The morning sunlight slipped through the small window as Yue Rong curled up on the bed. It had been almost a month since she left home. The simple life of Mr. Ha and his family, and the warmth they showed her, had made it easy not to think about her past.
"Aunty Yue Rong," Jun called, tapping her shoulder. "Aren't you following us to the farm again?" He shook her harder when she didn't answer.
With a tired hiss, she finally sat up and stretched.
"Good morning, Aunty Yue Rong," he greeted softly.
"Morning," she replied, rubbing her eyes.
"Are we not going to the farm again?" Jun asked, waiting for her answer.
"We are," she sighed. "Just give me a few minutes to change."
After he left, Yue Rong put on her old men's clothing, the same clothes she wore the night she ran from home. Even after she switched back to her female clothes outside the capital, she kept the men's outfit carefully. She knew she wouldn't be able to afford new clothes anytime soon.
Outside, Hana had already gathered the things needed for the farm.
"Good morning," Hana greeted quickly when she saw her. "Hope you slept well?"
"Morning," Yue Rong bowed gently. "Yes, thank you. Where is your husband?"
"Someone came very early," Hana replied. "They asked him to help deliver goods to the capital. The second prince of Yunhai bought a lot of farm products today."
"What are they doing with all the farm products? Don't people already pay tax to them?" Yue Rong asked.
"I don't know much," Hana said. "But I heard the prince shares food to widows and the poor. Since the taxes here are low, they look for other ways."
When they were ready, they entered the carriage. Hana drove them to the farm. After unloading their things, Hana said:
"My Lady, eat with the children first. I'll go ahead and start."
Yue Rong sat down with the children, but halfway through the meal she felt suddenly nauseous. She dropped her spoon.
"I'll eat later… when I feel hungry," she murmured, touching her stomach.
She picked up her knife and went to join Hana in the rice field. Yue Rong had never farmed before coming here, but after following them daily, she had slowly gotten better.
Today, however, she felt strange , weak, sluggish, and out of breath. She stared at the long line of rice she was supposed to cut and felt overwhelmed.
"Why am I feeling this weak today?" she whispered.
She forced herself to continue, but soon the dizziness hit her. Her vision blurred. She grabbed a dry tree to steady herself, breathing heavily.
Hana turned and saw her.
"Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.
"I feel weak and dizzy. And my lower abdomen… it's hurting. I think my period is coming," Yue Rong said with a faint smile.
"Oh," Hana sighed in relief. "You'll be fine."
She led Yue Rong toward their small hut at the edge of the farm. She laid a small blanket on the ground.
"Lie down for a while," Hana said.
Before she knew it, Yue Rong had fallen into a deep sleep.
After more than an hour, Hana grew hungry, went to the hut, ate with the children, then continued the day's work while Yue Rong was still asleep.
When the work was finally done, Ha Rin gently tapped Yue Rong.
"Aunty… it's time to go home."
Yue Rong woke up, embarrassed that she had slept the entire time.
"I'm sorry…" she murmured, standing up slowly.
They got into the carriage again. On the way home, Yue Rong fell asleep once more without realizing it. By the time they reached the house, it was past noon, and she still hadn't eaten anything.
Hana climbed down and saw Yue Rong asleep again.
"Wake up, my Lady," she said softly, tapping her.
Yue Rong got down sluggishly, her body heavy.
"I feel so tired…" she whispered as she dragged herself inside the house.
"Mama, Aunty didn't eat this morning," Ha Rin reported innocently.
Hana turned sharply. "She didn't eat? She refused?"
"Yes. She said she lost her appetite."
Hana didn't respond. She finished unloading the carriage, put away the horse, then went straight to Yue Rong's small room.
"My Lady," she called, "wake up. We need to talk."
Yue Rong opened her eyes slowly and sat up, staring weakly at Madam Ha.
"You're supposed to bathe before lying down," Hana scolded gently.
"I'll bathe later… I'm too tired right now," Yue Rong murmured.
"You didn't eat. Why?" Hana asked, her eyes fixed on her.
"I… I don't know," Yue Rong stammered. "The food… I tried, but I felt like I would vomit."
Hana took a deep breath.
"What do you feel like eating right now? Anything at all? Say it."
Yue Rong pressed her palm to her forehead, thinking hard, then she started naming things.
"Well… I suddenly feel like eating ripe mango… or maybe roasted yam and pepper soup… or something sweet… maybe rice with stew… or...."
She paused, frowning.
"Madam Ha… why do I feel hungry and sick at the same time?"
Hana's jaw dropped as Yue Rong kept naming food after food.
"Can I… check your breast?" Madam Ha asked quietly, watching her expression.
Yue Rong blinked.
"My breast?" she asked, confused.
After a moment of hesitation, she adjusted her clothes so Madam Ha could reach.
Hana touched gently, then paused.
"Firm…" she murmured under her breath. She drew her hand back and looked straight into Yue Rong's eyes.
"You're pregnant, my Lady."
Yue Rong didn't move at first. She just stared at Madam Ha, as if the words hadn't fully reached her.
"Pregnant…?" she whispered.
Her fingers slowly curled around the edge of her clothes. A faint tremble ran through her hands.
"That can't be… I..." She swallowed hard. "Are you sure?"
Hana nodded softly. "The signs are there, my Lady."
Yue Rong's breath hitched. She looked away, her eyes blinking rapidly as if trying to hold something back.