Dugu Jingyao is reborn as Li Chu's beloved

Early the next morning, Zheng Wan opened her eyes early, quietly got up and asked someone to prepare Li Chu's toiletries. Only then did Li Chu get up.

When Zheng Wan saw Li Chu stand up, she walked lightly to the bedside and said, "Your Highness, you are awake. Let me help you wash up."

Li Chu obviously liked her much more than Cui Caiping and Li Wanqing. Firstly, it was because she had helped Dugu Jingyao before, and secondly, it was because he had chosen this person himself, which was somewhat better than the two who were forced upon him.

He nodded in agreement, and let Zheng Wan wet the handkerchief for him and hand him the mouthwash cup.

After finishing all this, Zheng Wan helped Li Chu change his clothes. The only difference between Zheng Wan and Li Wanqing was that Li Wanqing had asked him to stay for breakfast, but Zheng Wan just did her job well.

After all, Zheng Wan still respected Dugu Jingyao very much in her heart. In addition, Dugu Jingyao had personally promised her mother that as long as she behaved herself in the palace, she would have everything she deserved. So she didn't want to think about those trivial things and just wanted to serve His Highness and the Princess well.

Li Chu was very satisfied with Zheng Wan's understanding. He raised the corner of his mouth slightly and said, "You should also pack up early, so as not to miss the time to pay your respects to the princess."

Zheng Wan smiled and replied, "Yes, Your Highness, I will definitely not miss the opportunity to pay my respects to the Princess."

Li Chu reminded him, "By the way, Cui Liangdi and Li Liangdi are also here today. Especially Cui Liangdi, if you say something wrong, don't get into a fight with her. The princess will help you."

Zheng Wan thanked him gratefully, "Thank you for your reminder, Your Highness. I will pay attention to it."

Li Chu nodded and left.

If she hadn't had to pay her respects to the princess, Zheng Wan would have gone back to bed and napped for a while longer. However, she still had to have breakfast, and if she did, she would be late. She had no choice but to dress up, have breakfast, and go to Wangyuexuan.

Today, Cui Caiping used the same trick again and met Li Chu by chance. Unfortunately, Li Wanqing arrived just after she saw Li Chu and said a few words to him.

Li Wanqing still remembered the last time Cui Caiping had caused her to be late, so she was sure not to let Cui Caiping get her wish. She went up to her and said, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."

Seeing Li Wanqing, Li Chu stopped looking at Cui Caiping and asked Li Wanqing, "Are you here to pay your respects to the princess as well?"

Li Wanqing nodded slightly and said, "Yes, Your Highness, I was late last time, so I set off early this time. I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence that I met Your Highness and Cui Liangdi here." As she spoke, she glanced at Cui Caiping.

Li Chu put his hands behind his back and said, "In that case, you can go. I have to go to court."

Cui Caiping wanted to say something else, but Li Wanqing stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Your Highness, I respectfully bid you farewell." Cui Caiping could only agree.

After Li Chu walked away, Cui Caiping turned around and glared at Li Wanqing fiercely, but Li Wanqing ignored her, touched the hair accessories on her head and said, "Let's go. We can't be late again today." After that, she left with Cuizhu and Wutong.

Cui Caiping, the master and the servant were left alone. Cui Caiping stamped her feet in anger, but after all, they were not in the house, so Lianxin advised: "Madam, let's go first, don't miss the opportunity to pay respects to the princess and let the princess find fault again."

Although Cui Caiping couldn't swallow this, she couldn't help but swear in her heart: "Li Wanqing, just wait for me. I will not let you have an easy time in the future."

Because Zheng Wan had finished serving Li Chu today, she also dressed up and had dinner, so when Li Wanqing arrived at the flower hall, Dugu Jingyao and Zheng Wan were already chatting.

Li Wanqing walked down to greet Dugu Jingyao: "Your servant greets the princess."

Dugu Jingyao nodded to Li Wanqing to stand up, and she got up and sat back down. As soon as she was seated, Li Wanqing smiled and said, "I was afraid of being late, so I left early. I didn't expect that I wouldn't be as early as Sister Zheng."

Only then did Dugu Jingyao smile and say, "You're not too late. Oh, by the way, Zheng Wan, this is Li Wanqing, Li Liangdi."

Zheng Wan stood up and bowed to Li Wanqing, "I pay my respects to Li Liangdi."

Li Wanqing said, "Sister Zheng, there's no need to be so polite. From now on, let's just call each other sisters. Don't keep calling each other 'Liang Di' and 'Liang Di'. It's too distant. Princess, don't you agree?"

Dugu Jingyao nodded and smiled, "Sister Li is absolutely right. Now that we are all family, we should call each other sisters!"

The flower hall was filled with laughter as a few people were chatting. Cui Caiping appeared at an inopportune time, and the flower hall suddenly became quiet.

She twisted her slender waist, walked to the middle, and bowed reluctantly, saying, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to the princess."

Dugu Jingyao said symbolically: "No need to be polite, please sit down."

Cui Caiping noticed a new face across from her and knew without hesitation that it was Zheng Wan. She said, "Is this Mrs. Zheng? You're here so early!"

Zheng Wan was about to fight back, but after thinking about His Highness' instructions, she decided it was better to mind her own business. She simply stood up and saluted, "Your servant pays respects to Concubine Cui Liang."

Unlike Li Wanqing, Cui Caiping did not say any polite words, but accepted the gift with peace of mind.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Dugu Jingyao instructed Shijian, "Since everyone is here, Shijian, go get the things."

Shi Jian obeyed the order and brought a cup of tea to Zheng Wan, saying, "Rister Zheng, it's time to serve tea to the princess."

Zheng Wan smiled and agreed. She took the tea and walked to Dugu Jingyao. She knelt down and offered it to her, saying, "Princess, please have some tea."

Dugu Jingyao took the tea, took a sip and called out, "Si Jian."

Upon hearing this, Si Jian took out the prepared red envelope and perfume and gave them to Zheng Wan. Zheng Wan took them with a smile and thanked her happily: "Thank you, Princess. The things in this shop are in short supply. I went to buy them before and had to wait in line for several days before I could buy them!"

Dugu Jingyao looked at Zheng Wan's childish temper and laughed, "I'm glad you like it. By the way, I've told Sister Li and Sister Cui before that you don't have to come to pay your respects every day. I don't have so many rules here. You only need to come to pay your respects on the first and fifteenth day of each month." Zheng Wan nodded in agreement.

Dugu Jingyao saw that it was almost done, so she said, "Okay, everyone got up early today, and it's still early. If you're tired, you can take a nap."

Cui Caiping had no desire to see Dugu Jingyao "show off her power" in the first place, so she was the first to stand up and bow, saying, "Princess, I am tired and will withdraw first."

Before Dugu Jingyao agreed, she turned around and left. Of course, Dugu Jingyao didn't care about it.

Li Wanqing and Zheng Wan were also about to get up and say goodbye, but Dugu Jingyao said, "By the way, Sister Zheng, I have something I want to ask you. Please stay for a moment."

Li Wanqing thought about how Dugu Jingyao had left her alone the next day after her night visit. She guessed that Dugu Jingyao was probably going to tell Zheng Wan the same thing. So, she tactfully excused herself.

After Li Wanqing left, Dugu Jingyao winked at Shi Jian, who understood and left with the other maids. Zheng Wan, though simple, was not stupid. She naturally couldn't leave her maids here, so she asked them to wait outside.

Seeing that everyone who should have come out had come out, Shi Jian closed the door of the flower hall, leaving only Dugu Jingyao and Zheng Wan in the flower hall.

Dugu Jingyao didn't beat around the bush with Zheng Wan, but got straight to the point: "Sister Zheng, there's something I need to explain to you in advance. His Highness has discussed with me that he wants to wait until I give birth to a legitimate son before letting you have another child. This matter has been clearly approved by the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Princess, so..."

Hearing this, Zheng Wan couldn't help but understand Dugu Jingyao's meaning, so she asked first, "How can I prevent pregnancy?"

Dugu Jingyao didn't expect Zheng Wan to ask so directly, so she asked curiously, "If it were anyone else, they would probably be desperate to give birth to a son for His Highness. At the very least, they would want to have a child to keep them company. Don't you want that?"

Zheng Wan was also frank. She said, "I also want to bear children for Your Highness, but the royal family still attaches great importance to the hierarchy between legitimate and illegitimate children. I understand this. So if you, Princess, give birth to a legitimate eldest son, I can also seek the protection of my brother and become his helper if I have another child. How wonderful!"

Dugu Jingyao couldn't help but laugh at her words. "Sister Zheng is such a straightforward person! No wonder His Highness said you're sensible! In that case, His Highness has ordered someone to prepare contraceptive soup. Please drink it, Sister Zheng."

Soon, Feng Shengyi came out from behind the screen again, holding a bowl of medicine in his hand.

Seeing the pitch-black medicine, Zheng Wan flinched. She hated drinking bitter medicine since she was a child. She said tactfully, "Princess, is there any other way? Can I not drink the medicine? I hate drinking these medicines the most..."

Dugu Jingyao was genuinely amused by her. "Haha, don't worry, I've already had candied fruit prepared and will have it brought up right away. There's nothing I can do about it, His Highness ordered it. If it were me, I might be able to think of other solutions. Don't worry, this medicine is the mildest contraceptive soup. It won't harm your body and won't affect your future pregnancy and childbearing. Don't worry, I'll remember what I promised your mother. As long as you don't cause any trouble, I'll definitely ensure you have a child."

Zheng Wan looked at the bowl of medicine, then at the candied fruit, as if she had made a great decision. She gritted her teeth, stomped her feet, picked up the medicine and drank it all in one gulp, then stuffed the candied fruit into her mouth. Only then did Zheng Wan, who had been frowning bitterly, relax her brows a little.

After her mouth became sweet, Zheng Wan complained, "If I have to drink this every time I sleep with you, then I'd rather sleep with you less often."

Dugu Jingyao said, "Okay, okay, then I'll ask Shi Jian to pack some candied fruit for you to take back."

Zheng Wan's smile deepened as she said, "Thank you, Princess. I'll take my leave now."

After Zheng Wan took the candied fruit and led the others away, Dugu Jingyao's smile faded. For one thing, she didn't know Zheng Wan that well; she had only helped her once, and she didn't know if her innocence was genuine or just a facade. Furthermore, if she truly had such a childish nature, she'd likely be tricked by others. If she was truly sensible and obedient, there was no harm in helping her out. After all, a friend is always better than an enemy.

Dugu Jingyao then returned to her bedroom and instructed Shijian, "Shijian, go find someone reliable, or go check yourself to see if Zheng Wan is really as innocent as she appears to be."

Shi Jian also knew Dugu Jingyao's worries, that this Madam Zheng would say one thing in front of her and another behind her back, so she agreed and went out to investigate the situation about Zheng Wan.