Wan'er was not to be outdone and quickly got up, pushing him away. Lian Sheng stumbled a few steps down and fell into the crowd, only to be pushed back up.
Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang, who were chatting, suddenly heard movement nearby.
Looking up, they saw Lian Sheng and Wan'er fighting at the bridgehead. One was pulling the other's hair, and the other was grabbing their clothes.
Yan Wushuang asked in confusion, "Why are they fighting?"
"Let's go take a look."
"Okay."
As they walked onto the street, they saw Wan'er pinning Lian Sheng against the bridge and pushing him into the river with all her might.
With a "thump," a splash of over two meters high erupted on the water's surface.
Xue Gucheng exclaimed, "Oh no!" and rushed over, jumping into the river to rescue Lian Sheng. Fortunately, he was fine, just swallowed a few mouthfuls of water.
Xue Gucheng patted him hard on the back, expelling the water. At this moment, Wan'er stood on the bridge, shouting.
"You little brat, you think you're so tough? Come up here and fight me again."
Hearing the scolding, Lian Sheng immediately came to his senses and retorted, "You wicked woman, you just wait!"
"I'm waiting for you!"
Seeing this, Xue Gucheng hurried onto the bridge and pulled Wan'er away, while Yan Wushuang helped Lian Sheng up and took him home.
After Xue Gucheng pulled Wan'er away, on the way back to the Shangshu Mansion, Wan'er flung his hand away, very angry, and questioned him.
"Tianming Ge, why are you secretly meeting that woman? Do you like her?"
Xue Gucheng laughed heartily at her questioning and explained.
"What kind of person do you think I am? I feel like I know her, and I went to find her just to confirm if I knew her."
Hearing Xue Gucheng's explanation, Wan'er finally felt relieved. Although she still felt a little resentful,
she decided not to blame him since he was trying to regain his memories, and her attitude softened.
"If that's the case, can you take me with you when you go out from now on?"
Xue Gucheng agreed without hesitation, "Okay."
"Then let's go back."
"Okay."
Meanwhile, after Yan Wushuang brought Lian Sheng back, Lian Sheng, weakened by illness and recent anxiety, collapsed before even reaching the courtyard after falling into the water.
"Lian Sheng!" Yan Wushuang cried out.
She touched his forehead; it was as hot as freshly boiled water. He had fallen ill.
She helped him into the house, then applied a cold compress to his forehead and rushed out to find medicinal herbs.
Although she hadn't seen many herbs here, she recognized the scent as usable. She grabbed a large handful and brought it back to boil.
She busied herself all day, finally brewing the medicine for him.
As night fell, the setting sun still lingered on the horizon. It was at this time that Old Master Lu would always emerge from the palace in his sedan chair.
Usually, he paid little attention to Wan'er, but today he had received some happy news from the palace.
As soon as he entered the main hall, he called his wife to his side and told her about it.
"Minister Zhang of the Censorate mentioned to me after the morning court today that he has an unmarried son, and I have an unmarried daughter. So, I was thinking of arranging a marriage between our families."
Madam Lu asked worriedly, "Did you agree, Master?"
"No, I just said I would come back and ask for your opinion."
"I heard that Minister Zhang favors the Wu family. Although the Wu family is currently in power, the empire ultimately belongs to the Li family."
Hearing her words, Old Master Lu's already worried heart grew anxious, and he quickly hushed her.
"Shh, don't speak carelessly. If someone overhears you, you could lose your head."
"Then what do you plan to do, Master?"
"Let's ask Wan'er first. Although marriage is a matter of parental decree and matchmaker's word, she will have to know sooner or later."
"Then I'll have Steward Liu call Wan'er over."
"Good."
Saying so, Madam Lu walked towards the door and called out, "Steward Liu, Steward Liu."
Liu Er heard his wife's call and rushed over, responding as he ran.
"Madam, I'm here. What are your orders?"
"Go and call Wan'er. We have something to tell her."
"Yes."
A short while later, Steward Liu brought Wan'er over.
"Madam, Miss is here."
"Good, you may go."
"Yes."
Wan'er entered the main hall, looking at her father and mother with confusion. She suddenly felt uneasy, wondering if her sneaking out had been discovered.
With a guilty conscience, she asked, "Father, you sent for me. What is it?"
Old Master Lu then spoke to her about the marriage.
"Wan'er, you're here. Father sees that you're not young anymore, always running around outside. What kind of image does that create?"
"Today, on my way back, I met Minister Zhang. Minister Zhang has an unmarried son and wants you to marry him and become his daughter-in-law."
"What!" Wan'er's heart exploded upon hearing this. She quickly declared her feelings.
"I won't marry! Father, I'm only sixteen. It's still too early. I still want to stay by your side and serve you both."
"When a man comes of age, he marries; when a woman comes of age, she marries. You will have to marry someone eventually."
Hearing her father's firm tone, Wan'er no longer concealed her feelings.
"If Father insists on me marrying, let me marry Tianming Ge. He is kind, considerate, and learned.
I think even those princes and nobles are not half as good as him."
At this moment, Madam Lu walked over and said.
"I think Tianming is handsome and appears learned. Many members of the Li clan have suffered misfortunes over the years. I suspect he might be a descendant of the Li family."
"Why are you saying this in front of the child?"
"Wan'er is still young and doesn't understand many things."
Old Master Lu thought for a moment, then asked Wan'er to go play, and discussed with his wife in detail. "Madam, do you really think Tianming is a descendant of the Li family?"
"I heard that after the Crown Prince was executed, there was a son who was scattered among the common people. Looking at Tianming, he is quick-witted and well-behaved. He doesn't seem like the son of commoners, but rather like royalty.
Although Emperor Wu is currently in power, the empire ultimately belongs to the Li family. Therefore, if Tianming is indeed a descendant of the Li family, there may be a day of vindication, and you, Master, would be a minister who protected the rightful heir."
"While that may be true, the Emperor is extremely wary of the Li family. If the Emperor learns that we are harboring a member of the Li family, our entire clan will be annihilated."
"Master is being foolish. We are only saying he resembles them, not that he is a member of the Li family."
"Madam's analysis is reasonable. Then I will call him here and ask him carefully."
"Good."
He then called for Steward Liu, "Liu Er, come in."
Liu Er hurried into the main hall, "Master, what are your orders?"
"Go and call Tianming here."
"Yes."
With that, Liu Er quickly ran to fetch him. In a short while, Xue Gucheng arrived in the main hall with Liu Er.
"Liu Er, you may go now."
"Yes."
After Liu Er withdrew, Old Master Lu asked Xue Gucheng, "Do you remember anyone from your family?"
Xue Gucheng shook his head, "I can't remember."
Madam Lu asked him, "Since that's the case, what do you think of our estate?"
"It's particularly good."
Old Master Lu then asked him, "What do you think of Wan'er?"
"Miss is kind-hearted and pure. She is a rare good girl."
"Do you like Wan'er?"
"Any ordinary person would fall for Miss."
Old Master Lu was very pleased and asked him directly.
"I see that Wan'er has reached the age for marriage, and you are also around her age. Originally, I was going to arrange another marriage for Wan'er today.
But she insists on marrying you. If that's the case, if you are willing, we will betroth Wan'er to you."
Xue Gucheng's eyes widened. He hadn't expected the marriage proposal to come so quickly. He declined Old Master Lu.
"I have no memory and no accomplishments. How can I marry Miss? If others know that Miss is marrying a poor boy, it would be a mockery of Master and Madam."
Old Master Lu and Madam Lu were very pleased with his answer and liked him more and more. Old Master Lu said, "You don't need to worry about these things. I have my ways. You can think about it carefully."
"Thank you, Master. I shall take my leave."
"Go ahead."
As Xue Gucheng came out of the main hall, Wan'er grabbed him. Wan'er asked him, "What did my father say to you?"
"Nothing."
Wan'er looked suspicious. Xue Gucheng laughed and teased her, "Master said he wants me to see which prince you should marry."
Wan'er's face immediately turned red, and she was about to go argue with her father, but Xue Gucheng grabbed her. "I was joking."
"Ah, Tianming Ge, you've become naughty."
"You insisted on asking."
Saying that, she was about to hit Xue Gucheng, who quickly ran away. She chased after him.
At night, Xue Gucheng lay on the bed, his hands pillowing his head. He turned his head and saw the moon was full outside.
The entire night was filled with a layer of white gauze, which draped over the trees, casting dappled shadows on the floor.
He looked at the moon in the sky, lost in thought, then unconsciously scaled the wall and flew onto the rooftop, lying on the weathered blue bricks. That faint, elusive feeling returned.
He felt as if he had seen such a scene somewhere before, but he still couldn't recall it. He then thought of what Yan Wushuang had told him.
"You have many friends: Muye, Liu Shinian, Heifeng, Yue Jiucai, Shui Fang, Ying Lu, the Four Great Villains, Xue Ruyi. Who are they?"
He closed his eyes and thought carefully, "Muye, Muye."
"Brother Xue..."
Suddenly, he heard a call in his mind. He opened his eyes sharply and murmured.
"Brother Xue? Someone is calling me Brother Xue?"
He got up and shook his head, feeling as if he had some clues. He asked himself.
"Am I really Xue Gucheng? Am I not Tianming, but Xue Gucheng?"
He felt that many things were incomprehensible. The strange yet familiar Yan Wushuang, why was it incomprehensible here too? He had too many questions.
Then, his foot missed a step, and he fell. Fortunately, his skills were good, and he spun around to land steadily. Since he couldn't figure it out tonight, he wouldn't think about it anymore. He returned to his room to sleep.
The next morning, Wan'er was still thinking about what her father had said to Tianming Ge yesterday. She recalled that her father had first spoken to her about her marriage.
She had refused, saying that Tianming Ge was her true love. Then Steward Liu had brought Tianming over. She guessed that either her father had threatened Tianming, or he had agreed to their marriage.
Thinking of this, she was overjoyed and tossed and turned in bed, laughing uncontrollably. However, she still wanted to find out what her father had said to Tianming Ge, so she hurriedly got out of bed and ran to his small courtyard.
When she arrived at his courtyard, it was silent. She guessed that her father had threatened him, causing him to flee.
Thinking of this, her heart became uneasy. She rushed into the room, only to see Xue Gucheng still sleeping.
Only then did she feel relieved. She cautiously sat by his bedside and examined his face.
His eyebrows were dark and dense, his nose was high and well-defined, his lips were slightly red and alluring, and his skin was fair and soft.
No matter how she looked at him, she liked him more and more. He was more beautiful than a girl, like an immortal who had fallen from the sky, incredibly beautiful and stunning.
She felt she had never seen such a handsome person before, and she didn't know how many good deeds she had done in her past life to meet this celestial being.
As she was marveling at her good fortune, she suddenly heard Xue Gucheng mumble softly. She leaned closer, puzzled, listening to his every word.
"Shuang'er, let us be husband and wife for all eternity."
Her eyes suddenly widened in disbelief. She then shook Xue Gucheng violently. Xue Gucheng opened his eyes slightly and saw Wan'er's angry face.
Wan'er asked him, "Who is Shuang'er? Who is Shuang'er?"
Xue Gucheng also looked confused, "Shuang'er? What Shuang'er?"
"I heard you say Shuang'er in your dream just now, saying we should be husband and wife for all eternity."
"Did I say that?" Xue Gucheng asked, still groggy.
Wan'er, however, said angrily.
"I came to find you early in the morning, and all I hear is you talking about Shuang'er, Shuang'er. Hmph, I'm not talking to you anymore."
With that, she ran away. Xue Gucheng stood there stunned, but he didn't think of anything else, only thinking, "Shuang'er, Shuang'er, Yan Wushuang."
He then suddenly realized, "Shuang'er is Yan Wushuang, and Yan Wushuang is Shuang'er."
At this moment, memories flooded his mind like a gushing spring. He exclaimed excitedly, "I remember! I remember! Yan Wushuang is Shuang'er, Yan Wushuang is Shuang'er!"
Overcome with emotion, he got out of bed and ran outside without a second thought. Wan'er saw him run out and quickly chased after him.
Xue Gucheng ran wildly, following Yan Wushuang's scent from street to street, then into alleys, until he finally pushed open a courtyard gate and ran into the courtyard.
He shouted, "Shuang'er! Shuang'er!"
Hearing the shouts, Yan Wushuang was overjoyed. The hand feeding medicine to Lian Sheng trembled. At this moment, Lian Sheng had woken up, but his body was still weak.
Xue Gucheng rushed into the room and embraced Yan Wushuang. Yan Wushuang said emotionally, "Brother Xue, you finally remember me. You finally remember."
"I'm sorry, Shuang'er, for making you suffer so much. I'm sorry."
"It's good that you remember. It's good that you remember."
Lian Sheng, who was unexpectedly fed this dog food, couldn't help but shed tears of happiness.
At this moment, Wan'er also arrived at the door and saw them embracing. She also heard them affectionately calling each other.
"Brother Xue, Shuang'er."
At this moment, she and Lian Sheng were like outsiders, like two outsiders who had strived hard for someone else's reunion.
Hearing Xue Gucheng affectionately call out to his beloved, it was like a sharp knife piercing her heart.
She had planned everything, but in the end, she got nothing.
Lian Sheng also had tears streaming down his face. He had worked so hard, only to end up being a dowry for someone else. He was both angry and helpless.