"Zi Zhu, my husband hasn't arrived yet. Why don't we go for a walk in the courtyard?" After waiting for a long time and not seeing any sign of me, Hong Ling decided to go to the temple with Zi Zhu to take a look.
"Miss, ever since news spread about your affectionate relationship with Young Master, people have been curious about the kind of person you are. Wherever we go, there are always people watching. This temple is especially crowded, so I think it's better for us to wait here for the Young Master, alright?" Zi Zhu was reluctant to go outside; she was scared. Besides, there were only the two of them now. If something happened, she didn't dare to think about it.
Hong Ling wasn't aware of Zi Zhu's thoughts at that moment, but recently, she had been afraid to go out and move around due to the fear of being harassed. Bored and feeling restless, she had been looking forward to taking a walk after finishing her prayers since her husband accompanied her this time. But unexpectedly, her husband hadn't returned.
"Well, let's just wait a little longer," Hong Ling decided not to go out and risk encountering any trouble. It was better to wait until her husband returned.
When Zi Zhu heard Hong Ling's words, she nodded quickly and forced a smile, replacing her bitter expression with a smile.
Deng Zhiwen, hiding in the shadows, looked at Hong Ling's radiant beauty, which had been enhanced by her pregnancy. He had never seen her like this before. When he realized that he still loved the woman who had abandoned him, he scolded himself. But when he saw Hong Ling look up and gaze outside, waiting for her husband to come and pick her up, and that person who could pick her up wasn't him, his anger surged. Without realizing it, he had left the shadows and appeared behind Hong Ling.
"Young Master," Zi Zhu was the first to notice Deng Zhiwen's sudden appearance and exclaimed in surprise.
Upon hearing Zi Zhu call out that name, Hong Ling's body stiffened as she slowly turned to look at the person she had long admired in her heart. Oh, he had become so thin. Why didn't he know how to cherish himself?
The two of them silently stared at each other for a long time, long enough for their eyes to only see each other.
"Miss," Zi Zhu anxiously looked at the suddenly appearing Young Master, calling out to her mistress with concern.
Hong Ling gazed at Deng Zhiwen foolishly, and suddenly hearing Zi Zhu's voice, she snapped back to her senses.
"Cousin," a thousand words she wanted to say to the person in front of her, but the only words that came out of her mouth were "cousin." A bitter taste filled her heart again, and Hong Ling turned her head slightly, not wanting to look at the face that pained and missed her.
Deng Zhiwen looked at Hong Ling turning her head, and the hatred in his heart grew even stronger. Now that she was the general's wife, she didn't even want to look at him. Deng Zhiwen's chest felt tight from the pain caused by Hong Ling's actions.
"You don't even want to look at me anymore?" Deng Zhiwen asked with a mix of resentment and a strong tone.
Hong Ling, filled with panic, turned her head back, her gaze filled with a bitterness and pain that he couldn't understand. She could only shake her head, indicating that she didn't mean it that way.
Deng Zhiwen, hearing Hong Ling's silence and head shake, furrowed his brows with a touch of fierceness. He once again voiced the words that hurt her, "Hmph, you're not talking because the current me isn't worthy of speaking with you, right?"
No, that's not it. Hong Ling wanted to tell him so much, but she was afraid that she would not be able to stop herself from revealing everything. It would not only endanger the ancestral home but also implicate her husband. She couldn't do it, she must not. With a heavy heart, Hong Ling turned around and wanted to leave the room, leaving behind the man she loved but also caused her pain.
"You want to leave," Deng Zhiwen grabbed Hong Ling, who was trying to escape, tightly by her arms. Who knew, her arms were in so much pain that she couldn't bear it and let out a cry of pain.
"Young Master, please let go of the Miss," Zi Zhu faced the frantic Young Master and the teary-eyed Miss, feeling at a loss and could only keep begging the Young Master to let go.
"You even had his child," Deng Zhiwen didn't pay any attention to Zi Zhu, who was desperately trying to persuade him. His eyes were fixed on Hong Ling, the woman who had abandoned him but whom he still loved despite everything.
"Hu Hong Ling, since you want it this way, why did you promise me a lifetime together? Or maybe you were just a fickle woman from the start?" Deng Zhiwen's words became more and more irrational and hurtful. He violently shook the person in his hands, and only then did he realize what he had done. Seeing Hong Ling being thrown a long distance away, he immediately regretted it, his face turning pale. He quickly tried to save her.
"Ah ah ah! Miss!" Zi Zhu was scared and couldn't move. If the Miss fell like that, it would be over, the Miss.
Hong Ling, hurt by Deng Zhiwen's words, was unresponsive after being thrown away. She just wished it would all end like this. In despair, she let gravity pull her toward the ground.
Deng Zhiwen, in a state of panic, quickly moved and hoped to rectify his mistake. Just as he was about to reach out and catch Hong Ling's body, another figure moved faster and held her in their arms. Deng Zhiwen looked at his empty hands and raised his head to see the person holding his beloved woman.
My face turned ashen, and I coldly looked at the man in front of me. Unexpectedly, I saw the pain in his eyes. It seemed that this man loved deeply and genuinely.
Hong Ling, lost in her thoughts, leaned against my chest, her eyes lifeless. That scene just now made me feel like my heart was stopping. If I'm not mistaken, the man in front of me should be Deng Zhiwen, and his appearance and actions were quite unexpected.
"Hong Ling," I called out softly, feeling even more sorry for her.
"Dear... husband," Hong Ling came back to her senses and saw herself being held in my arms. She was startled and wanted to call me "elder brother," but seeing the look in my eyes, she changed it to "dear husband."
Deng Zhiwen, hearing Hong Ling's address to me, changed from self-blame to coldness.
I could see everything that was happening, and as I looked at Hong Ling's melancholic expression, thoughts that shouldn't have arisen entered my mind. I also understood that if I were to act on those thoughts, it would make him feel cold towards me and could even shake the court.
"Husband, I'm tired," Hong Ling didn't want to stay here facing someone she couldn't face anymore. She requested, her voice trembling.
"Alright," I understood Hong Ling's thoughts and knew that her emotions were unstable at the moment. It would be better to take her back first and discuss things later. However, I had a premonition that things might become even more unstable.
"Goodbye," I said indifferently, then holding onto Hong Ling, I left.
Deng Zhiwen stared at the spot where they had left, unable to believe what had just happened.
"Young Master, Zi Zhu is begging you on behalf of the Miss. Please let go of the Miss!" Zi Zhu, facing Deng Zhiwen who remained still, pleaded.
Deng Zhiwen didn't say anything. His eyes were still fixed on the direction Hong Ling had gone.
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"Miss is carrying your child, not the Young Master's," Zi Zhu, without thinking, pushed the situation to a dangerous edge with her words, defending her mistress.
"What? Say it again," Deng Zhiwen, after hearing Zi Zhu's final words, grabbed her in excitement and urgently asked.
"The child in the Miss's womb is yours, not the Young Master's," Zi Zhu told him everything she knew, scared by Deng Zhiwen's reaction.
"It's my child," Deng Zhiwen couldn't believe what he heard, and his grip on Zi Zhu's hand loosened. Once Zi Zhu was free, she hurriedly chased after Hong Ling and me, forgetting to take the things we brought for the temple.
"This is true," Deng Zhiwen's face showed an ecstatic expression, wanting to confirm it again, but he couldn't find Zi Zhu's figure anywhere.
"General's Residence.
"Hong Ling, I'm going to the court." After finishing my court attire, I looked at Hong Ling, who seemed lost in thought. Sigh~ Ever since we returned from Yunfo Temple, Hong Ling has been like this. She has completely lost her radiance and become like a lifeless doll.
"Ah, alright. Take care, Big Brother," Hong Ling replied listlessly.
I sighed and helplessly walked out.
As I walked calmly along the way, I pondered how to make Hong Ling happier. The sedan chair swayed as it moved forward. "General, we've reached the palace gates," the sedan chair bearer respectfully informed me from inside the sedan.
"Very well," I responded.
The bearer lifted the curtain of the sedan, allowing me to step out. But what I saw was someone I didn't want to see—Qi Yuntian. I calmly stepped out of the sedan, and by that time, more officials had gathered outside the palace gates. They exchanged greetings and engaged in conversations, while I stood silently in a corner, exuding an aura that discouraged anyone from approaching.
"Oh, isn't this the infamous General? Congratulations, General. Congratulations," a lackey named Yang Yan said with a malicious expression, paying me false compliments.
I gave him a cold glance but remained silent, turning away from him and refusing to engage with such a petty person.
Feeling embarrassed by my lack of face-saving response in front of everyone, he continued speaking. "The honorable Madam is with child, and the news has spread throughout the city. We were informed and came to congratulate the General."
I raised an eyebrow and turned around, speaking in a chilling tone, "Thank you for your kind words, but my wife's health has not been well. That's why we haven't made it public."
"Yes... I heard that a few days ago, Lady General was frightened at Yunfo Temple. General, you must take good care of your esteemed wife," Yang Yan unexpectedly chimed in, bringing up something that no one should have known.
"The General should educate Pujun properly. However, on that day, my wife and I went to pray for safety together. We met a distant relative along the way and chatted for a while. Unexpectedly, a rat startled my wife, and Pujun was scared afterward," I said, feigning fear.
"Hehe... General, you should take good care of Lady General," Yang Yan said with a hidden meaning.
"Of course, thank you for your advice, Minister," I nodded repeatedly and then looked troubled as I said, "I wonder why the abbot of Yunfo Temple went out of his way to clear out a temple for us to visit. I didn't expect such a small matter to attract the attention of the Minister."
Yang Yan didn't expect me to ask that question. I could see his face twitch unnaturally. "I was the one who informed the Minister," another official quickly interjected on behalf of Yang Yan, trying to save him from my provocation.
"Oh, so it was the honorable gentleman who received such information. I wonder if the gentleman is proficient in rat language?" I curiously asked.
"Well..." The man wiped the sweat from his forehead and bowed with folded hands. "What does the General mean by that?"
"On that day, no one else passed by except for the rat that frightened my wife. If it hadn't informed the gentleman, I wouldn't have known who leaked this information. I find it amusing," I said, smiling at the man who had taken the fall for Yang Yan.
"General, you..." The man was infuriated but unable to explode in anger. He could only leave in a huff, while Yang Yan had already heard the rest of my words and walked away.
Other officials, after hearing our conversation, wore expressions of amusement they could barely suppress. Some even blushed with embarrassment. Only Qi Yuntian stood quietly in the distance, his gaze making me uncomfortable. I couldn't understand the meaning behind his eyes. At that moment, the pendant hanging around my neck seemed to emit a faint warmth, causing my thoughts to become even more chaotic.
The palace gates slowly opened, and I didn't want him to keep staring at me. I entered the palace with the crowd, avoiding him for the time being.
"At court,"
"Long live His Majesty, long live, long live!"
"All officials, please rise," Qi Aotian's magnetic and authoritative voice rang out.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace," the officials replied in unison.
"If anyone has a petition, present it now. Otherwise, you may leave the court." The little eunuch had just finished speaking the last word when someone immediately called out, "I have a petition," and knelt before the hall.
The little eunuch quickly and deftly walked over to take the petition from the person's hand and presented it to Qi Aotian, who was seated on the dragon throne.
His slender and fair fingers flipped through the petition before he raised his head to look at the officials in the hall. After the thin line of his lips tightened, he spoke in a deep voice, "General Chen, who guards the northern border, has reached an advanced age and should return home to enjoy his remaining years."
"Your Majesty, I believe General Qingyun should be appointed to take over his post," the Ministry of Personnel recommended.
"Your Majesty, I believe General Pujun should be appointed to take over," the Ministry of Revenue also recommended.
The two officials who presented their recommendations didn't expect the other to speak at the same time, and they also didn't expect the other's recommended candidate to be someone of great importance to the country. However, they didn't argue with each other and stepped aside to listen to the Emperor's decision.
I stood there in silence, wondering why I was even standing here. It should have had nothing to do with me, but because of him, I had become deeply entangled in the court.
"Pujun," a displeased voice echoed in my mind, not loud but not soft either.
Oops, I got lost in thought. "I'm here," I quickly stepped forward and lowered my head, looking at the ground.
"Are you worried about something?" Qi Aotian's words carried a hidden meaning.
"Your Majesty, I acknowledge my fault," I kneeled down and pressed my head even closer to the ground.
"Rise," Qi Aotian flicked his sleeve and instructed me to stand up.
"Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty," I quickly returned to my position, understanding that I had just walked into the tiger's den once again.
"Imperial Brother, do you have any thoughts?" Qi Aotian shifted his gaze to Qi Yuntian.
"I believe General Qingyun should be stationed at the western border to prevent the Western Phoenix Kingdom's invasion. It might not be appropriate to move him easily," Qi Yuntian replied with his head bowed, making it difficult to see his expression.
"What do you suggest, then?" Qi Aotian continued to ask.
"The Northern Star Kingdom is a powerful nation. It may not be effective to simply dispatch a general. Otherwise, the incident from last time wouldn't have happened. In my opinion, it's best to send General Pujun to suppress the northern border. He has already established his prestige there, and he is the best candidate to succeed General Chen," Qi Yuntian raised his lowered head, his calm voice resounding through the grand hall. As people listened, they lowered their heads in contemplation before gradually nodding in agreement with Qi Yuntian's insight.
I stood there without saying a word, allowing the two brothers to make the decision. After all, whatever I said would not be taken seriously, so there was no need for me to speak up. If he said we should go there, would I resist?
"Your Majesty, I also have something to say," Yang Yan interrupted when the situation was about to be settled.
"What does the Prime Minister have to say?" Qi Aotian thought to himself that this old fox couldn't hold back any longer.
"I believe the Northern Star Kingdom is indeed a powerful nation. Sending just one general may not be sufficient to suppress it. Otherwise, the incident from last time wouldn't have occurred. In my opinion, we should send General Qingyun," Yang Yan made his meaning clear. It made sense, and the officials nodded in agreement.
"I am willing to go to the northern border with Pujun," Qi Yuntian's words surprised Qi Aotian and Yang Yan. But Qi Yuntian was only looking at me, and he didn't say anything else.
I felt a strange sensation when he looked at me like that, so I turned my head and refused to meet his gaze.
Qi Aotian was displeased by our interaction, but the affairs of state were of utmost importance. He could only put aside his dissatisfaction with Qi Yuntian for now.
"Your Majesty, I also think it's feasible." The Prime Minister, who had been standing silently, spoke up in support.
"Very well, Pujun is hereby appointed as the Supreme General of our dynasty. One month later, you and Qingyun will depart for the northern border," Qi Aotian felt reluctant in his heart but had no choice but to agree.
"Pujun, receive the imperial edict," Qi Aotian commanded.
"All officials, is there any other petition?" Qi Aotian wanted to conclude the court session quickly and summon me privately.
"We have no petitions, Your Majesty," the officials replied in unison.
The high-pitched voice of the little eunuch exclaimed, "Retire... from court..."
"We bid farewell and wish Your Majesty long life, ten thousand years of prosperity," the officials knelt down and respectfully saw off Qi Aotian's departure.
After everyone knelt to see off the Emperor, they stood up and discussed among themselves. Naturally, the topic revolved around the matters discussed in the court. Some people even came to congratulate me.
"Hehe... Congratulations, General, on becoming the Supreme General of our dynasty," I didn't know who was congratulating me, so I responded perfunctorily, "It's all thanks to the Emperor's favor. I don't dare to take credit for it."
"Patriarch," Hu Jiangling called out to me.