Chapter 123 The Missing Piece
I started to calm down and think about how to pave the way for my escape.
Unexpectedly, someone came to visit at this time, saying that they wanted to see Lady Huan.
I know very few people in this era, so who would come looking for me?
The maid brought in a woman dressed in plain clothes, who turned out to be Mingyue!
"Thank you for your kindness, Madam Pei. I have come here to bid you farewell," Mingyue said with a smile. Without heavy makeup, although her face showed some signs of age, she still looked elegant.
I smiled and gestured for her to sit down. "Are you planning to go back to Danyang to find Rouge?"
“Yes, I have thought about what Madam Pei said carefully. Rather than dying a miserable death in a foreign land, it is better to return to Danyang.” Mingyue smiled frankly. “I just never expected that you would be the Prime Minister’s wife.”
I grinned, then suddenly a thought struck me. "When are you planning to go back?"
"In five or six days, I need to prepare and organize some things."
"Yes, I'm also planning to go to Danyang. It'll be good to travel with you, and we can look out for each other on the way," I said with a smile.
"What?" Mingyue exclaimed in surprise, "It's already unbelievable that Madam Pei bought Chunfeng Tower, but... you are the Prime Minister's wife, how could you..."
"I mainly run the Chunfeng Deyilou restaurant, and I also work part-time as the Prime Minister's wife." I grinned.
"Part-time job?" Mingyue looked puzzled.
I laughed even harder. If Cao knew I was "moonlighting" as the Prime Minister's wife, he would definitely kill me...
I gave some money to Mingyue to prepare the necessary items such as a carriage, and then I waited quietly for good news at the Prime Minister's residence.
Hearing that Guo Jia was still ill and did not accompany the army on this expedition, Tuanzi had a perfect opportunity.
Hua Yingxiong was a regular at Tongmengge, and he was extremely meticulous in treating my health. I often teased him for making a mountain out of a molehill, but he ignored me as if it were nothing.
"Hua Yingxiong, tell me... do I have some incurable disease?" One day, after he forced me to drink medicine, I grabbed him, my face contorted with grief, and pleaded, "Tell me, tell me... what disease do I have?"
Hua Yingxiong rolled his eyes at me and said, "You're crazy."
I kicked him and yelled, "You're the one who's crazy!"
I secretly rejoiced that I could escape this sea of suffering after leaving the mansion and no longer be tormented by Hua Yingxiong. After being soaked in his medicinal soup for days, I now had an adverse reaction whenever I saw Hua Yingxiong. This is what is called psychological fear.
It is said that it is difficult for a man to pursue a woman, but easy for a woman to pursue a man. With Tuanzi's unremitting efforts, Guo Jia seems to have gradually gotten used to Tuanzi's presence.
Knowing that I would be leaving the manor in a few days and I didn't know if I would ever see him again, I entrusted Baozi to a reliable maid and went out to see Guo Jia.
Hua Yingxiong once took me to Guo Jia's residence. I rented a carriage and followed my memory to find it. The road became increasingly secluded; truly, it was a place where houses were nestled deep in the clouds.
The carriage creaked to a stop, and I jumped off. I stood in front of Guo Jia's house. Because it had snowed the night before, the snow on the eaves had not yet melted. The house was covered in a blanket of silver, which was exceptionally crystal clear and made it look even more quiet and elegant.
A fragrant aroma wafted from the room. The door was ajar, and I curiously pushed it open and went inside.
In the yard, Xiao Mao was tied up in its usual spot, grazing nonchalantly. Its fur was covered in stubble, indicating that Guo Jia hadn't shaved it in a long time...
Upon entering the room, Guo Jia was not on the couch. Where could he have gone at this hour?
Following the aroma, I walked into a small room. The sunlit room seemed to be a kitchen, and Guo Jia, dressed in a blue robe, was busy working with his back to the door across the hall.
He usually seems detached from worldly affairs, but it's rare to see him so down-to-earth, full of human warmth, no longer so ethereal.
With a smile on my face, I crossed my arms and leaned against the door, watching him cook.
After busying himself for a while, he turned around carrying a plate, saw me, and asked in surprise, "Pei'er?"
I burst out laughing.
"What's wrong?" Guo Jia asked, smiling at me.
I shook my head, walked over, and casually wiped my hand with ash from the stove. "Look, you have dirt on your face!"
"What about me?" Guo Jia raised his sleeve and wiped his face.
“Here, here…and here…” I raised my hand and wiped the soot off his face with my hands, which were covered in soot.
Guo Jia was completely unaware, and obediently lowered his head, letting me paint on his face.
The smile in my eyes grew wider and wider.
"Is it fun?" He looked at me with a smile in his eyes, which seemed to see right through me, and suddenly asked.
"Huh?" I processed what he said and chuckled to myself. So he knew... he just didn't call me out on it.
Guo Jia didn't care at all about the black stains on his face. He picked up the plate and said, "You're in luck. Help me bring the food over."
I obediently picked up the plate from the stove and followed behind him.
Back in his room, he set the dishes on the table, warmed a pot of wine, and then pulled me to sit down.
"Where's Tuanzi?" I looked around but didn't see Tuanzi.
"Isn't she your maid? Why are you asking me for her?" Guo Jia laughed and took a sip of wine.
I raised my eyebrows. Tuanzi had asked me for leave to come and keep Guo Jia company. Why didn't she come?
Without saying much, I also took a sip of the wine. A warm sensation spread through my throat and down to my stomach, which felt very comforting.
After taking another bite, I stared at Guo Jia with a look of curiosity. "Wow, Immortal, your cooking is quite good."
Guo Jia laughed.
Seeing his face covered in soot, his once handsome features now marred with gray, I couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Guo Jia shook his head, covered his mouth with his sleeve, coughed a few times, and then let me laugh, his eyes showing a faint indulgence.
I went over and patted his back. "Why are you still coughing? Did you not drink the medicine Hua Yingxiong gave you?"
Guo Jia's gaze unconsciously drifted towards the corner of the wall.
I walked over suspiciously, opened the container, and saw a whole pile of medicinal herbs...
"A fortune teller..." I gritted my teeth.
The fortune teller laughed and shrank back. "Don't glare at me, it's very bitter."
I took the medicine directly, found the medicine pot, and took it to the kitchen to boil it.
"If you're afraid of being poisoned by me, come and get the medicine yourself," I said through gritted teeth, glancing at Guo Jia who was following behind me.
Guo Jia's eyes flickered slightly, and he stepped forward to grab an appropriate amount of medicinal herbs and put them into the medicine pot.
Watching him wash his face, I sat beside him, keeping an eye on the heat of the boiling medicine. Soon, the strong aroma of the medicine filled the air.
Guo Jia washed his face and sat down next to me.
Quietly, sunlight streams into the kitchen from the window, making the kitchen always feel exceptionally warm.
“Actually, taking the medicine will have the same effect,” Guo Jia said softly, looking at me.
I rolled my eyes at him. Even though I knew the truth, I still felt I should do something, do my best, and leave the rest to fate...
Looking at the calm man in front of me, I felt a tearing pain in my heart.
He was so calm, without sorrow, desolation, or grief. He simply waited quietly for the illness to invade his body, and then calmly faced the end of his life.
The woman who once left a mark on his heart has now vanished like smoke.
He didn't even have any memories...
Was forgetting that woman a blessing or a curse for him?
If I am fortunate, seeing his calm expression at this moment, why does my heart feel so bitter?
If it were misfortune, how could he have such peace today...?
"Pei'er, what are you thinking about?" Guo Jia's voice startled me.
I snapped out of my daze and forced a smile. "How about Tuanzi? Why don't you marry her?"
Guo Jia frowned slightly and stared at me for a long time. Just when I was getting a little creeped out by his gaze, he finally looked away.
"I don't know why, but I always feel like something is missing in my heart." Guo Jia looked out the window, where the snow was gradually melting.
I was stunned.
“Sometimes I feel like I might have forgotten something very important… but,” Guo Jia smiled and coughed lightly, “but… I just can’t remember it…”
"Is that thing... really that important?" I hesitated for a moment before asking.
“Yeah, I feel it’s very important. There’s an empty space in my heart, like I even forget to eat…” Guo Jia laughed, “...so I get hungry so easily…”
But I couldn't laugh.
"Take your medicine properly from now on," I said, changing the subject.
"Um?"
"Or you can ask Tuanzi to cook it."
"You...are you going to run away again?" Guo Jia turned his head to look at me.
My lips twitched slightly. "Again..."
"Brother Mengde will search high and low again," Guo Jia chuckled.
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