Chapter 2: I'm hungry... Obediently nestling in her arms, not even...
At noon, when Meng Huan heard the servant bringing food, he stood by the window calling out, wanting to see Wen Zhaoyin. After persisting for two days, he still couldn't get anyone to come.
Eating a single type of food for a long time can lead to a lack of other essential elements. He felt he was deficient in everything, with such low blood pressure that even standing up was difficult.
Now, after starving for four consecutive days, he truly didn't even have the strength to call out. Was his transmigration to this place just to be killed by a vicious servant?
"Family Master, please enter."
"Where is Wang Fu? Quickly have him bring the key to open the door."
Meng Huan raised his head in a daze, at first thinking he was hallucinating, but after coming to his senses, he realized there were indeed people talking outside.
He struggled to get up from under the covers, leaning on the edge of the bed and inching his way out, wanting to get down and see what was happening. His chance had finally come; if he didn't seize it now, he might really die.
Outside the door.
Wen Zhaoyin quietly waited for Wang Fu to come and open the door, feeling something was slightly amiss. The guards she had arranged at the small courtyard entrance were not there, nor were the serving attendants.
A few days ago, she had gotten drunk and acted a bit crazy, going to the small courtyard and treating Meng Huan roughly, even forcing herself on him. The next day, when she sobered up in the study, she felt guilty and wanted to come see him right away, but due to official business that needed handling, it was delayed until today.
It was embarrassing to admit, but she usually could control herself well. Before meeting him, she had hardly ever lost her composure. Perhaps it was because he looked too much like that person...
Wang Fu arrived tardily, his expression unreadable. Wen Zhaoyin didn't question him about the courtyard matters, just signaled with her eyes for him to open the door.
Wang Fu took out a bunch of keys, his hands shaking as he opened the door. He tried the wrong key twice before finally unlocking it.
He had thought that when the Family Master had mistreated Meng Huan four days ago, she didn't consider him human at all, just treating him as a plaything. If she really cared, she wouldn't have been so inconsiderate.
Then, seeing many official documents delivered this morning, he guessed the Family Master wouldn't come to the small courtyard for a few days, so he felt at ease using his authority to deal with Meng Huan.
He hadn't intended to actually starve Meng Huan to death, just wanted to make him apologize and kowtow a few times after a couple of days to settle the matter. He figured with a few threats, Meng Huan wouldn't dare speak out.
But who knew there would be this one oversight, and the Family Master would come at this time!
"Please... please enter..."
Wen Zhaoyin glanced at him, her gaze calm as water, yet it made Wang Fu shiver all over.
He was so nervous his mouth went dry, thinking that if Meng Huan complained first, there would be no good outcome for him. He turned and quietly retreated to find someone for help.
Meanwhile, as soon as Wen Zhaoyin entered, she saw Meng Huan wearing only an inner robe, trying to get down from the bed. He looked up, their eyes meeting, and somehow he lost his balance, falling to the ground.
Oh no, that night must have really frightened him.
She berated herself again, then quickly went forward to help him up. Not minding the dirt, she raised her hand to gently pat the dust off his body.
Today, Meng Huan seemed much more docile than before. Not only did he not curse at her, but after being helped up, he obediently nestled in her arms, showing none of the rejection from earlier days.
Looking at his face, along with his compliance, Wen Zhaoyin's heart nearly melted. Her guilt over what she had done four days ago intensified.
"Did you hurt yourself from the fall? Are you injured anywhere?"
She was already known as a talented and romantic scholar, now in the prime of her years, with both ability and looks, and a smooth official career. If outsiders were to see her now, with lowered brows asking such questions, the men wanting to be her concubines could trample flat the foot-high threshold of the Wen family.
However, the person hearing these words wasn't immersed in the moment. Instead, he blinked his eyes and said in a soft voice, "I'm hungry..."
--
East Wing of the Main Courtyard.
"Eat slowly."
Seeing him eat urgently, ignoring even her reminders, Wen Zhaoyin directly took away the porridge bowl.
"The doctor just said you can't eat too much too quickly now. You need to eat small amounts frequently. Eating so fast will make you vomit."
Meng Huan was truly scared of hunger. Even if he would vomit, he wanted to eat it all. He reached out to grab the bowl, saying, "Not even letting people drink porridge to their fill."
"Psst... for early access to the full novel, and for many other gripping stories where women rule (female-dominant, matriarchal novels), just Google 'novel title + yuushil'."