After Hua Zhu Yu returned to the palace, it was already the 3rd night watch(11pm-1am). Huangfu Wu Shuang presumably had gone to rest for the night but luckily Hua Zhu Yu was not on duty tonight. As a result, she went north towards the living quarters of the palace eunuchs. This time she did not have to share a room with Jixiang like in the past and had a room all to herself. Although she and Jixiang both took turns to keep vigil and did not stay in the same room overnight together, it was still uncomfortable.

She pushed open the doors, lit the candle and went to bed. She laid there for quite some time but sleep would not come. She lightly stroked her abdomen and felt as though she was still in a dream. Was a baby really in there?

As if the child wanted to testify to its existence, a nauseous feeling arose and she quickly rushed off the bed, one hand propped against the wall, she bent down and threw up. However, there was nothing left in her stomach to expel. Although she was just dry heaving, she was drained of energy.

The doctor had said that she can take a medication after she ate to alleviate the nauseous symptoms. Gasping for air, Hua Zhu Yu wondered if her morning sickness was that severe.

She took out the prescription and wanted to look over it again when a series of knocks on the door interrupted her.

"Xiao Bao'Er!"

Hearing Huangfu Wu Shuang's voice, Hua Zhu Yu grew anxious. It was the middle of the night. Why isn't he asleep, why did he run here? She hastily stuffed the prescription into her sleeve and composed herself before stepping out.

"Your Highness, it's already late, why are you still up? What did you come here for?" Hua Zhu Yu paid her respects and asked.

"You went out for so long how could this prince go to sleep. I should've let the guards go with you. Hearing that you haven't returned, this prince was very concerned. How was it? Was your trip outside fun?" Huangfu Wu Shuang did not wait for Hua Zhu Yu to invite him in and entered the room at his own accord.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he circled around the room, sizing up the place. "Xiao Bao'Er, your place is more peaceful and cozy than this prince's."

Hua Zhu Yu smiled and said, "How could this place compare to Your Highness's Palace." Perhaps because he had remained in Nei Cheng Yuan(Inner Punishment Hall) for too long that her simple room looked quite comfortable to him.

"This prince is serious. The more luxurious and lavish the place, the more restless it feels. A place that is simple and tranquil is certainly more comfortable." Huangfu Wu Shuang narrowed his eyes as he sat down on Hua Zhu Yu's bed.

"Oh, what's this?" Huangfu Wu Shuang asked as he picked up a cloth bundle.

Hua Zhu Yu slightly shook in alarm. Luckily she had gotten rid of the female attires before entering the Imperial Palace. There was only a bronze mirror left in the cloth bundle so she slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Hua Zhu Yu's pale expression, Huangfu Wu Shuang asked in concern, "Xiao Bao'Er, what's wrong? Are you still unwell?"

"I'm alright now, thank you Your Highness for your concern," Hua Zhu Yu said with a smile.

"Xiao Bao'Er, ever since you returned from the battlefield, why have you been so courteous with this prince?" he asked begrudgingly. As he spoke he opened up the bundle. Seeing the bronze mirror inside he looked up at Hua Zhu Yu with a smile. "Xiao Bao'Er, why did buy a female bronze mirror? Could it be as rumored……"

translations at peachblossomgrove . com

Hua Zhu Yu's heart suddenly tightened and her breathing quickened. Could it be that she exposed a fault? It couldn't be that Huangfu Wu Shuang was suspicious of her ident.i.ty right? It can't be. She had been with Ji Feng Li for so long and even he did not discover that she was female so how could it be possible for Huangfu Wu Shuang to suspect her. Moreover, he was the person that gave the order to castrate her himself. He shouldn't harbor any suspicions.

"It can't be… Bao'Er is like they say….. a broken sleeve? If not, why buy female items?" Huangfu Wu Shuang asked cautiously.

Hua Zhu Yu breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Your Highness, you misunderstood. This servant brought this bronze mirror to gift someone else."

"Oh, could it be Bao'Er has someone in your heart, it's….." As though thinking of something, Huangfu Wu Shuang's expression darkened and his face held a trace of sorrow. "At that time, it was this prince that had harmed (referring to castration) you and made you like this."

Sitting on the bed, Huangfu Wu Shuang looked at the face reflected in the corner of the bronze mirror. The little eunuch has pa.s.sed through trials and tribulations on the battlefield and is no longer as fair as she was before but still carried an unrivaled graceful bearing. At closer scrutiny, she had long fluttering lashes and clear, glistening eyes. When she looked at him, her vermillion lips as though applied with rouge made it hard for one to resist.

It was indeed a jade-like young man who fought bravely on the battlefield. If someone had not told him this, he could hardly believe it himself.

He stared at Hua Zhu Yu's reflection in the bronze mirror and couldn't help but say, "Xiao Bao'Er, you're really beautiful."

Hua Zhu Yu momentarily blanked, but quickly replied uninhibitedly, "Your Highness is also very beautiful."

"Hmm, that is common knowledge in Southern Kingdom." Huangfu Wu Shuang's face did not flushed in the slightest and he kindly accepted the compliment.

"Xiao Bao'Er… why do I get the feeling we are like a natural pair? It would've been great if you were a woman," Huangfu Wu Shuang said with a hidden bitterness.

Hua Zhu Yu's heart felt slightly heavy but her expression did not change and she calmly replied, "Indeed we are like a pair!"

"You also think so?" Huangfu Wu Shuang's eyes lit up as he asked.

"Mm!" Hua Zhu Yu nodded. "If Your Highness' face has such thick skin1!"

Huangfu Wu Shuang laughed heartily, pointing at Hua Zhu Yu, saying, "Xiao Bao'Er, this is more like you!" He then lied down on her bed and asked, "Xiao Bao'Er, how about this prince sleep here tonight?"

With no trace of politeness, Hua Zhu Yu replied," Does Your Highness miss the days at Nei Cheng Yuan(Inner Punishment Hall) that much?"

Huangfu Wu Shuang immediately smiled and got up, "Alright, then this prince won't bother Xiao Bao'Er any longer. This prince is going back. Remember to come serve this prince on time tomorrow!"

Hua Zhu Yu nodded.

Huangfu Wu Shuang left with his hands clasped behind his back.

After Hua Zhu Yu closed the door, she took out the prescription again and looked over it. After she put it to memory, she placed it above the candle flame and it slowly burned to ashes.

Blood Lotus!

This prescription required Blood Lotus!

She had heard from Kang Xiao Si that Blood Lotus was not easy to obtain, mainly because its life cycle was short and it only blooms once a year. Therefore this medicinal herb is very difficult to obtain. No wonder the doctor at the medicinal shop said that if she wanted to take this medication, she must let him know in advance. Because this herb was precious, the medicinal shop most likely doesn't have it in stock.

She must use such a precious herb for this prescription. Could it be that the fetus was unstable?

Stroking her abdomen, her heart felt bitter.

People were quite strange creatures. At first, she really didn't want this baby but now,when faced with the possibility of losing it at any moment, she suddenly felt reluctant and her heart felt a sense of pity.

The Imperial Palace ought to have Blood Lotus!

But how was she to obtain it?

t/n