Free Web NovelChapter 199: Chapter 199: Not Daring to Face Mei Wanying
At this critical juncture, Pei Yan suddenly left the Mei residence.
Mrs. Mei was utterly confused. "Does he have urgent business? Ling hasn’t even had her first birthday ceremony yet. How could he just leave?"
Pei Yan doted on Ling so much. He wouldn’t leave unless it was an absolute emergency.
Mrs. Mei was certain of this.
Nanny Liu glanced outside and whispered, "It seems Ying and His Majesty had an argument. Something was off with both of them. The messenger said the Emperor was utterly distraught and even tripped over the threshold on his way out." freewebnovёl.ƈom
Aside from matters of the heart, Pei Yan’s composure was plain for all to see.
To see him in such a state was truly rare.
Mrs. Mei was taken aback. "What’s this all about?"
Nanny Liu shook her head. "The guest courtyard is heavily guarded. Only the two of them know what really happened."
Although Ah Yin never said anything explicitly, who could they possibly fool with the silent conversations they had with their eyes?
They were so obviously sweet on each other. How could they be fighting again in the blink of an eye?
’Didn’t they just make up...?’
Mrs. Mei couldn’t fathom Pei Yan’s thoughts, but she knew her own daughter.
She wouldn’t pick a fight without a good reason.
’Pei Yan must have done something to anger her.’
Mrs. Mei sighed. "I can’t understand the minds of young people anymore. I’ll just let them sort it out themselves."
She had seen everything Pei Yan had done for Ah Yin and Ling.
Mrs. Mei believed that Pei Yan would not harm the mother and daughter.
’It’s probably just a misunderstanding.’
’Things will be fine once it’s all cleared up.’
’Ah Yin and Pei Yan aren’t children anymore. They should be able to handle this themselves.’
She instructed Nanny Liu, "Go bring Ling here. It’s best she isn’t affected by her mother and father’s arguing."
The little one had just recovered from a serious illness, and Mrs. Mei doted on her immensely.
If Ling hadn’t wanted to be with her mother and father, Mrs. Mei would have raised her granddaughter in her own courtyard just so she could see her at all times.
With her orders, Nanny Liu went to Mei Wanying’s courtyard.
The moment she walked through the door, she heard Ling crying.
A jolt of anxiety went through her, and she quickened her pace. "What’s wrong? Why is Ling crying so hard?"
People were bustling in and out of the courtyard, carrying in numerous chests.
They were said to be birthday gifts from the Emperor for the Little Princess.
Nanny Liu took a hurried glance. There were gold, silver, and jade objects; valuable fabrics; books and paintings; and even land deeds... The collection had everything imaginable.
Even a princess born in the Capital City probably wouldn’t receive so many birthday gifts.
As she walked toward the room, she muttered to herself, ’Is he not going to celebrate Ling’s birthday with her?’
’Pei Yan has been in Jiangnan for so long. Even if he had to return to the Capital City, he wouldn’t be in such a hurry to leave on this very day.’
Nanny Liu’s heart hammered in her chest. ’It looks like they fought terribly...’
Pei Yan wasn’t the only one suffering because of this rift.
When Mei Wanying returned, she was still in turmoil.
Ling was in the courtyard, her hands held by a servant as she practiced walking. She had been giggling happily, but when she saw her mother crying, she burst into tears as well.
Her daughter’s cries made Mei Wanying’s tears flow even more freely.
’Pei Yan knew exactly what he’d done to her, yet he played dumb, trying to coax her back.’
’He’s rotten to the core!’
’If I hadn’t found out the truth, would he have lied to me forever?’
When Nanny Liu entered the room, she saw that both mother and daughter had cried their eyes red. Ling was reaching out with her tiny hands, trying to wipe away Mei Wanying’s tears.
She shot a look at the other servants in the room. "Don’t just stand here being an eyesore. Get out."
’Ying might look delicate, but she’s actually very proud.’
’She’ll be mortified later if people see her crying. It’s better to send everyone away.’
Nanny Liu tried to take Ling to comfort her, but the little one refused.
She clung to Mei Wanying’s neck, sobbing her heart out and calling for her "daddy."
In Ling’s mind, if her daddy was here, her mommy wouldn’t be crying.
Mei Wanying couldn’t explain the situation to her daughter. Hearing the little girl call for her daddy made her heart ache with a bitter pang.
’How could I ever erase all traces of Pei Yan?’
’He’s Ling’s biological father. That’s not a secret anymore. Is it too late to cut him out of our lives?’
Mei Wanying closed her eyes, and a warm tear slid silently from the corner of her eye.
Nanny Liu’s heart ached at the sight.
’This is the child I watched grow up, and she’s going to cry all her tears for the Emperor!’
She wrung out a damp cloth and gently dabbed at Mei Wanying’s face. "You can’t cry anymore. What will you do if you ruin your eyes?"
Then, she turned to wipe Ling’s tears.
’The little master is crying so hard,’ Nanny Liu thought, ’forget Ying, even I want to start crying.’
’I have to calm Ling down first.’
「Meanwhile」
Pei Yan walked out of the Mei Family’s old house, suddenly unsure of where to go.
He stared blankly at the old house’s plaque, feeling like a kite whose master had let the string go.
The one holding the string was Mei Wanying.
But she had severed the line with her own hands, forbidding him to ever come near again.
Pei Yan’s mind was in a haze. He felt like a rootless wanderer, drifting aimlessly.
’But just this morning, Ah Yin had embraced him on her own initiative...’
The fall from the heavens to the abyss—the sheer, staggering drop—threatened to consume Pei Yan whole.
His mind was in turmoil. He didn’t know where to go or what to do to win his beloved back.
Wei Jue said, "I’ve already sent people to deliver the birthday gifts you prepared to the Little Princess, Your Majesty. Are you preparing to depart for the Capital City?"
He could tell the two of them were at odds again.
’Weren’t they perfectly fine yesterday?’
Wei Jue thought, ’I wonder how long this will last. The days ahead are definitely not going to be easy for those of us who serve them.’
The last time Pei Yan came to Jiangnan, he had bought the residence across the street from the old house.
It was kept up by staff, so he could move in at any time.
In the past, Pei Yan would have stayed in Jiangnan and pestered Mei Wanying relentlessly until she finally relented.
But this time, he was afraid.
He was afraid of Mei Wanying’s tears, and even more afraid of the hatred in her eyes.
Pei Yan had never intended to deceive Mei Wanying, but he’d never revealed the truth precisely because he was afraid that she would hate him and push him away once she knew.
Now, his worst fears had come true.
Mei Wanying had torn away his facade with her own hands, revealing his true colors.
He was the one who had hurt Ah Yin.
Fear took root in his heart, spreading slowly through every fiber of his being.
Suddenly, Pei Yan didn’t dare to see Mei Wanying.
’As long as I don’t see her, I won’t have to see the hatred in her eyes.’
’If there’s no hatred, then maybe there’s still a chance for us to reconcile.’
Pei Yan feared neither heaven nor earth; the only thing he feared was losing Mei Wanying.
The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He told Wei Jue to relay a message. "Tell her not to cry. As long as she doesn’t want to see me, I won’t appear before her."
’I made a mistake. I deserve to be punished.’
’Ah Yin has been so wronged and has suffered so much.’
’I have to make it up to her, and then some.’
Then, an idea struck him. Pei Yan changed his mind and murmured, "I’ll write Ah Yin a letter."
He strode into the residence across the street and went straight to the study.
’Back in the Capital City, she conceived Ling after just one time.’
’I was so unrestrained with her recently... I wonder if she could be pregnant again?’
’If she is, would she keep the child?’
’I have to admit I was wrong. I have to let Ah Yin know that even if we don’t see each other, I’m waiting for her to come back to me.’
’Our bond isn’t broken.’
’I won’t be like a kite with a broken string, drifting away with the wind.’
’I’ll always be here. As long as Ah Yin gives the slightest tug on the string, I’ll come right back to her!’
