Chapter 54 Argument
The next day, Aman got up very early.
After changing into her best clothes and having a meal, Aman went straight to the jewelry shop to buy a gift for Xiaolingdang. She chose the largest of the exquisitely crafted silver locks, which cost two taels of silver.
I arrived at the inn where Wan Niang was staying with great excitement, only to be told by the waiter that Wan Niang had left early this morning.
"...Gone?" Aman was a little incredulous. They had clearly agreed yesterday to meet at the inn this morning so she could recognize Xiaolingdang as her goddaughter.
Why did they leave without saying a word?
Clutching the packaged silver lock in her hand, Aman felt uneasy, as if she had been deceived.
"When did she leave?" Aman asked.
"She left with her child as soon as the shop opened this morning. She seemed to be in a hurry," the waiter recalled. "But she asked me to tell you that she will never forget the life-saving grace and will repay it with her life if she has the chance in the future."
Aman never expected that Wan Niang's words would come true in the future. Right now, she only cares about why Wan Niang suddenly left.
Judging from the waiter's words, it seemed that she had encountered some trouble.
It's her fault too. Yesterday I was so busy chatting with her that I forgot to ask her where she lived outside the city.
Aman went downstairs in a daze, and accidentally bumped into a guest who had just returned from outside.
The box in her hand fell to the ground with a thud. Aman subconsciously bent down to pick it up, but froze for a moment after seeing the other person's face clearly.
Those eyebrows and eyes look so familiar.
Aman momentarily forgot what to do. He examined it carefully. The more he looked, the more familiar it seemed, but he couldn't quite place where he had seen it before.
Her gaze made the other person feel offended, causing them to frown uncomfortably.
Seeing this, Yan Qing scolded, "You woman, don't you watch where you're going? You bumped into someone and didn't apologize, but why are you staring at them?"
Aman then came to her senses, realizing her lapse in composure, and hurriedly apologized, "Sorry, sorry, I was just distracted and didn't notice. Are you alright?"
“It’s alright,” the man in white waved his hand.
Yan Qing knew that her young master did not want to get entangled any further, so she snorted coldly, "You're lucky this time. In the future, pay more attention to where you're going. Don't just have eyes but not know how to use them."
After saying that, the two went upstairs together.
Aman was in the wrong first, so he didn't say anything about Yan Qing's reprimand, but apologized again to express his remorse.
Back at Wutong Garden, Aman recounted the day's events to Fu Yunxiu and the others.
After hearing this, Mantou looked doubtful. "You've probably met a scammer, haven't you?"
I paid for the consultation and the room, but then the person just disappeared.
“How could that be?” Aman immediately retorted, “She must have run into some trouble to leave without saying goodbye.”
Fu Yunxiu clearly shared the same view as Aman, after all, there are very few mothers in this world who would joke about their own children.
"Perhaps your time hasn't come yet!" Fu Yunxiu comforted him.
Aman nodded.
Now that things have come to this, what else can she say? She can only console herself with this thought.
However, she did figure something out: the reason the man in white looked familiar was because his eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to Xiao Lingdang's.
But the stepmother said that her husband was just an ordinary commoner. Although the man today was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit and had no expensive decorations, his overall demeanor suggested that he came from a wealthy family.
Perhaps they just look alike.
Aman didn't really take this matter to heart; after a few busy days, he forgot about it. As for the silver lock, he could only leave it for now and take it out when he had the chance to use it later.
"In that case, you're almost ready to graduate." After Aman successfully gave another full demonstration, Master Cheng nodded in satisfaction.
From administering acupuncture and fumigating with medicine to adjusting the needle positions and removing the needles, the entire process took three hours, and Aman was able to concentrate fully without making a single mistake.
"Right now, it all depends on what that brat thinks," Old Cheng said, stroking his beard.
Aman's learning of acupuncture is merely a basic preparation; whether it works or not depends on whether Fu Yunxiu is willing to let them give it a try.
This is also what troubles Aman the most, as the young master seems to be very resistant to others mentioning his legs.
Not to mention curing his leg, even when his leg pain flares up during weather changes, he refuses to let a doctor examine him, showing a rather evasive attitude towards medical treatment.
These past two days, Aman has tried to subtly inquire about the young master, but he either remains silent or changes the subject.
"I'll teach you a massage technique first. You can help him loosen up his muscles and bones and try to get a feel for him."
Aman had previously learned some massage from Doctor Guo, so he had a basic understanding of it. As for massaging acupoints to loosen muscles and bones, that was a piece of cake for him.
After dinner, Aman brought hot water for Fu Yunxiu to soak his feet, and casually mentioned that she would massage his legs.
"When I went to help Master Cheng today, I happened to see him massaging someone's legs, saying it could improve blood circulation and strengthen muscles and bones. Would you like to try it, young master?"
Upon hearing this, Fu Yunxiu paused in his actions, but quickly resumed as before, lifting his hands to hold his legs and placing them into the basin. "There's no need. Why bother?"
"Give it a try, at least it'll be more comfortable on rainy days," Aman insisted.
"That's right, young master." Mantou chimed in, but fell silent when he met Fu Yunxiu's cold gaze.
But Aman wasn't afraid of him. She used her ever-effective skill of smoothing things over, saying, "Anyway, there's no harm in it, young master, why don't you give it a try?"
Seeing that he remained silent and kept staring at his legs, Aman reached out and tugged at his sleeve, "Try it, young master, it can't hurt."
“It’s no use, don’t waste your energy.” Fu Yunxiu pulled his sleeve back from Aman’s hand, his attitude very firm. “If you have nothing else to do, go back. I’m going to bed.”
“Young master, you can’t do this,” Aman said anxiously. “This is called refusing to seek medical help because you’re afraid of your illness. It will only delay your recovery. You can’t do this.”
Aman composed herself and patiently advised, "Grandpa Cheng said there's still a chance your leg can heal. Whether it works or not, you have to try, right? Hope is better than no hope."
“I know that deep down you also hate yourself for being this way. If you hate yourself, why not make a change? Why give up on yourself? You’ve already tried so many times, what difference would one more time make?”
Upon hearing this, Fu Yunxiu, who had already decided not to say anything more, finally made a move.
He chuckled, slowly raising his eyes to look at Aman, whose eyes were reddened from his agitated tone. "So what if it is?"
He was responding to Aman's comment about his self-loathing.
"I know my own body. If it's useless, it's useless. Trying is pointless. Since that's the case, I might as well leave it as it is." Anyway, he only has a few months left to live, so why waste his energy?
They torment themselves and others.
“I think you’re just a coward.” Aman cut to the chase. “Everyone says that the eldest son of the Marquis’s family is exceptionally talented and has outstanding literary skills, but they don’t know that the prodigy they speak of is actually a coward who avoids medical treatment and doesn’t even dare to face his own illness.”
"Aman," Mantou interrupted. Aman's words were really too harsh.
"Young Master, please don't..." Mantou wanted to explain for Aman, but Fu Yunxiu clearly didn't want to hear it anymore. "Get out."
"Young Master..."
"I'll tell everyone." Fu Yunxiu raised his hand, and the cups and plates on the couch shattered instantly. The shards narrowly grazed Aman's calf, but luckily she dodged them.
This was the first time Aman had ever seen Fu Yunxiu lose his temper like this.
But she did not regret it.
Some scars can only heal by being ruthless enough to expose them to the light of day.
“Young master, whether it’s me, Mantou, or Grandpa Cheng, we all sincerely hope that you live well, even if it’s just for us.” After saying this, Aman bowed gracefully to him and then left.
Fu Yunxiu's chest heaved violently with anger at Aman. Some things are different when you know them yourself and tell others.
"Young Master." Mantou wanted to help him catch his breath, but Fu Yunxiu didn't want to see anyone right now. "You go out too."
“Young master…” Mantou was worried about leaving him alone.
"Get out." Fu Yunxiu's attitude was firm.
Helpless, the steamed bun had no choice but to come out as well.
In the courtyard, Aman was standing under a tree gazing at the moon.
The plum trees planted in spring are now lush and verdant, with the chirping of cicadas adding a touch of life to the tranquil courtyard.
Mantou stepped forward, stood beside her, and remained silent for a long time.
Aman was silent for a while before asking, "Do you think what I just said was a bit too harsh?"
"I don't know either," Mantou said with a wry smile.
From the young master's perspective, Aman's words just now undoubtedly exposed his long-hidden wounds, laying them bare before their eyes. It's understandable that the young master was angry.
But he also understood that Aman's actions were undoubtedly the best solution for the young master. Only by overcoming his inner fears could the young master be reborn.
But this is too cruel for the young master.
The two stood in the courtyard for a long time until the lights in the east wing were turned off before they went back to their rooms.
The next day, Aman got up and prepared breakfast.
Mantou pushed Fu Yunxiu to come and eat. At the table, only the sound of clinking bowls and chopsticks could be heard, and the atmosphere was eerily silent.
The steamed bun, sandwiched between the two, looked at this one and then at that one, feeling suffocated.
"Young Master, how do you like today's steamed buns?" The mantou placed a steamed bun in Fu Yunxiu's bowl. Fu Yunxiu took it and ate it silently.
“Aman, didn’t you say you encountered a problem in developing rouge? Why don’t you ask the young master? He is very knowledgeable and will surely know the answer.”
Aman didn't answer, but only glanced at Fu Yunxiu. The other man didn't even lift an eyelid.
Aman knew that Fu Yunxiu wanted to express his determination through this cold war.
However, this time, Aman was determined to do it, just like a turtle eating a weight.
She won't compromise because of this.
The contest between the two was about to erupt. Only the steamed bun was caught in the middle, feeling uncomfortable.
Every day, Aman goes to the stall to buy flower dew in the morning, then goes to the clinic to practice acupuncture at noon, and goes home on time.
She did all the things she was supposed to do, but she just wouldn't take the initiative to talk to Fu Yunxiu.
The same applies to Fu Yunxiu.
Every day, he still reads, practices calligraphy, and paints, but he never smiles, nor does he ever say a word to Aman.
After two or three days of this, Mantou was really suffering. Especially at the dinner table, neither of them spoke, and he lost all interest in eating.
One evening after dinner, he approached Aman and said, "Aman, why don't you apologize to the young master first, and then we can think of another way?"
These days, not only he is feeling unwell, but the young master is also not feeling well.
He noticed several times that the young master was staring blankly at a book!
"This stalemate can't go on forever."
“What other options are there?” Aman sighed. She had tried every possible method she could think of these past few days, but none of them would work.
"Let's wait a little longer!"
Inside the east wing, Fu Yunxiu listened to the two whispering outside and felt a little wavering.
These days, Ah Man has been feeling cold, but he himself isn't having an easy time either.
Moreover, Aman's persistence truly moved him.
Especially her statement that she, Mantou, and Old Cheng all hoped he would live.
He once thought there was nothing left in this world worth cherishing, but now Aman tells him that there are still people who care about him and hope he lives.
A person who was all alone suddenly found himself with ties.
Want to give it a try?
What if it fails? Just like the previous times, hope was given, but in the end, only disappointment was received.
Throughout his life, he seemed to be constantly unfavored by fate.
Born with a congenital illness, she was physically weak. She was poisoned and rendered immobile. She endured immense pain and struggled desperately, but ultimately did not live past the age of twenty-five.
It seems that fate has never been on his side.
Let me think about it again. Let me think about it again.
Although the master and servant were in a cold war, they were in tacit agreement on this matter.
We'll have to wait a bit longer.
And during this wait, Yongzhou experienced its heaviest rainstorm yet.
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