Chapter 64 She wasn't a servant, she was...
On the afternoon of the fourth day that Aman remained unconscious, Madam Fu came to Wutong Garden.
Accompanied by a large entourage of maids, they made a grand entrance. They claimed to be happy to see Fu Yunxiu, who had been cured of his poison, but their words implied that he shouldn't have acted impulsively for the sake of a mere servant like Aman, leading his men to trespass into the Yunyang Earl's residence.
“Yun Ting is currently in the capital, and the imperial examinations are just around the corner. You have now offended the Earl of Yunyang. If he goes to King Yu to complain, have you considered the consequences?”
If King Yu were to avenge the Earl of Yunyang, at best Fu Yunting would simply be unable to take the imperial examinations, at worst he might be falsely accused and lose his life.
"If you don't think about yourself, you should at least think about your brother."
Even though Fu Yunxiu's heart had long since turned as cold as ice, he still felt a chill run through his body as he listened to Madam Fu's accusations.
Her mother seemed to have only the title of "mother" in name only, nothing more.
*
On the fifth day after Aman fell into a coma, Fu Yunting made a special trip back from the capital.
With the imperial examinations just around the corner, he should be making the most of his time studying at the academy.
"I heard from my second brother that your leg is better, so I came back to see you." Fu Yunting said indignantly, "My mother is really something. She didn't even tell me about such a happy event. If I hadn't run into my second brother, I would still be in the dark."
"Maybe they're worried about affecting your scientific expedition," Fu Yunxiu said.
"That won't do either. My brother's matter is the most important thing in the world." After Fu Yunting finished speaking, he looked at Fu Yunxiu's face, which was even more haggard than before, and his face showed worry.
He had heard about Aman's situation, and seeing his brother's condition now, he figured she must have been seriously injured.
"Aman, is he still not awake?" Fu Yunting asked.
"No." Fu Yunxiu shook his head, a trace of sadness flashing in his eyes.
This is the fifth day already. Old Cheng said that if Aman doesn't wake up in seven days, he might never wake up in his lifetime.
Seeing his brother's dejected appearance, Fu Yunting couldn't bear it and looked away. But then, as if he had thought of something, he took out four or five porcelain bottles from his pocket. "These are the best wound medicines in the capital. And this one is for replenishing vital energy."
Fu Yunxiu looked at the bottles and jars on the table for a long time before saying, "I thank you on behalf of Aman. Let's go, I'll take you to see her."
Fu Yunting was an outsider and it wasn't appropriate for him to enter Aman's boudoir, so Fu Yunxiu let him take a peek through the window.
Seeing Ah Man, who used to be full of energy and had a bright smile, lying there pale and lifeless, Fu Yunting felt a pang of sadness.
He slammed his fist against the wall and cursed, "This damned Yunyang Marquis's Mansion, even if Aman is really at fault, they shouldn't have beaten him up like this."
Fu Yunxiu remained silent, his eyes filled with hatred.
Yesterday, Old Master Cheng sent word that Yao's face had absolutely nothing to do with Aman's flower dew. It was because she was taking fertility-enhancing medicine and had a craving for seafood that Uncle Yunyang brought back from the capital. This caused her internal organs to become imbalanced, leading to the production of toxins. Since these toxins were not eliminated, they eventually manifested on her face as boils.
His Ah Man was utterly innocent.
*
On the sixth day of Aman's coma, people from the Yunyang Earl's Mansion came to apologize, beating drums and gongs. The drummers and gong players, dressed in red auspicious robes, attracted many neighbors to watch.
If you didn't know better, you'd think it was a wedding.
Mantou opened the door, and the person in the lead was the steward of the Yunyang Marquis's Mansion. Behind him were Madam Fu, the clan head, and several clan elders.
The Yunyang Marquis's residence made a grand entrance; four or five boxes were carried in and placed in the courtyard, supposedly as a small token of appreciation for Aman.
In the eyes of the Marquis of Yunyang, Aman was nothing more than a concubine. Even if she was wronged, her death was no big deal. But because she had the backing of the eldest son of the Marquis's mansion and a close relationship with Old Master Cheng, she staged this whole thing for the sake of both sides' reputation.
Fu Yunxiu wanted an explanation, and this is his explanation.
“My husband said he was really sorry for misunderstanding Miss Aman, and these things are gifts for Miss Aman as a small compensation.”
"It's nothing, it's not a big deal, Your Excellency is too kind." The clan chief smiled at the steward of the Yunyang Marquis's mansion, his old face full of wrinkles. Several clan elders also smiled broadly, looking proud of each other.
“Madam Fu, my husband said he is very grateful for your recommendation of Dr. Cheng. Your face has almost fully recovered, and he will definitely pay a visit to express his gratitude another day.”
"It's just a small matter, no need to worry about it." Madam Fu smiled, but her heart was full of disdain. She didn't want a vixen like Yao to come to her East Garden and defile her place.
A group of people chatted happily, the sound of gongs and drums echoing through the sky, and the music was cheerful, completely ignoring the patients who were still unconscious in the courtyard.
Fu Yunxiu tried to hold back, but finally lost control in front of the clan elders who kept calling him a "servant".
That's enough.
He barked sharply, interrupting their conversation, and glared at the steward, saying, "Take your things and get out of Wutong Garden."
"Hey," Butler Yu was indignant at being told to get out in public. "Old Master Fu, what does Young Master Fu mean by this? Does he think the gifts from my Yunyang Marquis's mansion aren't generous enough?"
"Don't mention it. That child has just been suffering from a long-term illness and is a bit possessed. Don't take it to heart," the clan chief said.
"That's good. In that case, I won't bother you any longer. I still need to go back and report to the master." Having shown off enough and expressed his intentions, Butler Yu saw that Fu Yunxiu was on the verge of anger and wanted to get away from the trouble as soon as possible.
"Thank you for making the trip yourself," the clan chief said.
Several clan elders saw the steward off at the door, and the servants and drummers who had come with him also rushed out. The courtyard immediately fell silent, with only a dozen or so pairs of eyes staring intently outside, waiting to see what would happen.
Feeling ashamed, the clan chief gave a wink and signaled for the door to be closed.
This was the first time the clan leader had entered the Wutong Garden in all these years. In earlier years, this place was the pleasure quarters of the Marquis of Cheng'an, filled with gauze curtains and silks, exuding a decadent and dissolute atmosphere. But now, the decadent atmosphere in the courtyard was gone, replaced by a sense of warmth and human warmth.
The clan chief sized up Fu Yunxiu, who was standing under the eaves.
With his upright posture, handsome face, and outstanding temperament, he was like a piece of fine jade, resembling the young Marquis Cheng'an.
Thinking of the suffering he had endured over the years, the clan chief couldn't bring himself to scold him. "Yunxiu, why did you do this? The Earl of Yunyang personally sent someone to apologize. Your actions are slapping him in the face."
Fu Yunxiu thought about how the clan chief had been obsequious to Steward Yu and hadn't given him a good look, and said sarcastically, "What does the clan chief want me to do? Does he expect me to kneel down and kowtow to express my gratitude?"
"Yunxiu," Madam Fu was surprised that he dared to speak to the clan leader like that, and couldn't help but scold him, "How dare you speak to the clan leader like that? In the end, this matter is also Aman's fault. If she hadn't shown her face in public selling that flower dew, how could she have gotten into trouble with the Yunyang Marquis's Mansion?"
"In the end, she's just a servant. The Yunyang Marquis's Mansion is already giving the Marquis's Mansion face by apologizing for this matter. What more do you want?"
“Yes, Yunxiu,” the clan elder chimed in, “The Yunyang Marquis’s Mansion has already given its stance, so let’s just let this matter rest. It wouldn’t be right to make an enemy of the Yunyang Marquis’s Mansion over a mere servant.”
“That’s right. Since your father passed away, the Marquis’s mansion has been declining. It’s really not worth causing trouble for a servant.”
"Enough!" Seeing their words filled with contempt for Aman, Fu Yunxiu could no longer hold back and shouted, "Aman is not a servant."
He said, slowly and deliberately, "She is my wife."
Fu Yunxiu said coldly, "It's laughable that a noble family like yours would be caught in a dilemma because of a weak woman. Since you're unwilling to seek justice for her and want to settle things peacefully, then please leave. As for these things, if you like them, then take them. Steamed buns, see the guests out."
"Yunxiu, what are you planning to do?" Madam Fu was a little worried, afraid that he would cause trouble for the Yunyang Marquis's Mansion and create unnecessary problems. "You must not act rashly."
"Madam Fu, please go back." Fu Yunxiu, unwilling to listen to them any longer, turned and went into the house.
Seeing this, Mantou opened the door wide and said firmly, "Everyone, please come in!"
The elders looked at each other in dismay, while the clan chief was furious. He looked up to the sky and roared, "Unfilial son! Unfilial son! My Fu family is finished! We have produced such an unfilial son!"
After the group left, Mantou found the things in the yard an eyesore and, thinking about the young master's attitude earlier, simply threw them all out.
Several large boxes fell to the ground and shattered, revealing their contents, which were mostly coarse cloth. The only decent items were a few outdated patterned jackets and skirts.
Even the steamed buns were curious, wondering where the Marquis of Yunyang had gotten all this junk from.
However, this also reveals the arrogance of the Yunyang Marquis's mansion and their disdain for Aman.
After throwing the things away, Mantou closed the door and went inside. The neighbors who hadn't left yet, looking at the things on the ground, were unsure whether they should pick them up.
These things are garbage to Mantou, but they are good things to them.
After looking at each other for a long time, reason finally prevailed over shame, and they rushed forward and divided up the fabric on the ground.
Although they are a bit rough, they can be made into clothes that will last the whole family for a while.
Inside the house, Fu Yunxiu wasn't surprised at all when Mantou told him that the box only contained a few bolts of cloth. From the steward's arrogant attitude, he knew that the Yunyang Marquis's mansion didn't take Aman seriously, so the things they sent wouldn't be anything particularly valuable.
Fu Yunxiu didn't care about any of this, and he knew that Aman wouldn't care either; he just felt intense hatred.
I hate that the Yunyang Marquis's Mansion disregards the law and treats human life like dirt.
The Marquis's family, in order to protect themselves, sought to keep the matter quiet.
I hate myself for being weak and incompetent, and for being looked down upon by others.
She hated herself even more for being powerless and unable to seek justice for Aman.
If he weren't sickly...
If he weren't a marginalized figure in the Marquis's household...
If he... is the heir to the marquisate.
For the entire night, Fu Yunxiu stood before Aman's bedside. He was overwhelmed by intense hatred, and the demon that had been dormant in his heart for so long finally broke free of its cage and took over his reason.
He needs to become rich and powerful to protect his lover.
The next day, the sky was overcast.
The wind blew all night, and the yard was full of withered branches and fallen leaves blown in from elsewhere.
After getting up, Mantou swept the yard, went to the kitchen to cook porridge, and then went to Aman's room to see Aman.
Sure enough, Aman was still asleep, and the young master was still sleeping by Aman's bedside.
Mantou picked up the cloak that had slipped to the ground and draped it over Fu Yunxiu. Seeing that he was sleeping soundly, she didn't have the heart to wake him, so she closed the door and went out.
The noise from the door startled the person on the bed. Aman twitched her fingers and slowly opened her eyes.
Where is this?
Aman was a little dazed from sleeping.
She only remembered selling floral dew at a stall when several men came and took her away without saying a word. Then she met the woman they called "Madam," who was about twenty years old, dressed in gorgeous clothes and adorned with jewels, but her face was festering and oozing pus, making her look terrifying.
She said it was her fault, that her flower dew had ruined her face, and that she would teach her a lesson.
She ordered her servants to whip her with salt water, her maids to prick her with needles, and she even wanted to slash her face with a rusty knife, saying she wanted her to experience what it was like to have a rotten face.
Thinking of this, Aman couldn't help but shudder. He reached out to touch his face, only to find that his hand was being held firmly and he couldn't move at all.
Aman turned her head and met Fu Yunxiu's haggard face.
Young master?
Aman slowly withdrew her hand from Fu Yunxiu's. She didn't know how long she had been unconscious, but she knew that the young master must have been worried about her again.
Aman reached out, her fingers slowly tracing Fu Yunxiu's handsome eyebrows and straight nose, finally landing on his lips, which were pale from thirst.
In that situation, she thought she was going to die.
Looking back on her short life, Aman had no major regrets. The only thing that bothered her was that she had never told the young master her feelings in person.
Fortunately, the young master appeared in time and saved her.
Aman still vaguely remembers that, in a daze, the young master came stepping on light and carried her away from that man-eating place.
Running at full speed?
Aman's eyes widened suddenly. When the young master came to rescue her, it seemed he walked in quickly. If she wasn't dreaming or having a dying thought, then the young master's leg…
Aman struggled to get up, wanting to check it himself.
The steamed buns and porridge were cooked and brought into the room. As soon as the door was opened, Aman was seen struggling on the bed. The hand holding the porridge trembled, and with a "bang," the porridge bowl fell to the ground and shattered into pieces. The loud noise finally woke Fu Yunxiu.
Fu Yunxiu was startled and opened his eyes, only to meet Aman's bright and clear almond-shaped eyes, which were staring at him without blinking.
After waiting for several days, the person finally woke up. Fu Yunxiu was overjoyed, and his nose began to sting. He held back the urge to cry and reached out to touch Aman, afraid that he had just had a beautiful dream.
Upon touching the warm touch of Aman's hand, Fu Yunxiu finally confirmed that Aman was truly awake. Overwhelmed with worry and guilt, Fu Yunxiu could no longer hold back and reached out to pull Aman into his arms. "Aman, you're finally awake."
"That's great, that's great." Long arms wrapped around Aman tightly like two iron clamps, the immense force seemingly trying to knead Aman into his body.
Ah Man was struggling to breathe from being strangled, and her wound was throbbing slightly. She instinctively tried to push him away, but suddenly felt a dampness on her neck.
Young master... you're crying?
Realizing this, Aman's hand, which was about to resist, froze in place.
Fu Yunxiu's tears fell like pearls from a broken string, one by one hitting her neck and also hitting her heart.
Aman gave up resisting, turned around and hugged Fu Yunxiu back, gently stroking his back again and again.
It wasn't until Aman responded that Fu Yunxiu finally felt like it was real.
Aman really woke up.
The immense fear and dread that had gripped him for days vanished in an instant, and for a moment, Fu Yunxiu felt as if he were walking on cotton.
The tenderness and care of the person in his arms filled the emptiness in his heart. The satisfaction of regaining what he had lost made him reluctant to let go of Aman's arms.
Aman let him hold her for a long, long time... until she felt her arms and neck getting sore.
"Young Master." Aman shifted uncomfortably, and Fu Yunxiu released her.
"I'm sorry," Fu Yunxiu said.
"It's nothing," Aman shook her head. Looking at his bloodshot eyes and chapped lips, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Six days, a full six days. I almost, I almost thought I was going to lose you." Thinking of this, Fu Yunxiu still felt lingering fear.
"I'm sorry for making you worry about me." Aman reached out and touched his cheek. "You've lost weight."
She looked down at Fu Yunxiu's legs: "Your legs..."
"Alright, you can move around freely now," Fu Yunxiu said.
"That's wonderful." Aman smiled brightly, and Fu Yunxiu reached out and hugged her tightly again. "I'm sorry, I should have told you sooner."
“It’s alright.” Aman lay on his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, and said, “When I was unconscious, I saw you coming in the light. I thought to myself, I can’t die. I haven’t seen you stand up yet.”
"Heh, little liar." Fu Yunxiu chuckled. She was almost unconscious at the time, how could she possibly have seen him?
It was just to prevent him from blaming himself.
"Aman, from now on, I will never let you get hurt again," Fu Yunxiu said.
This was a promise to Aman, and also her own goal.
From now on, whatever others have, his Aman must have too.
The long-suppressed Wutong Garden is once again full of life because of Aman's awakening.
When Aunt Zhu learned that Aman had woken up, she came to see her with a basket of eggs.
"Quickly, don't get out of bed, take good care of yourself." Seeing that Aman was about to come down to greet her, Aunt Zhu hurriedly stopped her.
Aunt Zhu placed the basket on the table and sat down on Aman's bed. "You've finally woken up. You have no idea how much Young Master Fu has been with you while you were unconscious. He's become so haggard. I think if you hadn't woken up, he might have gone with you."
Aman listened quietly without saying a word.
Aunt Zhu held her hand and said with heartache, "You've really suffered these past years. Just when Young Master Fu's leg was finally healed, you suffered such a hardship. What kind of Yunyang Marquis's Mansion is that? They're utterly despicable."
“Auntie.” Aman patted her hand, indicating that she didn’t need to be angry.
Aman had already heard about what the Yunyang Earl's Mansion had done from Mantou.
Although she knew she had suffered an undeserved misfortune, Aman did not harbor much resentment.
Aman already knew that the lives of the poor were meaningless in the eyes of the rich. She was powerless and vulnerable; if she couldn't afford to offend them, couldn't she at least avoid them?
"That's right, there's no need to get angry over these people. You should just take good care of yourself; your aunt is looking forward to your wedding with Young Master Fu!"
"Auntie," Aman said coquettishly, her face turning bright red. How did the conversation suddenly veer off to wedding banquets?
Seeing her like this, Aunt Zhu couldn't help but tease her, "Oh, you're still hiding it from me? Everyone in the whole alley heard it that day. Young Master Fu said you were his wife in front of the Fu family patriarch and his mother!"
"Huh?" Aman was completely confused. How come she had never heard Mantou mention this before?
Seeing her blank expression, Aunt Zhu knew she didn't know. "It's true. Everyone in the whole alley who came to watch the excitement heard it."
No sooner had Aunt Zhu left than Fu Yunxiu brought in the food.
"Aunt Zhu is gone?" Fu Yunxiu asked.
Aman hummed in agreement, her eyes fixed on Fu Yunxiu.
Fu Yunxiu placed the food on the table and stood up, just in time to meet Aman's probing gaze. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"
“Aunt Zhu came by just now and told me something,” Aman said.
"Oh, really?" Fu Yunxiu didn't take it to heart. He picked up the porridge on the table, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to Aman's mouth.
Aman wasn't hungry at the moment. She leaned back, stopping Fu Yunxiu from feeding her, and asked, "Don't you want to know what he said?"
Seeing that she wouldn't finish her meal until she finished speaking, Fu Yunxiu simply placed the bowl on the low table beside him and said helplessly, "Alright, what did she say?"
"She said...that day she heard the young master publicly admit that I am your wife."
Fu Yunxiu: "..."
Fu Yunxiu never expected that Aunt Zhu would bring this up with Aman. He immediately blushed, especially since Aman's gaze followed him closely, making his ears turn red with embarrassment.
Fu Yunxiu raised his hand and placed it on the back of Aman's neck, forcing her to turn her head to look elsewhere. "Don't look."
"Pfft... Hahahaha!" Unexpectedly, her aloof and elegant young master was also in such an embarrassing situation. Aman laughed so hard that she rolled around on the bed, clutching her stomach.
Fu Yunxiu let her laugh, and after a long while, when she had finished laughing, he looked at her seriously.
“Aman,” Fu Yunxiu looked into her eyes, “what I said that day wasn’t just a casual remark, but the result of careful consideration. So, are you willing?”
“I do,” Aman interrupted hastily before he could finish speaking, “I do.”
Whatever it is, I'm willing.
They smiled at each other, their eyes filled only with each other. At that moment, the eyes of their lovers spoke louder than any of the most beautiful words of love.
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