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

Chapter 60 Share the Bed with Me

Evening, in the backyard of the Du family.

Madam Du looked at Du Huan, who hadn't eaten properly for several days, and her hands trembled with anger. "You...you think that by threatening me with a hunger strike, I won't send you back to Huaizhou? You're overthinking it! Tomorrow, I'll arrange for someone to send you back."

Du Huan, with an unyielding attitude, said, "Fine, I'll give it to you. You can give it to me, and I'll come back."

Madam Du replied, "It won't be that easy for you to come back. I've already informed your father that once you return to Huaizhou, he will send you to Tianlai Academy."

Tianlai Academy? Du Huan's heart tightened. That place was the most famous closed academy in Huaizhou. It was famous not because of its excellent teaching, but purely because of its strict rules. Once a student entered Tianlai Academy, he could not leave the academy at will. Anyone who broke the rules would be publicly punished, not only losing face for himself but also for his family.

Upon hearing this, Du Huan became anxious. "Aunt, are you trying to force your nephew to his death?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Du's anger intensified. "Du Huan, listen to this! Listen to this yourself! For the sake of a woman, you're now resorting to all sorts of dirty tricks in the inner quarters! How can I possibly agree to you marrying her!"

Du Huan knew he had gone too far these days, so he softened his tone a little, "Aunt, I know you love Huan'er the most. Huan'er really likes Furong. You said before that Furong couldn't help Huan'er's life, but that's not true."

“As long as Furong is there, Huan’er feels at ease. This is more powerful than any other form of help. You said that you only want Huan’er to be happy, and this is Huan’er’s happiness. Aunt, please grant my wish.”

Du Huan spoke with heartfelt sincerity, but in Madam Du's eyes, it was merely that the two of them were growing closer, and she somewhat regretted letting Du Huan stay in Huiyang County to meet with Furong.

"Wang Mama, the young master is still not quite awake. Please keep a close eye on him here. Arrange for a carriage to take him back to Huaizhou first thing tomorrow morning." Madam Du ignored Du Huan's pleas, handed the matter over to Wang Mama, and left directly.

Du Huan looked at the food being served and secretly swallowed, but still pushed it away. Wang Mama, who had watched Du Huan grow up since he was a child, felt sorry for him because she had never seen her young master suffer so much.

"Young Master, please have some! Eat it secretly, I won't tell Madam." Granny Wang pushed a braised chicken in front of Du Huan. Du Huan glanced at it and turned his head away. "Granny Wang, why is Aunt so heartless all of a sudden? Before, she was willing to let me get in touch with the eldest daughter of the Bai family, but why won't she agree to let me get in touch with Furong?"

Granny Wang sighed and said, "Young master, don't blame Madam for being heartless. She is genuinely thinking of you. Let's not talk about the Bai family's daughters. Just the fact that Bai Wanqing has that relationship with Doctor Luo will be beneficial to you in the future. Madam is thinking about your future!"

Du Huan still couldn't understand. He stood up and prepared to return to his bed, but because he hadn't eaten for several days, he suddenly collapsed, startling Granny Wang, who quickly called for someone to help him up.

"Young Master, why are you doing this? There are so many women in the world, why must you hang yourself in the Bai family?"

Du Huan was helped up again and sat on the couch, murmuring, "So many girls, yet none of them are Furong."

Wang Mama's heart clenched, and she said nothing more. She brought the braised chicken and porridge to the bedside and then left with everyone. Before leaving, Wang Mama said loudly at the door, "Tomorrow we will send the young master back to Huaizhou. I'm sure there are still many things that haven't been packed. Come with me. I won't feel at ease until I see you pack them properly."

The maid, Magpie, said, "Granny, the young master's things have already been packed up. They can be loaded onto the carriage tomorrow."

"I don't trust what you've accepted. I need to see it with my own eyes. Come with me."

Since it was Granny Wang who spoke, no one else dared to say anything more and they all left with Granny Wang.

Hearing the footsteps fading away, and looking at the chicken leg beside him, Du Huan could no longer resist and grabbed it with his hands to start gnawing on it.

It smells so good! He's been starving these past few days.

After a whirlwind meal, the braised chicken was reduced to a skeleton, and a large bowl of porridge was emptied. Du Huan felt a bit stronger, but strangely, the people outside didn't seem to have returned yet.

Why did Granny Wang take so long to check my luggage? Du Huan was pondering something when suddenly his eyes lit up. He jumped out of bed, put on his fur coat, and took advantage of the fact that no one was around to escape from the Du family in the dark and windy night.

Du Huan originally wanted to go directly to Furong, but he realized that he hadn't bathed in a long time and had rushed out earlier. He was sure that his current appearance would frighten Furong. So, after thinking for a while, he decided to go to Hu Tao.

Upon arriving at the Hu family's residence, the steward informed Du Huan that the Second Young Master Hu was not present. This put Du Huan in a difficult position. Normally, he would have gone straight to Mufeng Pavilion without hesitation, but now he did not want those rumors, which he had previously disregarded, to harm Furong or cause her to misunderstand. Therefore, he could not go to Mufeng Pavilion.

But right now, Brother Meng is not here either. I heard that he took his mother to Huaizhou Prefecture to take up his post a couple of days ago. They went to an inn, and now Du Huan has no money on him. He's really in deep trouble now.
Du Huan was feeling dejected, having nowhere to turn. Just then, he felt someone pushing his back. He thought it was someone from the Du family catching up with him, so he took off running. But to his surprise, the guy behind him was right after him.

If he runs faster, the people behind him will run faster; if he slows down, the people behind him will slow down.

"Are you kidding me?!" Du Huan turned around abruptly and said angrily.

Seeing Du Huan suddenly get angry at him, the Jade Rabbit also instantly became angry and turned to walk back. Du Huan, realizing it was the Jade Rabbit, was overjoyed and tried to lead it back. But as Du Huan quickened his pace, the Jade Rabbit quickened its pace as well. When Du Huan got tired and slowed down, the Jade Rabbit slowed down as well, precisely maintaining its position so that Du Huan couldn't reach it.

Du Huan finally begged for mercy, "I was wrong, Brother Jade Rabbit, please don't go!"

The Jade Rabbit stopped and turned to snort at Du Huan. Du Huan thought that perhaps his attitude earlier was not good, so the Jade Rabbit had not forgiven him yet. So he forced a bright smile and said, "Brother Jade Rabbit, would you give me a ride?"

The jade rabbit's half-open eyes widened instantly, and it darted away in a flash. Du Huan didn't even have time to change his expression. Why did it run away?!
Only the Jade Rabbit knew that the smile it had just given was uglier than crying, and it would probably become a nightmare for the rest of its life.

However, the Jade Rabbit eventually softened its heart. It was genuinely afraid that its fragile owner would freeze to death on the street, so it had no choice but to turn back and find Du Huan.

Sure enough, the man's body was already a little stiff, otherwise why would that smile still be on his face?

When Du Huan saw the Jade Rabbit return, he was so happy he almost jumped for joy. He comforted the Jade Rabbit, and this time the Jade Rabbit didn't hide. Du Huan mounted his horse but didn't know where he was going. But while he didn't know, the Jade Rabbit did!
They took him out of Huai'an County before the city gates closed. Du Huan was very uneasy along the way, worried about where they would stay that night.

Du Huan's heart was only half at ease when the Jade Rabbit brought him to the village chief at the foot of the snow mountain.

That's fine. At least he can stay overnight in the village and won't freeze to death outside.

So Du Huan went up to knock on the door of the nearest house, but was stopped by the Jade Rabbit.

"Jade Rabbit, don't cause trouble. We need to find a place to stay today, otherwise, in this weather, we'll both freeze into ice sculptures," Du Huan patiently explained to Jade Rabbit.

The Jade Rabbit, however, was relentless and refused to give way. In the end, it even used its teeth to bite Du Huan's collar and carried him directly to the door of another house.

Du Huan rolled his eyes. "You, even in this state, you're still so picky."

But when Du Huan turned his head to look at the courtyard of this family, he was dumbfounded. It was practically empty. It seemed far inferior to the family he had just seen!
Du Huan glanced at the Jade Rabbit, who nudged his back with its head.

"Okay, okay! This is the place!" Du Huan then knocked on the door of the small courtyard in front of him, and to his surprise, it was Lin Yunche who opened the door.

Lin Yunche was also taken aback when he looked at Du Huan at the door. What was this kid doing at his house so late?
The two exchanged glances silently, both completely bewildered. Du Huan finally couldn't take it anymore and said, "Brother Lin, could you let me in first?"

After Du Huan finished speaking, he hopped two steps at the door, and the jade rabbit behind him also hopped two steps in the same way.

Lin Yunche sighed softly and had no choice but to open the door for them. "Brother Du, is there something you need from me so late?"

As soon as Du Huan entered, he looked into Lin Yunche's room. "It's too cold. Shall we go inside and talk?"

Helpless, Lin Yunche had no choice but to settle the Jade Rabbit in the hay shed and lay down layer upon layer of meadow for it. This made Lin Yunche's horse very jealous, but seeing the Jade Rabbit's stunning good looks, Snowball held back and even helped Lin Yunche lay down more hay for the Jade Rabbit.

"You two, don't fight!" Lin Yunche reminded the two guys behind him after settling everything.

Jade Rabbit proudly raised its head, while Snowball peeked at Jade Rabbit with a sly look on its face. "Fight? Fighting is out of the question. I just wonder if a new pony will be born the next day."

Lin Yunche, unaware of Xueqiu's thoughts, turned and went back into the house, only to find Du Huan already in his bed.

Lin Yunche almost rolled his eyes. "Brother Du, you...you climbed into my bed!"

Du Huan looked around. "That's right! There's no one else's bed here. But Brother Lin, it's so cold, aren't you going to turn on a heater or something to warm up the room? It's a bit cold."

Lin Yunche twitched the corner of his mouth; he wished he could throw this person off his bed right now.

"Speak! What brings you here?" Lin Yunche was losing his patience.

Du Huan rubbed his face and said with a grin, "Give me half of your bed!"

(End of this chapter)