Three days after Zhao Renshu and Ping'an returned home, Ping'an did very little in the house. She lay in bed all day. She just gets up to cook, wash her clothes and go to the toilet. Then she locked herself in the room. She didn't talk much with Zhao Renshu. She spent her days inside her room. Every time Zhao Renshu peeked through the window, she would lie on the bed.
Zhao Renshu brought two plates of food into Ping'an's room. He put the food on the table and sat on the edge of the bed. He felt Ping'an's forehead.
Zhao Renshu, "Are you feeling okay? You have a fever."
Ping'an, "I am tired. Please let me sleep."
Zhao Renshu, "I'll go boil some medicine for you. The last time when Baiyu was here he gathered some herbals medicine...." He looked at her and he saw tears dripped from her closed eyes. "I'm sorry, I will go boil the medicine."
The Guo family are in the main dining room. Except for Guo Baiyu, everyone was very happy. Everyone are enjoying the food.
Master Guo, "Baiyu, is the food not good?"
Guo Baiyu did not answer.
Guo Mingyu whispered, "Da ge, father is talking to you."
Still no response.
Master Guo shouted, "Baiyu!"
Guo Baiyu looked at his father, "I'm sorry, what is it?"
Master Guo, "I ask why you don't eat, the food is not good or what?"
Guo Baiyu, "Very good."
Second lady Guo, "Maybe he thinks too much about the wedding?"
Fourth Lady Guo, "Yingyu is getting marry too, he is not even spacing out?"
Grand lady Guo, "He is very lucky that Lady Wu Xiangmei picked him. You should be happy that you will soon become the son of one of the richest family in Capital City."
Second Lady Guo, "It is really sad that Baiyu's mother is not around to see how successful he is now. Who would have thought that a lowly woman like her would have such a successful son and become the heir of Guo family. In her past life, she might had done too little merits that is why she didn't live long enough to see her son's success."
Fourth Lady Guo, "Yes, Yingyu is not as lucky as him. In everything, he is always inferior to Baiyu."
Master Guo, "In any case, Baiyu must marry lady Wu. As Wu's business partners, we can survive. If Baiyu and Yingyu do not marry the two ladies Wu, we will have to compete with them and other business owners. Think about all the money we will lose and they pocket."
Guo Baiyu could no longer stand their assaults, "I don't want to marry lady Wu."
Everyone gasped.
Master Guo asked angrily, "What do you say?"
Guo Baiyu, "I said, I don't want to marry Lady Wu."
Master Guo shouted, "You must marry her. If you don't marry her, she will choose another family and we will lose this partnership. You have no choice."
Guo Baiyu, "Do you care if I am happy?"
Master Guo, "Money is happiness. You have money and everyone is below you."
Guo Baiyu shook his head, "I am not suitable for lady Wu. There are still Jinyu, Hongyu, Heiyu, even Longtong. Why is it me?"
Master Guo, "Because Miss Wu chose you."
Guo Baiyu, "Just because she chose me, I have can't say anything about it? What if I don't love her? What if I have another woman?"
Master Guo shouted angrily, "I forbid you to meet the other woman. If I knew you left lady Wu for another woman, I would kick you out of our family."
Guo Baiyu stood up.
Master Guo walked to him and shouted, "Remember, I love you because you have made a great contribution to this family. If you have done anything shameful, I will disown you." He pointed his finger right at Guo Baiyu's right temple.
First, second, and fourth ladies Guo all giggled.
Guo Baiyu lowered his head, "Don't worry, she didn't choose me." He walked away. Xiao Mei followed him.
After Guo Baiyu left, Master Guo said angrily, "I am heading out. The wedding ceremony will change to the end of this month."
Guo Baiyu walked to his small courtyard. He went directly to the study room. He took out a small box. Xiao Mei stood beside him. Guo Baiyu took out a letter from the box and burned it.
Xiao Mei, "Young Master Guo, what you are burning?"
Guo Baiyu smiled, "Xiao Mei is your servant contract. I burned it, which means you have no obligation to this family. You are a free woman."
Xiao Mei, "Young master, did you do this because Sister Ping'an didn't choose you?"
Guo Baiyu, "Xiao Mei, even if she choose me. I can't not make her happy. I feel relieved she didn't choose me. "
Xiao Mei, "Young master, why do you want to stay if you are unhappy? Brother Renshu once told me that "It doesn't matter where yours beginning start, you must live to the fullest because that is the most important part of living" This sentence made me maintained a positive view of the world. I know the relationship between you, Sister Ping'an, and Brother Renshu."
Guo Baiyu, "How?"
Xiao Mei said shyly, "I was there outside the door that night." She looked at Guo Baiyu. "Young Master, if you are happy to establish this relationship with them, then you don't have to care what others say. I know for sure sister Ping'an will not care and brother Renshu won't care either. I think sister Ping'an decided not to choose you is not because she does not love you, but I believe that she does not want to be the reason why you ruin your life's achievements because of her."
Guo Baiyu, "Now it seem like your thinking are more clear than mine."
Xiao Mei, "Young Master, if everyone is happy, then you should also be happy. This family is evil in nature. Once you are no longer valuable to them, they will cut your losses. I can promise If you walk out of here and go with sister Ping'an and brother Renshu, wearing only the clothes you wear, they will not look down on you."
Guo Baiyu smiled, "Thank you for your kind words." He handed the small chest-box to Xiao Mei. "Take the money and leave. You can leave tomorrow, this is an order."
Xiao Mei, "But young master, it will be your wedding in two days. I want to see you..."
Guo Baiyu, "This is the occasion I don't want you to be here."
Xiao Mei, "I know. I am leaving tomorrow morning. Thank you for everything you have done for me, young master."
Guo Baiyu smiled at her.
When Zhao Renshu was cleaning the dead flowers outside Ping'an's room. He smelled a strong medicine odor. In the end, Zhao Renshu learned that Ping'an did not drink the medicine. She threw it here, and the medicine killed the flower.
Since their return from Capital City, Ping'an has not eaten much. What she does every day is hidden in her room. In the past three weeks, she did not say more than ten words to him. Yes, he made the mistake of kissing Qingge, but he didn't deserve this treatment. He pushed the door hard to Ping'an room hard. He saw that Ping'an still lying in bed with her eyes closed, which make him angrier. He began to pack her clothes.
Ping'an opened her eyes, "Renshu, what are you doing?"
Zhao Renshu, "Bring you back to lover."
Ping'an was confused, "What are you talking about?" She sat up with a headache. "Where are we going?"
Zhao Renshu looked at her angrily, "I am taking you to your lover."
Ping'an, "Renshu, I won't go. I didn't choose him."
Zhao Renshu, "You didn't said you choose me either. You stay here miserably, cry every day, pour the medicine out the window, and don't eat. In the past three weeks, you have said no more than ten words to me. What do you want to take me? Because you love him and want to be with him, why choose to come back here with me? Because without him, you can't live happily, why come back here with me? I don't want your pity!"
Tears shed from Ping'an's face, "I never said that I love him more than you."
Zhao Renshu scoffed angrily, "Your actions show that you love him more. This place no longer welcomes you. Your heart is not here, so you should not be here." He tied her bag. He looked at her holding his tear. "I love you Ping'an. I know I will never undo my mistake. I will always carry that guilt with me. I want my lively Ping'an. The one that always make me happy. The one that takes away my anger and worries with just a smile. The one that don't have that sad face. Now get up!" He grabbed her right hand and dragged her out of the door.
The lovers drove their horse carriage nonstop for one day and one night until they reached Capital City's gate. It is early in the morning. Capital City gate has just opened. Zhao Renshu stopped the horse carriage in front of the resident of the Gou family.
The door has been decorated with a red bow. The two big lion statues at the front door have two big red bows tied around their necks.
Zhao Renshu pulled Ping'an out of the carriage and dragged her to the front door.
Ping'an pleaded, "Stop. I won't go in. Please...give me the smallest dignity I have left as a human being. I beg you..."
Zhao Renshu, "Fine, you sit here." He pushed her down at the foot of one lion statue.
The door greeter, "You can't sit here."
Zhao Renshu shouted angrily, "Shut up." He pushed the door greeter away.
The door greeter chased after Zhao Renshu, "You can't enter without an invitation."
Zhao Renshu shouted angrily, "GUO BAIYU! COME OUT!"
Ten guards rushed out with Master Guo, the Guo brothers, and the ladies.
Master Guo, "Who are you? Why do you cause trouble in the morning?"
Zhao Renshu shouted angrily, "SHUT UP OLD MAN!" He looked straight at Guo Baiyu. "Guo Baiyu, I brought Ping'an here to you today. You will marry her today."
Grand Lady Guo, "How dare you?"
Zhao Renshu said angrily, "As a man, if you do wrong to her, are you responsible for it?"
Guo Baiyu, "She chose you. Why are you with her?"
Zhao Renshu, "She loves you and chose you in her heart. I am her escape goat. Since we left, she has not eaten or drink. She has a fever, and she is sitting outside waiting for you. Back home, all she did was lay on the bed crying. She lost all hope because she loved you so much."
Guo Baiyu, "Renshu, she does all that for you at Border Towns. You can go back now."
Zhao Renshu gritted his teeth angrily, "I am taking you with me today. Mark my words, anyone who dares to stop me, I will crush them to the ground."
Guo Longtong just got in, "Zhao-xiong, please, today should be a happy day."
Zhao Renshu said angrily, "It would be a happy day if Baiyu married Ping'an. Otherwise, it would be a very sad day."
Master Guo ordered, "Guards take him down."
Zhao Renshu smirked at the ten guards.
Guo Longtong turned to Master Guo worriedly, "Uncle, let your guard stand down. They are no match for him. He can kill many demon creatures alone."
Guo Yingyu pointed his finger at Zhao Renshu, "Don't think that you can put spells on everyone or think that you are above the law."
Zhao Renshu gritted his teeth angrily, "Try me." He held up his palm and a blue talisman floated on his right palm, and hundreds of icicles appeared rapidly aimed at everyone except Guo Longtong. Except for Guo Baiyu, everyone's face turned pale and was very scared.
Guo Longtong panicked, "Zhao-xiong, how about we go out and meet with Ping'an. If she insists on marrying Baiyu, we can talk about it, but if she refuses, then you two can go home or stay as our honorable guests. "
Grand Lady Guo, "Don't act to harshly, young hunter."
Zhao Renshu said madly, "Fine." He crushed the blue talisman and all the icicles disappeared.
There are many memories in Ping'an's heart. She saw people walking by. She saw a mother and a father holding their child's hands. She wondered, what she did wrong, and she didn't even have a chance to get this kind of love. Think about it, she recalled that when she was about six years old, she happened to break one of the plates. Her father whipped her ten times and bleeds for two days. It took fifteen days for the wound to heal. There are still those faded scars on her back. Ping'an stood up, with tears in his eyes, and walked into the street. In her memory, she recalled the most painful memories of childhood and growing up.
Xiao Ping'an cried into Xiong Grandma's arms.
Xiong Grandma, "What's wrong? My dear, why are you bleeding?"
Little Ping'an cried, "Grandma, if I am not his daughter, please tell me the truth."
Xiong Grandma, "Yes, you are."
Little Ping'an cried, "Then why doesn't he love me like he love Lifeng?"
Xiong Grandma comforted, "Oh, Xiao Ping'an, you still have a long life ahead of you. You must grow up strong because there is a lot of love waiting for you."
Little Ping'an, "Really?"
Xiong Grandma coaxed, "Xiao Ping'an, remembering everything you endured today will make you stronger. When he yells at you, you pretend not to hear him, and you won't make him angry. If he shout enough, he will stop and walk away."
Little Ping'an sobbed and said, "I just want a hug from him. I just want a little love from him. Am I asking too much?"
Xiong Grandma, "Xiao Ping'an, we should be happy of what we have."
Little Ping'an sobbed loudly, "Grandmother, how come nobody loves me?" She continued sobbing inside Xiong grandma arms.
Xiong Grandma, "Silly girl, I will always love you. Remember that the matchmaker in heaven will not let my sweet Xiao Ping'an be alone."
Little Ping'an wiped he tears, "What is a match maker in Heaven?"
Xiong Grandma laughed, "You will know when you grow up." She patted gently on the back of her head.
That little flashback shed more tears in Ping'an's eyes. Since she was very young, the only person who loved her unconditionally was her grandmother until she met Guo Baiyu and Zhao Renshu. They changed her life. They gave her a second chance at life. In the past two and a half years, she felt the happiest. The deep scars have won the battle of life and death. Even though she was thinking about her happiest moment, the constant verbal abuse from her father and stepmother came to mind. She still remembers that when she was about ten years old, she was punished by kneeling down all day because Xiong Lifeng's cat happened to fall down the stairs to his death.
Boss Xiong shouted, "You are a child of the devil. Everything around you is dead or broken. What did the Xiong family do to deserve someone like you?"
Or that one time when the rapist took her grandmother as hostage.
Boss Xiong pushed her forward like a piece of trash into the arm of a rapist, "Go replace your grandmother."
Or when they were at the forbidden wood.
Boss Xiong shouted, "I curse you to die a horrible death."
Or that time in the private dinner room when Zhao Renshu asked Guo Baiyu, and he replied he will marry Lady Wu within two months.
Or that time when she looked Zhao Renshu in the eyes in Border Towns festival and he answered her that if there is no her we may have picked Miss Hu.
She reached the riverbank.
She stared at the river with tears and smiled and said, "Just like you said grandmother, we should be happy for what we have. I have been very happy for the past two and a half years, but all happy moments must end... Wait for me." She untied her belt and tied it to her right ankle. Then tie the other end of the belt to a small stone the size of a pumpkin. She picked up the stone and walked further and further into the river. Finally, she despaired underwater.
Sparks flickered, and then a woman in a green dress appeared on the river bank