"I asked Wan Niang’s in-laws, and they said she went out to seek dical treatnt."
They weren’t willing to disclose, but he could investigate.
Yet, the result was like the Yu Family fire, vanishing without a trace.
He Xuran was worried.
Could it be that the sa force was hindering his investigation, deliberately burying the truth?
Was Yu Tingwan in danger?
Perhaps guessing his concerns.
Gu Fuju lowered the coldness in his eyes.
"No."
He was overly certain.
Although He Xuran was taken aback, he trusted Gu Fuju and thus did not question.
He slightly put his mind at ease.
The thick stack of papers on the table had been perused by him countless tis, recording the life experiences of Yu Tingwan.
Finally, it was handed over to Gu Fuju by He Xuran.
At the Yu Family, the girl was well cared for. But upon going to Xilin Village...
The nurous grievances and endurance, as He Xuran read them, it felt like his heart was being gouged.
She was a girl who should have been cherished by the Gu Family, held in the palm of their hand.
He Xuran: "Does Ah Jie know about Wan Niang..."
"Not for the ti being."
Gu Fuju, with a sullen look, flipped through page by page.
Finally, he paused.
It was a portrait.
Drawn by He Xuran.
It was after he first saw Yu Tingwan on the execution ground; upon returning, feeling restless, he picked up the brush.
His artistry was already exquisite.
It was just like the real person.
After finishing, he felt ridiculous and wanted to burn it.
Just because soone looks alike, keeping a woman’s portrait was truly not a gentleman’s act.
But sohow, he kept it until now.
With a few strokes, the girl’s graceful and gentle posture was captured, yet her back was straight, her eyes firm.
Gu Fuju stared at it for a long while.
As if he could see the real person through the portrait.
Very much like Jiasan in his youth.
————
Wuyang City.
The sky was overcast; firecrackers were being set off in front of the Zhu Family house.
Drums and gongs were resounding.
A lot of people had already gathered.
The lion dance was to start from the Zhu Family early and dance along the street stalls, pausing intermittently all the way to the Goddess Temple.
The Zhu family servants didn’t sleep, and were busy as could be.
The people were speaking in awe.
"Wow, these lanterns look nice; a few must be hung every so many yards, all the way to our Childbirth Goddess Temple. I wonder how many lanterns it’ll require; that must cost a lot of silver, right?"
Every servant of the Zhu Family stood with their backs straight.
"To the Zhu Family, this amount of money is nothing."
"Our young master has been blessed and prosperous all these years, all thanks to the gods’ protection. In a few days, he’ll be getting married, a great joy for the house. Old Master is happy and declared this morning that everyone should visit the house later to get wedding pastries, to share the joy."
"Indeed, indeed."
"Once Young Master Zhu gets married and adds a few hefty sons to the family, increasing prosperity, Old Master Zhu’s fortune is still to co."
Unlike the clamor outside,
in an inconspicuous small courtyard, the candle was already halfway burned.
Yu Tingwan was breathing heavily, her body barely recovering, when Wei Zhao captured her lips again.
This was going a bit too far.
He didn’t mind the dirt.
Yu Tingwan minded herself.
He didn’t even rinse his mouth.
"Look outside."
Wei Zhao suddenly said.
Yu Tingwan’s eyes, moist and full of spring, with a teardrop mole at the corner, were alluring. She extended her tender arm to lift the curtain.
He asked, "What did you see?"
Yu Tingwan’s voice was soft and lingering: "I don’t want to think anymore."
Yu Tingwan: "I want to sleep."
She pleasantly negotiated with him: "Is that alright?"
She had already... enjoyed it.
But would Wei Zhao let her off?
The sweet fragrance of plum blooms subtly filled the air.
The man patiently asked again, "What did you see?"
"Saw... saw..."
Yu Tingwan: "...the day has broken."
With that said,
the tortuous, endless path brought a sharp pain.
When she was young, her dad, upon returning from a journey, gifted Yaoyao a delicate little glass bottle.
She liked it a lot and took it out to show off.
In Yaoyao’s room, there was also a pretty pebble.
She had picked it up outside.
The pebble was large, resembling a stick; Yaoyao, in a mont of inspiration, tried to put it into the glass bottle.
But the bottle’s mouth was narrow like a slit; the size was off, no matter how much strength she used, it just couldn’t fit in!
The girl’s face turned deathly pale in pain, tears the size of beans welled in her eyes, dropping onto the pillow, soaking it in a shadowy wetness.
But soon...
Both their expressions changed.
Yu Tingwan in surprise.
Wei Zhao’s face was dark as ink.
Yu Tingwan, now like a ripened begonia, blushing: "Is it done already?"
She couldn’t just say Wei Zhao looked good but wasn’t capable.
It was just a short while.
And then... and then...
It’s a sin.
However, such matters more or less hurt one’s pride, especially for soone as privileged as Wei Zhao.
Yu Tingwan couldn’t even care about the pain, gently comforting him: "I don’t mind."
Wei Zhao couldn’t accept it.
"And I won’t tell anyone."
Wei Zhao didn’t want to speak.
"Don’t feel bad; no man is perfect in every aspect. You can read and fight well, you’re skilled, and you’re steady... there has to be one area lacking, you can’t have all the advantages."
Not a single word was sothing Wei Zhao wanted to hear.
"In a way, it’s good, it doesn’t take any ti."
If it were a bit smaller, it would be even better!
Who else was as considerate as Yu Tingwan!
Trying hard to find excuses for him.
"Don’t mind these external things, maybe... maybe you weren’t like this before, you were great before. Just got injured later, and that affected your body."
Wei Zhao looked at her talking relentlessly with indifference.
Yu Tingwan patted his shoulder: "If you care, let Doctor Ge check it out later, at worst we’ll treat it. But don’t conceal it."
She said all she could.
Yu Tingwan felt she hadn’t missed anything.
She was about to get up for water, but he pulled her back.
The girl paid a heavy price for it.
Begonia is naturally delicate, unable to withstand ravages. Its tender jade buds were vibrant, yet the sudden rain showed no pity, battering the petals, forcing them to waver precariously.
There was no escape.
The rain’s montum was erratic, strong, and rapid, showing no signs of stopping.
After the soaking, the begonia was urged to bloom, becoming even more resplendent.
Inside, the candles had burned out, leaving nothing.
From outside, the playful sounds of children running through the streets, the lively atmosphere of the temple festival began.
The rhythm of drums and gongs, filled the air with laughter and chatter.
However, inside and outside the yard were entirely different worlds.
Yu Tingwan didn’t know how many tis she had cried.
Her voice hoarse from all the crying.
But Wei Zhao wouldn’t let her go.
Almost as if making up for all the debt owed before.
She couldn’t fathom how she once wondered if Wei Zhao fell from the mountain and damaged sothing there, such absurdity.
That day, the bustle was for the people of Wuyang City, not for her.
She indeed didn’t make it to the temple festival.
For she hadn’t even managed to get out of bed.
It was never as tiring even when working.
The light inside the room was bright.
Suddenly, a white jade-like arm reached out, grabbing the bed’s edge forcefully, leaving a few sweaty marks.
The girl’s flushed face popped out.
Her black hair damp with sweat, her locks disheveled.
"Enough, enough."
She cried out.
But a strong man’s arm followed out, pressing her back down.
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