Love Across Time - Chapter 46
4126_10.txt
Chapter Nine
The next day, Yu Niang arrived at Aolong Fort.
"Huan'er! Huan'er!" Yu Niang threw herself into her daughter's arms, tears streaming down her face, her whole body trembling. Four days ago, this cold and terrifying man appeared before her. She was starving and on the verge of death, thinking he was a robber who would bully her or sell her to a brothel if he couldn't steal her money. He didn't bully her, but he still kidnapped her. She thought she was going to die. For four days, she dared not ask anything, only cried. He told her to eat, and she dared not refuse; he told her to sleep, and she dared not refuse, so she didn't suffer from hunger or cold. What could she do but resent the misfortunes that fate had brought upon her? She didn't dare to even think of escaping. Where could she escape to? Where in the world could a woman like her, so helpless, without status or position, find refuge? Su Guangping didn't want her, and when he forcibly brought her into the Su family, she was never formally accepted, which was why she had fallen into this situation. Once she lost favor, she would be worse than a servant.
Huan'er hurriedly comforted Yu Niang, who was emaciated and terribly frightened, her face pale.
"Mother, it's alright now. I told you I would bring you out. Su Guangping can no longer bully you. Mother, let's thank Uncle Leng first. He came to pick you up specially!" They helped Yu Niang up to face Leng Ziyang, but Yu Niang shrank back in Huan'er's arms, not daring to face Leng Ziyang. She looked at the ground and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"Thank you, Uncle Leng."
Leng Ziyang didn't say anything and walked away.
Yu Niang looked at Huan'er in fear. "What did I do wrong?"
"No, no! Uncle Leng is never one to talk much, you didn't do anything wrong." Huan'er patted Yu Niang, unaware of the stares from the crowd.
Aside from their age difference, the mother and daughter looked almost identical. Yu Niang was a typical southern beauty. Petite and timid, her body couldn't withstand the slightest breeze, and her expression was full of helplessness and fear.
What immense effort it takes to care for a woman like this! This woman seems ready to beg for mercy at any moment, living in constant fear. Is this her nature? Or was she raised under Su Guangping's tyranny?
“Two months ago, my sister-in-law looked just like Yu Niang,” Leng Gang said in a low voice.
Shi Wuji didn't want to think too much about it, so he approached the mother and daughter and put his arm around Huan'er's shoulder.
"Alright, Huan'er, it's time to go back to your room and rest. Your mother must be tired from the long journey. I'll have the servants take her to the guest courtyard to rest."
"I'm not tired!" Huan'er insisted, still clinging to Yu Niang. But Yu Niang quickly broke free from her embrace, whispering in fear:
"Huan'er, you must be obedient and not be disobedient!" Women cannot talk back to men; this is the foundation of the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. How can Huan'er be so ignorant? This man is so strong that he could kill someone with one punch!
"Mother, I haven't done anything rebellious. Wuji, don't you agree?" This opening of his mouth ruined things again.
Yu Niang's eyes widened even more.
“How can you call your husband by his given name? You… you are so insensible! Uncle Shi… Huan’er is still young and doesn’t understand, please forgive her and don’t blame her.” She turned to Shi Wuji to plead for mercy, and was about to kneel down.
Shi Wuji frowned inwardly, lifted Yu Niang up with one hand, and said gently, "I won't be angry. We northerners call each other by our names. There's nothing to correct. Go and rest!" After gesturing to the servants, he put his arm around Huan'er and went back to Lan Courtyard.
Fu Huan'er sat on a wooden chair in the corridor of Lan Academy, and Shi Wuji bent down and gently touched her pouting lips.
"What's wrong?"
"How rude of you!" Huan'er glared at him, clearly disapproving.
Shi Wuji chuckled and gently kissed her lips. He sat down beside her and casually pulled her into his arms, whispering, "Isn't my arrogant behavior exactly what she wants? If I were any more polite, she might faint! Huan'er, I'm so glad you don't have her personality. I'm really so glad."
These words made Huan'er very happy. In a way, he was sure that Yang Yiliu had held onto a certain aspect of herself. However, Yu Niang's fearful personality today was largely due to her environment. Basically, Yu Niang was kind and shy by nature, but she had encountered the wrong people, which was quite pitiful.