Chapter 35: What If She Likes Women? Part 2

“Is that true or false?” Another person moved closer to ask. “Can you really tell that from a pulse?”

Xunqi frowned. She could ask Ah Yuan about this later. Ah Yuan’s medicine shop was now open, and Shiqi was helping out. The two went out early and came back late, living a comfortable life. They had proposed moving out of the Prime Minister’s residence, but since they were both girls, living alone in the capital wasn’t convenient, so Mother hadn’t agreed.

Perfect. She would go ask tonight.

The group was still talking. No one knew who shouted, “The Left Prime Minister is coming.”

The gossiping crowd scattered like birds and beasts. Xunqi followed, moving back to where she had been standing. When the Left Prime Minister came over, she immediately handed her the water pouch.

Yan Zhi’an didn’t drink. Instead, she walked over and looked at her suspiciously. “What were you all talking about?”

“About the Duke Dingguo’s residence, no, the Marquis Dingguo’s residence. About the Heir staying home in mourning and not going out.” Xunqi made something up on the spot, smiling ingratiatingly at her.

The weather was bright, and the girl’s smile was beautiful, her eyes bright and charming, making her small face look even more radiant. Yan Zhi’an nodded, took the water pouch, and drank a sip. “Walk ahead. If you’re hungry, eat something yourself.”

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Xunqi asked in confusion.

Yan Zhi’an turned around. “I’m not hungry.”

Xunqi stared blankly at her back. It was slender and resolute, the curve of her spine elegant. This scene slowly fell into her eyes, deeply etched into her mind.

After walking for most of the day, on the way back to the city, the group of pampered officials was exhausted and quiet. The ones who had been debating fiercely at noon were now all hanging their heads.

Xunqi was on horseback. She was young and had run all over the mountains all day without feeling tired. Her mind was full of what those gossiping officials had said during the day.

After entering the city, the crowd dispersed. Xunqi followed the Left Prime Minister back to the residence.

When they returned, Chen Qingrong had prepared dinner, stewing chicken soup, one bowl for each person. Xunqi drank a large bowl first. Yan Zhi’an took a small sip.

Xunqi quickly ate two bowls of rice, and, using the excuse that she was dirty, hurried back to her room to bathe. Yan Zhi’an was also tired and didn’t pay attention to her sudden departure.

After dinner, Chen Qingrong was still idle, playing with her fat cat. She sighed. “Another day has passed. When will my family grow? It’s so boring. Shiqi and Ah Yuan in the back courtyard are busy with their shop every day. No one is left to talk to me.”

She muttered about how boring it was, thinking about returning to Jinling. But then she remembered the two people in the residence, one big and one small. The big one was busy with politics, the small one with her studies. When they got busy, they both forgot to eat. No, she couldn’t leave. She had to keep an eye on them.

Her closest relative was only her daughter, and half a granddaughter.

Chen Qingrong rambled on for a while. Xunqi, after returning, bathed, changed clothes, dismissed her maidservants, and lay down on the bed to sleep.

The maidservant tucked in the Young Mistress’s blanket. Hearing her even breathing, she carefully retreated.

The moment the door closed, the ‘sleeping’ person on the bed quickly opened her eyes. She put on her robe, quietly came to the window, opened it, and vaulted out.

The movements were fluid, without any hesitation. After leaving the courtyard, Xunqi smiled, clapped her hands, and headed towards Shiqi’s courtyard.

The lights were bright in Shiqi’s courtyard. The two were inside, checking their accounts. A maidservant led Xunqi in. “Seventeenth Miss, Miss Yuan, the Young Mistress is here.”

The two looked up. Shiqi stood up happily, smiling at Xunqi. “Why are you here at this hour?”

“I came to see you two.” Xunqi turned to the maidservant. “You may leave.”

The maidservant bowed to the two and silently withdrew.

Xunqi took the opportunity to walk towards Ah Yuan. “I have something to ask you.”

“Alright. Shiqi, you go out first.” Ah Yuan understood her meaning.

Shiqi was puzzled. “What is it that I can’t hear?”

“I’m a physician. You should listen to me.” Ah Yuan pushed Shiqi out, even leaning in to kiss her cheek, making Xunqi cover her eyes in embarrassment. When she opened her eyes, Shiqi had already run off.

Xunqi then composed herself. After Ah Yuan returned, she spoke. “Let me ask you, after a woman gives birth, can it be seen in her pulse?”

“This… an experienced physician can. I can’t. My Academy Head can.” Ah Yuan said, ashamed. “This kind of skill isn’t something every physician has.”

Xunqi nodded, her expression slightly grave. So the Academy Head could do it too. She said, “Who else in the capital can do it?”

“You can go find an experienced physician. They have a lot of experience and might be able to tell. Why are you investigating this?” Ah Yuan didn’t understand Xunqi’s actions.

“I’m just asking casually. I read about it in a book.” Xunqi smiled faintly, stood up, and said, “Don’t tell a third person, understand?”

“I understand. Don’t worry, I won’t even tell Shiqi.” Ah Yuan promised. “You’ve been like a second parent to us. I won’t leak anything.”

Since Ah Yuan had promised, Xunqi was reassured. She smiled at her, turned, and left the courtyard.

After she left, Shiqi came in carrying medicinal herbs. She turned to look at the figure disappearing into the night. “Little Qi seems to have a lot on her mind. What’s wrong?”

“She’s probably just grown up, and with growing up comes more worries. She also has to report to the Patrol Battalion soon. She’s probably worried about that.” Ah Yuan deliberately lied, but in her heart, she was suspicious. Was Xunqi investigating her own origins?

A woman who has given birth? Was she referring to the Left Prime Minister?

In front of Shiqi, Ah Yuan didn’t say anything, but suspicion began to grow in her heart.

The moon rose above the willow tips, its shadow like a hook, illuminating the earth. All was silent.

Wushuang slipped in quietly, walked to the bedside, and reported in a low voice. “Head of the Family, just now the Young Mistress pretended to sleep, dismissed the maidservant, and then went to Seventeenth Miss’s courtyard. Shortly after, Seventeenth Miss came out, and the Young Mistress spoke privately with Miss Yuan.”

“I know.”

Yan Zhi’an’s steady voice came from within the bed curtain.

Wushuang heard this and withdrew.

Inside the curtain, it was pitch black. Yan Zhi’an’s eyes were slightly bright. Why had Xunqi secretly gone to see Ah Yuan? Why did she chase Shiqi away?

Her daughter was grown up, with deep thoughts. She was gradually feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Yan Zhi’an felt she was worrying about nothing. Not only did she have to solve Her Majesty’s political problems, but she also had to watch over her daughter, afraid that Xunqi might take a wrong step.

With something on her mind, she couldn’t sleep all night. Yan Zhi’an barely slept. When she woke up at dawn, she was exhausted, her eyes couldn’t open, but her mind was very clear.

Yan Zhi’an boarded her carriage to go to court, keeping her eyes closed the whole way. When she got off, her eyes felt a little better.

She had no heart to listen to what was said at the morning court. When court was dismissed, the Right Prime Minister, Shangguan Li, blocked her path.

“I’ve noticed you’ve been in a daze all day. What’s wrong with you?” The Right Prime Minister looked at her, noticing the dark circles under her eyes. It was clear she hadn’t slept well recently. She asked kindly, “Having trouble lately?”

Yan Zhi’an was troubled, but didn’t know how to say it. She only said, “I have a cousin who likes women. Last night, Xunqi secretly went to see this woman in the middle of the night. What do you think…”

“Xunqi likes that woman?” The Right Prime Minister’s face changed. “What does she do?”

“Why did she go in the middle of the night?” Yan Zhi’an didn’t understand Xunqi’s reasoning. “Even if she had to go in the middle of the night, why not go openly? Why sneak around?”

Anything involving ‘sneaking around’ was never good.

The Right Prime Minister speculated. “Is she perhaps infatuated with some girl?”

Hearing this, Yan Zhi’an’s face changed slightly. “Don’t scare me. If she likes women, Her Majesty will skin me alive.”

The Right Prime Minister’s face also turned grim. “Where is this girl from?”

“Jinling, the Yuan family.”

“Yuan Fusheng’s clan?”

“Yes.”

“Then have Yuan Fusheng come for a visit. She can get some information out of this girl. It’s a good opportunity for Yuan Fusheng to teach at the Imperial Academy for a couple of days.” The Right Prime Minister quickly made up her mind. “Keep her away from the Yuan girl and your cousin. She’s at the age of budding romance. If she gets influenced, Left Prime Minister, you know the consequences.”

Yan Zhi’an felt cold all over, even her heart was chilled. “If she likes women, should we support it or stop it?”

“Stop it, of course. The fate of the nation rests on her. She can’t be willful.” The Right Prime Minister’s tone was helpless. “In this life, she is destined not to be willful. Even you and I can’t act arbitrarily. How can she? Left Prime Minister, you should find a chance to ask her intentions. You are her mother now. She is dependent on you and won’t be wary of you.”

Yan Zhi’an was silent. For a moment, she didn’t know if the path she had chosen was right or wrong. She asked, “Since you and I can freely choose who to marry, why force her?”

“She is the Heir Apparent. We are merely subjects.” The Right Prime Minister was also helpless. Gazing at the Imperial City, a fierce aura pressed down upon them. “We have our current choices because of our own efforts. We are only ourselves. She is the future of the nation.”

“But have you asked for her opinion?” Yan Zhi’an couldn’t help but argue. From the moment she had held Xunqi in the Heavenly Prison, who had ever asked Xunqi’s wishes?

It was as if Xunqi’s voice echoed in her ears: “I have no ambition.”

She said she had no ambition. Yan Zhi’an’s eyelashes trembled. The Right Prime Minister’s tone was firm. “She was born into the Imperial Clan. Enjoying wealth and honor means she must shoulder responsibility. Her current happiness is built on the path you have paved for her. Without her identity, would you hold her in the palm of your hand?”

Yan Zhi’an was rarely at a loss for words. She turned and left on her own.

The Right Prime Minister slowed her pace, walking to the very end.

Xunqi left the residence, shaking off Wuming, and wandered through the streets, buying a bunch of food. Finally, she was found by Wuming. Wuming’s face was pale with fright. “Where did you go?”

“I was buying food. Don’t you want some?” Xunqi handed the pile of food she had bought to the other, her smile pure and clear.

She was carrying a lot of food, and she had indeed gone to buy food. Wuming was relieved. She took the roasted chicken leg and took a big bite. She had just felt like she’d walked out of the gates of hell. She’d been scared to death.

The master and servant finished eating and returned to the residence. The sun was setting in the west. Xunqi returned to her room. She had bought many medical texts and came back to study them diligently.

When Yan Zhi’an came, the girl was sitting behind the desk, frowning in confusion, looking very troubled. She couldn’t help but find it amusing. She walked over and saw the medical texts on the table.

She had snuck out in the middle of the night to see Ah Yuan just to study medicine?

“Xunqi.” Yan Zhi’an called out in confusion.

“Hm?” Xunqi was so startled she closed the medical text and nervously put her hands behind her back. Why didn’t she knock before coming in? She suddenly felt like she’d been caught doing something wrong.

Her reaction made Yan Zhi’an suspicious. She reached out her hand. “Give me the book.”