Chapter 236 - Preparing To Return
Chapter 236: Preparing To Return
“Sang Wan,” Shi Fengju hugged her tightly and nuzzled his chin affectionately against her head before saying with a hearty laugh, “Sang Wan, I will treat you well forever, and I will never leave you!”
“En, I will also be your good wife.” Sang Wan’s lips curved up.
Peaceful days and an idle life. That was what she had always wanted, but right now, she felt like she could no longer control her heart anymore. Hearing those words from him, she could not help but feel happy, and a genuine happiness and warmth spread from within her heart.
In the blink of an eye, seven to eight days had passed. Physician Li took one last careful examination of Shi Fengju’s wounds before he cupped his fists and congratulated with a smile on his face, “Congratulations, Young Master, on your full recovery! In the future, you’ll have to take note to not get your leg injured again or walk too much as that might aggravate your injury. In half a year, you’ll be the same as before! I will prescribe you another two bottles of medication to remove the scars, you’ll have to apply it twice every day. As for the other medicines, you can stop taking them now!”
Everyone was elated upon hearing this piece of good news, and they congratulated Shi Fengju. Shi Fengju was the most delighted and personally sent Physician Li off before instructing Head Servant Zhang to prepare an expensive gift to express his appreciation. Not only that, all the servants who served Shi Fengju during this difficult time were heavily rewarded.
As for Sang Wan, she could not escape the fate of being passionately rewarded between the sheets that night after being abstinent for awhile. It was as wild and passionate as fire, and Sang Wan almost lost her mind.
When they finished and cleaned up, they hugged each other and went to sleep. Shi Fengju hugged the girl that was still weak and docile. When he lowered his head, he could immediately smell her unique scent and felt a sense of bliss. How he hoped that things would always remain this way, and that they would never have to part.
“Sang Wan, do you want to go to the capital? We aren’t far from the capital, why don’t I bring you there? The capital has some of our businesses, we can have a look around too.” Shi Fengju asked with the use of a pretext.
The capital where the Emperor resided bustled with life. It was a destination that every citizen looked forward to visiting once in their lifetime. Of course, Sang Wan was no different. Right now, Shi Fengju was tempting her softly with the places they could go and the beautiful sceneries there. This further enticed Sang Wan.
However, even if she was enticed, she could not say she wanted to go immediately.
Shi Fengju had been recuperating here for more than a month now. Even though they had sent two letters back to report their situation, however, how would Wang Shi be at ease not seeing her son with her own eyes? In her letter, she nagged Shi Fengju to quickly recuperate and return home. Shi Fengju was merely in a good mood now and might have forgotten about it.
Even if he could forget about it, Sang Wan could not. Not going home after recuperating, and bringing her to the capital? Wang Shi would definitely skin her alive when she returned.
“Let’s do that next time! Next time when you are going to the capital, we can go together. We should return home without delaying and let everyone at home see that you are fine. Even though Mother isn’t as worried now, how would she be at ease without seeing you?”
Shi Fengju was feeling a little unhappy at first upon being rejected. When he heard the end of her sentence, he was caught off guard but he remained unhappy. Knowing she was right, he could not find any words to rebut her as he had momentarily forgotten about it and suggested going to the capital instead. He naturally missed his mother at home too.
But for some reason, she always cared for others more than the times she cared for him. Even if that ‘others’ was just his mother, he felt very sour for some reason.
“Sang Wan you are too virtuous! You always think about Mother all the time. You are even better than me as a son. Tell me, should I respect you more?” Shi Fengju said in a fit.
Why does it sound so sarcastic? Sang Wan raised her eyes. Through the weak light coming through the curtains, she glanced at the expression of the man, and found it both amusing and infuriating. Seeing how he was mad, of course she would not throw a tantrum as it would only make things worse, so she pulled herself closer to him, and wrapped her arms around his neck before smiling, “Fengju, is it bad that I am virtuous? As a man, you have an extensive family business to maintain, and sometimes you will forget some things which I will then have to help remind you! Of course, I want to go to the capital with you, look at beautiful sceneries, and taste all the good food. I’d love to! But you just had something serious happen to you, shouldn’t you go home to let them know you’re safe and sound, and thank your ancestors for their protection? I know you didn’t forget Mother and suggested the visit impulsively. So even if I agreed with you, I’m afraid that you will have to apologize and rush home when you come to your senses tomorrow! So before that happens, I reminded you first. Yet from the way you spoke about me, it sounded like I am not being tactful enough!”
After she finished, she turned away and distanced herself from him.
How could he still be angry after hearing her? Seeing her pout her lips and express her grief before turning away, she looked pitiful and cute at the same time. He stretched his arm quickly and trapped her in his embrace before smiling, “I can’t win against you. No matter what you say, you make the most sense, and you are right! It is not that you aren’t tactful, it was just a slip of my tongue. If you were not thoughtful. I’m afraid I might have to go back on my words tomorrow and apologize to you. My good wife, I’m the one who’s wrong. I’m sorry, dear. Don’t be angry anymore, okay?”
Sang Wan wouldn’t dare to be angry at him. Upon hearing him, a giggle escaped her mouth, and she softly knocked against his chest and said, “It’s late at night, let’s go to sleep now!”
Shi Fengju held her hands and placed them on his lips as he kissed them gently before smiling, “Tomorrow, I will have them prepare the boat and we’ll make our way home the following day. Even though this place cannot be compared to the city, there is a temple near here. It is known to have answered many prayers. Not only that, their vegetarian banquet is delicious. The scenery there is also very serene. Since we’re here, we should at least visit that place. I’ll take you there tomorrow.”
This was a better suggestion. After being away from the Shi household for so long, they remained indoors for many days. The past few days when his leg was getting better, the two would occasionally make a trip out in the city to sightsee, but there wasn’t much meaning to just looking. It wasn’t bad to go for a walk tomorrow too.
Sang Wan nodded with a smile before the two went to sleep.
The next day when the sun was out, they did not dress up too excessively because it was only a trip to the temple. Shi Fengju wore a moon-white robe with dark bamboo leaves sewn on the collar. Encircling his waist was a silver waist belt. There was also a jade bracelet with a yellow tassel hanging from his waist. His footwear was a pair of pale white light boots. As for Sang Wan, she wore a pale coat and she matched it with a jade white undershirt and a pale green pleated skirt. Her hair was done simply and secured with a simple hairpin that was tinted with two or three small flowers. Her brows were drawn softly, and with some simple makeup, she looked fresh and graceful.
It was rare to be out today. Other than Head Servant Zhang, who led two other male servants to prepare the boats, the rest were tasked to accompany the two and they were in great spirits. Sang Wan and Fengju sat in the same carriage while Liu Ya and the other two women sat in the other carriage. Zhang Huan and the rest rode horses beside the carriages.
Ling Xin Temple was just ten miles away from the city centre, and built on top of Qiu Min hill. The hill was between two towering mountains, and Daxiong Pavillion sat on the tallest point of the hill. If Daxiong Pavillion was described as the seat, the two mountain ranges would be the armrest by the seat. This geographical position was the most auspicious as it gave off the eminence of a ruler. The pavilion overlooked a flat and wide arable rice field. Further beyond, there were more uneven mountains.
When the carriage halted at the bottom of the hill, Shi Fengju helped Sang Wan to put on a hat with a thin veil before helping her to get off the carriage. The veiled hat was extremely light, and the wearer could see clearly through the veil from inside, but her appearance would be carefully concealed from the eyes of others.
“There is still a distance from the peak! There isn’t much to see at the bottom of the hill either. We’ll start to see some beautiful scenery while going up the hill. Let’s take the sedan until we are near the temple gate.” Shi Fengju smiled and said.
At this moment, there were already a dozen sedan bearers waiting for business at the side. Seeing how they must be from a prestigious family, the sedan bearers did not dare to crowd around and try to get business. They just smiled politely at one side.
Sang Wan could see the sedans from where she stood. Two bamboo poles were joined to a bamboo seat in between, and the four sides were not covered with only the top sheltered. At the two sides were two thumb-size width bamboo poles shielding the sun and acting as the handholds.
Looking up at the pavilion up at the top of the steep hill, the road looked precariously narrow and winding. Sang Wan looked at the bamboo sedan and was a little worried. She smiled nervously, “This, will I fall from this?”
Shi Fengju laughed. Before he could say anything, a sedan bearer quickly smiled and answered, “Young Mistress, please do not worry, we walk this path at least three or four times a day and nothing has ever happened. It is very safe!”
“Don’t worry, they are very used to this. You’ll be safe.” Shi Fengju smiled and held her hands.
Sang Wan smiled and nodded her head. Shi Fengju waved his hand, and four people dashed over with two sedans. They placed it down carefully on the ground and said, “Young Master, Young Mistress, please get on!”
Shi Fengju helped Sang Wan up, before taking the other chair. The four bearers shouted “Go!” And they lifted the sedans up before walking up the hill slowly.
Liu Ya, Zhan Huan, and the rest followed behind.
As they walked, the bamboo sedan creaked softly. That made Sang Wan feel slightly nervous and she held onto the handholds for dear life. But after a while, she finally got used to it and relaxed her hands lightly. This made Shi Fengju, who was following her, chuckle and he instructed Liu Ya to follow beside her carefully.
Sang Wan calmed herself down, and raised her eyes to look around her. The hill was filled with greenery, and there were many different shapes and sizes of pine trees. The birds were flying around and chirping, and she could even hear the faint rumbling sounds of a waterfall. On the ground, there grew many different kinds of wildflowers blooming subtly like the stars in the night sky.
The breeze from the valley came brushing past, bringing the unique scent of pine trees, nourishing their lungs and bringing a peaceful atmosphere. The sun was shining through the thin fog, and the blue sky was clear and wide, it was indeed a good day for a trip.
After walking for half an hour and going past the first stone gate made by gigantic rocks, they arrived on a stone platform and Shi Fengju called for the bearers to stop. The bearers stopped walking and lowered the sedans slowly.