Before Meng Yao could figure out why Li Tanyun would do such a foolish thing.
Lu Luoxing carefully suggested, "Master, how about you take a look at Aunt Du?"
Meng Yao realized that the Aunt Du Lu Luoxing referred to was the Prefect’s wife.
"Can she come to Hundred Herbs Hall?" Meng Yao asked.
"I told her, and she can naturally come." Lu Luoxing was pleased. "As long as you agree, I’ll immediately send someone to inform her."
Meng Yao pondered for a moment. Lu Luoxing was not someone without discretion. She had just mentioned that although the Prefect’s wife was domineering, she was reasonable. She also mentioned her family background; being able to marry as she wished, she must have been greatly favored at home. Therefore, being a bit ostentatious didn’t mean she had character issues.
So she didn’t refuse.
Two days later, the Prefect’s wife arrived.
Entering through the back door of Hundred Herbs Hall’s courtyard on a small sedan chair.
Lu Luoxing had prepared a well-furnished room in advance and had sent away some members of the Lu Family under various pretexts.
Meng Yao met Du Ruyi.
She was of medium height, slightly plump, with a round face, almond-shaped eyes, and a fair complexion.
She gave off a pleasant demeanor.
At least, at first sight, Meng Yao couldn’t associate the woman in front of her with the word "domineering."
Du Ruyi’s face showed fatigue, her expression listless.
Although several days had passed since the incident, given that she had insisted on marrying against all odds back then, she must have been deeply in love with Li Tanyun.
At the same time, Li Tanyun’s actions also made her believe that he loved her. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝗇𝖾𝗍
In such a situation, to learn about Li Tanyun’s affairs with her younger sister and to decisively deal with the scoundrel without falling into depression or illness showed a strong mental fortitude.
She neither cried nor pushed all the blame onto the mistress.
For this reason, Meng Yao developed a slight liking for Du Ruyi.
"Ah Xing said there might still be hope for my condition?" Du Ruyi spoke first.
"Without taking your pulse, I can’t say." Meng Yao replied honestly.
Du Ruyi voluntarily placed her hand on the pulse diagnostic instrument. "Then take my pulse."
Meng Yao focused, carefully feeling Du Ruyi’s pulse.
It was caused by long-term consumption of cold and cooling medicines.
It had certain effects on her body, but they were limited. These cold medicines specifically targeted her ability to have children. For women, a warm womb is ideal. Someone like Du Ruyi was already as cold as ice. With such physical conditions, getting pregnant was like seeing a ghost.
"Well?" Du Ruyi asked when Meng Yao remained silent for a long time.
"I can immediately prescribe some medicine to ease the pain during your menstrual cycle. But if you want to get pregnant, I can’t make any guarantees." Meng Yao thought for a moment and said.
Du Ruyi’s eyes brightened.
Not being able to guarantee meant there was a possibility of treatment.
This result was much better than what Ah Xing had said.
Ah Xing had said she had lost her chance to become a mother.
"Aunt Du, do you still plan to have a child for that bastard?" Lu Luoxing, still young and impetuous, spoke with anger and confusion in her eyes.
"You child, usually so steady in business matters, how can you lose your composure over personal affairs?" Perhaps buoyed by good news, Du Ruyi’s tone lightened. "I never said I would have a child for that bastard. I’ve already written to my family."
"Li Tanyun is not worthy of you, Aunt Du," Lu Luoxing said.
Du Ruyi forced a smile. "It took me eight years to realize this fact. Isn’t that rather foolish?"
Perhaps because of the recent oppressive feelings, Du Ruyi said this in front of Meng Yao.
"Madam Du’s actions are decisive, worthy of admiration. Not every woman can have Madam Du’s courage after encountering such a situation." Meng Yao said.
"You don’t think I’m foolish?" Du Ruyi asked.
"Who doesn’t make mistakes in judging people? Moreover, if someone is determined to hide something, it’s really hard to discover." Meng Yao said.
Especially in ancient times, most noblewomen stayed in the backyards after marriage.
"My wet nurse advised me to settle things and continue living with Li Tanyun." Du Ruyi said after a pause, "I know her intention was for my own good. My father is gone, and now my elder brother and sister-in-law are in charge at home. Even if my brother loves me, he might not be like my father. If I insist on returning home, perhaps..."
"But seeing Li Tanyun’s face makes me sick. If I have to live with him in a facade for decades, I can’t stand it and would rather die."
"I can’t convince myself."
"If I can’t sever ties with him, I’d rather die."
Meng Yao quietly watched Du Ruyi, "Madam Du, if you can choose to die, it shows you’re not afraid of death. Since you’re not afraid of death, what else is there to fear?"
"If you can get the support of your brother, it would be good for you to have your family as a backing. Your future days wouldn’t be bad."
"Even if your brother doesn’t support you, madam, you have a dowry, right? That dowry should be enough to support your life in the latter half, right?"
"Madam can completely live a life without worry, so what is there to trouble yourself over?"
"Is there anything better than living?"
Du Ruyi stared at Meng Yao. Following Li Tanyun to Qingzhou Prefecture, the closest woman to her was her wet nurse. Her mother died young, and though her father loved her, he also passed early, so she regarded her wet nurse as an elder.
When Li Tanyun committed such an act, even the wet nurse was furious and cursed alongside her.
But after the cursing, the wet nurse said that life must continue, and once the anger was expelled, it was enough.
Du Ruyi straightened her back and her expression became firm.
"After hearing your words, sister, I feel enlightened." Du Ruyi said, word by word.
Yes, what was she afraid of?
Regardless of whether her brother supported her or not, she didn’t want to compromise.
If her brother supported her, she would have a backing.
If her brother didn’t support her, she believed she could also flourish on her own.
Moreover, even if her brother didn’t support her, after she divorced her husband, her brother definitely wouldn’t continue to help Li Tanyun.
She had been cautious and hadn’t thrown away the recent medicine residue. She also had someone find the doctor who had given Li Tanyun a "remedy." The doctor had accepted a large sum of silver from Li Tanyun, which was why he had prescribed that medicine.
Additionally, she had already asked her milk-brother to investigate the death of her good sister’s husband from those years.
Things she had never considered before suddenly flooded her mind after seeing her stepsister pitifully leaning into Li Tanyun’s arms.
How could there be such a coincidence?
She still remembered, when her stepsister got married, she had seen the brother-in-law. Although he was not robust, he did not look sickly either. Moreover, the marriage was arranged by her father. Even if her father didn’t like her stepsister, he wouldn’t have found her a husband in poor health.