CHAPTER 413: CHAPTER 381: FIRST UPDATE

Wen Wan’s words were both comforting and moving.

Lu Xingzhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

Being able to hear his daughter acknowledge him during his lifetime, he felt that everything he had done in the past decades was worthwhile.

"Your mother and I can’t look after you by your side, so you must take good care of yourself." His eyes filled with warmth and deep concern.

At the age of twenty-two, Wen Wan felt fatherly love from the second man in her life.

This man was her biological father.

Holding her son’s small hand, she bade farewell to her parents and two-year-old brother, then turned back to her carriage.

Recalling the scene at the city gate from earlier, she got a little distracted.

Beside her, Jinbao suddenly asked, "Why is mother’s brother younger than Jinbao?"

Wen Wan almost choked.

This cheeky boy, always asking such offbeat questions.

She patiently replied, "Yan Li is younger than you, so that means his seniority is higher!"

The little guy was not happy, "Jinbao also wants higher seniority, wants to take advantage of others."

Wen Wan: "...You’re just a few years old and already thinking about taking advantage of others, can’t you learn something good?"

The little guy: "Hmph～"

Back home, with nothing to do, Wen Wan went to chat with Granny Song.

From start to finish, Granny Song and Old Song didn’t know about Wen Wan’s biological parents, assuming she was out socializing with other officials’ wives.

On the way back, Wen Wan also specifically warned the little guy not to talk nonsense in front of his grandparents, or else he would only get plain porridge every day, no meat or snacks.

This threat was extremely effective for the gluttonous little one. When Granny Song asked where he had been, he didn’t need to look at Wen Wan for permission and directly said he had been on the street.

Granny Song said, "It’s still the period of national mourning, there’s not much happening on the street, what did you do out there?"

The little guy was quite skilled at lying; faced with his grandmother’s casual questioning, he sat in the circle chair swinging his short legs, eating a winter melon with a spoon, and replied, "Just wandering around."

Granny Song naturally wouldn’t doubt her grandson, believing whatever Jinbao said.

Looking at Jinbao like that, Wen Wan couldn’t help reflecting, with a father so steady and grounded, handling everything neatly and appropriately, how did their son end up such a little trickster, whom did he inherit from?

——

The matter of Wen Wan and Lu Xingzhou recognizing each other as father and daughter was unbeknownst to Emperor Guangxi, so even though he knew early on that Song Wei was his nephew by marriage, he never took the initiative to expose this relationship.

The way of interaction between the Emperor and his ministers remained unchanged, just as it was before.

However, Song Wei found that ever since the Empress Dowager passed away, Emperor Guangxi’s temperament had changed a lot, becoming more obsessive and suspicious.

He always believed that the Empress Dowager’s death was related to Old Marquis Lu, thus, completely disregarding the Empress Dowager’s dying words, he not only refused to employ the Lu Family but also demoted the two brothers of Old Marquis Lu who were serving in the court.

Although not too conspicuous, Song Wei, having been beside the Emperor for so long, could easily perceive it.

At such times, he had no way to persuade, considering the Emperor’s mood was unhappy due to his birth mother’s death, wanting to vent his anger on his subordinates, and it just so happened that the Lu Family bore the brunt of it.

Just after the twenty-seven-day national mourning period, news of a military defeat from the Northwest arrived.

This caused quite a stir across the court and public.

Some said that it was not surprising for Great Chu’s soldiers, who had recuperated for twenty years, to initially lose to the grassland army, known for their prowess in mounted archery.

Others said that the commander had used the wrong tactics; back in the day, War God Lu Xingzhou had set the record of defeating an enemy of 200,000 with just 50,000 soldiers using precise and rigorous strategies.

When these words reached Emperor Guangxi’s ears, he threw a massive fit in the Imperial Study Room, "All they talk about is Lu Xingzhou, how they verbally attacked him vehemently after the incident with Lu Yanqing, wishing they could consume his flesh, and just a few years later, have they forgotten? Now with the border in turmoil, each is playing the role of armchair strategist; do they think without the Lu Family, I can’t safeguard Great Chu’s vast territory?"

In the Imperial Study Room, apart from Emperor Guangxi, only Mr. Cui was present.

As the Imperial Eunuch, Mr. Cui was more acutely aware of the Emperor’s emotional changes than anyone else. At this moment, how could he dare to speak up? He could only stand aside, shrinking his neck, responding with silence regardless of how the Emperor vented his wrath.

Little did he know, the more he avoided something, the more it came his way.

After smashing things, Emperor Guangxi turned his eyes to him, "Cui Fuquan, tell me, must I rely on the Lu Family for my entire life to secure my throne? The Empress Dowager’s delirious words on her deathbed can be ignored, but now even the front court overwhelmingly advises for Lu Xingzhou’s return—am I, the Emperor, who keeps his word, easily supposed to retract the decree that demoted Lu Xingzhou to a commoner?"

Mr. Cui cautiously said, "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. The ministers are merely unaccustomed to the situation for the moment."

Emperor Guangxi glanced at him, "Oh? In what way are they unaccustomed?"

Mr. Cui replied, "For the past twenty years, our border has seen peace without war. Whether it is the former veterans or the new court nobles, they are all accustomed to this era of peace. Now, with sudden warfare, it naturally makes them anxious. Coupled with news of defeat, it’s only expected that some would be unsettled."

"Since they are unsettled, must they bring up Lu Xingzhou?"

Mr. Cui carefully worded his response, "Actually, their commotion might not be a bad thing. Didn’t Your Majesty just promote Mr. Qi from the Su Family? If he is sent to battle now and wins a great victory, the glorious deeds of the former War God could be overshadowed."

At last, hearing something agreeable, Emperor Guangxi’s brows slightly unfurrowed, and he gestured with a wave, "Summon Su Qing to see me."

Mr. Cui acknowledged and immediately wiped the cold sweat off his forehead with raised sleeves as he left the Qianqing Palace, hurriedly heading towards the Capital Commandery.

An incense stick’s time later, Su Qing arrived at the Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Guangxi dismissed his salute and got straight to the point, "Have you heard about the defeat in the Northwest?"

Su Qing nodded, "I have just heard a little, Your Majesty."

"I intend for you to serve as the main backup force," Emperor Guangxi said.

Having been promoted to Left Army Commander already, Su Qing was prepared for this; he just didn’t expect the Northwest to be defeated so quickly.

Gathering his thoughts, he bowed with a solemn expression, "Having been nurtured and promoted by Your Majesty, as the saying goes, ’Raise an army for a thousand days to use it for a moment.’ Whatever needs Your Majesty has, please command, and I shall comply without hesitation."

...

Upon learning that Su Qing was to lead troops to the Northwest for rescue, Lin Xiaoyue was filled with concern, "Do you really have to go?"

Su Qing replied, "One cannot disobey the Emperor’s orders."

"But..." Lin Xiaoyue bit her lip, "You’ve never led troops into battle before. How can the Emperor trust you to go on this expedition?"

Su Qing paused in his tea-drinking, looked up, and a hint of amusement played on his lips, "Is it the Emperor who is worried, or is it you who are worried?"

Having her concerns unveiled, Lin Xiaoyue’s face grew hot with embarrassment. Seeing his humor, she glared back, "Regardless of who is worried, it is indeed a concern. What’s the difference?"

"Naturally, there is a difference," Su Qing answered casually, "If the Emperor is worried, he would make me write a military pledge. If you are worried, you likely won’t say it out loud; only you would know how you feel."

Lin Xiaoyue was momentarily exasperated, "Who says I won’t say it? I admit I’m worried about you!"

Su Qing smiled but did not respond further.

Realizing she had fallen into his trap, Lin Xiaoyue was mortified enough to wish she could disappear, but soon she composed herself and the heat in her face subsided, "What did you just say? A military pledge? Did the Emperor make you write a military pledge?"

Su Qing smiled, "Writing a military pledge means I am bound to return victorious. Isn’t that good?"

"What’s good about it?" Lin Xiaoyue was truly agitated now, "Why didn’t you tell me about writing a military pledge beforehand?"

"It happened suddenly. The Emperor summoned me abruptly. How could I have informed you?"

Su Qing’s reaction was overly nonchalant.

The more he acted like this, the more anxious Lin Xiaoyue became.

"You’ve written a military pledge, yet you act as if nothing’s wrong. Are you trying to worry me to death?"

Seeing her pacing back and forth in agitation somehow lifted Su Qing’s spirits.

After pacing for a long time until she was dizzy, Lin Xiaoyue finally stopped and asked, "When will you set off?"

"The day after tomorrow," Su Qing said, "The reinforcements need some preparation, and the food and grass must proceed first."

"There are only two days left. I was hoping to make you a pair of wrist and knee guards!"

Su Qing shook his head, saying there was no need, "There are some included in the armor set."

"Then what can I do for you? Or, is there anything you need?" Lin Xiaoyue, with her anxious nature, couldn’t calm down without finding something to do.

"Please sit down." Su Qing gestured with his eyes towards a nearby seat, "I have something to say to you."

After Lin Xiaoyue sat down and saw his expression suddenly turn serious, her heart started racing, never having felt so uneasy before. Biting her teeth, she angrily said, "Su Qing, let me tell you, in this life, I’ll be a member of the Su Family when alive and a ghost of the Su Family when dead. Don’t you dare think of divorcing me!"

After a short pause, she added, "And a peaceful separation is not possible either!"