As she entered the room, Wen Ye secretly made up her mind: as long as Xu Yuejia didn’t bring it up, she would continue to play dumb.
After Xu Yuejia entered the main hall, he turned directly toward the study on the west side. Seeing this, Wen Ye quietly followed.
The study, which now housed a small round table for tea and snacks, had undergone significant changes. The original desk and chairs had been pushed to a corner, replaced by a soft couch, a screen, and bookshelves.
Looking at the drastically altered study, Xu Yuejia paused for a moment before walking toward the small round table. Wen Ye sat down across from him without hesitation.
The atmosphere was unusually heavy. It was the first time Wen Ye had seen Xu Yuejia with such a solemn expression. It seemed her assumptions were not far off.
Wen Ye pondered how to explain herself in a way that would minimize the impact on her. However, no matter what, someone had to break the ice.
In a calm and steady voice, Wen Ye asked, “Did you call me here for something, my lord?”
Between husband and wife, there should be honesty and transparency. Xu Yuejia didn’t want to let this matter worsen their already fragile relationship. However, making accusations based on mere speculation would only cause harm. Thus, he asked tactfully, “Is there something you’ve been keeping from me?”
Wen Ye pretended not to understand. “Why would you say that, my lord?”
Seeing her feign ignorance, Xu Yuejia decided to be more direct. “We’ve been married for nearly half a year now. During this time, have you been using contraceptive methods, such as taking birth control pills?”
Wen Ye immediately denied it. “Of course not.”
She truly hadn’t taken any birth control pills. Those things were extremely harmful to women. To harm one’s body just to avoid having children—what difference did that make?
No matter how much she had calculated and planned for herself in the past, on this matter, she could answer Xu Yuejia with confidence.
But since he had been so direct, Wen Ye no longer wanted to avoid the issue. This thin layer of pretense was bound to be pierced sooner or later.
“I can assure you, my lord, I have never taken any birth control pills,” Wen Ye stated firmly. “However,” she suddenly shifted the topic, “how did you find out?” Though she had a rough idea, she still wanted to ask.
Xu Yuejia’s expression gave no hint of his feelings on the matter. His voice remained calm. “Coincidentally, I have a good memory.” If he couldn’t connect the dots on something like this, he wouldn’t deserve his position as Vice Minister of Justice.
Wen Ye maintained a questioning tone. “Is that so?”
In truth, she agreed with his reasoning.
Their intimate moments had been few and followed a predictable pattern. Moreover, during those rare occasions, she had made some small, unconventional moves—something that would have stood out to someone as traditional and conservative as Xu Yuejia. It was no surprise he remembered.
Having been married for half a year now, and with the case involving Madam Deng, it was only natural that Xu Yuejia would suspect something if he believed her body was healthy and capable of conceiving.
Besides, Xu Yuejia was no stranger to fatherhood.
“I simply did some research on which days would make conception less likely,” Wen Ye emphasized again. “I truly haven’t taken any harmful birth control pills.”
By now, Wen Ye was beginning to realize that Xu Yuejia’s anger didn’t seem to stem from her reluctance to have children. If that were the case, his first question would have been, “Why don’t you want children?” Why beat around the bush?
Xu Yuejia still had doubts. “I’ve looked into it. Simply calculating the days isn’t a foolproof method.” To avoid accusing her unfairly, before returning home, Xu Yuejia had not only questioned Xu Mu repeatedly but also consulted a physician under the guise of the case.
He had confirmed that if a couple engaged in intimacy on specific days, it could either aid or prevent conception, but the effect was minimal. For absolute certainty, medication was still necessary.
At this point, there was no need to hide anything further.
Wen Ye replied, “There are also some dietary adjustments, but I’ve consulted a physician. They’re just ordinary foods that won’t harm the body—they only reduce the likelihood slightly.”
Xu Yuejia gazed at Wen Ye for a long time, his expression unreadable. When he finally spoke, his voice was low. “The root of this issue lies with me. I assumed you would share the same thoughts as most women.”
Wen Ye: “?”
This wasn’t the reaction she had expected. He was acting strangely. Wen Ye couldn’t help but look at Xu Yuejia with deep suspicion.
Xu Yuejia: “...”
He averted his gaze. “But birth control pills must never be taken. If you ever regret it, the damage they leave behind will be irreversible.”
“However,” Xu Yuejia added finally, “since you say you haven’t taken any, I’ll trust you this once.”
Wen Ye felt uneasy. Xu Yuejia wasn’t angry?
After a moment of silence, she couldn’t help but ask, “My lord, you don’t mind that I did this?”
Xu Yuejia replied, “If you don’t wish to, and I still impose it on you, that would be coercion.”
“Between husband and wife, there should be honesty. In this matter, we both share responsibility,” Xu Yuejia said seriously. “The matter of heirs is significant. I never asked for your thoughts or wishes, and you made your decision without discussing it with me.”
Wen Ye felt half-relieved, but she still couldn’t quite understand.
She kept glancing at Xu Yuejia, and a sudden thought crossed her mind. On impulse, she tested him: “Phone?”
Xu Yuejia frowned slightly, not quite understanding. “What chicken?”
At that moment, his expression was a mix of confusion and bewilderment, unsure why she had suddenly changed the topic so abruptly.
“If you want to eat chicken, just tell the kitchen to prepare it,” he said.
Wen Ye snapped out of her thoughts and let out a quiet sigh. She had been overthinking it.
Even in later generations, men like Xu Yuejia, who didn’t care much about having descendants, were rare. Perhaps Xu Yuejia wasn’t angry because he already had a son? It couldn’t be that she had stumbled upon the perfect man. That defied logic.
Once she figured it out, Wen Ye felt much more at ease. She went along with his words. “I was just asking if you wanted some, my lord.”
Xu Yuejia: “...No need.”
Wen Ye nodded and moved on. “My lord, what about the matter of children?”
Xu Yuejia’s tone was casual. “It’s up to you.”
Judging by his expression and attitude, he truly didn’t seem to care about having heirs.
“But over time, people will talk, and sister-in-law will worry. What should we do then?” Although Xu Yuejia’s indifference to having more children was surprising, Wen Ye still wanted to clarify things now that the topic had been brought up.
Xu Yuejia gave her a look, as if to say, “Do I need to teach you? No one in this household is better at smoothing things over than you.”
But he still said, “If sister-in-law asks, just blame it on me or Xu Yuxuan.”
Wen Ye immediately brightened, her voice sweet and syrupy. “My lord, you’re so good to me.”
No matter what Xu Yuejia truly thought, his willingness to make such a promise in front of her far exceeded Wen Ye’s expectations. Her sudden change in attitude left Xu Yuejia momentarily speechless.
He glanced at the woman whose eyes now sparkled with joy and, after a pause, asked, “Those dietary adjustments you mentioned—do they have any effect on men?”
Wen Ye instinctively raised an eyebrow but quickly composed herself. “I didn’t ask about that.”
When she had asked Tao Zhi to look for those recipes, she hadn’t considered whether they would work for men.
For most people, such a far-fetched idea wouldn’t yield the desired results anyway.
But Xu Yuejia didn’t seem like the type to ask such a question casually.
Wen Ye was once again puzzled by Xu Yuejia.
Just as she was racking her brain, Xu Yuejia added, “In that case, until we find a more reliable method, between us…”
When it came to this topic, Xu Yuejia seemed slightly uncomfortable, his ears tinged with red.
Wen Ye blurted out, “It’s not necessary. We haven’t conceived before, so you should have some confidence in yourself, my lord.”
Realizing what she meant, Xu Yuejia was slightly annoyed. “Wen Ye!”
Wen Ye apologized quickly, slippery as an eel in a rice field.
“I’m sorry, my lord.”
Her tone was sincere, and her apology was perfectly timed. Xu Yuejia’s expression shifted. “You—”
“Mother!” A small head suddenly popped up at the door, interrupting Xu Yuejia.
Both of their gazes turned toward the door.
Xu Yuxuan, who had somehow slipped in unnoticed, toddled over to them.
He plopped down on Wen Ye’s lap, tilting his head up to look at them, his brows furrowed in complaint. “It’s been so long!”
Then he glanced at the empty round table and, as if suddenly remembering something, turned to ask, “Did Father steal the cakes?”
Wen Ye: “...”
Of all the things to remember, why did he have to recall that now, and so clearly at that?
Xu Yuejia took one last glance at Wen Ye, exhaled deeply, and then said with a hint of frustration, "When did I ever steal your pastry?"
Wen Ye tried to cover Xu Yuxuan's hands, but it was too late.
Xu Yuxuan pointed at her and declared in a sing-song voice, "Mother said, Father has it, and he even stole~"
Hearing this, Xu Yuejia turned to her with a look of confusion and inquiry.
Wen Ye quickly explained, "I was just teasing him."
As she spoke, she ruffled the child's hair, messing up his little bun.
Thankfully, he was already used to it.
"Oh, by the way," Wen Ye suddenly remembered something and asked him, "You mentioned the Xue Family earlier, but I haven't heard any rumors about them."
Distracted by Xu Yuxuan's interruption, Xu Yuejia no longer had the heart to pursue Wen Ye's earlier impertinence. He took a sip of tea to calm himself and then said, "They were caught up in an undeserved misfortune." Wen Ye immediately assured him, "I won't breathe a word of it to anyone."
Xu Yuejia remained silent for a few moments before adding, "The part involving the Xue Family was specifically instructed by the Emperor—no fourth person should know of it." Wen Ye thought it over. She considered herself tight-lipped and didn’t have a habit of talking in her sleep.
So she said, "Didn't you say, my dear husband, that we are one as a couple? That makes us count as one person."
Xu Yuejia: "…Not only are you thick-skinned, but your face is also as impenetrable as a fortress."
"Xu Muzhi met the sixth son of the Xue Family, the Vice Minister of Rites, at a poetry gathering last year and gradually developed inappropriate feelings," Xu Yuejia said without elaborating further. "If you think about it, you can probably guess the rest."
The imperial examinations in the Great Jin Dynasty were always overseen by the Ministry of Rites. Wen Ye paused for a moment, then combined this with the fact that he had inexplicably asked her about spring outings the other day. Wen Ye silently mouthed a name: Xue Jingwu?
Xu Yuejia didn’t deny it.
If that was the case, she didn’t need to know the details. Wen Ye decided not to press further. Some gossip wasn’t worth digging into.
She had only met the girl once, but she could tell she was innocent and harmless, just fourteen years old, like a budding flower. Xu Yuejia was right—the fewer people who knew about this, the better.
Wen Ye changed the subject and asked, "Would you like to stay for dinner, my dear husband?"
Xu Yuejia: "Alright."
Wen Ye immediately pushed Xu Yuxuan toward him and said, "Then, dear husband, please take care of Xuan'er for a moment. I’ll go instruct the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes you like."
With that, she got up and left the study, leaving the father and son duo still processing what had just happened.
As Wen Ye walked out of the main hall, she saw Nanny Ji standing in the distance. She approached her and said, "Nanny Ji, my husband wants to spend some time alone with Xuan'er."
Seeing Wen Ye come out, Nanny Ji, who had been about to step into the room, took half a step back.
Though surprised, she nodded and said, "I understand." Satisfied, Wen Ye left for the kitchen. Father and son should spend more time bonding.
Back in the study, the not-so-familiar father and son stared at each other.
Xu Yuxuan’s round eyes darted around as he whispered, "Father, say it~"
Xu Yuejia’s fingers, which were holding the child’s arm, stiffened slightly. He asked, puzzled, "Say what?"
Xu Yuxuan’s little face turned serious as he said, "Don’t steal Mother’s pastries~"
"And Xuan'er's too!"
Xu Yuejia: "…"
Mini Scene:
Xu Yuejia: "…I’m sending him off to school tomorrow."
