His Rui

Chapter 40 – A Cruel Husband

The next morning Yi Huiqing woke up as usual. Her maids had a very nervous expression on their faces. She could feel her personal maidservant sneaking glances at her as the maid waited upon her.

But she ignored everything.

Ignorance is bliss. How true, Yi Huiqing thought.

Till the time she was ready for the day, the concubines had already gathered in the front hall to pay respects in the early morning.

The front hall of the Lantai Courtyard was bustling with chattering and snickers as everyone waited for the new concubine.

However much to their disappointment, the person they had been waiting for never came even after Yi the wangfei arrived.

Sitting on the higher seat, Yi Huiqing looked at the fake smiles on every concubine's face.

Zhao Zhang Wei had two concubines before she had entered the Imperial Palace and three new concubines entered after her marriage. Counting the Concubine Shaolin, Xinhe Palace had a total of six concubines.

But none of the women had successfully delivered a child till now.

She could not help but feel sympathy for these women.

But then she thought she didn't have that right. Was she different from them in any way?

——-

The group of concubines sat smiling at each other waiting when someone would open her mouth first and ask the question they all wanted to ask.

Finally, Concubine Chun could not hold back anymore. She stood up and poured down a cup of tea for Yi Huiqing with an amiable and humble smile on her face.

The rest of the concubines lowered their heads and hid a smile.

"Wangfei, Will the younger sister Shaolin not come to pay respect? Apparently, it's her first day in Imperial Palace."

Yi Huiqing took the cup of tea from Concubine Chun's hands and smiled.

"Sure enough, only Concubine Chun can be this direct in asking anything."

Concubine Chun lowered her head in shame when her thoughts were seen. The rest of the concubines laughed but soon their attention was picked when Yi Huiqing started to speak again.

"Concubine Shaolin is waived for not paying respect for three days."

She already knew if that girl Shaolin came to Lantai Courtyard today then she would be mocked.

Although she didn't know why did Wangye suddenly visited her yesternight, she felt responsible for the situation she put Concubine Shaolin in.

So she sent her personal maidservant to inform her not to pay respect for few days.

If everything went well and Wangye spent tonight in Concubine Shaolin's abode then Concubine Shaolin would face less mockery and sneers.

"Wangfei has a big heart."

Concubine Lin said with a light smile.

Their hearts were filled with dissatisfaction but outwardly they put a very amiable smile on their face and showed their agreement.

At this moment, a sudden announcement was made by the guards who were standing outside the Lantai Courtyard.

"Welcoming the His Highness, The Second Prince in Lantai Courtyard."

Everyone had a different expression on their faces. The concubines' smile this time was the genuine one. Their eyes were filled with a bright smile and excitement and anticipation could be seen from their faces.

While Yi Huiqing only felt a bit weird by the sudden arrival of her husband.

Her heart pounded a little faster remembering the last night.

It was the first time when he tried to intimate with her. Other times it would always have been her who had to initiate and only she knows how embarrassed she felt doing that. If it was not her mother who persuaded her to do that then she doubted that they would have even consummated their marriage.

A moment later, Zhao Zhang Wei entered the front hall of Lantai Courtyard. His face had the usual gentle smile as if it was not him who had left Lantai Courtyard with a cold face yesternight.

When everyone saw carefully, they found a young man in white clothes following him.

He stopped in front of Yi Huiqing who performed a bow and greeted him.

"Wangfei greets Wangye."

After that, the rest of the concubines also bowed and greeted him.

Zhao Zhang Wei just waved his hand in acknowledgment and the concubines rose to their feet without moving their gazes away from the Second Prince. But all of his attention was on Yi Huiqing.

"Last night, Wangfei said that she was feeling unwell so this one specially asked Eunuch Zhang to summon the Imperial Physician."

The fastened heartbeat slowed down and Yi Huiqing felt that someone had slapped her and she was awoken to face the reality.

Everyone knew that he left Lantai Courtyard yesternight but no one knew the reason for that. Now he himself announced in front of so many people that she refused to serve him because she was feeling unwell.

How could he not know that it was just her excuse?

But he still summoned an Imperial Physician to check on her health.

 Now if the Imperial Physician didn't find anything wrong with her health, then would not she become a joke in front of all the concubines, in the whole Xinhe hall?

The indifference inside her heart grew more and this time her face didn't even hold a polite smile for him. 

The man in front of her was really cruel. How could she not see it in the past four years?

Swallowing down her brewing emotions, Yi Huiqing slid down her sleeves a bit and forwarded it.

"Here, the Physician can take this Wangfei's pulse."

The young Physician stepped forward and taking care of propriety he didn't touch her much and took his pulse.

As the Physician took the pulse, Yi Huiqing looked at the man in front of her who was looking down at her with a mocking smile.

"Does Wangfei rest for sufficient time?"

Zhao Zhang Wei's smile faltered. He frowned on hearing the physician's questions and asked

"Why?

The physician respectfully answered him. His head was lowered as he spoke

"Wangfei's constitution seems very weak and the pulse rate is faster which indicates that Wangfei does not get enough sleep."

The young physician continued after a moment of silence.

"The lack of sleep can cause irritation, change in behavior, and mild but continuous headaches. This servant can suggest a few herbs and medicines that can help Wangfei in eradicating these problems."

Yi Huiqing's eyes flickered with surprise as she looked at the young physician.

After the physician finished saying everything, Zhao Zhang Wei face didn't have any expression as he said

"Then Benwang(This Prince) makes you the personal physician of Wangfei for one week. "

Steeping closer to the young physician, Zhao Zhang Wei said to him in a cold voice.

"If Benwang fei health doesn't improve after a week, then this Prince will take care of you."

Saying this, Zhao Zhang Wei gave one last glance to Yi Huiqing.

'I shall see till when you can try to hide.'

After that, he turned around and left Lantai Courtyard emitting a cold aura.