The autumn sun was bleak, casting its slanting rays on the withered flower branches. Wei Shuwan gazed at the courtyard hidden among the flower branches.
Was that person merely resembling our benefactor, or...?
A suspicion was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't believe it. After hesitating for a long time, she finally mustered up the courage to go back to her grandfather's courtyard to verify the matter, but was stopped by the old housekeeper.
“Miss, this is absolutely not allowed! Although the young prince and the marquis are close friends despite their age difference, his status is still special. Even the eldest and second masters wouldn’t dare to disturb him during his visits!”
“But…” Wei Shuwan was about to try again when her mother sent Ziqiao to urge her to get on the carriage quickly.
Seeing the old steward's unwavering gaze, she finally gave up on seeking further verification and followed Ziqiao into the carriage.
For the first half of the journey, her mother leaned against the soft pillows with her eyes closed, resting, and Wei Shuwan didn't disturb her. Her thoughts were all on the times she had spent with her benefactor, his demeanor and actions.
Since her benefactor had never spoken, she assumed he was mute, but she couldn't be sure whether he was unwilling to speak or simply unable to.
He tried to conceal his sharpness, but as Zi Qiao said, there was an undisguised sharpness in his eyes, and no matter how you looked at it, he shouldn't just be a fisherman.
And after encountering the assassins from Prince Jing's mansion, why did he write "When one's breath is about to die, illusions will appear; the underwater treasure chest is utter nonsense" on her palm? Did he care so much about whether there was anything underwater?
...
After thinking about it all the way, Wei Shuwan felt increasingly suspicious about the matter.
The mother woke up in the second half of the journey. After a moment of silence, she took the initiative to ask about the wooden box, as if she had come to a realization along the way. She still wanted to see the things her father had left for her and her brother.
Wei Shuwan immediately put aside the matter of her benefactor and took out the wooden box to open it.
Inside was a letter and a folded book. Wei Shuwan picked up the letter and asked her mother for permission, and her mother gestured for her to read it.
She opened the letter and read it carefully. The first part was mostly her grandfather confessing his mistakes. When she got to the end, Wei Shuwan's voice stopped abruptly.
Sun Lurong looked up at her: "What's wrong?"
Wei Shuwan unconsciously placed her hand to her lips, her lips moving a few times before she continued reading in an unsteady tone: "In this life, your mother's memorial tablet will certainly not be able to enter the Sun family ancestral hall, but I have already made arrangements for my affairs after death. After I breathe my last, they will bury me in Kongliu Valley, so that I can be with your mother for all eternity, never to be separated again. The debts of the past will be repaid over thousands of years..."
Wei Shuwan knew that Kongliu Valley was the place where her maternal grandparents first met, and it was also the place where her maternal grandmother was buried.
"So these were the words my grandfather didn't finish saying before he collapsed..."
Sun Lurong was also shocked. She took the letter and read it herself. After confirming that the handwriting in the letter was indeed her father's, she could no longer stop her tears.
She knew that her father had been bedridden for a long time and that he was in no condition to write this letter. Therefore, he had written the letter long ago and was just waiting for his time to come so that someone would deliver it to her.
Sun Lurong gripped the letter tightly with her curled fingers, pressing it against her heart. She wept silently for a long time before finally letting out two words, a bloodcurdling roar: "Father—"
Wei Shuwan bit her lip, recalling the question that had arisen in her mind when she first thought about it.
Now she is at peace with it. Whether her grandfather's amnesia was real or not is no longer so important. What matters is that her grandfather never forgot her grandmother until his death. He did not fail her during those three years in this world, and now he will accompany her for eternity in the afterlife.
As for the other document in the box, the mother and daughter did not open it again. It was indeed meant for Wei Shuwan's uncle, but it also stated that it should first be given to Duke Sheng, who would then pass it on when the time was right.
Although the request was somewhat strange, Wei Shuwan and her mother respected her maternal grandfather's decision and planned to hand it over to Sheng Gong for safekeeping after returning to the capital.
Since the return journey was not as rushed as the journey there, Sun Lurong allowed everyone to rest at the post stations along the way twice. The carriage finally returned to Shengjing the next day while it was still light.
Upon returning home, Wei Shuwan's first action was to have Ziqiao inquire with the two guards who bought fish from the farm daily. If they had seen their benefactor during her absence, it would prove that he hadn't strayed far from the farm. Conversely, the person she encountered at the Pingyang Marquis's residence was highly likely to be her benefactor.
Zi Qiao returned quickly and shook her head vigorously: "Miss, we haven't seen anyone at the farm for several days."
Wei Shuwan's heart skipped a beat. "What time is it now?"
"It's already past 3 PM."
Wei Shuwan roughly calculated that if she set off from the city now, she could return before the city gates closed if she acted quickly. Therefore, she did not dawdle and immediately ordered someone to prepare a carriage.
Just as the carriage was about to leave, it encountered her mother, who was walking towards the front yard. Seeing that she had just entered the house and was about to go out again, her mother asked in confusion, "Wanwan, where are you going again?"
Without a second thought, Wei Shuwan blurted out, "Sister Shengyun invited me to the teahouse; I can give her that memorial then!"
"Be careful on the road, and don't lose anything!" Sun Lurong carefully instructed from the doorway, watching the carriage disappear into the distance.
Just as Sun Lurong turned to go back, she heard the rumbling of wheels behind her. Turning around, she saw Sheng Yun peeking out from behind the curtain.
Sheng Yun greeted Sun Lurong politely through the window, and Sun Lurong smiled and asked, "Yun'er, are you here to see Wanwan?"
Sheng Yun actually came to see Wei Chengxiu, but how could she say that directly? So she nodded and replied, "Yes, I have something to discuss with Sister Shuwan."
"But didn't you agree to meet at the teahouse?"
"Huh?" Sheng Yun's sweet smile froze.
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