Feng Xiaoyue, seeing Fang Zheng step forward, had no choice but to follow him into the adjacent room. The young girl, fearing her grandfather might let something slip, spoke up first, "Grandpa, Sister Xiaoyue insisted on seeing my brother. I told her my brother's illness is contagious and it's best to wait until he's recovered. But Sister Xiaoyue wouldn't listen."
As she spoke, she kept winking at her grandfather.
Fang Zheng was an old hand at this. Upon hearing the girl's words, he instantly understood that this must have been Fang Jun's intention. His affection for his grandson made him decide to cover for Fang Jun.
Thinking this, Fang Zheng also nodded slightly, "Yes, Miss Xiaoyue, you should go back for now. When Fang Jun is feeling better, you can come see him."
Seeing that Fang Zheng also said this, Feng Xiaoyue knew it was impossible to see Fang Jun today. After a moment of thought, Feng Xiaoyue unclasped the jade pendant she always wore and slipped it into the young girl's hand.
"Sister, please give this to Brother Fang Jun for me. Tell him to take good care of himself and not to worry. I'll visit him again once he's recovered."
With that, Feng Xiaoyue bowed to Fang Zheng again, turned, and left.
Watching Feng Xiaoyue depart, Fang Zheng felt a pang of sadness, but he also understood his grandson's choice. He was a proud child who surely didn't want Feng Xiaoyue to see him in such a state.
Feng Xiaoyue returned home. Feng Pengju found her distraught and looked somewhat puzzled. Upon inquiry, he learned that she had gone to Fang Zheng's residence but hadn't seen Fang Jun. Feng Pengju was also confused. He had seen Fang Jun just two days ago and hadn't mentioned any contagion. Why was it contagious the moment Feng Xiaoyue arrived?
However, he remained composed and didn't voice his thoughts. "Xiaoyue, since Fang Jun has a contagious illness, you shouldn't visit him for now. Rest well at home. When Fang Jun recovers in a couple of days, you'll naturally be able to see him!"
Seeing her father also say this, Feng Xiaoyue had no choice but to agree and return to her own room.
Meanwhile, at Fang Zheng's residence, Fang Jun was filled with mixed emotions as he watched the young girl hand him Feng Xiaoyue's jade pendant.
He thought of the happy times he'd spent with Feng Xiaoyue, then looked at his frightening reflection in the mirror. Fang Jun suddenly gritted his teeth and hardened his heart.
With his current appearance, how could he possibly be worthy of Feng Xiaoyue? He was utterly unfit to be with her.
But he couldn't keep hiding forever. He couldn't avoid seeing Feng Xiaoyue for the rest of his life. After much thought, he came up with a plan.
In the evening, Fang Jun seemed much better. He tidied himself up in front of the mirror and walked out into the courtyard.
It was the New Year period, and the weather was still a bit cold. A gust of wind blew, and Fang Jun couldn't help but shiver.
A maidservant attending him quickly stepped forward and draped the overcoat she was holding over him.
Fang Jun walked a few steps in the courtyard, then suddenly turned towards the main gate. The maidservant hurried to stop him, "Young Master, with your condition, you shouldn't go out."
Fang Jun looked back and smiled, "It's nothing. I'll just take a stroll nearby. Oh, go make me a bowl of congee. I'll drink it when I get back!"
The maidservant, without any suspicion, agreed and turned to go to the kitchen.
Fang Jun quickly returned to his room, grabbed a brush, and wrote a letter. He folded it and placed it under his pillow.
Then, he retrieved some broken silver from beneath a nearby desk. This was his private stash, saved for a long time, and it was finally useful.
Fang Jun pocketed the silver and, taking advantage of everyone's inattention, hurried out of the gate.
The family retainers guarding the entrance saw him come out and quickly stepped forward to inquire. Fang Jun, as before, said he was just taking a walk nearby and wouldn't go far.
No one harbored any suspicions about his excuse. Besides, what right did they, the family retainers, have to question what the young master of the manor wanted to do?
Fang Jun ambled along nearby. When he got a distance away, he quietly glanced back. The two family retainers behind him were chatting idly and hadn't noticed him.
A faint smile touched Fang Jun's lips. He darted into a nearby alley. Once in the alley, Fang Jun broke into a run, heading swiftly towards the city gate.
As he walked, Fang Jun scanned his surroundings.
There was a sesame cake stall in a corner. The stall owner, who needed money, had already come out to set up shop.
Fang Jun approached, took out some broken silver, bought a large stack of sesame cakes, and asked the vendor to wrap them in oil paper. Then, he tied them with a thin rope, carried them, and hurried out of the city gate.
Fang Jun exited through the South Gate. He knew that about forty to fifty li ahead, there was the Xiangguo Temple.
Once he reached Xiangguo Temple, he would shave his head, don a monk's robe, and spend the rest of his life in quiet contemplation of Buddhist scriptures.
It wasn't until the second watch of the night, when the city gates were closed, that Fang Jun still hadn't returned. Then, chaos erupted at Fang Zheng's residence. They questioned the two retainers guarding the gate, who said Fang Jun had walked back and forth by the gate and then disappeared. Fang Zheng was so angry he stomped his feet.
"You scoundrels! You can't even handle such a small matter. What are you waiting for? Go find him!"
Fang Zheng sent all his men out to search in every direction. It was almost the third watch when everyone returned.
They had found nothing. Absolutely nothing.
The only person who had seen Fang Jun was the owner of the sesame cake stall. But it was past the second watch, and the vendor had already gone home.
Fang Zheng pondered the situation. He dared not disturb the Princess, so he hurried to the Prince Consort's mansion to seek help from Chen Xiaobei.
Upon hearing Fang Zheng's account, Chen Xiaobei was also bewildered. He couldn't understand what this eldest young master Fang Jun was up to now, playing the disappearing act.
However, Liu Rumei, who was nearby, frowned deeply after listening to the story. She said softly, "Grandpa Fang, I understand Brother Fang Jun's temperament. He's a man who values his dignity. The reason he lied about his illness being contagious and didn't want Miss Xiaoyue to visit is likely for the same reason!"
"So, so, you're saying Fang Jun deliberately ran away from home because he didn't want Xiaoyue to see him in such a sorry state?" Fang Zheng pressed.
Liu Rumei nodded. "Yes, I believe that's the case. So, Grandpa Fang, you don't need to worry too much. Fang Jun will be fine. We'll help you search for him after dawn tomorrow."
Hearing Liu Rumei's analysis, Fang Zheng let out a long sigh of relief. He clasped his hands in thanks and left. After he departed, Liu Rumei shook her head.
"I never expected Fang Jun to be so fragile."
"Just because of some scars on his face, he can't bear it. If Miss Xiaoyue follows him in the future, I'm afraid she won't have an easy life."
Chen Xiaobei remained silent upon hearing this.
What Liu Rumei said made sense. Such a man lacked responsibility and had weak psychological resilience. If something were to happen in the future, he would likely collapse before Feng Xiaoyue.
That night, Liu Rumei personally painted four or five portraits of Fang Jun. Indeed, Liu Rumei was proficient in all the arts: music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Her portraits were incredibly lifelike, and she thoughtfully added some dark spots to the face, just like Fang Jun's current appearance.