743 Li’er

People who had been living as a noble lady for their whole life would find living as ordinary person harder and might be close to impossible. Women who no longer had the support of her family members could only wait for her death. Working hard might be possible, but she didn't want Nan Hua to lose her status as the main daughter of an official.

If she did, there's a chance that she might lose her marriage agreement. After all, a lowly peasant wasn't an exactly good position.

And if Nan Luo were to lose his position as the son of Nan Shu Cheng, it would be harder for him. He had to start everything from the very bottom position. How could she bear to see her children suffer?

She didn't want to leave them under Nan Shu Cheng alone either and leave them to fend for herself. What kind of mother would bear to see their children suffer while she ran away?

She couldn't do it.

Nan Hua would not live well with a father like that.

Nan Luo might be better, but she couldn't guarantee it.

In the end, Madam Nan chose to bear with it until the very end, hoping for her children to have a better end than her.

"I hope that you two can have a good future. Even if your future husband didn't love you, I hope he respect you and treat you well. I hope Ah Luo can achieve his dream but please take care of your body, alright?" Madam Nan whispered softly towards his daughter in her embrace.

Nan Shu Cheng watched the scene in front of him with furrowed eyebrows. He couldn't remember having watched this before in the past. It didn't seem to be exist in his memory at all.

Why did he see all of this?

A woman figure seemed to appear in front of Nan Shu Cheng. The smile on her face was similar to the one where Nan Shu Cheng saw her on their first few days of marriage.

Unknowingly, Nan Shu Cheng reached out his hand.

"Li'er."

Nan Shu Cheng blinked his eyes.

He was back on his bedroom, staring at the ceiling above his head. There were countless thoughts swirling inside his mind as he recalled that figure inside his dream. It has been years since the last time he dreamed about his first wife.

Why now?

Slowly, Nan Shu Cheng sat up. He looked at the scroll on the table before lowering his head once more.

'D*nm it!'

Getting up, Nan Shu Cheng took his robe and wore it carelessly before walking out of his room. The servants were all stunned to see Nan Shu Cheng suddenly walked out, but they chose to stay silent and simply followed him from a distance.

Nan Shu Cheng continued to walk until he reached the gate of Nan Hua's Quarter. It used to be his first wife's quarter and also the place he used to visit the most.

He couldn't remember when things started to change or when she started to irritate him a lot.

He didn't come in.

This was the first time in so many years he walked here voluntary. In the past, he would always take a detour whenever he was about to pass this road. He didn't want to remember her at all.

And as Nan Hua grew up, she looked similar to her mother. Her personality that bravely defied him, face strikingly similar, and words that seemed to resemble each other.

He can't stand her.

It made him crazy as he continued to remember that woman.

And now, he even dreamed about her.

"Li'er…"

The servants behind Nan Shu Cheng was stunned but he lowered his head. It was the nickname Nan Shu Cheng used to call his first wife, but this name hadn't been used for a decade or probably more.

The old servants knew that this name was a taboo in front of Nan Shu Cheng. Thus, no one dared to mention it.

Did someone break the taboo?

Why did Nan Shu Cheng suddenly mutter the name of his first wife?

But none of the servants dared to ask in fear that they would lose their lives in the next moment. They were not brave enough to stick their neck in something that could cost them everything.

Nan Shu Cheng stood in front of the quarter for a period of time before he turned around, walking back to his own quarter.

No one knew what he was thinking.

Inside the quarter, Nan Hua had opened her eyes. She naturally noticed when her father came and approached the gate, but she had no intention of coming out and greeted him. Not to mention, this was still in the middle of the night, even if this was in the day, Nan Hua would not be the first one to greet her father.

She had no intention to do so.

'Li'er.'

The name that her father muttered could be heard even by Nan Hua from a distance away. Her eyes narrowed because she knew very well that it was the middle name of her mother and also her name.

If a person had three words in their name, for example Feng Ao Kuai, the middle name is Kuai. The first name is Ao, which was also their generation name. This generation name was usually only used by those with a lot of children and come from big family. It was mostly used in boys but girls could also have it. Though, those in small areas could also use it.

Their last name is put at the very front, in this case Feng, as it was also his surname.

Nan Hua was not given any generation name. Only surname and name.

Not that she required it either.

"You're not worthy to call her name anymore, Nan Shu Cheng," Nan Hua muttered in a low voice before she resumed her sleep. He hadn't treated her well at all because Nan Hua could faintly recall the bruises she saw on her mother's hands, legs, and neck. And the cause of those all… is Nan Shu Cheng.