She was not familiar with the clan elders, for they seldom visited save for the ancestral hall ceremonies.
But it was indeed strange, why Su Qinghe had brought evidence to the wedding today, stopping Wu Jinyan and Su Haoâs marriage and then having Su Hao marry Lu Ying!
âSu Yingxue, donât think that just because youâre now the Ninth Princess Consort, you can question me with such a skeptical tone. Even your grandfather should address me as âclan brotherâ! If it werenât for the sake of the Su family bloodline, why would I go to such lengths? Isnât it true that when one part of the Su family prospers, the whole family prospers, and when one part suffers, the whole family suffers?â
Su Qinghe spoke harshly and critically, yet not without reason.
âYingxue, step back.â
With a cold snort from Su Qingzhi, Su Yingxue found it difficult to interject any further.
As for Wu Jinyanâ¦
Su Yingxue saw Wu Jinyan slowly stand up. She moved her feet, step by step, walking towards the exit.
âSister-in-law!â
She wanted to go forward to stop her, but Wu Jinyan held her hand and gently shook her head, âThereâs no need, Yingxue, you and I, weâre not destined to be sisters-in-law. From now on, I will still be your Sister Jinyan.â
This statement inexplicably brought tears to her eyes.
âYanâer, donât go.â
Su Hao held onto her from behind.
This was the first time Wu Jinyan had seen Su Hao cry.
Men donât shed tears lightly.
Especially for a man like Su Hao, who stood tall and firm, decisive in killing on the battlefield.
How his heart must have hurt.
Wu Jinyan was also in pain.
She placed her hand in Su Haoâs palm, and Su Hao wrapped his fingers tightly around her hand, as if she would vanish if he didnât hold on tight enough.
Wu Jinyanâs heart and eyes were filled with guilt, and the voice she could muster sounded increasingly choked up, âSu Hao, do you remember when we first met?ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âI do. The Miss who saved me had a small basket on her back as she went up the mountain to gather herbs, to help the poor. She was kind-hearted, not minding my dirty and wounded state, dragging me into a cave. To ensure I would survive, she didnât go home for several days, and even when she was beaten badly, she still worried about me in the cave, coming to see me immediately once she was healedâ¦â
The him who had been saved by Wu Jinyan had long since been taken back to the Marquisâs Manor to recuperate, with many physicians and servants by his side, and he recovered quickly.
Yet in his heart, he still yearned for that little Miss who said she would find medicine for him but hadnât returned for days.
So he went back to that cave and waited for her for several days.
She indeed came back.
Even with injuries of her own not yet healed, she gave him the hard-earned herbs.
âI saved you, and I am responsible for you!â Her voice was tender as water, flowing through his heart like a clear spring.
âThen, you must take responsibility for me your entire life, be my wife in the future, and be responsible for my lifetime!â
Though he was young, he was never one for jokes.
The first time he laid eyes on Wu Jinyan, he thought to himself that his future wife should be a gentle and kind girl like her.
Later, when she returned to the Ministerâs Estate, he followed her there.
She was too humble to aspire to him, so he lowered his status.
She refused to be with him, but ultimately his sincerity moved her.
This journey of ten years, he had dreamed countless times of their wedding, waiting for her to put on her wedding dress, personally going to pick her up for the wedding, holding her hand in front of everybody, taking the wedding vows with her, and then in the bridal chamber, lifting her veil, and gently telling her, âYanâer, you are my wife now.â
Wu Jinyan saw the same memories in his eyes.
With tears in her eyes, she fully understood the end of her and Su Haoâs story. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Su Haoâs lips, âHubby, Jinyan loves you, itâs just that, in this life weâre not fated to grow old together.â