought that he lay on his stomach all day long, so his waist must be sore. Thus, she massaged his waist with greater strength, and he moaned louder as she expected. Obviously, he felt much more comfortable.

“In a few days, when you feel better, I’ll help you out and you can enjoy the sunshine.” said A’Chou while massaging Zhong Mingwei’s waist.

A’Chou knew that Zhong Mingwei had been staying indoors for too long, so she had long wanted to take him to the courtyard. At first, he was so pessimistic, uncooperative, and weak. Besides, it would be impossible for her, a skinny girl, to get him out herself.

However, today was different. Since Zhong Mingwei had become cheerful, A’Chou planned to take him out again.

“Uh-huh.” As A’Chou expected, Zhong Mingwei totally agreed with her.

After a pause, A’Chou continued: “But before that, I need to get you a deck chair.”

Zhong Mingwei’s eyes suddenly opened and he stared at A’Chou. Under his gaze, her body went stiff: “What’s wrong?”

“Do we have enough money for that?” asked Zhong Mingwei awkwardly.

Ever since Zhong Mingwei was born, he had never worried about money for one second, let alone asking about family expenses. These days, he ate very well, but he felt quite uneasy because he knew that he was depending on A’Chou’s little savings. Besides, he realized that they couldn’t consume without producing. He intended to ask her about money several times, but he eventually did not because he felt ashamed. After all, he was older than her. Further, he used to be a noble royal member. But now, he was just a loser. What difference would he make?