"How are you feeling?" asked Jiang Yu.
No matter how you put it, Wei Yi Yi looked like she'll call for someone's head to be chop off.
'Worse.'
Wei Yi Yi bottoms up the tea like it was alcohol. That was her third cup. A little bit out of it, she sharply asked, "Why are you here, boss?"
'Don't tell me, he's still trespassing into his employee's dorm?'
A bot of irritation gathered at her stomach as she starts to add remarks to every single thing.
Jiang Yu paused, sneakily thought of a reason, and then replied, "I thought that I should go and remind you about the coming 'fall hunt'."
'In the middle of the night? That, my good sir, is called overtime!'
"Oh. Umm. Is there something that Chenqie need to prepare?" Wei Yi Yi bends down and rubs her forehead.
"No--- nothing... The servants and other officials shall handle it."
With all her might, Wei Yi Yi tried to gulp down her complains. This is the guy who woke you up from your nightmare! Although he brought another torturer, it's the thoughts that count!
When silence accumulated around them, she picks up the conversation. Just for the sake of being polite, Wei Yi Yi continued, "Then does his majesty have someone in mind to bring along?"
Jiang Yu gave her some look. It made Wei Yi Yi thought of the overlapping image of Xiao Ai and Ye Ai Ning.
Her heart thumps for a beat.
Just when she is itching at the edge, her boss gave another indecisive answer.
"... no need," Jiang Yu told her after the usual pause.
If you give me that look and then replied with 'no need', there's definitely someone that crossed your mind! Can't it be just 'there's someone' or 'there's none'?!
'Oh how expected of her boss.' Wei Yi Yi felt her smile stiffening. This guy simply does not know how to court a lady! She's giving a bad review! A negative one!
"What about Imperial Noble Consort Ye? The palace is stunning and comparable to none. Even so, once sister Ye knew that his Majesty thought of her, she'll be delighted." Wei Yi Yi put it as straight forward as is it and directly mention the name.
"And my empress does not mind?" Jiang Yu probes her.
'Can I go to sleep now?'
So many times, sarcastic responses almost slip out from her. Jiang Yu seems to be the expert on making her speechless.
Is this a continuous round cycle? It's good that her patience at work is long.
"How bad does bo--- your majesty view chenqie? Don't you see how hard I work to bring you the beauty!?" Wei Yi Yi pouts and then gasped. How much she had been wronged, she'd be sure to let him see. "It'll be good to go out from time to time, especially when there are occasions. Boss, since only you could do it, you should spoil sister Ye more."
Rewarding after reprimanding. Spoiling after punishing. Wei Yi Yi unconsciously treated Ye Ai Ning like a child.
Always trying to cover up her casual tone, Jiang Yu found it as one of her funny traits. Surprisingly, he was not bothered as much as before with Wei Yi Yi's lack of good etiquette.
"Alright, it shall be according to the empress' arrangements."
Making her as an excuse? How new. Wei Yi Yi avoids eye contact. Ye Ming abused that technique already.
Jiang Yu gave a few more instructions to the servants. He then makes sure that his empress is properly tacked in bed before he joined her.
The emperor did not return to his study that night as per plan. The Empress' nightmare did not reoccur for the rest of the night. The pair peacefully sleeps away the rest of the night.
-----
Holding the brush from the very tip of her fingers. With the left hand supporting the right hand. Trembling, the brush came down with a light stroke.
An ugly, worm-like and disgusting calligraphy came to life.
Seeing the jolted ink, Ye Ai Ning wanted to shout in frustration.
How many more is there?! How long till her confinement?! That Wei Yi Yi spend too many peaceful days already!
"Sister Ye, are you tired? Or are your wounds not healed yet?" Su Mei Fan asked with concern on her tone. Instead of helping Ye Ai Ning write, she volunteered to grind the ink instead. From her position, she stood up saying, "Shall we put the ointment again? This sister will help you spread them."
"Leave me alone." Ye Ai Ning glared at her. This did not put off Su Mei Fan from her advances.
Imperial Concubine Su continues to insist and unconsciously grab her wrist.
"I don't mind sister Ye. This sister shall make sure that there will be no scar after it healed." Su Mei Fan smiles brighten and her tone suddenly change. "After all, I promised her Majesty to take care of you."
Ye Ai Ning does not like hearing anything about Wei Yi Yi. Unless it is about her fall from grace then bringing her up is just polluting her ears!
"You! I said stop it!"
Mustering her strength in a fit of anger, Ye Ai Ning pulled back her wrist. What she did not expect is the weak reaction of Su Mei Fan.
The last thing she heard is a sound of 'aiyo' scaping Su Mei Fan's mouth before she easily pulled Su Mei Fan towards her, tripping on the papers in the process and knocking over the ink with her sleeves. A loud 'thud' sounded and Su Mei Fan falls atop of her, hardly knocking on her chest, making her dizzy.
"Your Ladyship!"
Their maidservant immediately runs to their aid.
Acting according to the scene first, Su Mei Fan eyes moisten, a few tears escape her eyes. She hiccups a few times in fear of Ye Ai Ning. "This sister did not do it on purpose! Don't get mad sister Ye!"
"How dare you!" Ye Ai Ning trembles in anger.
This effectively scared Su Mei Fan as she backed away. In the process, she bumps into the table and the whole pot of tea fell down.
Both of them gasped in shock.
The ink fell down atop her finished work, and then the tea soaked them, liquidating the ink further and spreading it to the rest.
Effectively ruining her entire work!