Chapter 150: Accidental Discovery
Three days later, Gong Changan left home.
These three days were too rushed; there was packing to do, farewells to friends and family, and not even enough time to say goodbye to everyone individually.
That morning, many families who were usually close came to see him off, and their horse carriages filled half the street.
Gong Changan had already cried in Wen Mingqian’s room. At this moment, apart from his slightly red-rimmed eyes, his demeanor appeared very peaceful.
Everyone who saw him felt that this child was truly mature beyond his years, no wonder he could enter San Jing Academy.
Feng Tianzhu and Qiao Ziyu, among others, naturally came to see him off. Feng Tianzhu was crying, his nose running and tears streaming down his face.
He had fallen ill just the day before yesterday, and it was thanks to the little dog Gong Changan gave him that it was alert and clever enough to call Wu Shi before he fell ill.
“Good brother, you’re leaving again, and who knows how long it will be until we see each other again. Write to me often when you get there, and don’t forget about your brother.”
“Don’t worry, the bond between us brothers will never change. I will definitely return to see you as soon as I can get back to the Capital City. You must take care of yourself, and I’ll write to you when I arrive.” Gong Changan was actually very reluctant to part with his young brothers, but he knew his fate did not allow for lingering affections.
After bidding farewell to everyone, Gong Changan and Zhang Ma got into the carriage and left under everyone’s gaze.
Old Madam Gong did not see him off at the door, remaining in her room to shed tears.
This grandson was the one she had spent the least time with, yet he was the one she doted on the most.
Wen Mingqian and Sang Er saw Gong Changan off beyond the city. After giving him earnest advice, they truly parted ways.
Only when Gong Changan’s carriage was hidden by the trees did Sang Er softly say to Wen Mingqian, “Mother, let’s go back! It’s windy here, be careful not to catch a cold.”
“Let’s go back!” Wen Mingqian lowered the carriage curtain, her voice like a sigh.
“It’s still early anyway, Mother, why don’t we go for a stroll on the street? It might help clear your mind,” Sang Er said considerately.
“Then let’s go to Ming Jing Tower! The original cook is back there,” Wen Mingqian said, tightening her cape.
The weather had indeed turned cold, and at this time, a cup of warm wine was needed. Otherwise, with a lonely heart and body, how could one find solace?
The coachman drove the carriage to Ming Jing Tower. Sang Er was the first to alight and, after asking for the Shopkeeper, requested a Private Room on the second floor.
Afterward, she returned to help Wen Mingqian out of the carriage.
The weather was a bit overcast today, but the business in the restaurant was surprisingly good.
The restaurant had a fire dragon, and as soon as people entered, they felt warm all over.
With the aroma of wine wafting around, their moods couldn’t help but lighten.
“Sang Er, this place isn’t far from your Uncle’s. Go buy some Dim Sum and go see him,” Wen Mingqian said. “You haven’t seen him in a while, so have a meal with him and then come back to find me.”
“Alright,” Sang Er said, wrinkling her nose. “I really haven’t seen him in a long time.”
Saying this, she went downstairs.
Wen Mingqian was alone in the Private Room. Before long, the food and drink were all served.
The four dishes she ordered were the same as when she first came here. Looking at the Dish and smelling the aroma, she felt as if she had returned to many years ago.
“Madam, this is the skill of our restaurant’s Master Huang. Please enjoy,” the Waiter said solicitously before withdrawing.
Wen Mingqian picked up her chopsticks and tasted it. It was indeed the same flavor as back then. She couldn’t help but squint her eyes slightly and poured herself another cup of wine.
Indeed, some things change, while others do not. Those that brought her joy and pleasure, she would always love.
The warm wine went down, and she indeed felt warm all over. Wen Mingqian gently pushed open the Window, and snowflakes were already falling sparsely outside.
This was the first snow of the year.
“Changan and the others should be staying at Heyang Inn today. I hope tomorrow will be sunny and the snow will melt quickly.” She was thinking of her son, feeling both joy and sorrow.
“Sister, if you were still here, how wonderful it would be to drink together by the window.” Unconsciously, Wen Mingqian had finished a Pot of Wine.
She called the bartender over to refill the pot.
Meanwhile, Sang Er, after shopping on the street for a while and buying a few more Dim Sum, ambled her way towards her Uncle’s Silk Shop.
Entering through the Front door, she saw the shop assistants busy greeting customers, but her Uncle, Sang Sanyang, was nowhere to be seen.
“Where has this old fellow gone, not being in the shop?” Sang Er muttered, heading towards the Back Courtyard.
The front and back courtyards were originally connected, with a door in between that was never locked. But Sang Er found that the door was locked today.
“What’s he up to?” Sang Er pouted and took out a key from her person, easily unlocking it.
Perhaps it was because of the snow, but the Back Courtyard was exceptionally quiet.
Walking to the door, she reached out and pushed, only to find it bolted from the inside.
“This old fellow dares to sleep in on a cloudy day.” A mischievous thought struck Sang Er, wanting to scare her Uncle. “A single bolt can’t stop me!”
She picked up a bamboo branch from the courtyard and gently inserted it through the door crack, slowly lifting the bolt.
“Hee hee hee, I’ll startle you when I come in!” Sang Er chuckled mischievously.
Her Uncle and the other person were like oil and water, yet also intimately close.
She knew better than anyone where her Uncle kept his money.
She could take as much money as she wanted, and Sang Sanyang never stopped her.
However, they would start arguing after only a few words, unable to stand the sight of each other.
The doors and windows in the room were closed, and it was snowing, making it a bit dark.
Sang Er took a moment to adjust before she could see the scene in the room. In the outer room, a Tea Stove had a small fire, just enough to keep the Teapot warm.
The inner door was hung with a soft silk curtain embroidered with Mandarin Ducks playing in the water, a pattern Sang Sanyang had never hung before.
“Is this old widower feeling amorous?” Sang Er chuckled. “Shameless!”
She tiptoed into the inner room, only to be met with a wave of fragrance.
Sang Sanyang almost never burned incense. Had he started liking this now? Sang Er wrinkled her nose, slightly displeased.
Seeing the bed curtains drawn, she knew her Uncle must be sleeping.
Sang Er walked forward and abruptly pulled open the curtains, saying, “Sleeping in broad daylight, how shameless!”
As she shouted this, she finally saw the situation on the bed and couldn’t help but let out a startled cry, pulling her hand back. The bed curtains fell back into place.
In that brief moment, she had seen Sang Sanyang sleeping side-by-side with a woman, their clothes disheveled.
However, the woman’s face was mostly obscured by her messy Black hair, making her difficult to see clearly.
Sang Sanyang naturally woke up, becoming somewhat embarrassed and angry. He shouted, “Nonsense! Get out quickly!”
Sang Er had never seen such a scene before. She didn’t bother arguing with her Uncle and turned to run out.
Once outside, she felt her face burning as if it would bleed. The snowflakes that fell on her face instantly turned into water.
She stood in the snow for a long time before the shock gradually subsided, giving way to anger.
“You’re the one who’s shamelessly indulging in carnal pleasures in broad daylight, yet you’re yelling at me? I’m truly experiencing Bad Luck today, to have stumbled upon this scene.” Sang Er was extremely annoyed.
Despite this, she inexplicably felt that the woman looked familiar.
But for a moment, she couldn’t recall who it was.
