The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned somewhat awkward and gloomy. Sang Wan’s heart was in chaos and could not help but mock her greed secretly. Yes, she was indeed greedy! Didn’t Gu Fangzi become ‘Concubine Gu’ in her previous life? In this lifetime, she was able to marry into the Shi Family and become ‘Concubine Gu’ too. It was her wishful thinking to free herself from her, but that would be impossible!

Shi Fengju saw her being silent and did not feel good. He pulled her into the warm room and held her hand as he said, “Sang Wan, don’t worry. I’ll definitely do what I promised you.”

Upon hearing that, Sang Wan’s nose turned sour and her eyes uncontrollable turned watery. She slowly held back her emotions and raised her eyes to look at him with a slight smile, “Fengju, let’s not talk about this for now! If we do, how will the entire household think of us? Besides, Mother will never approve of it!”

Shi Fengju could not help but be a little jittery and he grumbled, “If I knew I would be so troubled coming back, we should not have come back!”

Sang Wan tittered at that and said, “What are you saying! We can’t stay outside forever! Besides, even if we don’t come back, this matter won’t disappear.”

The older Gu Fangzi becomes as the years go by, the less likely for her to leave.

Sang Wan always knew that Gu Fangzi was difficult. She did not want to suffer again in this lifetime as she did in the previous life, so she brought up the request to Shi Fengju. But by the looks of it now, she had been too naive to think it would be so simple. Gu Fangzi’s means were endless and beyond her imagination.

How would Shi Fengju not know that he had said that in a pique? With a smile, he embraced her and lowered his head to kiss her gently. “Sang Wan, just nurse your health well and give birth to a son. Don’t worry about anything else. I won’t let you suffer. Nobody can force anyone I dislike to be by my side!”

Shi Fengju understood that any amount of love would not be able to cover up all the torment. Even if Sang Wan did not say anything, he would not tolerate keeping a woman with a stomach full of schemes who would even scheme against him.

After dinner, Shi Fengju went to Peony Park2. It had been a long time since he stepped foot in there.

Gu Fangzi and Lan Xiang were delighted to see him and greeted him with a smile.

Lan Xiang was really happy. She was sure that her Young Master had seen what Gu Fangzi did for him and was touched by her good intentions. Didn’t he come to visit her not long after returning home? This was unimaginable in the usual days.

Although Gu Fangzi had a smile on her face, she was vigilant on the inside. When something was out of the ordinary, there must be a demon. Her Big Cousin’s arrival must not be something good. Her aunt might not be aware of the wicked deeds carried out under the banner of virtue, but she would not be able to hide them from him.

Before Shi Fengju spoke, Gu Fangzi dismissed Lan Xiang first. She went forth with a smile and bowed. “Congratulations, Big Cousin! You’ve turned a disaster into a blessing and returned safely. This is simply something worth celebrating and is also our good fortune!”

“We’re not strangers, so you don’t have to be so polite!” Shi Fengju smiled slightly. He picked a chair randomly, and sat down before saying with a smile, “I’ve stayed idle thanks to my injuries, but I’m sure you’ve worked hard! I used to underestimate you, so I never actually knew that you’d be so capable! In less than two months, you’ve dealt with everything inside and outside the household rigorously. I have to say that, that is admirable!”

The smile on Gu Fangzi’s face stiffened and she forced herself to question, “Big Cousin, what do you mean? Are you blaming me for being meddlesome? I don’t have the intentions to, but Aunt Wang…”

“Don’t pull my mother into this!” Shi Fengju went on lightly, “My mother is credulous and doesn’t think things thoroughly. She’s like a bowl of clear water that anyone can see through at a glance. You’re witty and raised by my mother from a young age. Don’t tell me that you don’t know how she is.”

“So what you’re saying is that I planned everything in advance?” A layer of tears gradually filled Gu Fangzi’s eyes, blurring her vision. Blinking her eyes gently, two drops of clear tears fell and rolled down her fair cheeks.

Everything before her eyes were blurry and in pieces, just like her feelings now.

“I swear that I handled everything for Big Cousin and the Shi family sincerely without any selfish motives. If you doubt me, you can check the accounts in the sea freight! You can also call over all the supervisors and head servants to inquire and see whether I gained anything from that! The reason why I got involved was because I knew that sea freight is our Shi family’s top business and no mistakes must happen. Since you were recuperating, if nobody takes care of the sea freight business at every moment, who knows what other thoughts they might have! You’ve misunderstood me. Tomorrow, I’ll clear up all the commerce and not get involved anymore! This way, will you believe me?”

Gu Fangzi spoke so righteously and solemnly. Anyone who heard that would have felt moved.

However, Shi Fengju just glanced at her indifferently and said calmly, “I won’t check the accounts and I don’t have to call the supervisors and head servants in for questioning. If I check on you without a reason today, others will naturally wonder if I will do the same to them. You know that I would not do such a thing without evidence. Moreover, those few supervisors and head servants are not idiots, they should be clear that the accounts and business dealings were never things you could meddle in! You don’t have to explain to me what you think. In any case, my mother believes you, no? Then you won’t have to go over tomorrow. I’m sure that whatever they have, they’ll report to me! Also, there will be no next time. Do you hear me?”

Staring at him in disbelief, Gu Fangzi laughed in distress. “Big Cousin, do you really hate me so much now? You’re even loathing everything that I do? Big Cousin, what thoughts can I have? I only think of you and only you. I only want to spend a lifetime with you! In the past, you clearly promised me that you will not go back on your words, but now you…”

Gu Fangzi could taste the bitterness in her mouth as she sobbed uncontrollably.

“Yes, I went back on my words. I regret promising you that! Are you satisfied with what you hear? We’ve long had nothing to say to each other. Why are you still so stubborn?” Shi Fengju said coldly.

Gu Fangzi had not expected him to be so straightforward. After she returned to her senses, she gritted her teeth and asked, “Why? I can change my shortcomings. If Sister Sang Wan misunderstood anything, I can explain to her! Big Cousin, I…”

“Fangzi!” Shi Fengju had really wanted to cut open her head to see what was contained inside. “Why must you keep pestering me? This doesn’t even concern Sang Wan! I’ve told you clearly that I had a change of heart! Don’t exploit my mother or scheme in front of her in the future, you’ll only make me despise you more! And don’t be in such a hurry to explain to me! I’m not like my mother, so there is no point in explaining to me! Also, you’d better stay as far away as you can from Sang Wan. If you dare to harm her, I definitely won’t let you off! You better behave yourself! So long as I refuse, my mother won’t be able to do anything!”

Shi Fengju glanced at her for the last time. He did not have the slightest sympathy for the pitiful expression on her face that was trickling with tears. He shook his head slightly and walked out of Peony Park.

Looking up, Shi Fengju felt relieved. He looked at the starry sky above, but his heart still felt heavy and uncomfortable. On one side was Gu Fangzi’s endless entanglement with him, and on the other side was his mother who could not see the truth. He really wanted to leave home with simply Sang Wan to live a few days of peace.

Shi Fengju unknowingly returned to the study room. He sat alone for a long time behind the big and spacious desk until the candlelight in front of him flickered a few times as if it was about to burn out. Then, he regained his senses and glanced at the western clock placed at the corner of his desk. “Oh no!” Shi Fengju exclaimed before he hurriedly returned to Ning Garden1.

When Shi Fengju returned, Sang Wan had already gone to bed. Zhide and a young servant, who were on night duty, took the hot water out from the kitchen briskly to wait upon him to wash his face and feet before helping him to the room to rest.

The curtain had been hung down softly around the bed, and only the indistinct embroidered blanket could be seen. When Shi Fengju gently opened the curtains, Sang Wan opened her eyes slightly.

“Did I disturb you?” Shi Fengju smiled and no longer held back as he climbed up the bed.

Sang Wan shifted inwards slightly and lightly shook her head, “I thought you weren’t coming back!”

Upon hearing her feigning anger coquettishly with a bit of hidden bitterness, Shi Fengju promptly answered, “I… I went to the study room afterwards. I wanted to come back after sitting there for a while, but ended up forgetting the time.”

The two of them were well aware of where he had gone ‘first’ and did not wish to mention it. Since Shi Fengju did not say where he had been, Sang Wan naturally did not ask him.

Sang Wan opened her eyes and stared at Shi Fengju. When she faintly noticed that his brows were knitted slightly, a creeping uneasiness welled up in her heart. She had been too greedy and made things too difficult for him!

“Fengju.” Sang Wan sat up all of a sudden and said, “I can see that you’re in a difficult position, I… let’s forget about the promise! Take it as if I didn’t mention it!”

No one could win over Heaven. Some things were destined to happen and some people were destined to be entangled. It was not something that she could change by working hard. Just like when she opened her eyes again after dying, that very moment just had to be when she was in the bridal sedan heading towards the Shi household!

Under the faint and gentle light, she shifted her eyes slightly and said it to him. Light blue cotton clothes that pressed on her skin and black hair which hung down from her left shoulder to her chest; just like her name, she was gentle and tactful which made him want to cherish her in his embrace.

“Sang Wan.” Shi Fengju sighed slightly then stretched his hand out and pulled her towards him before he said gently, “This doesn’t concern you. Even if you didn’t mention that, I cannot tolerate her!”

After a moment of silence, Sang Wan finally replied, “Since you say that, I won’t say anything else. Fengju, you mustn’t be overly hasty. I’m very worried that something will happen.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you!” Shi Fengju held onto her hands tightly.

Just when Shi Fengju wanted to pull her to lie back on the bed, Sang Wan suddenly said with a smile, “Oh, I almost forgot. Did Zhide make you drink the bird’s nest just now?”

Shi Fengju frowned. “Why would I still eat that late at night! Go to sleep quickly. It’s getting late!”

“No!” Sang Wan quickly broke away from his embrace and said with a smile, “Nanny Jiang personally sent it over, together with Mother’s words. She wants you to eat it before you sleep. I didn’t know you would come back this late. Otherwise, I would have sent someone to deliver it to your study room! It’s still being kept warm in the kitchen now! Get up quickly and eat it. If not, I won’t know what to say tomorrow if Mother asks me about it!” Sang Wan urged and pushed him to do so.