Chapter 67: Things Seem Different Than Before

In the past, Yunxi would always finish the contraceptive medicine before Gu Nanxiao left court. This was the first time he had ever seen Yunxi take medicine.

When the strong smell of medicine reached Gu Nanxiao's nose, he couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. Drinking such bitter medicine every day—anyone would be unhappy in that situation.

The maid brought the medicine to her, but Yunxi did not take it. At this moment, Gu Nanxiao reached out, took the bowl of contraceptive soup, scooped it up with a spoon, blew on it to cool it down, and fed it to Yunxi.

Yunxi looked at the medicine being offered to her lips but didn't touch it. Instead, she looked directly into Gu Nanxiao's eyes and asked, "Do you really want me to drink it?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Nanxiao put down the medicine bowl, affectionately patted Yunxi's head, and asked, "Do you find the medicine too bitter? I'll have the servants bring some candied fruit. We can eat some candied fruit after we finish our medicine."

A short while later, a servant brought over a plate of candied fruit as ordered. Gu Nanxiao blew on the medicine to cool it down again and then held it to Yunxi's lips.

Yunxi remained silent, staring straight at him. After a long while, she asked with a slight sob in her voice, "Do you know this is... a contraceptive soup?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Nanxiao's expression flashed with embarrassment. He put down the medicine bowl with a helpless look and asked, "Did the physician tell you this?"

His answer instantly brought tears to Yunxi's eyes. Until just now, Yunxi had clung to a sliver of hope that this man might also be unaware of the truth.

Could this contraceptive soup have been arranged by someone who wanted to harm her? The physician said it was given by him, but it was just to sow discord between them. However, Gu Nanxiao's words confirmed everything.

Yunxi shook her head coldly and slowly said, "When I delivered the medicine today, Su Mingyan saw me and told me."

Seeing Yunxi's reddened eyes, Gu Nanxiao felt both heartache and joy. Yunxi was actually crying because she couldn't have his child.

Doesn't this suggest that although Yunxi says she's leaving, she actually loves him very much? Why would a woman be willing to have a child for a man if she doesn't love him?

Gu Nanxiao happily hugged her and gently patted her back, coaxing, "Yunxi, don't overthink it. It's not that I don't want you to have my children, it's just not possible right now. If you like children, we can have more in the future."

Upon hearing the word "children," Yunxi felt her mind go blank and said woodenly, "We will not have children in the future."

Gu Nanxiao finally realized that Yunxi seemed very strange today. He immediately pushed her away from his embrace slightly, cupped her cheeks in his hands, gently kissed away the tears on Yunxi's face, and said with a hint of reproach in his voice:

"Don't talk nonsense. We'll have many children in the future. Making you drink the contraceptive soup is just a temporary expedient."

Looking at Gu Nanxiao's expression, Yunxi felt that, given his personality, he shouldn't be someone who would stoop to lying. Finally, still unwilling to give up, she asked, "Did you personally instruct the physician to prescribe the medicine for me?"

Gu Nanxiao hadn't expected Yunxi to care so much about the contraceptive soup, but he dared not tell Yunxi about his grandmother's plan.

The little girl is incredibly vengeful. If she knew someone was plotting against her and her child, she would definitely not let it go.

His grandmother was Gu Nanxiao's best relative; their bond even surpassed his feelings for his father and mother.

If his grandmother were to clash with Yunxi, he would be in a very difficult position. Therefore, he had no choice but to take the blame himself. After thinking it over, Gu Nanxiao could only nod and agree with difficulty.

Yunxi wanted to ask why, but she swallowed the words back. She felt there was no need to deceive herself anymore; there was clearly no misunderstanding. Besides, she was afraid that if she pressed for answers, she would hear even more unacceptable truths.

What else could a man do to drug a woman without hesitation, ruining her fertility? It's simply because he doesn't love her.

Thinking of all the moments they had shared in the past, Yunxi smiled bitterly. She laughed at herself for being delusional and for being fooled by these ancient men time and time again.

Perhaps in their eyes, I've always been nothing more than a piece of trash. Just a plaything to be teased and amused when they're in a good mood. But when it comes to their careers and reputations, I'm someone who can be ruthlessly sacrificed.

Yunxi felt as if the air around her had been sucked out. She was like a fish that had fallen to the shore, gasping for breath but still feeling suffocated.

Yunxi took the bowl of medicine in a huff, tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp. Then she threw the empty bowl on the ground, smashing it into pieces.

He broke free from Gu Nanxiao's embrace, stepped over the broken porcelain shards on the ground, and walked dejectedly towards the side courtyard.

Looking at Yunxi's overwhelming sorrow, Gu Nanxiao felt a pang of pain in his heart. It was as if, the moment the medicine bowl fell to the ground, the bond between them had shattered into pieces.

A wave of panic washed over him, and he immediately got up and chased after them. But the door to the side courtyard was already tightly shut, and no matter how he called out, no one inside responded.

Gu Nanxiao stood there, speaking many comforting words through the door to the person inside. After an incense stick had burned, Gu Nanxiao could no longer think of a word to coax them, and all that remained was a long silence.

Inside the room, Yunxi continued to sob in suppressed sobs, and the gentle coaxing sounds around him seemed so ironic. He felt that his heart had never ached as much as it had at this moment.

Even when faced with Shi Qingchen's betrayal, being forced to put her fingerprint on a confession, and being burned alive in a fire, all she felt was humiliation and resentment.

It wasn't like it is now, where the pain is so intense that there's no way to alleviate it, and the pain is so intense that one loses the strength to retaliate or resist.

Gu Nanxiao stood outside the door for as long as Yunxi had cried inside. He listened to the low sobs coming from inside, and his heart ached with each sob.

The two remained locked in this stalemate until night fell, when Zisu and her maid brought in dinner. Only then did Gu Nanxiao speak again:

"Yunxi, open the door. Let's talk things out slowly. Shall we have our meal first?"

He knocked on the door for a long time, but Yunxi didn't come out. Gu Nanxiao was worried that the little girl's body couldn't take it if this continued, so he pretended to be angry and said, "Yunxi, if you don't come out, I'll break down the door!"

He waited a while longer, but there was still no movement inside. Just as Gu Nanxiao gathered all his inner strength and was about to kick the door open, the door was opened from the inside.

Ignoring Yunxi's cold expression, Gu Nanxiao happily pulled her into his arms, then scooped her up in his arms and carried her back to the main courtyard.

The two had dinner together. Gu Nanxiao served Yunxi food attentively throughout the meal, while Yunxi ate her meal in silence.

After dinner, the two went to the study. Yunxi started writing and drawing on his small desk again, while Gu Nanxiao dealt with official documents and glanced at her expression.

Although the two still interacted as usual, Gu Nanxiao felt that something was different from before.

An hour later, Yunxi handed Gu Nanxiao three things. Holding a scroll titled "On Governing the Country," she said to Gu Nanxiao:

"Tomorrow at the morning court session, you will present this book, 'On Governing the Country,' to His Majesty in public, in the name of your sworn sister."