Chapter 279

The year is full of sinister omens, heaven and earth are dim and dull.

After winter's affairs, spring does not return again.

Du Shanü waited from the first month to the second, then from February to early March, yet the Gui River still showed no trace of the soul's return.

This is hardly a good thing.

Concerning the autumn harvest, Du Shanü finds it hard to rest day and night.

And worse still, perhaps because her heartstrings were too taut, one afternoon, while Du Shanü was reviewing official documents, she suffered her first bout of pregnancy vomiting.

That sound was quite startling; not only did it startle the attending Chinu beside her, but Du Shanü herself jumped in fright.

After she regained her composure, seeing Chinu about to make a fuss and go fetch a doctor, Du Shanü hastily waved her hand and said:

「...... Nothing, nothing; has Afang sent back a reply? 」

Chinu had already stepped out a few paces, but hearing this turned back, panting, she said:

「Wife Master, you've been like these past few days; why bother with official business? 」

「All you do is keep mentioning Afang, and you're not even tired of it! 」

「What annoyance, what annoyance! 」

Upon hearing this, Afang really wanted to cry!

One person left in charge of Dun Cheng, laboriously handling all matters, and now even being despised by Chinu!

Of course, Du Shanü ultimately dared not say this to Chinu's face, so she could only say again:

「This isn't just a sudden thought of Ruan Jintian's matter; I don't know whether Afang has managed to handle what I previously instructed...... 」

The previous matter referred to placing Ruan Jintian under house arrest, forging his handwriting, and tailoring a trap for Ruansizong.

By rights, given Afang's abilities, any task entrusted to him should be reassuring.

Yet this time, for some unknown reason, five days ago Du Shanü sent him a letter, and today is already the sixth day, yet it's like a stone sunk in the sea—no reply at all.

「The matter must have been taken care of。」

Chinu replied testily, seeing that her Wife Master indeed was no longer retching, she then poured a cup of just-right hot tea and brought it to Du Shanü's lips:

「I've had people keep an eye on the Ruan manor's movements these past few days; a few days ago the whole household was bustling packing luggage, but these days the servants still go out shopping as usual, showing no sign of leaving. 」

「As for why Afang hasn't replied...... perhaps it's because if replies were sent frequently, together with Ruan Jintian's family letter, they'd be sent to the Zhoufu, and the old fox of the Ruan family would surely notice something. 」

Du Shanü pondered briefly, accepted this explanation, flicked her fingers slightly, and pushed away the teacup at her lips:

「So be it; Afang should have it figured out...... 」

「Not drinking tea, I somewhat crave cow's milk; go look for some. If really none, drink warm water—these past few days I don't know why, but drinking tea at night always keeps me awake. 」

Although she isn't visibly pregnant yet, Du Shanü once heard a saying, namely——

When a child is in the womb, its temperament manifests in the mother.

Often, one suddenly develops many likes that were previously absent.

For example, Du Shanü is a thorough Southerner who loves tea intensely; without a bit of tea in the water, her mouth always feels tasteless.

As for demanding cow's milk, that's something unheard of since the creation of heaven and earth.

Yet it's obvious that the little rabbit in her belly dislikes tea, prefers cow's milk—if there's really no milk, even warm water she won't drink tea!

And it's quite temperamental.

At such a young age, it already knows not to shortchange itself!

Du Shanü muttered to herself; when she came to, Chinu had already kissed her brows and eyes, smiling as she left.

Du Shanü continued reviewing the documents on the case file; after her falling out with Ruansizong earlier, all documents of Yongzhou Prefecture were intercepted by her; a few days ago the An Nan army invaded, the city had just experienced a great battle, everywhere needs repair, and the people's livelihood needs soothing.

More importantly, all cities under Yongzhou Prefecture regularly submit many documents, reporting local conditions.

Indeed, regardless of whether one truly takes the Zhoufu as the leader, or whether the reported information is true, this rule has always existed.

Not only do subordinate county seats report to the Zhoufu, but within a city, the subordinate townships and counties usually have village heads, township heads, pavilion heads, etc., submitting documents to the county seat, concisely describing whether anything happened in a given area over a period and what exactly occurred.

And within villages, townships, and pavilions, the system of ten li per pavilion, ten pavilions per township, is also hierarchical: lower levels first screen, then higher levels decide.

And the lowest level, the village head, is usually filled by the village chief.

But occasionally, there are special circumstances.

Just like the old village head who previously wrote the marriage deed for Du Shanü and Yu Baobao; at that time, within the ten-li radius there were two villages, this village was small, and the old village head's clan lacked prestige, so he couldn't secure the village head post and could only be a village head.

In short, Du Shanü only gradually realized, after checking documents with Chen Weifang, that there would be so many official matters to handle.

But learning aside, earlier in Cang Cheng and Dun Cheng, Chen Weifang had actually taken over most of the official business, so she never needed to trouble Du Shanü too much.

And now, Chen Weifang is gone; she faces a huge pile of documents—doesn't that just leave her in a bind?

Moreover, let alone......

「Cough cough...... retch...... 」

Du Shanü, unable to look left or right, could only vomit that wave of nausea into the cup holding the tea:

「...... Really seeing ghosts. 」

Before Chinu left, she too had vomited, but not so nauseating.

Wave after wave of nausea, yet still have to work—this life is truly unbearable!

Du Shanü gently patted her belly, trying to move it with emotion and enlighten it with reason:

「My dear, the world's number one obedient treasure, little heart——」

「You listen to Mother, don't make trouble. If you don't make trouble, Mother can boldly conquer the world; once the world is won, whatever you want won't you already have? 」

By then, she surely won't be as poor as she is now!

At the very least, if the good child wants cow's milk, there will surely be attendants; no need for the father himself to go look!

Although we have finally managed to capture the Zhoufu with great difficulty, because the previous prefect extravagantly built altars and repaired temples, the internal accounts have long been in a tangled mess, and the treasury holds only a thin layer of grain and silver......

Du Shanü still hasn't sorted out the accounts, but she feels that, judging by the former prefect's wanton extortion, the income and expenditure clearly don't match; she plans to hold off for now, and after the repairs and consolation are done, she will examine them carefully.

It's not the time yet.

Capturing Zhoufu now doesn't mean she can firmly hold it.

Apart from Zhoufu, Yongzhou Prefecture has eight cities; aside from the previously burned Ju Cheng and the famine-stricken Tancheng that has become a dead city, there are still six cities under human control.

Du Shanü holds two of them: Cang Cheng and Dun Cheng.

But there remain Jing Cheng, An Cheng, Heng Cheng, and Chun Cheng.

These cities had also sent people to scout when Zhoufu was breached, but for some unknown reason they never jointly dispatched troops; otherwise, with the forces Chinu carried at the time, they likely could not have held Zhoufu either.

The officials in charge of these cities still have unclear attitudes, so we cannot be careless.

In short, difficulties are everywhere.

Du Shanü therefore dares not indulge extravagantly; many servants in the former prefect's residence have been dismissed, so only Chinu attends to her comings and goings.

She truly hasn't had a single good day!

Du Shanü touched her belly and squeezed out a bit of bitter tears.

Perhaps it's because these many thoughts weary the spirit, or perhaps because this 'bitter tear' is too genuine, moistening the corners of her eyes, the surging nausea in her throat actually subsided somewhat.

Du Shanü's heart stirred; she lowered her head, still wondering, when she heard faint footsteps approaching from outside.

The visitor was not Chinu, but brought news better than Chinu finding cow's milk.

"Your Highness, Judge Tong brings the magistrates of Jing Cheng and An Cheng to request an audience..."

"Judge Tong has a private word: they have all come to pledge loyalty to Your Highness."

?? Come on, come on! The most domineering mourning bull, drinking the fragrant cow's milk!