20demayo Chapter 92 The Search
Chapter 92 The Search
Xinghua Village, this tranquil and beautiful little village nestled among green hills and clear waters, is like a traditional Chinese ink painting. It's not only picturesque, but also Su Yuning's eternal home. However, returning to this familiar land now, her heart pounded with unease.
Along the way, Su Yuning followed Gu Wanfeng cautiously, like a child who had done something wrong. She was terrified of facing her parents, fearing their scolding because of what had happened before. Despite her inner turmoil and unease, she knew she had to go home eventually.
When they arrived at her doorstep, Su Yuning took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. Before she could even speak, she heard a warm greeting: "A rare guest indeed! Young Master Gu has arrived! Please come in, please come in!" It was Old Su, Su Yuning's father, who came out with a broad smile.
Old Su was all smiles, beckoning Gu Wanfeng inside while looking at his daughter hiding behind him with kind eyes. Seeing this, Su Yuning quickly stepped forward, bowed to her father, and then followed him into the house with her head bowed.
At that moment, the woman happened to be inside. As soon as she saw Mr. Gu arrive, she immediately put down what she was doing and quickly began to serve tea and water, wash fruit, and neatly arrange them in a fruit platter to entertain this distinguished guest.
Seeing how warm and thoughtful the hosts were, Gu Wanfeng felt a little embarrassed and quickly said with a smile, "Uncle and Aunt, you're too kind. There's no need to go to so much trouble, really."
Old Su waved his hand and replied cheerfully, "Not at all, it's the best thing that you came to see us. By the way, how are your parents? Have they introduced you to any new potential partners lately?"
Hearing this, Gu Wanfeng scratched the back of his head, a slightly embarrassed smile on his face, and replied, "No, they are all fine, thank you for your concern!" For a moment, a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere filled the room, and everyone chatted and laughed, as if all their worries had been temporarily thrown to the winds.
"What would you like to eat, young master? Just tell me, and I'll go to the kitchen right away and make you some delicious food." The woman asked gently with a warm smile on her face.
Gu Wanfeng, on the other hand, appeared very easygoing and down-to-earth. With a smile, he replied sincerely and honestly, "Auntie, there's no need for such trouble. Simple home-cooked meals are fine; I'm not a picky eater. Thank you so much, Auntie!"
Hearing this, the woman's smile widened, and she nodded repeatedly, saying, "Okay, okay, then Auntie will go cook now." As she spoke, she reached out and gently pulled her daughter, who was standing to the side, to her side, indicating that she should help out.
Just then, Ye Beichen rushed to the Su family's house. However, to his surprise, when he stepped into the Su family's gate, he found that no one came to pay him any attention.
Ye Beichen didn't feel embarrassed at all. Instead, he greeted Old Su, who was sitting in the house, with a smile: "Hello, Uncle! I've come here to visit you!"
Old Su, who had been leisurely sipping tea, looked up upon hearing the voice. But when he saw that it was Ye Beichen, his brows furrowed slightly, and his expression instantly darkened. Then, in a rather displeased and annoyed tone, he asked, "Young man, don't you know that you can't visit someone empty-handed? Don't you understand even the most basic etiquette?"
Faced with Old Su's sudden questioning, Ye Beichen was taken aback at first, then showed a hint of embarrassment. He scratched his head and quickly explained with a smile, "Oh dear, I'm so sorry, Uncle! I probably forgot for a moment. But please rest assured, I will definitely make up for this gift next time I come."
To his surprise, Old Su didn't buy it at all. He waved his hand dismissively and said impatiently, "Forget it! Don't wait until next time. Our family doesn't welcome people like you who don't know any manners. You'd better go back now!"
Just then, Ye Beichen's handsome face contorted with extreme grievance, and his eyes quickly filled with tears, as if they were about to spill over at any moment. His voice trembled with sobs as he said, "Uncle, you weren't like this to me before! Back then, you always praised me, saying I was clever, handsome, and even promised to make me your future son-in-law. But now, why are you treating me like a completely different person?"
Seeing Ye Beichen's pitiful and embarrassed appearance, Gu Wanfeng, standing to the side, couldn't help but cover his mouth, afraid that he would burst out laughing. However, his slightly trembling shoulders betrayed his true thoughts.
Hearing Ye Beichen's words, Old Su, already furious, became even more enraged. His eyes widened, his face flushed, and he pointed a finger directly at Ye Beichen, shouting, "You, Ye Beichen! How dare you bring this up! You shameless bastard! You clearly have another woman outside, yet you still dared to write a letter of divorce to my precious daughter! Do you have no shame at all?! You actually dared to come here to see me today, do you really think I wouldn't dare to deal with you?!"
Just then, Gu Wanfeng rushed forward in a hurry, her face full of anxiety, and hurriedly advised, "Oh, Uncle! Please don't be angry anymore, calm down. Those are all things of the past, let them go with the wind, don't hold grudges anymore! You know, being angry all the time can seriously affect your health!" Hearing these words, Old Su's expression, which had been furious and ashen-faced, finally softened a little. He sighed slightly and nodded helplessly, saying, "Alright, alright, since you've said so, then I won't hold it against you anymore."
Meanwhile, Ye Beichen stood solemnly to the side, his gaze unwavering. He solemnly raised his right hand and solemnly swore to the sky, "I swear to heaven that in this life and the next, I will only ever be devoted to Su Yuning, without any second thoughts, and I will never fail your high expectations! If I utter even a single falsehood, may I be struck by lightning!" However, faced with Ye Beichen's sincere vow, Old Su merely raised the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a disdainful sneer, and asked with a hint of mockery, "Hmph, your words are more eloquent than your actions! What about your pregnant concubine? Are you just going to abandon her like this?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Beichen's face instantly turned ashen, his eyes filled with deep pain and sorrow. He slowly lowered his head, his voice low and hoarse as he replied, "She...she unfortunately miscarried, and then we parted ways." After saying this, he seemed utterly dejected, as if his soul had been ripped from his body. Seeing Ye Beichen like this, Old Su felt a surge of sympathy. He gently patted his shoulder, his tone softening slightly as he comforted him, "Let bygones be bygones. Since it's a fact, we don't need to dwell on it anymore. I hope that from now on, you can truly keep your promise and treat my daughter well."
Ye Beichen nodded repeatedly and replied, "Okay, I will definitely do it. Please trust me, Uncle!" His gaze was firm and sincere, as if he had already engraved the promise deep in his heart.
The table was laden with a dazzling array of delicious dishes, making one's mouth water. The plate of spicy chicken gizzards, cut into uniform sizes and coated with a layer of bright red chili powder, emitted an enticing aroma; the mapo tofu was a vibrant red, the perfect combination of Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers sending shivers down one's spine; the clear broth meatballs, like round pearls, floated in the crystal-clear soup, releasing a subtle meaty fragrance.
There's also stir-fried bean sprouts with pork, where the bean sprouts are crisp and refreshing, and the pork is tender and juicy, the two complementing each other perfectly; the radish balls are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and with one bite, the fragrance of radish instantly fills your mouth; the stir-fried pork with chili peppers is fragrant and charred, and the spiciness of the green peppers stimulates your taste buds; the braised chicken with mushrooms is fragrant, the chicken is stewed to perfection and melts in your mouth, and the mushrooms have absorbed the rich chicken broth; the braised fish is bright red, the skin is fried to a golden and crispy color, and the fish meat is tender and flavorful; the sweet and sour pork is delicious, and the outer batter is fried to a golden and fluffy color; the shepherd's purse stir-fried with eggs is a refreshing combination of yellow and green. In addition, there is steaming hot, plump, and fragrant rice.
Around the lively dinner table, Old Su and the woman kept piling various dishes into Gu Wanfeng's bowl, their faces beaming with warm smiles. Their affection for Gu Wanfeng was palpable, a scene that made Ye Beichen, sitting nearby, feel a pang of jealousy. However, the understanding Su Yuning noticed Ye Beichen's slight mood. She smiled, picked up her chopsticks, and proactively placed some of his favorite dishes into his bowl, taking care of his feelings. Seeing Su Yuning's thoughtful gesture, Ye Beichen's jealousy dissipated considerably, and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
After lunch, everyone rested for a while, and then the young people happily went to town to stroll around and have fun. Along the way, they chatted and laughed, fully enjoying this relaxed and pleasant time.
Meanwhile, in the bustling city, Nangong Xue'er's adorable son was happily accompanying the Empress Dowager to the market. However, in the blink of an eye, the little guy vanished without a trace, like a mischievous rabbit. This sudden turn of events threw the Empress Dowager into a panic, completely losing her usual composure and calm.
The Empress Dowager frantically called out the young prince's name, her voice trembling slightly with tension: "Young prince, where are you? Come out quickly!" She urged her attendants to search the entire market, but they could not find the young prince.
Left with no other choice, the Empress Dowager, filled with remorse, confessed her mistake to Nangong Xue'er. Upon hearing this news, Nangong Xue'er was struck dumb; her body swayed violently, and she stumbled and fell to the ground. She tried to struggle to her feet, but her legs felt as if all the strength had been drained from them, limp and powerless. She lay on the ground for a long time, still unable to stand.
Although the mistake wasn't her fault, as a mother, Nangong Xue'er's heart was already filled with endless worry and fear. After all, this little prince was her first child, the apple of her eye. If she didn't receive any news about the child, she truly couldn't imagine how she would get through the days to come.
Just then, Zhao Shouyi learned of the matter and rushed from the main hall in a great hurry. His face was solemn, and fine beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead. As soon as he arrived at the scene, he couldn't wait to ask the Empress Dowager for the details of the incident.
"Mother, what's wrong with the little prince? Tell me quickly!" Zhao Shouyi's voice was like a thunderclap piercing the sky, his urgent and low tone carrying an undisguised anxiety, as if the whole world was hanging by a thread. He stared wide-eyed at the Empress Dowager, veins bulging on his forehead, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists.
The Empress Dowager wept bitterly, her face streaked with tears, and sobbed as she replied, "The little prince... is missing. It's all my fault. I didn't watch the child properly... Waaah..." As she spoke, she wiped away the tears that kept rolling down her face with a handkerchief, looking extremely self-reproachful and regretful.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shouyi was instantly enraged. He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Then how dare you come back? Go find them! What are you all standing there for?" His voice was deafening, and everyone present trembled in fear.
Before she could finish speaking, the Empress Dowager hurriedly turned and left, ordering her maids and eunuchs to search for the young prince. Meanwhile, Nangong Xue'er, not daring to delay, immediately led a group of people out the door to begin a tense search.