Bao Niang still had doubts. "Did you bleed down there?"
Wan Niang shook her head again.
Those months had been so bitter that she had even lost her monthly cycle. Now that Bao Niang asked, she found it impossible to speak.
Wan Niang curled up and said in a muffled voice, "Don't ask about those things. I'm still a virgin. I haven't caught any dirty disease."
Unexpectedly, Bao Niang laughed.
"Miss, you're still too naive." Bao Niang ate a pastry as she analyzed with an air of authority, "A man's idea of purity is different from what you think. If you've been touched and kissed, even if that membrane isn't broken, it still counts…"
Bao Niang sighed and brought her medicine.
Wan Niang's face turned pale. She looked at her helplessly. "Gu Lang knows."
Bao Niang's eyes widened. She glanced at the door and then continued, "Do you know why the young master moved to a separate room? He says he cares about your health, but in truth, that's why."
Wan Niang didn't believe her, but she couldn't argue. She drank the medicine and lay down in a gloomy mood. Afterward, Bao Niang's words kept running through her mind, while Bao Niang herself kept eating and drinking.
Seeing pastry crumbs scattered on the bed, Wan Niang couldn't help saying, "Eat less!"
Bao Niang was startled for a moment, then smirked sheepishly. "I forgot, this is the young master's room. Sorry, sorry. I'll clean it up right away."
She went about her own business, while Wan Niang lay in the bitter scent of medicine, her heart aching.
The river was calm, and the large boat sailed upstream. Since it was against the wind, they traveled for many days. Wan Niang had thought she would feel better after confiding in Bao Niang, but after hearing her words, she only felt more burdened.
At night, Wan Niang touched her own body.
Her soft skin wrapped around protruding bones—so different from the woman's body she had seen.
Even she found it rough to the touch.
What to do…
Wan Niang started eating.
The cook on the boat prepared all kinds of dishes, but whatever she ate in the morning would come back up at noon or night. It was as if she were torturing herself.
Gu Lanyin had tried to reason with her countless times, but Wan Niang refused to give in.
*
By the time they reached Xunyang, it was raining.
As soon as it rained, the boat smelled strongly of fish.
Bao Niang came out of the kitchen carrying a food box.
She wrinkled her nose. As she passed the room where that man was being held, she deliberately paused.
There were sounds from inside the room. Just as she was about to press her ear to the wall, a few coughs sounded behind her.
Cheng Bi emerged from around the corner, holding his sword. He grinned, "What are you skulking around for? If I didn't recognize you, I'd have kicked you. What are you doing?"
Bao Niang was startled and glared at him. "I'm just passing through."
"Then why did you stop?" Cheng Bi raised his chin. "Move along."
Bao Niang hated the way he bullied others by flaunting the master's power.
But as soon as she took a few steps away, the door opened.
"Stop."
In the dim cabin, there was the sound of chains. The room had a heavy lock on it, and the one who had locked it spoke in a very gentle voice, out of place here.
Bao Niang turned around to see the young master, wearing a pale blue Daoist robe, watching her from the shadows.
She froze, only remembering to bow when he came closer.
Gu Lanyin smiled. "It's been a few days, and you've gotten fatter."
Bao Niang's face reddened. She looked down at her belly.
"Actually, I haven't been eating much lately… These are all for the miss."
Seeing that she had something on her mind, Gu Lanyin reached out and lifted her food box.
The box was heavy.
Wan Niang couldn't possibly eat that much. But she still forced it down her stomach, only to throw it all up later.
Gu Lanyin walked beside her. Bao Niang dared not lift her head. She just breathed in that faint fragrance of lili incense, her heart racing.
The young master was actually carrying her things.
When they neared the miss's bedchamber, the young master asked, "That man locked up—do you think he deserves to die?"
Bao Niang nodded vigorously. "Of course he deserves to die!"
"Why?"
Bao Niang hesitated.
She looked up to gauge his expression, only to catch a flash of a smile.
Gu Lanyin knocked on the door, then pushed it open and left her outside.