Although the Shen family business was not small, they were ultimately merchants. Their residence could not exceed three bays and five rafters, so it was not particularly large.
The distance from the main gate of the Shen residence to the main hall was only a few hundred meters.
Yet Xie Xuchuan felt as if he had walked for a very long time.
Ever since he received the successive news of Cui Yulin’s death and Jiang Wansu’s pregnancy, he had been unable to rest properly. Yesterday, he did not sleep at all.
Closing his eyes, his mind was a chaotic mess.
One moment, it was Cui Yulin, drenched and shivering, pitifully calling out that he was cold. The next, it was Jiang Wansu, cradling her belly and softly sobbing. Then, turning his gaze, it was Yuanzhu, lowering her eyes and asking him what he would do for Jiang Wansu if he did not agree.
Xie Xuchuan pressed his fingers against his temples, his expression dazed.
Before dawn today, he received a message from Zitang.
Jiang Wansu had asked Zitang to inform him that she would return to the Jiang family today to plead for punishment.
She also said that if she died, she entrusted him to collect her body and scatter the ashes of mother and child into the sea, so that their family could be reunited.
Because of him, Cui Yulin had met a tragic death. How could Xie Xuchuan bear to let Jiang Wansu and Yulin’s bloodline meet the same fate?
Ignoring his exhausted body, which had not rested for a long time, Xie Xuchuan hurried to the manor where Jiang Wansu was recuperating during her pregnancy.
Shortly after leaving the Xie residence, he encountered Jiang Wansu on the road.
A dull ache throbbed at his temples. Xie Xuchuan pressed hard against the side of his forehead.
He was still somewhat disoriented, his vision filled with images of Jiang Wansu crying.
He saw himself pulling Jiang Wansu, trying to stop her from returning to the Jiang family, but she was determined to go back and plead for punishment.
“My belly is not yet showing. Even if I return to the Jiang family and my father cannot accept it, even if he sentences me to death, outsiders will not notice anything. I can still preserve my reputation by dying.
“But if we delay any longer and my belly grows larger, the fetus will surely be forced out.
“Yulin has already ended up with a body not left whole in death. I do not want his last bloodline to meet the same fate.
“Xuchuan, let me go back. Let me take our child to find Yulin.”
Jiang Wansu sobbed between her tears. “Do you know that only the Yellow Springs is the destination for my family now? Please, let our family be reunited.”
After saying this, Jiang Wansu shook off Xie Xuchuan’s hand.
“Wansu, listen to me. I will not let you meet that fate.”
Xie Xuchuan’s eyes were bloodshot. “I promised Yulin that I would protect you and the child in your womb, safe and sound until he returned.
“Trust me in this matter. I will definitely give you an answer.”
The young man’s voice choked with emotion, tears pooling in his eyes, stubbornly refusing to blink them away.
Xie Xuchuan lowered his head, gripping Jiang Wansu’s wrist tightly. “Wansu, let’s not struggle on the street. Return to the manor. I will go to the Shen family today.”
Jiang Wansu remained silent, only weeping softly. It was Zitang who half-dragged, half-pulled her back into the carriage.
In the carriage, Jiang Wansu lifted the curtain, tears falling silently, her eyes filled with lifeless despair.
She was now frighteningly thin, with sunken cheeks and dark, swollen, red-rimmed eyes—each detail startling Xie Xuchuan’s heart.
Xie Xuchuan stood on the street, crying and pleading. “Please return to the manor first. I will go to the Shen family now. Today, I will definitely give you an answer.”
After saying this, he turned and walked toward the Shen residence.
Xie Xuchuan’s mind was left in complete turmoil. He was not even clear on how he had arrived at the Shen residence.
Now, he sat in the main hall of the Shen residence, a cup of hot tea placed beside him by a Shen family maid.
The lingering warmth burned his hand, and only then did Xie Xuchuan seem to regain a sliver of rationality.
From outside the door came the sound of cheerful conversation and laughter. Shen Yuanzhu’s gentle and soft voice reached his ears, refreshing as a clear stream.
Xie Xuchuan was taken aback, only now fully coming to his senses.
“Xuchuan graces us with his presence—could it be to discuss marriage with our Yuanzhu? Let me say this first: our Yuanzhu is not so easily won.”
Ye Yunyi entered the room, waving her handkerchief as she playfully teased the two of them.