Chapter 50: Nausea and Morning Sickness

“Where to?”

Pei Zhouwu merely followed Liu Fuying’s lead in asking, without giving it much thought.

Naturally, he was curious.

After all, her family was no longer around, she had already left the Qi Prince’s Mansion, and she had clearly stated that she had nowhere else to go. Given that, where could she possibly be going for two or three days?

“It’s just a neighbor from my hometown, a childhood friend I grew up with.”

Liu Fuying feigned nonchalance, hiding a trace of guilt that couldn’t be detected.

“After I left the Qi Prince’s Mansion, I went back to find her. I originally wanted to say goodbye, but she told me she was getting married and hoped I could attend her wedding. She doesn’t have any other siblings, so I’m her closest friend. I also want to help with the preparations before the wedding, which will probably take two or three days.”

“Alright.”

Pei Zhouwu agreed while placing a piece of meat into her bowl, showing no suspicion toward her words.

“That’s only right, after all…”

He paused, thinking that once they left Shangjing City in the future, they might never return for the rest of their lives.

“After all, you grew up together, and your relationship is far from ordinary. It’s only right to go and help.”

He planned to tell her about their impending departure once everything was settled.

He imagined she would be happy about it.

The world outside was vast and free—far more comfortable than being trapped here.

“When are you going?” he asked again.

“Hmm… in about a month or so.”

Of course, the story about a childhood friend getting married was a lie.

One month was the deadline she had promised the Old Madam of the Shen Family to return.

Though she said one month, the actual agreed-upon date was closer to forty days. The journey from Shangjing to Yizhou, paying respects, and returning would indeed take that long.

Once she left, it was uncertain whether she would ever return here. If she became pregnant, perhaps…

Pei Zhouwu lowered his gaze, murmuring softly, “One month.”

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“No.” Pei Zhouwu raised his eyes with a smile, shaking his head slowly. “I was just thinking there’s still some time before the month is up. No rush.”

In truth, he was considering that his plans would have to be postponed.

He had originally intended to take her away in just over ten days. Last night, they had shared a bed, and while he couldn’t guarantee it, he couldn’t rule out the possibility of her becoming pregnant. If she did conceive that very night, then in a month, she would likely start showing signs.

Leaving at that point would undoubtedly be more troublesome.

His main concern was that the journey would be rough and tiring for her, potentially harming the fetus.

He remembered his mother once mentioning that a cousin’s wife in the Pei family’s branch was diagnosed with pregnancy, and the timing indicated she had conceived on their wedding night.

However, he couldn’t force her to leave earlier.

In Shangjing, she probably had only this one remaining wish. If he didn’t let her attend the wedding, she might regret it for the rest of her life.

Besides, it wasn’t necessarily that accurate.

It was common for many couples to remain childless for years after marriage.

Having made up his mind, he no longer hesitated and simply asked, “Is the journey back far?”

“Far.” Liu Fuying swallowed a mouthful of food, once again speaking without hesitation in her lie. “It’s two or three mountains away from here, but it’s fine. I grew up in the mountains and am used to climbing.”

She chuckled lightly before turning back to pick up another bite of food.

Shangjing City, the Imperial Father-in-Law’s Mansion.

Mother Pei received the letter sent by Pei Zhouwu. After reading it, her expression changed drastically, and she rushed to the study to find Zhouwu’s father.

After reading the letter, Father Pei’s face was equally grave.

“Master, what does A’Zhou mean by this letter? Last time I went to see him, he also spoke of being expelled from the Pei family. At the time, I thought it was just angry words spoken in a fit of temper. But today’s letter is written with utmost seriousness. He is determined to voluntarily sever ties and remove himself from the Pei family register. He even says that if anything happens in the future, he will never implicate the family. Has he… has he been driven mad by confinement? Has he lost his mind?”

“Master, say something.”

Father Pei clutched the letter, his fist trembling slightly as he clenched it.

After a long while, when he had calmed down, Father Pei finally spoke. “He is planning something, so he’s informing us in advance to prepare us mentally.”

“What… what does he want to do? Does he want to rebel and flee?”

Father Pei stood up, lit the candle on the corner of the table, and then held the letter over the flame.

“Master!”

“I will enter the palace tomorrow.” Father Pei’s eyes had reddened at some point, and he restrained himself as he continued, “A few days ago, the Crown Prince pleaded with His Majesty on A’Zhou’s behalf, saying that A’Zhou’s injuries were the result of persecution and that he was likely innocent of the previous rebellion accusations. He begged His Majesty to release A’Zhou, which angered His Majesty greatly. The Empress is prudent; she would not have taught the Crown Prince to speak such words. The Crown Prince may have been deceived by someone in the rear palace with ulterior motives.”

Speaking of this, Mother Pei also felt distressed.

“In recent days, His Majesty has grown closer to Consort Li’s son. I fear… I fear His Majesty may be considering deposing the Crown Prince again. To His Majesty, as long as A’Zhou remains, he will never be at ease. I will tell His Majesty that I intend to expel A’Zhou from the family register, so that he will no longer be a son of the Pei family and will never have any chance of making a comeback. This way, His Majesty will be reassured, and in exchange, the Crown Prince can secure his position as heir.”

“Master, but what about A’Zhou…”

By the time Father Pei finished speaking, Mother Pei was already in tears.

Although she had always been strict with Pei Zhouwu since he was a child, he was still her own flesh and blood. How could she bear to abandon him?

“If I let His Majesty see my determination to sacrifice A’Zhou for the sake of the Crown Prince, he will not doubt my intentions in expelling A’Zhou from the family. This will also fulfill A’Zhou’s wish not to implicate the family. As a father, watching him suffer but unable to save him… if he can one day find freedom and a vast world, I am willing… to grant him that.”

Mother Pei was already sobbing uncontrollably.

…

In the following days, the Pei family servants no longer delivered food to the mountains.

Pei Zhouwu understood that his father and mother had accepted his request. With this, he could proceed with his plan without worry.

Once A Ying returned from the wedding banquet a month later, he could take her away from this place without any attachments.

Days passed one by one. After enduring the hottest days of summer, the end of summer was finally approaching.

Recently,

Liu Fuying had been lying lazily in bed, unwilling to get up, and each time, Pei Zhouwu had to coax her for a long time.

In the mountains, time seemed to blur. Often, Liu Fuying herself would mistakenly believe that she and Pei Zhouwu were truly husband and wife, lost in each other’s company day after day, forgetting to return.

Only occasionally would she suddenly remember that their time was running out.

From fifteen days left, to only ten, and then to just five.

This morning, while having breakfast, she suddenly realized that there were only three days left until her return. The thought choked her, turning her face red and leaving her breathless.

“Still not feeling well?” Pei Zhouwu sat by the bed with a teacup in hand.

Liu Fuying lay reclined, lifting her eyelids to glance at him before lazily uttering an “Mm.”

“Still recovering from choking earlier?” Pei Zhouwu gently touched her face, his heart aching at her pallid expression. “Perhaps you coughed too violently when it happened. Sit up and have another sip of water to soothe your throat.”

He held the teacup out to Liu Fuying.

She shifted slightly, but whether it was oil mixed into the water or something else, the moment she caught its scent, a wave of nausea washed over her, leaving her feeling queasy.