CHAPTER 415: CHAPTER 383: YOU WILL BE THE BEST STRATEGIST (PART 1)

Father Wen’s eyelid twitched uncontrollably when he heard this. "What exactly happened?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "Wanwan discovered something was amiss and learned that Ah Yin is her biological mother. She found an opportunity to invite us out and asked directly. At that time, Ah Yin had no choice but to tell her the whole truth."

Father Wen was more concerned about his daughter, "How did Wanwan react after she found out?"

Lu Xingzhou glanced at his nervous expression and slowly said, "Calmer than we expected, she didn’t cry or make a fuss."

Father Wen, upon hearing this, relaxed slightly, "That’s good."

Lu Xingzhou pursed his lips, "Second Brother Wen doesn’t blame us for breaking our promise to you?"

Father Wen waved his hand and earnestly said, "The girl has grown up and has her own ideas. We, as parents and elders, can’t stop her. Besides, since she brought it up with you voluntarily, it shows she had already contemplated accepting her biological parents. As long as she can live comfortably, I have no objections."

After hearing this, Lu Xingzhou fell into silence, the guilt in his chest becoming more apparent.

Lu Yanqing’s exile for thirty years was something they had never mentioned to Father Wen, even the true reason for coming to Ningzhou was concealed.

Now, Wen Wan has acknowledged her biological parents, but Father Wen cannot reunite with his biological son.

To some extent, it might be unfair to Father Wen.

Yet even knowing this unfairness, Lu Xingzhou couldn’t reveal Lu Yanqing’s matter to him as an "exchange," nor could he let them reunite as father and son.

The reason Wanwan was calm upon knowing her true identity was because she was with Song Wei.

Song Wei is originally a mature and prudent person; over time, Wanwan’s behavior and mindset naturally aligned with his.

Lu Yanqing is different. He was instilled with many incorrect notions from a young age. Even though he realized them during his exile, in his heart, he still sees himself as the son of the Eldest Princess and the Prince Consort, feeling superior. Once he learns his true lineage, he definitely won’t react as calmly as Wanwan did, nor will he understand. He would only cause a big uproar, and in the end, the tense relationship would benefit no one, including Father Wen.

Therefore, Lu Xingzhou had discussed it with Fanghua earlier, that even if thirty years later, Lu Yanqing were to return, he must not be informed that he still has a biological father.

At this moment, Father Wen observed Lu Xingzhou’s conflicted expression and roughly guessed what the latter was thinking. He spoke proactively, "I’ve remarried and have another son. Not to mention that I can’t offer that child luxury, even if I could, he might not necessarily accept acknowledging a biological father and gaining a stepmother as part of the package."

He continued, "Back then, you promised me not to acknowledge the daughter, and I promised you I’d never seek out the son. Our original intention was simply to keep the two children free of worries, not as an exchange. Now that you’ve acknowledged the daughter, it doesn’t mean I have to acknowledge the son to call it fair. I only hope for the well-being of the children, and that’s the best fairness."

Lu Xingzhou was moved by these words, "Second Brother Wen, with such a magnanimous spirit, I truly respect you."

He then raised his glass and toasted him again.

...

Fanghua couldn’t intervene in this matter, so she waited at home for news.

When Lu Xingzhou returned, the sun was almost setting.

Fanghua smelled the strong scent of alcohol on him and wrinkled her nose, "How much did you drink?"

Lu Xingzhou, hearing this, smiled with his slightly inebriated expression, "The conversation was engaging, so I drank a few more cups."

Fanghua quickly came over to support him, leading him into the house while muttering, "We were the ones who broke our promise first. I sent you to apologize, not to engage in a drinking contest."

Lu Xingzhou was not really drunk but cherished the rare moment of her support, feeling a sense of dependence, and decided to pretend to be drunk.

Once inside, Fanghua brought cool water to wring a towel and wipe his face.

Lu Xingzhou sat on the rattan chair, letting his wife serve him.

Their two-year-old son sat nearby, sucking his finger and occasionally looking up at his forty-something father who still needed help with washing his face.

Lu Xingzhou noticed the little one’s gaze, opened his eyes, and pinched the child’s chubby cheek.

Only then did Fanghua realize he had been pretending, tossed the towel back into the basin, and sat next to him, "Hey, I’m talking to you, why aren’t you responding?"

Lu Xingzhou moved his eyes from his son to his wife, "I confessed to him about acknowledging Wanwan."

"And then?"

"I thought he would blame us for not keeping our word, but to my surprise, he was so open-minded, saying that as long as the children were doing well, it didn’t matter if we acknowledged the daughter or if he never reunites with his son."

"Apparently, we’ve been narrow-minded," Fanghua softly murmured, "but when it comes to Yanqing’s matter, I’d rather be a bit selfish and narrow-minded and not let them reunite as father and son."

Lu Xingzhou nodded, "Yanqing’s temperament is ultimately different from Wanwan’s. Once acknowledged, the consequences are unimaginable."

Fanghua thought of the intelligence the Hidden Guard had shown her earlier and glanced at the man, finally speaking, "There’s news that in the recent battle in the Northwest, General Chang Wei was defeated. The Emperor has arranged for that young member of the Su Family to provide reinforcements."

At this point, she sighed, "If you were still there, with your abilities, this battle in the Northwest wouldn’t have had such ups and downs."

Lu Xingzhou laid his hands open before her and asked, "What do you see?"

Fanghua looked down; the hands in front of her were long and well-shaped, bony, and strong.

Occasionally going into the mountains to hunt and dig for herbs had left them slightly coarse.

But it was just a little, incomparable to those who spent years in the barracks.

Fanghua didn’t know what he wanted her to see, so she shook her head.

Lu Xingzhou said, "I’ve been idle at home for twenty years, having not touched a sword or horse; these hands no longer belong to a great general of the battlefield. The War God of yesteryear has become history; now, if I were to go to battle, my reflexes might not even match those of an ordinary new recruit."

Fanghua shook her head, "You might not be able to recreate the glory of the War God, but you would be the best strategist."

Lu Xingzhou, hearing this, gazed into her eyes.

Fanghua gave him a confident smile, "Any battle, to achieve victory, requires the brilliant tactics of a leader. I believe what time took from you is just your physical reflexes, and with an opportunity, you’d strategize better than anyone."

Lu Xingzhou could tell there was more to her words, so he patiently waited for her to continue.

Indeed—

Fanghua, seeing him silent, spoke again proactively, "This is Su Qing’s first time on the battlefield; he lacks much practical experience. I heard he has already made a vow in front of his brother. I’m worried; if he’s not careful, he might lose this battle. So..."

Lu Xingzhou picked up the conversation, "So, you want your husband, unbeknownst to the Emperor, to secretly go from the Southwest to the Northwest, disguise himself, and act as Su Qing’s strategist to help him win this battle?"

Fanghua’s hands rested on her lap, fingers interlocked, showing some nervousness and apprehension, "Do you think my suggestion is feasible?"

She wasn’t favoring the Su Family, just didn’t want to lose. Xu Guangfu had already lost once. If Su Qing were to lose again, the army’s morale would certainly plummet, making it easy for the enemy to capture the Northwest’s cities without much effort.

Lu Xingzhou did not directly answer whether it was feasible but instead asked her, "How do you know Su Qing would need me?"

Fanghua said, "I’m worried about his lack of experience. Su Qing is very capable; otherwise, my mother and brother wouldn’t have gone to great lengths to bring him into their fold. But the battlefield is not a place to showcase individual abilities. War requires teamwork. If one ignores the unity of the team, no matter how good the equipment or how large the army, defeat is inevitable."

Lu Xingzhou suddenly laughed, "You even understand this?"

"I was bored, so I read your books," Fanghua said, then refocused on the Northwest campaign, with a hint of pleading in her tone, "We couples can never return to the Capital; just think of it as my husband doing a good deed, helping Great Chu’s people foster another War God, giving them peace. How about it?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly, "Ah Yin, speaking to this extent, it’s clear you made up your mind long before and waited for me. If I don’t go, won’t it waste your well-intended plans?"

Upon hearing his words, Fanghua finally relaxed, stood up, "Time is pressing, I’ll pack your things right away, and if husband has no other matters, you can set off early tomorrow."

Lu Xingzhou chuckled, "In such a hurry to send me off?"

"I’m not rushing you off; it’s just that this matter is urgent."

Lu Xingzhou nodded, "I understand your concerns, but I can’t leave tomorrow morning. You must give me time to make arrangements. No matter how much I understand the greater good, I can’t disregard my wife and children for the sake of the Northwest people, can I?"