After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 49 Hibiscus is gone

The next day, Furong dressed herself up carefully and went out happily.

On the way, Furong was very uneasy. She held the sachet in her hand tightly, and cold sweat seeped from her forehead.

"Miss, are you alright?" The maid Baoyue asked worriedly, noticing that Furong's face was somewhat pale.

Furong slowly raised her head, swallowed hard, and said, "Baoyue, Young Master Du isn't Second Young Master Zhang, right? He wouldn't sell Furong for money, would he?"

Baoyue hugged her young mistress's trembling body tightly and said with heartache, "Of course not, Young Master Du is Young Master Du, and Second Young Master Zhang is Second Young Master Zhang. He wouldn't sell the young mistress for money."

Perhaps Baoyue's comforting words worked, because Furong's body finally stopped trembling, and their carriage soon arrived at the Du family's residence.

"Miss, please wait in the carriage, I'll go knock on the door!" Baoyue got off the carriage and went to the Du family's door to knock.

A moment later, the door of the Du family opened. The doorman was taken aback when he saw that it was a young lady. "May I ask which family you are looking for?"

Furong, sitting in the car, instantly regretted it. She should have told Young Master Du beforehand; coming here so openly now would surely cause gossip.

Furong looked full of regret, but her eyes still held a hopeful look as she gazed at the Du family's gate.

Baoyue politely introduced herself, "We are from the Bai family. The person in the car is the second young lady of the Bai family. We are here to see Young Master Du Huan."

"The second young lady of the Bai family?" The Du family gatekeeper, who had been so respectful just moments before, suddenly changed his expression. He glanced at Baoyue with disdain, then looked at the carriage behind him and said irritably, "You've come at the wrong time. Young Master Du, he's not here!"

After saying that, without waiting for Baoyue to ask any more questions, he slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

Back in the carriage, Bao Yue was still confused. "Miss, Young Master Du isn't here. Perhaps we should come another day?"

Bai Furong couldn't hide her disappointment and sighed softly, "Alright then! Let's go back and go to Big Sister's clinic to find her."

Baoyue nodded and told the driver to take Furong to the century-old medical clinic.

On the other side, Du Huan was just about to go out when he saw the gatekeeper peeking furtively outside. He secretly walked behind him and followed his gaze, only to find that there was nothing outside.

"Ahem!" Du Huan coughed lightly twice.

The gatekeeper was startled. He was about to curse when he turned around and saw that it was Du Huan. His face turned pale and he knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"Young master, what are you doing here?" The gatekeeper realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly corrected himself, "No, young master, are you going out?"

"Yes!" Du Huan glanced at the gatekeeper suspiciously. "But why are you so nervous?"

The doorman quickly shook his head, "No, no!"

He couldn't let Du Huan know that he had just driven away his sweetheart.

Du Huan didn't notice anything amiss, so he didn't investigate further and simply opened the door and left the Du family home.

He walked down the street, looking somewhat dazed. Several times he headed toward the Bai family's house, but each time his servant pulled him back.

"Young master, Madam has instructed you not to go to the Bai family. If you go to the Bai family, you will never see Miss Furong again." The servant tightly gripped Du Huan, whose eyes were now bloodshot and terrifyingly red.

"I know! I was just taking a walk!" Du Huan said coldly.

Du Huan turned and walked towards the back street, wanting to find a chance to shake off the servant. There were some things he needed to say to Furong face to face, and he couldn't let Furong misunderstand.

The servant following behind Du Huan didn't suspect anything, since their young master used to come here often before he fell in love with Miss Bai.

Especially at Mufeng Pavilion, their young master is a frequent visitor.

Du Huan stopped in front of Mufeng Pavilion. "You wait here. I'll go in and have a cup of tea."

"Young master, it's broad daylight, and the ladies at Mufeng Pavilion aren't even open for business yet. What are you doing here drinking tea?" the servant muttered to himself. His mistress had instructed him not to leave his young master's side.

"If you're going, please take me with you."

Du Huan glared at the servant, then chuckled softly, "Alright! Come on, I'll show you around!"

Upon entering Mufeng Pavilion, apart from a few cleaning staff, there wasn't a single girl in the main hall.

However, as soon as Young Master Du appeared, everyone on duty at Mufeng Pavilion recognized him.

"Young Master Du, you've arrived! Please wait a moment, I'll go and inform Miss Piaopiao right away!" One of the janitors greeted them warmly.

Du Huan nodded slightly, and the sweeper ran up to the second floor.

When they came down again a short while later, Qin Mama from Mufeng Pavilion followed them down.

"Young Master Du, it's been quite a while since you last visited. Our Miss Piaopiao has been missing you terribly. Please come upstairs with me," Qin Mama greeted Du Huan with a smile.

When Du Huan arrived at Wen Piaopiao's room, the servant was stopped at the door.

"How can you be so ill-mannered? Your young master is going to see the young lady, and you're following him?" Madam Qin glanced at Young Master Du, then said to the servant beside him.

The servant also felt embarrassed. He scratched his head, caught in a dilemma.

Du Huan gave Qin Mama a wink, and soon several girls surrounded him, eagerly clinging to the servant. The servant looked to Du Huan for help. Du Huan waved his hand, "Go ahead! Qin Mama, put it all on my tab."

Qin's mother smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Alright, Young Master Du, I will certainly treat this young man well."

Du Huan smiled slightly and entered Wen Piaopiao's room.

There was a woman with light makeup sitting in front of a bronze mirror, looking at herself. When Du Huan walked in, she showed no surprise, as if she was used to it.

Wen Piaopiao's beauty was the kind of quiet and elegant beauty. She glanced at Du Huan and knew why he had come.

Du Huan returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute, saying, "This time, we are very grateful to Miss Piaopiao for helping us out of that predicament."

Wen Piaopiao smiled slightly, stood up and bowed to Du Huan, "Young Master Du, you are too kind. If it weren't for you, Piaopiao wouldn't be here today. If anyone should be thanking you, it should be Piaopiao thanking you, Young Master Du."

Du Huan smiled, then looked around aimlessly.

Wen Piaopiao's eyes darkened. "Is she really that good?"

Du Huan didn't realize who she was and just hummed in response.

"Miss Bai! Do you like her that much?" Wen Piaopiao looked directly at Du Huan.

"Yes!" When Furong was mentioned, Du Huan's lips unconsciously curled up, and even his tone became gentle. This was a Du Gongzi that Wen Piaopiao had never seen before. The Du Huan she knew was always unconventional, dashing, and a poet who could write poems with ease. She had never seen him like this, with a shy young man in his arms.

"Miss Bai is so lucky!" Wen Piaopiao sighed softly.

Du Huan blushed, but thinking of his aunt's attitude, his heart sank. "Piaopiao, could you take me to the back door of Mufeng Pavilion?"

Wen Piaopiao nodded gently, "Of course, come with me!"

Du Huan followed behind Wen Piaopiao, bypassed the main hall where the servants were, and went directly to the backyard of Mufeng Pavilion. Wen Piaopiao opened the backyard gate and let Du Huan go through it.

"Young Master Du, please!" Wen Piaopiao's tone remained gentle.

Du Huan clasped his hands in gratitude again, "Thank you so much for today, Piaopiao. I will definitely repay you again another day."

Wen Piaopiao smiled slightly as she watched Du Huan run away.

Having successfully shaken off the servants, Du Huan didn't linger for a moment and ran towards the Bai family's side courtyard. "Uncle Liu, I want to see Furong."

Uncle Liu was taken aback when he saw Young Master Du, and then said, "Didn't the Second Miss come to see you today? What? You didn't see her?"

Du Huan was taken aback. Fu Rong had gone to see him? But he hadn't seen Fu Rong.

"The second young lady usually goes to the clinic. Why don't you go there and look for her? Maybe you can find her there." Uncle Liu was kind-hearted and gave Du Huan a direction.

Du Huan was overjoyed and happily thanked Uncle Liu before running all the way to the clinic.

Furong contacted him! Did Furong have something to say to him? Did Furong agree to accept him?
Du Huan considered a million possibilities in his mind, but he couldn't wait to see Bai Furong.

Du Huan arrived at the clinic just in time to see Bai Wanqing seeing off a patient in the front hall. Realizing he had been a bit abrupt, Du Huan quickly and discreetly straightened his clothes. "Miss Bai!"

Bai Wanqing then noticed Du Huan. She was slightly taken aback at first, then asked in confusion, "Why are you here? Have you seen Furong?"

Du Huan blushed. "No! I missed Furong. Uncle Liu said Furong might be here, so I came here to look for her."

“But Furong isn’t here! She didn’t come!” Bai Wanqing replied, though she was a little worried. “Ruixin, there’s no one in the clinic right now. You and Xiao Liu go and walk around the streets to see if Furong is there. If she is, bring her back as soon as possible and tell her that Young Master Du is waiting for her in the clinic.”

Ruixin and Xiaoliu put down the herbs they were holding and nodded repeatedly.

Du Huan paced anxiously back and forth in the lobby. Bai Wanqing laughed at him, "Why don't you come to the backyard with me? Don't scare all my patients away!"

Du Huan blushed and obediently followed Bai Wanqing to the backyard.

"Young Miss, do you know what Furong came to see me about today?" Du Huan could no longer contain his curiosity; he was both surprised and delighted.

Bai Wanqing smiled secretly, then said casually, "Perhaps she wanted to thank you for all the delicious food you gave her!"

Du Huan knew that Fu Rong was going to return the favor, and his face was full of anticipation, like a child waiting for his mother to give him candy. Bai Wanqing looked at Du Huan's expression and smiled slightly.

In her memory, neither Meng Zhan nor Lin Yunche seemed to have ever shown such an expression in front of her, and she was truly happy for Furong.

Du Huan waited in the backyard for a long time. Bai Wanqing brought him tea, fruit and snacks and then went to do her work. Ruixin and Xiao Liu went for a walk in the street and then went back to the Bai family. By the time they came to the clinic to report the news, two hours had passed.

"Miss, Miss, the Second Miss hasn't returned to the Bai family, and we haven't seen her carriage on the street either!"

"We've searched all the shops that the Second Miss frequents, but we haven't found her anywhere. Where else could she have gone!"

Ruixin was running so fast that she was covered in sweat.

When Du Huan heard Rui Xin mention Fu Rong, he came over and asked, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Bai Wanqing said to Du Huan with a solemn expression, "Furong may be missing!"

(End of this chapter)