Chapter 64: Chapter 64
After Lin Xu and Zu Shi left, Yan Mei just kicked herself in her room as she stood beside her window, staring at the sky above her.
Meanwhile, outside, her mother was broken-hearted. Turning to her husband, Old Madame Yan whispered, "She said she’s alright, but she doesn’t look it. Oh, what are we going to do? We have half of the village talking about the wedding. I invited all my friends, now I don’t even know what to say."
Sighing, Chief Yan calmed down his wife, "There’s nothing for us to be embarrassed about. We should be even thankful. What if they had gotten married? Our family would have been dragged down. Anything about the royal family we should try to avoid, the blood feud with noble families is just too gruesome."
"But what are we going to do now? Lin Xu may not find another suitor now. I know, I had a cousin last year, he has an interest in Yan Mei. I think I’ll send them a message... the year is running to an end, we have to find her a good match."
"Hmm... you have a good point." He nodded. Meanwhile, Yan Mei, who was inside, heard everything they said, and she only felt bitterness.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and the two couples sighed. Since they arrived, different people had been coming to check up on them.
"I’m coming!" Madame Yan walked towards the door and dragged it open, only to be taken aback by who she saw.
"Y-you? What are you doing here?" She asked as standing before her was none other than Fuhan, his lips joined together as he held a basket in red cloth in his arms.
"Good day, Madame Yan," his voice was deep and low, though Yan Mei from inside heard it immediately as she stood up and walked towards the door to hear better. She knew that voice better than anyone.
"Fuhan? What is he doing here?" Now she thought of it. She didn’t see him at all during the wedding, even after it ended she didn’t see either him or Mo Ying. So why was he here all of a sudden? Was he also here to check up on her? So many questions were running through her mind at that moment.
Standing up, Chief Yan walked toward his wife and Fuhan. He was also confused, "Fuhan? What brings you here? Is there anything you need?"
Hesitating for a moment, Fuhan then stepped aside slightly, giving them the chance to see what was behind him.
"What the—" Madame Yan’s mouth opened in surprise, and so did her husband’s. Behind Fuhan was a horse together with another four red boxes.
Bowing slightly, Fuhan said, "Chief Yan, Madame Yan, I know this is coming suddenly, but I would like to ask for Yan Mei’s hand in marriage!"
For a long moment, the courtyard was silent. Madame Yan blinked, her mouth slightly open. "W-what... did you just say?"
Fuhan bowed again, this time more firmly, his expression steady. "I know this may sound sudden, but I am here with sincerity. I wish to marry your daughter, Yan Mei."
Chief Yan stared at him, unsure whether to laugh or be angry. "Young man... do you even understand what you’re saying? After what happened today, after that chaos, you come here talking about marriage?"
Fuhan met his eyes. "Yes, I do. I know it’s sudden, but I mean every word."
Madame Yan looked down at the red boxes. The sight of them, perfectly wrapped and embroidered with gold thread, made her heart pound. They weren’t cheap. Each box was something only someone of high standing could afford.
"Young man," she asked carefully, "you said your name is Fuhan, right? Where do you come from? Who are your parents? I know you and Mo Ying are related, but we don’t even know anything about you."
Fuhan paused, his expression stiffening slightly. "I... cannot reveal that for now. But I swear to you, I have no bad intentions toward your family or Yan Mei. I just want a chance to take care of her."
"You can’t reveal?" Chief Yan frowned. "How are we supposed to give our daughter to a man who hides his own background?"
Before anyone could speak again, the door behind them creaked open.
"Fuhan?" Everyone turned. Yan Mei stood there in her pale blue robe, her hair half undone, her eyes slightly swollen from crying earlier. The moment she saw him, her body froze.
He looked at her the same way he had before, calm and somehow distant, yet something in his eyes softened as he met her gaze.
"You want to marry me?" she asked quietly.
As Fuhan hesitated slightly before nodding, "Yes... I want to ask for your hand in marri—"
"And why is that?" She cut him off, walking closer towards him. Seeing this, her parents moved to a corner to give them some space as they watched, Madame Yan actually enjoying this.
"W-well I-I..." Fuhan, at this point, didn’t know what to say as Yan Mei broke out in a sarcastic laugh.
"What exactly is your problem, Fuhan? What do you take me for exactly? I asked you if you would marry me the other time, but you refused plainly... now you arrive at my house claiming to want my hand? Why? Is it because I got embarrassed on my wedding!?"
She shouted and sobbed in between words as Fuhan just stared at her silently. He himself didn’t even know what to say.
"I don’t want pity from anyone, nor do I want to be with a man who is confused. I want to be happy and marry someone who loves me and knows my worth, and you, Fuhan, are far from it."
She turned around and faced her parents. "And for the both of you, I don’t want to say this again. I’m not interested in getting married. If I want to get married, I’ll do it when I’m ready and to who I want and love. You all have no right to dictate my life and tell me who I should spend the rest of my life with."
She said, her words hitting her parents like a rock as they both exchanged glances before she went into her room, took some things, and came out.
"For the time being, I will be staying with Lin Xu. Don’t come find me!"
With that, she turned around and left. Passing through the door, she gave Fuhan one last look before walking away.
Fuhan quickly bowed at her parents and went after her, taking hold of her hands as she stopped midway.
"Yan Mei... I will be going somewhere soon. I don’t know how long it will take before I come back, but please... wait for me." His voice was calm and soft as Yan Mei just stared at him, surprised.
This was the first time he had ever spoken to her so warmly; he was a completely different person. She wanted to ask what he meant, but he just pulled her in for a hug. His hands wrapped around her as he stroked her long brown hair as softly as he could, this action leaving her completely dazed.
And before she knew it, she found herself crying in his arms.