Chapter 110 Agreement
Wang Xifeng was relieved to see Yuan Hongqu at the entrance of the study.
"If you don't come back soon, I'm going to send someone to find Jia Lian and search the whole city for you."
"Was that necessary? It was my fault today; I left without giving an explanation. I'm sorry to have troubled you," Yuan Hongqu said apologetically.
“What’s the hardship or not for the two of us? I’m happy to do it!” Wang Xifeng said, raising an eyebrow.
"But, Sister Yuan, I heard them say you were back, but I couldn't find you anywhere. How did you end up here?"
"I prepared a gift for Daiyu and brought her over to see it."
“You wouldn’t have known if you weren’t here today. Our Daiyu has only just moved home, and so many people have come to give her gifts. They all say they are Lin’s elders, and they came to give her housewarming gifts after hearing that she’s returned home. Fortunately, the old lady is here, and she said that we really can’t refuse these gifts. I was just leading people to register them, and I’ve been busy until now,” Wang Xifeng said with a heavy heart.
"Thank you for your hard work. I was hoping you could relax for a day, but you ended up helping manage the household all day. I'll definitely thank you properly tomorrow. It's getting late, you should go to sleep now." Although Wang Xifeng and she were considered family, the fewer people who knew about Lin Ruhai's return to the capital, the better.
If Wang Xifeng finds out, and someone with ulterior motives finds out later, they could add the charge of "failing to report" against her, and she would probably die even faster.
"Sister, something's wrong." Although Wang Xifeng wasn't as shrewd as before, given Yuan Hongqu's behavior and her refusal to let her in, how could she not guess that something was amiss?
"Sister, is there danger inside the house, or is there a notorious thief inside? The men I have with me are strong and can hold out for a while."
Wang Xifeng whispered that Yuan Hongqu's behavior today was so different from usual that she couldn't help but be suspicious.
She grabbed Yuan Hongqu's arm. "Sister, Daiyu is still inside. Has she been kidnapped? Let's hurry and call for help."
Yuan Hongqu chuckled.
"What are you thinking? The capital city, a place of utmost importance, wouldn't have notorious bandits. The Imperial Guards patrol the streets every half hour at night. Have you forgotten?"
Wang Xifeng smiled sheepishly, "My sister isn't here today, and this is my first time visiting the Lin family, so I'm a bit flustered."
"Go and rest, it's alright." Yuan Hongqu gently patted Wang Xifeng's arm.
Wang Xifeng nodded and was about to leave when Daiyu suddenly ran out of the study, threw herself into Yuan Hongqu's arms, and sobbed.
Yuan Hongqu picked her up and carried her into the study. It was so cold outside; she couldn't let Daiyu be sad outside.
Wang Xifeng paused for a moment, then followed her inside.
On the table in the study, only a food box stood out conspicuously; nothing else had changed.
Daiyu was crying so uncontrollably that it was impossible for Wang Xifeng not to suspect that something had happened.
However, Yuan Jie's expression did not change; she simply held Daiyu tightly and patted her back soothingly.
"Sister Yuan, what's wrong with Daiyu? Is she frightened? My maid Luo is skilled at calming children's spirits. Should I have her come and take a look?"
"Second Madam, go and have someone bring over a few braziers. The fire pit in this courtyard hasn't been lit, and it's getting a bit cold. I'll stay here with Daiyu for a while longer."
Wang Xifeng hesitated for a moment. Although the room didn't have underfloor heating, it wasn't cold!
Is Sister Yuan trying to get me out of here?
She wasn't entirely naive; she realized this and said...
“Sister, I’ll have someone bring the sedan chair over too. You can sit for a while and then go back. It’s cold today, and Daiyu is weak. Don’t let her catch a cold right after you get back. The old lady will worry about her granddaughter.”
"Alright, I know what I'm doing. Just have someone bring the heater over, you can go back now."
Wang Xifeng went out and sent someone to fetch a heater.
Yuan Hongqu and Daiyu returned to the inner room of the study.
The study was empty; clearly, while Yuan Hongqu and Wang Xifeng were talking at the door, Lan Cong had already jumped out of the window with Lin Ruhai.
"Granny, Father is gone..." Daiyu choked up, tears streaming down her face, her eyes seemingly submerged in water.
Yuan Hongqu had already foreseen that this would be the outcome when Lin Ruhai left.
Although she had mentally prepared herself beforehand, seeing Daiyu's heartbroken appearance still made Yuan Hongqu feel a pang of pain in her heart, and she also began to hate Lin Ruhai.
What kind of father is he, causing his child so much sadness while he runs away!
Yuan Hongqu gently wiped away Daiyu's tears with a handkerchief and said softly,
"Daiyu, were you happy when you saw Lord Lin today?"
Daiyu nodded sullenly.
"That's enough. This is the gift I'm giving you today, and it's also the reason I disappeared without a trace today."
Daiyu looked up in surprise.
"Granny, you knew Father was coming back all along?"
Yuan Hongqu shook her head.
"How would I know? Lord Lin has official business to attend to and has come to the capital in an urgent and secret manner. This matter cannot be known to others, otherwise it will cause trouble for your father."
Daiyu nodded, seemingly confused.
"I just saw Guard Lan take Father out of the window, and I knew Father couldn't show his face. Otherwise, since this is our own home, Father can come back openly, why hide it like this!" Daiyu was very clever. Just seeing Lan Cong take Lin Ruhai out of the window, she thought of many things, and what she thought of was basically the truth.
"Granny, is my father doing something very dangerous?" Daiyu wiped away her tears, then suddenly became worried again.
“There’s a bit of danger.” Yuan Hongqu didn’t know what the father and daughter had said, but decided to tell Daiyu the truth.
In case Lin Ruhai really did die in office, she had already prepared Daiyu mentally. When the news came, Daiyu might not be so sad.
Daiyu leaned against Yuan Hongqu's chest and said blankly,
“Father said that he cannot take me back to Yangzhou; he wants me to wait for him in the capital.”
"Granny, you must stay with me. You can't leave me like Father did."
She clung tightly to Yuan Hongqu's clothes, demanding that Yuan Hongqu make a promise to her.
"I'll stay with you, I'll never leave you," Yuan Hongqu said earnestly.
"Granny, I only have you left again..." Daiyu thought of her sad memories, her lips trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes again.
"Granny, I like the first half of this gift, but I don't like the second half."
Yuan Hongqu's voice was clear and melodious, and she was very persuasive and encouraging.
Everything has two sides; when you come together, you will eventually part ways. Would you avoid getting together for fear of separation?
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