The daylight was bright.
Pearl Su rubbed her eyes and opened them. As she got up, she felt something heavy on her body. Looking down, she saw that the annoying man was holding her.
She turned to look at him and saw him smiling at her with squinting eyes.
"Good morning, my lady."
"Morning," Pearl Su replied with a slight frown. She got out of bed and went to wash up.
While washing, Pearl Su suddenly felt something strange under her. It was wet.
She had a bad feeling. She quickly finished washing, then checked and saw that her pants were stained red. Her period had started.
She opened the door and ordered someone to call Servant Xin.
When Servant Xin came, Pearl Su and Alaric Yun were eating breakfast. Each of them had a bowl of meat porridge, along with various steamed buns and dumplings filled with meat and vegetables, and cold side dishes.
Servant Xin walked in, head lowered, and respectfully greeted them, "Greetings, Lord Yun, my lady."
Seeing Servant Xin enter, Pearl Su set down her chopsticks and asked her to come into the inner room. There, she quietly told her to prepare menstrual cloths and several changes of clothes.
Servant Xin answered softly, and after they returned to the outer room, she bowed respectfully again and left.
Pearl Su and Alaric Yun continued eating breakfast.
After the meal, Pearl Su sat on the bed to rest, while Alaric Yun left the room.
Servant Xin brought the things Pearl Su had asked for. Pearl Su checked and found everything to be of good quality. She asked where they came from.
Servant Xin replied, "My lady, I asked the housekeeper, but the household didn't have any. So they arranged for someone to take me out to buy them. The store's goods are all high quality. You can use them with confidence."
Servant Xin thought her lady was worried about the quality, so she tried to reassure her.
"Alright, I understand. You can go now." Pearl Su didn't know what Servant Xin was thinking. She only knew that she had arranged this to avoid Alaric Yun. She didn't want everything about her to be under his control.
But now, it was clear she couldn't avoid it. Whatever she did would be reported to him soon after.
After changing into clean clothes and menstrual cloths, Pearl Su lay back down to rest.
Not long after, Alaric Yun came in. He sat next to her and gently held her hand, stroking it.
"My lady, you've started your period. I was worried it might be like last time and scare me again, so I've called a doctor to check on you. If you feel unwell, you can tell me now."
"I feel fine. I don't need a doctor." Pearl Su felt annoyed. As expected, he already knew.
She tried to pull her hand away from his, but couldn't.
"But I'm worried it'll be like before. I don't want to be scared like that again. Let's just have you checked, and make sure your health is well taken care of. Then what happened last time won't happen again, and I won't be so worried."
"I'm a doctor myself. I know my body better than anyone. There's no need for it."
Pearl Su was truly speechless. Was it really necessary to make such a fuss over a period? Last time was just an accident. She had caught a chill and was tired, that's why it happened. This time, everything was normal, no cramps or anything.
Suddenly, a voice came from outside, "Lord Yun, Doctor Qi has arrived."
Alaric Yun said to Pearl Su, "I'll go see him."
He went to the outer room, where Doctor Qi, already in his fifties, quickly bowed. "Greetings, Lord Yun."
Alaric Yun made a soft sound and told him there was no need to be so polite. He said, "Doctor Qi is the most well-known gynecologist in the capital. I invited him here today to check on my wife's condition and help adjust her health. If there's anything wrong, you must report everything truthfully."
Doctor Qi quickly replied, "Yes, Marquis. I won't hide anything at all."
Alaric Yun nodded in satisfaction.
Doctor Qi continued, "Then please, Marquis, take me to see the Madam."
Alaric Yun looked at him and said, "Let's do the consultation here. Just give me the thread."
Doctor Qi immediately opened his medical kit and handed over a red string to Alaric Yun.
Alaric Yun took the red string and went inside. Speaking gently to Pearl Su, he said, "Wife, come tie on the red string. The doctor will check your pulse in a moment."
Pearl Su knew she couldn't refuse anymore, so she let him tie the red string on her wrist.
After tying it, Alaric Yun told her to stay still and wait, then walked back out.
When he returned, he handed the red string to Doctor Qi. Doctor Qi took it and began the diagnosis.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Doctor Qi opened his eyes and respectfully said to Alaric Yun, "Marquis, I've finished examining the Madam. Based on her condition, she's healthy, no hidden illnesses. She's just a little weak since her monthly cycle has started. With some rest and proper nourishment, she'll be fine."
Alaric Yun frowned and asked, "Are you certain there's nothing wrong?" Last time hadn't gone so smoothly.
Doctor Qi noticed Alaric Yun's expression and frowned slightly too, but still confirmed firmly, "Her body is in excellent condition, better than most women. Even her current period is milder than others. There's nothing to worry about."
Alaric Yun's expression relaxed. He said calmly, "If that's the case, write a prescription to help her body adjust during her cycle."
Doctor Qi chuckled slightly at his words, feeling that the usually sharp and wise Marquis Jingming was being a little overly anxious this time, but he still agreed and wrote the prescription.
Once it was done, Alaric Yun took it, read through it carefully, and after confirming it was fine, asked Doctor Qi to have the herbs delivered according to the prescription.
Doctor Qi noted how cautious he was. After leaving the Yun residence, the story of the proudest and most handsome man in Dongling doting so much on his wife quickly spread throughout the capital, making many women jealous of Pearl Su all over again.
After Doctor Qi left, Alaric Yun went to the inner room and sat beside Pearl Su.
He spoke gently, "Wife, I already had the doctor write a prescription to help your body recover. From now on, I'll watch you drink it after each meal. You'll get better very soon."
Pearl Su stayed silent. She knew it was pointless to resist. Her body was perfectly fine, but he still insisted on making her drink medicine.
Alaric Yun added, "I'll have Servant Xin take care of you for the next few days. I might be busy with court affairs and won't have time for you, but I'll come back at noon to have lunch with you. You don't have to worry about me."
Pearl Su had actually been happy hearing the first part. Finally, she wouldn't have to face this annoying man all day.
But the last part made her lips twitch. So full of yourself. Who said she was worried about him?
Seeing Pearl Su remain silent, Alaric Yun couldn't help but reach out and pull her into his arms, murmuring, "Wife, I don't want to leave you. I really wish I could stay with you all the time and never be apart."
Pearl Su… she just wanted to say, take care, and don't come back.
Alaric Yun stayed by her side the entire morning until lunchtime.
When Pearl Su saw the dishes on the table, she nearly lost her mind:
Stewed ginseng with polygonatum and deer meat, deer blood and antler soup with red ginseng, gelatin and ginseng chicken soup with red dates, red ginseng, astragalus, and angelica black chicken soup, stewed lamb with red ginseng, astragalus, and chuanxiong, and another lamb stew with ginseng, angelica, polygonatum, and prepared rehmannia.
She was speechless.