Chapter 62 Rumor: "Is the child's biological father someone else?"...
The snow cleared quickly, and the thin winter sun shone on the city walls. Smoke filled the air, and corpses littered the ground. The fast horse galloped over the piles of fire and reached the city gate.
Ruan Yang's only request was that the investiture ceremony not be held in the capital. This request was unreasonable, but she did not expect that Ning Xian would agree to it.
Just then, the city gates were about to close, and the dazzling light shone on the snow-covered eaves, making it difficult for Ruan Yang to open his eyes.
The moment she jumped off the city wall without hesitation, she almost completely surrendered herself to Lu Wenjin. She thought that no matter what, she had to get rid of Ning Xian, even if it meant death.
Fortunately, heaven took pity on them and did not separate the lovers; they did not let each other down.
The Ye army gradually gathered at the city gate. Lu Wenjin tightened his grip on the reins and quickened his pace, saying to the person in his arms, "Hold on tight, just a little longer."
Ruan Yang nodded blankly, her cooled tears blurring her eyelashes. Her bloodied fingertips clung tightly to Lu Wenjin's waist, as if afraid that this rare happiness would vanish in an instant.
Lu Wenjin broke through the encirclement, and the Shu army rushed to cover his retreat. The moment he stepped out of the shadow below the city gate, dawn was imminent, and the freshness of ice and snow replaced the stench of blood in the air.
The young man's black cloak wrapped Ruan Yang tightly, and his burning body temperature stopped her shivering.
Ruan Yang couldn't help but lean against Lu Wenjin's chest. Her frozen fingers slowly loosened, and the white magnolia hairpin that Ning Xian had given her fell to the ground with a "clatter," shattering into pieces.
It was shattered to pieces, beyond repair.
...
Bashu (Sichuan and Chongqing)
As the weather in Sichuan gradually warmed up, it couldn't withstand the return of the humid season, which made everything damp and prone to mold. Lu's mother knelt before the Buddha statue, her hands clasped together, and silently prayed.
Since Ruan Yang's mysterious "disappearance" and her son's dispatch to a harsh and cold place to suppress bandits, Lu's mother has not had a single peaceful night's sleep.
There were dark circles under his eyes, and a few more strands of silver hair had appeared at his temples.
Lu Wenjin and Ruan Yang had traveled for nearly half a month, and were inevitably exhausted from the journey. Even though they had traveled by carriage the whole way, Ruan Yang's body had become weak.
Seeing that Ruan Yang's steps were unsteady and stiff, Lu Wenjin jumped off the carriage first, picked her up and carried her in his arms. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, comforting her, "We're home. If you're tired, take a nap."
Ruan Yang hooked her arm around the young man's neck and nodded with difficulty.
"Go tell your mother the good news first."
The maid at the door, upon confirming who it was, ran over to the Buddhist hall with great joy: "Madam! They're back! The young general has returned with his young mistress!"
Mother Lu thought she had misheard and was about to scold the maids when she turned around as usual and saw Lu Wenjin and Ruan Yang, whom she hadn't seen for months.
“Mother.” Lu Wenjin stood there, holding Ruan Yang’s hand.
Lu's mother was stunned for a long time. She looked left at Ruan Yang and right at her son, and finally burst into tears: "...Where have you all gone? Look at you, leaving an old woman like me at home."
Lu's mother couldn't help but scold her, but she was overjoyed. She noticed that Ruan Yang was different from before, and her wide sleeves could not hide her protruding belly.
She was stunned and said, "Yangyang, could it be...?"
Lu Wenjin hugged Ruan Yang and said with a smile, "Mother, Yangyang is carrying my child. You will probably become a grandmother around the beginning of April this year."
Mother Lu pulled Ruan Yang to sit down, overjoyed and weeping: "This is a joyous occasion. I will personally cook a nourishing meal for you later."
She knew that Ruan Yang had no mother's love since childhood, so she always tried her best to make up for it in this respect.
Ruan Yang nodded, gradually putting her unease behind her. She thought that no matter what lay ahead, even if it was a mountain of knives, a sea of fire, or an abyss, the most important thing was to hold onto the happiness in front of her.
She said, "Mother, Wenjin, from now on, we are a family, and no one is allowed to separate us."
The month they spent back at the Lu residence was peaceful and quiet. Although there were occasional gossips circulating, it did not affect their blissful life.
Until the day before yesterday, during a small gathering, a few gossipy women started discussing the Emperor's recent appointment of an Empress. Madam Lu, who was usually a mild-mannered person, immediately lost her temper and, upon returning home, instructed the servants not to let Ruan Yang know about the matter.
Lu Wenjin has been returning home very late lately. Tonight, it was already late at night when he returned to the pavilion. Ruan Yang had already gone to sleep. After taking a bath and changing his clothes, he went to rest on the small couch as usual.
Ruan Yang noticed someone covering her with a blanket and knew it was Lu Wenjin. She smiled with her eyes closed and quietly hugged his waist from behind.
She nuzzled her soft face against the young man's straight back, acting like a clingy kitten, and said, "The couch is cold and hard, it's uncomfortable. You can sleep next to me tonight."
Lu Wenjin turned around, lowered his eyes, and playfully brushed against her nose, saying, "Feeling sorry for me?"
Ruan Yang rested her head on Lu Wenjin's lap, playing with the ends of her hair as she said forlornly, "Yeah, I feel sorry for you. I feel sorry for you, having to endure the wind and sun every day, coming and going in the rain, without even a chance to sleep in."
He came from humble beginnings, often going hungry and cold as a child, and being bullied and beaten was commonplace. Later, he had the opportunity to join the army, and he worked his way up from a lowly soldier to his current position. Only Lu Wenjin himself knows the hardships he endured.
He earned his military merits through countless battles, which resulted in him suffering numerous injuries and illnesses even in his early twenties, causing him excruciating pain whenever these ailments flared up.
"I feel sorry for you... Ever since you married me, you haven't had a single peaceful day. If only you hadn't met me, your career would have been smooth, you would have a virtuous wife and filial children, and you wouldn't be unable to sleep every night."
As Ruan Yang thought about it, her lips drooped. She turned to the side and buried her face in Lu Wenjin's stomach, sobbing, "Lu Wenjin, do you regret marrying me?"
Lu Wenjin didn't expect her to cry suddenly. He was stunned for a moment and said, "Without you, I would probably be a lowly commoner who can be bullied by anyone."
“Yangyang, I knew I would marry you the moment I saw you on that snowy night. All the fame and fortune I seek are for the sake of being worthy of you.”
If it weren't for Ruan Yang and his mother, he felt he wouldn't have been able to hold on any longer.
His body was covered in wounds, which were excruciating in the rain. His knees were especially painful, as if they were being sawed. In addition, for some reason, he had been having nightmares every night for years, and the souls of those who died at his hands came to claim his life.
Lu Wenjin reached out his hand to her and made a pinky promise: "Yangyang, promise me that if I lose, you will apologize to Ning Xian and live a good life with him. Me and the child are not important."
Ruan Yang, feeling wronged, said, "You jinx! You're not allowed to say such things. It's one thing to curse yourself, but don't you even want your child anymore?"
Lu Wenjin placed his palm on her round belly. The baby inside sensed that someone was touching it and rolled over in response.
"I'm sorry, it's my fault. I shouldn't have let you get pregnant at this time."
Ruan Yang glared at him: "Who told you to keep dragging me around all day... and you still have the nerve to apologize? You've quieted down quite a bit now."
"If you can't help it..."
Ruan Yang knew that he had been enduring these past few days, and it was he who suggested sleeping on the small couch. Even an iron body couldn't withstand taking a cold shower in the chilly spring weather.
She tilted her head back and kissed him: "Consider it my way of making it up to you."
The warm spring breeze rippled beneath the red curtains, and later, tears mingled with theirs. This hard-won moment of joy was almost completed while they were crying.
When she woke up the next day, Lu Wenjin was gone again. Apart from a slight backache, Ruan Yang felt no other discomfort. Since she had to see Lu's mother after breakfast, she used makeup to cover up the traces of their intimate encounter.
"Yangyang, come and get acquainted. These are the midwives and wet nurses that Wenjin and I specially found for you. They will serve you for the next few days. If you don't like them, we can change them."
Ruan Yang nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, Mother."
Mother Lu looked at her and smiled, "You're about seven months along now. Don't be afraid, even though it's your first pregnancy. I'll be here with you. Just listen to the midwife."
"Um."
As her due date approached, it was impossible not to feel anxious, but Ruan Yang felt much more at ease knowing that many people were with her.
"Young Madam, the weather outside is clear and the wind is gentle. Why don't you go for a walk? Life and death will be easier that way."
Ruan Yang nodded.
The Lu family was not very large, and the huge mansion seemed somewhat deserted. Although the back garden was full of flowers and beautifully maintained, it was quiet and lacked any vibrant human presence.
As you turn the corner of the long corridor, a gentle breeze blows, and pear blossoms flutter down from above.
Beside the arched stone gate, two maids stood sweeping away the fallen flowers on the road.
"Have you heard? It's all over the place."
"I heard about it. It's caused such a big commotion. I'm afraid only the young mistress herself doesn't know. Have you noticed that the young general has been wearing a stern face these past few days, without a single smile? He's never been like this before."
"Even the best-tempered man cannot tolerate his wife having an affair and being pregnant with another man's child."
"Don't talk nonsense..."
"His Majesty is the Son of Heaven. How can he allow someone else's offspring to confuse the royal bloodline? He was able to appoint his wife as Empress because he cherishes the royal heir in her womb."
Ruan Yang's face stiffened, and she stepped forward, throwing the broom out of the maid's hand: "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Seeing that she was angry, Lu's mother scolded, "You're all gossipy fools! Who gave you permission to talk about your master behind his back? Slap yourselves!"
After a few slaps, Madam Lu felt it wasn't enough, so she sent the two girls down to receive their punishments.
Ruan Yang glanced at Lu's mother's ashen face and felt a chill creep down her spine. The time she was diagnosed with pregnancy was almost the same as the time she entered the palace, so it made perfect sense to say that the child was Ning Xian's.
"Mother, listen to me..."
Lu's mother interrupted her: "I know you were forced by someone, so I don't blame you. If you are carrying Wenjin's child, that would be for the best, but if not..."
She sighed, "My Lu family wouldn't be such a villain. Once you give birth, we'll send someone to take you away, and I'll pretend this never happened. You'll still be my Lu family's daughter-in-law."
"But as your mother, I hope you won't hide anything from us."
Similar rumors came like a flood, and after several such incidents, Lu Wenjin began to grow cold, returning home at night and going to sleep after saying only a few words.
Ruan Yang was extremely disappointed. She had guessed Lu Wenjin's thoughts countless times in her mind, but she didn't dare to say it to his face. She could only grieve silently at night.
Another day passed. After finishing his official duties, Lu Wenjin belatedly remembered that he hadn't spent enough time with Ruan Yang recently. So, he forced his drooping eyelids open and rushed back to the mansion that very night.
At midnight, the lights in the courtyard were still on.
He scolded, "Why aren't the lights out this late? How are you taking care of Madam?"
The maid stammered and sighed, "Madam hasn't rested yet. She's been unhappy lately and just now she hid under the covers and cried for a while."
Lu Wenjin frowned, quickened her pace, and strode into the room.
"Wenjin, it's not like what they're saying. The child is yours, and has nothing to do with Ningxian..."
Lu Wenjin came to her senses: "I know, I didn't doubt you."
"But they all say you're very angry."
"I've been too busy lately, which is why I've neglected your feelings. I don't distrust you."
"real?"
Lu Wenjin nodded: "Really? I swear."
He laughed and said, "Alright, I have good news for you. Yan'er will be back tomorrow. When she comes back, you'll have someone to talk to."
......
Lu Yan returned home before sunset. The young girl had returned home after traveling and enjoying the scenery, bringing back both good and bad things from outside.
She jumped off the carriage and helped the woman who had been traveling with her down.
The two met on the way and found they shared the same interests. Later, they learned that the woman's home had been flooded and she couldn't return for a while. Lu Yan felt sorry for her and took her in to stay at her home for a few days.
The woman was as pretty as a lotus flower emerging from clear water, and seemed harmless. Even the guards in the mansion couldn't help but take a few more glances at her.
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Author's Note: My next book, "After the Failed Assassination Attempt on the Paranoid Minister," is available for pre-order.
Amnesiac spy x Obsessive power-hungry minister.
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