Chapter 24 She's going to elope with another man?! ...

Mingwu stared intently at those few lines of text, looking at them again and again, making sure she hadn't misread them.

It's true.

The female household registration documents have been processed properly.

She really has a chance to leave.

The word 'leave' was like a light suddenly illuminating the darkness, dispelling the fear, humiliation, and resentment that had been weighing on her heart for days.

My heart was pounding wildly in my chest, almost bursting out of my ribs.

Her fingertips gripped the edge of the letter tightly, causing the thin pages to tremble slightly. She stared intently at the words 'Women's Household Documents,' as if trying to etch them into her very bones.

Regarding the last sentence, "It can help her."

She didn't take it seriously.

After all, Prince Ning and Lu Yuan are cousins, and his biological mother, the Dowager Consort, came from the Lu family, making her Lu Yuan's aunt.

They are blood relatives.

How could he possibly genuinely help her? Maybe he's just testing the waters to see what she'll say.

"Cousin-in-law?"

Seeing that her expression was strange and that she held the letter for a long time without moving, Song Yuxuan felt a little uneasy.

Could it be that my brother's philandering ways have returned, and he wrote something frivolous and disrespectful in the letter, offending my cousin-in-law?

"But what inappropriate and outrageous things did my brother say in his letter?"

Before Mingwu could reply, she quickly added.

"That's just how my brother is, he speaks without thinking and has no sense of propriety. Sister-in-law, don't take it to heart."

Mingwu snapped out of her reverie, folded the letter, put it back in her sleeve pocket, and shook her head with a smile.

“Your Highness is overthinking it; there is nothing wrong with it. I am deeply grateful for Your Highness’s personal trip.”

"Oh dear, why are you being so polite with me, cousin-in-law?"

Upon hearing this, Song Yuxuan breathed a sigh of relief, a bright smile blooming on her face as she waved dismissively. But the smile quickly vanished.

Her fingertips unconsciously caressed the embroidery on her cuffs, her eyes darting around, stealing glances at Mingwu several times.

He hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Mingwu looked at her quietly, understanding in her heart.

Song Yuxuan is usually bright and outgoing, speaks her mind and never beats around the bush. What could make her show such an expression?

Who else could it be but Lu Cang?

The men of the Lu family are truly a menace!

Mingwu said gently, "Does the princess have something else to say? Please speak freely."

Song Yuxuan's face flushed instantly, and her expression became shy and hesitant. She lowered her head, fiddling with the teacup on the table, and stammered.

"Sister-in-law, could you do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

Song Yuxuan quickly pulled out another envelope, the same type of paper as the previous one. The only difference was that a small pink heart was drawn in the upper right corner.

It has a faint peach blossom scent, and it was painted with pigments made from peach blossoms.

This shows their dedication.

"Sister-in-law, please help me deliver this letter to my third cousin."

Mingwu frowned slightly, wanting to refuse.

First, Lu Cang is her brother-in-law, and there is a difference between men and women, so she shouldn't have any contact with him, let alone something like this private exchange.

Secondly, she hoped that Song Yuxuan wouldn't get too deeply involved.

"I……"

Song Yuxuan squatted down next to Ming Wu, clasped her hands together, and looked at her with pleading eyes.

"Sister-in-law, dear sister-in-law, please!"

Since their unpleasant parting that day, Lu Cang has refused to see her again. She tried everything, but he remained unmoved.

Song Yuxuan knew that Lu Cang was angry with her, angry that she had almost revealed his shameful thoughts.

After calming down, Song Yuxuan realized that she was wrong.

Even if Lu Cang likes his cousin-in-law, so what? He can never be with her. Since that's the case, why should she care?

Lu Cang's deep affection for his partner proves that he is a person who values ​​relationships.

As the saying goes: It's easy to find priceless treasures, but hard to find a true lover.

Song Yuxuan refused to believe that her sincere heart, day after day, like water dripping on stone, wouldn't warm his heart. As long as he was willing to give her a chance…

One day, one day, he will see her good qualities.

Looking at the girl in front of him, he saw a mixture of reckless determination and humility in her eyes.

Mingwu finally sighed and nodded in agreement.

"Thank you so much, cousin-in-law. You're the best."

A dazzling light shone in Song Yuxuan's eyes. She jumped up with joy, convinced that as long as her cousin-in-law intervened, Lu Cang would definitely see the letter and come out to see her.

She carefully placed the envelope in Mingwu's hand and then held Mingwu's hand tightly.

Like a nagging old lady, she kept nagging.

"Sister-in-law, please remember to hand it over to your third cousin personally. You must."

Only after receiving Mingwu's reaffirmation did she feel relieved and leave the hospital with a heart full of joy and hope.

"Madam, are you really going to deliver the message?" Chunnan asked.

Mingwu nodded. She believed that if she had promised something, she should keep it. This was her principle in dealing with people.

However, that's not the important thing right now.

She placed the envelope on the table.

He instructed Chunnan to close all the doors and windows, and then had her sit opposite him.

Chunnan sat down as instructed, placing her hands on her knees, unconsciously clutching her skirt until her knuckles turned slightly white.

The lady had never spoken to her so solemnly and privately before.

A strong sense of unease gripped her.

Mingwu considered it carefully before asking.

"Chunnan, if one day I must leave the Prime Minister's residence and never return..."

She paused deliberately, giving Chunnan time to process what she had just heard, and clearly saw Chunnan's eyes widen and her face turn deathly pale before continuing.

"Would you rather come with me, or choose to stay in the Prime Minister's residence?"

Seeing Chun Nan's stunned and almost speechless expression, she added gently.

"You don't need to answer immediately, and there's no need to feel burdened. Whatever you choose is your freedom. If you wish to stay, I will definitely arrange a suitable place for you, find you a stable job, and ensure your future security."

"Chunnan, if one day I have to leave the Prime Minister's residence, will you come with me or stay here? If you decide to stay, don't worry, I will arrange your whereabouts."

She had already made up her mind: if Chunnan stayed, she would entrust Chunnan to Song Yuxuan.

Chunnan gave the answer without hesitation.

"This servant will follow you, Madam."

"good."

Lu Yuan went to Yangzhou and wasn't at his residence, which presented her with her best opportunity.

"Chunnan, find some time to subtly inquire when the Prime Minister will return." She needs to leave before he comes back.

Chunnan nodded and was about to leave.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps sounded in the courtyard, approaching from afar.

Mingwu's mind flashed back to the scene at Xianle Tower, and her heart suddenly tightened.

Could it be... that Lu Yuan is back?!

This guess startled her, and she jumped to her feet. Because she stood up so quickly, her sleeve loosened, and the letter hidden inside silently fell to the ground.

"Madam, the matriarch of the Ming family has arrived."

Mingwu's taut shoulder line suddenly relaxed.

Thankfully, it wasn't him...

Then she despised herself, thinking she was pathetic. She hadn’t done anything wrong, so why should she be afraid of him?

Perhaps her voluntary departure from the Prime Minister's residence, thus facilitating his relationship with Qi Lan, was exactly what he wanted. He would announce her death after she left.

She neither damaged his reputation nor damaged the dignity of the Prime Minister's residence, and she also escaped from her misery.

A triple win.

How wonderful.

She felt that she was really too kind. Despite how he and Qi Lan treated her, she not only did not retaliate, but also took the initiative to help them get together.

Is there any ex-wife in the world who is so forgiving and understanding?

Of course, the most important thing is that Lu Yuan is too powerful and too smart. Even if she risked everything, she couldn't touch a single hair on his head.

She might even implicate those around her, causing them to perish along with her.

Although she wasn't very smart, she was always pragmatic.

If it's impossible, then don't do it.

Just then, an impatient voice came from outside the door. Immediately afterwards, the door was pushed open with a loud bang, hitting the wall and bouncing back slightly.

A woman dressed in a brand-new bright red dress with gold trim burst in, the wind she created causing the gold hairpin in her hair to sway and leave afterimages.

The person who came was none other than Mingwu's mother, Madam Lin.

As soon as Lin entered the room, her gaze fell precisely on Mingwu like a searchlight.

She hurried forward and asked with concern, "Awu, I heard you weren't feeling well? Are you feeling any better?"

These caring words were like a key, suddenly unlocking the grievances, fears, and humiliation of being used as a medicinal ingredient that Mingwu had endured for days.

Her eyes welled up with tears.

Tears almost streamed down my face.

She quickly turned her head away, pretending to look out the window.

She tried her best to suppress the tears that were about to burst forth from her eyes.

The afternoon sun, having lost its gentleness and become somewhat scorching, streamed in unrestrainedly through the gaps in the sycamore branches covering the roof and through the window frames.

It casts patches of light of varying sizes onto the smooth ground.

A gust of wind blew by, and the spots of light began to sway and dance.

Once the light and shadows returned to calm, Mingwu managed to suppress the turmoil in her heart.

She slowly turned around, faced Lin, who was already seated in the main seat, curtsied deeply, and deliberately kept her voice steady.

"Thank you for your concern, Mother. Your daughter is doing well."

Lin accepted the tea offered by Chunnan, casually skimmed off the foam, and took a small sip. She had learned these elegant tea-drinking manners from the wives of officials after arriving in Lin'an.

He slightly lifted his eyelids and glanced indifferently at Mingwu's pale face.

"Well, it's good that nothing's wrong."

These two seemingly innocuous words, "nothing happened," were like a thorn stuck in Chunnan's heart.

That's how my wife always is.

They endured and suffered everything on their own.

No wonder Madam Ming never really cared.

She had heard from the elders since she was a child: Only the crying child gets candy.

The lady should tell the old lady everything she suffered in the Prime Minister's residence, down to the smallest detail. What mother in the world doesn't love her daughter?

If the old lady finds out, she will definitely stand up for the lady...

Chunnan could no longer hold back, and knelt down to Lin Shi's forced kneeling before blurting out the words.

"Madam, you may not know this, but a few days ago you almost..."

"Chunnan," Mingwu called out to stop her.

Lin put down her teacup, raised her finely drawn eyebrows, and looked at Chunnan.

"What happened? Tell me."

With permission granted, Chunnan's pent-up resentment, which had been building up inside her for so long, poured out like a flood.

"It's still Qi Lan."

"Taking advantage of the Prime Minister's absence, they dared to spout nonsense about using the Lady's blood as a medicinal ingredient to cure the illness. They ordered their wicked servants to kidnap the Lady and drain her blood."

"What?!"

Lin suddenly stood up, her eyes wide open, and slammed her hand hard on the table.

"Clang!"

The cup vibrated slightly, and warm tea overflowed from its rim. The light brown tea meandered down the snow-white porcelain wall.

The tablecloth was soaked.

"Outrageous! How dare a lowly maid, who doesn't even have the title of concubine, climb over the head of the mistress of the house and humiliate her? This is outrageous!"

Mingwu felt a warmth in her heart.

Mother, this is because she is angry.

Perhaps I have been misunderstanding her for a long time; in fact, my mother loves me dearly.

Mingwu suddenly felt an urge to tell her mother about her decision to leave the Prime Minister's residence.

She was, after all, just a girl not even eighteen years old. With little experience, these past few days and these events weighed heavily on her heart.

There wasn't even anyone to discuss things with.

He didn't know what to do, nor did he know if he had overlooked anything.

If only Mother could…

"Mother, I want to..." leave the Prime Minister's residence.

She mustered her courage, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly, and began to speak.

Lin's reprimands came crashing down on him.

"Useless thing."

"You've been bullied to this extent and you haven't even made a sound. How can you be so spineless?"

“Look at your mother, all those unruly girls your father brought back back then? I’ve tamed them all. Anyone who dares to cause trouble, I’ll break their legs and kick them out.”

Lin became increasingly angry as she spoke, her finger almost touching Mingwu's forehead.

"You're useless. People are bullying you so much, and you don't even know how to fight back."

“Awu, your mother taught you long ago that to be a head of the household, you need to be ruthless to stand firm. But you always ignore my words.”

"Now look what's happened! Even a lowly wretch dares to ride roughshod over you, and you can't even protect the dignity of your own wife. Who can you blame?!"

She selectively forgot about it; she was too busy arguing and fighting with her concubines all day. She had no time for Mingwu; if she was unhappy, she would scold and berate her.

She needs to be obedient, well-behaved, and sensible.

She was never taught how to manage a household or how to handle a crisis...

Now they're criticizing her for being useless and having no future.

Lin said she was tired and sat back down in her chair. Seeing Mingwu obediently lowering her head without making a sound, her anger subsided a little, and her tone softened.

"You are my own flesh and blood, the flesh that came out of my womb after ten months of pregnancy, how could I harm you?"

"It's good that you suffered a loss this time; it'll teach you a lesson. From now on, you must listen to your mother more often, understand?"

Chunnan could hardly believe her ears.

She had hoped that the old lady would cherish her, but instead, she was met with even deeper criticism from the old lady.

The lady was clearly the one who was injured, so why blame her?

Chunnan couldn't understand it.

"Madam, you didn't see how dangerous it was for you. That knife..."

Lin interrupted, "That's because she's useless."

"I told you long ago. We should seize the opportunity while that vixen's power base is still unstable and firmly grasp the Prime Minister's heart."

"As long as a man's heart is with you, let alone one Qi Lan, even ten of them wouldn't be able to escape your grasp."

"These are lessons I've learned over the years. If someone had told me these things back then, your father and I wouldn't have..."

Mrs. Lin sighed regretfully.

“Awu, don’t blame your mother for nagging you. Your mother loves you deeply and is very strict with you. Your mother doesn’t want you to regret it for the rest of your life like your mother.”

Do you understand?

Mingwu lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow under her eyelids.

"Mother, I am not like you."

Lin's eyes widened as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"What's the difference? Isn't it just the little things between husband and wife, men and women? Don't think that just because you're the Prime Minister's wife..."

Mingwu's voice was clear, as if she were simply stating a fact that had nothing to do with her.

"The Prime Minister doesn't like me, and I don't like him either. We... In short, Mother, you don't need to worry about my affairs anymore."

Lin's voice suddenly rose in pitch.

“I am your mother. How can I not care about your affairs?”

"Do you feel ashamed because you're the daughter of a merchant? Do you resent us for giving you a good background?"

Mingwu felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion wash over her.

"I don't."

"No? I think you are. You're the Prime Minister's wife now, so you think you're something special, looking down on us merchants, aren't you?"

Knowing that there was no point in arguing, Mingwu simply shut up and stopped talking.

Seeing Mingwu remain silent, Lin realized that she had hit the nail on the head. She was so angry that her face turned red.

“Mingwu, let me tell you, no matter who you are, you can never change the fact that you are my daughter, that you came out of my belly.”

“The Ming family raised you to adulthood, you should think about the Ming family now.”

Lin asked in a stiff tone, "How's that thing I told you about last time, about finding a job for your brother in the Ministry of Revenue?"

Mingwu raised her eyes, looked at Lin Shi, and said calmly.

"I didn't tell the Prime Minister."

Lin's face turned ashen instantly, and her voice became so shrill it almost cracked.

"What did you say? I told you so many times to tell me this, and you dare…"

"You rebellious daughter!"

The last word was shouted out.

Enraged, Lin raised her hand and, with a sharp gust of wind, slapped Mingwu hard across the face.

Mingwu raised her head, neither flinching nor dodging. Her clear eyes held a still, stagnant calm, even a hint of resolute relief.

Go ahead and hit her. With that slap, the last vestige of her attachment to the Ming family was completely severed.

She had previously worried that if she left, Lu Yuan might take his anger out on the Ming family...

Now, she doesn't care anymore.

"Madam, you mustn't!"

Chunnan was horrified. She screamed and rushed forward, hugging Lin's raised arm with her whole body and crying out.

"Madam is frail and has just been frightened; she cannot withstand a beating. If you must hit her, hit me instead; I will take the beating for her."

Lin's arm was held tightly by Chunnan, who glared at Mingwu.

When she met Mingwu's eyes.

The childlike affection, resentment, and longing for closeness of the past were gone.

All that remains is a cold, utter alienation and indifference...

Lin's heart sank.

Her face turned deathly pale, and she staggered back several steps, only managing to regain her balance after bumping into the back of a chair behind her.

A tremendous chill rose from the soles of my feet.

She suddenly realized with absolute clarity.

After her eldest daughter, who had broken ties with her, she now had her youngest daughter, Mingwu, who had been well-behaved and sensible since childhood and silently longed for her and wanted to be close to her no matter how much she scolded her.

At this moment, he was completely estranged from her.

Her lips trembled, her eyes were unfocused, and she muttered to herself in a daze.

"Could it be...could it be that I was wrong?"

"No...it's impossible...I was doing it all for your own good..."

"You're still young and don't understand... When you grow up and suffer the consequences, you'll understand..."

"I knew everything Mother did was for your own good..."

Chunnan ignored Lin Shi.

With tears in her eyes, she carefully supported the pale-faced Mingwu, helping her step by step towards the inner room.

Mingwu's steps were unsteady, as if all her strength had been exhausted.

Lin stared blankly at her daughter's thin frame as she disappeared behind the curtain.

She instinctively opened her mouth, her throat bobbing, but ultimately couldn't utter a single word.

Lin watched Mingwu's departing figure, opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.

A belated, sharp pain pierced her.

That was flesh of her own flesh. How could she not feel heartache?!

But... what's the use of feeling sorry for someone?

In this secluded mansion, what good is it to feel sorry for someone?

Having a husband's favor and a stable, unshakeable position—that is true happiness.

Which woman from a wealthy or prestigious family didn't go through this ordeal?

So what if I suffer a little injustice?

Didn't she suffer enough grievances and swallow enough bitterness back then? Didn't she endure all of it and still manage to support this huge family business?

The more Lin thought about it, the more she felt that her reasoning was absolutely right, and the slight wavering and sting she had felt earlier were quickly suppressed.

She even felt that Mingwu was too young and immature.

He wanted to follow her into the inner room to offer a few more words of advice.

On second thought, my daughter is currently very angry and won't listen to reason. It's better to wait until she's recovered and calmed down before I can "coax" her.

She straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and turned to leave.

When his gaze swept over the desk by the window, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

On the table, a letter lay quietly.

The envelope was quite elegant, and what was even more eye-catching was that a small peach blossom was carefully painted on it with delicate pink paint.

Lin's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously glanced towards the quiet inner room.

Seeing that no one came out.

She quickly went over, picked up the letter, and opened it.

Inside was a letter with a faint scent of ink, on which was written a tender love poem in delicate handwriting.

The words are filled with a woman's deep longing and love for her lover, and her yearning to see him again.

Lin's lips curled into a knowing and smug smile.

She clicked her tongue silently.

Ah Wu, that girl, she's so stubborn, saying she doesn't like the Prime Minister, but secretly she's lovesick and keeps writing him love letters.

They were young and easily embarrassed, and couldn't bring themselves to admit it.

A glint flashed in her eyes, and she quickly folded the letter back along the original creases, carefully stuffing it back into the envelope.

Then, with a flick of her wrist, the letter slipped silently into her large sleeve pocket.

She remembered clearly that Prime Minister Lu Yuan was currently in Yangzhou on official business...

Once the thought arises, it grows wildly like weeds.

He instructed his son, Mingwangzu, to deliver the letter to the Prime Minister of Yangzhou at full speed.

Firstly, it would let the Prime Minister know how deeply A-Wu missed him. If the young couple had a disagreement, sending this love letter would surely help them reconcile.

Secondly... this is a golden opportunity for Wangzu to show his face in front of the Prime Minister.

Upon seeing his beloved wife's love letter, the Prime Minister would be overjoyed and might even bestow upon Wangzu a ready-made official position.

Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?

The more Lin thought about it, the more excited she became, as if she could already see her son in official robes, riding a tall horse, taking up his post in a glorious manner.

The gloom on his face vanished instantly.

Instead, there was an impatient scheming and yearning.

She didn't linger and walked out the door with light steps.

-

Inside the room, Mingwu drank the bitter medicine and then fell into a deep sleep. When she opened her eyes again, the sun had already set.

The sun was only half visible, hanging obliquely on the western horizon. Like a dying phoenix, it emitted its last dazzling red light.

The surrounding clouds looked as if they were on fire.

"Oh! It's already so late?"

Mingwu hurriedly got off the bed, quickly washed her face and rinsed her mouth, and then went to the outer room.

He was stunned when he saw that the desk by the window was empty.

She remembered that the letter Song Yuxuan had given her was right here.

Where did it go?

"Chunnan, did you take the letter on the table?"

Upon hearing the noise, Chunnan hurried in: "I didn't take it, what's wrong? Is it missing?"

Mingwu nodded, her delicate brows furrowed: "I remember clearly, it was placed here."

Chunnan thought for a moment: "Perhaps it was blown to the ground by the wind. I'll look for it."

As he spoke, he immediately crouched down and nimbly crawled under the large table, his fingertips groping in the dust and shadows.

A moment later, she exclaimed with delight, "Found it!"

When she stepped out from under the table, she was indeed holding the letter in her hand. However, a dark tea stain was clearly visible on one corner of the envelope, and the edges were slightly wrinkled.

"Madam, here she is! It's just... she accidentally spilled some tea on herself, and a corner of it is wet."

Mingwu only glanced at it briefly before hurrying out.

"It's alright, the important thing is what's inside. Let's hurry and deliver the letter to the Third Young Master."

She had already decided that, to avoid any unforeseen complications, she would leave the Prime Minister's residence tomorrow before Lu Yuan returned. Therefore, she had to deliver this letter today.

After many twists and turns, the two finally arrived at the Begonia Courtyard where Lu Cang lived.

Just as they reached the door, Lu Cang happened to come out from inside.

Upon seeing Mingwu, he paused, his gaze involuntarily falling on the familiar figure below the steps, his breath catching in his throat.

As dusk fell, she stood on the steps, her clothes fluttering gently in the evening breeze, a wisp of hair falling from her temple, making her profile even more beautiful.

His heart skipped a beat, and his throat tightened inexplicably, almost causing him to blurt out something.

"Second sister-in-law?"

His voice was slightly hoarse, carrying a hint of unbelievable surprise, but he suppressed it in the next instant and only whispered.

"You...are you just passing by?"

He wanted to ask her if she had come specifically to find him.

But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, she felt her chest burning, and even the tips of her ears felt faintly hot.

How could he dare to ask such a rash and abrupt question?

He had no choice but to change the subject, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing his cuffs, but his gaze remained fixed on her face, unwilling to look away even for a moment.

"No, I came here specifically to find you."

Lu Cang felt as if his heart had been struck hard by a heavy hammer. Then it felt as if a thousand drums were pounding wildly inside his chest.

The vibrations made his eardrums ring and his fingertips feel slightly numb.

Chunnan walked up to Lu Cang and handed him the slightly crumpled letter.

Mingwu explained:

"This is what the princess asked me to give to you."

Did you go out of your way to...find him?

These words echoed repeatedly in Lu Cang's mind.

He even forgot to breathe, only grinning like a fool who had suddenly obtained the world's greatest treasure.

He carefully wiped his hands with a handkerchief before cautiously reaching out to take it.

He took out the letter and unfolded it in front of Mingwu.

The afterglow of the setting sun fell precisely on the paper, where several lines of ink characters were blurred by the tea, becoming indistinctly stuck together, with only a few fragmented words barely discernible.

...the document...leaving the Prime Minister's residence...helping her...

She wants to leave the Prime Minister's residence and needs his help. Is this... is she planning to elope with him?!

She...likes him too?!

An overwhelming ecstasy swept through my body.

Lu Cang was so excited that his whole body was trembling, yet his hands holding the paper were incredibly gentle, as if he were holding the most fragile and precious treasure in the world.

I was afraid that I might accidentally crush it.

He suddenly looked up at her, his eyes surging with an intense and overwhelming affection.

"When...when is it?" Let's go.

Every word seemed to be squeezed out from the tip of a burning heart.

Mingwu was slightly taken aback by the intense light in his eyes.

Did the princess not specify the time in her letter?

A hint of doubt crossed her mind, but remembering Song Yuxuan's instructions, she still answered.

"Tomorrow morning."

She remembered Song Yuxuan saying that the appointment was for tomorrow morning.

"Tomorrow morning..."

Lu Cang repeated softly, his heart filled with sweetness.

He gazed at her intently, his voice tender and lingering.

Okay. See you tomorrow...

Mingwu's heart skipped a beat when he looked at her.

Why was it said to her? This agreement was clearly between the princess and him.

Then, she suddenly realized.

Yes, he must have asked her to pass on a message to the princess. Judging from his expression, he must be extremely looking forward to seeing the princess.

Mingwu felt relieved, a polite smile appeared on her face, and she nodded obediently.

Without lingering any longer, he turned and left with Chunnan.

-

On the other side, in Yangzhou.

After concluding his inspection, Lu Yuan entered the mansion, surrounded by a group of officials.

By this time, the sun had already set, leaving only a faint blush of rouge in the western sky.

A hint of weariness lingered between his brows, his steps were steady, and he exuded a cold aura of someone who had long held a high position.

From afar, he saw a plump, white figure standing by the roadside, waving eagerly at him.

Lu Yuan didn't stop walking, only frowned almost imperceptibly, and coldly ordered, "Drag him away."

The guards stepped forward in response.

Ming Wangzu panicked immediately, twisted his fat body, and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Prime Minister, Prime Minister, please wait. I am Ming Wangzu, the eldest son of the Ming family. Ming Wu is my younger sister. She... she asked me to deliver a letter to you, Prime Minister."

Lu Yuan suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He raised his hand, signaling the guards to release Ming Wangzu.

Once Ming Wangzu was free, he straightened his back a few notches and glared fiercely at the guard.

When facing Lu Yuan, a fawning smile instantly appeared on his face as he jogged closer.

He took out the letter he had kept close to his body and presented it to Lu Yuan with both hands.

Lu Yuan frowned slightly in disdain.

Upon seeing this, a guard stepped forward to take the letter, but Lu Yuan stopped him.

Lu Yuan picked up the letter.

He first examined the envelope; it was paper from the palace. He had recently sent some of this paper to Mingwu.

On one corner of the envelope, there was a small pink flower. It was drawn with peach blossom juice.

The peach tree is young and tender, its blossoms are bright and beautiful. This maiden is going to her husband's home; may she bring harmony to her family.

She was very dedicated.

Lu Yuan's thin lips curved into a pleased smile.

The guards standing nearby were stunned.

Is this their so-called cold-faced Yama, the Prime Minister? He's actually smiling so...flirtatiously.

Open the letter.

After reading the contents of the letter.

Lu Yuan's smile widened, and he laughed heartily before leaping onto a brown warhorse.

"I have to go home first, so I will leave the affairs here to you officials."

The words still echoed in the wind.

The horse had already shot off like an arrow, disappearing into the distance.

Only a cloud of dust remained, lingering in front of the mansion gate for a long time.

-----------------------

Author's Note: Lu Yuan: My wife is eloping with another man, I'm so sad~