Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1234: Chapter 1236: Ashamed to See You_1

Fang Guizhi’s face suddenly turned as white as a sheet of paper, but she quickly looked away, slightly angry as she said, ”Who has been gossiping to you? Who would pursue me?”

That last sentence carried a hint of grievance, sounding immensely desolate. Bai Ruozhu’s heart ached, and she instantly softened.

She went over and put an arm around Fang Guizhi’s shoulder, speaking softly, ”It was because I saw someone’s silhouette that looked familiar, but then he hid himself, which is why I asked. Don’t overthink it. I’ve received a Holy Edict and will leave the Capital in five days, so I’m worried about you in case something happens.”

”You’re leaving the Capital? To do what?” Fang Guizhi became anxious upon hearing this, as if without Bai Ruozhu, she would lose her mainstay.

”The Emperor has decreed that Achun and I go to the Northwest to deal with the Plague, and it might take a long time before I can return,” Bai Ruozhu said with a sigh. She could not bear to leave her family and friends, but she owed it to Princess Diao Bin, and she could not defy the Imperial Decree, so she had to go to the Western Regions to welcome the Holy Virgin Fen Wan.

Fang Guizhi opened her mouth, wanting to persuade Bai Ruozhu to stay, but she also knew that an Imperial Decree could not be disobeyed. In the end, she could only say with reddening eyes, ”Then try to come back as soon as possible, take good care of yourself on the road, and I will often visit home to keep our parents company. You can rest assured about the Beauty Pavilion.”

Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but feel at ease; ever since she had left the management of the Beauty Pavilion to Guizhi, she hadn’t had to worry at all.

”Guizhi, do you still think about Qin Kaichang?” After hesitating for a long time, Bai Ruozhu finally asked.

”How could I? That man deceived me—it was only out of foolishness that I would think of him.” Fang Guizhi’s anger was palpable, but her eyes misted with tears.

Bai Ruozhu knew that Guizhi harbored hatred for Qin Kaichang, but she also couldn’t let go in her heart. This was the first time she had asked Guizhi such a question, afraid that it would make Guizhi suffer. Yet, judging from Guizhi’s reaction, it seemed she would no longer have anything to do with Qin Kaichang.

But who could that man be?

Guizhi bit her lip, hesitant as she said, ”Ruozhu, the person you saw seems to be Wa San.”

”What?” Bai Ruozhu was startled. Was that scholar-looking man Wa San?

But Wa San used to like Guizhi, and afterward, he left in dejection, saying he wanted to make something of himself in the world. Why had he run to the Capital? And why the disguise of a scholar?

”You saw him? How is he doing now? Since he’s come to the Capital, why hasn’t he visited the Bai Family? It would be good to catch up,” Bai Ruozhu said.

Fang Guizhi shook her head with a flushed face, ”How would I know? He’s just been secretly watching outside the Beauty Pavilion, not saying anything about coming in. After several such instances, the maids noticed him too. I went out to take a look, and he turned and hid. I couldn’t see him clearly, but my instincts tell me it’s definitely Wa San.”

”Every time I spot him, he quickly hides away, which is why the maids are gossiping that he’s coming to secretly watch me,” Fang Guizhi said with a slightly aggrieved tone.

Bai Ruozhu breathed a sigh of relief. Even if it were Wa San, it wouldn’t be a problem, so long as it wasn’t Qin Kaichang. But why was Wa San sneaking around? What had happened to him since leaving the Bai Family?

After saying goodbye to Guizhi, Bai Ruozhu immediately instructed Jianqi to notify the Commerce Association, and through the contacts in the Capital, they set out to locate Wa San.

By the next afternoon, Jianqi had brought Wa San to see Bai Ruozhu.

Wa San had become somewhat fairer, wearing a straight robe he quite possessed the air of a scholar, entirely different from the coachman he used to be. Bai Ruozhu had always felt that having him as a coachman was a waste of his talents, and now it seemed to be the case indeed.

However, at this moment, Wa San looked dejected, his face alternating between red and pale, not daring to look at Bai Ruozhu, his head hanging like a child who had done something wrong.

Bai Ruozhu suddenly felt amused, pursed her lips and laughed, saying, ”Why is it that after some days of not seeing each other, Wa San, you don’t recognize me anymore?”

Wa San was startled and quickly tried to kneel to greet Bai Ruozhu, but was stopped by Jianqi, who was ordered by Bai Ruozhu.

”Alright now, you are not our servant, how can you kneel so casually? We consider you a friend, even family. You say you come to the Capital City and don’t visit us, but go sneak peeks at Guizhi instead,” Bai Ruozhu said, unable to suppress her laughter. Back in Beiyu City, Wa San had always been particularly enthusiastic about Guizhi.

Wa San’s face turned even redder, his ears burning, as he lowered his head and said, ”I didn’t dare to visit. I, I...”

Wa San seemed at a loss for words, then let out a deep sigh.

Bai Ruozhu did not urge him, as the man had been caught and would have to explain himself anyway.

Wa San rubbed his hands together before he finally said, ”My family used to be fairly well off, we even had a horse farm from my ancestors, which is why I couldn’t sell myself—they are the reason I feared I would have no face to meet my deceased parents. After leaving the Bai Family, I wanted to make something of myself, so I took the silver the young lady gave me and went into the horse trading business. I know how to appraise and care for horses, and I soon made a sum of money.”

”Later, when I returned to my hometown to visit my parents’ graves, I happened to meet a distant relative I had lost contact with. He was conducting business in the Capital and, impressed with my family’s horse breeding techniques, recommended me to another distant relative in the Capital.” Wa San’s voice grew softer, ”I came to the Capital and sought refuge with that distant relative, starting to manage the horse business for him, but then it was not long before I heard that this relative had a conflict with the young lady’s family.”

Bai Ruozhu’s mouth twitched, ”The distant relative you’re speaking of wouldn’t happen to be Yang Tianhua, would it?”

Wa San almost shrank into a ball, ”I had no face to see you folks, and I owed him money so I had to work for him. Initially, when I saw that he no longer had conflicts with you, I secretly went to see Guizhi, but never expected that two days ago, he would clash with you again over the medicine field...”

”The world is indeed small,” sighed Bai Ruozhu. ”But it doesn’t matter. Yang Tianhua is Yang Tianhua, and you are you. His family has so many relatives, and it wouldn’t be right to call all his relatives bad people just because he is not good, would it? As long as you have not helped him do evil deeds and harm others, you are still Wa San.”

Upon hearing this, Wa San looked up sharply, ”Miss, you really don’t blame me?”

Bai Ruozhu smiled, ”You haven’t done anything to wrong us, so why should I blame you?”

”No, not at all; Yang Tianhua doesn’t even know I’m acquainted with you folks. I’ve never mentioned it. Although my life is better now than before, and I’ve made some profit, the weight of this matter has been pressing on my heart, and I haven’t had a day of peace,” Wa San admitted with some anguish.

Bai Ruozhu knew he was fundamentally an honest man and reflected on how the Yang Family’s arrogance could one day lead to them being dealt with by the Emperor, or perhaps Yang Tianhua himself could engage in something that would implicate the entire family to the extent of annihilation. If that were the case, wouldn’t Wa San be dragged down by the Yang Family?

”How much money do you owe the Yang Family? How did you incur the debt?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

”The Yang Family offered to repair the Wa Family Sect’s ancestral graves and they also refurbished my parents’ gravesites. I initially refused, but Yang Tianhua was very generous, telling me not to worry and that all I needed to do was to work well for him,” Wa San said gloomily.