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Wen Ruyu asked again, “What did the doctor say? Did he prescribe any medicine?”
Fen’er’s mother replied, “He said her qi and blood were severely depleted. He did prescribe medicine, and we just got it and started brewing it. It’s not ready yet. She’s still bleeding. The doctor said it will take some time—the fetus has come out, and now it’s all dirty blood. If it’s not cleared out properly, it could be fatal. Right now, we’re keeping her alive with ginseng. The doctor said we’ll have to wait two more days. If she’s better by then, she can be saved. But if she faints again, then…”
After all, this was her own daughter—her eldest. Fen’er’s mother was already choking up at this point.
All the women present, even Wen Ruyu who had never had children herself, couldn’t bear to see such a scene.
Wen Ruyu sighed. “Let me go take a look at her. You men should wait outside.”
A girl’s private quarters weren’t a place for men.
Wen Ruyu, accompanied by her daughter-in-law, entered the room. Fen’er lay on the bed, her face pale as death.
She was so young—only fifteen or sixteen this year, the age of a high schooler in modern times. It tugged at one’s heartstrings.
Seeing Wen Ruyu come in, Fen’er struggled to sit up to greet her.
Wen Ruyu’s eyes turned red. “Don’t move. No need for formalities. Just lie down and rest.”
Hearing Wen Ruyu speak so gently, Fen’er couldn’t hold back her tears any longer.
“Madam…” she called weakly.
She truly regretted it now—regretted not taking care of her health earlier, regretted not being honest with Wen Ruyu about her relationship with the Third Master, regretted not telling Wen Ruyu about the pregnancy immediately and instead confiding in him.
Yes, if there were anyone in the world who could have stood up for her, it would’ve been Wen Ruyu.
But in a moment of foolishness, she had caused herself much suffering and almost lost her life.
Fen’er was slowly realizing she had trusted the wrong person. Yet, deep down, she still wanted to defend Lu Ke.
Because she liked him. Because he was widely regarded as intelligent. Because he represented a way for her to climb the social ladder—she had practically worshiped him.
And how could a god fall?
Wen Ruyu sat down beside her and gently touched her cold fingers. “Good girl, I know you’ve suffered.”
Fen’er cried even harder at her words.
Wen Ruyu took out her own handkerchief and wiped her tears. “Don’t cry. It’s bad for your body right now.”
Fen’er knew she was right and slowly tried to compose herself.
She never expected that someone of Wen Ruyu’s status, always so high and untouchable, would one day humble herself to visit this little shabby place, sit by her bedside, and comfort her despite the smell of blood.
She thought, what had she done to deserve this kindness?
Maybe she was dying, and this was the last blessing before her end.
Wen Ruyu patted her hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll make the Third Master give you an explanation.”
“Madam, I…” Fen’er started, worry flashing across her face.
She feared Wen Ruyu would punish Lu Ke too harshly, ruining his bright future. Then he might resent her for it.
“You still want to be with him? No regrets?” Wen Ruyu asked, clearly disappointed.
Fen’er lowered her eyes in silence. But that silence was an answer.
Wen Ruyu sighed and withdrew her hand. “I understand.”
Fen’er was a servant girl born in the Lu household. Even without marrying someone from within, an ordinary, poorer family outside wouldn’t mind her background. Her dowry alone would be enough for a family to buy a couple of acres of land. And even if she left without a dowry, Wen Ruyu could easily supplement it to give her a good life.
What ancient society despised were fickle women or those in disreputable trades. But if a girl, even a maid, lived uprightly, society generally wouldn’t criticize her.
So Wen Ruyu really couldn’t understand Fen’er’s obsession.
Was Lu Ke really worth it? Was she truly willing to risk miscarriage and even death for him?
Still, since it was Fen’er’s choice, Wen Ruyu wouldn’t force her to change.
In her previous life, Wen Ruyu had money, looks, capability, and friends. She was never short of men. She could date anyone she wanted. But even then, she couldn’t change her conservative parents’ minds.
Just saying she didn’t want to get married made them see her as rebellious.
If she couldn’t change even her own parents’ mindset, what right did she have to change Fen’er’s?
So instead, she would make sure Lu Ke took responsibility.
After comforting Fen’er, Wen Ruyu didn’t want to disturb the patient further and left the room with her daughter-in-law.
Outside, Fen’er’s mother brought out the best tea in the house—tea gifted by Wen Ruyu herself and divided up among the maids each month. Though not fresh, it was still top quality.
But Wen Ruyu wasn’t in the mood for tea.
She walked straight up to Lu Ke and—SLAP! SLAP!—gave him two hard slaps across the face.
Everyone went silent—except for his biological mother, Concubine Qian.
She stepped forward to defend him. “Madam, please calm down. Ke’er has always been a good boy. He must have been seduced by that little vixen!”
She was the type to blame others instead of her son’s actions.
Wen Ruyu, fuming, slapped her too.
She thought to herself: I’m terrifying right now. Slapped the woman. Slapped the man—twice!
“This is exactly the kind of blind favoritism that made him what he is today! Keep making excuses for him, and he’ll think murder’s okay too!”
Concubine Qian’s tears fell, but she didn’t dare speak again and stepped back silently.
Then Wen Ruyu pointed at Lu Ke. “You were afraid your engagement would be ruined, so you coaxed her into an abortion—yet claimed it was her idea! Do you think I can’t see through your petty schemes?”
“You bastard! If Fen’er’s father hadn’t come to me, and something had happened to that child, you’d have blood on your hands! And you still dare act innocent in front of me?!”
There was no law making men accountable for servant girls’ miscarriages, and abortion wasn’t a crime. But morally, Lu Ke’s actions were disgraceful.
Everyone tried to calm Wen Ruyu down. After some time, she sat down and asked, “Where was the child thrown?”
Zhao Dahan looked confused and turned to his wife.
His wife wiped her tears and said, “We threw it outside…”
In truth, she had gone back and picked up the child, planning to bury it outside the city in a few days.
It was her grandchild after all—even if it was born unlucky, it didn’t deserve to be treated like garbage.
But she didn’t dare say that to Wen Ruyu.
Wen Ruyu said firmly, “Go retrieve the child.”
Everyone was stunned. But no one dared oppose her.
Maybe she pitied the unborn baby and wanted to give it a burial. It was, after all, a child of the Lu family—even if it wouldn’t be recorded in the family registry, it didn’t deserve to be left for wild dogs.
Fen’er’s mother rushed out herself and brought back the fetus wrapped in cloth.
She dared not unwrap it, fearing it would be offensive.
Everyone who saw the blood-soaked bundle reacted with horror, fear, or pity. Some even backed away, believing it to bring bad luck.
Wen Ruyu’s expression was grim, but she stayed calm. “Open it,” she said.
“Madam, maybe it’s better not to…” Zhao Shu tried to stop her.
Wen Ruyu ignored her. “Open it!” she repeated.
Fen’er’s mother, trembling, did as told.
A tiny mass of flesh, barely the size of a palm, lay before them—purple-red, wrapped in blood, and vaguely shaped like a boy.
He looked more like a newborn rabbit than a person. But he had limbs, a human form.
Wen Ruyu turned her head away, unable to bear the sight.
Lu Ke turned pale, his stomach churning, body trembling.
Maybe he could be ruthless enough to abandon the child, but not strong enough to face the consequences.
This was a life—a blood relative of his.
Concubine Qian covered her mouth, sobbing uncontrollably.
Her grandson. The one she had longed to see day and night. And now, this was how they met.
She dropped to her knees, the slap mark still on her cheek, tears streaking down her face.
Zhao Shu’s eyes turned red. Even Lu Songnian and Lu Jinnian frowned.
In ancient times, abortions were incredibly harmful to women. Wen Ruyu didn’t want to see this happen again in her household.
She wanted to make everyone in the Lu family understand how serious this was.
She especially wanted to teach Lu Ke a lesson—that his irresponsibility had hurt a woman and cost a child its life.
At least for now, it seemed the lesson was working. But how much it would truly change Lu Ke, Wen Ruyu couldn’t say.
Still, she believed that the next time he tried to touch a woman, he would think twice.
Even if it was out of fear of her.