Chapter 5: 005 Unbearable

The next morning, the old nanny arrived early with breakfast and began her urging. It was the same old refrain: the Eldest Miss was coming soon, so she had to flee immediately, or she would lose her life.

Murong Wei, however, turned a deaf ear, staring blankly at the millet porridge and dried radishes.

Why did that guy say she wasn't Murong Wei last night? Could it be that he had come specifically looking for Murong Wei? Or perhaps he hadn't been drunk at all, but was only pretending? Or... or was this guy the father of the child in her belly, coming to have a secret rendezvous with Murong Wei?

Then why did he say he was just passing by?

A flurry of guesses and wild imaginings had kept her from sleeping a wink since last night.

"Fourth Miss, what is wrong with you again?" the old nanny asked suspiciously. She had felt that something was off about the young lady since yesterday, though she couldn't quite put her finger on what was different.

"Nanny, where did these things come from?" Murong Wei asked indifferently, picking up a piece of dried radish and sniffing it.

"They were made in the kitchen, of course. I got up in the dark to get them for you. My lady, hurry up and eat your fill so we can be on our way," the old nanny urged, her heart set on their departure.

Murong Wei remained dazed. Three hundred volts of electricity—that guy had been fine, and by early morning, he had vanished!

"Fourth Miss, I beg you, please hurry!" Suddenly, the old nanny unexpectedly knelt down.

Murong Wei finally snapped back to reality. She covered her face with a silk handkerchief, squeezed out a few tears, and leaned over to help her up. However, she couldn't lift the old woman for the longest time. "Nanny, don't be like this. Please, get up. I understand your good intentions, but how do you expect me to run with such a big belly? Where would I go? What if the baby is born on the road? What should I do then?"

"Oh, Fourth Miss, it is better for the child to be born on the road than to run into the Eldest Miss. I have told you the stakes so many times. We can only hide in this courtyard until today; we must leave. The Eldest Miss will not protect you; she will certainly tell the Master about this," the old nanny said with a grave expression.

"Nanny, I'm scared... how about..." Murong Wei said with a sob, wiping her tears as she continued, "How about... Nanny, go and send word to my father? Go now. Since it has come to this, there is no escaping it. I might as well let my father know. After I give birth to the child, he can beat me or scold me as he pleases."

She really wanted to keep playing the fool, but the nanny’s constant prodding left her no choice. She knew very well that once she stepped out of the courtyard gate, a large group of assassins would surely be waiting for her. In her current condition, she couldn't fight back. Even though her portable toolbox contained many modern gadgets, most were things she couldn't use right now. Besides, if she encountered another monster like the one from last night, she would be dead for sure.

Though she usually appeared carefree and reckless, when it came to critical moments, she was more meticulous and cautious than anyone.

Once she left this courtyard of the Murong estate, everything would no longer be a matter of the Eldest Miss pretending to know nothing. It was likely that not even this old nanny or the few guards in the courtyard would be spared.

Thinking of this, Murong Wei’s hand couldn't help but gently stroke her protruding belly. For some reason, the first thing she thought of was still this child. No matter what, she had to protect it; the child's life and her own were bound together.

"That won't do, Fourth Miss. Didn't you always say that this is the one thing your father must not know? Your father's health is poor; he will be angered into a sickness," the old nanny urged anxiously.

"But... but it has come to this, I have no choice. Nanny, I'm scared, I'm really scared..." Murong Wei said, beginning to sob softly.

"Oh, my dear girl, this is not the time to be scared. Don't worry, I have arranged everything. When have I ever not looked out for you? If I say it's fine, it's definitely fine. Would I be careless with the lives of you and your child? Even if I have to risk this old life of mine, I will ensure the safety of you both! Hurry, Fourth Miss, the carriage driver is waiting outside. We will leave through the back gate and go to a farmhouse in the suburbs to hide. Once the child is born, things will be much easier to handle." The old nanny looked up at her, appearing so loyal that she might as well have ripped out her heart and lungs to show her.

Murong Wei was still sobbing. She pulled the silk handkerchief away to look at the nanny and was about to speak, but the nanny began to lecture her earnestly again. "Fourth Miss, if this matter is exposed by the Eldest Miss, with her penchant for adding fuel to the fire, the Master will surely be angered into a sickness. You know the Master's constitution best. Once the Master falls ill, your life in this estate will be the hardest of all. We have hidden for so long; Fourth Miss, I beg you, if the Master discovers this, we servants cannot bear the consequences!"

As she spoke, the nanny suddenly grabbed Murong Wei’s legs, tears streaming down her face, looking even more pitiful than Murong Wei.

"Nanny, actually..."

Murong Wei had just started to speak when she was interrupted again. "Fourth Miss, there really is no time left. Do you not trust me? My heart is as clear as the moon!"

"Nanny, you first..."

"Fourth Miss, this matter also involves the imperial court. You are the concubine-designate of Prince Qi, appointed by the late Emperor Xuanyuan. If the Eldest Miss exposes this, the Murong estate will definitely sacrifice you. Don't blame me for not warning you then. And besides, you don't even know who that man is. When the charge of harboring him is added, you will become the sinner of the entire Murong estate, Fourth Miss!"

"Nanny, about this matter, how about this..."

"Fourth Miss, let's go!"

The nanny had interrupted Murong Wei countless times. Finally, she stood up abruptly and grabbed her hand, wearing the tragic expression of a warrior who knows they will never return.

At that moment, Murong Wei’s patience finally reached its limit. She also stood up abruptly and roared, "Can you just let me finish a sentence for once?!"

The old nanny was so startled by the roar that she let go, standing there stiff and frozen as if struck by lightning.

She finally realized that something was truly wrong with the Fourth Miss. She had been acting strange since yesterday. How could Murong Zi, who had always been timid and afraid even of the sound of heavy rain, speak so loudly, and... and... use such foul language!