NFBE Chapter 217 Found someone
Chapter 217 Found someone
Yu Wan and Xi Zhu searched all the places Wan Yuru might have gone.
But they couldn't find anyone.
The servants of the Duke of Anguo's mansion also went to the city gate to inquire, but did not see any woman like Wan Yuru leaving the city alone.
If they haven't left the city, they must still be inside.
But Shengjing City is so big, with countless streets and alleys, that it's impossible for the people from the Duke of Anguo's mansion to search all these places before curfew.
Li Molian and her family now live with the rest of the Li family in a two-courtyard house in Meizi Lane. The mother and daughter live in the courtyard near the left gate. Going out of the left gate and through a small alley leads to the main street of Shengjing City.
The main street is a maze of roads, and Wan Yuru could go in any direction.
Yu Wan had no idea where she had gone.
Yu Wan stood on the street, looking at the gently flowing moat beside her, her heart filled with anxiety, as if a raging fire was burning within her.
She wondered to herself if Wan Yuru really encountered such a terrible thing, would she have thoughts of suicide in the abyss of despair?
Yu Wan's heart skipped a beat. Her gaze was fixed on the swiftly flowing part of the moat. Suddenly, she turned around and solemnly instructed Xi Zhu, "Order everyone to search carefully along the moat!"
She suddenly remembered that when they went boating on the lake, Wan Yuru said she really liked water.
Because water can be unrestrained, free, and can flow in any direction at will.
Although searching based on this guess is not very reliable, it is still better than her searching randomly like a headless fly.
Xizhu immediately agreed upon hearing this.
The people from the Duke of Anguo's mansion received orders and began searching along the moat.
Yu Wan also walked briskly along the riverbank, her eyes carefully searching the water and the shore.
Just as the curfew was drawing ever closer and everyone was nearly in despair, a soldier from the Duke of Anguo's mansion suddenly ran over from a distance.
"girl!"
The soldier, panting heavily and his face flushed red like a pig's liver, finally managed to utter with difficulty, "Miss! We've found her! We've found Miss Wan!"
Yu Wan's face instantly lit up with joy. "Where is she? How is she? Take me there quickly!"
The soldier was panting heavily. Once his breathing had calmed down a bit, he slowly said, "At the Mandarin Duck Bridge! Miss Wan wanted to jump into the river to commit suicide, but fortunately, her husband intervened in time and grabbed her. Miss Wan is still shouting that she wants to jump in, and her husband is there trying his best to stop her."
It took Yu Wan a while to realize who the 'son-in-law' the soldiers were talking about.
"How could Yun Shang have happened to save my cousin?!" With that, she sped off towards the Mandarin Duck Bridge like an arrow.
The guards followed closely behind, explaining as they ran:
"Miss Wan wanted to jump over the Mandarin Duck Bridge outside the Ministry of Rites. When her husband was passing by after his shift, he saw her and realized that the person jumping into the river was Miss Wan. At the critical moment, he reached out and pulled her back."
Yuanyang Bridge is a famous lovers' bridge in Shengjing.
At the bridgehead stands a sturdy, ancient tree, its trunk adorned with countless red ribbons fluttering in the wind. Couples often come here to make sincere wishes, hoping to grow old together with their beloved.
In early spring, pairs of mandarin ducks can be seen playing and swimming under the bridge, hence the name Mandarin Duck Bridge.
The stone lanterns at the bridgehead emitted a dim and soft glow, as if draping the world in a hazy veil, creating a scene that should have been tranquil and beautiful.
If we ignore the figures pulling at each other on the bridge.
When Yu Wan rushed to the Mandarin Duck Bridge, she saw Yun Shang holding onto Wan Yuru's arm tightly.
Wan Yuru's face was streaked with tears, which flowed down like a burst dam. She struggled desperately, shouting desperate words that made her want to end her life.
Yun Shang's face was ashen, but he never loosened his grip on Wan Yuru's hand.
Yu Wan strode forward, "Cousin!"
Wan Yuru was still struggling to jump into the river when she heard the sound. She paused and slowly turned her head to look over.
Her face was as pale as paper, her complexion devoid of any color, streaked with tears, and her eyes were swollen like walnuts, clearly from crying her heart out.
Seeing this, Yu Wan felt a pang of heartache. She quickly walked to Wan Yuru's side, gently took her other arm, and said softly, "Cousin, it's cold at night. Shall we go home?"
She didn't ask Wan Yuru why she jumped into the river to commit suicide, nor did she blame her for causing so many people to come out looking for her in the middle of the night.
Wan Yuru's lips trembled slightly, like a withered leaf in the wind. She suddenly buried her head in Yu Wan's arms, her whole body trembling with sobs.
"I can't go on living... Why... Why is it a sin for a woman not to marry..."
Wan Yuru's voice choked with grief: "Wanwan, let me go. I have no face to live in this world."
Yu Wan held her hand tightly, her gaze firm: "Cousin, no matter what happens, I will be with you. Don't be afraid."
Yun Shang breathed a slight sigh of relief, but still dared not be careless. He whispered, "Let's take her away from this riverbank first. It's dangerous here."
Yu Wan nodded and, together with Yun Shang, pulled Wan Yuru to a safe area by the bridge.
Wan Yuru seemed to have lost all her strength, collapsing to the ground, covering her face with her hands, and sobbing uncontrollably.
Yu Wan knelt down, gently embraced her, patted her back softly, and comforted her in soft words.
After a long while, Wan Yuru's emotions gradually calmed down. She slowly raised her head, her eyes empty and lifeless, like a stagnant pool, staring blankly ahead.
The light in his eyes had long since died out, as if a star had fallen into endless darkness.
Since Wan Yuru remained silent about what had happened, Yu Wan naturally wouldn't bring up her painful memories either.
Holding Wan Yuru in her arms, she raised her head slightly and said to Yun Shang beside her, "Curfew is approaching. Let's take my cousin home first, and we can talk about the rest later."
She didn't say much in front of Wan Yuru.
Yun Shang responded and, together with Yu Wan, helped Wan Yuru head towards the Duke of Anguo's residence.
Upon arriving and seeing this, Xizhu immediately sent someone to inform everyone from the Duke of Anguo's mansion to return.
Along the way, Wan Yuru was like a soulless puppet, her body moving mechanically with Yu Wan's help, her steps unsteady, as if she were walking on cotton.
Back at the mansion, Yu Wan settled Wan Yuru in her room and told her to get some rest.
Wan Yuru lay on the bed, staring blankly at the bed curtains, tears still sliding down her cheeks from time to time.
Yu Wan held her hand tightly and gently comforted her.
Before long, a commotion arose outside Cuijinxuan.
It seems that Lady Anguo and Li Molian have arrived.
Yu Wan had just turned around when she felt a tightness in her hand and heard Wan Yuru's mournful voice in her ear, "Cousin, I don't want to see anyone."
Yu Wan was slightly taken aback, then said softly, "Okay, I'll go and talk to them."
She stood up and gently patted Wan Yuru's hand to reassure her.
Then he quickly walked to the door.
Lady Anguo and Li Molian were about to come in.
Yu Wan shook her head at them.
Tears streamed down Li Molian's face. Her body swayed as if it were a thin sheet of paper, and she murmured softly, "Yu Ru must hate me now..."
Lady Anguo didn't know how to comfort her, so she could only say, "Since the child doesn't want to see anyone, let her calm down first. Wan'er is taking care of her, so nothing will happen."
Yu Wan nodded, "Don't worry, Aunt, I will take good care of Cousin Yu Ru."
Li Molian wept uncontrollably, seemingly lost in thought, murmuring, "It's all my fault, it's all my fault. If I hadn't forced Yu Ru to go on blind dates, she wouldn't have..."