Xie Rongyue's expression was calm, her eyes lowered, seemingly lost in thought.
"Madam has drunk too much cold medicine and is now weak. She has finally conceived, so she must take good care of herself."
Seeing the doctor give him a meaningful glance, Lu Yu remained silent, paid the money, and sent the doctor away.
When he came back in, he saw that the person had his head down and his figure was thin and frail.
In the end, she was just a delicate young woman. No matter how smart she was, she couldn't help but panic when faced with such a situation.
"Is it his?"
Upon hearing the voice, Xie Rongyue snapped out of her daze and tacitly agreed.
Lu Yu sighed and asked softly, "So what do you plan to do?"
“I—” she lowered her eyes, “Let me think about it.”
Hearing this, he didn't say anything more, and ordered his servant to go to the charity hall to buy medicine and bring it to her.
The Lu family also had a residence in Beidu. After returning to the residence, Lu Yu went straight to the study in the West Garden.
He sat at his desk, a look of displeasure on his handsome face. He had hit it off with Miss Xie at first sight, but things had come to nothing.
After returning to the north, his family arranged a marriage for him with the daughter of the Yang family of Hongnong, but he was not happy with the arrangement and did not get married.
Later, when he arrived in Beidu, he unexpectedly encountered Xie Rongyue again. While spending time with her, he developed feelings for her.
Unexpectedly, she became pregnant.
It's truly a cruel twist of fate.
Lu Yu sighed inwardly, picked up the book, and flipped through a few pages.
Just then, Madam Lu's voice suddenly came from outside.
He paused, then stood up. "Mother."
Madam Lu came in, saw the scrolls on his desk, and smiled as she brought over the soup.
"You've been in Longcheng for a while now. Your third uncle said he wants you to go back to Jiangdong to take up a post. Have you thought it through?"
Aristocratic sons are born with the advantage of their family background, which allows them to rise rapidly in the officialdom. Even though Lu Yu was just a son of a collateral branch, he was still someone that a poor family could never achieve in his entire life. The difference between the aristocratic and the commoner is like heaven and earth.
"I'll think about it."
Hearing his hesitation, Madam Lu sighed, "I understand your thoughts, but think about it. That Miss Xie has essentially been expelled from the Xie family. Even if I were willing to go and ask for her hand in marriage, the Xie family might not agree."
"Mother is overthinking it."
Seeing that her son was not in high spirits, Madam Lu changed the subject.
“If you don’t like the Yang family’s daughter, then the marriage is off. Your mother has found several other daughters from prominent families for you, each one as beautiful as a flower. Why don’t you meet them another day?”
Lu Yu paused, remaining silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.
For the past few days, Xie Rongyue had been staying indoors. This day, just as dawn broke, she changed into a flowing moon-colored fairy dress and headed straight for the clinic with Fuyun.
Fu Yun guessed her intentions and was filled with anxiety the whole way.
As dawn broke, there weren't many people in the city's clinics. The doctor saw two young women walk in and led them into the inner room.
"Abortion soup?"
The doctor had just taken her pulse when he was stopped by what the young woman was saying.
“Cooling medicines are harmful to the body. If you drink too many cooling medicines, you will become weak and cold. If you take the fertility-inducing medicine, you may develop a chronic illness and be unable to have children for the rest of your life.”
Xie Rongyue was taken aback. "Really?"
"You are physically weak, and your complexion is pale, indicating blood deficiency. You need to regulate your qi and blood."
Fu Yun also noticed that since they came to Beidu, their health had deteriorated, perhaps due to the change in environment.
"Then the doctor will prescribe a prescription for my young lady, and I'll go get the medicine."
"This way, please."
As the sunlight slanted down, the two of them came out of the clinic and, after walking only a few steps, saw a beautiful couple.
"Miss, isn't that Young Master Lu?"
Xie Rongyue followed her gaze and saw two people coming towards her.
Lu Yu and Pei Qing were planning to go to a temple outside the city, but unexpectedly, they saw her here.
"Rongyue."
Standing beside him, Pei Qing was taken aback when she heard his intimate voice.
This young master of the Lu family has been absent-minded all day; it seems he doesn't fancy her.
She snorted inwardly and couldn't help but glance at the person opposite her a few times.
Xie Rongyue, it was actually her?!
Isn't this Xie's illegitimate daughter who's been with Wang San? What's she doing in Beidu?
When Xie Rongyue saw him approaching, she took a few steps back and spoke softly.
"Young Master Lu."
Lu Yu looked back and saw that it was a clinic, so she asked with concern.
"Are you feeling alright?"
Xie Rongyue smiled and said, "That's fine. I have something to do, so I'll be going now."
After saying that, she smiled and gestured to Pei Qing behind her.
Pei Qing nodded in response.
"Lu Yu, the person's gone, what are you looking at?"
Startled by her shout, Lu Yu snapped out of her daze and gave a perfunctory reply.
"Miss Pei, why don't you return to your residence first? I have some matters to attend to."
Pei Qing was dissatisfied, but said nothing.
She was born into the Pei family of Hedong, a noble and prominent family, so naturally she would not do anything to entangle her husband.
"Feel sorry."
Lu Yu cupped his hands in greeting, instructed the coachman to take Pei Qing back, and then turned and left.
Pei Qing sat in the carriage, watching his departing figure, and pursed her lips. She quite liked him.
Although she was from a collateral branch of the Pei family, their branch had been prominent in the court for generations. She was a legitimate daughter of the emperor and was worthy of him.
She kicked the foot of the tatami mat impatiently and called out, "Let's go."
Lu Yu hadn't walked far when he saw the master and servant coming out of the shop.
The moment they met, Xie Rongyue saw through his intentions. If it were before, she would have taken advantage of the situation.
But Lu Yu was a good person. She thought he and the young lady from the Pei family were a good match and didn't want to drag him down.
"What are you doing here, Young Master Lu?"
Although she was smiling, her eyes were full of aloofness.
Lu Yu understood her meaning and coughed lightly, "Shall we sit in the teahouse?"
After the two entered the teahouse, they went up to a private room on the second floor. Xie Rongyue was about to explain herself when Lu Yu spoke up.
“Rongyue, as your confidante, I really can’t bear to see you fall to this state. A pregnant young woman, without a husband, father, brothers, or family. Unless you live in the deep mountains and forests and never speak to anyone, you know how difficult the road ahead will be.”
"How about you consider marrying me and living a secluded life in the northern capital, or we can go to the southeast?"
Xie Rongyue was shocked by his blunt words and remained silent for a moment.
Lu Yu said gently, "I won't touch you. Just like now, we can read books and listen to music together. I'll give you a place to live a peaceful life, and you can help me deal with the pressure from my family to get married."
The air fell silent for a moment.
Xie Rongyue recalled Pei Qing from earlier and said, "Miss Pei is quite nice. Lu Yu, you should consider it. I don't want to hold you back."
Hearing her say that, Lu Yu sighed, thought of Wang San's character, and said something else.
"Rongyue, how about this? Would you be willing to marry me as a concubine? We won't register with the government or be included in the family genealogy. It'll just be a nominal relationship. You can leave anytime. I'll give you a place to live a peaceful life."
"You won't hold me back when I get married and have children in the future."
After she finished speaking, Xie Rongyue's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she remained silent for a long while.
"Have you thought this through? If the people of Yandu find out that you're raising a child alone, your life will be in danger."
As Lu Yu spoke, she added, "I just feel quite comfortable with you. Don't worry, I won't touch you, and I won't live in the same courtyard as you."
Xie Rongyue looked up at him, their eyes met, and she spoke.
"good."
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