Chapter 32: A Promise Renewed
Wang Mei stood frozen, her heart shattering as she witnessed Chen Xui confess her love to Bao. The sight of them embracing, their lips meeting in a kiss, felt like a dagger to her heart. As soon as they noticed her presence, they quickly separated, and Chen Xui hurriedly left the room. Wang Mei's mouth opened in disbelief, tears streaming down her cheeks. "What about us?" she asked, her voice cracking with sorrow.
Bao, caught in the turmoil of emotions, struggled to find the right words. He knew that any explanation would fall on deaf ears. "What about us?" Wang Mei yelled, her voice rising with anguish, tears and mucus mingling on her cheeks. "Did you forget your promise from when we were young? Did you forget?"
"Mei..." Bao tried to speak, but she was already running out of the room, unwilling to hear anything he had to say. "Mei!" he called after her, but she didn't stop. The commotion drew the attention of everyone in the Wang mansion, except for General Wang and Haoyu, who were fast asleep. They rushed to see what was happening, but Wang Mei was already gone, leaving them in confusion.
Princess Hua glanced to her right and saw Chen Xui standing alone, her heart heavy with love and regret. She approached her, concern etched on her face. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, but Chen Xui could only burst into tears.
"I told Bao I love him," Chen Xui confessed, wiping her tears with Princess Hua's handkerchief. Princess Hua had known all along about Chen Xui's feelings for Bao. "Is that why Lady Mei ran away?" she asked, and Chen Xui nodded, her heart aching.
"Mei!" they heard Wang Wei calling out for her. "Let's go find her first," Princess Hua urged, taking Chen Xui's hand. That night, the entire Wang mansion searched for Mei, including the guards, who even checked the palace, only to be told she wasn't there.
"Look for her!" the Empress commanded, her voice echoing with authority. "All the Wang family will be punished if anything happens to her!" Her words hung heavily in the air, instilling a sense of urgency and fear among the family members. They exchanged worried glances, fully aware of the gravity of the situation.
They continued to call her name, but it was Bao who remembered the river garden the first place he had seen her. He rushed there, his heart pounding with worry.
As he arrived, he found her sitting by the river, singing a sorrowful tune, her voice filled with longing:
*Xiànzài wǒ kànzhe nǐ yuǎn qù, wǒ xūyào nǐ de yōngbào,
Xiǎngniàn nǐ de wēixi ào, xiǎngniàn nǐ de ài,
Nǐ ràng wǒ rùshuì, dāng wǒ xǐng lái shí nǐ què yuǎn zài tiān biān...*
Tears rolled down her cheeks as the melody flowed from her heart. Bao watched her for a moment, then shouted, "I love you! I love only you!" Wang Mei turned to look at him, her expression a mix of pain and disbelief.
"You love me, and yet you kissed her? You denied dating me! Did you forget the promise you made to me? You said you would marry me! Have you forgotten?" she yelled, her voice trembling with emotion.
Bao knelt on the ground, desperation in his eyes as he held Wang Mei close. "I remember the promise, Mei. When I was homeless, when Madam Yuan took me in, I never said I wouldn't marry you. I said we weren't dating."
"Then why did you kiss her?" Wang Mei's question left him momentarily speechless. He couldn't tell her it was because of an erotic book. He moved closer again, but she warned, "If you come any closer, I will jump into the river!"
In a moment of despair, she leaped into the water. Without thinking, Bao jumped in after her, pulling her out. "Wang Mei!" he called, panic rising as he laid her on the ground. Their clothes were dripping with water, clinging to their bodies, and the chill of the river seeped into their skin. She didn't respond, and fear gripped him. "Wang Mei, I love you. Please don't die!" he cried, tears streaming down his face.
Finally, she opened her eyes. "I'm not dying," she said softly. Relief washed over him, and he hugged her tightly, feeling her warmth against him despite their soaked clothes.
"Let's go to the river," Wang Wei suggested, and as they walked, Wang Mei spoke, "This is the first place we met." The river garden was in full bloom, petals dancing in the air as Bao watched the beautiful Wang Mei twirl, laughter mingling with the gentle breeze.
Not long after, Chen Xui and Princess Hua arrived, wheeling Wang Wei over. Their hearts were heavy, but seeing Wang Mei and Bao together brought them a sense of ease. Bao held Wang Mei close, their eyes locking in a moment of unspoken understanding.
"I..." Wang Mei began, but before she could finish, Bao leaned in and kissed her softly. The world around them faded away, and in that moment, nothing else mattered. It was a kiss filled with longing, regret, and a promise renewed.
As they separated, tears rolled down Wang Mei's cheeks. Bao gently wiped them away, and their lips met again, this time lingering longer, sealing their love with a vow that transcended words.
Princess Hua watched, a twinge of jealousy in her heart for Chen Xui, who was also feeling the weight of unspoken feelings for Bao. But she knew that love was not something one could control.
As the petals fell more abundantly, Bao lifted Wang Mei onto his back, carrying her toward the mansion, while Princess Hua wheeled Wang Wei beside them. The moment was sweet, filled with the promise of love and the hope of a future together.