Published at 4th of May 2021 4:15 am

Chapter 261: Hangzhou

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

“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?”

Despite not uttering a word, Sang Wan was at a loss.

“Rest well tonight. We’ll go to Hangzhou tomorrow morning! Hangzhou’s scenery is picturesque, so let’s go there slowly and enjoy the scenery! Don’t let irrelevant things fill your mind!” Shi Fengju said with a smile.

“Hangzhou?” Sang Wan was startled and raised her head from his embrace to look at him in disbelief.

Shi Fengju explained with a smile, “That’s right! The Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce is about to start! I’ve already told the supervisors to go over first and make preparations. We’ll just be in time when we reach there! I was busy arranging these, so I didn’t have the time to visit you. Otherwise, how could I bear to let you be sad by yourself?”

Sang Wan felt indescribable feelings surging within her. When she heard his last sentence, she still quibbled, “I came here for some fresh air. I wasn’t being sad!”

“Yes, yes, yes! You weren’t sad. It was me! Okay?” Shi Fengju said with a smile, “I’ve arranged everything. Follow me and don’t worry about anything tomorrow! Sang Wan, are you afraid of a long journey tomorrow?”

Afraid of a long journey? No matter how frightening or tiring it would be, it was better than being cautious at home and guarding against everything. Those days had been really tiring and frightening!

“I’m not afraid!” Sang Wan shook her head lightly.

“That’s good.” Shi Fengju said with a smile, “I will bring you along when I go on a trip in the future, okay? The Shi Family’s business covers the entire country. We’ll visit each of them, and more than half a year will pass just like that.”

Sang Wan was startled and understood what he meant. He couldn’t retort Wang Shi’s words directly, so he was retorting this way. He could do anything he wished outside and nobody could stop him.

“Fengju…” Sang Wan had a complex gaze.

Shi Fengju was relieved deep down. He knew that she understood what he meant without him telling her directly.

“One day, Mother will understand my feelings. An old woman like her surely won’t make things difficult for me.” Shi Fengju took her in his embrace and said softly by her ear, “Sang Wan, I only want to protect you for a lifetime.”

Sang Wan’s heart leaped and she subconsciously lifted her hands to wrap them around his waist while leaning in his embrace without uttering a word.

Upon feeling this heartening action, Shi Fengju was ecstatic. Her soft and fragrant touch became familiar. He released her slightly, cupped her face and lowered his head to kiss her while caressing her.

The two had buried the hatchet. At the moment, they feel much better. After wandering in the forest for a while, they returned to the house. Shi Fengju instructed Liu Ya to pack up what was needed for the journey. When Liu Ya heard that she would be following her Young Master and Young Mistress to Hangzhou the next day, she was elated. Thus, she went to pack happily.

Not long after dinner, Shi Fengju took a bath with Sang Wan before returning to the room. The two had parted for a few days and their emotions had finally reached a peak. There was some romance in the room, and they soon hugged each other and fell asleep.

Since there was sufficient time, Shi Fengju was in no hurry. The road was smooth and the forest was dense. Their carriage was spacious and steady, which made several stops along the way. It was already June 20 when they arrived in Hangzhou.

At this moment, the Chamber of Commerce in Hangzhou City was bustling with people. The Shi Family had built a house near the West Lake, which had long been tidied up properly. Shi Fengju instructed the carriage to drive them to that place directly.

“Sang Wan, rest well these two days. If you’re bored, the West Lake is just outside when you go out. You can also ask the servants to accompany you for a walk! After a few days, I’ll stroll around with you!” After they settled down, Shi Fengju had his hands on both her shoulders and said with a smile.

Along the way, there were no distractions between them, so the two got along very happily. Sang Wan was also in a much better mood. When she heard what he had said, she smiled and nodded before she said softly: “You’ve got things to settle, so you don’t have to think about me! Don’t drink too much at the dinner gatherings and come back early!”

“Don’t worry. If I don’t come back, I will send someone to let you know! If I come back late, don’t wait for me and just rest early!” Shi Fengju smiled and lowered his head to give her a peck.

Sang Wan agreed and said with jealousy, “There are many beauties in Jiangnan who are elegant and refined. You will probably be lost in them and might not recognize your way back!”

Upon hearing that, Shi Fengju broke out in a peal of laughter. He pinched her cheek and replied with a smile, “That’s enough. I won’t dare to provoke you again. When you get angry later on and treat me indifferently, wouldn’t I be the one suffering? Although there are many beauties here, they are just scenery in my eyes. What I only think about is to return home early to accompany my wife!”

Sang Wan laughed, feeling rather embarrassed.

She was slightly vexed at herself. Just then, wasn’t she being jealous by saying that? For some reason, she ended up saying that!

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