Upon reaching the outer chamber, Fu Ci dismissed the servants.
He wanted to take Jiang Wan’s hand, but she avoided it.
His outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and Fu Ci’s eyes instantly dimmed.
Bitter sorrow filled his heart. “Wanwan, I’m sorry. I have to break the promise I made to you.”
Jiang Wan did not look into his eyes. “You don’t need to apologize to me. You and Old Madam share a deep bond. The situation just now was perilous—if you hadn’t agreed, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”
At a time like this, Fu Ci would rather Jiang Wan argue with him or make a scene.
Not be as she was now, without any emotional fluctuation, as if she were an outsider.
He gripped Jiang Wan’s shoulders, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“Wanwan, if you’re unhappy, you can vent your feelings.”
Vent her feelings?
It was useless.
That was exactly what she had done in her past life.
Apart from losing herself and sacrificing her child’s life, she had gained nothing.
Seeing her remain silent, Fu Ci’s panic grew even more intense.
The grip on Jiang Wan’s shoulders unconsciously tightened.
“Wanwan, I had no choice.”
“I know, so I don’t blame you.”
Jiang Wan took a seat on a nearby chair, creating distance between herself and Fu Ci.
Her mind raced. If she took this opportunity to bring up leaving the Fu residence, would Fu Ci agree?
In just a moment, Jiang Wan made up her mind.
Even if Fu Ci disagreed, she would find a way to leave.
Disregarding his own dignity, Fu Ci knelt before Jiang Wan.
He took her hand. “Wanwan, what do you want? As long as you say it, I’ll agree.”
Apologies were the most useless things. Fu Ci wanted to make it up to Jiang Wan through action.
Jiang Wan did not make things difficult for Fu Ci, nor did she utter angry words like demanding the position of his lawful wife.
She understood in her heart that even if Fu Ci agreed and fought for her with all his might, there would be no good outcome for them.
The events of her past life had made it impossible for her to trust Fu Ci again.
And Fu Ci bore the heavy responsibility of his family—he could not abandon everything for her.
From the moment she became the daughter of a disgraced official, their relationship was doomed.
Rather than suffering together, it was better to let go and give each other a chance to live.
Fu Ci would no longer be torn between choices, and she could pursue the life she wanted.
Looking into Fu Ci’s eyes, Jiang Wan asked, “You’ll agree to whatever I want?”
Fu Ci immediately nodded. “As long as you say it, I’ll agree to anything.”
“I want to leave the Fu residence.”
Fu Ci doubted his own hearing. How could Wanwan possibly leave him?
They had promised to stay together for this lifetime.
His hand holding Jiang Wan’s trembled slightly.
Fu Ci forced a difficult smile. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said.”
This was the first time Jiang Wan had seen him act so shamelessly. She felt somewhat helpless. “A gentleman’s word is as good as gold.”
“Wanwan, you know I’ve never been a gentleman.”
“Fu Ci, I truly want to leave.”
“I don’t agree.”
“You just said you’d agree to whatever I wanted. How can you break your promise so soon?”
“Why do you want to leave? Is it because I’m going to marry?”
Jiang Wan was determined to leave and did not want any further entanglement with Fu Ci in the future.
It was better to make things clear once and for all.
“That’s part of the reason, but the main reason lies with me.”
Seeing Fu Ci about to speak, Jiang Wan said, “What I’m about to say now comes from my heart. If you don’t listen, I won’t say it again.”
Her expression was filled with seriousness.
Fu Ci thought of her unusual behavior and dared not interrupt Jiang Wan again.
He was afraid of angering her, causing her to distance herself further from him.
Even more, he feared that keeping these matters bottled up would worsen her heart condition.
He crouched before Jiang Wan, carefully holding her slender wrist.
“Don’t be angry. I’ll listen to whatever you say.”
Jiang Wan took a deep breath and continued, “From childhood, the Jiang family taught me how to be a proper wife. I originally thought that as long as I could be with you, being a concubine wouldn’t matter. But now, I regret it.”
“What is a concubine? You probably know—in the eyes of outsiders, she’s nothing more than a plaything. If she displeases her master, she can be sold off at any time.”
Fu Ci shook his head, “Don’t speak of yourself like that. In my heart, you are my wife.”
Jiang Wan suddenly laughed, “Fu Ci, when did you become so naive?”
“No one cares about what you think in your heart. As long as I remain a concubine for even a day, no one will respect me. Even if others hold back on the surface out of respect for you, behind your back, they’ll only speak more harshly.”
Fu Ci’s eyes reddened at the corners, “Is becoming the proper wife the only way for you to give up the thought of leaving?”
Jiang Wan shook her head, “Even if I became the proper wife, there would still be many problems between us. I’m tired. I don’t want to be trapped in these matters.”
“Then what about me? Are you abandoning me?”
At this moment, Fu Ci looked lost and helpless, completely unlike the decisive and powerful minister he was in court.
“Fu Ci, have you ever considered how I would feel, watching you marry another woman? Would I go mad? Would I become a woman you despise, one who only schemes and plots?”
Fu Ci couldn’t answer.
His mind was in chaos—on one side was Jiang Wan, on the other was his grandmother. He didn’t want to fail either of them.
But one thing was certain: he would not let Jiang Wan leave.
“Wanwan, don’t mention leaving again. I won’t agree.”
Jiang Wan softened her tone, speaking sincerely, “I don’t want to live a life of scheming and rivalry. I don’t want to fight for your attention or compete with others.”
“In the future, you’ll have a wife who satisfies your entire family. If you wish, you won’t lack concubines either.”
“There’s really no need for you to cling to me. For the sake of the affection we once shared, will you let me go?”
Somehow, one of her words struck a nerve in Fu Ci. His eyes took on an expression Jiang Wan couldn’t understand.
His grip on Jiang Wan’s hand tightened gradually as he said firmly, “As long as I live, you will always stay by my side.”
Jiang Wan had originally hoped to part with Fu Ci amicably, but seeing the madness in his expression now, she knew this path was no longer possible.
She would have to think of another way.
Not wanting to say more to Fu Ci, she stood up to leave.
But the man wrapped his arms around her waist, stopping her. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Let go.”
Fu Ci’s heart was filled with panic. “Don’t think about leaving again. I will never let go of you in this lifetime.”
Afraid of hearing words he didn’t want to hear from Jiang Wan, Fu Ci didn’t give her a chance to speak. Instead, he called for Qiu Yue.
“Escort Madam back to the West Courtyard. She is not allowed to leave!”
“Fu Ci, are you insane?”
“Yes, I am insane. So don’t think about leaving again. Otherwise, I don’t know what I might do.”
Jiang Wan was furious. Not only was he refusing to let her go, but he was also confining her to the courtyard.
Was it only when she clung to him, devoted herself entirely to him, fought for his attention, and was eventually cast aside by him that he would be satisfied?
“Auntie, let’s go first.”
Having nothing more to say to Fu Ci, Jiang Wan turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
Behind her, Fu Ci’s expression turned icy cold.
He could agree to anything else, but letting Jiang Wan leave—that was impossible!