078
"Has it taken you so many days to make your decision, Marquis?" Lu Shangwen smiled disdainfully. "Everyone in Luoyang says that Marquis and his wife are a loving couple, but it seems that's all there is to it."
Chen Hejun was not provoked by him, and said with a serious face: "What is your purpose?"
One-Eyed couldn't stand his arrogant attitude: "What kind of attitude is that? You're the one begging us, not the other way around!"
"Don't you even know what those few thousand men you have can do? If you really make a move, they'll be riddled with bullets."
"Heh, Mr. Lü... you'd better keep a closer eye on your men." Chen Hejun didn't even spare a glance for him, and retorted calmly, "Lack of discipline in the army is a major taboo."
“My brothers are none of your concern, Lord Marquis.” Lu Shangwen gave the one-eyed man a look to leave, then slowly took a sip of tea. “As you can see, Lord Marquis, my brothers are all of humble origins, and their actions and speech may be a bit rough, unlike your noble birth.”
"But though the words may be rough, the reasoning is sound. I have long admired your name, Lord Marquis. But even if you command 100,000 troops, you are now powerless to act, aren't you?" Lü Shangwen laughed freely. "Or are you saying that you, Lord Marquis, are willing to abandon the people and lands of the Northwest to the hands of barbarians for the sake of your wife?"
As expected, the person opposite him turned cold upon hearing this.
Lu Shangwen couldn't help but admire Song Ling once again; she really understood these people's personalities perfectly.
When Song Ling instructed Lü Shangwen to search for Marquis Wu'an, Lü Shangwen was still somewhat reluctant to leave, wishing he could return to Qinglong Village and become a local tyrant again. But as Song Ling said, most of the brothers in Qinglong Village were forced to become bandits because they had nowhere else to turn. Did they really want their descendants to be bandits, living in constant fear?
Anyone with a conscience should consider their wife, parents, and future generations...
Even the Marquis of Wu'an could not escape the common customs.
Moreover… Lu Shangwen caught a glimpse of the fist that remained firmly on his knee out of the corner of his eye, and a thought popped into his mind: This Marquis of Wu'an is really not fit to be an emperor in a chaotic world, but if it were a prosperous era… he might be able to leave a lasting legacy.
He is indeed capable, talented, and has an army. But he has too many concerns, too many worries, and is too sentimental. In crucial moments, he can't bring himself to abandon his duties.
Especially regarding his wife, Lü Shangwen didn't know what the two of them had done to make him hesitate like this, but according to his judgment, the Marquis of Wu'an would be defeated by a woman sooner or later.
Chen Hejun's gaze pierced him: "I'll say it again, what do you want from me?"
"To be granted the title of king or prime minister, to have one's name remembered for eternity." Lü Shangwen made no attempt to conceal his ambition: "Tell me, what man wouldn't want such a prestigious title?"
Even though he had already anticipated this to some extent, the mention of rebellion still made Chen Hejun frown uncomfortably: "With your military strength, you are more than capable of starting an uprising. Since you have managed to evade so many eyes and ears to get to Luoyang, it should not be difficult for you to capture the city."
"Why are you looking for me?"
“Lord Marquis, you still don’t fully understand your own reputation,” Lü Shangwen stood up, unfolded his white fan with a “whoosh” and began to speak eloquently: “I come from humble origins, and once the Luoyang mutiny occurs, all sides will inevitably react.”
"If the princes and governors from all sides were to unite, wouldn't I, Lü, become the turtle caught in the jar?"
“But Lord Marquis is different,” he closed his fan and approached Chen Hejun: “Not to mention how much prestige Lord Marquis has among the people, his more than 100,000 troops alone are enough to give all sides a hard time.”
"I, Lü, will ask you one question: Has Your Excellency never considered sitting on that chair, becoming the ruler of this land, and making your wife the most honored woman in the world?"
Lu Shangwen's tone was persuasive and persuasive, but Marquis Wu'an's expression remained unchanged. Only when he spoke the last sentence did a ripple flash in the man's eyes.
Ha, Lu Shangwen thought to himself, looking down on the famous Marquis of Wu'an. He never expected him to be such a lovelorn fool.
Just when Lü Shangwen thought his attempt to deceive had failed, Chen Hejun suddenly stood up and asked, "When will we raise an army?"
Lu Shangwen smiled and said, "Your Excellency is wise."
What Lu Shangwen didn't know was that Marquis Wu'an, who had just returned to his encampment, had already regained his cold expression and immediately ordered his men: "Find a way to contact the eldest princess and have her rescue the lady from Zhou Chengyu."
"She can name her terms."
He never fights a battle unprepared, and besides, Lü Shangwen's appearance was too coincidental, as if... he came specifically for him.
And what about Lü Shangwen, the magistrate of Wu County? How did he become someone of humble origins? Marquis Wu'an frowned. What exactly were they playing at?
He had to prepare for both possibilities.
………
The second prince was unaware that another person was eyeing the throne he so desperately wanted; he was currently in a state of extreme excitement.
Zhou Chengyu, his previous cold demeanor gone, carefully touched the woman's lower abdomen: "Why didn't you send someone to tell me? If the steward hadn't told me you had called a doctor, how long would you have kept it from me?"
Su Yunruo half-closed her eyes, her eyelashes casting a shadow under her eyes, concealing the resentment and complexity in her eyes, yet her words still came out with that kind and understanding demeanor.
"Your Highness has been busy lately, and I am afraid that these trivial matters will trouble you."
“How can this be considered a trivial matter?” Zhou Chengyu smiled and patted her head. “This is the royal son that I have been looking forward to for a long time.”
Just then, the sound of a vase breaking came from the cubicle.
"Who's there!"
Su Yunruo's breath hitched. Zhou Chengyu noticed that she was frightened by him, so he quickly kissed her lips to comfort her: "I'll go and take a look."
"Perhaps a servant broke something." Su Yunruo hurriedly took his hand, which made Zhou Chengyu stop in his tracks.
He looked at her with some suspicion: "Why are you so nervous, Qingqing?"
“It’s not His Highness yet!” Su Yunruo withdrew her hand, her eyes immediately reddening as she turned her head away: “Every time I go to invite him, he’s either busy or staying at some other sister’s place, completely forgetting that he has a princess consort.”
"Now that I've come as soon as I'm pregnant, were all those words Your Highness said before just to coax me? Now even the slightest noise can attract Your Highness's attention. Since Your Highness treats me so coldly, you might as well just leave..."
"That way, I won't have to worry about it all day..."
Just then, Su Yunruo's maid, Yanming, suddenly came out of the cubicle. She rushed out and knelt down, her hands covered with cuts that were sizzling blood.
"Your Highness, Your Majesty, please forgive me. This servant accidentally broke Your Majesty's favorite white porcelain vase while cleaning..."
Su Yunruo's heart skipped a beat, but her face showed even more anger: "That was a gift from His Highness..."
"Don't be upset, Qingqing," Zhou Chengyu said, pleased to see how much Su Yunruo cared about the gift he had given her. His expression softened. "It's a porcelain vase anyway. Have them all delivered tomorrow, and Qingqing can choose the one she likes."
Seeing Su Yunruo frowning as she stared at Yanming's bright red palm, Zhou Chengyu shouted sternly, "Your lady can't take a fright, get out of here right now!"
"yes……"
Yanming rose unsteadily and withdrew.
Su Yunruo sighed, "I am overjoyed that Your Highness remembers me. Since she is a maid who has been by my side for so long, may Your Highness send someone to find her a doctor…"
“Sigh… Qingqing is still so kind-hearted.” Zhou Chengyu kissed her hair, but the suspicion in his eyes did not diminish.
"I have many official duties to attend to, so I will keep you company tonight."
Su Yunruo even paused, her eyes slightly red, looking pitiful: "I know, Your Highness's official duties are the most important."
Zhou Chengyu was extremely fond of her appearance and wished he could immediately throw her onto the bed and pamper her, but when his gaze fell on her abdomen, he suppressed the burning desire in his heart.
It's just a matter of waiting a few more days.
The Second Prince, who had just been giving careful instructions and showing tenderness, suddenly became furious as soon as he stepped out of the courtyard. His eyes were full of suspicion, and he instructed the personal guard beside him: "You stay here and keep a close eye on the Princess Consort, especially... see if any outsiders are coming and going in the courtyard."
He was still too kind to the Su family. Since they'd already married their daughter to him, why were they still sneaking around to look at her?
Once you hand your daughter over to him, doesn't she become his property? How can you allow others to pry into her life?
Clearly, Zhou Chengyu subconsciously assumed that the person in the cubicle was sent by the Su family.
He could never have imagined that Su Yunruo, with her gentle and cautious nature, would do something like having an affair.
But what he didn't expect was yet to come. Just as the guard had received orders to settle in a secluded corner, he was suddenly pulled away by an extremely light force.
His hands moved faster than his brain could react; if it weren't for the familiar scent, the person behind him might have had their throat slit the next moment.
"Why are you still so fierce!"
A woman's reproachful voice came from behind her; a small cut had been made on her neck by a long sword, with a few drops of blood oozing out.
"Your Highness, Concubine..."
Seeing the woman's tears falling in a steady stream, the guard panicked and instinctively threw his precious sword, which he usually treasured and wouldn't let anyone touch, to the ground. He then took out a handkerchief from his chest to stop her bleeding.
The handkerchief was pink and embroidered with forsythia; she had given it to Wang Wanning that night. Wang Wanning blinked when she saw it, unable to stay angry.
But the tears kept falling.
"Don't cry," the man said dryly, gently pressing a handkerchief against the wound on her neck. "I didn't mean to..."
"Who knows if you're trying to kill me to silence me!" Wang Wanning turned her body, her tone even more aggrieved: "That night you were clearly drugged and broke into my room, and you even... Do you still want me to live? Now you want to kill me to silence me."
"Bai Yu, do you have a heart?!"
"I..." Bai Yu was speechless with frustration, unsure how to explain. He didn't know how the prince had drugged him that day when he asked him to do something.
He clearly remembered being by the pond, but when he woke up, he found himself lying on the concubine's bed, leaving him speechless.
“Indeed, it doesn’t matter to you men. You came from the secret guards and are His Highness’s personal bodyguard, highly valued. But me? I’m just one of his many concubines…” Wang Wanning choked up as she spoke, “Even if I’m exposed, he’ll just call me Chen Tang…”
"Your Majesty...please don't do this." For the first time, Bai Yu hated himself for not knowing how to speak: "I didn't mean to kill you, I just acted too quickly..."
"Is it that you don't want to kill him," Wang Wanning reached out and grasped his hand, "or that you can't bear to?"
Bai Yu was so frightened that he quickly shook her off, but he couldn't control his strength and the woman was almost thrown to the ground. He subconsciously pulled her a little closer, but unexpectedly, Xin Xiang hugged him tightly.
Fearing he might lose control of his strength like before, Bai Yu didn't dare to pull her away, but the woman only tightened her grip even more.
On the surface, Bai Yu was His Highness's bodyguard, but in reality, he was practically a secret guard or assassin. Having lived for twenty years, Bai Yu had gone on countless missions and killed countless people for His Highness.
But he had never felt so helpless before. The person in his arms was His Highness's woman; he couldn't hurt her. Yet, he had indeed done something to wrong her and His Highness, so he kept going out on missions during those days, afraid of encountering her again.
"Have you been avoiding me all this time..." Wang Wanning took a few steps back, looking at him with hurt in her eyes: "His Highness dislikes my competitive and unforgiving nature, and has refused to stay overnight since storming off on our wedding night."
Bai Yu pursed his lips, unsure of what she was up to, but when he saw her pull his hand and place it on her lower abdomen, a bizarre thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
Until she tearfully confessed, "It's been three months, what am I supposed to do?"
"I had no choice but to come to you."
Bai Yu stood frozen in place, his hands trembling slightly. Seeing the woman's completely bewildered state, a thought stirred within him. But remembering his own identity, he suppressed the idea.
"What...do you want me to do?"
"Go buy me abortion pills now, I'm begging you..." Wang Wanning handed him the purse with red eyes: "Any amount of silver is fine. Your Highness is suspicious, and no one can help me except you."
For some reason, Bai Yu suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart. He heard her tell him to buy abortion pills and get rid of their child.
He had always been by His Highness's side, so he naturally knew which women His Highness had favored. This child was undoubtedly his.
But he is His Highness's sword; everything should prioritize His Highness. Your Majesty… this is the right thing to do, Consort. She cannot betray His Highness, just as he cannot betray His Highness…
But why does my heart ache?
“Okay,” Bai Yu replied in a hoarse voice, “I’ll go buy it.”
“Baiyu,” Wang Wanning suddenly grabbed his hand, her tears dripping onto the back of his hand, burning his heart.
Bai Yu subconsciously raised his hand, but then abruptly pulled it back as it approached her face.
“I heard that medicine is very bitter and painful… I’ve always been afraid of bitterness and pain since I was a child, and eating something sweet makes me feel better…” Wang Wanning asked him weakly, “Could you go to the shop in the west of the city and buy me some candied fruit while you’re at it?”
Bai Yu wanted to say that he still had tasks assigned by His Highness, and that he needed to keep an eye on the Princess Consort. But when he saw the hope in her eyes, he couldn't refuse.
"good."
Bai Yu's lightness skill was always excellent, and he disappeared in the blink of an eye. But no matter how good his martial arts were, it would still take at least half an hour to get to that shop in the west of the city and back.
Wang Wanning chuckled softly and slowly wiped away her tears. From a young age, she knew that tears weren't useless; it depended on the person.
Her hand unconsciously touched her lower abdomen... her eyes remained unreadable.
The child arrived at just the right time.
-
When Su Yunruo realized Zhou Chengyu had left, she slumped into a chair, her back feeling cold and covered in a thin layer of sweat.
She heard very light footsteps beside her, and said wearily, "You should go back."
He Tingfang moved his lips, and the woman said, "I choose to keep this child. As for us... let's call it quits."
A bitter feeling welled up inside her, but she made up her mind. She should be happy for her. Now that she had this child, she no longer had to live in fear and could finally stand firm in this backyard.
But he could give her nothing.
Suppressing the grief in his heart, He Tingfang trembled as he uttered the heart-wrenching words: "Your Majesty, I understand. Please take good care of yourself from now on..."
Only after that familiar figure disappeared through the door did Su Yunruo stand up, her eyes red and swollen, but she dared not cry out.
Her Highness has already noticed something amiss; even if she aborts the child, she can't leave. Those dreams were ultimately just a fantasy; she absolutely cannot drag Tingfang into this mess any further…
Half an hour later, a voice came:
"Why are you crying, sister?" Wang Wanning swaggered in, bent down slightly, and lifted Su Yunruo's chin. "Didn't His Highness just leave? Who is she grieving for this time, sister?"
Su Yunruo's eyes turned cold, and she slapped her hand away: "The concubine of the Wang family has barged into my palace without announcing her presence. Is this the proper conduct of the Wang family?"
“My daughter, Wang, was born in the wild southwest, and is naturally a bit unrestrained. Please don’t take offense, Your Majesty.” Wang Wanning sat down opposite her without saying a word. “But how can I compare to Your Majesty, who was born into the prestigious Su family? Does Lord Su know… that his daughter spends all her time with a retainer?”
She spoke the second half of her sentence very softly, and as soon as she finished speaking, Su Yunruo sat up straight, her eyes sharp as blades: "Consort Wang, don't make false accusations. Watch your mouth!"
Wang Wanning smiled and said, "Oh, what a coincidence. I was waiting outside for quite a while. Lord He seemed to be in a low mood and didn't notice me..."
This was tantamount to a direct confrontation, yet Su Yunruo was not afraid of her. Since Wang Wanning chose to intimidate her instead of reporting to His Highness, she must have had another purpose.
"I don't understand what Consort Wang is saying. If Consort Wang really suspects me, she can go to His Highness and say it as before." Su Yunruo raised her lips and looked at her: "I await your reply."
Seeing her like this, Wang Wanning was momentarily speechless. Was Su Yunruo truly not afraid of being exposed? Or did she have other plans?
"And one more thing to remind Consort Wang," Su Yunruo said calmly, "His Highness has already come with the imperial physician. I am pregnant with His Highness's child. If you barge in again and disturb my pregnancy... I won't be speaking to you so calmly."
Wang Wanning's eyes flickered slightly. Her composure suggested that the child truly was Zhou Chengyu's...
“In that case, it seems we can’t reach an agreement.” Wang Wanning stood up, her tone meaningful: “Your Majesty, I’ll wait until you slip up. We’ll have plenty of time in the future… After all, I’m not the only one eyeing Your Majesty.”
Su Yunruo realized something and suddenly looked out the window.
Watching Wang Wanning swagger away, her heart filled with mixed emotions. It seemed someone had actually helped her this time.
-
Wang Wanning, who had just returned to her bedchamber and sat down, was unaware that she had been given a bad name. Thinking about how her plans for the day had not gone smoothly, she threw the teacup in her hand away.
I should have known better than to send Bai Yu away! I should have known better than to remind Su Yunruo!
Surprisingly, there was no breaking sound this time. Looking up, it turned out that the man had caught the flying teacup and gently placed it on the table.
Seeing his composed demeanor, Wang Wanning became even angrier.
Bai Yu lowered his eyes and put down a bag of medicine and candied fruit.
For reasons unknown, he suddenly whispered, "The doctor said this medicine is very bitter... and it's bad for your health."
Wang Wanning hugged herself tightly, not even looking at him, and said, "I understand, you can go now."
Bai Yu pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and then jumped out of the window to leave.
"Shuye, I've caught a bit of a cold. Could you quietly go and brew me some medicine?"
Little did she know, Bai Yu, who was pressed tightly against the wall outside the window, had heard every word she said, his eyes filled with a dark and suppressed emotion.
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