Chapter 44 Leaving "I'm going to Qingzhou."
Perhaps because she had something on her mind, Jiang Zhiyao slept very restlessly.
Just as dawn was breaking, she woke up again, looking at Yan Zhenxi who was still fast asleep beside her, her face showing reluctance.
She propped herself up slightly and traced Yan Zhenxi's image with her fingertips, her movements careful and meticulous, as if she wanted to deeply engrave him into her mind.
After thinking for a while, Jiang Zhiyao leaned down and pressed her soft lips together. After a moment, they separated, and she lay back down and drifted off to sleep.
As expected, Yan Zhenxi was no longer at the manor when he woke up.
After having breakfast, Jiang Zhiyao began preparing to leave.
She will leave through a small wooden door at the back of the kitchen, which is usually unattended; she just needs to get the key beforehand.
She wanted to leave alone. For some reason, the thought of leaving was so strong that the night did not make Jiang Zhiyao hesitate; instead, it made her even more determined.
Actually, there's nothing you absolutely have to take with you.
Jiang Zhiyao tidied herself up casually, then picked up her pen and sat down at her desk.
She first carefully wrote the divorce agreement that she had been pondering for a long time last night. Jiang Zhiyao wrote for a long time, and every word was written with utmost care. After finishing, looking at the ink that was not completely dry, Jiang Zhiyao's eyes reddened and her heart ached.
She shook her head, suppressing her thoughts of Yan Zhenxi, put away the divorce papers, and then picked up her pen again, thinking of writing a letter to Sister Ji and Mingzhu.
"Miss, lunch is ready." Before Jiang Zhiyao could even finish writing, Nanzhi's voice came from outside.
"Never mind," Jiang Zhiyao put down her pen. "Anyway, I'll still keep in touch with them after I leave the manor. I can write letters after I leave."
Jiang Zhiyao planned to leave the mansion in the afternoon. After lunch, she called Nanzhi into her room alone.
Aside from everything else, what she couldn't bear to part with was Nanzhi.
Jiang Zhiyao told Nanzhi that she was leaving.
"Why? Miss..." Nan Zhi was very surprised and puzzled.
But before Jiang Zhiyao could say anything, Nanzhi had already come to her senses: "I will support whatever Miss does."
As someone close to Jiang Zhiyao, Nanzhi naturally noticed Jiang Zhiyao's recent frequent bouts of low spirits.
"Miss," Nan Zhi didn't say anything, but spoke softly, "May I come with you?"
Jiang Zhiyao did not answer, but simply handed the things she had prepared to Nanzhi.
It's a contract of indenture for Nanzhi, and several shop contracts.
Jiang Zhiyao had already decided to let Nanzhi leave; how could she possibly keep her by her side and trap her for the rest of her life?
"Miss!" Nan Zhi exclaimed in alarm upon seeing this, "Don't you want Nan Zhi anymore?"
"How could that be?" Jiang Zhiyao quickly patted Nanzhi's head to comfort her. "Actually, I should have given it to you a long time ago, but I was a little greedy and gave it to you a little late."
"I had the indenture cancelled at the government office some time ago. I was planning to tell you about it on your birthday in a month."
"From now on, Nanzhi will no longer be anyone's maid. She can buy her own little courtyard and do things for herself."
"I don't want to leave Miss," Nan Zhi said, her voice choked with emotion.
Jiang Zhiyao laughed: "What nonsense are you talking about? It's not like we'll never see each other again."
"Namzhi, you can choose a place you like. Remember to let me know when you come, I want to come visit you again."
Nan Zhi knew she had no right to interfere with Jiang Zhiyao's decision. She reluctantly accepted the fact that she had to leave her mistress, and clutching the things in her hands, she asked, "Where is Miss going?"
"I won't tell you yet," Jiang Zhiyao said lightly. "I'll tell you after you've made your choice."
“Then I choose the capital,” Nan Zhi said without hesitation. “I won’t leave.”
Nan Zhi spent most of her time here, and it was here that she met Jiang Zhiyao. For her, the capital city was the most special place in her life.
Moreover, if the young lady wants to return to the capital, she will always wait for her there.
“Okay.” Jiang Zhiyao certainly wouldn’t interfere with Nanzhi’s choice, and then told her, “I’m going to Qingzhou.”
Nanzhi knew that was where the young lady had lived when she was a child.
"Alright, alright." Jiang Zhiyao felt a pang of sadness seeing Nan Zhi's red eyes. "I'm leaving now."
“I will definitely come back to find you then.” After saying that, Jiang Zhiyao picked up the handkerchief she had embroidered earlier and gently covered Nanzhi’s eyes: “Okay, don’t cry.”
Nan Zhi took it, and after wiping away her tears and regaining her vision, Jiang Zhiyao was no longer in the room.
She stood blankly by the window, sunlight streaming in, and a few magpies embroidered on her handkerchief were perched on a plum blossom branch that was growing southward.
-
Yan Zhenxi returned to the manor ahead of schedule today. He no longer wore his eye veil, and the usually composed man seemed somewhat anxious and uneasy.
Upon learning that Jiang Zhiyao was in the study, Yan Zhenxi quickly walked over, pushed open the door, and called out, "Ayao."
There was no gentle response as usual; the study was silent and empty.
Is it in the room? Yan Zhenxi didn't look closely at the study, and then went to the room, taking the newly sewn rag doll with her.
There was no one in the dormitory.
"Did you go out for fun?" Yan Zhenxi withdrew again, frowning as he returned to his study.
For some reason, I felt uneasy, and this unease finally reached its peak when I saw the things on the desk.
...His eyes are actually damaged, right?
The rag doll in his hand was gripped tightly, his fingertips turning white. Noticing this, Yan Zhenxi immediately let go and quickly smoothed out the wrinkles. He still wanted to give it to A Yao.
Yan Zhenxi felt a moment of disorientation, experiencing a dizzying sensation for the first time.
He propped himself up on the table, sat down in the chair in front of the desk, and stared at the things on the table.
The words "divorce agreement" were incredibly jarring; Yan Zhenxi didn't even want to pick them up.
Only a few seconds passed, but Yan Zhenxi felt an immense long time. Finally, he spoke in a hoarse voice: "...Secret Guard."
"My lord." As soon as the words were spoken, a guard appeared in the study.
"Send all the guards to find Madam." Yan Zhenxi calmed down. "After they find her, follow her and protect her safety. Report her whereabouts every hour, no, every half hour."
"Yes." The guard replied, glancing at Yan Zhenxi before quickly lowering his head. He was secretly surprised, as this was the first time he had seen the lord so subdued and undisguised in his emotions.
"Also, the guards who remained at the manor today, go and receive your punishment." After saying this, Yan Zhenxi's throat tightened, and he felt as if the air had been taken away from him.
"Yes." The guard bowed and withdrew.
It's alright. Yan Zhenxi comforted himself. It's only been less than a day, so A Yao definitely hasn't left the capital yet. Even if she has, he can find her.
However, as Yan Zhenxi looked at the divorce papers on the table, his fingertips trembled slightly, as if his lungs were blocked, his tongue tasted bitter, and a silent sense of suffocation enveloped him.
He didn't understand why Ayao wanted to leave.
Did he do something wrong during this time to make her leave without saying a word?
Yu Guangzhong saw the rag doll that Yan Zhenxi had placed aside. Yan Zhenxi gave a bitter smile, realizing that he didn't even have the chance to give it away and have it accepted.
Yan Zhenxi sat on the chair for a long time, the twilight deepening outside the window. He picked up the divorce papers that had been sitting on the table for a long time.
After a long time, Yan Zhenxi found that he still couldn't calm down, and his fingers trembled slightly as he opened the divorce letter.
Yan Zhenxi read through it word by word. It was full of extremely polite and formal statements. After reading for a while, he couldn't help but laugh at himself. The laughter sounded particularly lonely in the dim and empty study.
They also said, "Let's part ways amicably and each find our own happiness."
Did Ayao think that after leaving her, she might still be happy?
There must be some misunderstanding, Yan Zhenxi thought.
Ah Yao loves him so much, how could she possibly leave? Maybe she'll come back on her own tomorrow.
After putting down the divorce papers, Yan Zhenxi noticed the still-healing needle marks on his fingertips.
Yan Zhenxi suddenly felt a wave of sadness wash over him, an unprecedented emotion.
When Ayao comes back, I'm going to give her a good thrashing. How can she make such a casual decision about divorce?
So sudden and unexpected, it didn't even leave him a chance to make amends.
How annoying! Yan Zhenxi felt a tightness in her chest and blinked her slightly blurry eyes.
Yan Zhenxi returned to her dormitory and sat on the bed that still held Jiang Zhiyao's scent, staring at the corner of the bed, which seemed empty compared to usual, for a while.
He hates Ayao.
They took all the dolls with them, but left the other things he had given them at the mansion.
Yan Zhenxi placed the rag doll in the same spot as the old rag doll.
Jiang Zhiyao didn't take anything with her. Her usual cushion, favorite recliner, personal teacup, and jewelry on her dressing table were all still there, making it seem as if the room's owner was only leaving temporarily and would be back soon.
"It's really annoying," Yan Zhenxi thought to herself.
He just left without saying a word. When Ayao comes back, he'll definitely be angry for days.
Yan Zhenxi thought that he would not forgive A Yao so easily.
At night, Yan Zhenxi lay alone in bed, using the pillow that Jiang Zhiyao usually used, staring at the small window.
How could she just leave him alone like that?
He hasn't even shown her the doll yet; he's been working on it for a long time.
Yan Zhenxi had never felt time pass so slowly. A long time had gone by, and his eyes were getting dry.
"My lord." The guard bowed and approached Yan Zhenxi, saying, "We've found the madam."
"It's late at night. The lady has checked into an inn not far from the city gate of the capital. She will be leaving the capital tomorrow."
Since Yan Zhenxi hadn't spoken yet, the guard couldn't help but raise his eyes slightly. It was late at night, and there were no lights in the room, only a sparse moonlight shining in. Yan Zhenxi's usually handsome face was covered with coldness, his lips were pale, and he looked somewhat gloomy.
The guard immediately lowered his eyes, not daring to look at him again.
After a long pause, Yan Zhenxi finally spoke, his tone flat: "I understand."
"Take me there."
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The author writes: "Let us part ways amicably and each find our own happiness." This phrase originates from a "divorce agreement" unearthed in Dunhuang. The original text reads: "The reason we become husband and wife is because of a karmic connection formed in three lifetimes ago, which led to our union in this life. If our connection is not harmonious, we are like enemies, hence our separation... Since our hearts are no longer aligned, and we cannot be of one mind, let us quickly inform our relatives and each return to our own path. May my wife, after our separation, once again adorn her hair and paint her eyebrows beautifully, displaying her graceful figure, and choose a high-ranking official as her husband. Let us resolve our grievances and release our hatred. Let us part ways amicably and each find our own happiness." (Baidu Encyclopedia)
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