Chapter 333 Gloom
The sound of horses' hooves from the British Duke's mansion was exceptionally clear in the snowy night.
Zhou Congxian remained silent, letting his horse gallop across the snow-covered streets.
The wind and snow were like knives, stinging my face.
But this pain was nothing compared to even a fraction of what he felt in his heart.
The image of Shi Lan prostrating herself in front of the mansion gate, amidst the pointing and whispering of the crowd, kept replaying in his mind.
Her spine, though so slender, was also so resilient.
She should have been a precious jewel, but for him, she was repeatedly crushed into the dust.
Zhou Congxian's knuckles turned white from the force of his grip on the reins, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged.
The surging anger and guilt in his chest almost tore him apart.
He urged his horse to go even faster.
He couldn't wait to see her.
He wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her that he had arrived.
I will never let her face all of this alone again.
The vermilion gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion stood tall in the wind and snow, with two large red lanterns hanging in front of it, emitting a warm and reassuring light.
Like the only warmth in the darkness.
Guo Fan was already waiting at the door. When he saw him arrive, he quickly stepped forward and took the reins.
"Son-in-law."
Zhou Congxian dismounted, tossed the reins to him, and strode inside.
Where is Miss?
"Miss is waiting for you in the warm room and hasn't slept."
Zhou Congxian quickened his pace.
Pushing open the door to the warm pavilion, a cozy atmosphere mixed with a faint fragrance of plum blossoms wafted towards me.
Meng Shilan was sitting on the couch, holding a book in her hands. In the candlelight, her profile was as beautiful as a painting.
Hearing the noise, she looked up.
Their eyes met.
In her eyes, there was no grievance, no resentment, only a calm lake reflecting his travel-worn figure.
"You're back?"
She spoke softly, her voice carrying a barely perceptible hoarseness.
Zhou Congxian felt as if his heart was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
He stepped forward and hugged her tightly, very tightly.
He still carried a chilling aura, yet this embrace was made with all his might, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.
Meng Shilan's body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed.
She didn't say anything, but simply reached out and gently patted his broad back.
It was like comforting a wounded wild beast.
"sorry."
Zhou Congxian's voice came from her neck, muffled and terribly hoarse.
"Shi Lan, I'm sorry."
He only knows these three words.
Because no amount of flowery language can make up for the humiliation she has suffered today.
Meng Shilan shook her head.
"It's not your fault."
She said softly, "That's your grandmother."
The more sensible she was, the more Zhou Congxian's heart ached.
"I……"
"Stop talking."
Meng Shilan interrupted him, raised her head, and reached out to touch his cheeks, which were frozen cold by the wind and snow.
"Shuang'er has prepared ginger tea. Have a bowl to warm yourself up and get some rest."
Her fingertips were warm, and her eyes were clear, without a trace of gloom.
It's as if she wasn't the one being humiliated in front of the Duke of England's mansion today.
Zhou Congxian stared at her, his Adam's apple bobbing.
He knew she wasn't indifferent.
She simply licked all her wounds clean in silence by herself, not wanting him to see them or to put him in a difficult position.
He leaned down and gently kissed her lips.
This kiss was devoid of any lust, filled only with endless tenderness and appreciation.
From then on.
Every day, Zhou Congxian would return to the Duke of Ying's mansion to fulfill his filial duty to his mother, Madam Zhou.
After nightfall, he rode back to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to be with his wife and children.
The two prefectures are separated by half of the capital city.
Rain or shine.
...
In the blink of an eye, it's already the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, and New Year's Eve is just around the corner.
The streets and alleys of Beijing are already adorned with festive red lanterns, and the atmosphere of the Lunar New Year is growing stronger.
Inside the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, lanterns and decorations were everywhere, and the servants' faces were filled with joy.
After dinner that evening, Meng Shilan dismissed the servants and personally brewed a cup of hot tea for Zhou Congxian.
The rising steam from the tea blurred her features.
Tomorrow is New Year's Eve.
She spoke softly.
Zhou Congxian took her hand and kissed it. "Yes, I won't go anywhere tomorrow. I'll stay home with you and the children."
Meng Shilan withdrew her hand.
“Congxian,” she looked at him earnestly, “go back to the Duke of Ying’s mansion tomorrow.”
Zhou Congxian, "What did you say?"
"The old lady is still ill."
"Meng Shilan's voice was calm, "During the Spring Festival, a time for family reunion, you, as a grandson, should be there to show your filial piety."
"I don't want you to be branded as an unfilial son."
"Shi Lan..."
He pulled her into his arms with a tenderness, saying, "When you're like this, it makes me feel useless."
He couldn't even protect his own woman and children.
"No." Meng Shilan leaned against his warm chest and whispered, "You are my heaven."
"Even if the sky falls, you'll be there to hold it up."
"So, leave these little things to me, okay?"
"Go back and keep the old lady company."
...
New Year's Eve.
British Duchy.
Compared to the hustle and bustle of the capital, this place seemed unusually quiet.
Although lanterns and Spring Festival couplets were hung in the mansion, there was no festive atmosphere whatsoever.
The air was filled with a lingering, strong smell of traditional Chinese medicine.
As Zhou Congxian stepped into the mansion, he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight up to his heart.
The huge mansion was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
The servants walked on tiptoe, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Zhao came out to greet him. When she saw him, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes, but it quickly faded.
"Xian'er, you're back."
"Mother."
Zhou Congxian nodded.
The mother and son looked at each other in silence.
During the New Year's Eve dinner, it was just the two of them. Facing a table full of carefully prepared dishes, they couldn't eat a thing.
"Grandmother...how are you today?"
It was Zhou Congxian who spoke first.
Zhao sighed, "It's still the same. He's drinking the medicine, but he doesn't seem to have any energy."
"I'll go check on her."
Zhou Congxian put down his chopsticks.
The courtyard of Old Madam Zhou was even more desolate.
When Gao's mother saw Zhou Congxian, she was so frightened that she trembled and immediately knelt down to pay her respects.
Zhou Congxian didn't even glance at her, and went straight in through the door.
Inside, the smell of incense and medicine mingled together, creating a somewhat pungent odor.
Madam Zhou lay on the bed with her eyes closed. In just one month, she seemed to have aged ten years.
Hearing the noise, she slowly opened her eyes.
When she saw that it was Zhou Congxian, a glimmer of light appeared in her cloudy eyes.
"Xian'er...you've come..."
Her voice was dry and weak.
"grandmother."
Zhou Congxian sat down by the bed, his voice revealing no emotion.
Old Madam Zhou struggled to sit up, but he held her down.
"Grandma, lie down."
"well……"
Old Mrs. Zhou gazed greedily at her grandson, and murky tears slid down her cheeks.
"Grandma knew that you... still care about Grandma..."
"Um...she didn't stop you?"
Zhou Congxian: "Shi Lan asked me to come back."
Madam Zhou's expression froze on her face.
Is it her?
Would she really be that kind?
Zhou Congxian didn't want to continue this topic.
"Grandmother, please rest and recover."
He stood up and said, "Grandson takes his leave."
"Xian'er!"
Old Madam Zhou hurriedly called out to him, "Tonight... please stay in the manor and don't leave, okay?"
There was a hint of pleading in her voice.
Zhou Congxian stopped in his tracks.
He turned around and looked at the frail old man on the bed.
In the end, I softened.
"……good."
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