Chapter 739: Chapter 701: Going to the Ancestral Temple (First Update)

Hong Xiang was speechless for a moment, how could she not be afraid? Try being misunderstood and getting slapped twice for no reason, try being pregnant and forced to drink?

Had it been like usual, Hong Xiang would have already retorted, but today she chose silence.

In the end, most of the blame for the loss of the child lay with her. The old lady just slapped her twice instead of selling her off, which was an immense grace. She needed to serve the Young Madam even more diligently.

Seeing Lu Yanbin standing still, Hong Xiang called out again, "Losing the child might have been a shock to the Young Madam, it would be better if Young Master avoids her for now, so there won’t be another incident."

Lu Yanbin glanced at Mrs. Xiao Liu who was shivering under the blanket, pursed his lips, took two steps forward, then turned back to instruct Hong Xiang, "I will be outside, call me if anything happens."

After Lu Yanbin went out, Hong Xiang walked to the bedside, gently lifting the blanket off Mrs. Xiao Liu’s head, speaking softly, "Young Madam, he is gone, there’s no one in the room, come out quickly."

"He hasn’t left."

Mrs. Xiao Liu curled back into the blanket, "Make him leave, make him leave..."

Hong Xiang had served Mrs. Xiao Liu for three years, never had she seen the Young Madam like this. Her eyes grew warm, but she did not force Mrs. Xiao Liu out, and quickly went to the outer room.

Lu Yanbin was drinking tea. Seeing her come out, he quickly put down the tea cup and asked, "How is she?"

Hong Xiang replied expressionlessly, "Young Madam said unless Young Master leaves, she won’t come out. I think Young Master should go back, she needs some time to adapt and calm down. After all, she just lost the child, seeing you might inevitably upset her."

Mentioning the child, Lu Yanbin’s pupils contracted and he gave Hong Xiang a cold stare.

Hong Xiang shivered, realizing that the Young Master was blaming her for accidentally knocking into the Young Madam yesterday.

Standing up, Lu Yanbin said, "If there’s anything she wants to eat or drink, as long as it’s possible, no matter how expensive, just get it, and any excess cost, put it on my tab."

Hong Xiang agreed with her mouth, but rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking how before the incident he didn’t care to treat her well, and now he seeks to make amends, how hypocritical is that?

After sending him off, Hong Xiang returned to the inner room and went to lift Mrs. Xiao Liu’s blanket again. This time Mrs. Xiao Liu did not resist, slowly sticking out her head.

Seems she was stifled, after coming out she took deep breaths.

Hong Xiang helped her sit up and poured her a cup of warm water.

After finishing, Mrs. Xiao Liu sat dazed, not saying a word.

Hong Xiang whispered, "Young Madam, are you hungry?"

Mrs. Xiao Liu shook her head without speaking.

Seeing her like this, Hong Xiang couldn’t hold back anymore, knelt to the ground, tears streaming down, "It’s all my fault; if it weren’t for that push of mine, the child..."

"It’s not your fault," Mrs. Xiao Liu said, "Even if you hadn’t pushed, with all that liquor, the child would still be gone."

Her voice was weak, making one feel distressed.

Hong Xiang’s tears flowed even harder.

After a while, she said, "The old lady and the Young Master have already learned about this, the Young Master was beaten personally by the Young Master Lu Pingzhou; his back is still full of whip marks."

Mrs. Xiao Liu listened, gripping the thin blanket tightly.

Afraid she wouldn’t believe it, Hong Xiang added, "Truly, I heard from a servant in the Young Master’s courtyard that he had to be carried back, his back full of blood. Even the household doctor was startled. I also heard that the Young Master swore before the Young Master Lu Pingzhou that once you recover, he would make up for everything he owed you."

"He said those words." Mrs. Xiao Liu interrupted Hong Xiang, "That day at the Moat Restaurant on Duan Yang festival, he admitted his mistake. But as soon as I got back, he was mocking and sneering at me in the Furong Courtyard, saying that my avoidance of him meant I had some disgraceful disease."

At this point, Mrs. Xiao Liu’s voice weakened, "He’s just that kind of person, swearing means nothing; he forgets it all in the blink of an eye."

Hong Xiang said, "I saw that when he learned you were pregnant, his emotions changed significantly. Now that the child is gone, his attitude towards Young Madam should somewhat change."

Mrs. Xiao Liu lightly bit her lips.

Right before she fainted, she indeed had hoped that if only he could change his opinion of her because of the child, if only he showed a little bit of care, she could forgive and forget, and live with him again.

But now the child is gone, and his current kindness is just to fool the old lady and Young Master Lu Pingzhou. As soon as they stop watching, he would surely beat and curse her again.

Thinking of these things, Mrs. Xiao Liu unconsciously shivered.

Hong Xiang noticed, hastily comforting her, "Young Madam, the Young Master is not here."

Mrs. Xiao Liu said no more, curling back into her blanket.

——

Wen Wan was momentarily stunned upon hearing from the Lu Family, "The child is gone?"

The one delivering the message was still Mrs. Lin from Mrs. Xiao Liu’s room, tearfully mentioning the child, "It’s all Hong Xiang’s fault; if it weren’t for her recklessness, how could the Young Madam..."

The servants dared not blame the master and could only lay all the responsibility on Hong Xiang.

Without letting her finish, Wen Wan immediately went inside to change clothes, came out, and prepared a carriage, taking Mrs. Lin with her swiftly to the Duke Mansion.

She did not go to see the old lady but headed directly to the Furong Courtyard.

Mrs. Xiao Liu had just finished some congee and lay down when someone suddenly spoke outside.

She listened closely for a moment, and upon hearing Wen Wan’s voice, her dull eyes finally gleamed with light. She slowly propped herself to sit up, looking towards the curtain.

Wen Wan lifted the curtain and entered soon afterward.

When she saw Mrs. Xiao Liu’s haggard appearance, her heart clenched, "Shuyuan?"

"Sister Wan."

Mrs. Xiao Liu forced a faint smile.

"How did you become like this?" Wen Wan sat down, held her hand.

Mrs. Xiao Liu just smiled.

Recalling what Mrs. Lin said earlier, Wen Wan glanced back at Hong Xiang, signaling her to leave.

Once it was just the two of them in the inner room, Wen Wan asked, "Is Brother Bin bullying you again?"

Mrs. Xiao Liu lowered her eyelashes, not mentioning who bullied her, she just leaned against Wen Wan’s embrace, "Sister Wan, I am scared."

"Silly girl, what are you afraid of?"

"The child is gone, he’ll never let me go," Mrs. Xiao Liu’s voice was very low, sounding like she might pass out.

Wen Wan gently patted her back, "Don’t be afraid, I will go inquire about the situation later."

"No, don’t go..." Mrs. Xiao Liu pleaded, "Just stay here with me."

Seeing her like this, Wen Wan felt distressed.

Fearing to touch upon Mrs. Xiao Liu’s sadness, she did not mention the child, only saying, "Soon it will be our family elder’s birthday again, then I will have someone bring you over to liven up and get some good vibes."

Mrs. Xiao Liu lowered her eyelashes, hesitated for a long time before speaking, "I want to go to the family temple, can Sister Wan speak on my behalf?"

Wen Wan’s expression changed, "Family temple?"

"Yes, the child is gone. If I propose separation, he will kill me. I don’t dare to stay at home; I can only hide at the family temple, but I fear the old lady won’t agree."

Listening to this, Wen Wan felt extremely complex inside.

After coaxing Mrs. Xiao Liu to sleep, she left and went to the old lady to understand the whole situation.

Upon hearing that Lu Yanbin had forced liquor on Mrs. Xiao Liu, Wen Wan couldn’t listen any longer. She asked the old lady, "Young Master Lu Pingzhou was furious that day, and beat the Young Master hard with a whip, nearly covering his whole back with marks, it’s not healed yet."

Rongrong, by the old lady’s side, said, "The Princely Heir was furious that day, beating the Young Master fiercely with a whip, he nearly lost his life if Lu Pingzhou had struck harder, she doesn’t know what future the Lu Family would have become of."

Wen Wan frowned.

Once a man hits a woman, there will surely be a second time. He made Mrs. Xiao Liu drink, causing the child to die, how is that different from beating her severely?

Wen Wan was so angry with Lu Yanbin, not caring that she was speaking to a First-rank Imperial Decree Lady, asked the old lady coldly, "Can I, with the status of Commandery Princess, let her go?"