The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl

72. Give in to Him

Translator: Iris Guo

Kong Wenjie’s eyes fell on A’Chou’s face again. Then he looked away and left the main hall when she began to feel uncomfortable. She breathed a sigh of relief and walked him out hurriedly.

When Kong Wenjie was gone, A’Chou hastened to run back to the main hall. She looked at the deck chair, and couldn’t like it more. Then, she moved it towards the wall, and pushed the door to the chamber open hurriedly. When she was about to share the exciting news with Zhong Mingwei, she smelled the stink. She was stunned. Then she changed the cushion, and wiped Zhong Mingwei’s wet thighs with a handkerchief. She blamed herself in sorrow: “Sorry I came back late. Are you uncomfortable? I’ll boil some water now and wipe your body later.”

Zhong Mingwei felt ill and depressed. He tried not to lose his temper and only humphed.

A’Chou knew that Zhong Mingwei was ill at ease, so she dared not mention the deck chair and hurried to the kitchen.

After the water was boiled, A’Chou hurriedly brought warm water to the chamber and wiped Zhong Mingwei’s body carefully. When she was rubbing his back, she got a bit pleased: “The bedsores on your back are much better. At this rate, they’ll be cured in a few days.”

“Who were you talking to?” Zhong Mingwei enjoyed the warmth from the handkerchief on his body. He was in a better mood, willing to speak.

“Oh, I bought a deck chair from the market, and ran into Officer Kong. He got time, so he helped me take the chair back.” When A’Chou mentioned the deck chair, she was especially delighted and couldn’t help nagging: “It’s really nice, wide and big, made of Siamese rattan. I’ve tried it, very comfortable. I’m sure you’ll like it. When your legs are better, I’ll help you out and enjoy the sunlight in the courtyard.”

“Uh-huh.” answered Zhong Mingwei faintly.

When A’Chou heard Zhong Mingwei’s indifferent response, she thought that he got angry again, so she got butterflies in the stomach. She tried to figure out his mind while wiping his legs, and wasn’t sure if he was mad because she bought a deck chair or Kong Wenjie helped deliver the chair. But she dared not ask him directly because she worried that she would rile him if she said the wrong thing. These days they had been getting along and used to laugh and talk, but she would be extremely cautious when he was depressed. Anyway, she didn’t feel aggrieved because after all, he was a patient and naturally would have a temper. She was willing to give in to him.

After A’Chou finished wiping Zhong Mingwei’s body, she hastened to cook. When she came to the chamber with noodles, it was already dark, so she lit the candle.

Zhong Mingwei still tried to eat by himself. He had difficulty using the chopsticks, so it took him a long time to eat less than half a bowl. A’Chou was so anxious that she couldn’t help suggesting: “How about cooking another bowl for you? Your noodles are getting cold.”

“Yours are not?” said Zhong Mingwei while staring at A’Chou’s bowl.

A’Chou was stunned, looked at her bowl filled with noodles, and became embarrassed immediately. Then, she lowered her head, took a swallow of the sticky noodles silently, and glanced at Zhong Mingwei. She supposed that he was in a better mood yesterday, when he kept smiling although he struggled to eat and his forehead was covered with sweat. Today he never smiled.

“Who’s Officer Kong?” asked Zhong Mingwei suddenly while stirring his noodles.

“Just an Imperial Guard. His name is Kong Wenjie, and he was ordered to escort Miss Duan to NingGuTa.” A’Chou said hurriedly: “So was his brother Kong Wenmin.”

Zhong Mingwei didn’t look gloomy anymore. After taking another bite, he continued to ask: “Where is the former guard?”