Chapter 242 I'll Wait for You to Come Back
Around noon, the carriage brought Fu'er back alone.
When the little girl came in, she was holding a brand-new kite in her arms, but there was no joy on her face as if she had received a new toy.
It's the perfect time of year with clear skies and crisp air.
The child who went out happily returned with a face full of grievance.
"Fu'er, what's wrong? Where's Father?"
Zhou Congxian promised to spend a day playing with his daughter, but he only played for half a day before returning home.
Meng Shilan hugged her daughter, but Fu'er trembled slightly in her arms.
Wronged.
Fu'er had never felt so wronged.
When was she ever so wronged while she was in Ding County?
Her heart sank suddenly.
Just then, Manager Sun walked over, his face beaming, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement.
"Miss! Today's rice supplies are sold out in just half a day!!"
Meng Shilan released Fu'er and managed a weak smile.
"Thank you for your hard work, Manager Sun."
Her gaze never left her daughter's face, which was trying to appear strong.
She knelt down and tidied Fu'er's slightly disheveled hair.
"Fu'er, come home with your mother, okay?"
Fu'er nodded heavily, her little hands gripping her sleeve tightly, as if afraid she would disappear.
After returning to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, the little girl went into her room by herself.
Dan Niang also came out to greet them, "What happened? You were fine this morning."
Little Fatty held Dan Niang's hand and pointed to Fu'er's room.
"elder sister!"
Even as a little boy, he could sense Fu'er's emotions.
Meng Shilan glanced at the paper kite that Fu'er had abandoned to the side.
Then she looked up at Danniang and said, "Leave Xiaopangxi in Chunxing's care, and you go and make some pastries that Fu'er likes."
She forced a smile and said, "She'll have to face these things sooner or later."
Dan Niang sighed and remained silent.
The capital city is complex and heavy.
I'm not as happy here as I am in tiny Dingxian.
Meng Shilan tiptoed to push the door open.
Fu'er was silently fiddling with her little toys.
She walked over and gently leaned against her small body.
Her voice was gentle, “Fu’er, you are not a burden, but the apple of your mother’s eye.”
"Mother will always be by Fu'er's side. Fu'er, would you like to tell Mother what happened?"
Fu'er turned her head and looked at her mother, who was looking at her with a gentle expression.
It seems that no matter what grievances she suffers, her mother is always her warmest harbor.
She smiled slightly, then threw herself into her mother's arms.
Her voice became muffled in her mother's arms.
"It's nothing, it's just... I just suddenly missed my mother."
The little girl only said one sentence.
Meng Shilan didn't ask any more questions.
The next day, Zhou Congxian arrived.
A hint of weariness lingered between his brows, and as soon as he entered, his gaze searched for Fu'er.
Meng Shilan placed a cup of ice-cold tea beside him, her voice even colder than the tea itself.
"Fu'er is still sleeping."
Zhou Congxian's Adam's apple bobbed, and he looked up at her, his eyes filled with deep remorse.
"Shi Lan, what happened yesterday was my oversight."
Meng Shilan lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes concealing the emotions within them.
"Young Master is extremely busy with affairs of state; how could you be negligent?"
Zhou Congxian sensed the sarcasm in her words.
He paused, "I took Fu'er to fly kites outside the city, and some gossipy women said a few extra words..."
Meng Shilan understood instantly.
She and her child were recognized and taken back to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, amidst the constant rumors circulating in the capital.
Now she has been betrothed by His Majesty.
Those who know the inside story know that she was once Zhou Congxian's concubine, faked her death to escape the capital, and is now so lucky to be recognized by the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
She rose from a lowly concubine to become the mistress of the house.
Those who don't know have no idea how awful the words can be.
Zhou Congxian held her hand, thinking she was angry because he hadn't protected the child.
“I immediately drove those people away, but Fu’er, she still heard it.”
Meng Shilan pursed her lips, then spoke slowly.
“She’s not a clueless doll; she can see and understand those looks and those words.”
“She’s almost six years old, and she can never live under our wings.”
"She will eventually face trials and tribulations, and the fledgling will eventually grow up."
She paused for a moment after saying this.
"But you shouldn't have let her come back alone. She can get wet in the rain, but she can't be without an umbrella."
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a knife.
She doesn't care about the rumors and gossip from the outside world.
But this harm came from his negligence, and from the people around him!
How could a child with such a sensitive mind not be affected?
yes.
He always thought Fu'er was still young, but he forgot how much she had suffered and what she had gone through with Shi Lan.
She understood the coldness and warmth of human relationships much earlier than any other child her age.
"It was my oversight."
Zhou Congxian admitted his mistake.
"At that time, Wei Xun said that an urgent imperial edict was issued to the palace and that there was an urgent military report from the border. That's why I was in such a hurry to leave."
Meng Shilan frowned slightly.
"The border?"
For some reason, her heart sank for a moment.
"The Red Kingdom has broken the fifteen-year truce agreement and sent 200,000 troops to invade our borders."
Zhou Congxian spoke with some difficulty, "Unfortunately, at this time, Lord Meng fell ill."
One sentence froze the atmosphere in the room.
Meng Shilan's expression instantly froze.
He cherished her, and when she was injured, he disregarded his advanced age and rushed back to Beijing overnight.
"Is he...is he alright?"
Her voice was a little hoarse.
In her previous life, apart from her brother, no one cared for her.
In this life, she not only has both a son and a daughter, but also a maternal grandfather.
Are they taking it back so soon?
Zhou Congxian felt a pang of pity looking at her expression.
"The urgent report contained very few words; no news is good news."
"Don't worry, His Majesty has already ordered General He of the Southwest Camp to lead 50,000 elite troops north to provide reinforcements."
"Although General Chirong Muta was a veteran who had been through many battles, he was once defeated by Meng Gong."
Meng Shilan's expression was solemn. The Meng family was known for its loyalty and bravery, and the tragedy that had befallen them was deeply moving.
Those who hear of it grieve, and those who see it weep.
"I've heard that General Wooden Pagoda is cunning and extremely cruel!"
After the crushing defeat that year, they sent men to kill Meng's second and third daughters-in-law, four grandsons, and two granddaughters.
The death was gruesome; the body was found in the carriage on a journey.
“I know.” Zhou Congxian’s eyes were as deep as a still pool.
"When Lord Meng fell ill, Chi Rong disregarded the alliance between the two countries and launched a plundering campaign."
A cold, sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
"It is no coincidence that Chi Rong has been lying low for fifteen years and then launched his attack at this time."
“I suspect that they have secretly formed an alliance with the Ule Kingdom to the west, that ambitious and treacherous kingdom.”
Meng Shilan gasped.
If attacked from both sides, the Great Sheng Dynasty will be in grave danger!
She steadied herself and pressed on, "Then, Your Majesty... what are your plans?"
Zhou Congxian looked at Meng Shilan with deep eyes.
"His Majesty has decreed that I shall set off immediately to take charge of the allocation of provisions for the three armies and rush to the front lines to oversee military supplies."
Meng Shilan looked at his profile, her lips twitching.
After a long while, she said softly, "I'll wait for you to come back."
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