Chapter 91 Departure
The fifth day of the eighth lunar month is auspicious for opening a business, breaking ground, and getting married.
The wedding procession had already assembled at the entrance of the Marquis's mansion, a group of over a hundred people stretching from the mansion's gate to the end of the alley. The sounds of gongs, drums, and suonas filled the air, and neighbors all came out to watch the spectacle, completely blocking the road.
Mantou, dressed in a bright red auspicious robe, stood in the crowd, glancing at the time and then at the door, his whole demeanor anxious and restless.
Although the Shen family has chosen the ancestral home in Bai County, which is not far from Yongzhou City, as the wedding ceremony location, if this is delayed any longer, it may cause them to miss the auspicious time for the wedding ceremony.
"Mantou, where is your master? If we don't leave soon, it might be too late," Madam Liu asked.
"This..." Mantou was also confused about what his young master was doing. Just now when he came out, the young master was already dressed in his wedding clothes.
“I’ll go take a look,” Mantou said, and was about to go into the house, but Madam Liu stopped him. “Never mind, I’ll go take a look. You stay here and keep an eye on things. Make sure nothing goes wrong.”
Madam Liu arrived at Fu Yunxiu's Ningyu Hall and searched around, but could not find Fu Yunxiu.
She summoned a maid and asked, "Where is the young master? Why isn't he in his room?"
The maid explained, "Just now, when we were helping the young master with his makeup, for some reason, he suddenly said he wanted to go to the Wutong Garden."
Wutong Garden, that's where I'm going to find Aman.
Oh, my ancestors!
Madam Liu rushed to Wutong Garden, but the gate was open and there was no one in the house.
"Yun Xiu, Yun Xiu?"
"Aman, Aman?" Seeing no response, Madam Liu muttered subconsciously, "Strange, is no one home?"
Just as she was about to go to the back room to take a look, her gaze suddenly fell on the ground of the west wing, where it seemed that someone was lying.
She pushed the door open and went in. Sure enough, Fu Yunxiu was lying on the ground, unconscious, with a pool of blood next to him.
Inside the Shen family's old house, Shen Jiao was happily putting on her makeup in her room.
"Which one looks better?" Shen Jiao picked up two different styles of earrings and compared them to her ears.
“This, this matches Miss’s wedding dress very well,” Ku Zhu suggested.
“I think so too.” Shen Jiao nodded and handed the earring to Ku Zhu. “Put it on for me.”
Ku Zhu took the earrings and was about to touch them when the door was suddenly pushed open. Ku He, who was in charge of greeting guests in the front yard, rushed in and tripped and fell right in front of Shen Jiao.
"Miss, something terrible has happened."
"What's wrong? Get up and answer me." Shen Jiao reached out and helped Ku He up.
Kuhe helped her to her feet, and before she was even fully standing, she said hurriedly, "Miss, news has come from Yongzhou that the young master suddenly fell ill and collapsed before the wedding procession set off. The general is currently comforting the guests in the front courtyard. Miss, what should we do?"
"Fainted? How could someone who was perfectly healthy suddenly faint? Did you see a doctor? What did the doctor say?"
"The messenger didn't say," Ku He suddenly said mysteriously, taking two steps closer to Chen Jiao before speaking. "Miss, according to our people, the young master fainted after going to the concubine's courtyard."
"It's that bitch again." Shen Jiao pushed Ku He aside, picked up the things on the table and smashed them on the ground. "Bitch, you can't even leave in peace."
"Miss, Miss, please calm down." Ku Zhu stepped forward to stop Shen Jiao, afraid that she would hurt herself.
At that moment, someone came to report that the old lady wanted the young lady to come over.
Shen Jiao knew that what her mother wanted to tell her was definitely this matter, as well as the news of the wedding postponement.
Shen Jiao didn't want to go.
It was as if the wedding could continue even if she didn't go.
"Miss, you should still go. The old lady is waiting," Ku Zhu advised.
Shen Jiao took a deep breath, finally regaining some of her composure. She called over Ku He and asked, "How is the situation on Tianyi's side?"
"Tianyi wrote that the bitch jumped into the water and they lost her." Originally, Kuhe wanted to tell the young lady this after the wedding.
"A bunch of useless trash." Shen Jiao almost ground her teeth to powder. "Let them keep searching. They must find her no matter what. Remember, don't let her live."
*
Fu Yunxiu had a terrifying dream. In the dream, Aman was gone.
Sighing, she went to Wutong Garden to look for Aman, but couldn't find her anywhere. Everything in the house was as before, except that the bundle Aman had brought with her when she first arrived was gone.
Oh, and Fu Bao too. She entrusted Fu Bao to Tie Dan, asking him to take care of her for two days.
She also told Tiedan that she was going to a very, very far place and would never come back.
"No, Aman. Don't go, don't leave me."
"Aman, Aman."
Inside Ningyu Hall, Madam Liu watched as Fu Yunxiu, his forehead dripping with cold sweat and talking in his sleep, became as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
"Dr. Guo, what's wrong with Yun Xiu? He was perfectly fine, so why did he suddenly start vomiting blood?"
Doctor Guo did not reply for a long time before finally putting away the pulse diagnosis and saying, "It's nothing serious. It's just that he was a little anxious and upset, which caused him to vomit blood. I'll prescribe two doses of medicine. Once he wakes up and drinks them, he'll be fine. The most important thing is to keep his mind and body in good spirits. The young master's health is already poor, and he seems to be quite anxious and depressed lately. If this continues, it might damage his internal organs, and even his master will have a hard time treating him then."
"Yes, we understand. Thank you, Doctor Guo." Madam Liu said this, but she had no idea what to expect.
Now that Aman is missing, Yunxiu's future is probably not bright.
When Fu Yunxiu opened his eyes again, it was already dark.
Everything that happened in his dream clung to him like a leech, leaving him still in a state of shock even after waking up.
Mantou, who was standing guard beside him, was startled when he suddenly sat up.
"Young master, are you feeling better? Is there anything bothering you? I'll go and call Doctor Guo in."
"Mantou," Fu Yunxiu grabbed him before Mantou could get up, "Where's Aman?"
Fu Yunxiu looked at him and said seriously, "I just had a dream that Aman is missing. Can you bring her to see me?"
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he changed his mind and said, "No, I should go see her. I lied to her, she must be angry. I should go see her and apologize to her."
As he was about to get up from the bed, Mantou grabbed him around the waist and stopped him, saying, "Young master, please don't go."
Fu Yunxiu looked down at him, his eyes full of questions. It was the regret of waking from a dream, the self-deception of losing a beloved.
Mantou didn't even dare to look him in the eye. "Aman, Aman is gone."
"No way, no way, you're lying to me." Fu Yunxiu shook off the steamed bun that was holding his hand, not even having time to put on his shoes. "I have to go find her. She must still be waiting for me at Wutong Garden."
"Young master," Mantou stepped forward and blocked the door frame, wailing, "Aman is really gone. You're still sick. Take care of yourself."
"Impossible, impossible," Fu Yunxiu had gone mad after being reminded by Mantou of Aman's departure again and again. "She must still be in Yongzhou City. Go, go find her, mobilize all the soldiers in the city, go find her."
That night, all the people of Yongzhou knew that the heir of the Marquis of Cheng'an had mobilized his troops to search for his runaway wife from house to house.
That night, almost everyone saw the gentle and refined eldest son of the Fu family, with red eyes, almost pleadingly asking passersby if they had seen his wife.
That night, the Cheng'an Marquis's residence was brightly lit.
That night, the city of Yongzhou was in turmoil.
"Young Master, we have not found any trace of Miss Aman." After the last squad of guards came to say that the search had yielded no results, Fu Yunxiu's spirit, which he had been holding on for so long, finally collapsed.
"Young master," Mantou said quickly, supporting him, "Young master, you've been up all night, take a rest!"
“No need, Aman is still waiting for me.” Fu Yunxiu forced himself to stay calm and pushed away the steamed bun. “You and Zhao Hu take a team to Aman’s hometown, Meng County. Perhaps she has gone back to her hometown.”
"And what about you, young master?" Mantou asked.
"I still have some things to take care of," Fu Yunxiu said.
"What, annul the engagement!" Madam Liu was stunned when she heard Fu Yunxiu say those two words. She knew that Aman held a high position in Fu Yunxiu's heart, but it was not enough for him to annul the engagement with the Shen family for her sake.
That was a marriage bestowed by His Majesty!
"Yunxiu, have you thought this through? If you break off the engagement, it will be disobeying the imperial decree, which is a serious crime," said Madam Liu.
“I know,” Fu Yunxiu said, adding that this was a thought he had given much consideration.
His marriage to Shen Jiao was a transaction from the start. He wanted to climb up the social ladder to the Shen family to resolve the crises facing Fu Yunting and the Marquis's mansion, while Shen Jiao wanted to avoid her brother's matchmaking. It was absurd for two people with no feelings for each other to be together, and now this can be seen as setting things right.
Fortunately, His Majesty's decree of marriage was only a written order, so it cannot be considered disobeying the imperial decree. However, he will inevitably suffer a beating when the time comes.
"As for Shen Yan, I will write to him explaining the reasons. I used his sister, so he can do whatever he wants with me." But he is determined to break off the engagement.
Back in Bai County, Shen Yan wasn't surprised to receive Fu Yunxiu's letter and the returned betrothal gift.
From the moment he heard this morning that Fu Yunxiu had caused a scene in Yongzhou City last night while searching for someone, he knew that this was bound to happen.
Shen Yan opened the letter, which detailed his reasons for marrying Shen Jiao and the inner pain and struggle he had endured these past few days. Fu Yunxiu wrote that Shen Jiao was pure and virtuous, and should be married to a man who truly loved her, rather than ruining her reputation by marrying him. He also said that all the betrothal gifts from the Marquis's mansion were compensation for his broken engagement, and he only wished that Shen Jiao would find a good man in the future and grow old together with him.
Shen Yan, being a man himself, naturally knew how sincere and moving Fu Yunxiu's letter was.
To be honest, this marriage was originally a scheme conspired by the siblings, and now that the other party has broken off the engagement, there's really nothing to say.
But... how is he going to explain this to his mother and sister?
Just then, Granny Wang, who was by Madam Shen's side, arrived. "General, Madam wants to see you."
It really is true that what you fear most will happen.
After struggling with her inner conflict, Shen Yan finally decided to take the letter with her.
The Shen family's old house is not large, with two courtyards. Although no one lives there year-round, it has always been cleaned and repaired, so it is very well preserved.
When Shen Yan followed Granny Wang to Madam Shen's room, Madam Shen was talking to Shen Jiao.
For some reason, Shen Jiao burst into tears. Her mother was comforting her, "Don't worry, I'll get your brother to give you an explanation. Stop crying, or you'll look bad."
Hearing his mother's words, Shen Yan felt a headache coming on. Sure enough, the first thing Shen Yan's mother said when she saw him was when Shen Jiao's wedding would be held again.
"It's been a whole day, the Fu family should have some news by now."
“It has arrived,” Shen Yan said, “but… it’s news of the annulment of the engagement.”
"What, annulment of the engagement?"
Hearing this, Shen Jiao also lifted her head from Madam Fu's arms, "Brother, are you saying that Fu Yunxiu wants to break off our engagement?"
“Yes.” Shen Yan said, taking out Fu Yunxiu’s letter.
"Outrageous!" Upon receiving the letter, Madam Shen was furious and slammed her hand on the table. "That brat from the Fu family dares to treat my precious daughter like this!"
"Mother, calm down first." Shen Yan was afraid that she would get sick from being angry, so she quickly stepped forward to help her calm down.
Mother Shen was still furious. "Go and tell him that this marriage was bestowed by His Majesty. If he wants to annul the engagement, he should bring his head to me."
"Mother," Shen Yan couldn't stand it anymore. His mother was using the imperial decree to force him to comply. "I think we should call off this marriage!"
"Brother, what are you saying!" Shen Jiao cried out unwillingly, but was scared back by a sharp look from Shen Yan.
Shen Yan unfolded the letter written by Fu Yunxiu and handed it to Shen's mother. "This marriage was originally something that Jiao'er and I planned. I originally thought that they would develop feelings for each other over time. But now that things have turned out like this, if we use His Majesty's bestowal of marriage to force Fu Yunxiu to comply, just like he wrote in his letter, Jiao'er will not be happy even if she marries him."
"This..." Madam Shen was somewhat troubled. She always went along with Shen Jiao in everything, because she hoped that Shen Jiao would be happy and have a smooth life. If what Shen Yan said was true...
Seeing that her mother was wavering, Shen Jiao quickly said, "Mother, don't listen to my brother's nonsense. Once I'm married, I'll naturally find a way to make her like me."
"Shut up!" Shen Yan shouted angrily. "What do you think love is? Money? You think you can just have it whenever you want? I'd rather you stay single and I support you for the rest of your life than allow you to marry into a noble family and waste your life."
"It's settled then. The engagement with the Marquis's mansion is annulled, and the betrothal gifts can be kept in your own private treasury."
"I don't want to. What right do you have to make decisions for me?" She was going to the Marquis's residence to get to the bottom of things.
Shen Yan saw through her thoughts first and waved his hand to summon the servants, "Take the young lady back to her room and lock her up. No one is allowed to let her out without my permission."
The servants exchanged glances, then looked at Chen Yan, then at Chen's mother. Seeing that she had no objections, they accepted the order, saying, "Yes."
Shen Jiao was being carried away by the servants, but she still wouldn't let it go, "Shen Yan, what right do you have to interfere with me? Mother, Mother, please save me, Mother..."
Perhaps her cries were too sorrowful, for Mother Shen showed a hint of pity, "Yan'er, perhaps..."
“Mother,” Shen Yan knew what she was going to say, “It’s better to suffer a short pain than a long one. Rather than waiting until she’s crying every day in the future, it’s better to suffer for a while now.”
Moreover, he felt that Shen Jiao didn't have much affection for Fu Yunxiu. She just thought he was handsome, had a refined temperament, and was exceptionally talented, and that's all she wanted to do with him.
Just like when she was little, if she thought someone else's kite was pretty, she would definitely snatch it and keep it for herself.
Ultimately, it was just possessiveness at play; it wasn't really a deep emotional connection.
Ultimately, with Shen Yan's approval, the marriage was called off. As for the emperor, Xie Chen had anticipated this situation, so he wasn't surprised. He gave a few mild reprimands, and the matter was considered closed.
When Fu Yunxiu received Shen Yan's letter saying that His Majesty had agreed to annul the engagement, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief. But at the same time, the emptiness in his heart was magnified infinitely, making him feel suffocated.
Those who went to Meng County have returned, but they have not found any trace of Aman there.
Mantou has already informed the local county government that if he sees Aman return, he will definitely notify him.
Ah Man, where have you gone?
As the night deepened and the dew grew heavy, Fu Yunxiu drank heartily from a jar of wine, and before he knew it, he had arrived at the Wutong Garden.
The moonlight was as clear as water, and everything in the Wutong Garden was so familiar, so familiar that Fu Yunxiu felt an unbearable heartache every time he looked at it.
He still remembered when he first came to Wutong Garden, the entire courtyard was in ruins, withered trees and crows, lifeless and devoid of any human presence. It was after Aman came that she said he should get more sun, so she cut down all the charred trees in the courtyard.
She demolished the house, which had collapsed more than halfway, and built a pavilion on it, planting plum trees. She said that when the plum blossoms bloom next year, she will brew plum blossom wine, drink plum blossom tea, and eat plum blossom cakes.
But now, the plum blossoms have not yet bloomed, and the person who planted the trees has vanished without a trace.
Fu Yunxiu sauntered into Aman's room.
The air still carried faint floral scents, indicating that the room's occupant had not been gone long.
Fu Yunxiu lit the candles.
Aman's room was actually very simple, with a bed, a table, a chair, two cabinets for storing things, and a dressing table, that was all. The large items were still there, and as for the smaller items, Fu Yunxiu opened the cabinet where Aman kept her clothes.
Among these clothes were some that Aman had bought herself, and others that he had given to her. Fu Yunxiu didn't know how many clothes Aman had, but he knew that Aman hadn't taken a single one of those clothes that looked extremely expensive.
Opening another cabinet, on the top shelf, the bundle that Aman cherished so much was also gone.
Fu Yunxiu clearly remembered that the bundle contained a red veil that Aman's grandmother had embroidered for her by hand.
He still remembers how beautiful Aman looked when she first took off her veil, her face flushed. She said her grandmother hoped that she could marry someone who truly loved her, and that they would be together forever.
Thinking of this, Fu Yunxiu burst into tears and sobbed uncontrollably.
When exactly did he forget what Aman had always wanted in life, and even after he got married, he still wanted to keep Aman by his side?
He wanted her to be the only wife in his heart, yet he actually dared to try to bind Aman with such an empty and vague statement, causing her to suffer the scorn and contempt of the world.
After closing the cabinet door, Fu Yunxiu opened Aman's dressing case.
Aman doesn't have much jewelry; aside from the few pieces he gave her, she could practically wear it all in one hand.
Now, the bracelet he gave him lies quietly in his dressing case.
He remembered that the shopkeeper had told him the bracelet symbolized good fortune, happiness, and fulfillment. At that time, he had gone to the capital to avenge Aman's injury.
He secretly vowed then and there that he would never let Aman be hurt again in his life. Even his desire for the position of head of the Marquis's mansion and for a title was all for the sake of giving Aman a better life and preventing her from being looked down upon and bullied.
But when exactly did this original intention change?
"Aman, it turns out I've changed. How can I have the face to blame you for leaving me?" Fu Yunxiu covered his face in anguish, the surging regret like sharp thorns, piercing his heart inch by inch. In the vast courtyard, only the man's deep sorrow remained.
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