Chapter 53: Husband, Don’t Wait for Me

“Go on, go ahead.”

Pei Zhouwu turned Liu Fuying around, pushing her gently. He did not know that this parting would be equivalent to a farewell unto death. Yet even if they were to be separated for just two or three days, it was unbearable for him. The thought of three days without her by his side made the days ahead seem agonizingly long.

If he could, how could he not want to go with her?

But it was only three days. She had said she would return after three days.

Three days—they would pass quickly.

He could not let her think he was too clingy, fearing she might worry that she would feel constrained or uneasy under his control in the future. So, suppressing his reluctance, he urged her forward.

“Husband…”

“Don’t worry about me. Just remember to be safe on the road, finish your business properly, and then come back.”

“But I…”

“If you say any more, I won’t let you go.”

Pei Zhouwu’s words struck Liu Fuying’s heart like a thunderclap.

It seemed that ever since he learned she would be away for three days, this was the first time she had heard him say he wouldn’t let her go.

Before this, everything he said had been considerate and accommodating.

Things like, “That friend grew up with you since childhood, so it’s only right for you to attend the banquet.” He had always only said things like, “Just go with peace of mind.”

She halted her steps and turned back.

Pei Zhouwu stumbled slightly, instinctively reaching out to catch the person who had thrown herself into his arms. He chuckled and said, “What’s wrong? It’s only three days. Can’t bear to part?”

“…” Liu Fuying suddenly fell silent, as if struck dumb. She opened her mouth but couldn’t utter a single word.

She didn’t know how to respond to Pei Zhouwu’s kindness.

Although his words teased her for being unable to let go, it was actually Pei Zhouwu who truly couldn’t bear the separation. Yet he dared not say it outright, afraid of burdening her or making her feel pressured. Even a simple “I can’t bear it” had to be hidden within a jest before he could voice it.

“I’m leaving. I’m really leaving.”

After struggling for a long while, this was the only sentence she managed to force out.

Saying more might complicate things. What if she truly couldn’t bring herself to leave?

“Go on. I’ll wait here for you to return.”

Wait for her to return?

If she didn’t come back, he shouldn’t wait too long.

He should let go. He should forget.

Liu Fuying took a deep breath, mustering her final resolve as she pulled away from his embrace. Then, she turned and strode away resolutely.

She didn’t even say a single word asking him to take care of himself.

She didn’t dare.

At this point, the greatest taboo was a soft heart.

She hurried away, stepping into the forest without looking back.

Watching her figure grow smaller and smaller in the distance, Pei Zhouwu could no longer hold back his emotions. His eyes quickly warmed and reddened. Beneath his chest, his heart thumped restlessly. He pressed a hand over it, but the pressure only made it struggle faster.

As his vision blurred, her figure soon vanished from sight.

The dense forest was lush, making it difficult to trace her path.

He took a few steps forward, but the dragging chain snagged on a sharp stone, nearly causing him to stumble.

“It’s only three days. She’ll be back soon.”

She had promised to stay with him always. She wouldn’t break her word. So, he only needed to be patient, and he would wait for her return.

The sun blazed overhead, and his clothes were already half-dried by its heat.

But the damp chill in his heart, born of this parting, would likely not dry even after half a day under the sun.

The person in the forest had gone far, no longer visible.

Pei Zhouwu turned and headed back, picking up the wet clothes and bundles from the ground one by one. Then, he stepped into the water, slowly making his way toward the depths.

From time to time, he still wanted to turn back and look again.

But if she knew about this lingering reluctance, he couldn’t imagine how she would mock him—a grown man acting with such wifely sentimentality was simply unacceptable.

When the water reached his chest, he paused again.

The frantic pounding in his heart had not ceased since he watched her retreating figure earlier, persisting even now.

He couldn’t understand why.

It was only three days apart—how could it cause such torment?

Yet after a sigh, he could only dive deeper and return to the bamboo courtyard.

Perhaps due to her pregnancy, Liu Fuying found herself stopping frequently on her way down the mountain, feeling constantly weary.

She deliberately chose small paths away from the main mountain trail to avoid encountering pilgrims heading to Changmingguan.

By the time she neared the foot of the mountain, her legs were already weak.

Just ahead was the spot where she had arranged to meet Jin Li, who would come to fetch her. This location was ideal as it led toward Yizhou and had multiple branching paths—one going up to Changmingguan, others leading to various villages and towns. Parking a carriage here would not raise suspicion, even if seen, as no one would doubt she was heading to Yizhou.

As she approached, before spotting any carriage or horses, she first encountered Jin Li.

Waiting alone by the roadside, Jin Li showed no joy or excitement upon finally seeing Liu Fuying after so long. Instead, her face was clouded with worry.

“Madam, I’ve finally found you,” Jin Li rushed over.

Her tone conveyed not excitement but distress and anxiety.

“What’s wrong? Why do you look like that? Where are our carriage and horses? I’m exhausted and want to rest in the carriage as soon as possible.”

Even without Jin Li saying it, Liu Fuying could guess that this was likely related to Shen Xiunian.

When she went into the city to buy wedding attire, she had overheard people discussing Shen Xiunian, saying he was pursuing her to Yizhou. At the time, she didn’t know if it was true, but seeing Jin Li’s expression now, she could guess that those rumors might have been accurate.

“He…”

Liu Fuying’s gaze drifted toward the main road, her words probing.

“Is Shen Xiunian here too?”

“Yes,” Jin Li replied, on the verge of tears, clutching Liu Fuying’s arm. “Not long after we left, the General caught up with us.”

Liu Fuying felt no fear; instead, she found it amusing and curled her lips into a faint smile.

“And then? After he realized I wasn’t there, what did he do?”

“He… he didn’t do much. He even followed our carriage all the way to Yizhou and stayed there for a month.”

“Well, there you have it.”

Liu Fuying strode forward. What could Shen Xiunian do? What would he dare to do?

It was his idea for her to seek another man, and he hadn’t objected to her bearing someone else’s child. To avoid a public scandal that would shame the Shen Family, he had no choice but to help cover it up tightly. What else could he possibly do?

By the side of the main road, there was a tea stall where travelers could rest.

Shen Xiunian, dressed entirely in black, sat rigidly with his back turned, motionless.

“G-General, Madam has returned.”

Upon hearing Jin Li’s report, Shen Xiunian remained seated, not even turning his head.

“G-General?” Jin Li was still afraid of Shen Xiunian.

Turning back, she saw Liu Fuying boldly climbing into the carriage and hurriedly chased after her. “Madam, wait for me.”

Only then did Shen Xiunian finally react.

The hand resting on the table, clutching a teacup, slammed it down heavily. The untouched tea splashed out, and the cup itself showed faint cracks.

“Madam.”

Jin Li heard the commotion and shrank closer to Liu Fuying inside the carriage.

“What are you afraid of? Look at him—he only dares to vent his anger on a teacup, nothing but a useless tantrum.”

Liu Fuying leaned back and unconsciously raised a hand to cover her stomach.

“May everything go smoothly from now on.”