Chapter 35 Proposal: Will you really marry me?
She forced herself to sit up, instinctively tightening her clothes around her neck. Her gaze swept quickly across the room, finally settling on the man in the brocade robe.
"Thank you for saving my life, young master." Her voice was slightly hoarse, filled with the shock of surviving a disaster. She struggled to get out of bed to bow, to show her gratitude and courtesy.
Just as she made her move, a subtle discovery made her heart skip a beat: the man was sitting in a wheelchair.
Just then, the maid who had been there earlier approached with a bowl of hot porridge. Seeing the situation, she quickly said, "Miss, please don't move. You are still injured." Then she turned to the man in the wheelchair and said respectfully, "General, the medicine has been prepared."
General?
The name was like a cold needle, instantly piercing Fangru's chaotic thoughts.
She looked up abruptly, staring incredulously at the man in the wheelchair. His gentle yet resolute face slowly overlapped with a vague outline from her memory.
In a flash, a long-forgotten memory of a past life surged forth.
That was her fourth life. One evening after a palace banquet, she saw him at the end of the long white marble staircase.
As dusk fell, palace servants escorted a wheelchair as it moved slowly.
The person sitting in the wheelchair was General Yen Teh.
He stood out from the surrounding noise, silently gazing at the setting sun in the distance, his profile appearing particularly lonely and austere in the afterglow.
Fangru and the other palace ladies bowed their heads and made way for him. The wheelchair happened to pass in front of her, and the corner of his cloak inadvertently brushed against her skirt.
She subconsciously looked up and happened to catch him glancing back. His eyes were deep, with the sharpness unique to a military general, yet also contained a melancholy that was incongruous with his age.
That moment was so fleeting, like an illusion, yet tonight, it completely overlapped with the gentle face before me.
It was him.
Even though he was confined to a wheelchair, General Yan still defied public opinion and supported Zhou Ling when he was still a nobody.
He was also seriously injured in a bloody battle with the Northern Di three years ago, and has been unable to walk since then. There are even rumors that he has lost his fertility. Although he has several concubines, he has never had an heir!
The Yan family deserves immense credit for Zhou Ling's ascension to the throne.
Yan De's father was a founding hero who fought alongside the late emperor in numerous battles, and his achievements were unparalleled. It is said that the late emperor once bestowed upon him a golden token granting him immunity from death!
Such a sensitive figure, with a deep connection to Zhou Ling, has now become her savior.
Fangru's heart pounded like a drum. The immense shock left her speechless for a moment, and the inquiry and disbelief in her eyes were almost impossible to conceal.
Yan De keenly noticed her sudden change in demeanor. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes as he spoke gently, "Miss, there's no need for such formality. Just rest and recover. My name is Yan De. May I ask your name, and why you fell from your horse alone on that desolate mountain path?"
His direct revelation of his name confirmed Fangru's suspicions.
Fangru quickly lowered her eyes, concealing the turmoil churning within them. When she looked up again, she had barely regained some composure, but her voice still trembled slightly: "My surname is Chen. General Yan's name is renowned far and wide... I am truly grateful for your rescue today."
She deliberately pointed out that she knew his identity, attributing her earlier loss of composure to her shock at the title of "General".
Upon hearing this, Yan De's surprise deepened, but he still maintained a gentle smile: "Oh? Miss Shen actually knows me?" He didn't delve into it further, but instead considerately asked, "Who else is in Miss Shen's family? Should I send someone to inform your household so that your family won't worry?"
This was a thoughtful question, but it immediately put Fangru on her guard.
Notify your family? That would be tantamount to walking into a trap!
She quickly shook her head, her voice tinged with urgency and deliberately feigned sorrow: "No...no need! Thank you for your kindness, General. I...have few relatives left at home. I was on my way to visit relatives in another place, but my horse was startled on the way..."
Her words were half true and half false, and her expression was poignant, perfectly portraying the image of a woman who was traveling alone and encountered an accident.
Yan De listened quietly, his gaze lingering for a moment on her slightly pale face. His gaze was gentle, yet seemed to see right through people.
He didn't press further, but simply nodded, his tone becoming even gentler: "I see. Since you have nowhere to go for the time being, if you don't mind, please stay at the manor and recover from your injuries before making any further plans. Please don't misunderstand, I have absolutely no intention of driving you away."
His invitation was sincere, but it plunged Fangru into an even deeper dilemma.
Staying at Yan De's estate might offer temporary refuge from capture, but isn't it just another den of dragons and tigers? Is someone so closely connected to Zhou Ling the safest hiding place, or the most dangerous center of the fire?
She ultimately chose to stay. Rather than wandering aimlessly, she decided to seek a glimmer of hope in this perilous place. At least, she possessed the unparalleled ability to be reborn as her trump card.
After a few days of recuperation, the leg injury has healed somewhat.
Yan De was gentle and polite, and often had someone push his wheelchair over to visit her. They would chat for a few minutes, and his words were full of romantic anecdotes and stories from various places. He never inquired about her background. This thoughtfulness only made Fangru feel more guilty and uneasy.
That afternoon, Yan De came to see her again, bringing with him a newly acquired landscape painting to share with her.
Seeing the sincere smile on his handsome face, Fangru clenched her sleeves and finally made up her mind.
“General Yan,” she suddenly spoke, her voice soft yet incredibly clear, “You have treated me with the greatest kindness, and I… can no longer deceive you.” She raised her eyes, looking directly at Yan De, and said, word by word, “I am Shen Fangru, the wanted criminal on the official warrants for arrest, personally ordered by His Majesty.”
After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.
Yan De's smile froze abruptly, his fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the scroll, and a look of utter astonishment flashed in his eyes. But this surprise lasted only a moment before turning into understanding and a deeper inquiry.
He remained silent for a moment, then waved his hand, signaling the maid beside him to leave.
After the door closed, he spoke slowly, his tone still steady but tinged with seriousness: "Miss Chen... are you aware of the gravity of this matter?"
“That is precisely why I dare not trouble the General any further.” Fangru lowered her eyes. “My injuries are no longer serious, and I will take my leave of the General today…”
"Wait a minute." Yan De interrupted her, pushing his wheelchair closer and scrutinizing her with sharp eyes. "Since you have been so frank, how can I stand idly by? Where can a weak woman like you escape to? This manor may not be an impregnable fortress, but it can still protect you for the time being."
Upon hearing this, Fangru's eyes were filled with disbelief: "General...why would you offend His Majesty for my sake? This is a crime of deceiving the emperor!"
A complex and enigmatic smile appeared on Yan De's lips, a smile that carried an inexplicable confidence: "Miss Chen need not worry about me. I have some old acquaintances with His Majesty. I can handle this little trouble."
He certainly has the right to be fearless.
But behind this "fearlessness" lies immense power and the emperor's almost biased protection.
Is it really safe for me to hide under his wing?
Or did he jump from one vortex into another, deeper game of chess, one that was inextricably linked to Zhou Ling?
Fangru was in turmoil, but she had no choice but to settle down for the time being and focus on recovering from her injuries.
Days passed by.
Despite his limited mobility, Yan De visited him almost every day.
Sometimes I would bring her newly acquired poetry collections to discuss and critique, and sometimes I would simply sit quietly to her side, watching her practice calligraphy with a gentle and focused gaze.
He was eloquent and knowledgeable, always able to find appropriate topics that were neither awkward nor inappropriate.
But Fangru was not an innocent girl. She keenly sensed that beneath that gentle and polite demeanor, an unusual concern was gradually growing.
He would remember her casual mention of liking pastries, and they would quietly appear on the table the next time she came; he would subtly instruct the maid to add a cloak for her when the wind picked up; and when she frowned slightly because of her leg injury, a barely perceptible look of heartache would flash in his eyes.
This meticulous thoughtfulness, like a spring stream, quietly permeates everyday life.
However, whenever Yen-te's gaze revealed a tenderness that went beyond mere politeness, or his words carried a hint of subtle probing, Fang-ru would always subconsciously look away.
She would subtly change the subject or make an excuse that she was tired and needed to rest.
She was grateful for his life-saving grace and admired his gentlemanly demeanor, but her heart was already filled with the entanglements of her past life and her concern for Gu Zhou. She was also well aware of the trouble she was in and had no intention of dragging this already troubled general into an even deeper quagmire.
Yen Teh, being so perceptive, was naturally well aware of this deliberate avoidance.
He neither pointed it out nor forced her, but simply maintained a just-right distance, giving her the peace she needed, while his silent protection became increasingly evident.
The more this happened, the more uneasy Fangru felt.
She cannot use other people's goodwill as a bargaining chip for refuge; it makes no sense from either a moral or logical standpoint.
As his injuries gradually healed, his desire to leave grew stronger.
She had to leave, both to find true freedom and to avoid incurring a debt of love she could never repay.
One morning, Fangru left a short note, once again thanking him for saving her life and stating that she did not want to be implicated, before quietly leaving the manor.
She sneaked into the city, hoping to find a chance to escape, but was horrified to discover that the checks at the city gate were far more stringent than she had imagined. Her portrait was prominently displayed on the notice board, and the soldiers guarding the city were checking passersby with extreme care.
She was horrified. She lowered her veil and turned to find another way, but unexpectedly ran into a patrol of soldiers.
"Halt! Who goes there? Take off your veil!" the leading soldier shouted sternly, his eyes blazing.
Fangru's heart leaped into her throat, and just as she was at a loss, a familiar voice rang out from behind her:
What has disturbed you?
Yen Te-tuan was seen sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed by an attendant, and quickly approached.
His gaze swept over the soldier, then he naturally pulled Fangru into his arms, burying her face against his chest, covering her completely with his large cloak. He then said to the soldier in a deep voice, "This is my wife. She is unwell and cannot be disturbed. What, even my men are being questioned?"
His tone was calm, yet it carried a chilling aura of someone who had been through many battles.
The soldier clearly recognized Yan De, and his imposing manner immediately diminished. He quickly bowed and apologized, "I dare not! I did not know you were the General's wife. I have offended you. Please forgive me, General!"
Yan De snorted coldly, said no more, and gestured for the servants to push the wheelchair. He then carefully protected Fangru and calmly left.
Yan De took Fangru straight back to his residence. Once inside the study, he dismissed everyone else.
Before Fangru, still shaken, could thank him again and take her leave, Yan De stared at her intently, his tone more serious and direct than ever before:
“Miss Shen, I apologize for my rudeness in the heat of the moment, but the title ‘wife’ is not merely a temporary measure.” He pushed his wheelchair closer, his gaze intense. “I’m taking the liberty of asking you, Miss Shen, would you truly be willing to marry me?”
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