Chapter 261 - Hangzhou (1/2)

“It’s good that Young Mistress isn’t sad.” Liu Ya was startled and said with a smile, “This house is indeed not bad. Let’s have a walk around. I heard that it’s even better at the back mountain. There are many fishes and prawns in the creek, and the place smells really good. Let’s ask someone to go there and catch some…”

Upon hearing that, Sang Wan was in high spirits and her eyes lit up. Knowing that Liu Ya had been restraining herself for a long time, Sang Wan said with a smile, “Nanny Li isn’t here. You can go into the water! Look at you. You’re waiting anxiously yet you don’t dare to ask. When have I become so scary in your eyes?”

Liu Ya was elated to hear that and quickly replied with a smile, “Young Mistress, you’ve always been nice to me. You’re not scary at all! You should come too and watch me catch two big fishes to be stewed tonight.”

Sang Wan started laughing when she heard that. She changed her clothes and brought a few servants before going together. The creek water was refreshing and clear, the forest in the mountain was verdant, and the flowers in the mountain were brightly colored. From time to time, all sorts of birds flew by or flapped their wings while flying back and forth in the middle of the forest. The beautiful chirping could be heard occasionally. Sang Wan felt carefree and gradually eased her mind from being sad and perturbed over Shi Fengju.

Just when she calmed down, Shi Fengju arrived. She was taking a stroll in the fragrant camphor forest with Liu Ya in the afternoon and saw a cluster of shrubs at the side of the forest with a mass of golden-yellow flowers that bloomed very brightly. Sang Wan pointed and said with a smile, “I didn’t notice this flower yesterday. It’s blooming well. Pick a few and bring them back. We’ll put them in a vase!”

Liu Ya was not the one who answered her. Instead, it was the voice that she didn’t know whether to feel happy or angry at. “Sang Wan, do you like it? If you do, I’ll pick them for you later!”

Sang Wan’s body became stiff as though there were something wrong with her ears. She stood still without moving and did not turn her head back.

Shi Fengju sighed softly and went up to her. He embraced her tightly from behind and stuck close to her, “Sang Wan, you aren’t happy that I’m here?”

Sang Wan’s lips moved but her head and body did not turn. She asked softly, “Why are you here?”

“Naturally, I’m here to fetch you!” Shi Fengju chuckled softly beside her ear. When he smelled the faint, distinctive fragrance on her, he couldn’t help but give her a light peck on her neck.

His warm breath touched her neck. It had been some time since she had felt the slightly ticklish yet familiar feeling. What she loved in the past had become something she loathed.

Sang Wan slightly leaned her head to avoid him and struggled to break free from his embrace. While pulling apart their distance, she turned and said, “You’re so thoughtful to visit me despite being busy! I’m doing well here, so I don’t wish to go back yet. If there is nothing else, you should go back so that your mother won’t blame me for not caring about you when you’re tired!”

Shi Fengju did not hug her again and stood with his hands behind his back before saying with a smile, “I’m not used to not having you around. Mother wasn’t wrong when she claimed that you didn’t take good care of me!”

Sang Wan got angry when she heard that. She said in a fit of pique, “Isn’t Nanny Li and Zhide there? Aren’t they people who can serve you? When I was around, you didn’t say that you need me to personally serve you. Why? You can’t bear to see me being comfortable for two days, can you? I only came out for a few days and yet you say such things!” After she said that, she slightly sneered and added, “I don’t know how to serve others, but I’m sure there’s a certain someone to your liking that’ll be able to serve you well soon. I won’t disturb you, so let me have a few more days of peace!”

Shi Fengju only looked at her without saying anything.

Under his gaze, Sang Wan suddenly couldn’t help but feel sad. Her heart was cold, and tears started welling up in her eyes. She quickly blinked her eyes and turned around.

Shi Fengju was soft-hearted when he saw her acting like this. He did not tease her anymore and went forward with a helpless sigh before he forcefully pulled her into his embrace and leaned her head against his shoulder. He lightly patted her back softly and said, “Silly Sang Wan. I was just kidding. Are you angry with me? I was busy the past two days, so I didn’t come to visit you. However, I kept thinking of you and never forgot you. Don’t be angry anymore, okay?”

Sang Wan clenched her teeth and held back her tears. She sobbed before saying softly, “I don’t want to go back!”

“No, we’re not going back!” Shi Fengju quickly replied.

Sang Wan was startled and pushed him away before asking, “I just want to be alone. Why are you staying with me as well? It’s neither far nor near to the city. Won’t you be exhausted coming back and forth here every day? Moreover, what Mother has decided will happen eventually. She will only be angrier if you act like this!”

“Sang Wan, I…”

“Don’t say anymore!” Sang Wan lifted her hand and covered his mouth before she said in a low voice, “You don’t have to feel guilty towards me. I know you were sincere when you promised me, but who can foresee the future? Now that there’s such a sudden change, I really don’t blame you for eating your words. Mother has made it clear. If you refuse, it’ll only be hard for me, let alone you. It isn’t a good thing to cause unhappiness in the family, so forget it! I only have one request, and that is she cannot manage the household. Otherwise, I would rather stay here for a lifetime.”

“I wasn’t going to talk about this!” Shi Fengju started finding it funny. He took advantage of the situation to hold her slightly cold hands and give them a light peck. “Sang Wan, let’s not talk about this. This has nothing to do with you. It’s my matter! No matter what decision I make, it has nothing to do with you. Do you understand?”

Sang Wan shook her head and replied with a bitter smile, “Fengju, your thinking is too naive! Mother will not think that way, and neither would she! What can we do about Mother when they’re on good terms with each other?”

This was what he felt at the bottom of his heart. The so-called being cautious in taking actions referred to that. If he didn’t want to hurt his mother’s feelings, how should he do this? Furthermore, Gu Fangzi didn’t dare to be imprudent.

“Sang Wan, it’s enough to have those thoughts. Taking care of your health and giving me a son is more important than anything! Stop thinking of all these, alright?”