"Why has Sunxi brought Xuan'er back so early today?" Madam Li, always rational and calm, felt it was improper for them to return ahead of schedule, despite her happiness, and thus inquired.
"It snowed all night yesterday, and the mountain roads are sure to be difficult today, so I brought Xuan'er back first to visit her maternal grandmother and grandfather."
Madam Li was rather old-fashioned and valued etiquette. Before she could say more, she was interrupted by Husband Li.
"What else do you have to say? The children are back, are you going to drive them away?"
"Of course, I don't mean that, I mean..."
"Rules are dead, people are alive, what more do you want? For the children to brave the danger and go up the mountain?" Husband Li was unwilling to listen further and retorted before Madam Li could finish.
"You've spoiled the good mood." Husband Li glared at her, then smiled and turned to Shen Xuan, "Come, come inside with your grandfather, it's cold outside."
"Alright, I won't say anything more, okay?" Madam Li wasn't angry and instead nodded and bowed with a smile. It seemed Husband Li was the one in charge at home.
Lu Yu suppressed a smile, stepped forward to support Madam Li, and followed the two.
Madam Li seemed to feel she had lost face, coughed twice, and whispered into Lu Yu's ear, "Our eldest daughter shouldn't bother with them."
"Yes, yes, not bothered with," Lu Yu quickly agreed with a smile. The two elders were becoming more childish.
"Why don't you stay for lunch today and go back tonight?" Husband Li asked Shen Xuan.
Shen Xuan subconsciously turned to look at Lu Yu.
"It's up to Husband to decide this matter. As for your wife, she will listen to Husband." Lu Yu had finally figured out her position in the household; she had to listen to her husband.
This statement made Shen Xuan blush deeply. He turned to the elders and mumbled, "She's not usually like this."
"Hahaha, what's wrong with that? Our eldest daughter is uninhibited." Madam Li thought Lu Yu had been influenced by her words of "not bothering with him" and decided to indulge Shen Xuan, feeling she had finally found someone who understood her.
Afu couldn't help but cover his mouth and gag. Although it was a small gesture, Husband Li noticed it. "Afu, are you feeling unwell?"
"No, no, thank you for your concern, Husband Li." Afu was very apologetic for disturbing their mood with his health.
Hearing Husband Li's inquiry, Shen Xuan also turned to look at Afu, "Grandfather, Afu hasn't been feeling well these past two days. Could you find a room for Afu to rest?"
"Do you need me to call a doctor?"
"No, no, I just ate something bad yesterday, and I'll be fine soon."
"Tuan Yuan, take Afu to a room to rest well." Husband Li looked at Afu's retreating back thoughtfully, and it was Shen Xuan's voice that brought his attention back.
The few of them chatted merrily for a long time.
At noon, Husband Li said he wanted to eat food cooked by Shen Xuan himself. Shen Xuan naturally agreed, and Lu Yu also volunteered to help Shen Xuan.
Madam Li wanted to refuse, but Husband Li glared her into silence.
The two happily went to the kitchen, leaving only some servants to assist them, each making their specialties.
Husband Li didn't idle when the two left. He sent Madam Li to the study to read and instructed Tuan Yuan to quietly find a doctor outside, specifically emphasizing that it must be done discreetly.
Afterward, Madam Li entered Afu's resting room alone.
"Husband Li." Afu was surprised to see Husband Li coming alone, thinking he had something to instruct, and quickly stood up.
"Don't be nervous, I just came to chat with you about Xuan'er's matters." Husband Li sat on a nearby stool and spoke with a smile. "Don't be nervous, you sit too."
Afu dared not disobey, nodded, and sat obediently on the stool.
"I didn't have a chance to ask carefully about Xuan'er's previous danger, so I came to ask you today." Husband Li took a sip of the tea Afu had just poured for him, sized up Afu, and finally his gaze fell on his stomach, quickly retracting.
"I heard Xuan'er's health is not good and it's difficult for him to conceive. After this incident, it will be even more difficult for him to conceive."
"Yes, but the Madam's medical skills are superb, and she will surely be able to cure the young master."
"You seem to trust Lu Yu a lot?"
Afu found this statement somewhat strange, yet he couldn't pinpoint why, thinking he was overthinking. "Yes, the Madam's medical skills are excellent and very famous in town. The Madam said before that the young master should be able to conceive after the new year."
"You know about this too?" Husband Li chuckled. "Lu Yu really doesn't treat you as an outsider."
"No, the young master told me about this." Even if Afu was foolish, he understood now that Husband Li had misunderstood, and he quickly explained.
"The Madam and I have a normal master-servant relationship!" The more he explained, the more it sounded like protesting too much.
"I didn't say anything else, why are you so anxious?" Husband Li's face fell. He had only intended to test, but before he could say anything, Afu was anxious to clarify his relationship with Lu Yu. Isn't that a sign of guilt!
Afu spoke incoherently, not knowing how to explain, but his anxiety made his body more uncomfortable, and the urge to vomit became more pronounced. He couldn't help but lean on the table and gag.
Husband Li was almost so angry he would fall over. He took a deep breath to calm himself.
"Madam, Doctor Xie is here." As they were in a stalemate, Tuan Yuan's voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Please invite the doctor in."
This doctor was an unknown young physician, not famous in town, but his ability to take a simple pulse was trustworthy.
There were only the doctor, Husband Li, and Afu in the room. Husband Li did not let anyone know about this, including Tuan Yuan.
"Please have the doctor take his pulse and check if he is pregnant." Husband Li had already seen Shen Xuan gag more than once.
Pregnant!
Afu's heart skipped a beat at the word. This was something he had never considered. Pregnant? It wasn't impossible. Last month, he and Gu Yitong...
Moreover, his period was nearly ten days late. If he was pregnant, then his vomiting, sleepiness, and dizziness in the past few days would all make sense.
Although Afu had not encountered a truly pregnant person, it was all described like this in the storybooks. He had never thought in this direction before, but now that he thought about it carefully, his symptoms were exactly the same as those of a pregnant person in the storybooks.
"Please, young master, extend your hand." This was the second time the doctor had spoken, but Afu still had no reaction.
In Husband Li's eyes, this action was seen as Afu knowing he was pregnant, and now that he had guessed correctly, he was too guilty to extend his hand.
"Afu!" Husband Li's warning made Afu snap back to reality.
Now Husband Li must think that the Madam and I...
What should I do?