书斋小说网

第 17 章（第1页）

Chapter17—FindingHelpinXian

TheOrchidCourtyardhadbeestrangelybusyafterShuransdeath。WeddingpreparationshadalreadybegunacrosstheKhansresidence。Servantscarriedboltsofcloth，basketsoffood，andboxesofgiftsfromonecourtyardtoahemarriageallianceokenofopenlynow。EveryonebelievedSuyuanwouldbeeabride。

Shequietlybeganpreparingforajourney。Lateoneevening，sheplacedasmallwoodenboxoable。NannyZhanglookedatitcuriously。“Whatisthat?”“Mothersbelongings，”Suyuananswered。InsidewereafewthingsthathadbelooShuran。Hiddehthemwasthesmalljartaininghermothersashes。Suyuanhadeditcarefullyandplaceditatthebottomofthebox，behalayerofcloth。NannyZhangknewnothingaboutit。ShethoughttheboxtainedonlyShuranspersonalthingsthatshouldbereturoXian。Suyuanhadnoiionoftellihetruth。

“Nanny，”shesaidquietly，“IwantyoutogotoXian。”NannyZhangimmediatelyfrowned。“Me?”“YoushouldtakeMothersthingstomyuncle。Andtellhimaboutthemarriage。”Hervoiceremainedcalm。“IfheknowswhathappeoMother，perhapshewillsendsomeone。”NannyZhangseyessoftenedforthefirsttimesinceShuransdeath，thereseemedtobeapossibilityofhope。“Youreingwithus?”Suyuanshookherhead。“Iotleavenow。Theweddingpreparationshavealreadybegun。”Ayao，whohadbeensittingnearby，immediatelystood。“ThenImstayingtoo。”Suyuanlookedather。“Ayao—”

“No。”Ayaoshookherheadfirmly。“IfNannyZhangisgoing，Illstaywithyou。”

SuyuanwassilentforamomentthenshewalkedoverandheldAyaoshands。

“Youreworriedaboutme?”

“Ofcourse。”

“ThengowithNannyZhang。”

Ayaostaredather。

“Youneedmehere。”

“IneedyoutomakesureNannyZhangreachesXiansafely。”

“But—”

“Sheisold，”Suyuansaidgently。“Thejourneyislong，andtheywillbetravelily。Ifsomethinghappensontheroad，whowillprotecther，whohelpher?”Ayaohesitated，Suyuangaveherasmallsmile。“Youretheonlyorusttodoit。”ThatfinallybrokeAyaosresistance。Shesighed。“Fine。Butwereingback。”Suyuansfiightenedslightlyaroundhers。

“Yes。”

“Wellebackbeforeyourwedding。”

Suyuanloweredhereyes。

“Yes。”

…。。

Theyleftinthemiddleofthenight，nofarewellceremonyandnoservants。NooneintheKhanshouseholdoknowthattwowomenfromtheOrchidCourtyardhadslippedaway。TheydressedasordinarymertsandjoinedasmallcaravantravelingtowardXian。NannyZhangcarriedthewoodenbox。Ayaostayedbesideher，stantlylookingbacktowardtheroadtheyhadefrom。Suyuanstoodbehthecourtyardgateuntilthedarknessswallowedthelasttorchlight。AyaoturnedaroundonefinaltimeandSuyuanraisedherhand。

“Go。”

Ayaosmiledfaintly。

“Wellseeyousoon。”

Suyuanwatchedthemdisappearonlyaftertheyweregonedidshelowerherhand。Thecourtyardwassilentagain。Shelookedtowardtheroadleadi。Ihatwoodenboxwastheonlythiofhermother。NannyZhangthoughtshewascarryingShuransbelongingstoXianandAyaothoughttheywouldreturn。TheydidnotknowthatSuyuanhadalreadydecidedshewouldneverfollowthem。Sheturnedawayfromtheroad。Theweddingwouldesoonandthistime，therewouldbenoointheOrchidCourtyardfortheKhantouseagainsther。