3 1 YEAR AGO

After the second birth of Lady Ding's daughter, Mei, everyone seemed as if they lost hope for Lady Ding to bore an heir. Bian ignores the gossips and rumors. She knew Lady Ding haven't given up so she was going to try as hard as her Lady.

"Get a concubine" Cao Song told his son. Cao Song was General Cao Cao's father, who worked directly under the Emperor as a prime minister. Cao Song was the Emperor's second favorite person because of his wisdom. Cao Song had multiple wives, even though Mother Yan is his main wife, he was always at the Palace or at his favorite concubine house. Meng De had conflicting thoughts. He knew his father was born from a concubine and didn't have much power, so his father had to work hard to become the Emperor's second favorite person. Meng De also understands his mother's struggles of being the main wife but not loved. He didn't want to Lady Ding to be those types of situations since she was very nice lady.

"Will you get a concubine?" Lady Ding asked General Meng De after father in law's visit and conversation. "We can try again," he shook off the topic. Lady Ding happily hugged him as he returned the hug. "I already have two beautiful daughters like their mother," Meng De held onto his youngest daughter. "I wofail the next time," Lady Ding promised.

"Consort Bian," Lady Ding called her inside the room while Meng De puts Mei to sleep. "Consort Ling sent you a letter," Lady Ding handed the letter to Bian. Bian was excited inside to receive a letter from her sister. "Thank you, Lady Ding," Bian said putting the letter into her sleeves saving it to read it later. "Read it here for all of us to hear," Meng De demanded. Lady Ding frowned knowing Meng De still suspecting of Bian. Bian looked at her Lady to help her. "It is just from Consort Ling, you can read out loud," Lady Ding said trying to show Meng De that Consort Bian isn't any type of spy. Bian nodded and took out the letter to read.

"My little sister Bian, I hope you received my letter well. I miss you very much and think a lot about you. How is Lady Ding? I miss her a lot too. Promise me you will tend to all her needs and wants. Do not let me down. If you are wondering if I am coming soon, I will be. The last couple of months, I have developed these rash. The handsome physician you liked found a cure for me. The fastest I recover, I will head there to take back my spot, so you can return home. I hope you are not hiding while you are crying and hurt. Let Lady Ding know about your problems because I am right she will help you. Remember to write me," Bian finished reading the letter. Meng De was silent and Lady Ding smiled. "Sounds very much like Consort Ling," Lady Ding said, "you can leave now." Bian nodded and left.

Later, Bian followed the consort to the court yard towards General Meng De, who was waiting for her. He demanded her presence. "You can leave," Mengde told the other consort. "Follow me," Meng De told Bian and led her to his study room. "You are a good reader," Meng De complimented her. "Thank you," Bian said. "Here pick out any books you want to read," Meng De said. Bian looked at Meng De to see if he was sick. Was he not suspecting of her anymore? Meng De caught Bian looking at him to see her eyes swollen. "Did you cry?" Meng De said as he walked closer to her. Bian stepped back and lowered her eye contact. Meng De cleared his throat and walk to sit at his table on the ground. "Are you going to choose?" Meng De notices Bian standing there. "I do not read anymore," Bian said, wanting to avoid at any cost of losing her life. Her sister is coming to replace her soon, so soon she still return home, then she can read at pleasure. Meng De was confused, "who does not read anymore?" Meng De walked back to the stack of books and picked out one of his favorite books and handed to Bian, "here you can read this one for the time being," he said. Bian shook her head, "thank you General Cao Cao for being generous but I have choose not to read anymore." Meng De sighs and grabbed Bian's hand and place the book into her hand. "Do not stop reading," Meng De said, "do you hear me?" Bian fasten her grip on the book and nodded. "You can leave," Meng De told her.

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Bian waited daily to receive another letter from her sister. She couldn't wait to leave the place and return home. Bian have decided that when she returns home, she will immediately ask to be marry off instead of being a consort. Although, she is doing this for her Lady, Bian knows she will not be able to do this for anyone else. Bian also knows her Lady was getting tired again, but this time Lady Ding demanded her to be quiet. After two fails on giving birth to a son, there were many pressures on her and Meng De. Lady Ding did not want any hopelessness again. "Although you may not see it, I see it in his eyes, even if he doesn't say it," Lady Ding told Bian about Meng De's disappointment. Bian agreed with Lady Ding. She does see the disappointment in his eyes, in everyone's eyes. It must be true love to understand your lover without words, Bian thought to herself admiring Lady Ding's understanding of General Cao Cao.

Early in the morning, Bian prepares the bath as usual for Lady Ding. "Lady Ding, please wake up to bath." Lady Ding didn't move. Bian reached for Lady Ding to find her hot everywhere in her body. "Lady Ding?" Bian tried to moving Lady Ding to find her running a fever. Bian runs out in calls for help. Everyone arrived within minutes. The physician arrived shortly after. "Please see why my wife is running a fever in the middle of the summer," Meng De told the physician. After couple of touch to her wrist and listening to her breathing, "was Lady Ding pregnant?" the physician asked. "No," Meng De answered, "not in my knowledge." Bian started tearing up. Meng De notices, "Consort Bian," his voice raised, "tell me in your knowledge." Bian kneel down, "I do not know but Lady Ding says do not say anything." "Lady Ding was pregnant, but not anymore," the physician informed, "this is because of stress she is having and lack of nutrition."

After the physician left, Mother Yan had to pray for a cleaning of the whole house. Even Meng De had to stay away from Lady Ding for a time being. Bian, in full regrets, stayed by Lady Ding's side. Bian sobbed of the struggles Lady Ding's efforts in crying to conceive a son for the family. This led to her internal stress and lack of care for herself even when she was pregnant. Bian blamed herself for not doing the best she can. She felt as if she failed her sister and Lady Ding.

In anger, Meng De commanded punishment for Bian. Bian was willing to accept anything for her incompetence. "10 whips and no food for 3 days", Meng De ordered. Mother Yan couldn't control her son and left not intruding his punishment for Consort Bian. Lady Ding was unable to protect Bian since she was still weak in bed. Meng De watched the servant whipped Bian as her undergarments showed through. Bian cried in pain but did not beg for forgiveness. This even angers him more seeing that Bian doesn't understand remorse. She may be different from what he thought of her.

While General Cao Cao was out, consorts sneaked in food for Bian who was locked away in her own room to not eat for 3 days. With little appetite and more worries for Lady Ding, Bian didn't even consume as much. "Will you not get in trouble?" Bian asked the consorts who are sneaking food for her. "Do not worry, General Meng De has been out drinking the past couple of days," the consort said. "Why?" Bian asked. Why isn't General Cao Cao by Lady Ding's side to help her in her vulnerable state. Bian became even more worried for Lady Ding. "He is probably more upset about losing the child," the consort said referring to General Cao Cao more upset about losing the child more than his weak wife in bed. Bian cried even more knowing how heartless General Cao Cao can be towards Lady Ding.

After the recovery of Lady Ding and unspoken story of her miscarriage, everything went back to normal. Weeks passed again, Bian still has a hard time sleeping on her back even though it is slowing healing. Lady Ding had only welcomed Bian back normally without any other questions or concerns. With Bian quiet character always taking care of Lady Ding, Lady Ding had learned to nonverbally cared for Bian.

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"When you receive this letter, I will reach there to care of Lady Ding. I miss you and Lady Ding very much and cannot wait to hear stories. You will be able to come back home to mother and father. I will not write much so you do not have to wait long."

The letter Bian received from her older sister Ling cheered her up to know that she returns home almost after three years. Bian wanted to tell the great news to Lady Ding. While entering Lady Ding's room, Lady Ding finished putting the last accessory in her hair. "Since you're here, let's go," Lady Ding said. "Yes," Bian followed Lady Ding to the living room not able to tell her the good news yet.

"Come and greet master here," Mother Yan told Lady Ding. "You must be Lady Ding, the daughter in law of Mother Yan," the foretelling master said. "Yes," Lady Ding was confused why her mother in law demanded her presence in such a quick manner. The foretelling master smiled at Bian. Bian lowered her eye contact, in respect to not look at someone with a higher status. "I called in this master to take away any evil aura around you," Mother Yan told Lady Ding, referring to last miscarriage. "Also, to bless you with an heir for the Cao family," Mother Yan said looking at the foretelling master.

The foretelling master chanted and prayed for Lady Ding. He looked at Lady Ding's name and Meng De's name. He was silent for while looking at Lady Ding. "What did you call me for mother?" Meng De enters the room. "That's General Cao Cao," Mother Yan told the foretelling master. "What is your name?" the foretelling master asked Bian. "Cao Cao, Meng De," Ming De responded. "No, I'm asking the consort behind you," the foretelling master said looking at Bian. "Consort Bian?" Meng De said as he turned behind to see Bian looking up. He hasn't seen her up close for a long time, she was shining more than ever. "Bian," foretelling master repeated. "What about Consort Bian?" Mother Yan wondered in case Consort Bian was an unlucky child around the household. "She will the one to bore three sons for this Cao family," the foretelling master said bluntly. Everyone was quiet and stood still as the foretelling master changed his smiling expression to a serious one, "In prophecy, her sons will end this dynasty (Han dynasty) and become Kings."