Chapter 80

Little Wife

When the warriors had recovered their inner strength to a certain extent, it was almost dawn.

I had fallen asleep with my body bound to the carriage, but the movement of the carriage forced me to open my eyes.

We soon encountered an accident scene.

We found bandits who had been knocked down and rolled around like bowling pins, their limbs and necks twisted in bizarre directions.

“T-this is...”

The scene was so shocking that it made the warriors carrying the carriage stop in their tracks.

It was as if something had played a game of bowling with humans.

The expert in hooks seemed to have used humans as bowling pins.

Judging from the bloodstains, the collision had occurred at a single central point, yet the bandits were scattered in all directions.

‘What a mess is this?’

As the warriors moved among the scattered bandits, using their feet to push the bodies to the grass on both sides of the road, a groan came from one side.

“Guh...”

“This one is still alive.”

“Are you conscious? What happened?”

The warriors, who had been pushing the dead bodies away with their feet, now asked the living bandit with a gentle tone.

The bandit, still alive, managed to utter a few words.

“A, a blue-eyed ghost...”

‘Is this the trace of my wife’s passing?’

The bandit’s answer seemed to confirm that it was indeed my wife’s doing.

The expert in hooks must have been my wife.

However, it didn’t seem to be a strike.

One bandit survived, making the spare a bit disappointing.

While I was scanning the scene in shock, the warriors, upon hearing the bandit’s words, nodded to each other and then, with a smile, silenced the bandit by pressing a vital point, as if completing the spare.

Indeed, the Tang family.

After that, they gathered the bodies with their feet and, once the dead bandit was moved, began to sprinkle something like pepper over them.

Then, the head of the Poison Blood Gang spoke to me with a smile.

“The Flower Bone Powder has erased all traces of the young lady, so there’s no need to worry.”

-Phew

As Zhuge Qing extinguished all the lamps, darkness descended upon Tang Yingying’s room.

In the darkness, Tang Yingying pondered seriously.

‘Should I secretly take out the medicine when Qing is asleep? I, I won’t get caught, right?’

Time slowly passed in the darkness, and Tang Yingying, assuming Zhuge Qing had fallen asleep, could no longer hold back and decided to act.

Her fingers moved stealthily under the blanket, worming their way under the bed as if they could sense the smell, searching for the medicine.

Then!

“Sis...”

-Thump thump

Tang Yingying nearly vomited at the sound of Zhuge Qing calling her.

It seemed Zhuge Qing knew she was awake.

‘H-how?’

Tang Yingying was using a secret technique of the Tang family, similar to the Turtle Breath Technique, to slow down all her bodily functions and buy time, so she was shocked that Zhuge Qing knew she was awake.

-Thump thump thump

Her heart raced wildly when Zhuge Qing’s voice called her again.

“Sis...”

‘Sigh... Qing, can’t you just pretend not to notice?’

It seemed like she was caught pretending to be sick by her younger sister.

Feeling immense embarrassment, Tang Yingying slowly opened her mouth.

Then, Zhuge Qing’s voice continued, filled with sadness.

“Sis, I’m so sad. I thought my body had fully recovered, but it hasn’t. I have a problem with my body and can’t control my inner strength properly, and I ended up seriously injuring Elder Gong not long ago.”

‘What? How? Was Elder Gong badly hurt? Come to think of it, that’s why...’

Her lips itched to ask questions, as the story from Zhuge Qing was unbearable to hear.

‘How badly was Elder Gong hurt? Tell me quickly, Qing!’

As if hearing her inner cry, Zhuge Qing continued her story.

“He was bedridden for about ten days before he could get up. Because of the problem with my inner strength, I’m afraid I might seriously hurt Elder Gong, so I can’t fulfill my duties as a wife. Sigh... It’s been a long time since our wedding, and we haven’t even had our first night... If I can’t be treated soon, I’m thinking of suggesting that Elder Gong take a concubine... I’m afraid I might be cast out, just like someone who can’t bear children due to a serious illness...”

Zhuge Qing’s words were too much for Tang Yingying to bear.

She couldn’t help but ask in shock.

“What?! Tell me in detail!”

“Sis?! Ah!”

Zhuge Qing was about to shout in surprise, but Tang Yingying quickly sat up and managed to cover her mouth.

Then, she whispered softly into Qing’s ear.

[Qing, if you shout, it will be bad. Do you understand?]

-Nod nod

Zhuge Qing’s head nodded quietly.

[I’ll be gentle with your mouth, so be quiet. Let’s talk quietly.]

-Nod nod

“Sis! Ah!”

[Qing, be quiet.]

Despite the warning, Zhuge Qing was so startled that she almost shouted again, and Tang Yingying, surprised by this, had to quickly cover her mouth once more.

After a while, seeing that Zhuge Qing had calmed down, Tang Yingying slowly released her mouth.

Then, a barrage of questions.

[What happened?]

[I regained consciousness two days ago, but the situation was such that... Anyway, that’s not very important...]

Zhuge Qing, who had said something that would make Tang Yingying jump up even if she were on the verge of death, was now worried about Tang Yingying’s body and whispered.

[What’s more important than Sis’s body?!]

[Oh, Sis’s body is not important! Since you’re going through such a big emotional pain, how can I just sit here?]

Zhuge Qing was moved by Tang Yingying’s response.

Tang Yingying, comforting Qing, asked for more details.

[Sis! Sigh...]

[Well, tell me everything. Oh, before that, Sis needs to do something. Is it okay?]

[What?]

Tang Yingying quickly searched the bed and took out the medicine bag, biting into it and speaking to Zhuge Qing.

[Now, tell me everything.]

-Crunch crunch

As Tang Yingying ate the medicine, Zhuge Qing’s story began.

[...Anyway, my inner strength fluctuates wildly with my emotions, and I end up hurting people around me without realizing it... Sis?]

The gaze she felt while eating the medicine made her turn her head. In the darkness, Zhuge Qing’s eyes were filled with disappointment.

She must have been upset that Tang Yingying was only eating the medicine while they were having a serious conversation.

Tang Yingying, feeling awkward, quickly took out a piece of medicine from her bag and offered it to Zhuge Qing.

[Well, let’s eat together. Sis has been starving for days...]

Tang Yingying, already caught, gave up and shared the medicine with Zhuge Qing, offering cautious advice.

[Qing, don’t misunderstand and listen carefully. Do you understand?]

The Tang family’s secret techniques are about seizing opportunities, so recognizing an opportunity is fundamental.

This seemed like a good opportunity.

[Yes? Misunderstanding?]

[Yes. When I heard your story, I felt a bit of... pity? Frustration? I want to give you some advice or help.]

[What kind of help?]

Tang Yingying, seeing the hopeful look on Zhuge Qing’s face when she mentioned help, placed her hand on Zhuge Qing’s shoulder and continued.

[Ultimately, your worry is that you can’t fulfill your role as a wife, and you’re afraid of being cast out, so you’re thinking about taking a concubine to replace you, right?]

[Yes, that’s right.]

[But think about it. If you’re cast out, will Uncle Zhuge just sit there? And Elder Gong, or rather, Lord Liu, would he cast you out because you’re sick?]

Zhuge Qing, who had already been told this, asked worriedly.

[But, but Elder Gong wouldn’t abandon me, right?]

Tang Yingying, seeing Zhuge Qing’s teary eyes, hugged her and answered.

[Of course not! He might be a bit clueless, but he’s not that heartless. And Lord Liu wouldn’t cast you out. If you’re feeling uncomfortable and want to bring in a woman to fulfill your duties, she wouldn’t be a concubine.]

[If she’s not a concubine, then what?]

In the Song Dynasty, a husband could take countless concubines, but there could only be one main wife. However, there was one exception: when the main wife was sick or unable to bear children.

[It’s called a Little Wife. If a husband loves his sick wife and wants to be with her for life, the national law allows him to take another main wife to fulfill the duties. It’s a formal arrangement.]

[Oh! I thought it was a concubine! So if someone is brought in to fulfill the duties of a wife and serve Elder Gong in my place, she would be a main wife, a Little Wife?]

[Exactly! And if it’s a concubine, anyone would do, but when choosing a Little Wife, you need to be very careful. She should be on equal footing with you, and she shouldn’t be arrogant or give birth to a child before you. She should respect you and not treat you carelessly. Wouldn’t it be nice if she’s close to you?]

If it’s a concubine, the main wife can scold or punish her, but a Little Wife, being on equal footing, is a different story. So, it’s important to choose carefully.

Thus, it would be good if she’s very close to you.

Zhuge Qing and Tang Yingying were close, and Tang Yingying had no ulterior motives, just a desire to help Qing...

Zhuge Qing’s bright voice seemed to have heard her wish.

[Oh! Someone close to me? I do know someone!]

[Really? Who? Would that person accept your proposal?]

[Of course!]

[Who is it?]

Tang Yingying, filled with anticipation, asked Zhuge Qing, who was looking at her with sparkling eyes.

Full of hope.

[Well, I’m not sure how close we are, but I’ve comforted her, and she recently became Elder Gong’s disciple... She likes Elder Gong too... Even though it was a misunderstanding, she did accept it once...]

[No, Qing, that’s not...]

-Thump thump

Tang Yingying, feeling frustrated, pounded her chest. Zhuge Qing, startled, brought a cup of water from the teapot, and Tang Yingying gulped down the cold tea and answered.

[Qing, if Elder Gong, or rather, Lord Liu, takes his own disciple as a Little Wife, what would people think of him?]

[Then, who should it be?]

[Qing, you don’t need to look far. Very close...]

[Who? Close? I don’t have many close friends...]

Tang Yingying was realizing that couples tend to become alike.

Despite the short time since their wedding, the once perceptive girl had become so clueless.

-Crunch

She only gnawed on the medicine.