Chapter 86 Rumors

The others left dejectedly, leaving only Kongming and me in the courtyard. However, the looks they gave me as they departed made me uneasy, their expressions filled with suspicion...

The courtyard suddenly became empty and quiet.

Kongming reached out and took the wooden stick from my hand. "Go back to your room and rest."

I nodded, thought for a moment, and then said, "Don't tell Zhao'er about what just happened."

Kongming smiled and said, "Okay."

When Zhao'er returned, Kongming was reading in the courtyard, and I went back to bed to continue lying down.

Since then, Kongming rarely went to Mr. Shuijing's house anymore, but stayed in the courtyard to read books. Zhao'er, on the other hand, went every day and listened with great interest.

Why not go to Mr. Shui Jing's house to attend his lectures?

"The teacher is teaching Zhao'er some basic knowledge, which is of no use to me. It would be better for me to stay at home and read some books."

Every time I ask, I get the same answer. I know he must be worried about a repeat of that day, which is why he stays at home and doesn't go anywhere.

With one hand supporting my back, I walked out of the room. Winter had passed and spring had come. My leg injury had long since healed, but my belly was growing bigger and bigger, and I could no longer hide it.

When I stepped out of the room, I saw Kongming sitting in the courtyard, reading a book. Beside him was a small red clay stove with a small pot on it, cooking something that smelled delicious.

The early spring air was slightly chilly, but the sunlight shone with a gentle warmth, casting a dazzling glow across the ground.

"What should I cook?" I slowly walked over to him and sat down, asking.

"Plum wine," Kongming put down the book in his hand, covered the handle of the pot with a cloth, took two cups from the side, and poured some wine.

"I'm pregnant!" I said, patting my belly gently and swallowing hard.

"It's alright, you can drink it, it won't harm your health." Seeing my eager look, he smiled and handed me the wine glass.

Hearing him say that, I accepted the plum wine without hesitation, took a small sip, and found it sweet with a hint of sourness and a refreshing fragrance.

Sitting across from him, seeing his smiling face, I felt a warmth in my heart. He didn't ask where I came from, the child in my womb, or anything about me. This "not asking" was a form of respect to me.

But... what did my appearance bring him?

It was the villagers' furtive glances, the rumors flying everywhere, and even... he almost never left the courtyard.

"Sir." The courtyard gate was pushed open, and Xiao Ying came in. She was the only villager who came to this courtyard after that incident.

Kongming smiled and nodded.

Xiao Ying, carrying a food box, with her delicate and pretty appearance, turned her head and smiled at me, "Miss Pei, I've made some soup to nourish you."

Ever since I learned that the "fish soup that the gentleman liked" had ended up in my stomach, Xiaoying often cooked soup and brought it to me. Xiaoying is very good at making soup. I quickly went up to her with a smile and watched her open the food box. The rich aroma wafted through the yard.

Take a spoonful and put it in your mouth; it's so delicious that you can't help but swallow your tongue.

Seeing the greedy look on my face, Kongming smiled and narrowed his eyes slightly, then picked up the book and continued reading.

"Is Young Master Zhuge here?" A knock sounded at the door, and a young boy asked softly.

Kongming stood up and looked towards the door. "What is it?"

"Master Shui Jing requests your presence, young master," the boy said.

Then I remembered that he was the boy who opened the door for us at Mr. Shui Jing's house that day.

"Okay," Kongming replied, glancing at me sideways.

"What are you looking at me for? Go away, go away," I said, waving my hand indistinctly with soup in my mouth.

"Alright, I'll be right back. You keep Xiao Ying company for a while." Kongming packed up his books, gave the boy some instructions, and left with him.

I drank a mouthful of soup and nodded.

Xiao Ying sat down with a smile, saying, "Slow down, drink slowly."

I nodded and drank it anyway.

“Miss Pei…” Kong Ming closed the courtyard gate and left. After a long silence in the courtyard, Xiao Ying suddenly spoke, her voice tinged with unease.

I looked up at her, puzzled.

"There are some things... I don't know if I should say them..." She bit her lip, looking very troubled.

I swallowed the soup in my mouth and looked at her. "Since you've already brought it up, can I ask you not to say anything?" A thorn suddenly started to irritate me, and I vaguely knew what she was going to say.

“I shouldn’t be saying these things… but…” Xiao Ying blushed, “Do you know what everyone is saying about the gentleman these days…”

"How so?" I asked, lowering my head to continue drinking my soup.

“They say that the gentleman is a hypocrite, that the gentleman…” Xiao Ying bit her lip and hesitated for a moment, “that the child in Miss Pei’s belly… is the gentleman’s.”

I continued drinking the soup, making smacking noises.

"Miss Pei... is the child the master's..." After hesitating for a long time, Xiao Ying asked softly as if she had made up her mind.

"No." Just those two simple words made me want to laugh. These were probably the two words Xiaoying wanted.

As if relieved, Xiao Ying shifted her body, then looked at me somewhat uneasily, "Miss Pei... I know I went a bit too far with what I said, but..."

I continued drinking the soup, spoonful by spoonful.

Seeing that I didn't respond for a while, Xiaoying gripped her skirt tightly with both hands, making it crumpled into a ball. "The baby... should be born soon... I heard my mother say that the baby's blood will stain the place... If the father isn't the baby's father, then... there will be bloodshed..."

I finished the soup in one gulp, licked my lips, and looked at Xiaoying.

Xiaoying bit her lip and looked at me, "Besides... how will the villagers view the gentleman? He's clearly innocent, yet he has to bear such a bad reputation..."

"What do you want me to do?" I asked, a half-smile playing on my lips as I looked at her.

"I want to... leave here as soon as possible before the baby is born... after all..."

The door was kicked open with a bang, startling me, only to see Zhao'er standing in the doorway with a gloomy expression.

Xiao Ying turned pale with fright.

Taking a few steps forward, Zhao'er shoved the food box on the table to the ground, instantly creating a mess on the floor.

"Zhao'er." I frowned slightly.

Zhao'er walked to my side with her head down, then looked up again with an innocent smile on her face. "Sister, who is this strange woman?"

A strange woman?

Xiao Ying's face had already turned pale. She squatted down to tidy up the food box, hurriedly said "Sorry," and then turned and left the yard.

Zhao'er turned her back to me and watched Xiao Ying leave.

"Sister, let's go." Without turning around, Zhao'er spoke softly.

"Leave? Why?" My voice was calm and undisturbed.

“I heard it all. Last time… did they do that too…” Zhao’er’s voice was muffled, with a heavy nasal tone. “Sister didn’t tell Zhao’er anything.”

I was speechless.

“Xiangyang is so big, we can go somewhere else.” Zhao’er looked back at me and smiled, but her beautiful eyes were unfathomably black.

"Didn't you become Master Shui Jing's disciple? How can you just leave like this?"

"The teacher said I'm very intelligent and quick to understand. I've already learned about 80-90% of it, so it's fine," Zhao'er said with a smile, shaking her head.

Much later, I learned that Zhao'er had kept a secret: Mr. Shui Jing said he was exceptionally intelligent and quick-witted, but his temperament was unsettled. If guided onto the right path, he could achieve great things and do great good. However, those with keen talent are most prone to straying onto the wrong path, while those who are misguided will face utter ruin.