This startled Ji Wushang, who glared at her sharply. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
“Miss, the master wants you to go to the pavilion. He says he has something to ask you to come over,” Xian’er said.
Ji Wushang frowned slightly. "Are you here to see that Prince Nan?"
What, what, what, Prince Nan? Xian'er looked up at Ji Wushang with scrutinizing eyes, but couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong, so she could only say, "Miss, it was Master who sent you there. I don't know if it was to meet Prince Nan."
Ji Wushang nodded, "Comb my hair."
"Yes." Xian'er came forward and followed behind Ji Wushang. She combed her hair into a flying cloud bun in front of the dressing mirror, then put on several hairpins before going out.
When Ji Wushang arrived at the pear garden, he saw three people sitting in the pavilion. One of them, a man in his forties or fifties wearing a dark blue robe, was Ji Dingbei. The other man, a middle-aged man of similar age wearing a dark blue robe and with a beard, was Marquis Nan Aogan of Jinnan. The young man sitting in a wheelchair on the side was Nan Xuzong. He was wearing a jade crown and white clothes, and looked refreshed and energetic.
Normally, daughters of wealthy families shouldn't meet their husbands' families before marriage, but this time, it was an exception. Ji Dingbei originally didn't allow Ji Wushang to come out and meet them, but Nan Aogan surprisingly spoke up for Nan Xuzong, saying that it was just to let the young lady come out and take a look, and also let her talk about how to make the wedding as grand as possible.
Nan Xuzong heard footsteps and looked up, only to meet Ji Wushang's gaze. But Nan Xuzong's heart felt like it had been ripped out, because in Ji Wushang's eyes, there was no longer any love for her, but rather hatred and indifference. But what was going on? She had already looked away.
Ji Wushang walked straight into the pavilion and bowed to the three of them, saying, "Greetings to the Marquis and Father, and best regards to the Prince of Nan."
"Hmm." Ji Dingbei nodded, while Nan Aogan looked at Ji Wushang, sized her up, and nodded. This woman was beautiful, serene, and seemed quite nice. "Okay."
Nan Xuzong looked at Ji Wushang and replied gently, "Miss, there's no need for such formalities."
Ji Wushang looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the man's eyes seemed to hold a certain brilliance. Although he was sitting in a wheelchair, it was impossible to conceal the radiance emanating from him. However, for some reason, fragments flashed through Ji Wushang's mind. It was that he was the one who had harassed him so many times, the one he hated so much!
Ji Wushang glared at him coldly, then changed her expression and stopped looking at him. Nan Xuzong had initially thought she would smile at him, but what he saw instead was... hatred in her eyes.
He didn't understand what was going on. Was she pretending? Of course she was. She must be afraid to show any affection to him because her father and his father were there.
Nan Xuzong's hand, which was holding the teacup, trembled slightly, but he put it back on the table.
Ji Dingbei and Nan Aogan were surprised to have such a long conversation, and completely overlooked Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong. Ji Wushang was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to stay or reply, so he simply stood there.
Taking advantage of this, Nan Xuzong kept staring at her, as if trying to find out something, but she remained cold and indifferent throughout.
After a long while, Ji Dingbei, as if noticing that Ji Wushang had been standing there for a long time, said, "Wushang, come, sit down."
Ji Wushang smiled and said, "Yes, Father." His legs were aching from standing before he remembered him. He should have come later.
Ji Wushang sat down, and then Ji Dingbei said seriously, "Father wants to ask you what your opinion is on this marriage, so that everyone can have a good look at it." As he spoke, he glanced at Nan Aogan. Nan Aogan nodded, "Miss, you can speak frankly. Although my Jin Nan Marquis's mansion is not very powerful, since we have been able to marry Miss, we will certainly not wrong Miss."
"This, Wu Shang will leave it entirely to Father's decision." Ji Wu Shang lowered his head, his eyes filled with sorrow. If this engagement couldn't be called off, what else could he hope for?
"Fine, I'll just get married properly. If we can live in harmony and respect each other, I can accept it. If not, I'll see if I can get a divorce." Ji Wushang's thoughts drifted away.
Nan Xuzong looked at her, his hand involuntarily touching his golden silk. What on earth had happened?
When I saw her just now, she was still so sweet. Thank goodness, the thing I dreamed about last night didn't happen! But why do I always feel that she treats me so differently?
Ji Dingbei and Nan Aogan talked for a while, then began to ignore Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong again.
Ji Wushang was helpless, but as soon as he looked up and opened his eyes, he could see Nan Xuzong looking at him with burning eyes, as if he wanted to see right through him.
Ji Wushang turned his face away.
As Nan Aogan and Ji Dingbei chatted, they left their seats, treating them as if they were invisible. Then, leaving Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong there, the two of them actually walked out with their maids!
Ji Wushang was surprised and stood up, thinking of walking together, but Nan Xuzong suddenly spoke up, "Wushang."
Ji Wushang's heart skipped a beat, as if he had heard a gentle voice before, calling his name, Wushang.
Her steps faltered, and before she knew it, he was already in front of Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang was so startled that he took a step back. "What are you doing?"
Hearing this, Nan Xuzong frowned. "What do you mean by 'what I'm going to do'?"
Ji Wushang looked embarrassed and said, "Um, no. I misspoke."
"Wu Shang, did something happen? Tell me." Nan Xu Cong looked at her, wishing he could pull her into his arms and ask her properly. However, this was the General's Mansion, and he could only speak to her respectfully.
“Nothing happened.” Ji Wushang glanced at him. “I won’t resist the marriage, so you can rest assured.”
"Resisting an arranged marriage?" Nan Xuzong narrowed his eyes, looking at Ji Wushang. "What do you mean by resisting an arranged marriage? What are you trying to say?"
"It means nothing." Ji Wushang glanced at him, her eyes filled with intense hatred, which made Nan Xuzong tremble. She hated him?
"Do you hate me?" he asked directly.
Ji Wushang was stunned for a moment. Yes, he hated him, but he couldn't find a reason why he hated him. But why did he need a reason? Did he need a reason to hate someone?
“Young Master Nan is overthinking things.” Ji Wushang’s tone was slightly cold. “I’ll be leaving now. If you find the scenery nice, you can stay and enjoy it at your leisure.”
"Ji Wushang!" Nan Xuzong roared out his words with a hint of anger in his throat. Ji Wushang trembled all over, but before she could react, Nan Xuzong had already bound her whole body with golden silk and pulled her into his arms!
Ji Wushang was surprised. What kind of technique was this? But it seemed so familiar. Nestled in his arms, smelling the faint scent of orchids, it felt so familiar...
Nan Xuzong squinted at her, as if this peaceful and docile version of her was the true her...
However, Ji Wushang immediately broke free, "You, you actually dared to do this! This is the General's Mansion, how dare you act so wildly!" As she spoke, she tried to break free from his embrace.
Nan Xuzong was taken aback, because what he saw in her eyes was not shyness, but anger!
She quickly stood in front of him, raised her hand, and was about to slap him without hesitation, but when she met his sorrowful eyes, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
She had just been sexually assaulted by him; if others saw it, wouldn't she lose all face? Even though he was supposedly her fiancé, she wasn't married to him yet!
Nan Xuzong looked at her, unable to believe it. No, she must have been traumatized by something. This isn't her, it's not her!
Ji Wushang withdrew his hand, turned around, and fled.
Nan Xuzong was shocked and suddenly shouted from behind, "Wu Shang, Wu Shang!"
Fortunately, the servants had all gone to rest in the pavilion afterward, and there were no servants around. Otherwise, hearing Nan Xuzong shouting like that, they would have thought something had happened between them!
Ji Wushang didn't care; he just felt a bit confused. He should hate him, he should hate him! But why did his heart become chaotic and he felt lost when he saw those eyes?
No, the one she liked was Yiyun Shangcheng, not him. That kind and gentle man was definitely not him! Ji Wushang strode away.
Nan Xuzong panicked, his mind racing as he tried to pull Ji Wushang away, crying, "Wushang, don't go, don't go!"
Ji Wushang quickened his pace.
With a sharp "thud," Nan Xuzong, in his panic, fell to the ground! He was still calling out, "Wu Shang, come back."
Ji Wushang could no longer walk. He turned around and was surprised to see that he had fallen to the ground, lying face down with his head tilted to one side. He was trying to prop himself up and get up, but his legs were clearly weak and could not provide him with any support.
Ji Wushang stared, stunned. He seemed to have heard a sound like the sound of something falling to the ground, but it was so vague.
"Wu Shang, you didn't leave. Wu Shang, Wu Shang." He called urgently, raising his beautiful head to look at Ji Wu Shang, his hands supporting him on the ground.
Ji Wushang strode forward, "What are you doing?"
He muttered to himself for a while before finally uttering these words, which were half reproachful and half caring.
Nan Xuzong pursed his lips, "I...I'm afraid you'll get angry and leave."
Ji Wushang rolled her eyes at him, "I will leave eventually." But she still stepped forward, took his arm, and helped him up from the ground. Then she thought of pulling his wheelchair over, but saw that the wheelchair had fallen to the side. Ji Wushang looked at it with a dilemma.
He said, "Have you forgotten our story?"
She shuddered as she listened. Could it be that there was something between her and him that she had forgotten?
Ji Wushang supported him with one hand and tried to pull the wheelchair over with the other, but he couldn't reach it.
"Help me to sit down on the bench," Nan Xuzong said gently.
Ji Wushang glanced at him, nodded, suppressed the hatred in his heart, and then gently helped him to sit on the stone bench.
The talented person went to that wheelchair.
But then she heard the man behind her say, "I once told you that there's a button under the footrest of that wheelchair. You press it, then rotate it one full turn to the left, then two full turns. The wheelchair can then be put back in its original position perfectly. Wu Shang, have you really forgotten?"
Ji Wushang was stunned. He didn't know, he didn't know if he had forgotten... No, he wouldn't forget, he hated him, right? He wouldn't forget that hatred.
But Ji Wushang did as he said, and sure enough, the wheelchair that had fallen to the ground was quickly placed back on the ground intact, and she pushed it over. She quickly helped him sit in the wheelchair, and then left.
"Do you want me to help you sit up?" Ji Wushang asked, looking at him.
"Talk to me." His thin lips moved slightly. "There are dark spots under your skin. Maybe you're sick. Come, let me take a look."
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang narrowed his eyes slightly. "I'm not sick."
"I won't tolerate you." He spoke softly, the golden thread in his hand already wrapped around her right wrist. His internal strength was excellent, and he used two fingers of his other hand to touch the golden thread, listening to her pulse.
Ji Wushang was taken aback; this was the first time he had ever witnessed such a profound medical diagnosis. For a moment, he forgot to struggle.
His dark, deep eyes grew even more somber. He wasn't poisoned; his pulse was steady, and his heartbeat was normal. But why was he so cold towards me? Could he have been poisoned by some kind of Gu poison? No, if he were, I could definitely find out.
"How was it?" Ji Wushang looked at him. "I knew it, I was fine." Ji Wushang glared at him with a hint of anger, then thought about untying the gold thread.
"Don't touch it!" When Nan Xuzong saw her about to touch the gold thread, he immediately grabbed her left hand that was touching the gold thread and held it tightly.
Ji Wushang was stunned for a moment. "Why?" After asking, he noticed that his arm was being grabbed and immediately tried to break free. "You're hurting me."
"The golden thread contains my internal energy. If an ordinary person grabs it at this time, they will be injured. At best, they will suffer minor skin and flesh injuries; at worst, their meridians will be destroyed." Nan Xuzong glanced at her before releasing her hand.
With a tug, the gold thread was pulled back, and the two hands instinctively rolled it up.
"You're alright." Nan Xuzong looked at her face, "but the fact that you've forgotten what happened between us is a big deal. I, Nan Xuzong, will definitely help you remember!"
Ji Wushang was shocked. "What did you say? What do you mean you've forgotten what happened between us?"
Nan Xuzong looked at her and said, "No rush, I will help you remember slowly."
Ji Wushang stood there stunned for a moment, wondering what he should do.
"Help me to my wheelchair, it's getting late." Nan Xuzong looked at her. "Wu Shang, don't forget me. I will never let you forget me."
“No, I haven’t forgotten you, I… hate you.” Ji Wushang pondered for a long time before suddenly saying.
The moment he exited, even Ji Wushang felt as if his brain had been struck by a slap, let alone Nan Xuzong!
Nan Xuzong clenched his fists tightly, ignoring the gold threads that were deeply embedded in his skin. Blood seeped into the gold threads and began to flow.
Ji Wushang was stunned by the scene. Why was he happy to see him so dejected and lost? Didn't he hate him? He should be happy to see him bleed!
But I feel a little sad. Why? I feel so sad.
"Um, your hand..." Ji Wushang couldn't help but whisper.
Nan Xuzong narrowed his eyes, his fists still clenched. "Hate me? Fine, fine!" He said "fine" twice, his gaze becoming even sharper. Ji Wushang felt a surge of fear welling up inside him.
Ji Wushang stepped back and looked at him. He was like a lion about to rage, but he seemed to be imprisoned and locked in a small space, unable to break free of the shackles!
He suddenly pulled out a dagger from somewhere and threw it at Ji Wushang's feet. "Don't you hate me? Kill me and vent your anger." His thin lips pursed slightly. "Now is a good opportunity."