Chapter 34
At that moment, Ning Shiyu's world seemed to stand still.
Like a muffled thunderclap, it left his mind blank, his lips trembling slightly, his fingertips clenched until they turned white, yet he couldn't utter a single word.
The tortoiseshell folding fan in his hand immediately fell to the ground.
It took him a while to find his voice, "What do you think of her?"
The pregnant woman was You Cuicui. She thought Ning Shiyu wanted to deny it, and said sarcastically in a low voice, "Does Young Master Ning not want to admit what he did?"
“My cousin Fu’er is pregnant with your child. Instead of treating her well, you kicked her out of the mansion during the heavy rain.”
"She was devastated, and she also lost the child in her womb."
Ning Shiyu felt as if all his strength had been drained away in an instant, and his heart felt like it was being pulled and tugged in someone's hand, making even breathing painful.
A broken murmur escaped from his throat: "Impossible, she has been taking herbal medicine all along."
There was no one else at the door except Ning Shiyu and his servant Mu Li.
You Cuicui didn't hide anything, her eyes filled with anger, "Fu'er said that there were one or two times when she forgot to take it."
Ning Shiyu's vision went black, his face turned pale, and he staggered.
The next moment, my legs seemed to obey me and I climbed onto the carriage.
*
Fu'er lay in bed for several days, and when she was really bored, she would watch her sister do needlework.
Le Ge'er is always very well-behaved; he sleeps as soon as he's full.
After finishing her chores at home, Man'er spent time with Fu'er.
I was afraid she would get up and wander around alone and catch a cold.
She seems fine now because she's young, but her health will suffer later.
Several days passed, but Man'er still didn't dare to tell the rest of the family about Fu'er's situation.
She had to take care of Fu'er and also look after Le'er.
Fu'er felt sorry for her sister and didn't argue with her at all.
Fu'er always went along with whatever Man'er said.
Hearing the sounds outside, Fu'er couldn't help but be curious, and would occasionally push open the window and look out.
"Sister, Yun-ge'er is really cheeky; his voice can be heard all over the alley."
"I wonder what they're playing?"
It's clear that Fu'er really wants to go out for some fresh air.
Man'er hurriedly closed the window and sighed, "It's not that I don't want you to go out, but you have to stay in bed for a full month no matter what."
"The doctor said you must take good care of yourself this time."
The next sentence is: otherwise, it will be difficult to have offspring in the future.
Man'er didn't dare to say it aloud and could only keep it to herself.
These days, she takes good care of Fu'er, just in case she gets sick again.
Fu'er muttered softly, "Sister, people say that half a month is enough for someone like me."
"That's someone else, you're not good enough, you're being kept by that person..."
"Fu'er".
Before Man'er could finish her rambling, a familiar voice called out from outside.
Fu'er thought she was hallucinating.
How did he end up here?
However, the door was pushed open the next moment.
Ning Shiyu, now alive and well, appeared at the door.
Startled, Man'er sat up abruptly from the bedside.
"Young Master Ning."
Fu'er stared blankly, dumbfounded. Standing at the door was the very person her sister had mentioned.
He didn't even wait for the two sisters to greet him.
Ning Shiyu walked a few steps to the side room next to the bed.
In just a few days, he noticed that Fu'er had become quite haggard and thin, and his heart ached slightly.
Ignoring Man'er's shock, he slowly sat down next to Fu'er.
His gaze unconsciously drifted to her lower abdomen, and a flash of regret crossed his eyes.
"Fu'er, it's all my fault. You've suffered these past few days."
"I've come to take you back to your residence."
His eyes were filled with tenderness and guilt.
When he reached out to touch Fu'er's cheek, Man'er slapped his arm away.
He then stepped in front of her sister, saying, "Young Master Ning, Fu'er returned soaking wet that day and collapsed on the ground."
"even……"
As she spoke, Man'er choked up, feeling sorry for her younger sister, and said, "Today, you just said you'd take her away like that."
"What if they get tired of you later and send you back?"
"My sister can't take this kind of abuse from you."
"Furthermore, my sister is with you without any official status or recognition. What exactly do you consider her to be?"
Even though Man'er was timid, she knew that she couldn't easily go back to the manor with him at this time.
Ning Shiyu's gaze remained fixed on Fu'er. Now, seeing her sister blocking Fu'er's way and preventing Ning Shiyu from getting any closer, he noticed that she was now watching her sister.
With his view blocked, Ning Shiyu had no choice but to look up at Man'er and listen to her talk about Fu'er's situation that day.
His straight back hunched slightly, and regret welled up in his eyes again.
Before she could speak, Fu'er interrupted, "You were the one who said you didn't want to see me anymore, so why bring me back to the manor?"
"I don't want to go back to the Ning residence either."
It took Fu'er a while to recover from Ning Shiyu's sudden appearance in front of her.
Unbelievable, Ning Shiyu would come to her home in person.
In the past, Mu Li would come to call her, while Ning Shiyu would wait at the alley entrance.
Today, I've actually condescended to come myself.
He was always strict with his servants and never went back on his decisions.
If she had always been his maid, she wouldn't have resented him after she calmed down from Ning Shiyu's actions.
But ever since the two had physical intimacy and their relationship changed.
Fu'er was no longer so open-minded about it.
She didn't know when it started, but her feelings for Ning Shiyu had quietly changed, and she had begun to have some expectations for him.
The cruelty of Ning Shiyu in kicking her out of the Ning residence that night was still vivid in her mind.
Thinking of that night, Fu'er's tears fell involuntarily, and she gripped the quilt tightly with both hands.
It wasn't until she heard her sister's questioning voice that Fu'er was brought back to reality.
Ning Shiyu felt sad when he saw Fu'er crying.
His eyes once again passed over Man'er, focusing entirely on Fu'er, and he whispered, "You can resent me, you can be angry with me, but your health..."
The thought of Fu'er carrying his child caused Ning Shiyu to clench his fists in pain, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.
"Come back to the manor with me and take good care of yourself. It's not convenient for you to stay here."
Fu'er turned her back to him and stopped looking at him.
She said softly, "This is my home, why would it be inconvenient?"
"I don't blame you; it was my own fault to begin with."
"You are the master, whatever you say goes."
"I've thought it through. I don't believe what you're saying. You can leave now."
Ning Shiyu's face was pale. He then took out the spice box from his pocket and said softly, "I went to your shop and saw it. I misunderstood you."
"As long as you come back to the manor with me and recover your health."
"If you want to open a spice shop and make incense, I'll agree to anything you ask."
In the past, Fu'er probably wouldn't have hesitated for even a moment.
But this time she also realized that Ning Shiyu could give her everything, but could also take it all away at any time.
Feeling guilty, he came to take her back and gave her what she wanted again.
If she angers him again, he will kick her out in the same way.
Only what you earn yourself is truly reliable.
However, this time, what was taken away was the child in her womb, half of which was hers.
Thinking of the child she had lost, Fu'er clutched her lower abdomen and sobbed softly.
Ning Shiyu felt a pang of sadness, his expression pained. Ignoring Man'er's attempts to stop him, he tightly embraced Fu'er from behind.
“Except for my angry words that day, which should not be taken seriously, everything I have said in the past is true.”
You cannot question my affection for you.
"Would you like to come back with me?"
Fu'er broke free from Ning Shiyu, turned around and said, "You were so heartless when you chased me away that day."
"How can I believe your talk of loyalty?"
As she spoke, she pushed Ning Shiyu, saying, "Go away. If you don't want to see me, I don't want to see you either."
"This is my home, not the Ning residence."
"I don't need to listen to your orders anymore, just leave..."
Once she started talking, Fu'er became more and more aggrieved and couldn't stop.
She was trembling with sobs.
Ning Shiyu was also in pain. He didn't know how to stop Fu'er from being sad, so he lowered his head and kissed Fu'er's cheeks and eyes.
He wanted to kiss away the tears on her face. "My dear Fu'er, please don't be sad anymore, okay?"
"Seeing you sad breaks my heart."
Thinking of her younger sister's health, Man'er had no choice but to push Ning Shiyu out forcefully and bolt the door shut.
Hearing Fu'er crying inside the house, Ning Shiyu felt heartbroken and couldn't help but tear up.
He did not leave, but stood in front of the door for a long time.
Once things had calmed down inside, Ning Shiyu leaned against the doorframe and said, "Fu'er, I'm leaving Lingyang for a while. Take good care of yourself at home."
"How about I come pick you up after you've calmed down?"
There was still no answer from inside, so Ning Shiyu moved to the window again, wanting to take another look at Fu'er.
Now that he's gone, who knows when he'll be back?
Unfortunately, Man'er had closed the windows tightly again.
As it grew dark, Mu Li had urged them several times.
Ning Shiyu had no choice but to leave, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot, and she just couldn't bear to leave. "Fu'er, I'm leaving."
"You must take good care of yourself."
There was still no response from inside the house.
Hearing that he was reluctant to leave, Man'er was afraid that her sister-in-law would see him when she returned.
He had no choice but to tell him to leave, "Young Master Ning, you should go."
"I will take good care of my sister."
"Your presence here will only cause her more pain."
Unable to hear a reply from inside, Ning Shiyu reluctantly left.
The next day, Granny Yu not only brought Doctor Wu, but also gave Fu'er her favorite pastries, meals, clothes, and jewelry.
And the belongings of Man'er and her son.
This surprised the two sisters quite a bit.
Man'er declined, but Granny Yu said she was just following her master's orders.
If they don't accept it, they will be punished.
After taking Fu'er's pulse, Doctor Wu said nothing, but wrote a prescription and asked his servant to fetch the medicine.
Even Granny Yu wouldn't tell her what illness Fu'er had.
Since even she, the master, was unwilling to tell her, Granny Yu dared not inquire further.
Granny Yu then relayed Ning Shiyu's parting words, "Good girl, take good care of yourself. I will personally deliver your meals every day."
"Young Master has already given instructions to the kitchen staff."
"The young master said that as long as you recover well, he will not stop you from making incense or opening a shop."
"He also said your shop on Qingyu Street is too small, and he will get you a bigger one."
Fu'er listened indifferently, while Man'er was the one entertaining Granny Yu.
Fu'er lay on the bed looking unwell and refused to get up.
As Granny Yu rose to take her leave, Fu'er asked, "Granny, did you tell the young master about my opening a shop?"
Although Granny Yu felt somewhat guilty, her gaze was sincere. "Yes."
"Fu'er, this can't be kept a secret. He'll find out sooner or later."
Fu'er smiled through her tears, "I know, Granny, I don't blame you."
Just as they were about to cross the threshold, Granny Yu asked in return, "Doesn't the young lady want to know where the young master has gone?"
Fu'er remained silent.
Granny Yu said worriedly, "Young Master has gone to Lingnan."
Upon hearing "Lingnan," Fu'er looked up at Granny Yu and subconsciously asked, "Is he in danger?"
Granny Yu said with a complicated expression, "This trip has not been peaceful. May God bless the young master so that he can return safely."
"If you are willing to write to him, it will give him some hope."
Fu'er didn't agree. After Granny Yu and Doctor Wu left, Man'er asked, "Fu'er, you are more fortunate than your sister."
"So Young Master Ning still has some sincerity towards you."
“But you are of a different status than him, I’m afraid you can’t be his legal wife.”
"Mother will be back soon. Are you going to continue to hide this matter, or tell Mother and Father about it?"
The implication was that, according to their parents' wishes, since Fu'er had already given her body to Ning Shiyu...
I'm afraid that this will lead to Fu'er simply becoming Ning Shiyu's concubine.
In today's world, no respectable family would want a woman like Fu'er who has lost her virginity and had an abortion.
After finishing the ginseng soup, Fu'er wiped her mouth with her sleeve. "Sister, please continue to keep this a secret for me."
"I don't want to go back to the Ning residence."
"Who cares who his legal wife and concubines are, it's none of my business."
“I never thought about becoming his real woman. I just naively thought that if I became his woman, I could get his house.”
"Now it seems that it is still unreliable."
"Once I recover, I want to continue running the spice shop, earn money, and buy my own house – that's the most reliable thing to do."
Man'er was stunned by her unconventional words and stood there for a long time before she said, "You gave yourself to him just for his house."
Fu'er thought about it carefully, "I'm also attracted to his looks and physique."
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