Within just a few days, Lu Yu had moved everything into the new mansion.
As they were leaving, Madam Li held Shen Xuan's hand tightly, full of reluctance, and kept giving him instructions.
Shen Xuan was also reluctant to part with Madam Li. He had always been like an older brother, teaching him experiences he didn't understand. Spending time embroidering together every day had added much joy to his otherwise mundane life.
Seeing their reluctant expressions, Lu Yu walked over from inside the house to Shen Xuan's side and said with a smile, "If you're reluctant to part with your brother-in-law, after we've settled in a few days, I'll have Sister Li and your brother-in-law come over to stay for a few days."
Hearing Lu Yu say this, Shen Xuan's reluctance eased slightly.
A cool breeze blew, and Shen Xuan tightened his collar. Seeing that Madam Li was dressed very thinly, he quickly said, "Brother-in-law, you're still pregnant. Hurry back. It's cold now, don't catch a cold."
Madam Li did indeed feel a bit cold. She placed a hand on her belly and said softly, "My body really can't stand the cold, so I'll head back now. You two should go back quickly too. Your body isn't well either, don't catch a cold."
Seeing Shen Xuan looking at him with concern, Madam Li smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll come to town to see you in a couple of days."
"Sister! That's everything. Let's go." Lu Yu placed the last item onto the ox cart and called out to the sister driving the cart. The ox cart slowly moved forward.
These past few days, Shen Xuan had been living quite comfortably in the mansion.
During the day, he would write and paint in the small study, handing over his work to Afu to sell to Hanmo Pavilion. At night, he would talk about the day's events with Lu Yu, laughing and joking, and occasionally engaging in intimate interactions to deepen their relationship.
However, Shen Xuan was still a little sad that Lu Yu had not touched him yet. In the past few days, he had blushingly and nervously flipped through the small booklet his maternal grandfather had given him several times, believing he probably knew what to do.
With both bodies stacked, the woman on top and the man below, why was there a note about the man getting a sore back? Shen Xuan had never understood this.
Thinking that he would be doing this with his wife in a few days, he would then understand through practice and didn't need to dwell on it now.
With this thought, Shen Xuan quickly ran back to his bed and buried his face in the quilt, letting out a muffled groan, a mix of excitement and shyness.
Afu sometimes accompanied Shen Xuan to the medical clinic and chatted with Gu Yi.
Gu Yitong's health also gradually improved. The daily bickering between Afu and Gu Yitong often made everyone burst into laughter.
Gu Yi's mood also improved considerably. To be able to experience such a lively scene in this life, accompanied by family and friends, was something he had never dared to imagine. The melancholy in his eyes had faded quite a bit.
When there was nothing to do at Yuman Tower, Zisu would also come to the medical clinic to visit Gu Yi. Over time, the four of them, talking and joking daily, became very good friends.
However, their peaceful days lasted only a few days before new complications arose.
One day, Shen Xuan was walking with Afu on the way to the medical clinic. As they passed a tea stall and smelled the tea, Shen Xuan decided to buy some tea to take to the clinic.
"Boss, please pack some of this Jingshan tea for me."
"Certainly, please sit there and wait. Our Jingshan tea is selling very well, and we have none left in the shop. I've already sent a waiter to the back street to get some, it'll be here soon." The boss stood up to greet Shen Xuan, bowed, and invited Shen Xuan to rest.
He then overheard women sitting at another table whispering.
"I heard that Doctor Lu's husband went to look at houses with a strange woman a few days ago."
"Which Doctor Lu?" the woman beside her asked, sounding disbelieving, after a moment of silence.
"Oh, who else could it be? Is there another Doctor Lu in our town?" The first woman glanced at her disdainfully, took a big sip of tea, and continued.
"That's not all. I heard that the owner of the house recognized them, and because the owner didn't want to help them with their dirty business, they were kicked out."
"Did something like that really happen?" The woman beside her, who had spoken earlier, scratched her chin and said in shock, "Doctor Lu is a kind person with superb medical skills. How could he have married such a husband?"
Afu couldn't help but stand up, wanting to argue with them, but Shen Xuan grabbed his sleeve, signaling him to sit down with a slight pull.
"Young master, how can they spread such rumors and damage your reputation? If this reaches the family head..." Afu frowned, trembling with anger.
"Don't worry, my wife won't disbelieve me because of such rumors," Shen Xuan said with great confidence.
Just then, they heard the women say even more outrageous things.
"I also have a piece of gossip," a woman who had been silent until now leaned in conspiratorially, looking around before speaking in a low voice.
"It's said that Doctor Lu was originally the intended wife of the Shen family's eldest son, Shen Jia. The Shen family's second son was jealous of his elder brother and designed to snatch his brother's wife." The person paused, creating a little suspense.
"And it's said that the Shen family's second son, who is now Doctor Lu's husband, was no longer a virgin when he married Doctor Lu. On the wedding day, he was so scared that he knelt at the door begging Doctor Lu to marry him."
As they said this, they completely forgot that when Shen Xuan married Lu Yu, Lu Yu was still a notorious rogue.
Afu listened beside them, gritting his teeth, his hands tightly held by Shen Xuan, who forbade him from arguing with them.
If the two of them revealed their identities in public now, it would further confirm what these women were saying.
A man going out on the street alone with his attendant, without his wife by his side, perfectly matched their description of him not upholding his wifely duties and secretly meeting other women.
Just then, the boss, holding a bag of tea, brought it to Shen Xuan, breaking the oppressive and tense atmosphere. "Here you go, young master. Sorry to have kept you waiting. I've given you a little extra tea."
"Thank you, boss." Shen Xuan handed the tea to Afu, took out copper coins from his purse to give to the boss, and bowed thankfully.
"Farewell, young master!" the boss called out from behind, watching their retreating figures.
This young master was quite bold, daring to go out on the street alone with his attendant, not afraid of being seen and gossiped about by acquaintances.
Shen Xuan didn't take the matter too seriously, dismissing it as common gossip. After all, one couldn't control what people said. Therefore, he didn't mention it to Lu Yu.
However, he didn't expect the matter to escalate, eventually involving Shen Xuan's father.