"When did our family ever force you?" Qiao Hezhi found this utterly ridiculous upon hearing it: "So you're saying our family tore apart a perfectly good match? If they were truly so devoted, then when my father sent the matchmaker to propose, you could have simply refused. What was your true purpose in ultimately welcoming me into this family?"
"A scholarly family... how noble it sounds." Qiao Hezhi laughed coldly: "Wasn't it also for our Qiao family's wealth?"
Qiao Hezhi, acting completely out of character and no longer maintaining his usual humility, had struck a nerve. His directness sent Madam Chen into a furious rage: "Fine! You dare to contradict your elder! This is rebellion! Tomorrow I'll have Yu'er divorce you! Let's see how proud and aloof you can be then! You won't even be wanted as a concubine by anyone!"
"All this time, I've been the one making concessions, believing that fulfilling my duties would lead to a harmonious life. Yet this only convinced you, Mother, that I was weak and easy to bully. In all my time as a member of the Fang family, have you ever shown me a single day of genuine respect? And Fang Yu..."
Mentioning this name, Qiao Hezhi couldn't hold back the tears in his eyes. So it truly was merely flowers in a mirror, the moon's reflection on water—nothing but an illusion. Fang Yu's kindness toward him had been nothing more than a pretense.
[镜花水月 (jìng huā shuǐ yuè): lit. flowers in a mirror and the moon reflected in water; fig. an illusion, something elusive and unattainable.]
He had already suspected why Fang Yu had suddenly changed into a different person, now he had finally found a reasonable explanation. From beginning to end, he was just a joke in this family.
He laughed at his own situation, and laughed even more that he had actually started to envision a future with Fang Yu because of the little kindness Fang Yu showed him. So he had just been making compromises for the sake of another person's future.
"If you want to divorce me, then do it. Rather than suffer a lifetime of torment in this despicable family, I would prefer to shave my head, become a nun, and live a life of solitude."
"Remember to call for me again when the letter of divorce is ready," Qiao Hezhi said with tears in his eyes. "The family's properties should also be settled. If I go back, I will naturally take the dowry I brought with me."
"You! You!" Madam Chen was so angry her old eyes turned red, almost breathless. She had to catch her breath several times before she could scold: "Don't even think about taking the dowry away! It all belongs to the Fang family now!"
Qiao Hezhi turned a deaf ear and walked out of Changshou Hall by himself. He hurried all the way towards Xiaotong Courtyard. He was going to pack his things and go back to his family home now. He didn't want any face or reputation anymore, and he certainly didn't want a husband who used every means for the sake of someone else. Since they shared such profound affection and high-mindedness, he would let them do as they pleased.
"Hezhi, what's wrong?"
Fang Yu had rushed back in a hurry and was heading towards Changshou Hall when he ran into the master and servant who had just come out.
The ever gentle and virtuous Qiao Hezhi, upon hearing his inquiry, didn't even glance at him and walked straight past him.
Fang Yu had a bad feeling. He had known early on that the cousin's visit boded no good, and that Madam Chen would inevitably gang up with her to bully Qiao Hezhi. He had hurried back, but still failed to prevent it.
"What's wrong? Did Mother give you grievance again?"
Fang Yu immediately turned and followed Qiao Hezhi, but the other paid him no attention. Fang Yu inwardly lamented his hardship: That old woman must have sold me out too.
He strode forward and intercepted Qiao Hezhi before he could enter the courtyard gate: "Tell me what happened."
Qiao Hezhi looked at Fang Yu blocking his way and felt as if a tear had been ripped in his heart: "I won't stop you anymore. Whether you marry her as your principal wife or as a concubine, our Qiao family definitely won't say a single word of dissent. You also don't need to risk danger visiting her on rainy nights anymore, and you certainly don't need to force yourself to be nice to me when you clearly detest me."
"When did I ever say I detest you?" Fang Yu's head was spinning. He was finally experiencing how even a rabbit will bite when cornered: "Those are all things from the past. I admit I was very much in the wrong towards you back then, but didn't we agree to take our time to understand each other? I'm trying my best now to make up for it and change."
Qiao Hezhi, his eyes red, stared coldly at Fang Yu: "Take time to understand? Are you sure that wasn't just your excuse for not consummating the marriage with me?"
Fang Yu's expression froze. He actually had no way to explain.
In the end, they were not from the same world, and there were still significant differences in their views. Furthermore, the original owner and Madam Chen had left behind too many problems for him, problems that couldn't be solved in a day or two. Even though he wanted to be good to Qiao Hezhi, the few threads of trust they had painstakingly built between them had been utterly destroyed by the troublesome Madam Chen and Yin Rao'er.
He sighed inwardly, his heart aching as he watched Qiao Hezhi cry, his lovely face glistening with tears like raindrops on pear blossoms.
"That wasn't my excuse. Believe it or not, I have my difficulties."
"What do you want me to do?" Knowing these words weren't convincing, Fang Yu could only grab the corner of Qiao Hezhi's sleeve, gently shake it, and ask in a soft, pleading voice: "Or whatever you want, I'll try my best to agree, alright?"
Qiao Hezhi's mind was full of thoughts of separation, but seeing Fang Yu like this, he immediately lost the resolve he had felt moments before. His heart was filled with sorrow and pain, yet the firm, resolute demand he intended to voice softened into a plaintive, wounded whisper as it escaped his lips: "I want to go home."
"Missing your father and mother?"
Qiao Hezhi, his eyes red, nodded, hanging his head and sniffling.
Fang Yu looked at the young man's wronged appearance and felt even more heartache. He reached out and encircled Qiao Hezhi from the shoulders, patting the back of his head comfortingly as he coaxed: "Then how about I take you back tomorrow after my classes? The academy doesn't have classes the day after tomorrow."
Qiao Hezhi buried his face in Fang Yu's shoulder for a good while before softly agreeing. Then he asked: "Do you mean... you'll come with me?"
"I've never had a meal at your family home before. If you're willing, I'll swallow my pride and invite myself over for dinner."
Qiao Hezhi lowered his brows: "Alright."
"Go inside and wash your face first. Your tear-streaked cheeks will grow cold." Fang Yu guided Qiao Hezhi into Xiaotong Courtyard by his back: "I'll go and have a word with Mother. I can't let her continue like this any longer."
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