Upon hearing this, Bai Wei almost dropped her chopsticks. She looked up, her gaze fixed on Shen Yue, as if trying to read some secret from her eyes.
Shen Yue took a deep breath and slowly said, "Back then, Zhang Fang did not betray you. He was framed by Li Zan. Li Zan had been obsessed with you ever since he saw you by the Chun Chao River. He had always harbored ill intentions towards you and wanted to marry you as his second wife. So he used his power to create a misunderstanding between Zhang Fang and you."
Upon hearing this, Bai Wei froze, her chopsticks coming to a complete stop, and her eyes gradually reddened.
She never imagined that her years of hatred and regret stemmed from a meticulously planned conspiracy.
"Mother, are you... are you telling the truth?" Bai Wei's voice trembled slightly, both in disbelief and a longing for confirmation.
Shen Yue nodded, her eyes filled with heartache and guilt: "It's true. I was afraid you wouldn't be able to accept it, so I kept it from you. Over the years, I've been looking for an opportunity to seek justice for you, but..."
"Fortunately, Li Zan got his comeuppance. Sigh, he's dead, let's not talk about him anymore."
Shen Yue sighed heavily and lamented.
Bai Wei interrupted her, tears finally streaming down her face: "Mother, why didn't you tell me sooner? I...I..." She choked up, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Shen Yue gently patted Bai Wei's back, comforting her, "Mother knows this has been a huge blow to you. But Mother hopes you can let go of the past and start anew. Actually, Zhang Fang is just..."
Just then, Li Afu's voice came from outside, "Master is back!"
Shen Yue slowly stood up, gesturing to Bai Wei to stop crying.
Bai Wei nodded, choking back tears, and took out a handkerchief to wipe them away. As she put the handkerchief away, she stared blankly at the pattern on it.
If she remembered correctly, this was on the day she came of age, after Zhang Fang gave her a white jade hairpin with silver hibiscus flowers, she embroidered a silver hibiscus flower handkerchief as a return gift and gave it to Zhang Fang.
“This handkerchief…” This handkerchief was given to her by Li Afu when she accidentally got sand in her eyes by the Spring Morning River and shed tears while rubbing them.
"Wei'er, why don't you come out to greet your father?!" Bai Kang's hearty laughter interrupted Bai Wei's thoughts.
She suddenly stood up, rushed into the courtyard, and stood beside Li Afu, who was standing there. She stared at him intently for a long time without saying a word.
"Madam, what's wrong?"
Seeing Bai Wei's red eyes and her gaze drifting into the room, Li Afu became suspicious. Bai's mother would never allow her daughter, Bai Wei, to suffer; and that bastard Li Zan had been dealt with in the chaos.
Who else could make Bai Wei cry like this?
Li Huai'an? No, no.
Looking at Bai Wei, who was silently shedding tears, Li Afu subconsciously reached for a handkerchief to help her wipe her tears. He reached into his pocket, but the handkerchief was gone. He reached again, but it was still gone.
Bai Wei slowly extended her hand from behind her back, and in her palm was a handkerchief that she had clenched so tightly it was in a crumpled mess.
"Is this what you're looking for?" Bai Wei asked, her voice choked with emotion, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Li Afu couldn't help but reach out, wanting to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes. But his hand froze in mid-air, eventually landing on Bai Wei's head, picking off a rose petal that had somehow fallen onto her hair.
"I can wash this handkerchief myself. Please return it to me, madam," he pleaded humbly.
Bai Wei looked at Li Afu, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and then handed him the handkerchief.
"I'm sorry, I lost my composure just now." Bai Wei's voice was a little hoarse, and she forced a smile. "Take this handkerchief back."
Li Afu took the handkerchief and looked at Bai Wei's swollen eyes, a feeling of inexplicable pity welling up in his heart. He said softly, "Madam, if you have anything on your mind, please tell me. Perhaps I can help."
Bai Wei shook her head, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes. She finally said tentatively, "Afu, Mother just told me she wants me to find a man who cares for me and is considerate. Do you think I should listen to Mother?"
Upon hearing this, Li Afu's heart tightened, and the handkerchief in his hand felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
He looked up at Bai Wei, whose once-familiar eyes were filled with confusion and uncertainty, yet also with a vulnerability and expectation he had never seen before.
He wanted to say something, but his throat felt like it was blocked, and he couldn't make a sound.
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