This day happened to be the day Zisu brought his father to have his pulse checked and his medicine changed. Zisu arrived at the entrance of the medical hall early in the morning.
"Your father is recovering very well. After taking this medicine today, he should be almost fully recovered. If his condition does not relapse, you won't need to come anymore," Lu Yu said in a calm tone, but a hint of loneliness could be discerned if one listened carefully.
"Thank you, Doctor Lu." Zisu nodded slightly to Lu Yu. After getting the medicine from Gu Yitong, he was about to leave with his father.
"Wait a moment." Gu Yitong put down the herbs in her hand and walked over to Zisu. She scratched her head and said a little shyly, "Young Master Zisu, tomorrow is the performance at Yumanlou. Doctor Lu and I would like to go. Could you please reserve a table for us in advance? I'm afraid we won't be able to get good seats at the time."
Upon hearing this, Zisu chuckled, "So it's just about this. It's worth you worrying for so long."
"It's not that I'm afraid of inconveniencing you?"
"How could it be inconvenient? I will definitely reserve the best seats for you and Doctor Lu."
"Thank you, Young Master Zisu." Gu Yitong bowed to Zisu.
Zisu stood there stunned. No one had ever treated him this way before, making him feel like he was an equal. Everyone here looked down on people like them, even though they were just performers, they were still looked down upon.
Gu Yitong's bright smile dazzled Zisu's eyes. He quickly lowered his gaze, his thick eyelashes hiding the expression in his eyes.
Zisu's father watched everything clearly from the side. "Jian'er, this Miss Gu is truly a good woman."
"Yes, indeed." Zisu nodded in agreement, not yet realizing his father's intention.
"Do you like her?" Seeing that Zisu wasn't thinking in any other direction, his father directly pointed it out.
"Dad!" Zisu was startled by his father's earth-shattering words. He glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention, then lowered his head and whispered, "What are you talking about?"
"Don't lie to your father. In this life, the only thing one can see through at a glance is love. You can't fool me."
That was true. Zisu's father had been sold into a brothel as a male prostitute since he was young and had seen the warmth and coldness of human relationships. When he was young, he fell in love with a scholar without hesitation, eagerly waiting for her to redeem him every day.
But in the end, it was his wishful thinking. She came from a respectable family; how could she want someone like him, a male prostitute from a brothel?
By the time he realized it, Zisu was already five months in his womb. He began to save money desperately, kneeling in the madam's room every day, begging the madam to spare his child a way out.
The madam naturally would not agree. This was equivalent to cutting off her business for half a year, during which she could not receive guests.
Moreover, children born to male prostitutes could only be male prostitutes themselves; they had no other path.
Fortunately, he still had the jade pendant that the scholar had given him. He pawned the jade pendant, saved the money, and prepared to redeem himself. Fortunately, his business was not good at the time, and he had no reputation, so the money was enough for his redemption.
The madam even earnestly advised him, thinking that he would not be able to survive outside the brothel after leaving, and it would be better to spend the rest of his life in the brothel.
Of course, he refused. He absolutely could not let his child stay in this environment from a young age; it would harm him. It was already his fault for not having a mother since childhood.
He was determined to leave, and the madam could not stop him. She kindly pointed him in a direction, suggesting he go to a nearby entertainment venue to perform. Fortunately, he had talents to rely on.
Thus, Zisu was born in a brothel and trained from a young age, becoming the top performer at Yuman Hall.
In the evening, Lu Yu returned home. As yesterday, she was distant.
On the surface, nothing seemed wrong, but Shen Xuan could feel that she was distancing herself. Why?
"Wife, you must be tired today. Let me massage your back." Before going to sleep, Shen Xuan sat behind Lu Yu, trying to massage her.
"No need. Let's sleep."
These few words could not hide the sense of distance.
Thinking of what Madam Li had told her today, Shen Xuan decided to take the initiative.
"Xiao Xuan, let me tell you, all women are the same. Since Miss Lu is treating you so well now, you still need to be proactive and get pregnant with a daughter as soon as possible. That way, your relationship will only get better. I'm only three months pregnant, and my husband is even more obedient to me."
Madam Li's happy expression was undeniable.
Shen Xuan took off his outer robe, wearing only his inner garment, and slowly slipped into Lu Yu's quilt. Blushing, he wrapped his arms around Lu Yu's waist. He really didn't have the courage to take off his clothes completely. Just like this, leaning against Lu Yu, he said words that made Lu Yu unable to resist.
"Wife, I'm a little cold. I want to hug you."
Lu Yu used all her strength to suppress the tremor in her heart, pried Shen Xuan's hands away, and sat up. She took a thin quilt from the cabinet and placed it on top of Shen Xuan's original quilt, not looking at Shen Xuan at all.
Seeing Lu Yu's series of actions, Shen Xuan's cheeks, which were rosy from shyness, turned pale. His mind went blank. With a pale face, he slowly moved into his own quilt, not daring to look up the entire time.
This was his first attempt to throw himself into her arms, and it had failed completely, even somewhat comically. What would she think of him? She probably thought he was licentious and couldn't stand loneliness.
Thinking of this, Shen Xuan's face turned even paler. Like a wounded little beast, he sat there pitifully.
Looking at Shen Xuan's dejected eyes, Lu Yu began to feel unbearable and wanted to hug him as before. After thinking about it, she suppressed the thought. Since he didn't like her, why should she make such intimate gestures and cause misunderstandings?
Although he didn't like her, she wouldn't let him go. Firstly, under the rules of this era, she couldn't leave. Secondly, she didn't have the magnanimity to personally push the person she liked into someone else's arms.
Let's leave it at this for now. At least they could maintain their current relationship.
Lu Yu turned her body. Shen Xuan looked at her retreating back, his eyes stinging.
The night was exceptionally cold tonight, making him panic.
The two quilts couldn't ward off the cold of the night.
The next morning, Lu Yu did not leave as early as yesterday. She stayed home for breakfast. Before leaving, she informed Shen Xuan, "I will be back late today. You two eat dinner at home first."
She left just like that. Shen Xuan stared blankly at Lu Yu's departing figure, his mind lost in thought. Even Afu noticed the subtle atmosphere between the two in the past two days.
Not long after, Madam Li arrived with the embroidered handkerchiefs.
The two had agreed yesterday to give the handkerchiefs they had embroidered recently to Afu today, so that Afu could take them to town and sell them to shops. Tomorrow was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and these handkerchiefs should sell better than usual, and the price would also be higher than usual.
As they were chatting, Afu ran over breathlessly, covered in sweat, as if he was extremely anxious.
"Young Master! Young Master!"
Shen Xuan ran to them, looking hesitant to speak.
"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Afu glanced at Madam Li, then turned his gaze to Shen Xuan, as if asking whether he should speak now.
"Brother-in-law Li is not an outsider. What is it?"
"Young Master, I met the family head in town today. She, she..." Afu closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and said, "She went into a brothel with a man who looked like he was from a brothel!"