The snow fell that night after they returned to the manor from the estate, blanketing everything in white overnight!
Counting the days, she realized that this year the snow had fallen too little!
It seemed that since winter began, apart from the month they were away, there had only been two snowfalls. Including this one, it was only the third!
"What are you thinking about? I called you twice and you didn't hear me!" Fan Zehao walked over, following her gaze to the snow-covered view outside the window. The scenery was... unique!
Unfortunately, in his eyes, such scenery held little appeal. He'd rather look at colorful flowers!
Zhao Jiaqi snapped back to reality, her brow furrowed with worry. "The snow has fallen too few times. I'm afraid the wheat in the fields will lack moisture in the spring, and the yield will be reduced!"
Fan Zehao knew nothing about farming. If you asked him whether he could hunt this year, he'd be an expert!
"The farmers are all old hands. If the land lacks water, they'll definitely irrigate. You should trust them on this!"
Having farmed their entire lives, they understood this basic common sense!
Zhao Jiaqi didn't doubt that, but...
"Hurry and inquire about the rain and snow conditions in various regions. Try to get everything cleared up before the New Year!" She paused, then voiced her true concern: "I'm afraid of drought next year. If we don't make full preparations and a drought really occurs, the consequences would be unimaginable!"
Losing some money would be nothing. She feared a situation where people, having eaten tree bark and found nothing else, would resort to cannibalism!
Hearing the word "drought," a chill ran down Fan Zehao's spine, and his hair stood on end!
"Wife, you can't joke about this. It's a matter of life and death!"
"Would I joke about something like this?" Zhao Jiaqi retorted. "Besides, it's just my speculation. As for whether there will be a drought next year, the so-called capable people at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau should be able to predict it, right?"
She was human, not a god, how could she guess everything with perfect accuracy!
She just feared that this guess might actually be right!
Fan Zehao got dressed and left to attend to business without eating breakfast, leaving Zhao Jiaqi to stare blankly at the trees!
When her stomach ached with emptiness, she realized, "Damn it, sister, my period has arrived!"
Back in bed, she changed into her menstrual pad made with lime. She frowned. For the past ten years, she had grown accustomed to using it.
But now that life was better, and she had the mysterious small bellyband and underpants, she should at least improve this!
With that thought, she clutched her stomach and asked for some brown sugar water!
Su Ya noticed that her mistress looked unwell, even more so than usual during her periods. "My lady, you should rest in bed. I've placed several hand warmers in the bed, and the covers are very warm!"
Zhao Jiaqi was in too much pain to speak. She merely nodded, got into bed, and felt the warmth. Closing her eyes, she drifted off to sleep.
On this snowy day, the sun had hidden behind the clouds early.
At noon, Su Ya called for the princess to wake up for lunch. She shook her a few times but received no response, which scared her half to death!
Lifting the quilt, she saw that the bedding was covered in blood. This time, all six senses seemed to have fled!
"Send for the manor physician! Send for the manor physician..."
Su Ya, in a panic, ran out of the room and grabbed a second-rank maid. She told her to fetch the manor physician, Doctor Li!
"The princess is bleeding. Hurry and get the manor physician to examine her. Be quick!" Su Ya urged, her voice nearly cracking.
Upon hearing this, the second-rank maid dropped the plate of pastries she was holding and, lifting her skirt, ran off!
Su Ya then found Sixi. "Hurry and find the prince. The princess is bleeding!"
Bleeding?
Sixi's mind replayed the two words. His wife had also bled a while ago. That was when Xiao Man, his wife, had miscarried during her pregnancy.
But he hadn't heard that the princess was pregnant! Why was she bleeding!
Confused, he got into a carriage to find the prince.
Inside the room, the lamps were lit, making it as bright as day!
Doctor Li, seeing that the princess was in a bad condition, sent for Qi Xuan, the chief administrator of the front courtyard, whose medical skills were superb!
After more than an hour, the two of them worked together and finally managed to stop the heavy bleeding!
From noon until the lanterns were lit, Fan Zehao sat by the side, waiting anxiously and full of regret!
He had always been careful, but he hadn't expected his wife to become pregnant. Recalling the incident in Zongsheng Kingdom at the Yuelai Inn, he had only been intent on unrestrained punishment, but...
"Uncle Qi, when will my wife wake up? Is she in danger? She won't just keep sleeping, will she? She's been asleep for over two hours!"
He was worried that his wife would remain unconscious, leaving him and their child!
Qi Xuan stroked his beard and sighed. He had been asked the same question every half hour and had answered countless times!
"The princess has lost too much blood. Her sleep is normal. Your Highness, please be patient. The princess will naturally wake up in a while." He paused, then reassured him: "Don't worry, Your Highness. The princess has only miscarried, but she is depleted in both qi and blood and requires long-term nourishment!"
"Pass down the order and tell the cook that the princess's nourishing meals must be varied daily. From today onwards, the princess is to rest in bed, and no one is allowed to disturb her!"
With this command, the manor gates were closed!
That night, Zhao Jiaqi woke up, feeling utterly drained. Her period had been unusually heavy, but she hadn't expected it to be a miscarriage!
She touched her stomach, blaming herself. If she hadn't been so careless, perhaps the child could have been saved!
Leaning against Fan Zehao's chest, she said softly, "Don't blame yourself. It's my fault. I forgot my own period, let alone you!"
"If I had been a little more careful, I wouldn't have put you through so much suffering!" If he had been able to control his own desires, his wife wouldn't have bled so much!
He would have to find Uncle Qi later and ask him to make some contraceptive pills for him. Their life together was long, and he didn't want another unforeseen accident!
The next day, the princess was ill. Those close to them knew, but not what illness she had, and they all came to visit!
However, they were all stopped by the guarding soldiers: "Without the prince's authorization, no one is allowed to enter!"
Zhou Baihe was puzzled. "I am the princess's aunt-in-law, not an outsider. Let me just go in and see how the princess is. I'll leave after just one glance!"
The soldiers knew who she was, but the prince had ordered that even his own mother couldn't enter, let alone an aunt-in-law!
"The princess needs quiet recuperation. No one is allowed to disturb her!" the soldier repeated. Finally, he added helplessly: "Madam, it's best if you go back. The princess is not in serious danger and only needs rest. The prince is watching over the princess day and night. Please return. Perhaps you can see the princess around the New Year! I am merely following orders, so please don't make things difficult for us!"
The guarding soldier spoke so humbly that Zhou Baihe knew she couldn't get in.
"Alright then, I won't go in. Please convey my regards. If the princess feels any better, send someone to inform me. I'm worried about her!" Zhou Baihe said and then got into her carriage and left!