As they turned out of the alley, there was a carriage waiting outside. Yueyao sighed in relief, as riding back to the General’s Mansion on the sa horse with An Zhichen would be quite stressful.
Da Tong called out naively: "Junior General." In Haikou, both Da Tong and Ah Kai referred to An Zhichen as Junior General, only changing their address after they moved to the Capital City. However, they still preferred calling him Junior General.
Yueyao got on the carriage, followed closely by An Zhichen. Yueyao removed the cloth covering her face, by now she had regained her calm, and no longer showed any sign of her earlier embarrassnt. Yueyao whispered, "Thank you for coming to rescue , I will always rember this kindness."
Yueyao spoke so distantly, and seeing her indifferent expression, An Zhichen felt a tightness in his chest: "You are my wife, it’s my duty to save you." Although they weren’t married yet, in his mind, Yueyao was already his wife. Therefore, holding Yueyao just now didn’t feel like taking advantage at all!
Yueyao had a look of guilt. Coming all this way to rescue her, going through such an ordeal without considering breaking off the engagent, An Zhichen had truly done his utmost. However, Yueyao believed that, after what had happened, An Zhichen must have so emotional scars. Even if he didn’t now, he wouldn’t be able to endure it if people talked about it in the future. Instead of future heartbreak, it would be better to cut off the source now: "An Zhichen, it’s not appropriate here, but once we get back to the Capital City, go to Ma’s Mansion and call off the engagent." This was her fault, so it should be Ma Chengteng who initiates the break.
An Zhichen was stunned: "Why should we call off the engagent?"
Yueyao lowered her head, like a child who had done sothing wrong. For other won, to have their fiancé rescue them from such an incident and still be willing to marry them would be considered a great blessing, but having gone through so much, she knew the human heart is most unpredictable: "I’m sorry." Besides apologizing, Yueyao didn’t know what else to say.
An Zhichen’s expression changed, he thought of the worst-case scenario, that Yueyao had been defiled by Zhou Shu. Otherwise, she wouldn’t propose breaking off the engagent. Only in this scenario would Yueyao insist on breaking it.
Not knowing what An Zhichen was thinking, Yueyao continued, "An Zhichen, I’m really sorry, I shouldn’t have agreed to this engagent in the first place, then you wouldn’t have been burdened." She had disappeared, and surely the Capital City was flooded with rumors about her. Her tolerance was good, but she didn’t want to hear those gossips.
An Zhichen sighed and said, "You couldn’t have predicted this would happen. Don’t worry, since I said I would marry you, I won’t mind these things." He had already contemplated this possibility on the way there, although he had hoped for the best, he hadn’t expected to be too late.
Yueyao didn’t realize the implication of An Zhichen’s words. Although his words moved her, they didn’t shake her resolve, Yueyao said, "Even if you don’t mind, I do. I don’t want to be talked about or pointed at." If she married An Zhichen, she would surely have to socialize, and the rumors would be inevitable. Even if in self-deception, if she didn’t marry, she wouldn’t have to attend social events, and she could live in peace and comfort.
An Zhichen felt angry inside, but reassured Yueyao, "Life is lived for oneself, why care about others’ words?"
Yueyao gave a bitter smile, "Rumors can kill. For n, it’s not as serious, but for won, once their reputation is ruined, their whole lives are over."
An Zhichen didn’t want to keep arguing with Yueyao, he bluntly stated: "I will not call off the engagent." As a military general, he hated when scholars overcomplicated simple matters. Fortunately, he was prepared for such a situation, otherwise, he would surely lose it.
Yueyao didn’t know what else to say, resignedly she said, "Why insist? There are plenty of good girls in the world, with your abilities, marrying a wife from a prominent clan wouldn’t be difficult." For a woman to be jilted, securing a good marriage was tough, but for a man, with ability and prospects, a good match was easily made. Unfair as it was, this was the reality.
An Zhichen was already in a bad mood, and now with Yueyao murmuring on, he feared he would reprimand her. Containing his inner fury, An Zhichen said, "I know this ordeal frightened you and led you to such thoughts. But a man of his word doesn’t go back on it, I said I didn’t mind, and I don’t mind." He had chased from the Capital City to Haikou to save his wife, not to call off the engagent. Once Yueyao had agreed to the marriage, he wouldn’t give her a chance to back out.
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