The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl

84. The Stomachache

Translator: Iris Guo

A’Chou hastened to help Zhong Mingwei up. Then, she tried to put him back to bed, removed his clothes, and let him lie prone. She didn’t have the time to wipe off the blood covering half of her face but took a basin of cold water back to apply a cold compress to his bruises. Then, she frowned and murmured: “The bedsores just got better, and there are new wounds.”

“Anyway, it is just a scratch.” sighed Zhong Mingwei with ease. He felt very cozy while the burning skin was covered by the cold handkerchief. Then, he suddenly remembered something and turned his face to A’Chou: “Girl, go wash your face.”

“Okay.” A’Chou forgot about the blood on her face until Zhong Mingwei reminded her. It should look terrifying. She changed the handkerchief on his body and left to wash her face.

Zhong Mingwei stared at the blood on his sleeve, paused for a while, and exhaled deeply: “Damn girl almost scared me to death.”

The next day, A’Chou went out again. She wasn’t planning to buy something but see a doctor.

Since yesterday afternoon, A’Chou’s stomach ached dully. It seemed that she got hurt somewhere when falling with Zhong Mingwei. At first, she could bear it, but after midnight she even woke up in pain. She tossed and turned on the straw mat and ran to the toilet several times, but the pain wasn’t relieved at all. Later, even Zhong Mingwei heard her and asked her what was wrong on the other side of the wall. She had no choice but to explain that she just couldn’t sleep because she was stuffed. He stopped talking, and she dared not move at all but forced herself to stay still.

At five o’clock, A’Chou got up hurriedly. She changed a clean sheet for Zhong Mingwei in the dark, made some porridge despite the pain, finished breakfast with him, and hastened to go out.

If not for such unbearable pain, A’Chou would never spend money seeing a doctor. Who knew how much that would cost?

A’Chou covered her stomach with one hand and clutched her wallet with the other while walking downhill slowly. She was mentally and physically exhausted.

When A’Chou reached the foot of the mountain, her face was already unusually pale. She couldn’t go any further, squatted, and held onto her stomach. Her body was dripping with sweat, and she felt great abdominal pain as if the organs were wrung together.

After resting for a long time, A’Chou stood up again, went forward for a half li, and reached the Jixian Study. She was already very thirsty, and she couldn’t help licking her dry lips when seeing the fence from the distance.

Should she go inside?

A’Chou hesitated. Her stomach churned, and she didn’t think she could make it to the market. She’d better rest in the Jixian Study for a while. However, was it okay to always bother the Chen Family like this?

When A’Chou hesitated and thought whether she would ask for a drink, the door cracked open. Mrs. Chen walked out with a sewing kit, and looked surprised when seeing her standing outside: “Girl, it’s you! I was just planning to go uphill to see you!”

“Ma… Ma’am,” A’Chou forced a smile, “You wanted to see me?”

“Well, I just got you a job. I wanted to go find you yesterday, but it was dark and the road was too bumpy.” said Mrs. Chen while shaking the needle kit. Then, she suddenly frowned when seeing A’Chou’s face. “Girl, what’s wrong? You’re not feeling well?”

“Ma… Ma’am, I have a stomachache.” A’Chou’s stomach was so painful that she was out of breath and sobbed. “Could you let me go inside and sit for a while?”

“Sure!” Mrs. Chen hastened to put down the sewing kit, walked towards A’Chou, and held the girl by the hand. However, as soon as she touched A’Chou’s arm, she became more anxious. “Why are you sweating like this?”