Gu Fangzi did not struggle, only wept silently, her teary eyes fixed unblinkingly on Shi Fengju until she was pulled out and pushed out of Ningyuan.
"Miss, you’ve heard what the young master said, don’t co here again!" Mrs. Li glanced at her indifferently and turned away to order soone to close the gate.
The garden gate with its red lacquered bronze beast-head knockers was heavily shut, Gu Fangzi’s tear-stained face suddenly twisted with hate; she glared venomously at the beast-head knocker as if it were baring its teeth and claws at her, biting her teeth she said: "Big cousin, it’s too late, it’s useless now! That wretch, she will never co back! She’s gone forever! Big cousin, you will eventually be mine, and the lady of this garden will only be !"
Shi Fengju truly filled with extre regret, if only he hadn’t had so many concerns, if he had been firr earlier and sent Gu Fangzi away, perhaps none of this would have happened! Miss Wan, she was so innocent, he knew very well that she was feeling uneasy, although she never voiced it, how could he not sense it?
She didn’t want to pressure him too much and make it difficult for him, and he thought he could protect her, but what was the result? The result was her suffering wrongful accusations and her life hanging by a thread! And what could he do apart from being uselessly sad and in pain here?
"Wet nurse! Wet nurse!" Shi Fengju suddenly called out loudly.
"Young master, your servant is here!" Mrs. Li hurried in upon hearing him.
Shi Fengju wearily said, "Have soone prepare hot water. I need to bathe, and arrange so food; I’m hungry!"
"Yes, yes!" Mrs. Li quickly acquiesced, her tears uncontrollably started flowing, and she hurriedly wiped them away.
"Wet nurse!" Shi Fengju suddenly called her again and slowly said, "Instruct everyone, keep everything in Ningyuan as it is, go about your usual cleaning, and no one is permitted to touch anything. Also, no one is allowed to enter, including my mother! Say that this is my wish. Wet nurse, can you do this?"
Mrs. Li was montarily stunned then nodded hurriedly, "Rest assured, young master, the head mistress—, all the things here the servants have not dared to touch and have been maintaining as usual! Since the young master has said so, your servant has noted it, and won’t let anyone enter a step inside!"
Shi Fengju nodded, gesturing for her to go down.
After bathing, barely touching his als due to lack of appetite, Shi Fengju returned to his room to rest. But lying on the raden-decorated bed where they once shared so much warmth and love, his heart was flooded with bitterness and loneliness, and his mouth felt sour. In this room, her presence lingered everywhere, whether his eyes were opened or closed, he could see her smile, see her sitting at the dressing table carefully brushing her lovely smooth hair, sotis he would join her to place a hairpin or style her hwai, or feel her lying in his arms, her fair delicate face pressed against his chest, sleeping sweetly with even breath, her black hair entwined with his, inseparable.
Once so close, now left alone. Shi Fengju dared not think that without her, how would he endure the countless nights to co!
"Miss Wan, Miss Wan, you can’t leave like this! Miss Wan, we haven’t had children yet, you haven’t beco a mother, nor have I beco a father, you owe this, you can’t just leave like this..." Shi Fengju murmured lowly, his eyes gradually moistening.
As dawn broke, Shi Fengju got up; it was still too early, only the rough maids and servants were in the courtyard sweeping leaves, wiping columns, and cleaning, while Xingzhi and others had not yet risen.
Only Mrs. Li, concerned about Shi Fengju after keeping watch outside last night, hurriedly got up when she heard him stir.
"Young master, why so early, rest a bit longer!" Mrs. Li looked worriedly at him.
"I can’t sleep, wet nurse. I can’t sleep when I think of her!" Shi Fengju shook his head and said with a bitter smile, "Wet nurse, since you’re up, it’s good timing, have soone wake up Chang Huan and the others, we leave the mansion in a quarter of an hour!"
"Where are you going!" Mrs. Li’s heart tightened.
Shi Fengju said, "To find Miss Wan! To Baihe Town."
Mrs. Li opened her mouth, saying, "Young master, don’t worry, the housekeepers went there a few days ago! Even if you need to go, there’s no need to rush at this mont! By the way, the second young master ca looking for you last night, I told him you had gone to bed and he went back! Maybe he will co to see you soon! And about the lady—"
"Wet nurse!" Shi Fengju gently called her, interrupting her, his tone carrying an unwavering firmness.
Mrs. Li, knowing she could not persuade him, sighed and said, "Alright, your servant will go!"
A quarter of an hour later, Shi Fengju and Chang Huan along with a few others rode out of Shi Mansion and sped towards Baihe Town. At this ti, Shi Mansion just began to embrace the bustling dawn.
Mrs. Wang had also not slept well all night and got up early, not yet washed and dressed, when Gu Fangzi arrived, pale and with swollen eyes, she greeted, "Aunt."
"You’re here!" Seeing her like this, Mrs. Wang beca even more heartbroken and sighed, "Good child, your big cousin is distressed, speaking hastily, don’t mind him, ah."
"Aunt," Gu Fangzi shook her head, blinked her swollen eyes, and hurriedly smiled, "How could I mind big cousin! He and sister have always been loving, and it’s inevitable that he is upset knowing what happened. It’s good for him to vent rather than keep it in his heart!"
"You really are sensible!" Mrs. Wang sighed deeply.
"Aunt, this is what I should do." Gu Fangzi forced a smile and said, "Let comb your hair, perhaps big cousin will be up soon too."
Mrs. Wang nodded and called over Xiuchun, "Go to Ningyuan and see if Fengju is up? Ask Mrs. Li, how was he last night."
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