<Gu Ying> raised the corners of her lips and slowly said, "This person must be one of our own. He only needs to marry <Ning Si> and wait for <Ning Si> to give birth to a child. Afterwards, he can divorce <Ning Si>, so your child's identity will also be legitimate. In the future, you can take the child back to your maiden home or buy another residence to live in. Wouldn't that be more comfortable and free than marrying into the royal family?"
In her eyes, the cold and heartless royal family had never been a good place to marry into. If it hadn't been for <Ning Si> wanting to marry the Eldest Prince with all her heart previously, she would never have wanted <Ning Si> to marry into the royal family.
To live safely and peacefully, and lead an ordinary life, was the best.
Moreover, they were not lacking in money, were not seeking fame, wealth or honor, and did not rely on men to support them.
<Ning Si> hesitated a little. "Can we really do this?"
Yin Lan smiled. "I think this is a good idea."
<Ning Si> didn't have any better ideas. Her eyes looked at <Gu Ying> earnestly.
After being reborn, <Gu Ying> was already someone who did not fear worldly views. She laughed and said, "Leave this matter to me."
<Ning Si> lowered her eyes and murmured. Suddenly she raised her head and said, "Sister Ying, I have a very suitable candidate."
<Gu Ying> raised her eyebrows.
<Ning Si> said, "Zhou Yan. Mr. Zhou is my father's student. He currently works in the Ministry of War and is presiding over disaster relief in Yueyang City. He is a gentleman and comes from a branch of the Zhou family. Although he is introverted in temperament and appears rather cold on the outside, he is actually a man of manners who is warm-hearted. I've met him a few times. Every time when Grandfather went out to attend government affairs, he would personally send Grandfather back. He is an extremely good man. As long as I explain things clearly to him, he will definitely help me..."
<Gu Ying> frowned. "Sister Si, are you sure he can accept our conditions? After all, we can't control Zhou Yan."
If she remembered correctly, Zhou Yan later also entered the inner court and worked with <Jiang Yin>.
<Ning Si>'s mouth tightened as she said, "I want to try..."
Even if she had to divorce that man in the future, she still had to give her child an acceptable identity.
In this world, she could not only think of herself. Now, she had to start making arrangements for her child.
<Gu Ying> thought about it seriously for a while, then nodded in agreement to <Ning Si>'s decision.
In any case, no matter what the result was, she would be there to back her up. Even if the truth was exposed in the end, she had ways to support her and her child for a lifetime.
...
In the next few days, <Ning Si> began to pull herself together.
Fortunately, her morning sickness was not very severe, so her days were ordinary.
However, <Gu Ying> couldn't stand even a whiff of fishy smells. With her covering for <Ning Si>, Cai Xiu still hadn't noticed anything for the time being.
Unrest was brewing in Yueyang City. It was said that more and more commoners were falling ill. In the last two days, three people in a row had died on one street. Their deaths were horrifying and tragic, unlike normal illnesses. For a while, people were panic-stricken.
Some people who wanted to escape the city with their bundles and families were all intercepted and sent back at the highways.
Although this disease had not yet been diagnosed as a plague, the Eldest Prince had given the death order that none of these patients could be let out.
So last night, the city gates were officially closed.
More than a dozen officers were stationed at the gates, and no one could go out.
The common people complained bitterly. Many people went to the government office door every day to protest silently and curse the officials.
Ironically though, His Highness Prince Shu, who was the main force behind this disaster relief, refused to show his face at all. Only the Eldest Prince and Zhou Yan came out to take charge.
However, fortunately, the Eldest Prince had gathered all the medical officers at the Qingjiang Manor beforehand.
He also ordered people to build infirmaries near the manor to gather all the diseased commoners for treatment by these highly skilled doctors in Yueyang City while ample supplies and medicines that could last half a year were provided.
Originally the Eldest Prince wanted to come to pick her up to the manor.
But because the plague danger, he sent someone to look after her and forbade her from going out casually or going to Qingjiang Manor again.
Outside, the wind and rain were turbulent, but inside the Ning residence, it was still relatively calm.
<Gu Ying> knew what the Eldest Prince meant. She was neither silly nor stupid, nor someone who acted on impulse. As the plague was beyond her control, she naturally would not foolishly mess things up and add to the Eldest Prince's troubles.
Since she couldn't go out, she might as well stay obediently in the Ning family, which also eased some of the Eldest Prince’s worries about trouble arising.
After arguing with the Eldest Prince that night, <Gu Ying> took his words to heart.
She personally drew the embroidery pattern and selected some calming incense materials, preparing to make a pomegranate flower-shaped sachet for him.
When she thought of his jealous look, she smiled gently.
<Ning Si> sat opposite her. On the small table between them were piled several embroidery frames with different patterns. She was also embroidering a purse as a meeting gift for Zhou Yan.
<Ning Si> was skilled at such female crafts and embroidered the purse easily. "What are you laughing at, Sister Ying?"
The corners of <Gu Ying>'s eyes curved slightly. "Nothing. I just suddenly thought of the Eldest Prince. I must embroider this sachet well for him. Recently, he has been busy all the time and unable to take care of himself. I was also thinking of personally tailoring a robe for him."
<Ning Si> said admiringly, "Pomegranates symbolize fertility, a very good metaphor. It's just that now there’s a plague in Yueyang, and Prince Shu is sitting by and doing nothing, while the Eldest Prince is working so hard like this. What if he gets infected..."
"It won't happen," <Gu Ying> said, her expression froze for a moment before she resumed her usual gentle tone. "I believe in the Eldest Prince's abilities. With him here, Yueyang will definitely be alright."
She never felt that rebirth was some kind of superpower, it just gave her a few more choices in life.
But the destiny of the people in the world was not in the hands of a little woman like her.
The Eldest Prince was extremely talented and prestigious.
A man like him would surely lead Yueyang through this great disaster.
<Ning Si> also had confidence in His Highness. It was just that when she heard from servants about the horrifying state of those who caught the disease, she lamented, "I heard that if you catch that disease, not only will you have fever and cough, as well as general weakness, but slowly, your skin will turn redder and redder until ulcers and sores form. Your limbs will become numb and in the end you'll die in pain, wishing for death. Some people, after they died, their skin would rot so much that you could see their bones..."
Saying so, <Ning Si> shuddered all over. "Sister Ying, we must not catch this disease... I'd rather die than become so ugly."
<Gu Ying> didn't speak, a contemplative look on her face.
<Ning Si> sighed again. "I wonder when Grandfather will come back. He’s been in the government office for days. With Grandfather not coming back, I don't know what the situation outside is really like either. I want to go out and see for myself, but I'm afraid of causing trouble for Grandfather, Uncle and them."
<Gu Ying>’s hands kept busy without stopping. Previously her female crafts were very poor, but later in order to make clothes and mend things for <Jiang Yin>, she specially found a teacher and had learned very well.
While listening to <Ning Si> speak, her fingers were flying as she threaded needles and guided yarn.
"Listening to you, it doesn't sound like a plague, but more like poisoning."
