"You just need to think about whether you want to agree to my proposal. Since you can't make a decision today, I'll give you time to consider it."

After Zhao Qing finished speaking, two maids came out and took Cui Yulu away.

"Wait a minute, I still want to know if Fu Xiaoyu is alright now?"

Zhao Qing felt inexplicably uncomfortable upon hearing this name.

"Yes, he's very good. He'll be marrying his new queen soon, how could he not be good?"

Upon hearing this, Cui Yulu staggered, but quickly regained her composure, realizing that he was lying and that Fu Xiaoyu would never betray her.

He must be lying to himself.

Thinking of this, she stopped talking and left with the two maids.

As Zhao Qing watched her departing figure, he felt inexplicably sad. She had remained so calm when she heard that Fu Xiaoyu was going to marry his new love, which showed that she still trusted Fu Xiaoyu's character.

It will take some time to break up their relationship.

Zhao Qing sent a message to Qiao Qiao via carrier pigeon, and the two exchanged information and continued with the next step of the plan.

Thinking of this, he suddenly felt much happier.

It snowed heavily the next day, and the weather was very cold.

Cui Yulu was awakened by a knock on the door in the early morning. An elderly man entered the room.

He took Cui Yulu's pulse with his medicine box and then prescribed some tonics for her.

"Did he send you here?"

After reviewing the prescription, Cui Yulu asked a question.

"I just do my own thing and don't ask too many questions about my master's affairs."

After the old man finished speaking, he handed the prescription to the maid to get the medicine, and then left with his medicine box.

The room fell silent again, leaving only Cui Yulu alone.

She sat on the warm tatami mat, watching the snowflakes fluttering outside the window, lost in thought.

I wonder what Fu Xiaoyu is doing right now. Since he's not dead, why doesn't he come back?

Or is it really true, as Zhao Qing said, that he has found a new love over there and forgotten about me?

Cui Yulu felt increasingly sad as she thought about it. Looking at the fluttering snowflakes outside the window, tears unknowingly streamed down her face.

Even when Zhao Qing entered the room, he didn't notice.

Why are you crying? Are you thinking about him?

But he wasn't thinking of you. Zhao Qing hesitated for a long time but still couldn't say those words.

I was afraid she would be even more heartbroken.

"How did you get in? When are you going to let me leave?"

Cui Yulu snapped out of her daze and looked at him, asking softly.

"I told you you could stay here forever, and being my woman would at least prevent you from being this sad."

Zhao Qing continued to tell her about yesterday's events.

“I’ve already told you I won’t be with you, so stop saying these useless things. I just want to know where Fu Xiaoyu is. I want to go find him.”

"You will see him soon, but I will stay by your side during this time, including when you go to Kyoto."

Cui Yulu didn't understand what this person wanted to do, and just looked at him with fear in her eyes.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything to you until you agree to my request. I just want to stay by your side and watch you give up on Fu Xiaoyu completely."

"Why do you keep asking me to agree? I don't even remember who you are, how can I agree?"

Zhao Qing looked at her with a pained expression: "You really don't remember me?"

The pained expression on his face moved Cui Yulu, but matters of the heart cannot be given away; she truly did not remember this person.

"Do you remember the man you helped two years ago? That winter you gave me a bowl of porridge and some silver so I could go to the capital to take the imperial examination. Have you forgotten?"

Cui Yulu had helped many people like this before. When he described it this way, she remembered a man who looked somewhat similar to him.

"I remember now, but you got involved with Han An later, didn't you?"

Cui Yulu remembered that there was such a man who was involved with Han An and together they were targeting Han Yu'an. She remembered this.

"At that time, I just wanted to get your attention, but you only had eyes for other people and no eyes for me. So I became extremely jealous and wanted to get revenge on the people who liked you."

"Your love is too narrow. Now that I know you, I can tell you clearly that we are not suitable, and I will not like you."

A look of sadness reappeared in Zhao Qing's eyes.

“It’s okay. I know I’ve done a lot of wrong things in the past, but this time I’m truly repentant and want to stay by your side. So no matter what you say, I will stay by your side and follow you.”

Cui Yulu was speechless, wondering what this man was thinking and why he was so persistent in clinging to her.

"Then let me leave. I'm going to Kyoto to wait for news from Fu Xiaoyu."

"I can let you go, but the news you receive will probably not be as satisfactory as you think."

Even if it's not a satisfactory answer, I'll wait. I want to see the result with my own eyes. Even if it's not a satisfactory answer, I won't regret it.

Zhao Qing had no choice but to nod in agreement.

"In that case, I will arrange for you to leave once the snow stops, and I will leave with you."

An Rou'er's expression changed noticeably as she delivered the medicine; she lowered her eyes and secretly glanced at Zhao Qing.

His expression was ambiguous, but Cui Yulu saw it all.

She understood that An Rou'er must like Zhao Qing.

This person is blinded by his own situation; there are clearly more suitable women around him, so why bother pursuing the woman he can't have?

Cui Yulu took the medicine bowl, smelled it under her nose to make sure there was nothing else, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Zhao Qing quickly handed her the pickled plums.

"The medicine tastes bitter; eating a plum can help relieve it."

Even now, his voice remained gentle, as if the woman before him were his wife.

"Thank you, but I'm not used to eating plums, and I'm not afraid of bitterness."

Zhao Qing smiled wryly and handed the plum to her.

"What girl isn't afraid of hardship? You're just being stubborn. Hurry up and eat, and let's rest for a couple more days before we leave."

After Zhao Qing finished speaking, he got up and left the room. At this moment, Cui Yulu was holding the plate of plums and staring blankly.

Yes, what girl isn't afraid of bitterness? Fu Xiaoyu used to give me plums after I finished taking my medicine.

Thinking of this, she felt another dull pain in her chest.

An Rou'er looked at her pained expression with disdain.

"You really know how to seduce men. You look so sickly, it's heartbreaking."

Cui Yulu could tell that her words were full of sarcasm.

"I won't argue with what you say, but when you find someone you truly love who also truly loves you, you'll naturally understand how I feel right now."

Cui Yulu stroked her belly, where the two little ones were practicing their punches and kicks, a feeling that filled her with immense happiness.

Even if Fu Xiaoyu is no longer around, she will still take good care of these two children herself.