Her grandmother looked at Si Zhan with gratitude and then took Ning Wanwan’s hand. “You can see Grandmother often, but staying isn’t possible. After a woman marries, she belongs to another family. Returning home right after marriage would lead to gossip about being an abandoned wife.”
Ning Wanwan nodded, “Okay, I’ll just come back to see Grandmother often.”
After chatting for a while, it was time for lunch. Ning Wanwan helped her grandmother to the Jade Hall for an afternoon rest.
“Taking care of the old madam is my duty as an old servant,” Chang Mama said, handing a box to Ning Wanwan with a smile. “These are zongzi made by the old madam for the Dragon Boat Festival. She wanted you to take some back to try.”
Ning Wanwan accepted the box, her voice choked, “Okay, I love the zongzi my grandmother makes.”
*
“Are you missing your grandmother?” Si Zhan looked at Ning Wanwan, who was holding the box tightly, staring blankly at the carriage wall.
Ning Wanwan snapped back to reality, looked down at the box, and nodded, “…Yes.”
“Then I’ll accompany you back every half month.”
“I…” Ning Wanwan’s throat tightened, her eyes reddening. “In a year, when we go to our fief, my grandmother will be left alone in Biandu. The thought makes me feel terrible.”
Si Zhan hugged her gently, resting his chin on her hair, and said softly, “Don’t worry. If we can go to Qinan a year later, we’ll take grandmother with us, and then we’ll be together forever.”
Ning Wanwan felt her gloom lift. They could take her grandmother with them.
But then she caught the hidden meaning in Si Zhan’s words—”if”?
She asked, her tone subdued, “Do you mean… we might not be able to leave smoothly?”
Si Zhan pondered and replied, “…Based on my understanding of Ling Zirou, she won’t let us go so easily.”
The previous gloom thickened, making Ning Wanwan feel somewhat suffocated.
Si Zhan smiled reassuringly down at her, though his voice was cold, “But don’t worry, if we want to leave, no one can stop us.”
They could indeed be stopped, but only at a great cost.
*
In her previous life, Ning Wanwan organized similar gatherings, associating mostly with superficial acquaintances. Only Yang Zhiru and Zheng Jiayuan could be considered genuine friends.
