Favoring a Hidden Mistress? Engagement Broken-Chapter 78 - 74

Who wouldn’t want to capture Lü Ping and bring him back to the Capital City as soon as possible?

But the towering closed gates of the city are not so easy to breach; it all depends on stacking lives.

Lu Ziyuan couldn’t act so hastily, disregarding the lives of soldiers for his own accomplishments.

He reached out to massage his brow, impatiently said, "Everyone, leave."

The sound of arguments immediately stopped. Several generals looked at each other, bowed, and retreated.

The tent quieted down.

Lu Ziyuan slightly closed his eyes, his lips tightly pressed together, wearing an uncomfortable expression.

Lately, he kept having a dream, and upon waking, he couldn’t remember the scenes in the dream, only the lingering feelings of pain and despair, lasting for a long time without fading.

Even though he couldn’t remember what it was about, the pain seemed deeply embedded in his bones, inseparable.

It was difficult for him to describe the feeling.

His chest felt hollow, as if cold winds were constantly pouring in, howling through and taking away all warmth, leaving nothing but dead silence, emptiness.

The worst injury Lu Ziyuan ever suffered was a year ago in Youzhou while investigating a case; he was set up by local officials, and an enemy struck a blade from his left shoulder down to his back. The wound was deep enough to see the bone.

Such an injury didn’t make him feel as miserable.

A dream without even clear content tormenting him to sleepless nights.

... Lu Ziyuan vaguely understood, it was the pain of loss.

He had felt it when agreeing to break off his engagement.

But even breaking off with that girl didn’t lead him to utter despair.

In the dream, he had lost something, that’s why he felt this unbearable pain.

Feeling inexplicably tense, Lu Ziyuan took a deep breath, spread out the rice paper, and picked up the pen again.

This time, he began writing the words ’Holy Emperor’.

Even though Mingjian’s letter mentioned everything was well in the Capital, he still couldn’t be at ease.

Perhaps the dream was trying to tell him something...

Without keeping someone under his watchful eye, he would never be completely at ease.

If not for the necessity of staying for the battle, Lu Ziyuan would have rushed back to the Capital swiftly to seize the girl who haunted his thoughts day and night, and bring her with the army.

But since he couldn’t leave, he could only ask Your Majesty to watch over her for him.

In the Capital City, Lu Ziyuan’s thoughts about Your Majesty were interrupted as he furrowed his brow, looking at his sister.

"Changqing has taken a liking to Marquis Xuanping Mansion’s eldest daughter?" The Emperor pondered for a few moments and asked, "Is it the eldest daughter of the Xie family, who was betrothed to Runzhi?"

"It is her," Princess Duan Yang nodded and said, "But she has broken off the engagement with the Lu family, with all marriage documents returned, now free from any matrimonial ties, and neither I nor my husband are sticklers for tradition; breaking off an engagement is nothing, as long as Changqing is willing to marry."

Breaking off an engagement is nothing, even a divorced woman, as long as her son falls for her, she wouldn’t hesitate.

Over the years, Princess Duan Yang was desperately seeking a daughter-in-law, to the point where she barely cared anymore.

The Emperor saw his sister so eager and thought of his own nephew being a solitary bachelor at such an age, finally having found a girl he liked. His hesitating mind instantly settled, and with a smile said, "Since it’s like this, I shall issue a decree to fulfill this couple."

... Anyhow, they have already broken off the engagement; presumably, there are no significant feelings involved.

The marriage decree arrived at Marquis Xuanping Mansion that very day.

Mrs. Zheng received the decree, calculated the wedding date, and instructed Nanny Li beside her, "Go to the farm and bring the lady back."

The wedding date is drawing near; how could she stay at the villa?

No matter what, she has to personally lend a hand on the wedding dress, for good fortune.

......

Xie Wanqing was surprised when she heard the wedding was in ten days, turning to the man sitting by the piano and asked, "Is it really this soon?"

She had predicted the marriage within three months, but this wasn’t even three months.

"This is the best day selected by the high monk of Zhen Guo Temple, using our birthdates," Pei Yuqing said, "Missing this day, the next fortunate day would be in half a year."

Upon hearing this, Xie Wanqing had no further objections.

Sooner is still sooner, as she had originally planned to marry early.

However... she couldn’t help but marvel, Princess Duan Yang truly was impressive.

Rushing around for about a month, everything was settled, and the wedding date was decreed by the Emperor.

She was well provided for in both substance and appearance.

She put down the Jade Flute and said, "I’m going back to the Capital City."

Over this past month, except for not sharing the same bed at night, they were almost always together.

One had long been deeply in love, and the other had strong affection towards him, allowing their relationship to heat up quickly.

Now abruptly needing to part, both felt a bit reluctant.

Especially Pei Yuqing, his fingers paused slightly on the guitar strings, then gently hummed, "I will go back with you."

Still the same carriage, still sitting across from each other.

Xie Wanqing thought about marrying the man across her in ten days, her emotions were quite complex.

There was joy, anxiety, and strands of panic.

Noticing this, Pei Yuqing disregarded his reluctance and reached out to hold her hand, "Is it because the wedding is near, making you nervous?"

Xie Wanqing didn’t hide it, slowly nodding, then asked him, "Aren’t you nervous?"

"..... Nervous," Pei Yuqing looked down at her and said, "Every day I’m nervous."

His gaze was tender, gentle to the extreme.

Under such a gaze, the unease in Xie Wanqing’s heart suddenly calmed down.

Indeed, what’s there to be nervous about? This isn’t like marrying Lu Ziyuan in the dream, without any confidence, just sheer bravery wearing the wedding dress.

The man in front of her loved her so deeply, for over ten years, apart from closest relatives, he was the one who cared for her the most deeply, all from him.

His love wasn’t overwhelming or impulsive, nor did he hide it, but a gentle love that was silent yet warm.

In daily interactions, it naturally came to light.

No one would dislike being loved so tenderly, and the same goes for Xie Wanqing.

She patted the seat beside her, said, "Come here and hug me."

Her tone was calm yet carried a bit of willful charm, like she was being playful.

Indeed, she was being playful.

After spending these days together, the girl’s temperament grew more spoiled, refusing to stop until she fully exhausted him.

Pei Yuqing didn’t let go of her hand, sat beside her as requested, and directly embraced her, kissed her hair lightly, and asked, "Being unable to see each other for ten days, Wanwan, would you miss me?"

Xie Wanqing grabbed the lapel of his clothes, buried her face in his chest, sniffed softly, and said, "I don’t know."

She had experienced wedding preparations once before; it was indeed busy, leaving hardly any time to think about him.

Pei Yuqing sighed lightly, tightened his hold, hugging the girl who seemed heartless.

He didn’t speak, yet Xie Wanqing felt restless, raised her head in his arms, brought her lips close, and kissed his chin firmly.

The ’smack’ sound was loud.

Pei Yuqing was stunned by the kiss and then heard the girl in his arms laughingly say, "Who said we wouldn’t be seeing each other for ten days? If you wish to see me, you can come to find me."