The past 6 months have been uneventful. Aside from the crazy morning sickness that drags her from bed in the early hours of the morning, the unusual cravings, bouts of melancholic behavior (like crying suddenly), and her growing bump, everything is normal.

'Maomao, it's quite cold! You should not come outside without any coat on! ' ' Xiaolan reprimanded her while putting the coat on her shoulder.

Just a week after she settled in the La Clan estate, Xiaolan appeared with Lahan. He said that the monocled fart brought her contract from that lower consort 's family that she was currently working with so that she can have someone to accompany her that she is familiar with.

She hated to admit it, but she was somewhat grateful.

She laughed to herself. Life is really unpredictable, is it? It binds you to make you do things that you swore you would never do. Just like accepting the old fart as his father and the clan that she tried to get away from, now she is a legal part of it.

Her past self would deny this, but living with the old fart and getting to know him more made her realize that she is very much his daughter. They have things in common no matter how hard she tries to deny it.

'Are these herbs dried enough? Xiaolan said, breaking her reverie of thoughts.

'Yes, we can now ground them up, and then pack up. '

After collecting the herbs they have dried in the open air, they go back to the pharmacy located at the back of the La estate.

After settling in, she looked around at the pharmacy and sighed with relief. In order to have something to do and to keep her mind sane, she asked Lahan and Lakan to build this pharmacy and agreed that they will split the earnings, a huge part would for the running and maintaning it, and the rest was to her. Most of her costs she gave it to help with her pharmacy in the pleasure district (afterall, she has a ward there) and she keep the rest for herself and Xiaolan. It 's not big, but enough to buy what she wants and to have some savings. Overall, she is quite content with what she have right now. It 's the life that she wants. A simple life, away from the headaches of the court.

Away from him.

What 's he been doing? Did he also miss him the way she misses him? Is he sleeping enough? Or working himself like a dog, still?

Damn it, Maomao cursed herself.

She banished you. And that 's it. He finished everything.

He moved on and so did I.

'Maomao, something wrong? '

She blinked and saw that Xiaolan was staring at her, worried.

'Nothing, I just remembered something. Let 's grind these herbs now, or it could get moist and damp due to the cold weather. '

After sorting, grinding, and packing away the herbs, she and Xiaolan cleaned up everything, locked up the pharmacy, and started walking back to the main house.

'Maomao, slow down! ' Said Xiaolan while running to catch up with her, holding her arms and back, as if she might slip or fall anytime.

'Why you 're in a hurry? Are you hungry? '

'Yeah, I am, ' she said so that she will stop asking questions.

In fact, she did not know why she feels agitated now. Yes, she feels a small grumble of her stomach, but she feels sad too, when he crossed her mind.

This is just part of the pregnancy, nothing else. Yes, that 's it; just a part of the emotional changes that most pregnancies brings.

Once in the main house, she immediately sits down to the lounge in her room and sighed heavily.

"Geez, aside from the emotional turmoil I am also getting tired than usual. Such troublesome," she thought while wiping the sweat from her body.

'Want do you want to eat, Maomao? Any cravings? ' Xiaolan asked while opening the windows to let some air in.

'Not really, but a warm soup would be a heathy option. '

'Right, I 'll tell the cook then. Rest here ok? I 'll be back immdeatiely. Don't do anything on your own! Just wait for me OK? '

She nods and Xialoan disappeared behind the closed door.

Staring outside the window, she observed the leaves and branches of the tree that were being swayed by the wind.

'So peaceful, its making me sleepy. '

Before she knew it, Maomao was already reclining, fast asleep.