Chapter 222

Huo Qiyan glared at her in annoyance, "Keep your mouth shut. You can't do anything right. What use are you?"

"Maidservant..." Cui Yu said aggrievedly, "My lady, those two Yanzhi and Yin Lan are truly hard to get close to. This servant has tried to get on their good side several times to no avail. They are completely indifferent. Also, everything in Changfeng Pavilion is strictly guarded. We don't have enough people to infiltrate it... Not to mention slipping something into the Crown Princess's food, even getting close to Changfeng Pavilion is no easy feat..."

A flash of resentment went through Huo Qiyan's eyes. She waved her sleeve angrily, "What makes her a Crown Princess!"

"This servant misspoke..."

"Come, let's go find cousin and discuss this."

"Yes, my lady..."

...

After sending Ning Si back, Gu Ying happened to see Huo Qiyan storm off in the distance.

Yin Lan told her about Cui Yu's recent attempts at ingratiation.

Gu Ying said helplessly, "Don't get too involved with those Huo sisters. Neither of them are good news."

Yin Lan smiled, "Mistress, don't worry. This servant knows better."

Gu Ying was naturally reassured by Yin Lan, but still felt uneasy, "My close relationship with Ning Si can't be kept secret. If someone tries to use her against me, I'll be in a very passive position. Yin Lan, tell Yanzhi to go find Huai An. Ask him to arrange two guards to secretly protect Ning Si."

Yin Lan hesitated, slightly taken aback, "Mistress..."

Gu Ying smiled and took her cold hand to warm it up in her palm, "I've said it before. If you don't want to, I'll find an opportunity to explain things clearly to Huai An. Don't be scared. If you don't want to marry, I'll support you for the rest of my life."

Touched, Yin Lan's eyes reddened slightly, "Thank you, Mistress."

"What's there to thank..." Gu Ying's voice trailed off as her brows furrowed. Yin Lan quickly supported her and asked worriedly, "Mistress, what's wrong?"

Gu Ying suddenly felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, which almost made her break out in a cold sweat.

She gripped Yin Lan's hand tightly and stood still for a while to ease the pain. She slowly let out a breath, "Just now...I felt a pain in my stomach..."

Yin Lan became anxious, "It's windy and snowy outside. Did you catch a chill?"

"Maybe..." Gu Ying took a few careful steps in the snow and felt something warm flowing out between her legs. She said awkwardly, "It's probably my monthly period coming. Yin Lan, let's hurry back."

Yin Lan relaxed, "Alright, I'll make some Four Substances Soup for you to drink when we get back."

In her previous life, Gu Ying was used to enduring pain until she could barely get out of bed when her period came every month after they took shelter in the dilapidated temple.

In this life, she had always taken good care of herself and her periods were painless at first. She didn't expect it would become irregular after the Crown Prince left.

Especially after their wedding night, the Crown Prince would often insist on physical intimacy...

Her first period after their marriage was off schedule, but it was a lot smoother and her stomach didn't hurt at all.

But as soon as it was over, the Crown Prince would be all over her like a tiger, almost wanting to spend every night with her.

She also took birth control pills from time to time. She wondered if the changes in her period had something to do with the medicine.

Sitting in the bathtub, the warm water soaked every inch of her skin, and the pain slowly faded away.

Yin Lan brought her a sanitary pad.

"Mistress, are you feeling better? The Four Substances Soup is cooking."

Gu Ying pursed her lips awkwardly, "Yin Lan, do periods change after marriage?"

Her period was quite related to the Crown Prince. Especially after their wedding, the Crown Prince would often insist on intimacy...

The timing of her first period after their marriage was off, but it was much smoother and her stomach didn't hurt at all.

But as soon as it was over, the Crown Prince turned into a beast, almost wanting to spend every night with her.

She also occasionally took contraceptive pills. She wondered if the changes in her period were related to the medicine.

Yin Lan smiled, "Sometimes there are changes. A woman's emotions can also affect her period. Sometimes when my husband angers me, my stomach would hurt a lot more that month, even some black blood. If I'm not angry and in a good mood, my period isn't too bad and my chest won't hurt either. Actually it's fine as long as the timing doesn't shift too drastically every month. Don't worry too much, Mistress."

"I'm not worried," Gu Ying got out of the water. "I just feel like there's less blood this time..."

Yin Lan brought a towel to dry her mistress clean before helping her put on warm clothes, "Do you want me to ask Doctor Yu to take your pulse?" Gu Ying thought about it and decided not to make a big fuss out of a small issue, "No need. It was probably the chill from being out in the wind and snow today that caused my body's imbalance. Just a minor issue. Drinking your soup will help."

"Alright."

After the hot soup, Gu Ying felt comfortable all over.

But her temples still ached slightly. With Lantern Festival coming up, she would need to prepare herself to face Jiang Yin. So she hurried to bed to rest.

After the Crown Prince left, Yin Lan slept on the couch inside the room to serve her.

Gu Ying lay there for a while but couldn't fall asleep. The quilt still held the Crown Prince's scent. Whenever she closed her eyes, she could picture him holding her to sleep.

Yet she also thought about how he had gone off to Yueyang with Cousin at this moment. She didn't even know their exact situation. If Jiang Yin had transmigrated as well, how could he let the Crown Prince and Cousin have an easy time?

Unease lingered in her heart. Staring at the dark canopy above her bed, she said softly, "Yin Lan, I've made a list of gifts. Go take them from my private treasury tomorrow and bring them back to the Gu residence."

Although Yin Lan was puzzled why Mistress and the Crown Prince kept their assets so clearly separate, she tactfully smiled and replied, "Alright."

...

Five days later on Lantern Festival.

The sounds of phoenix flutes and jade chimes filled the air as fishes and dragons danced throughout the night.

On this snowy night, the magnificence of Bianjing City was like an exquisite picture scroll with nothing left out.

There was no curfew today. Every household had started cooking tangyuan balls early in the morning and prepared sumptuous meals to entertain guests.

Restaurants and shops lined the streets. Vendors had set up their stalls early and filled them with all kinds of snacks and beautiful paper lanterns.

The streets were full of children's laughter and firecracker sounds.

Men, women, adults and children were all out on the streets celebrating.

As usual, the festival in the suburbs was even livelier than in the city, with lantern riddles, appreciating decorative lanterns, lion and dragon dances.

Early in the morning, Ning Si had taken her servants to the temple to pray for luck.

As Gu Ying was going back to the Gu Residence for the festival today, she didn't join her but secretly ordered people to protect her well.

Gu Ying went to pay respects to Madame Cheng and Duke Zhao Changxing early in the morning.

She hadn't seen Zhao Changxing for a long time. He spoke to her amiably as if nothing had changed between them despite Huo Qiying's matter.