Chapter 62: Inappropriate
Yu Huatang didn't look at him. He lowered his head and thought for a moment before chuckling and saying self-deprecatingly, "But sir... there's a huge gap between our social statuses. Your Excellency is a man of great stature and elegance, and your family is too high, while I'm just a craftsman. We're not suitable..."
Zhao Yan was anxious when he heard her say this, "No, I never thought that status was a problem. Besides, is a noble lady from a high-class family suitable? No one asked me to marry a noble lady from a noble family. In my heart, you are the one I want."
He added, "Don't worry, my parents won't say anything. As long as I want to do it, I will definitely succeed. They can't stop me."
"Of course, I won't let you suffer any more grievances. If you don't want to live in the capital, we can buy another house and land. In short, believe me, I will do it."
Yu Huatang certainly knew his character. Just like before, even at the risk of being impeached by officials, he still wanted to find evidence against He Rongjin's father.
After a long pause, she said, "I know that you will do what I say, sir. However... as I said before, I no longer want to marry. I have no intention of returning to the capital. I just want to stay here, guarding the place where I was born, and live out my life..."
Zhao Yan was stunned, his mind blank. So she didn't want to marry him, right? He asked painfully, "Then...did you choose Baili...are you willing to go to Fuzhou with him..."
"No, I didn't choose anyone. Neither the Master nor Baili," she continued. "Baili and I went to Fuzhou simply to learn a craft and to build a foundation for our future. As for what Baili said to the Master, I'm afraid it doesn't count."
He understood that even if Baili brought his parents, it wouldn't work. This was all just his conjecture, but now he didn't feel the joy of knowing the truth at all. Instead, he felt a huge emptiness in his heart...
"So, you hate me, or hate going anywhere with me, especially to the capital, right?" he asked weakly.
Yu Huatang pondered for a moment and replied, "Both. It's just that I feel my life is pretty good now. I don't want to go to the capital, meet any high-ranking officials, or have anything to do with you, Master. I definitely don't want to get back together with you again."
After a long while, she added, "I only regard you as the father and mother of my hometown. I also wish you a smooth promotion in the future and that you can find a noble lady from a high-class family, and that we can love each other and live in harmony."
At this point, Zhao Yan had nothing to say. He walked back in a daze, completely forgetting whether to say goodbye to her.
He only knew that Huatang said she didn't want to marry him again and would not choose him no matter how he pestered her.
He leaned against the bed, closed his eyes and thought carefully. This result was actually not unexpected.
As early as when they met again, she was alienated and cold. When he took her blood for medicine, she was angry and determined.
He thought that if he changed and expressed his feelings again, she would change her mind. However, it was not the case. She had never thought of starting a relationship with him from the beginning to the end. He was the one who had been pestering her.
He sat in the room and waited until the sun set. He had thought about moving out that day, but he still had some illusions, so he stayed.
But after hearing what he heard today, he realized that this was not his home, but just a temporary place for him to stay.
The loneliness he had felt when he first came here came back, and all his hopes were shattered again.
He lowered his head and leaned against the edge of the bed. The pain in his heart became clearer and clearer, until he lost his strength and collapsed on the bed, no longer having any energy.
At this time, Anfu came in from outside, holding a bunch of Erythrina flowers in his hands. He picked these on the road and wanted to show them to the young master. He said, "Young master, look, it's winter now, and there are still these flowers in some places."
Zhao Yan turned his head to look at the flower, and the memories of their last trip came flooding back, but this time he could no longer feel the joy he had felt at that time.
Zhao Yan did not go to the government office for three consecutive days.
Yan Quan has been working very diligently these days. Firstly, he couldn't believe that Lord Zhao, who usually wanted to live in the government office, had asked for three days off; secondly, since Lord Zhao was resting, he had to take over the unfinished cases.
Only then did Yan Quan realize that Lord Zhao had to do so many things on a daily basis. He couldn't help but admire him, and also hoped that Zhao Yan would get better soon and come back to work. He couldn't stand getting up earlier than the chickens and going to bed later than the dogs every day.
On the fourth day, Zhao Yan finally came to the government office, but Yan Quan found that the spirit in his eyes was gone.
He looked like a wandering soul. He picked up his official duties and started working without saying a word. Lord Zhao used to be a man of few words, but now he looked even more like a mute!
Yan Quan cast a look at Wang Zhubu, who also shook his head, indicating that he didn't know what had happened.
At noon, everyone went to eat. Seeing that Zhao Yan had no intention of leaving, Yan Quan asked, "Sir, have you encountered any difficult cases? Why don't you tell us and we can help you with your advice, reference..."
The reason Yan Quan said this was because he had never imagined that the usually cold-hearted Lord Zhao had been hurt and was so depressed...
Zhao Yan still didn't answer, but just shook his head and motioned him to go eat.
When the sun went down, Yan Quan realized that Lord Zhao had not said a word today!
My goodness, what kind of case is this that could make Lord Zhao so worried? Naturally, he didn't dare to ask anymore, but when he got off duty, he glanced at Zhao Yan a few more times.
It was not until late at night that Zhao Yan came out. He got on the carriage and ordered, "Go through the side gate from now on, don't go through the main gate anymore."
Master Ji agreed, but he felt it was strange because the main gate used to pass through Miss Yu's house, and their master used to have to stay in the carriage and look for a long time.
Now if we go through the side door we won’t meet each other again, so this is a quarrel.
It's no wonder that Mr. Ji thought too much. Ever since he knew about the relationship between this gentleman and Miss Yu, he kept it a secret and didn't even mention it to the old lady at home.
As an old man with nothing to do, he naturally hoped that this gentleman could get back together with Miss Yu, not to mention that he also felt that the two were suitable for each other.
The carriage drove for a while and arrived at her own courtyard. Zhao Yan got off and went in through the side door. As expected, she could not see the situation of her house across the street at all.
He warned himself to learn to forget, no matter how painful it was.
In the days that followed, he handled official business even more frantically, and the people in the government office complained bitterly. Often, things that were requested in the morning would be reported the next day.
The heads of each department are all good at taking advantage of troublesome situations, but since Zhao Yan came, they have not slept in for a single day.
Yan Quan also secretly complained to Wang Zhubu at noon, "I don't know when this day will come. Do you think Lord Zhao plans to lead us to the top of the imperial examination this year?"
Wang Zhubu smiled and said, "That's a good thing. Then the officials in the capital will know about Lord Yan, right?"
Yan Quan looked at him as if he had seen a ghost. Who wants to be at the top of this kind of list? He gets it this year, but not next year. Doesn't that make people think he's lazy?
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