Chapter 31 Biting Fingers
"No," Xie Yushu replied quietly, her voice not sounding like she was crying.
But she was too quiet, unlike her usual self. In the past, she would have definitely made sarcastic remarks to him, but this time she answered quietly without stopping her work, and said in an even quieter tone, "Have Cangshu stop the car."
Why did you stop?
Seeing her eyelids and cheeks getting redder and redder as she wiped them, Song Jie couldn't help but reach out and grab her wrist: "Why are you wiping it off again? Doesn't it hurt to wipe it off so hard?"
"There's no need." She struggled slightly, trying to break free from Song Jie's grasp.
Song Jie didn't want to let go. "Why isn't it necessary?" The more she struggled, the more he wanted to hold her tighter.
But she was incredibly strong, and her tone was icy: "It's over today, and it's over now. I don't want to earn this money from Prime Minister Song anymore."
Song Jie felt a tightness in his chest from anger. Why was she so angry? He hadn't forced her to stay at Fanlou, nor had he said a single harsh word to her, yet she had thrown a tantrum first! What do you mean it's over? Only he could say it's over!
He leaned in front of her, pressing her hands firmly onto his knees: "Xie Yushu, you haven't understood. I said it was over..."
But before he could finish speaking, he heard her let out a soft cry of pain, and her grip, which had been straining, suddenly gave way.
Song Jie was startled and hurriedly let go, asking, "What happened? Did I hurt you?" He saw her clutching her right wrist and gasping for breath, as if she had really hurt herself: "Twisted it? Let me see."
He reached out to check her wrist, but she angrily pushed him away with her left hand, yanked open the carriage door, and said to the driver, Cang Shu, "Stop, I want to get off."
Cangshu was stunned for a moment.
"Don't stop." Song Jie coughed as the cold wind rushed in. He reached out and hugged Xie Yushu around the waist, pulling her back and slamming the carriage door shut.
She was like an uncontrollable loach, struggling in his arms, and whether intentionally or not, she even slapped him across the face.
Song Jie was already coughing so hard he was about to vomit blood. When he was hit on the face, which was burning hot, he couldn't help but turn his head and spit out a mouthful of blood, which landed on her shoulder.
As if startled, Xie Yushu suddenly quieted down in his arms, looked up at his bleeding lips, pursed her lips, and deflated, pressed her forehead against his chest where he was coughing, and really cried.
Her burning forehead blew through her clothes as if they were pressed against his skin, her shoulders trembled, and even her sobs were muffled.
Song Jie's heart was immediately thrown into turmoil by her crying. He asked her in a hoarse voice, "You hit me, so why are you crying now? Did you really twist your wrist? Let me see Xie Yushu."
He bent down to examine her right wrist. She awkwardly pulled her hand into her bosom, her wet face pressed against his chest, and she cried softly, "Take me home. I don't want to play Xie Jianing today."
For some reason, Song Jie's heart ached at her words. "Then I won't play the role." He hadn't originally intended for her to play Xie Jianing today. He awkwardly reached out and hugged her trembling body, and unusually, he didn't say anything against his true feelings, "I just want to have a quiet meal with you."
But she said, "I'm not in the mood to eat with you. I want to go home."
It felt like Song Jie was holding a small fireball in his arms, warm and fragrant with floral scents. Her back was hot, and the tears clinging to his clothes were hot too, which warmed up his cold body as well.
He hadn't felt this heat in his body for a long time, and he couldn't help but hold her tighter. "Is it because of going to Fanlou?"
Asking the question felt strange at that moment; it was as if he and she were arguing like a married couple.
But she wasn't his wife; she was Mrs. Pei, whom he had paid to come.
I shouldn't have said that.
Song Jie began to regret it, but the moment the thought arose, she shook her head in his arms.
Her tears smeared on his clothes, like a wounded crane curled up in his arms, silent and weeping, yet leaning on him.
Song Jie's regret vanished, and he couldn't help but ask her, "What was the reason?"
He actually hoped she would tell him that she wanted to stay in his arms a little longer.
She looked up at him, her voice hoarse and low, and said, "My mother is dying."
When Song Jie saw her wet face, all the makeup had been wiped off, and the small mole on the tip of her nose was clearly visible. For some reason, he felt that the face he wanted to see tonight was this bare face, and he couldn't bear to see her sad.
He couldn't help but gently wipe away the tears on her cheek with his fingers and asked, "Is Lady Yong'an ill?"
She shook her head, gave a bitter smile, and said, "You know perfectly well that I am not the biological daughter of the Lady of Yong'an Marquis. My mother is Qiao Bao'er, a concubine. Aren't you all belittling me because of my mother?"
Song Jie felt as if he had been stabbed. He wanted to deny that he had never looked down on her because of her background, and that his background was no better than hers.
But how good is it that he "despises" her because of her appearance?
So he simply asked, "What's wrong with her? Has she seen a doctor?"
Xie Yushu paused, then slowly grasped his hand, hesitatingly asking, "Can you help me see the Fourth Prince?"
Song Jie's face and heart turned cold in an instant. "Xie Yushu, have you forgotten our agreement? You accepted ten thousand taels of gold from me."
He reminded her.
She withdrew her hand, no longer looking at him or saying anything more.
But Song Jie knew that she must be plotting something in her heart. Was she planning to see Xiao Zhen?
He suppressed his anger and asked, "What do you want to see Xiao Zhen for? Could he possibly cure your mother's illness?"
Xie Yushu remained nestled in Song Jie's arms. He was indeed very concerned about Xiao Zhen, so she said, "He can't, but he can get the imperial physician to treat my mother. The best doctors in the world are all in the Imperial Hospital."
Song Jie sneered: "If he can, why can't I?"
Before he could finish speaking, Xie Yushu in his arms raised his head and asked, "Can you invite Physician Lu Kang?"
She had even decided which imperial physician to invite...
Song Jie looked down at her face. There were still tear stains on her face, but she no longer looked sad.
He suddenly realized that she was making a scene to provoke him into calling the imperial physician for her mother.
But he couldn't refuse, because he was very certain of Xie Yushu's character. If it didn't work out with him, she had plenty of ways to see Xiao Zhen. With her superb acting skills, she might be able to bewitch Xiao Zhen.
Of course, he wouldn't give her the chance to see Xiao Zhen.
“Of course,” Song Jie said coldly.
She sat up from his lap and immediately said, "Then go and invite them now, and they will treat my mother tonight."
Why are you in such a hurry?
Seeing the tears on her cheeks, Song Jie helplessly instructed Cang Shu, who was driving the carriage, "Detour to the residence of Physician Lu Kang. He shouldn't be on duty at the Imperial Hospital tonight."
Sure enough, she immediately cheered up, wiped away her tears, turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling: "I'll thank you on behalf of my mother first."
There is also a thank you.
Seeing her change of expression so quickly, Song Jie wanted to laugh but felt helpless. He raised his hand and said, "Now can I see your hand?"
She rarely went along with him, so she raised her right hand and placed it in his palm, saying, "You really hurt me." This wasn't an act.
Song Jie noticed a red mark around her slender wrist; the skin beneath the jade bracelet was indeed scraped.
He had indeed hit too hard, and he regretted it a little, but then he heard her say generously, "But I hit you too, so we're even."
Song Jie looked up at her, and her face, free of makeup, became lively and radiant again.
He really wanted to say, "Next time we meet, don't make up like Jia Ning again."
But the words felt strange when they came out. He paid so much money and saw her every night just so she could play the role of Jia Ning, right?
※
When Physician Lu Kang was ushered out of the mansion, he thought that Prime Minister Song was ill, which was why he was in such a hurry to find him.
But he boarded a luxurious carriage, which led him through a maze of twists and turns into a narrow alley. There was another carriage parked in the alley, and Prime Minister Song was standing by it, wearing a cloak, waiting for him.
He stepped forward, looking bewildered, and asked, guessing, "Prime Minister Song, who do you want me to examine?"
"Lord Lu, there's no need to ask. Please come in with me." Prime Minister Song was unusually polite and led Lu Kang into the small courtyard.
The courtyard was so small that you could see the whole thing at a glance, and the lights were on inside the house.
Xie Yushu went in first, letting Qiao Bao'er and the others get dressed before opening the door and smilingly welcoming Lu Kang in.
Lu Kang looked at Xie Yushu and didn't dare to ask too many questions. The fact that she could disturb Prime Minister Song so late at night to ask him to treat her illness meant that she and Prime Minister Song must have a very close relationship.
He politely went in, took the pulse of the woman sitting at the table, and frowned, saying, "Madam, this pregnancy is fraught with danger. If you want to keep it..."
"Lord Lu," Xie Yushu said softly from the side, "My mother is in poor health and wants to terminate this pregnancy. We invited you here in the hope that you can use the least harmful method to terminate this pregnancy."
Lu Kang looked up at her in surprise, then at Song Jie, slowly withdrew his hand, and stood up to ask Song Jie to speak to him privately.
Song Jie also glanced at Xie Yushu. He hadn't expected that Xie Yushu wasn't there to treat her mother's illness, but to have an abortion.
He and Lu Kang walked outside, and Lu Kang asked in a low voice, "May I ask Prime Minister Song, whose wife is this pregnant lady? If she wants to abort the child, she should at least ask her husband first."
Song Jie knew his concerns. If he were to have an abortion right away, and the man's master came to question him, Lu Kang would be in a difficult position.
Moreover, Qiao Bao'er's child is the son of the Marquis of Yong'an. Did Xie Yushu ask her father if she wanted to abort the child?
“Lord Lu,” Xie Yushu followed and said, “You can just prescribe the medicine for the abortion. I won’t let anyone else know that you were the one who had the abortion for my mother.”
Lu Kang then looked at Song Jie.
Song Jie looked at Xie Yushu, who had a determined expression on her face. She had probably already made up her mind, and she was determined to do what she decided.
So he nodded to Lu Kang and vouched for Xie Yushu, saying, "Lord Lu, just do what you're supposed to do, it won't implicate you."
With Song Xiang saying this, Lu Kang had nothing to worry about. He went back to his room and wrote two prescriptions, carefully instructing them on one for abortion and the other for recuperating after the abortion.
Mai Dong asked cautiously, "Lord Lu, will my wife face any dangers if she has an abortion?"
Lu Kang smiled and said, "It's natural to be at risk when the baby is over five months along, but given your current physical condition, the risk of keeping the pregnancy going until delivery is much greater than the risk of miscarriage." He added, "Don't worry, Prime Minister Song invited me here precisely because he values my skills in cooking."
Song Jie then realized that Xie Yushu had chosen Lu Kang because Lu Kang was skilled in treating women's illnesses. Some of the concubines in the palace had suffered sudden hemorrhage and miscarriage when they were about to give birth, and Lu Kang had managed to save them from the brink of death.
"Thank you, Lord Lu." Xie Yushu handed the prescription to Mai Dong, then got up to see Lu Kang off, handing him the envelope that Jin Ye had prepared earlier: "This is a small token of appreciation for Lord Lu's late-night visit. Please don't refuse."
Lu Kang followed Song Jie's signal to his men, and without any hesitation, he put the item into his sleeve. He then told Xie Yushu that if anything unusual happened, he could send a servant to the Lu residence to find him.
After he got into the carriage, he opened the envelope and saw a two-thousand-tael silver note inside. He was so shocked that his eyes widened.
Two thousand taels of silver! Even the empresses in the palace don't give such a large reward! He couldn't save that much in thirty years of salary! Just who is this young lady? Her generosity is astonishing?
※
Xie Yushu gave so much, but she had her own reasons. She knew that Lu Kang in the original drama was a slippery old fox who had some connections with Song Jie, helped Xiao Zhen with his work, and even took care of the concubine in Yuqing Temple when she was sick.
Such people can be bought off with money, making them the most useful.
Therefore, she should give more than others, so that she won't need Song Jie next time she needs Lu Kang. Lu Kang will help her out of consideration for the money.
The light rain is still falling.
Song Jie sat under the eaves, looking at the small courtyard, the place where Xie Yushu grew up.
There was only an elderly nanny and a mute maid in the courtyard. A plot of land was fenced off in the corner and some vegetables were planted. Smoked fish and cured meat were hanging in the small kitchen on the west side.
He couldn't help but think of the small courtyard where he lived as a child, which was even worse than this place. It was a farmhouse courtyard, but it was very clean. Aunt Yuping, who took care of him, was very diligent and liked to grow vegetables and dry fish.
Before he was three years old, he always thought that place was his home. Although he had no parents, he had a loving Aunt Yuping...
A fragrant aroma gradually wafted from the brightly lit kitchen; I wondered what was being cooked, but it smelled steaming hot.
Xie Yushu peeked out, sniffed, and said, "It smells so good." Then she asked him, "Are you hungry?"
Song Jie turned his head to look at her. He hadn't eaten dinner and was waiting to go to Fanlou with her, but she was making a fuss about not going and even asked him if he was hungry.
"I'll treat you to dinner tonight." Xie Yushu walked out with a smile, directed Cang Shu to move a small table over, wipe it clean, and then dragged a chair over to sit next to Song Jie. "You'll definitely like it."
A short while later, Mai Dong and Qiao Miao brought out several steaming bowls of food and placed them on the table.
"What is it?" Song Jie smelled the aroma of pork in the steam and looked closely at the celadon bowl, which contained wontons with thin wrappers and large fillings.
Xie Yushu handed him a spoon: "Try it, it tastes just as good as Fanlou."
The steam warmed Song Jie's face, and he noticed that Xie Yushu was smiling at him again—a smile that didn't cost him any money.
When Xie Yushu is in a good mood, he is a completely different person—lively and cheerful, and doesn't need Xie Yushu to spend money on him.
He said, as if on purpose, "It's too hot, I can't eat food that's too hot."
Xie Yushu actually said, "Then I'll divide it into small bowls for you."
She ordered Jinye to bring a small bowl, divided the wontons into several portions and put them into the bowl, ladled in a few spoonfuls of soup, and slowly stirred them with the spoon while blowing on them.
Under the dim corridor light, her face was flushed from the heat, and her lips were full of color as she patiently cared for him like a child.
Song Jie felt a warm sensation in his heart, as if a hot breeze had blown through it. Aunt Yuping used to take care of him like this when he was little, but no one had treated him like this since he was three years old.
"It's not so hot anymore. If it cools down any further, the pork will solidify and won't taste good." Xie Yushu pushed the small bowl towards him.
Song Jie slowly took the spoon, feeling the warmth of her touch on it. He lowered his head and ate a wonton. The meat juice overflowed between his lips and teeth, a fresh, home-style taste, but one he hadn't tasted in a long time.
He finished eating without even realizing it.
Even Cangshu was delighted. In recent years, the Prime Minister had been eating just to prolong his life, and he had rarely had such an appetite.
He busied himself dividing some more into a small bowl for Song Jie, but Song Jie glanced at him, not quite satisfied.
After finishing their wontons, Xie Yushu and Song Jie left without lingering, wanting Qiao Bao'er to rest early so she could conserve her energy for the first dose of her medicine the next day.
Whether it was carbon monoxide poisoning or not, Xie Yushu was drowsy in the carriage.
Song Jie jokingly raised his hand and said, "You can use my pillow to sleep for a while, I won't charge you."
Unexpectedly, she actually turned to the side and rested her head on his crossed knees.
Song Jie was stunned for a moment, then looked down at her for a long time. She seemed really tired, her head swaying with the carriage, her black hair falling down to his knees.
He couldn't help but reach out and gently support her swaying head, so that she could sleep more peacefully.
This was the first time she was willing to approach him and let him touch her without paying him.
It felt like holding a soft, warm cheese in Song Jie's palm; he could even imagine her fragrance lingering on his fingers for a very long time...
"Host, you have gained another 1 point of Popularity Points, from Song Jie." The system announced again.
Xie Yushu didn't move or open her eyes; she knew Song Jie was susceptible to this.
His fingers gently brushed Xie Yushu's cheek, and seeing that she didn't react, he lightly touched the tip of her nose, lingering there before slowly moving towards her lips...
She opened her mouth and bit his finger.
Song Jie was startled and saw her wake up in his palm, opening her eyes to look at him.
His fingers and face became burning hot. She bit him very hard, and he could feel her sharp fangs and hot lips with his fingers, but he didn't feel any pain.
The moment she bit him, his heart inexplicably went numb, and now, with her bright eyes staring at him, he felt numb all over again.
She lay on his lap watching him, then suddenly sat up as if realizing something, turned to the side, and bent down to tidy her hair and clothes without saying a word.
The silence between the two burned like dry tinder in the small carriage, as if they both realized the ambiguity of their actions just now.
The sound of rain pattering outside the window.
Song Jie couldn't help but look at her and found that her ears were also bright red.
So Xie Yushu can be shy too?
He touched his finger where it had been bitten, his mind in turmoil.
"Host, you've gained another point of 'charm' value,' provided by Song Jie." The system exclaimed in surprise.
Xie Yushu was not surprised; once he understood Song Jie, he would be much easier to win over.
※
For the next three days, Xie Yushu did not visit Song Jie. She was busy taking care of Qiao Bao'er at night, also to give Song Jie the cold shoulder for a few days.
Qiao Bao'er's condition was better than expected. Although she was still bleeding on the third day, the bleeding had decreased significantly, and she had regained some energy. Following the instructions of Physician Lu, she would occasionally get out of bed and walk around.
Xie Yushu has been busy for the past three days. She went to see several large houses, but she was not very satisfied with any of them. They were too small and not grand enough.
She wanted to buy a house that was no less impressive than the Yong'an Marquis's mansion, but such a mansion was not something a woman like her could buy casually. Several families refused her outright when they heard that a woman like her wanted to buy a house.
In this worldview, women are not eligible to buy houses unless they are registered as female households.
She originally planned to redeem Qiao Bao'er after she recovered a bit, but unexpectedly, people from the Yong'an Marquis's mansion came to find her first.
The person who came was Zhenniang, who served Lady Hou. However, her expression was not as good this time. She greeted Xie Yushu and said, "Lady Hou requests your return to the Hou residence. She has something to ask you."
Judging from Zhenniang's cold expression, Xie Yushu could roughly guess what it was about.
As expected, she returned to the Yong'an Marquis's residence with Jin Ye and saw Xie Zhi'an there as well.
Meng Min and Xie Zhian sat upright in the main hall, waiting for her to come in.
"Is Mother feeling any better these past few days?" Xie Yushu asked Meng Min with a smile after bowing. "You look a bit healthier."
Meng Min was seething with anger and didn't want to play along, so she asked directly, "Yu Shu, your father told me today that your biological mother, Aunt Qiao, is more than five months pregnant. The doctor said it's a boy, and he wants to send more nannies to take care of her. Is that true?"
Xie Yushu nodded as expected and said, "That's true. It's just that my mother's health was too poor. The doctor said she was not suitable to have this baby, so we couldn't keep it."
Meng Min and Xie Zhi'an were stunned.
Xie Zhian frowned and looked at her in confusion: "What do you mean by that? You didn't keep the baby? A few days ago, the nanny who served your mother came to me begging me to find a good doctor and prescribed her some medicine to prevent miscarriage. How come you didn't keep the baby? Did you ask the doctor to take another look?"
“My father also said that it happened a few days ago.” Xie Yushu stood in front of him and replied frankly, “The medicine to prevent miscarriage was prescribed, but there was no need to take it. Three days ago, my mother took the medicine to induce miscarriage and miscarried the child.”
"What?!" Xie Zhian was so shocked he almost stood up, he could hardly believe his ears: "Your mother took medicine and aborted the child? You, your mother has some nerve! Who allowed her to do that!"
Meng Min was also shocked and speechless. Even though she was furious that Xie Yushu was two-faced, taking her to capture Widow Ye on one hand and having her mother pregnant on the other... she never expected that Qiao Bao'er would actually abort this pregnancy??
“I asked her to do it.” Xie Yushu took the opportunity to explain: “I have been thinking about it for a long time. Since Father does not like my mother, then release my mother’s indenture.”
She raised her hand, and Jin Ye took out a silver note and presented it to Meng Min.
“A thousand taels of silver should be enough to redeem my mother, aunt, and Granny Maidong’s indentures,” Xie Yushu said calmly. “They were sold into the household for only a few hundred coins back then.”
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Author's Note: I updated a little late today, but I still managed 6,000 words! Hope you enjoy reading it~ [shy]
Song Jie: I have my own baby bowl now! [shy][shy][shy]
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