Chapter 38: Softness in the Embrace
Although Old Madam Shen could not bear to be apart from Liu Fuying, she was not unreasonable.
The matter of paying respects to her deceased mother was both reasonable and understandable. As a mother herself, she understood best the bond between mother and child that transcended life and death and could not be severed. Therefore, she would not restrain Liu Fuying and prevent her from leaving.
As long as Liu Fuying returned on the agreed-upon date.
Old Madam Shen regarded her as Xu Liangyin, and Liu Fuying had previously gone along with the old madam’s belief, saying that she had been taken in by the Liu Family after being separated from her family as a child. Thus, Old Madam Shen had no objections to her returning to the Liu Family or going to Yizhou to pay respects.
Regarding the incident on the street, both Liu Fuying and Shen Xiunian had given orders not to inform Old Madam Shen, lest she become distressed.
They were also afraid that if Old Madam Shen found out, she might think Liu Fuying was leaving Shangjing City out of extreme sorrow and would never return, which could lead to complications and make it difficult for her to depart.
After resting for a few days, Liu Fuying finally set off on the first day of the month.
During these days, Liu Fuying’s father, Liu Ciyan, had frequently visited but was repeatedly turned away. It seemed his sincere apologies were not genuine; he was likely afraid of losing the support of the General’s Mansion and was merely putting on a show.
Shen Xiunian had also been busy in the military camp all day. After recovering from his injuries, he had returned to the court some time ago.
He knew about Liu Fuying’s plan to return to her maternal grandfather’s home in Yizhou. Although they were married, they were essentially strangers to each other, and they usually did not interfere in each other’s private affairs. He could not say much about it; as long as his mother did not make a fuss or object, he was fine with it.
However, he still had doubts.
It would be understandable if Liu Fuying was returning to her mother’s hometown to relax after the distressing incident on the street a few days ago.
But he felt that the incident would not affect Liu Fuying at all.
She did not seem like the type to be troubled by such matters.
Yet, what could he say? Asking even one more question would be crossing a boundary between them.
After leaving the city, Liu Fuying parted ways with Jin Li in a secluded spot.
Having been married into the Shen Family for over two years, she had cultivated some trusted confidants. The attendants accompanying Jin Li back to Yizhou were all trustworthy, though of course, her true destination could not be revealed.
“Madam, I hope everything goes smoothly on your journey and that you ultimately achieve your wish.”
“Alright.” Liu Fuying hugged Jin Li, patted her head, and added, “When you return, burn a few extra incense sticks for my mother on my behalf. Tell my grandmother that next year, I will return with a child to see her.”
“Yes, Jin Li understands.”
After parting ways, Liu Fuying headed to Xiangshang.
She also hoped to achieve her wish, but there were still variables in her plan.
For instance, even if she became pregnant, she could not guarantee it would be a boy.
But never mind—such matters could be calculated slowly in the future.
For now, the priority was to see Pei Zhouwu.
The midday sun was at its fiercest, and the water felt scalding. Only after submerging herself did she feel more comfortable.
Upon arriving at the location, Liu Fuying cautiously surfaced as usual to confirm whether the surroundings were safe and whether there was…
When she saw the person standing on the shore, she was momentarily stunned.
Pei Zhouwu stood there.
Seeing the beads of sweat on his forehead and nose, it was clear he had been standing there for a long time, unafraid of being scorched by the heat.
But Liu Fuying was pleased because she knew Pei Zhouwu had done this for her.
She swam toward the shore, slowly emerged from the water, stepped onto the stones that burned the soles of her shoes, and stood before Pei Zhouwu. With a smile brighter than the sunlight, she said to him, “I’m here. I came to see you as promised.”
Before Pei Zhouwu could even begin to smile, she spread her arms and threw herself into his embrace.
Caught off guard, he stumbled backward from the impact, but the collision also brought a genuine smile to his face.
“It’s so good to see you,” Liu Fuying said, holding him even tighter.
These words came from the heart.
Everyone in Shangjing City annoyed her—how could they compare to Pei Zhouwu? He was pure and clear, even more pristine than the pond behind him, free from all the messy, trivial troubles.
The softness in his arms was exactly what Pei Zhouwu had longed for.
She had said she would come today, and from the moment she spoke those words, he had been eagerly awaiting her arrival.
He wanted to see her too.
It was so good to see her!
“Ouch!” Liu Fuying suddenly gasped, pulling back from Pei Zhouwu’s embrace.
Pei Zhouwu’s smile froze, unsure of what had happened.
“Why are you so silly?” Liu Fuying still wore a bright smile as she rubbed her palm and added, “The sun is scorching hot. Your hair is burning to the touch. Why are you standing out here in this heat?”
Pei Zhouwu opened his mouth but couldn’t bring himself to say he had been waiting here just for her.
He was afraid she would laugh at him for being foolish.
Yet even without saying it, the meaning was already clear in his affectionate eyes.
“Come here,” Liu Fuying said, grabbing his hand and leading him toward the bedroom. “Don’t do this again. What if you get heatstroke? The sun is so intense you could probably fry an egg on a rock.”
Once they reached the shaded area under the eaves of the bedroom, Liu Fuying stood facing him.
Suddenly, she remembered what Shen Xiunian had said—that even in his unconscious state, Pei Zhouwu had been thinking about the Glowworm Wooden Hairpin she had given him.
Pei Zhouwu had taken her to heart, and from now on, everything would surely go smoothly.
“Let me check your wound. You promised me you’d take good care of it. I hope you kept your word.”
She deliberately put on a stern face, as if she would be angry with him if he hadn’t properly tended to his injury.
Pei Zhouwu didn’t resist as she tugged at his collar, waiting for her to discover that he had indeed followed her instructions and that his wound had improved significantly.
The bandages had been removed. Though the wound was deep and had long since stopped bleeding, it would still take some time to fully scab over and heal. Fortunately, there was no sign of infection or pus—a clear result of daily careful cleaning and dressing changes.
“Good.”
Liu Fuying straightened his collar, smiling with satisfaction.
“You really took my words to heart.”
Her smile was sweet, and Pei Zhouwu felt a warmth in his heart as he watched her.
He held her in his heart and diligently carried out her requests, all for the chance to see her smiling face like this when they met again.
“Then…” Liu Fuying pointed to the spot by the pond where Pei Zhouwu had been standing earlier. “You must also promise me not to stand foolishly under the blazing sun waiting for me anymore. If I say I’ll come, I’ll definitely keep my word and be here.”
“Okay? Promise me,” she pressed.
“Okay,” Pei Zhouwu replied, his eyes shining as he nodded repeatedly. “Okay, I promise you.”
But as his gaze shifted and caught sight of the bloodstain seeping through Liu Fuying’s left sleeve, his expression abruptly changed.
He grabbed her hand, and at first, Liu Fuying tried to pull away.
However, he held on tightly.
Of course, Liu Fuying was also playing hard to get. Several days had passed since her injury, and by all logic, the wound should have stopped bleeding long ago. The reason it hadn’t was because she had deliberately reduced her medication dosage over the past few days, slowing the healing process.
She clearly intended for Pei Zhouwu to discover her injury.
“Let me see.”
Pei Zhouwu’s tone was not forceful, yet it carried an undeniable firmness.
He gently lifted Liu Fuying’s sleeve, revealing the blood-stained bandage beneath. Having swum in the water for so long, the bandage had soaked through, intensifying the crimson hue of the blood.