23 PASSIONATE KISS

"Physician Chang had returned," the servants called loud happily. Meng De quickly exit his manor and head towards Lady Ding's manor. "Physician Chang is here?" Lady Ding asked stepping out of her manor to see Meng De getting to her door before Physician Chang. Both of them looked at Chang walking towards them smiling. Ling and Bian watched Chang knowing he had found a solution through his smile, his smile of accomplishment. Chang reaches Lady Ding, Meng De, and Mother Yan, who had also joined. "I went to the mountain to get this plant, the root is a fever medicine for all ages," Chang informed them. "Is that good?" Meng De ask for assurance, not knowing about medicine. "Yes," Chang smiled and nodded, "please excuse me to prepare this for Lady Guo."

Chang walked towards the kitchen to brew the medicine. Everyone slightly cheered for his return and his confidence in his medicine. "I will go help Chang," Bian told Ling "Yes," Ling said and Bian followed Chang. Meng De noticed Bian's actions but ignored his jealousy of Bian and Chang being close to each other.

"Chang, I can help you," Bian offered. Chang smiled at Bian, "thank you" he said telling Bian what to do. Chang started laughing. "What happened?" Bian said following orders. "Do you remember when you used to follow me around?" Chang asked. Bian nodded smiling. "You would always help me like this before," Chang said. "It is because you always make mistakes," said Bian. "No," Chang lied, "you made the mistakes." Bian smiled, she did used make mistakes too. "It is finished," Chang said being able to smell the brew medicine. "Is it bitter?" Bian wondered. "Yes, it may be," Chang said, "let me taste it," Chang took a small sip of the brewed medicine. "It is bitter," Chang said. "Sister Ling bought some sweets a while ago, Lady Guo can eat the sweets with the medicine," Bian suggested. "That will be good," Chang said.

Both of them walked towards Lady Ding's manor. Chang held on tightly to the brewed medicine. "You are here," Ling said welcoming both of them in the manor, "follow me," Ling led Chang to Lady Ding and Meng De. "Ling, bring the sweets because the medicine is bitter," Chang said. "Yes," Ling brought the sweets she bought awhile ago. "Here is the medicine," Chang handed the brewed medicine to Lady Ding. "Lady Guo must intake half of this for now and half for later," Chang told Lady Ding. "Yes," Lady Ding took it. "It is bitter so eating the sweets after will help," Chang informed. "Yes," Ling said showing Lady Ding the sweets. "I understand," Lady Ding said. Lady Ding and Ling went to Lady Guo and woke up the child to drink the medicine.

"Physician Chang," Meng De said taking him out of Lady Ding's manor. "Yes, General Cao Cao," Chang said following Meng De to the court yard. Meng De faced him seriously. Chang froze in fear as a general looks at him seriously. "Since, Consort Ling will reside her to tend Lady Ding, what do you think of being the Cao's family physician?" Meng De asked. Chang sighs in relief and smiled, "it is an honor to be General Cao Cao's family physician." Meng De nodded, "you can call me General Meng De," he said. "Yes, General Meng De," Chang said. "Then you should know," Meng De started, "if you kill or hurt someone intentionally or unintentionally, your life will be taken with it, if you save someone, you will be double rewarded, like today," said Meng De. Chang gulped at the spoken contract and nodded. "Understand?" Meng De said. "Yes," Chang nodded slowly, "I am happy to work with the Cao's family."

"Be good," Lady Ding tries comforting Lady Guo as she cried being forced to drink the medicine for her fever. "One more swallow," Ling said softly as she tries to make Lady Guo drink the bitter medicine. Bian watched Ling and Lady Ding struggling as Lady Ding hold onto the small child's arms and Ling trying to feed the medicine slowly. She walked towards them and help held onto Lady Guo's legs as Lady Guo cries and fight them. "I can help," Bian told Ling. Ling quickly forced the bitter medicine to Lady Guo's mouth. Lady Guo kicked hard, kicking Bian's stomach. "Ah," Bian groan in pain. "Are you fine?" Ling asked Bian not really seeing what happened. Bian shook her head, "give her the sweets." "That is right," Ling said and reached for the sweets to give the sweets to Lady Guo.

Lady Guo stopped crying as Lady Ding comforts her and gave her more sweets. "You are a good child," Lady Ding smiled at her daughter seeing her enjoy the sweets. Ling and Bian watched Lady Ding interact with Lady Guo and smiles. "I miss mother," Ling said, being reminded how their mother comforts them. "Me too," Bian said and was reminded of her porridge, "I can serve the porridge for Lady Guo since she is awake." "Thank you," Ling said knowing Bian had been helping her run errands while she is with Lady Ding. Bian smiled at her and leaves the manor.

Bian is in the kitchen stirring the porridge as it gets warmer from being reheated. "Ah," Bian held onto her stomach, as she felt pain from Lady Guo's kick to her stomach a while ago. "What is wrong?" Chang said running to her side as he entered the kitchen. "I do not know" Bian said turning pale. "Let me check," Chang said as he sat her down. "Where does it hurt?" he asked. Bian took a deep breath, "I am fine," she said. "It may be the baby," Chang said, "let me check." Chang took Bian's wrists to listen to her symptoms. "Did you eat today?" Chang asked. Bian shook her head, "how is the baby?" Bian was worried. "The baby's heartbeat is faster than yours," Chang said and then joked, "the baby is mad." Bian was confused. Chang chuckled and let go of her wrist, "it is because you are not taking care of yourself, being stress and not eating is not healthy for the baby," Chang said. Bian looked at Chang, admiring him and his caring ways. This was the type man Bian fell in love with. Bian was happy that her sister was able to be with a great guy.

"Chang?" Ling called. "Yes?" Chang answered standing up and smiling at Bian, "you will eat?" Chang tried to confirm before he left. "Yes," Bian nodded at him. "I got to go," Chang said leaving the kitchen. "Where were you?" Ling asked. "I was just talking to Bian," Chang said as he got to his wife. "Is she fine?" Ling asked. "She is fine" Chang said. "That is good," Ling responded and took a deep breath. "What is wrong?" Chang asked. "It has been a long day," Ling said, "and I have not talk to you at all." "I am right here," Chang said grabbing Ling's hands and hold onto them. "General Meng De is giving me the honor to become the Cao's family physician," Chang announced to Ling. "I am happy for you," Ling said. "Thank you," Chang smiled at his wife, he couldn't have done it without her believing in him.

After what Chang had said, Bian was worried about the baby. Bian took a bowl of the porridge. She finished the porridge in minutes without even taking a break. Bian sighs, eating did make her feel better. Then she started feeling like she needed to throw up. Bian quickly ran outside to throw up in the bushes. "Consort Bian," Mother Yan called seeing her dropped to the floor weak after throwing up all her food and water. "Are you fine?" Mother Yan came to rub her back. Bian nodded tiredly. "Get Consort Bian water," Mother Yan ordered the consort with her. "Yes," the consort went to get a cup of water. "What is wrong?" Mother Yan asked. "I think it was just indigestion," Bian said. "Here is water," the consort gave it to Mother Yan and Mother Yan helped Bian drank the water. "Thank you," Bian said. "Go rest," Mother Yan said seeing Bian without energy. Bian shook her head, "it is dinner time, I still have to help with cooking," Bian said. Mother Yan sighs, "it is not your chore, the consorts and servants can do it," Mother Yan lectured her. "Take Consort Bian to rest," Mother Yan instructed the consort. "Yes, Lady Yan," the consort said and helped took Bian to rest.

Dinner is served, Lady Guo is active again even though she is still burning. "I am hungry mother," Lady Guo complained on the dinner table. It was a relief for everyone to see Lady Guo active and having an appetite again. Mother Yan, Meng De, Lady Ding, Lady Guo, and Lady Mei was present. "I know, you can eat your porridge," Lady Ding told Lady Guo as the porridge was served to each one. "Consort Bian made the porridge," Mother Yan smiled. Meng De looked at the porridge, it was the same porridge Bian brought for him. He figured it was the porridge she made, claiming Mother Yan made it. "Where is Consort Bian?" Meng De asked the consorts and servants. "Consort Bian is resting," a consort answered. "Why?" Meng De asked loudly. The consorts and servants afraid of trouble lowered their head not knowing why. "It is because I told her to rest," Mother Yan said, "she does not feel well." "If Consort Bian does not feel well then I will let Physician Chang know," Lady Ding said. "Consort Bian is fine," Mother Yan, "it is the pregnancy." Lady Ding nodded knowing there are no treatments to pregnancy symptoms. "Eat this," Meng De giving a piece of meat to Lady Ding to rejuvenate her energy. Lady Ding smiled at him and ate the food. All of them were finally being able to eat since Lady Guo was doing better than before.

After dinner, Lady Ding and Ling gave the medicine for Lady Guo to drink. It was the last half of it. Meng De in his room, getting ready for bed, was able to hear the cries of Lady Guo. Meng De knew it was Lady Ding was only doing the best for Lady Guo. He walked towards Lady Ding's manor to go comfort his daughter. "It must be hard for Lady Guo," the consorts gossiped outside of Lady Ding's manor as they watched what was going on. Meng De doesn't lecture the consorts and servants when they gossip but would interrupt them. He was going to clear his throat but one of the consort said, "did you see when she kicked Consort Bian's stomach?" Meng De stopped his tracks to listen behind them. "I did see but I saw Lady Guo kicked her thigh?" another consort responded. "No, I saw her it was Consort Bian's stomach," the consort said.

Meng De can hear the Lady Ding and Ling comforting Lady Guo with the sweets. It must have been over while Meng De was eavesdropping on the consorts gossiping. Meng De decided to go check on Bian instead. "Servant Bo," Meng De ordered, "heat up the porridge and bring it to Consort Bian's room." "Yes," Servant Bo answered and left to the kitchen. Meng De walk towards the consort's manor and without knocking, he entered Bian's room. "General Cao Cao," Bian said surprised to see Meng De. Meng De observed her up and down in his worried face. Bian noticed his worried state and assumed, "what happened with Lady Guo?" Bian asked almost rushing out her own room. Meng De closed the door behind him surprising Bian again. "Are you fine?" Meng De gently asked. "I am fine," Bian said confused of Meng De's concern, she did feel better after taking a small nap.

"Where did Lady Guo kicked you?" Meng De asked observing Bian. Bian wondered how Meng De knew and thought it may have been the consorts telling him since they listen to his orders. "Was it your stomach?" Meng De asked. Bian shook her head. Meng De can tell she was lying when she stayed quiet. "Let me see," Meng De said walking towards Bian planning to strip her to check. Bian gasped at Meng De approaching her fast and backed up to the wall. Bian held onto the opening of her dress, "General Cao Cao," she said trying to remind him, "the agreement." Meng De stopped remembering that he agreed not to touch her. Bian tries to escape by the side of him but his arms covered her ways of escape, pinning her to the wall. "If you will not tell me, I will do it my way," Meng De threat her. Bian sighs and asked, "if I show you, would you believe me?" Meng De nodded, "as long as I see it for myself." Bian turned around as she unbuttoned her dress on her stomach part. She was ashamed to show Meng De but she knew how stubborn Meng De was, either to strip her whole body naked or to show him her stomach only. Bian slowly turned around exposing only her stomach. Meng De backed away to check any bruises or red marks on her stomach but there was nothing. Meng De saw the baby bump looking normal. Meng De sighs and faced Bian. Bian noticed Meng De was done and turn around to button her dress. Meng De laughed inside of her shy character, it was unnecessary for her to turn to just button around the stomach part. Meng De walked closer to her and Bian turned back to face Meng De closely. Her breath fastens as her heart race of being able to smell his lavender musky smell and admired his manly features. Bian can feel her pregnancy making her body temperature rise again. Seeing Bian blushing, Meng De liked it and finally cracking a smile from the long day. "Let me open the door," Bian said slowly, "it is hot in here." Meng De nodded and step back from her allowing her to walk past him to open the door. Before Bian can even past her, Meng De grabbed her hand and turned her around. Bian was quickly turned around and before she can say anything, Meng De kissed her. Bian opened her eyes in shock of his action as Meng De turned his head to deepen the kiss. His arms wrapped behind her pushing her into him. Bian closed her eyes and responded to the kiss. It made her felt better as if she needed him to touch her to cool her down and calm her beating heart. Meng De stopped kissing her and smiled as he backed away from her. Bian's eyes were still close and standing still.

"Servant Bo," Meng De called and opened the door as if he knew Servant Bo was outside all along. Bian opened her eyes slowly to see Meng De already at the door leaving. "Yes," Servant Bo answered. Meng De see Servant Bo already having the bowl of porridge in his hands. Meng De turned to Bian, "I told Servant Bo to bring you a bowl of porridge," he said, "eat before you rest." Bian nodded in listening to Meng De. Meng De walked back to his manor. Bian felt herself to feel her body temperature has gone down but her heart still beating fast. Servant Bo placed the bowl of porridge to her vanity. "Thank you," Bian said to Servant Bo. Servant Bo bowed his head and left. Waking up from the nap, she was even more hungry. Bian eats the porridge one more time but slower this time.