Chapter 200
Shi Fengju became more speechless the more he looked at her, “Cousin Fangzi, you should give up now! The marriage between us wasn’t widely known, and nothing really happened between us as well. It won’t be difficult for our Shi family to find you a good husband. You won’t have to worry!”
“I don’t want it, I don’t want it!” Gu Fangzi shook her head vigorously, “I don’t want to leave! You can’t do this to me, you can’t! Big Cousin, even if you’ve forgotten about our history, I am already part of the Shi family, I already belong to you! What are you thinking? How can you ask me to marry another man? Although I may not have read many books, but I still know that a woman has to remain faithful to her one and only husband!”
Shi Fengju had no idea why there was no way to get through her, and his face turned dark all of a sudden, “Do you actually think so? I don’t understand, why must you be like this?”
Gu Fangzi lowered her gaze as she cried without saying anything. Why must she be like this? How could she yield so willingly? She had planned and worked hard for more than ten years, how could she willingly give it all up when the prize was right in front of her? There was no way she’d accept it!
“There is no need for you to think this way! I have already made myself clear that nothing happened between us, so there won’t be any need for you to reason as such!”
“No!” Gu Fangzi said with tears in her eyes, “Big Cousin, I could never forget you even if you’ve forgotten all about me! I am not leaving! It doesn’t matter to me even if… even if you don’t accept me, but please don’t make me leave, please! I beg of you!”
Shi Fengju once again had a taste of Gu Fangzi’s ability to bind him. And it was because of this that he had no other choice but to marry her during her mourning period. Right at this very moment, she was doing it again.
Shi Fengju asked all of a sudden, “Why do you insist on staying in the Shi household?”
Gu Fangzi’s heart immediately sank. Why? Of course it was because of him! Gu Fangzi mumbled as she cried, “I’m not willing to leave, I’m not willing to leave…”
Shi Fengju shook his head in ridicule and sneered, “If that’s what you’ve decided for yourself, then there’s nothing else for me to say! You may pick any one of the Shi family’s country house and stay there! Either you get married or stay at our country house, you will make your decision between these two choices!”
“Big Cousin!” Gu Fangzi suddenly launched forward and grabbed Shi Fengju’s sleeves tightly, “Why must you do this to me? I have already corrected myself and the promise I made to you to always be aware of my identity, I will definitely keep my promise. So why, why must you still do this to me? Can’t you see that I have already changed? Big Cousin!”
Shi Fengju shook her hands away and said, “Really? But I don’t think so! Enough! Stop treating me like a fool; even if I am not able to guess all of your thoughts, I am clear of most of them. There’s no outsiders here, so there is no need for you to try so hard to put up an act! I have made myself clear, so think it through carefully! I hope you can make the right choice when your mourning period ends!”
Shi Fengju sneered quietly and left Peony Park2Peony ParkGu Fangzi’s place of residence.
Gu Fangzi staggered and grabbed the arm of a chair while trembling, her teary eyes full of hatred. Her hate was real! Sang Wan, did she really think she could take everything from her so easily? She would never let that happen!
Gu Fangzi soon fell ill. First she got a fever, then she started coughing without stop and had to rest in bed. The doctor saw to her and determined that she had caught a cold and suffered from lots of pent-up frustrations. The combination of the two caused her to be unable to get out of bed, and only after those frustrations were released with the timely consumption of her medicines would she get better.
Gu Fangzi being ill alarmed Wang Shi and Shi Yumei, and the two of them went to visit her in Peony Park. Without a choice, Sang Wan had to accompany them as well.
Wang Shi was clear about what Gu Fangzi was bothered about and was left in a dilemma. Her son was firm in his decision while Gu Fangzi fell ill worrying about it! She was indeed in a difficult position as she cared for the both of them.
Gu Fangzi remained polite and had a weak smile on her face when Wang Shi, Shi Yumei, and Sang Wan arrived even though her face was still pale. Seeing her in such a state, Wang Shi’s heart ached deeply.
“You should stop worrying! Nothing can be more important than your own health, right? My dear Fang’er, by the time you recover, this aunt of yours will definitely settle your troubles for you!” Wang Shi held her hands as she comforted her softly.
She then turned to Sang Wan, “Sang Wan, you’ll have to take better care of things here in Peony Park as Fang’er has fallen sick. Don’t forget to send a servant here to check on her condition frequently!”
Wang Shi’s meaning was clear. Her words were to soothe Gu Fangzi as well as to let Sang Wan prepare beforehand by telling her that Gu Fangzi belonged to Shi Fengju!
Who knew that before Sang Wan could say a word, Gu Fangzi coughed and grabbed the chance to speak, “Don’t worry about me, Aunt Wang. Fang’er will take good care of myself and do my best to recover as soon as possible! I know that Sister Sang Wan is busy and I wouldn’t want to trouble her over something so minor. Otherwise, I would feel uneasy! Lan Xiang and the servants here are enough!”
“Listen to what you’re saying! You’re a patient, don’t think about it!” Wang Shi pouted at her.
There was no way Gu Fangzi would accept, and her anxious face turned red as she insisted on not troubling Sang Wan, saying that having Lan Xiang was more than enough. With no other choice, Wang Shi could only comply with her.
Wang Shi’s heart ached even more when she saw Gu Fangzi smiling at her gratefully as if she was feeling very relieved. Her niece had suffered greatly! And she had become more thoughtful as well!
Wang Shi sighed and held Gu Fangzi’s hand. However, she did not know what to say.
Gu Fangzi forced a smile and said, “I am still sick, so I won’t ask Aunt Wang, Cousin Yumei and Sister Sang Wan to stay any longer, otherwise, I would feel bad if you were to fall sick because me! A few days more and it’ll be the 1st of February. From what I recall, Aunt Wang would always head to Plum Blossom Temple and stay there for a few days at this time every year. It’s too bad that Fang’er won’t be able to accompany Aunt Wang there!”
“Stop worrying about it. Although Aunt Wang knows that you are filial, it doesn’t have to be shown in such a way! Rest well. I will ask for an amulet for you when get back!” Wang Shi was touched seeing how Gu Fangzi was still concerned about her even though she was so seriously ill.
“Thank you, Aunt Wang!” Gu Fangzi’s smile was weak and full of gratefulness. She then said to Sang Wan, “Sister Sang Wan, Sister Sang Wan will have to accompany Aunt Wang more this time round. Please pray for more blessings on my behalf!”
“Don’t worry!” Sang Wan forced smiled and nodded.
After a while more of chatting, they left Peony Park.
“Hey,” Shi Yumei suddenly called Sang Wan when they were about to leave Peony Park and she said bluntly, “Where has Fengju been? Why didn’t he come and visit Fangzi when she’s so sick?”
Sang Wan became frustrated and asked in her heart: Why would you ask me whether or not he is coming?
“Enough,” Wang Shi frowned and said. Her son had made himself clear in front of her that day, there was no way he would come and visit her. “Mention this to Fengju when you are back, Sang Wan! Ai, Fang’er is quite pitiful!”
“Yes, Mother.” Sang Wan answered softly.
Wang Shi nodded and told her there was no need to follow her, before she left with Shi Yumei.
Sang Wan still walked with them for a while more before she turned to head to Ning Garden1Ning GardenSang Wan & Shi Fengju’s place of residence. Upon reaching Ning Garden, she passed on Wang Shi’s words properly to Shi Fengju.
“I think she is seriously sick, she looked so haggard and pallid.” Sang Wan said gloomily.
Shi Fengju was annoyed when Gu Fangzi’s name was mentioned and sneered, “It’s easy to catch a cold during this time of the year! I’m sure she did that to herself! I’ve truly underestimated her!”
Sang Wan hurriedly stopped him and pouted, “Others will think of you as someone who is cold-blooded if they heard you!”
Shi Fengju grunted, “I am cold blooded, why would I be scared of others hearing me? She wants me to visit her? She can dream about it! Meanwhile, I would like to see how long her illness can last. She would have my admiration if she can remain sick forever!”
Sang Wan looked at Shi Fengju dazedly and was absent-minded for a moment. She couldn’t help but ask herself, did he feel the same whenever she was mentioned to him in her previous life?
“What’s wrong?” Shi Fengju held her hands and squeezed them when he saw her staring at him blankly. He gazed at her tenderly and smiled, “Don’t worry, Mother is already clear about my stand, she won’t blame it on you if I don’t visit her! Ai, the only thing is that her marriage will have to be delayed since she’s sick. Sang Wan, please give me more time.”
“Of course,” Sang Wan quickly smiled and said, “No one can force her to leave when she’s sick! You… you don’t have to always be concerned about it, it can be settled gradually.” Gu Fangzi would never give up so easily, would she?
“En,” Shi Fengju nodded and he finally relaxed, “Sang Wan, I’m relieved that you can say that!”
“Mother is going to Plum Blossom Temple on the first day of February, and I will have to accompany her. I have no idea how it was prepared for the past years, so I’ll be going off to ask Nanny Li and the servants from the household department about it and start preparing for it soon!” Sang Wan smiled and stood up after talking with him for a while.
Shi Fengju smiled, “Then I will go and visit Third Uncle, you can go ahead!” He got changed and left soon after.
In the Peony Park, Gu Fangzi’s face remained pale and pallid. She was light-headed as she lay in bed with her eyes looking cold and dreadful.
Being sick was just a pretense, she was actually using it to get rid of a future suspicion.
“Be sure to inform Ah San to get in touch with Mister Hong, and pass on the message that I’ve just told you. Make sure you do not forget!” Gu Fangzi glared at Lan Xiang.
This was the first time Lan Xiang was actually put in charge, so it was inevitable for her to be nervous. She stroked the note worth fifty silvers in her pocket subconsciously and said, “Missy, are you sure you want to do this?”
“Why? You aren’t going to help me?”
“This servant doesn’t dare!” Lan Xiang hurriedly kneeled.
“Get up! Leave and finish the task!” Gu Fangzi sneered and said, “You just have to pass my words on to him, do you think this will have anything to do with you?”
“This servant understands!” Lan Xiang let out a deep breath after being assured.
On the first day of February when the first ray of light appeared in the sky, Sang Wan, Shi Yumei, and Shi Lian went into the carriage heading towards Plum Blossom Temple, together with Wang Shi, and followed by a few servants as well as nannies.
Every year on this day, Wang Shi would bring the girls along to Plum Blossom Temple to pray for her late husband, as well as for the blessings for her entire family.
Abbess Su Heng, the one in charge of Plum Blossom Temple, was quite close to Wang Shi. The temple had already been tidied up a few days ago to welcome them. Two days ago, Sang Wan also sent a few servants over to get everything else in order so that everything was well-prepared when Wang Shi and the rest arrived.
Abbess Su Heng came out to welcome Wang Shi personally and brought them to Qing Qiu Garden where Wang Shi always stayed whenever she was here. After saying a few greetings to each other, Wang Shi led her daughters and daughters-in-law to kowtow to Bodhisattva before they went into another room to talk with Abbess Su Heng.
From the next day onward, Wang Shi would kneel in the side hall of the temple together with Abbess Su Heng to chant the scriptures and pray, she would listen to Abbess Su Heng’s teachings of Buddha, and it would go on for three days before they return to the Shi household.
Sang Wan and the rest were only with Wang Shi for the first day before Wang Shi sent them out on the second day onward.
