The day of their wedding was naturally filled with joy, a sense of accomplishment after overcoming numerous obstacles to finally be together.
On the third day, they returned to the bride's home for the customary visit. Early that morning, Madam Gao and the household staff stood by the entrance to welcome them. Lord Gao, however, remained in his study. The couple, emerging from their sedan chair, were disappointed not to see him. If there was anyone in this mansion who held even a sliver of genuine affection for them, it would undoubtedly be Lord Gao. Everyone else, including Madam Gao, offered only superficial pleasantries.
Now, with Lord Gao unwilling to even maintain appearances, it was clear how dissatisfied he was with them.
Their expressions froze for a fleeting moment, quickly adjusted, and they greeted the family with smiles.
A while later, Liu Moran arrived outside Lord Gao's study to request an audience. The gatekeepers, having received prior instructions, immediately ushered him in.
Upon meeting, Liu Moran quickly bowed. Lord Gao did not make things difficult, gesturing for him to sit.
"Now that you are married, live your lives well," Lord Gao said casually, holding his teacup. "Our family has many descendants, and the help we can offer you is very limited. From now on, you are on your own."
Liu Moran's heart sank. His entanglement with Gao Xuejuan was primarily due to her family's influence. With no one to rely on, having the Gao family as a backing would smoothen his path in officialdom. What did his words mean? Was he no longer going to be supported? What was the point of him attaching himself to the Gao family then?
"Esteemed father-in-law, you are too modest," Liu Moran said ingratiatingly, as if he hadn't understood the hidden meaning. "You have navigated the official world for a lifetime, seen countless storms. A little guidance from you would be beneficial for my entire life."
"If you encounter any difficulties, I can still offer advice. But if you seek my direct help, I regret to say, I am powerless." Lord Gao understood his intentions perfectly and decided to be upfront.
Liu Moran was momentarily speechless, sitting awkwardly. He resorted to drinking tea to cover his discomfort, his mind replaying every moment spent with Gao Xuejuan. He hadn't offended the Gao family in any way, so why was Lord Gao being so cold, seemingly wanting to distance himself?
No, he still needed to cling to this powerful tree. He would have a good talk with his wife when he got home to understand the inside story. Then, he would have his wife make more visits to her family, fostering a closer relationship with Lord and Madam Gao. After all, they were his wife's biological parents; they must still feel some affection.
Finally, it was time for lunch. Lord Gao remained silent throughout the meal. Everyone was surprised and cautious, sensing that their lord was acting unusually, yet unable to pinpoint what was wrong. They could only tread carefully.
Their instincts proved correct. After the meal, Lord Gao turned and left without a word, leaving the couple sitting there, their hearts in their mouths. Time passed slowly, agonizingly for them. Exchanging a look, they tacitly proposed to take their leave, and surprisingly, no one asked them to stay.
The day's events weighed heavily on Gao Xuejuan's heart. She sat in the carriage, lost in thought, ignoring Liu Moran for the first time.
Liu Moran's face darkened. He had many questions, but he knew with the coachman ahead and servants around, it wasn't a suitable place to talk.
Upon returning to their residence, he pulled Gao Xuejuan into the study and said earnestly, "From my conversation with father-in-law today, I feel he has many misunderstandings about me and is unwilling to interact with me. I want to know what happened while you were at your family's home."
"Nothing much, it's just that father disagreed with our marriage and is still angry. Perhaps he'll get over it after some time." Gao Xuejuan, by instinct, didn't want him to know about her stealing from the warehouse and gave a perfunctory answer.
"Is that really the case?" Liu Moran asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice.
Gao Xuejuan nodded firmly.
Although Liu Moran didn't fully believe her, she still had value to him. He didn't want to fall out with her, so he quickly changed the subject. He still planned to rely on her to maintain contact with the Gao family and secure benefits for himself.
Liu Moran was willing to placate her, and Gao Xuejuan had feelings for him. They spent a period of sweet and happy days together. But how could Wu Caiwei allow them to live happily ever after? Su Dan Novel Network.
One day, after the morning court, Liu Moran was walking out of the palace, chatting and laughing with his colleagues. As soon as he appeared, he heard a woman's loud shout, "Liu Moran, you ungrateful wretch! If it weren't for our Wang family supporting your studies, would you be where you are today? And what's the result? You've abandoned your original wife and son, turned around, and married a high-ranking official's daughter. Do you have no heart?"
Officials preparing to leave stopped and turned to look at the source of the voice.
Liu Moran's face immediately turned pale. His parents' letter said everything was taken care of. How could she and their son have come to the capital without him receiving any news?
Everyone around him was looking at him with strange eyes. Those closest to him couldn't help but step back a few paces, creating distance. His heart sank, knowing that his efforts of the past few months had all gone to waste.
After a moment's hesitation, he quickened his pace and walked towards Wang Fenfang, giving her a threatening look while reprimanding her, "What nonsense are you spouting? We were once betrothed, but your Wang family broke it off because our family was too poor. You can't blame me just because your husband died and you became a widow."
Wang Fenfang snorted upon hearing this. "You're quite something. To sever ties with me, you'd even curse yourself. But you'll be disappointed. I have proof. When I left home, I took our marriage certificate from the yamen."
"Whether it's real or fake is yet to be determined. Accusing a court official is a crime punishable by imprisonment." Liu Moran remembered that as soon as he passed the Jinshi examination, he had brought a large sum of money back to have his parents retrieve and destroy the marriage certificate from the yamen. There was no room for error. Either the one in her hand was fake, or she had none at all.
"Fine, I'll go to the yamen right now and file a complaint. Let the magistrate judge its authenticity." Wang Fenfang had initially held onto a sliver of hope, thinking that he was unaware and that his parents had acted on their own. But at this moment, she refused to deceive herself. If he wouldn't leave a way out for her and their son, why should she show him any consideration?
Liu Moran watched her walk towards the yamen with growing panic. In front of so many people, he couldn't stop her and could only stand there anxiously.
Coincidentally, the prefect was among the group of officials. Seeing that he had a case to handle, he quickly followed her. For him, it didn't matter whether the matter was true or false; it all depended on the evidence.