91 91. Brother in law arrived

''What is it?'' Princess Sora could see her looking around with a strange expression and was alarmed.

Even Hua Roulan stood up and listened, But she could neither feel nor hear anything suspicious.

Liu Mei shook her head. ''I had a strange feeling that someone called my name. And that voice...'' She stopped talking and sighed as she patted the small belly. ''I miss your father as it seems.''

Princess Sora was quite curious about Li Mei and had thousands of questions but at the same time, she could see how Liu Mei stops talking whenever the conversation goes that way. It seems she just wants to block that and Princess Sora let it be.

The belly was still small but everyone could see that Liu Mei was happily awaiting the baby's coming. She had a warm glow on her face and she would constantly talk or sing to the child.

''I am quite curious about something.'' Princess Sora saw her going bit stiff and chuckled. ''Why do you tell child everything and explain everything? It still doesn't know what you are talking about.''

Liu Mei looked at her seriously. ''If I tell you that the sound of my voice will be imprinted in a child's mind and at least some of the knowledge as well, will you believe me?''

Now even the two closest people to her became interested. Hua Roulan was curious as well. ''Does that mean if I tell the child everything I know some of it will stay inside his head?''

Liu Mei shrugged. ''I heard a long time ago that children first take time to get used to a certain voice and concentrate only on that voice. After that, they keep gathering different sounds. Later, much later after birth when they realize what those sounds were they understand the meaning of it. But it's not a proven fact. It's just an assumption. But even if its assumption, I want to at least try.''

Princess Sora suddenly had a strange thought. ''Do you plan it to be a great warrior or politician?''

Liu Mei would sometimes read the books of war strategies she could find in the free sale, or sometimes books about politics. Sometimes she read novels and sometimes she imagined her own stories. Even the songs are completely different than those she ever heard in her life.

''My child... I just want it to be happy. If I can help at least a tiny bit I would be the happiest ever.'' Liu Mei smiled as she closed her eyes and yawned. ''I feel so sleepy. The weather will change soon. I think the winter is near. Is the food ready?''

Hua Roulan brought ledger and put on the table. ''I think we are ready.''

Princess Sora looked at the two while wondering, but as Hua Roulan explained to her their plans, she was amazed. ''You did that for our people?''

But as she turned her eyes towards Liu Mei, she realized that she was already in deep sleep. The slight wind played with her hair. When she looked closer she could see that Liu Mei had beautiful long eyelashes.

Her slow and steady breaths showed that she was in deep sleep, but a slight furrow of her eyebrows showed that her dreams were not very happy. A teardrop slid down her cheeks as she mumbled.

Princess Sora didn't understand and wanted to get closer, but Hua Roulan stepped between, putting a light blanket over Liu Mei's body and preventing her to listen. Actually, Hua Roulan could hear her words. She calls for the Emperor. Isn't that a good thing?

Suddenly a knock could be heard on the main gate and Xiao Ran rushed to see who is it. But as she opened the door she froze and turned her head slowly towards Hua Roulan. ''Sister, I think brother in law came.''

Bei Lu rose his eyebrows and understood the situation. He couldn't claim that he was guard or brother. Not even as a cousin would be appropriate to live with the three women, but as a brother in law was a piece of cake. And he can officially protect them.

With a smile he patted Xiao Ran, leaving her behind completely flabbergasted and entered the yard. Looking around he realized it was almost the same everywhere where their Empress goes.

Flowers were everywhere, but those flowers were not simple. They were from different kinds of vegetables she loved to eat. But she turned the flower garden into vegetable plots. But he had to admit, it looked pretty.

He was about to say something when he met the icy eyes of Hua Roulan and saw Liu Mei that was sleeping. He winked at Hua Roulan and then realized that they had a guest. His face became serious as he remembered who that was, he bowed politely.

Princess Sora saw Hua Roulan's face turning a few shades redder and chuckled. She whispered. ''Go and talk to him, he looks like he came from far away. He must be dead tired.'' Then she naughtily winked at her, making Hua Roulan puff her cheeks and rush away.

Xiao Ran sat next to Liu Mei and checked the blanket with a sigh. ''She is having so many ideas on how to help people here, but at the same time, she can see that not many things are possible. Knowing her we will soon have a problem.''

Princess Sora needed to concentrate quite a lot to hear her words and sighed. She pointed at the other side of the house and whispered. ''Come over there. We can talk, watch over her and as it is far enough it won't wake her up. You must explain.''

Xiao Ran knew that Liu Mei will sleep for a while now, so she walked to the other set of chairs and sat down. She could literally see Princess Sora looking at her movements as she poured the tea and sighed. ''Princess, there are many things we can't talk about. We have our reasons why we can't. My sister is actually quite a stubborn person. If she can't help, then she will ask Gods for help. And when she does that, she does it with a deep belief. If we can't stop somewhat the hunger this winter, she might end up bowing to Gods in her state. Is that good for the baby or her? No. So, Roulan and I are trying to find other options, but ist really hard. Your country is really poor.''

Princess Sora was flabbergasted about her words. ''We are not rich, but poor... I think you are wrong.''

''Princess, you are so poor that you had to turn City Hall into a Buddhist temple. You are so poor that people are walking out of the city to dig some green grass, as they can't afford vegetables. You are soo poor that Liu Mei wants to cry all the time. You are so poor that you don't even realize that you are. Only the noble people in this city have somewhat money. But other cities... This winter will be hard. Very hard for your country. Pray to all Gods that I am wrong.'' Xiao Ran looked at the blue sky and shook her head. ''Migratory birds already left and it's not even time.''

Hearing that Princess Sora froze. If they are gone...