Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Abortion Medicine

Huo Zheng spoke calmly: “What did I say?”

Chun Zhi fell silent: “…” [Fine, she was overthinking.] [She kept feeling there was a hidden meaning in Huo Qi’s words.]

All morning, regular customers came one after another. Near noon, all the tofu was sold out. Chun Zhi made lunch and ate with Huo Qi and Yu Zhu.

In the afternoon there was nothing urgent, so she and Yu Zhu worked on needlework together. Huo Qi went out again. Lately his wounds had mostly healed, and he started going out often. Chun Zhi did not ask where he went, and he did not say, but every time he came back he brought things, sometimes food and sometimes daily goods. She did not know where his money came from, and it was not proper to ask in front of Yu Zhu.

After staying a few days at the tofu workshop, Yu Zhu lowered her voice while they sewed and asked: “Sister Chun Zhi, can you help me get a dose of abortion medicine from the apothecary?”

Chun Zhi grew serious and said: “Abortion medicine? Are you sure?”

She knew Yu Zhu did not want to keep the child, and she could not keep the child. Yu Zhu was only eighteen. If she kept it, raising a baby alone would be very hard. The child was from a powerful household, and if the young master she once served came looking, he would take the child away. Yu Zhu did not want to become a concubine; this child would only be a burden.

Yu Zhu said with reddening eyes: “I have decided. I cannot give birth to this child, so please help me get a dose of abortion medicine.”

Chun Zhi said: “Since you have decided not to keep it, then don’t. But you cannot take abortion medicine carelessly. If it goes wrong, it can cost your life.” Women giving birth pass the gates of death, and a miscarriage is not much different.

Chun Zhi put down her needlework and told Yu Zhu: “I will take you to the clinic. Let the physician check your pulse to see whether you can take the medicine, then have the physician write the prescription. Your life matters most, so do not be careless.”

Yu Zhu nodded: “I will listen to you.”

Chun Zhi tidied up, tucked some silver into her clothes, and took Yu Zhu to Zhang Family Clinic. Yu Zhu wore a white veil so no one could recognize her.

It was afternoon, and the clinic was not busy. Chun Zhi asked the resident senior physician to check Yu Zhu’s pulse. After finishing, Doctor Zhang said: “Your pulse is like rolling beads. You are about two months pregnant. This child is very healthy, and you don’t even need medicine to protect the pregnancy.”

Yu Zhu parted her lips, embarrassed, and said: “I don’t want this child. Please prescribe abortion medicine for me.”

Doctor Zhang looked surprised and said: “The child is so healthy, and you want to end the pregnancy?”

Yu Zhu nodded with tears in her eyes. Chun Zhi added: “Please see if her body can safely take abortion medicine.”

Doctor Zhang stroked his beard, thought for a long time, and said: “Abortion medicine is dangerous. Taking it might risk your life, and you may never get pregnant again. You had better think it over.”

Chun Zhi was about to speak, but Yu Zhu said: “I have decided. Please write the prescription.”

Doctor Zhang asked: “Are you truly sure?”

Yu Zhu said: “I am sure.”

Doctor Zhang said: “All right. I will write the prescription. After you buy the herbs, decoct them at home and drink the dose.”

Yu Zhu nodded: “Thank you, physician.”

Doctor Zhang quickly wrote the prescription and sent the apothecary’s boy to fetch the herbs. Soon the boy brought them back, wrapped in oiled paper, and handed them to Yu Zhu. She took the packet, paid the silver, and left in a daze. Seeing she looked lost, Chun Zhi supported her as they walked back.

On the way, they passed a crowded street. From a distance, they saw several waiters holding a portrait and asking passersby: “Have you seen the young lady in this picture?”

They shouted: “If you have seen her, anyone who provides a lead will receive one hundred taels of gold!”

People on the road surged forward at the words one hundred taels of gold. When Chun Zhi and Yu Zhu went by, they nearly got jostled aside. Chun Zhi glanced at the portrait and froze, because the face drawn there was Yu Zhu. Yu Zhu saw it too. Her face changed at once, and she hurriedly pulled Chun Zhi away. They almost ran, only stopping when the crowd thinned.

Yu Zhu was short of breath, with cold sweat on her brow. Chun Zhi patted her back to steady her breath and soothed her, saying: “Don’t panic. You are wearing a veil. They cannot see your face clearly.”

Yu Zhu gripped Chun Zhi’s hand and spoke in a panic: “They have come. They know I am in Linshui Town.”

Chun Zhi said: “Linshui Town is big. They will not find you right away. Your old house has already been sold, and no one knows you live with me. Let’s go home and talk.”

It seemed the young master Yu Zhu spoke of was very capable. In just a few days, he had traced her to Linshui Town.

Yu Zhu answered softly, “Okay,” and went back with Chun Zhi to the tofu workshop. Since they already had the herbs, Yu Zhu, afraid of being found by that young master’s men, rushed to start decocting the medicine. Chun Zhi could not talk her out of it, so she brought out the medicine pot and stayed with her to boil the dose.

When the abortion medicine was almost ready, someone came and knocked on the courtyard gate. The knocking was urgent. Yu Zhu seemed to sense it: “They are here. The people looking for me are here.”

Chun Zhi tried to calm her: “Don’t be afraid. It could be Huo Qi. Go wait in the room. I will open the door.”

Yu Zhu hurried into the room. Chun Zhi went to open the gate. The men knocking were the same waiters from the street with the portrait. When the door opened, they stepped aside. A noble young man in rich clothes walked forward and said: “My surname is Gu. I have come to find Yu Zhu.”

The household that bought Yu Zhu had the surname Gu. The Gu Family was a famous house in Nanzhou. The eldest young master, Gu Yuan Jia, was famous across the land for calligraphy and painting, the ideal gentleman in the dreams of many noble young ladies.

Chun Zhi said: “Yu Zhu has redeemed herself and is no longer a maid of the Gu Family. Young Master Gu, why go to such trouble to search for her? What do you want?”

Gu Yuan Jia smiled and said: “I mean no harm. It is hard to find a maid who suits me. Yu Zhu redeemed herself and left while I was away, without a word. Of course I came to ask her why.”

Chun Zhi said: “What is there to ask?”

Gu Yuan Jia said: “That is between Yu Zhu and me. It is not convenient to say more.”

A Gu Manor waiter brought a chest, opened it, and the gold inside shone so brightly it almost dazzled Chun Zhi’s eyes. The waiter said: “Our young master promised that anyone who gives a lead about the person in the portrait will receive one hundred taels of gold. Since Yu Zhu is here with you, this gold is yours.”

As he spoke, he tried to push the chest into Chun Zhi’s hands. She did not take it and was about to speak when Huo Zheng happened to return and said: “Why are you blocking my door?”

Gu Yuan Jia turned around. When he saw the newcomer’s face, he showed open surprise.