Chapter 31 (2/2): Biting fingers

Mai Dong asked cautiously, “Doctor Lu, will there be risks with the termination?”

Lu Kang smiled, “At over five months, of course it’s risky. But with the lady’s current condition, carrying the pregnancy to term is far more dangerous than terminating now.”

He added, “Don’t worry. Song Jie called me because he trusts my expertise.”

Only then did Song Jie realize why Xie Yushu chose Lu Kang — his specialty was women’s diseases.

In the palace, many consorts suffered sudden hemorrhages or miscarriages near term, but Lu Kang saved them all.

“Thank you, Doctor Lu,” Xie Yushu handed the prescriptions to Mai Dong, then stood to see Lu Kang out, passing him an envelope prepared by Jin Ye.

“A little tea money for your late-night visit. Please don’t refuse.”

Lu Kang signaled to Song Jie’s attendants and pocketed it without hesitation.

He told Xie Yushu if there were any abnormalities, she could send someone to find him at Lu Manor.

After he boarded his carriage, he opened the envelope and saw—two thousand taels in silver notes, his eyes widening in shock.

Two thousand taels!

Even the palace consorts didn’t give such generous rewards!

His thirty years of salary couldn’t add up to that much!

Who was this young lady with such a breathtaking budget?

Xie Yushu had her reasons for the lavish payment.

She knew that in the original story, Lu Kang was a slippery old fox who had some friendship with Song Jie, had helped Xiao Zhen with tasks, and even regularly treated the Lady Dowager of the Jade Book Monastery.

Such a man was easily bought with money and very useful.

So she gave more than others, ensuring next time she could see Lu Kang without going through Song Jie.

Lu Kang would help her for the money.

The rain still fell lightly.

Song Jie sat under the eaves, looking at the small courtyard where Xie Yushu had grown up.

There was only an old nanny and a mute maid in the yard.

A small patch of land in the corner was planted with some vegetables.

In the small kitchen to the west, smoked fish and cured meats hung.

He couldn’t help but think of the little courtyard where he grew up — it was even worse than this, a humble farming household, but kept clean.

His beloved Yuping Aunt was diligent, liked gardening and drying fish.

Before he was three, he thought that was home.

Though he had no parents, he had a loving Yuping Aunt…

The lit kitchen gradually gave off a warm aroma.

He didn’t know what was cooking, but it smelled steaming hot.

Xie Yushu poked her head out to sniff and said, “It smells so good.”

Then asked him, “Are you hungry?”

Song Jie looked at her.

He hadn’t eaten tonight, waiting to go eat at Fan Tower with her, but she had fussed about not going and now asked if he was hungry.

“I’m treating you tonight,” Xie Yushu smiled, stepping out to order Cang Shu to bring a small table over, cleaning it, then dragging a chair to sit beside Song Jie.

“You’ll like it.”

Soon, Mai Dong and Qiao Miao’er brought out several steaming bowls of food and placed them on the table.

“What is it?”

Song Jie sniffed the aroma of pork and saw that the pale green porcelain bowls held wontons with thin skins and generous fillings.

Xie Yushu handed him a spoon.

“Try it. It’s no worse than Fan Tower’s.”

Steam warmed Song Jie’s face.

He noticed Xie Yushu was smiling at him again — a smile that didn’t cost money.

When Xie Yushu was happy, she was a completely different person: lively and cheerful, not needing his money to buy a smile.

He deliberately said, “It’s too hot. I can’t eat something that hot.”

To his surprise, Xie Yushu said, “Then I’ll share some in a smaller bowl.”

She had Jin Ye bring a small bowl, carefully portioned some wontons and broth, stirred gently, and blew on it.

Under the dim corridor lamp, her face flushed pink from the steam, her lips rosy and full, patiently taking care of him like a child.

Song Jie felt as if warmed by the steam, cozy inside.

Yuping Aunt used to care for him like this, but after he turned three, no one had ever done so again.

“Not so hot now. If it cools, the pork will congeal and taste bad,” Xie Yushu pushed the bowl to him.

Song Jie slowly took the spoon, feeling her warmth on it.

He lowered his head and ate a wonton.

The meat juice burst in his mouth — fresh, homey flavor, one he hadn’t tasted in a long time.

Before he knew it, he had finished.

Even Cang Shu was pleased.

The Prime Minister rarely ate with appetite, usually eating just to survive.

Cang Shu quickly served Song Jie a few more wontons in a small bowl, but Song Jie looked at him, not quite satisfied.

After finishing the wontons, Xie Yushu didn’t linger.

She left with Song Jie, wanting Qiao Bao’er to rest early to recover and take the first dose of medicine the next day.

Perhaps from the carbon monoxide, Xie Yushu felt drowsy in the carriage.

Song Jie joked, raising his hand, “You can rest your head on me for a while. I won’t charge you.”

Unexpectedly, she really turned and rested her head on his crossed knees.

Song Jie was stunned, lowered his eyes to look at her for a long moment.

She seemed truly tired, her head swaying with the carriage, black hair scattered.

He couldn’t help but reach out to gently support her wobbling head, letting her sleep more comfortably.

This was the first time she allowed him to touch her without payment, letting him get close.

In his palm, it felt like holding a soft, warm cheese. He even imagined her fragrance lingering on his fingers for a long time.

“Host, you’ve gained 1 more Heartthrob point, from Song Jie,” the system chimed again.

Xie Yushu didn’t move or open her eyes.

She knew Song Jie was playing along.

His fingers lightly brushed her cheek, and seeing no reaction, softly touched her nose tip, then slowly moved toward her lips…

She bit his finger.

Song Jie shivered in shock.

Seeing her awaken in his palm, eyes opening to look at him.

His hand and face instantly felt scorching hot.

She bit fiercely, and he could feel her sharp canines and warm lips, yet it didn’t hurt.

Because the moment she bit him, his heart went numb in a strange way.

Now, stared at by her bright eyes, he felt numb all over.

She lay there on his knees looking at him, then as if realizing something, suddenly sat up, turned aside, and lowered her head to fix her hair and clothes without a word.

The silence between them burned in the small carriage like dry wood — as if they both sensed the intimacy of that moment.

Outside, rain drizzled softly.

Song Jie couldn’t help but look at her again, noticing her ears were flushed red.

So Xie Yushu could get shy?

He touched the finger she bit, now marked, his heart tangled.

“Host, you’ve gained yet another Heartthrob point, again from Song Jie,” the system exclaimed.

Xie Yushu wasn’t surprised.

She had Song Jie figured out — he was very easy to handle.

For the next three days, Xie Yushu didn’t accompany Song Jie.

She was busy caring for Qiao Bao’er at night, wanting to cool off Song Jie for a few days.

Qiao Bao’er’s condition was better than expected.

Though still bleeding on the third day, it was much less, and she regained some spirit.

Following Doctor Lu’s instructions, she occasionally got up to walk.

Xie Yushu was never idle.

She viewed several large residences but found none satisfactory — too small, not grand enough.

If she was to buy, she wanted one no less impressive than the Yong’an Marquis Manor.

But such mansions weren’t something a woman could casually purchase unless she established a household.

Several places refused outright when they heard a woman wanted to buy a residence.

In this world view, women had no right to buy houses unless they set up their own household.

She had planned to wait until Qiao Bao’er recovered before redeeming her freedom, but unexpectedly, people from Yong’an Marquis Manor came to find her first.

They sent Zhen Nanny, Madam Hou’s attendant, though this time her expression was not as pleasant.

Upon seeing Xie Yushu, she bowed and said, “Madam Hou requests you return to the Marquis Manor. She has matters to discuss with you.”

Xie Yushu saw Zhen Nanny’s cold expression and guessed what it was about.

Sure enough, she returned to the Yong’an Marquis Manor with Jin Ye, where she saw Xie Zhi’an as well.

Meng Min and Xie Zhi’an sat upright in the main hall, waiting for her arrival.

“How has Mother been these past two days?”

Xie Yushu greeted Meng Min with a smile.

“You look better.”

Meng Min felt suffocated, unwilling to pretend, and asked directly, “Yushu, your father told me today your biological mother, Aunt Qiao, is already five months pregnant. The doctor said it’s a boy, and he wants to assign more nannies to take care of her. Is this true?”

Xie Yushu nodded as expected.

“Yes, but my mother’s health is too poor. The doctor said she couldn’t carry this pregnancy safely, so she lost it.”

Meng Min and Xie Zhi’an were stunned.

Xie Zhi’an frowned, confused.

“What do you mean lost it? A while ago, the nanny around your mother begged me to get a good doctor to give her medicine to keep the baby safe. How come it was lost? Did you call the doctor again?”

“Father also said that was earlier,” Xie Yushu said calmly.

“The medicine to keep the baby was prescribed, but it wasn’t necessary to take it. Three days ago, my mother took medicine to induce miscarriage and lost the child.”

“What?”

Xie Zhi’an was so shocked he almost stood up.

“Your mother took medicine to terminate the pregnancy herself? How dare she! Who allowed her to do this!”

Meng Min was too stunned to speak.

Even if she was angry at Xie Yushu’s double dealings — taking her to capture Widow Ye while her mother was pregnant — she never expected Qiao Bao’er to abort the child.

“It was my decision,” Xie Yushu took this opportunity to explain clearly.

“I thought it over a long time. Father doesn’t like my mother, so I’m freeing her from the selling contract.”

She raised her hand and Jin Ye presented a silver note to Meng Min.

One thousand taels in silver, enough to redeem the contracts of my mother, Aunt, and Nanny Mai Dong, Xie Yushu said calmly.

“Back then, when they sold themselves to come here, it was nothing but wasted money.”