Two days after Zhu Mingyang recused Yan Zhanjin from Cao Wenyan, he returned to Li Village. Zhu Mingyang is helping Yan Zhanjin flipping the dry herbal leaves. He saw Lao Yin coming towards him. He was very worried, because when Lao Yin came last time, he brought Cao Wenyan and the five colored mice with him.
Lao Yin called out and waved at Zhu Mingyang, "Ah Ming." He stood beside the bamboo fence. He smiled at Zhu Mingyang. "Ah Ming, is Yan yisheng at home?"
Zhu Mingyang, "Yes. Is in the back."
Lao Yin, "Tonight is my son's wedding. You and Yan Yisheng must attend tonight."
Zhu Mingyang, "Congratulation. I will let him know."
Lao Yin smiled and said, "You better show up too." He looked at Zhu Mingyang. "There are many beautiful ladies there." He walked away, stopped, and shouted at Zhu Mingyang. "Make sure the two of you are both there."
Yan Zhanjin walked out from behind the back room. He looked at Zhu Mingyang and asked, "Is that Lao Yin?"
Zhu Mingyang said, "He said tonight is his son's wedding banquet. He wants you to attend."
Yan Zhanjin, "Are you not going?"
Zhu Mingyang, "No, only you."
Yan Zhanjin, "Mingyang, I am sure he wants us to go together. Let us congratulate the new couple."
Zhu Mingyang, "I don't want to."
Yan Zhanjin, "Why not?"
Zhu Mingyang, "I hate wedding."
Yan Zhanjin, "If you want to move on, you must learn to accept the new environment. Let's go, if you don't like it, we can come back." He smiled at Zhu Mingyang. "When you want to leave, we will leave immediately. I won't ask any questions."
That night, Zhu Mingyang and Yan Zhanjin arrived at Lao Yin's home. There were thirty people there, including Zhu Mingyang and Yan Zhanjin. Everyone was drunk, congratulating the newlyweds.
Yan Zhanjin asked, "You are not drinking?"
Zhu Mingyang said, "As a guard, we are not allow to drink alcohol, so my alcohol intolerance is not good."
Yan Zhanjin poured a cup of wine for Zhu Mingyang. He smiled and said, "A little bit is good for you. Drinking too much is not good for you." He drank his cup of wine. "They look great together. Their children will be cute."
Zhu Mingyang clenched his fists. He looked at the people complementing the two couples. This scene is exactly the same as the wedding night of Gu Yingjie and Yuan Chaomei two years ago. He looked at the red decorations around the little house and it brought back memories.
Inside Gu Yingjie's room, Zhu Mingyang and Gu Yingjie were soaking in a huge underground hot tub.
Zhu Mingyang noticed that something was wrong with Gu Yingjie. He asked, "What's wrong?"
Gu Yingjie looked at Zhu Mingyang and said, "Father and I will visit the Yuan household in two days."
Zhu Mingyang, "I will pack ours clothes."
Gu Yingjie, "Father doesn't want you to go."
Zhu Mingyang, "Why not?"
Gu Yingjie looked at Zhu Mingyang and said sadly, "Our family is going there, and he wants me to see my future wife."
Zhu Mingyang moved forward facing Gu Yingjie. He grabbed Gu Yingjie's wrist forcefully and said, "How could you marry a wife, when you are mine?"
Gu Yingjie, "This is what father wants, not what I want."
Zhu Mingyang, "Yingjie, we promised to be like your grandfather and senior Lin, until we are old."
Gu Yingjie, "I intend to keep my promise." He pulled his hand away. "You know me best, you know why I stay in this family. The first reason is because of you. You sold yourself as a slave to this family. The second reason is because I want to know who ordered the killing of my mother. "
Zhu Mingyang said, "Yingjie, you can call me selfish, but I don't want you to marry anyone." He looked deeply into Gu Yingjie's eyes. "If you marry that woman, hell will break loose." He stood up and walked away angrily.
Gu Yingjie, "Mingyang…."
Zhu Mingyang began to drink, pouring one cup after another. Zhu Mingyang's actions were noticed by Yan Zhanjin.
Yan Zhanjin, "Mingyang, don't drink too much."
Zhu Mingyang refused to listen to him and continued to drink.
Gu Yingjie stared at the moon with a jug of wine. Since Zhu Mingyang left him, he has been drinking alone, forgetting that Zhu Mingyang is no longer there. He would call Zhu Mingyang's name then realized that Zhu Mingyang was no longer in the Gu Manor.
Yuan Chaomei put on him a white fur cloak. She looked at him, feeling very bad. She said, "Are you missing Zhu-xiong again?"
Gu Yingjie, "How do you know?"
Yuan Chaomei teased, "Of course I know, after all I am your wife." She looked at Gu Yingjie and smiled. She took his hand and said, "Yingjie, people treat us as husband and wife, but we know in our hearts that we treat each other as brothers and sisters. I am a woman, and so is your mother. I am three years older than you, so I treat you as my younger brother, the closest family member besides my sister. I want you to know that no mother in this world wants to see her son unhappy." She sighed. "If I had a choice like you, I would rather live a life without regrets than lie in death bed and regret it."
Gu Yingjie said sadly, "If I let go of revenge, how can I face my mother?"
Yuan Chaomei, "She will understand. Have you ever thought about why someone like her would let others bad mouth her? Have you ever thought about why she has a son without a father, and why she endured other people's ill stared? It's because of the word love, love makes her willing to wait. Love makes her strong and endured others' criticism."
Gu Yingjie, "I have many regrets in my life, I don't remember anymore." He sat down on the stool. "If I go, what will you do?"
Yuan Chaomei, "I still want to stay here. Like Zhu-xiong, I was sold as an item. I must do my part."
Gu Yingjie, "Thank you, Yuan xiaojie."
Yuan Chaomei smiled at him and said, "Go, use your horse, and you will be in Li Village in three hours."
Gu Yingjie smiled at Yuan Chaomei and grabbed his horse. He rode into the night heading toward Li Village.
Zhu Mingyang was drunk and talking nonsense, Yan Zhanjin decided to take Zhu Mingyang home.
Yan Zhanjin complained, "The first time I helped you this way was when you were about to die. Now, I must help you this way because you can't control your drinking." He opened the fence door. "Why can't you tell me what happened? Two ideas we can find a faster solution."
Zhu Mingyang looked at Yan Zhanjin and hugged him tightly. He said, "Yingjie…you are here."
Yan Zhanjin heard Zhu Mingyang soft spoken tone. A soft tone that he had never heard before from Zhu Mingyang. He knew that Zhu Mingyang had a tough life growing up. He felt sorry for him. He raised his arm and hold Zhu Mingyang. He replied, "I am here."
Zhu Mingyang said, "Please don't leave me."
Yan Zhanjin, "I won't leave you."
Gu Yingjie took the horse rope and slowly approached the house. At the door, Zhu Mingyang pulled himself away from Yan Zhanjin, and his forehead was placed on Yan Zhanjin's forehead. Then, Zhu Mingyang lowered down his head and kissed Yang Zhanjin's lips. He stood there for a while, watching the two kissing in the moonlight. Afterwards, the two walked into the house.
After Zhu Mingyang and Yan Zhanjin left, Gu Yingjie stood there for a while. He jumped onto Xiao Bai and rode away, returning back to the Gu Manor.