Chapter 826: Flawed Reasons

"Impossible, Fan Tong wouldn’t leave me."

Gu Honglian tried to struggle like a carp to continue rushing out, but was stopped by Gu Taohua.

"Aunt, when did you and Fan Tong get separated?" Gu Taohua held Gu Honglian and asked, "You need to have a clear place to search, right? The streets are full of people, where are you going to find him if you just rush out?"

Gu Honglian was stunned by Gu Taohua’s question.

She went out with Fan Tong in the evening to admire the lanterns and was immediately astounded by the overwhelming crowd after leaving the door.

Afraid of losing Fan Tong, Gu Honglian held his hand tightly as they walked forward through the crowded people.

They heard that the lanterns on West Street were the most elaborate, so the two headed towards West Street holding each other.

West Street had even more people, but Gu Honglian and Fan Tong stayed together in the sea of people.

When did the two get separated?

Gu Honglian remembered.

While they were admiring the lanterns, many soldiers appeared on the street, ordering everyone to leave the market and quickly go home. Without understanding what was happening, Gu Honglian and Fan Tong were pushed forward by the crowd.

When the two reached a remote alley, they were still together, but once in the alley, Gu Honglian was stopped by villains and realized she was alone, with Fan Tong nowhere in sight.

Running all the way home and after smashing someone to death, she was frightened, so when reminded by Gu Taohua, she suddenly remembered where she got separated from Fan Tong.

Gu Honglian steadied herself, refusing to believe Fan Tong intentionally left her.

Fan Tong was just a scholar, not used to hard work and slow-footed, she could feel his difficulty keeping up with her when pulling him along.

She remembered letting go in panic at the dimly lit alley entrance.

She was occupied with battling the villains and forgot about Fan Tong’s presence, estimating it was there she lost him.

Gu Honglian said, "Fan Tong can’t run fast, I pulled him while running, at the alley entrance...just at the entrance where I met the villains, I lost him. Fan Tong is a scholar, slow to walk and run, what if he gets accidentally hurt by the chaotic soldiers? No, I must go back and find him."

Everyone frowned.

Fan Tong was lost at the alley entrance with Gu Taohua. Logically, he should have passed through the alley with Gu Honglian or searched for her at the entrance.

When Gu Honglian was resisting the attempted assault by the villains, the commotion was impossible for Fan Tong not to hear.

Yet ultimately, only Gu Honglian faced the villains and returned home alone, where did Fan Tong go?

Gu Taohua said speechlessly, "Aunt, what are you searching for? You lost Fan Tong at the alley entrance, as you said he’s slow, he must be at the alley entrance, then when you were fighting the villains, the commotion was not small, why didn’t Fan Tong hear it and help you?"

This question rendered Gu Honglian silent, she wanted to say Fan Tong wasn’t that kind of person.

In the heat of the moment, Fan Tong might have wandered off when they got separated, not realizing, or perhaps took another path to find her.

But this flawed reasoning, Gu Honglian can only convince herself.

Softly, Gu Honglian said, "Fan Tong, realizing I’m missing, surely returned to find me, he didn’t hear."

Saying this, her struggle against Gu Taohua lessened.

Gu Honglian said, "Fan Tong can’t be in trouble, he came to Shengjing seeking opportunity for a better future. If anything happens to him, who will give me a good life?"

She still wanted to go out and find Fan Tong.

Chen Sufen said next to her, "Aunt, your jacket has fallen and you’re barefoot, I’m afraid you’ll freeze before you find Uncle. Don’t rush out now, change your clothes first, think about where you got separated from Uncle then go find him, it’s not too late. Otherwise, if you run out like this, you might lose yourself instead of finding Uncle."

Liu Yueer said, "Maybe Uncle is hiding somewhere happily drinking and watching a show, completely forgetting he’s separated from Aunt."

Gu Honglian hesitated for a moment, then shouted, "Bring me thick clothes and shoes, I can’t be at ease until Fan Tong returns."

Gu Honglian believed Fan Tong was a selfish person, but she didn’t believe he was inhuman.

She was Fan Tong’s wife, he would never abandon her.

Perhaps Fan Tong was searching for her in the chaotic streets, without any weapon, he who wouldn’t dare kill a chicken, would be defenseless against villains.

Tong Huaqiong rolled her eyes, thinking Gu Honglian was still a love-struck fool.

In such freezing weather, she can’t be let out, it’s so chaotic outside, having escaped once doesn’t guarantee she’ll escape again.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Honglian, you can’t go out. Fan Tong might be on his way home to reunite with you, what if you miss him by going out? Let’s do this, you take a hot bath first, we’ll wait another hour, if he doesn’t come back, I’ll let you go out to find him."

Gu Dahuan said earnestly, "I’ll accompany Aunt when the time comes."

Tong Huaqiong’s words Gu Honglian dared not disobey, she could only nod with tears.

The maid took Gu Honglian away.

Gu Honglian and Mrs. Zhao shook their heads.

Fan Tong’s selfish reputation was well-known in Yan Guan Town, everyone believed the separation wasn’t accidental, nor did they believe Fan Tong couldn’t hear Gu Honglian fighting villains in the alley.

An hour later, Fan Tong naturally didn’t return.

Tong Huaqiong naturally wouldn’t let Gu Honglian go out.

Of course, Gu Honglian didn’t cause a fuss because Tong Huaqiong had secretly given her knockout drugs through the maid when taking her away.

The dose was enough to keep her asleep for eight hours.

At dawn, outside came shouts and the sharp clashes of weapons, lasting about three hours.

Outside became quiet.

So quiet it seemed eerie, plunged into a dead silence.

Tong Huaqiong and others felt their hearts in their throats.

Under the Imperial City’s foot, such commotion last night must have been a major conspiracy.

It’s unknown which Prince was rebelling, whether the Emperor won or was dethroned.

Tong Huaqiong hoped privately for the Emperor to win, only then would the Crown Prince be temporarily safe, and those associated with him could be unharmed; only if the Emperor won, could Mighty General and Nie Xiaofeng, fighting the traitors, be safe.

Usually by this hour, the morning market would have already started its calls, but now there’s no sound.

No one knows the situation outside.

"Mother, shall we open the door and take a look?" Gu Dashu asked Tong Huaqiong for her opinion.

After a moment of contemplation, Tong Huaqiong shook her head and said, "Wait a little longer."

If the Emperor won, Tong Huaqiong was certain that Mighty General and Nie Xiaofeng would soon come to the Gu Family to report the news. Even if they didn’t come themselves, they would send someone.

Because both of their mothers remained with Tong Huaqiong.

For these two filial sons, their mothers’ safety outweighed everything.

If another Prince won, the outside should soon ring the chimes to proclaim the new Emperor’s ascension.

The key is to patiently wait.

Having been awake all night, waiting a little longer wouldn’t hurt.