Lu's mother collapsed to the ground, never expecting that she would arrange for Lu Xiuyuan to take a concubine.
Her son actually wanted to separate from her family.
"My son, I know I was wrong. I'll send her away right now, and we won't separate from the family, okay?"
Lu's mother dared not think about how she would live after leaving her son.
Despite Lu Xiuyuan's promise that he would hire someone to take care of her and visit her every day.
But who can say for sure what the future holds?
"Mother, I have made up my mind, so there is no need to discuss this matter any further."
Lu Xiuyuan had this idea before.
Lu's mother would occasionally make sarcastic remarks to Pei Zhi.
They say Pei Zhi is lucky; an orphan girl like her can actually become an official's wife.
If Lu Xiuyuan heard this, he would speak up in support of Lu Xiuyuan.
But Lu Xiuyuan is not usually at home, yet his mother can say such things in front of him.
Behind the scenes, they'll definitely go even further.
Today, Lu's mother arranged for Lu Xiuyuan to take a concubine, which solidified Lu Xiuyuan's determination to live separately.
“If you think your son is unfilial, then scolding him is enough. It has nothing to do with Aya. It’s all the son’s fault.”
Lu's mother pointed at Lu Xiuyuan, so angry that she couldn't say a word for a long time.
"I was so blind to have raised such a bastard like you."
Lu Xiuyuan gave the girl brought by his mother a sum of money. The girl knew that she couldn't stay because the family was about to break up.
He accepted the money without hesitation and left decisively.
Lu Xiuyuan helped his mother up, fetched a basin of water for her, and helped her wash.
Lu Xiuyuan went to the kitchen, while Pei Minxue stood in the courtyard looking at the moonlight.
"Is there not enough food for dinner? The adults are coming to visit, I'll go buy a fish."
Pei Zhi was too lazy to entertain Pei Minxue: "No need to be so formal. What hasn't the master eaten? This is fine."
Seeing this, Lu Xiuyuan didn't say anything more.
"I'm sorry you had to go through this today."
"I have nothing to complain about. You're the one who handled it."
"Don't worry, I've already taken care of it." Lu Xiuyuan's tone was somewhat regretful. "I was planning to buy you a set of hairpins this month, but it seems I'll have to wait a while."
Lu Xiuyuan told Pei Zhi about his plan to rent a place again.
The family had some extra money, and Lu Xiuyuan received a reward of money after passing the imperial examination with top honors.
Pei Zhi and Lu Xiuyuan both left it untouched, fearing that Lu's mother's health was not good and that one day...
"I'll rent a courtyard near my home so I can visit my mother every day."
Lu Xiuyuan made his decision, and Pei Zhi didn't intend to persuade him otherwise.
"You've made your own decision, so don't blame me later."
Pei Zhi was simply worried that if Lu's mother passed away in the future, Lu Xiuyuan would feel that he had not fulfilled his filial duties to her and would then angrily confront her.
Lu Xiuyuan said frankly, "A real man makes his own decisions, so he can't blame the woman for them."
"Moreover, it's not that I don't care about her. I hire people to take care of her, and I visit her every day. But there's nothing more I can do."
The only difference is that they don't stay in the same courtyard at night; otherwise, there's not much difference.
Lu's mother was so angry that she didn't want to eat dinner, so Lu Xiuyuan set aside a separate dish for her.
They sat down with Pei Minxue in the courtyard and set up a small table for their meal.
Lu Xiuyuan poured Pei Minxue a glass of wine as an apology.
"I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting because of all the busy things at home."
Pei Minxue, of course, didn't care about these things. "It's alright."
Lu Xiuyuan assumed that Lord Pei had come to his home as a guest because he had something to say to him.
As a result, Pei Minxue ate quietly throughout the dinner.
Occasionally, he would exchange a few words with his wife, such as which dish was tastier.
They would also ask Aya how the dish was made.
Pei Zhi listened impatiently and tapped her bowl with her chopsticks.
This was considered very impolite, so Pei Min stopped talking and ate quietly.
After the meal, Lu Xiuyuan cleaned up in the kitchen.
Pei Minxue pulled Pei Zhi aside to chat in the courtyard.
"Did he only tidy up today because I was here?"
Pei Zhi scoffed, "Who do you think you are? Is he putting on an act for you?"
Pei Minxue looked towards the kitchen. "So it seems he's alright."
Pei Minxue was also taught from a young age that a gentleman does not enter the kitchen.
Pei Minxue was, after all, the only son of the Duke's mansion. No matter what, he would never be so destitute that he had to work in the kitchen himself.
Pei Minxue commented: "They may be poor, but they are clear-headed, which is good."
"His Highness keeps asking me where you've been placed. How am I supposed to explain this?"
Pei Zhi's marriage couldn't be kept secret for long.
"Then just tell him directly that I'm married."
Pei Minxue asked hesitantly, "Shall I say it?"
"I don't dare, you should tell me yourself."
Pei Minxue was afraid that if he told Xiao Chengci that Pei Zhi was married, Xiao Chengci would be so angry that he would kill him.
"Alright then, I'll write a letter, and you can deliver it to him for me."
Pei Minxue nodded in agreement. As long as he couldn't speak, anything was negotiable.
"Have you told Shang Huai?"
“A few days ago, Shang Huai personally escorted me back, and I even introduced him to me.”
Pei Minxue gave Pei Zhi a thumbs up, "I rarely admire anyone, but you're the first one. You really dare to take responsibility for your actions."
When Lu Xiuyuan finished tidying up and came out, he saw Pei Minxue and his wife seemingly leaning against each other, whispering to each other.
The two were standing too close; it was clear they had met before.
Lu Xiuyuan deliberately made some noise before coming out.
Pei Minxue had already kept a certain distance from Pei Zhi, saying that it was getting late and he should go back.
Lu Xiuyuan hurriedly said, "I'll see you off, sir."
Pei Minxue nodded to Pei Zhi, "Let Madam accompany me back, so you can come back together."
Pei Zhi glared at Pei Minxue, annoyed that Pei Minxue was just stirring up trouble.
Pei Minxue also raised an eyebrow at Pei Zhi in a provocative manner.
Lu Xiuyuan saw this and bowed, saying, "My wife has prepared dinner and is already tired. If you are leaving, I will see you off by myself."
Since Lu Xiuyuan had already said that, Pei Minxue couldn't press the matter any further.
Before being discharged from the hospital, Pei Minxue made a gesture as if writing a letter towards Pei Zhi.
Lu Xiuyuan saw this and felt as if Pei Minxue was pinching Pei Zhi's face from a distance, and his face darkened even more.
Night had fallen, and the alley was pitch black.
Lu Xiuyuan walks through this alley every day; he knows how to navigate it even with his eyes closed.
There is a large rock on the side of the alley ahead, around the bend.
Every time Lu Xiuyuan walked, he would walk to the side to avoid tripping over the stones.
The night was deep, and Lu Xiuyuan pretended not to see it, gesturing for Pei Minxue to walk forward.
Pei Minxue looked down at the ground, but couldn't see very clearly.
"I wonder what brings you to my humble abode today, sir?"
Upon hearing Lu Xiuyuan's voice, Pei Minxue looked up, pondering how to brush it off.
Before Pei Minxue could say anything, he stumbled.
Pei Minxue was flustered and tried to grab the wall for support when suddenly a force pushed him from behind.
A wave of dizziness washed over him, and Pei Minxue fell flat on his face.
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