Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

Following Steward Zhang's instructions, the servants went forward to search Zhou Yuan's body and quickly found a packet of powder in his hair.

Seeing that his plan had been exposed, Zhou Yuan sighed helplessly.

The accompanying physician held the powder in his hand and repeatedly ground and examined it. After examination, he determined that the powder was only for breaking up blood stasis.

"This powder is fine for most people, but pregnant women should not take it, as it can cause miscarriage," the doctor said.

At this point, Zhou Yuan's purpose was very clear: his target was the child in Xia Lanyue's womb.

Butler Zhang couldn't understand why Zhou Yuan would do this, and out of caution, he asked, "Young Master Zhou, what do you usually carry this medicine with you? And why did you put it in my young lady's food?"

Zhou Yuan wasn't afraid. "I didn't put it away, I just carry it with me. Why should I explain to you? Look, she's perfectly fine. Why are you suspecting me?"

Xia Yao remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, "It seems to be Li Tao's idea? She wants revenge."

"Tch," Zhou Yuan said sarcastically, "Revenge? Why would she want revenge on you? What did you do to offend her that made her want to take revenge?!"

Xia Yao didn't reply. Judging from his expression, he really seemed to have done something wrong.

Butler Zhang and the others didn't understand what they were talking about. "It seems that Young Master Xia's grudge has involved my young lady."

"There's no grudge between us, and I'm not familiar with Li Tao," Xia Yao said, not wanting to explain further, lest he make things worse.

"Ha," Zhou Yuan sneered, "Not familiar?"

Xia Yao ignored Zhou Yuan's sarcasm and looked at Xia Lanyue, "You know that."

Zhou Yuan sneered and turned to Butler Zhang, saying, "I admit that I administered the drug, but Xia Yao told me to do it."

Xia Lanyue was taken aback upon hearing this and looked at Xia Yao with a puzzled expression.

Xia Yao explained, "He's talking nonsense. It wasn't me; I wouldn't do that."

“She’s pregnant. How would I know if you didn’t tell me?” Zhou Yuan said.

Xia Yao still looked at Xia Lanyue, "I told her you were pregnant in order to find you, not to get him to poison you."

At this moment, Xia Lanyue, hearing both sides sticking to their own versions of events, was at a loss. Thinking of Xia Yao's previous attitude, and the contrast with his current one, she couldn't help but begin to doubt him. "But you really are..."

Xia Yao was getting a little anxious and walked up to Xia Lanyue, but Butler Zhang stepped forward and stood between the two of them.

Xia Yao said helplessly, "A-Yue, I admit I was impulsive before, but I care about you more. When I found out you were missing, I was more anxious than anyone else. I've been looking for you for days. Doesn't that show how much I care about you?"

Xia Lanyue didn't know whether to believe it or not, "But Zhou Yuan, he has no reason to do this."

“He’s trying to sow discord among us; he’s Li Tao’s cousin,” Xia Yao explained.

Hearing this, Xia Lanyue seemed to understand Zhou Yuan's reasons for doing so, but a new question arose: "Why are you getting so close to her brother? Don't you... keep your distance from them?"

Xia Yao seemed to sense the doubt in Xia Lanyue's tone, and wanted to explain, but couldn't bring himself to say it. "There are many things involved. In short, you have to believe me..."

“Yes, he’s very close to my brother and me. I often help him with things, like tracking whether you met with Jiang Di, or secretly meeting with my sister behind your back. I also helped him steal grain and frame you, and…” Zhou Yuan said sarcastically.

"Enough, shut up!" Xia Yao panicked completely and shouted at Zhou Yuan, then turned to Xia Lanyue and said, "Ayue, let me explain."

Xia Lanyue was stunned. "Is what he said true?"

Xia Yao bypassed Butler Zhang and walked to Xia Lanyue's side. "Ayue, come with me, I'll explain to you."

"An explanation?!" Xia Lanyue seemed to have caught something. "Why not say he's talking nonsense?... So it's true?"

“No, things aren’t as he described; there’s a reason,” Xia Yao explained.

Zhou Yuan laughed smugly, "I told you so, didn't I? He can't explain it. And that's not all. Your friend Jiang Di, it was his idea to arrest Zhao Lizhang. Also, the child my sister is pregnant with is his. Without you, they would be fine now. You caused her to lose her child, so you can forget about having one yourself."

After Zhou Yuan spoke, Xia Yao gradually became desperate. He sighed and looked at Xia Lanyue with a complex expression that Xia Lanyue could not understand.

At this moment, Xia Lanyue was already in tears. Zhou Yuan's words pierced every nerve in Xia Lanyue's body.

She lost the ability to analyze these words; she only felt that the man in front of her was someone she had never understood, making her feel unfamiliar and afraid.

Xia Yao tentatively took Xia Lanyue's hand, but Xia Lanyue shook him off.

Xia Lanyue turned and walked towards the car.

Xia Yao didn't chase after Xia Lanyue, perhaps because he felt guilty, or perhaps because he felt it wasn't the right time.

Steward Zhang, who had been observing the group for a while, finally spoke up, "Doctor, could you please check if Miss has any other symptoms?"

"Alright," the doctor said, and got into the carriage.

Zhou Yuan was not satisfied with people's indifferent reaction. "I thought you were all very concerned about her, but it's nothing. After she took this medicine, she can forget about keeping the baby."

"Hmph," Butler Zhang sneered, "Even in this state, you still can't resist stirring up trouble. Aren't you afraid of dying?"

Zhou Yuan stubbornly rolled his eyes and didn't say anything.

"Steward Zhang, what should we do with these people?" a servant asked as he stepped forward.

"Let it go, put away the knife," said Steward Zhang.

"Huh?" The servant thought he had misheard.

“We’re here to take Miss back. Let’s avoid trouble and release her,” said Butler Zhang.

The servants, obeying the order, put away their knives.

Zhou Yuan pushed aside the servant beside him, stood to the side, and patted the dirt off his clothes. "As expected of the steward, he's very sensible."

"Hmph," Butler Zhang sneered, then waved his hand to dismiss the servants. "I'm letting you off the hook because you didn't harm Miss's life. You may leave now."

The Zhou brothers stood beside him, wondering, "Is he being so kind? He's not up to any scheme, is he?"

Butler Zhang chuckled, "What? I told you to leave, but you don't want to? Then don't leave." Butler Zhang raised his hand, but before he could speak, Zhou Yuan and his group ran towards the dense forest behind them.

Butler Zhang turned to Xia Yao and said, "Young Master Xia, aren't you leaving? All your friends have left."

“You’ve misunderstood. They’re not my friends,” Xia Yao said, his eyes lowered. “I have something to say to your young lady.”

"It seems Miss won't see you. You should leave," Butler Zhang advised.

Xia Yao didn't speak, but looked into the carriage. He knew that Xia Lanyue could hear him.