The Princess And The Lord

"So, we are going to stuck here for two more days, aww that suck…" Lory said while munching her food nonstop for an hour.

"Is hard to believe when mu lovely wife eats two plates of shrimp dumpling" Zhao Li Xin dazzlingly smile.

Lory's mouth pauses then she widens her eyes "How dare you, this is my third plate!" she looks offended for her husband didn't realize how much food she got.

"No, the first one is crab dumpling, this one is the second plate of shrimp dumpling, so I'm not wrong" he explains the matter with a serious face.

Lory props her chin "How meticulous, but did you know when you are married your wife is always right, even when she's wrong, she is right…" Lory smile mischievously.

"That's…not make sense" Zhao Li Xin frown.

"And so is love…" Lory wink then put the last shrimp dumpling on her mouth.

Zhao Li Xin chuckles, is hard not to agree with that.

Lory wiped her oily mouth then she brews herself a butterfly pea flower tea, the blue color tea she got from Bei Li Yan, while Lory pours the tea on the teapot she can't stop questioning Zhao Li Xin "Are we really going to follow Lao Min Na plan, you know we should not underestimate her as you know who is behind her" Lory put the teapot and the teacup on the tray then move it to the round table next to Zhao Li Xin.

"I thought she going to send someone to tamper my ship I even deliberately lower the security to see who is coming but nothing…I got nothing" Zhao Li Xin sips his wine then heaved "It's kinda pissed me off" he mutters.

"I know you are a proud man Li Xin but I don't we should follow Lao Min Na plan, something….make me feel unsettled" she gaze outside the window, something in the air make her feel uneasy but she doesn't know what.

"I understand, I will hasten the permit so we could sail tomorrow" Zhao Li Xin stroked the back of Lory's head, he rather not give Lory unnecessary worries, and perhaps she's not wrong, he should stop underestimate Lao Min Na.

Eventually, Lao Min Na got what she wants that is his full attention, and one day he will make her regret to ever meet him at all.

__________________________

Meanwhile back to Zhuang family again, on the far east small courtyard Jiang Yu Ran accompany by her old maid walk pass the small path with a small lantern on her old maid hand, this place is quite far from the main residence the path only illuminated by few stone lamps so is still quite dark around here.

When she enters Jiang Yu Ran was greeted with Yu Qin who carries a tray with steaming soup on it "Madam" she greets Jiang Yu Ran with a courteous bow.

"Careful not to drop the soup" Jiang Yu ran expression soften, she doesn't look like an uptight and stern ladylike before.

"I will not …" Yu Qin childishly smiles, well she only fifteen after all the same age as Zhuang Li Yu.

"Is that for Mu'er" Jiang Yu Ran open the lid and the fragrant smell hit her nose "Herbal oxtail soup?" her face lit up.

"Yes madam, I heard this is good for bones and it would warm your body too, I thought it will good for the third master" Yu Qin innocently smiles, she genuinely concerns for her master, unlike other maids who only want to curry their master favor.

"Good, give it to Mu'er right away before it cold," said Jiang Yu Ran, behind her the old maid kindly open the bedroom door for Yu Qin to enter.

"Young Master the dinner is ready!" Yu Qin announces her master then put the bowl to the small table.

"Yu Qin….Mother, you here too?" a young man about seventeen shift the curtain, the man is very handsome but unfortunately, he looks feeble with pale skin and tired eyes.

The old maid pulls the small stool beside the bed, while Yu Qin put the small table for the bed in front of the young man, she prepares the spoon and white clean clothes, she works meticulously despite her timid behavior, a faint curved appeared on the young man lips but disappeared before Yu Qin could see it. 

Then Jiang Yu Ran seat beside the bed, she looks at the young man who suddenly cripples a month before and not just his legs, his health also deteriorated rapidly, she already called many famous physicians but no one able to heal him not even Lao Min Na, what could Lao Min Na gives is a pill that would delay the young man illness, which is not comforting at all.

The young man spoons his soup elegantly, his manner is flawless and his move is smooth, his behavior shows how high his status was. But the fact is his status is lower than Zhuang Mo Lan, his name is Zhuang Mu Zi her Mother is only a bed warmer not even concubines but fortunately, Jiang Yu Ran was fond of him so she nurtured him and love him like her own Son.

"What's bothering you Mother?" He looks at Jiang Yu Ran with gentle eyes. Zhuang Mu Zi's mother died when giving birth to him since then the one who taking care of him is Jiang Yu Ran. 

No one understands why Jiang Yu Ran care so much for a bed warmer Son if Jiang Yu Ran didn't have Son people probably understand her fondness toward Zhuang Mu Zi but Jiang Yu ran already have a son, for a long time Jiang Yu Ran decision had made everyone baffled including her own husband Zhuang Mu Tao.

For Zhuang Mu Zi the reason did not matter, if not Jiang Yu Ran taking care of him, he would be a dead long time ago so he owed everything to Jiang Yu Ran, he thought he could never repay what Jiang Yu Ran gave to him in this lifetime.

"You don't have to worry, your mother is strong, nothing she couldn't handle it" she comforts her adopted Son who ironically is closer than her own Son but that because her husband never interferes how she educated Zhuang Mu Zi unlike Zhuang Bao Jie, her husband always complain about her method when educated her Son, eventually she got tired and let her own husband take charge of her Son and that her biggest mistake she ever did.

Zhuang Mu Zi put down the spoon then slowly wiped his mouth "Yu Qin told me what happened, should we provoke Long Ming" he calmly said but his eyes filled with worries.

Jiang Yu Ran let out a long sigh "It's all because Jin Kai and that women persuasion, I don't know what she told your grandfather to make him complied to against Long Ming"

Zhuang Mu Zi shakes his head in distress "We never have a problem with Hei Shen before, should we provoke him just for a promise from Jin Kai and Lao Min Na? will they keep their promise" he obviously doubt Lao Min Na and Jin Kai sincerity.

Jiang Yu Ran also feel the same but she unable to change her father's in-law minds "Forget about that, there's nothing we can do anyway, I rather ask how is your condition now?" she patted Zhuang Mu Zi arm.

Zhuang Mu Zi make wistful smiles while 

looking down on his paralyzed feet "I'm fine...." he casually said, he doesn't want to make her more worried.

How could Jiang Yu Ran didn't know what he's thinking, Zhuang Mu Zi is raised from baby until he becomes this big how could she don't understand him "Is Lao Min Na pill works, do you still take the pill?" Jiang Yu ran to feel dejected as she watches her adoption son who used to be healthy a month before now he becomes crippled.

Zhuang Mu Zi faintly smiles "No...I never take Lao Min Na pill" he shows the jade bottle beside his side table.

Jiang Yu Ran opens the lid and the pill still full it's obvious he never takes the pill, not even one, she looks at her Son with a frown "Why don't you take the pill, your condition..." she becomes anxious as she tightens the grip on the bottle.

"Mother..." he said with a gentle voice "I don't trust Lao Min Na...I never trusted her, there's something about her that make me feel restless" said Zhuang Mu Zi.