Upon hearing this, Wen’er was all too eager and hastily agreed, despite being weary from a day of traveling. Brimming with excitement and full of energy, she waited for her master to teach her martial arts.
As soon as Mu Zhongqing’s family had departed, Nangong Yi began to instruct Wen’er. Amid their training session, he casually asked her why their family seemed so dispirited.
"It’s all because of Young Master Huo," Wen’er said, her lips pursed to display her displeasure, "All of a sudden, he left his position as prefect of Lin’an Prefecture and came to propose marriage to my dad and mom, intending to make my older sister his wife!"
Upon hearing that Huo Yuan had proposed to the Mu Family, Nangong Yi’s heart sank as if into a pit of ice. He stood there dumbfounded and unable to recover for a long while!
The thing he had feared had finally happened!
Someone had proposed to his darling girl. Her pure, jade-like body, her flower-like beauty, her charming personality, her every frown and smile, every gesture, every expression, were all to become someone else’s possession. This realization, like a sharp sword, pierced through his heart causing an unbearable pain.
He could not imagine her in the arms of another man, nor could he bear the thought of her serving another man. The mere notion of her sleeping on someone else’s couch, becoming their wife, providing for their home, bearing their children, tore at his heart like a razor, leaving him breathless with agony.
Although the Mu Family had not yet responded to this matter, Huo Yuan could offer her the status of official wife - which suits her marrying requirements. Moreover, she has always harbored favorable feelings towards him. She would probably agree to his proposal, wouldn’t she...
The pain in his heart intensified. He clenched his fists tightly, staring in the direction of her room, allowing himself to be consumed by bitter torment.
She was getting engaged—would soon become another man’s woman. Someone else’s tag would be placed on her, utterly severing him from her. Would they forget each other as if they had never met? But could he really let go of or forget her? He doubted it.
Or, should he disregard everything else and fight for her? Should he throw caution to the wind and take her back? But then, how would he deal with the serious consequences?
Not knowing how to deal with Wen’er, Nangong Yi walked back to his room like a sleepwalker. He fetched an old, pink belly wrap from his sleeve and began to fondle it.
This belly wrap was something he had stolen from her when they were in Yushu County City. He’d carried it with him all this while, often taking it out to occasionally play with it as a solace for his yearning. Originally, there had been a faint body scent on it, like a subtle, elegant orchid, but over time it slowly faded away. He wondered if his yearning for her would fade away like that scent, gradually disappearing with time. If not, how could he endure the agony of losing her? How would he survive the days of forgetting her?
Just the short period of two days and nights from Qingyun Town to Qing County during which he didn’t see her, had driven him to the brink of madness. If she were to become another man’s wife, and he could no longer meet or interact with her, what would the ruling of the world matter to him?
Nangong Yi paced restlessly back and forth in his room. Overwhelmed with agitation, he harbored the desire to kill. He wished he could kill Huo Yuan right now. This dishonest merchant had dared to steal the woman in his heart. His fury was uncontrollable!
As soon as Cai Wei got back to her room, Lady Du rushed over right on her heels, wanting to question her again. But Cai Wei dodged the questions, speaking evasively, neither admitting nor denying any feelings for Huo Yuan.
Although Lady Du wished to push, she knew better than to forcibly demand answers to such matters. After a few queries, seeing that she couldn’t get any answers, she made guesses and left.
Once her mother left, Cai Wei asked the shop assistant to bring bathwater. After a simple wash, she went to bed.
The day’s events had been unexpected, leaving her disturbed. Hence, even though she laid in bed for a long time, she couldn’t fall asleep and became increasingly tense instead. In the darkness, she kept her clear, black and white eyes wide open, turning restlessly, filled with distress.
By now, Nangong Yi must have been made aware of Big Brother Huo’s proposal. When he stopped Wen’er earlier, she had guessed what he must be curious about. She wondered, acknowledging his knowledge about the situation, whether he would give up, cease to see her, and finally they would forget one another. If that could really happen, she would be thankful!
The night deepened. After pondering for a long while, sleepiness gradually seeped in. She yawned, about to sleep when suddenly, there was a slight movement at the window. Immediately after, the window was opened, and a figure flew in.
Cai Wei gave a low shout. In fact, she had already recognized the intruder through the bright moonlight the moment the figure had leaped into the room, but instinctively, she’d still raised the question.
"Don’t be afraid, it’s me!"
Nangong Yi responded in a low voice. As soon as he entered the room, a strong smell of wine filled the air, pervading the entire room in an instant.
Cai Wei frowned in discomfort, sat up, staying under the covers, and asked in a low, irritated voice, "What are you doing here?"