Raising a wife? The mistress of the Hou family divorced and remarried her younger uncle

Chapter 252 Fight for
The following day, Su Qingwan took Prefect Yun to negotiate a trade agreement with Xilin Yongxuan. In fact, Prefect Yun and Xilin Yongxuan had already held several rounds of consultations beforehand, and all the terms had been agreed upon with Su Qingwan in advance. Therefore, this trip should not have encountered any unexpected situations.

Xi Lin Yongxuan's gaze was deep, revealing a profound understanding of the situation. During their conversation, he couldn't help but ask Su Qingwan the question that had been on his mind: "Princess, if the Prince of Huainan is not you in the future, will this agreement we have signed now still be valid?"

Su Qingwan replied confidently without hesitation, "As long as it's an agreement signed by the Prince of Huainan, Huainan will naturally recognize it! I will obtain a seal from the Regent to ensure that every treaty you sign with Huainan is fully valid. Of course, you must also do your utmost to ascend the throne of the Emperor of Xilin!"

Upon hearing this, Xilin Yongxuan's lips curled up into a slight smile. He raised his wine glass and gently clinked it against Su Qingwan's, his words full of expectation: "Thank you for your kind words, Princess!"

Both sides finally settled all matters, and Xilin Yongxuan was about to lead his delegation out of Huainan City and return to Xilin. Su Qingwan specially prepared a banquet to show her sincerity. At this time, Lu Jing was in the Prince's Mansion, but he did not attend the banquet. In the Huainan fiefdom, Su Qingwan was undoubtedly the focus of everyone's attention; her brilliance was unmatched. Lu Jing was well aware of this, and in order not to overshadow her, he deliberately chose to avoid the event.

In the front courtyard, singing and dancing filled the air, and the sounds of string and wind instruments were incessant, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere; while the back courtyard was exceptionally quiet.

Lu Jing sat alone on the roof, holding a wine jug and pouring himself a drink. He gazed at the lively scene in the front courtyard, where Su Qingwan sat gracefully in the main seat, calmly entertaining the Xilin delegation. The two sides chatted happily, the atmosphere harmonious. After the Huainan-style song and dance performance, a spectacular sword dance followed.

The members of the Xilin delegation were in high spirits and went down to the arena to spar with the sword-wielding girls. The girls' swordsmanship was mostly flashy and unorthodox, and they were naturally no match for the Xilin warriors. Just then, Zhang Huaining stepped forward and engaged the Xilin general in a spectacular exchange of blows. The two exchanged blows, their moves a perfect blend of strength and grace, drawing cheers and applause that brought the banquet to a climax.

Looking at the scene before him, Lu Jing couldn't help but sigh, "What a prosperous and peaceful picture of the country! After Huainan and Xilin signed the trade agreement, the future development prospects are bright."

Given time, if Su Qingwan were given several years to manage things, Huainan would surely regain its former glory. But if she insisted on becoming the King of Huainan, how could he stop her? Thinking of this, Lu Jing felt a surge of frustration. He picked up the wine jug and took a large gulp. The border wine was spicy and refreshing, rolling down his throat and burning his way to his stomach, leaving only a bitter taste in his mouth.

He yearned to be with Su Qingwan forever, but he never imagined that his considerations regarding the situation in Huainan would be seen by her as ambition hidden behind their love. While Su Qingwan certainly had some genuine feelings for him, Huainan clearly held greater weight in her heart. If he persisted in forcing things… he feared that in the end, they would both suffer greatly.

Lu Ziyu, oh Lu Ziyu, if she truly refuses to marry a man from the capital, would you really force her at all costs? Lu Jing took another swig of wine, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He slowly closed his eyes, leaned back, and fell asleep on the roof ridge. At this moment, the starlight and the bright moonlight reflected each other, scattering down together, creating a dazzling, breathtaking spectacle. However, his state of mind was as dark as the night, gloomy and devoid of any hope.

Before coming to Huainan, Zhou Jingming had advised him: If the princess truly refuses, then let go. After all, her former status is what it is; forcing her would only make things look bad. There are plenty of fish in the sea; why cling to one? Now, as the regent, with the emperor young, he has every woman in the land at his disposal; what beauty couldn't he have?
However, to Lu Jing, Su Qingwan was unique. Even among countless beauties, none could compare to her.

It was time for Lu Jing to return to the capital; he couldn't linger in Huainan for too long. Xi Lin Yongxuan would leave Huainan the day after tomorrow, but Lu Jing needed to depart a day earlier. He had to hurry back to the capital; too much time away would cause him to lose control of the situation, giving the Eldest Princess an opportunity. For the next ten years or so, until the Emperor assumed full power, he and the Eldest Princess would be sworn enemies.

The dance battle had ended sometime earlier, and the lively atmosphere in the front hall gradually dissipated. General Xiao Ning and the others escorted Xilin Yongxuan to the door. Lu Jing quietly closed his eyes, hoping to receive a definite answer from Su Qingwan before leaving. He really didn't want to return empty-handed from this trip to Huainan, even if it was just... a fleeting hope, or a promise worth waiting for.

He was always good at waiting; he had waited all these years, so what was a little longer? Su Qingwan had already sent someone to inform Lu Nianqing to return to Huainan. Regardless of the final outcome, she had to make a decision. He, however, couldn't wait in Huainan for Lu Nianqing's return and had to return to the capital first. "Lu Jing, want to come down and have a drink together?" Just as Lu Jing's thoughts were in turmoil, a familiar voice rang in his ears. Su Qingwan's voice, to him, was like heavenly music.

Lu Jing sat up abruptly and saw Su Qingwan standing in the courtyard. The summer peonies in the courtyard were in full bloom, and she held three jugs of wine, gently swirling them in her hands. Perhaps because she had just entertained Xilin Yongxuan, the wine had taken effect, and a faint pink blush rose to her cheeks, like a flower quietly blooming in the dead of night, breathtakingly beautiful.

Upon seeing this, Lu Jing's lips unconsciously curled up into a gentle smile. Then, he leaped lightly off the roof.

The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, and a gentle breeze caressed their faces as the two walked side by side into the pavilion. Green Bamboo, quick and efficient, soon brought over some exquisite snacks to accompany the wine. Su Qingwan said with a smile, "Today's banquet was rather dull; I barely ate anything. Would Your Highness do me the honor of dining with me?"

Lu Jing nodded slightly and replied softly, "I haven't had dinner yet either." In fact, he had been drinking alone on the roof all evening, his gaze fixed on Su Qingwan in the distance. Although she was too far away to see her expression clearly, he seemed to be bewitched, staring intently in that direction.

Su Qingwan picked up the wine pot, poured a cup of wine for Lu Jing, and said, "I have reached an agreement with Xilin on a trade treaty. I'll show it to you later, how about that?"

Lu Jing waved his hand, a gentle smile on his face, and said, "No need. This is an internal affair of Huainan. You can decide for yourself. When you were in the southwest, you governed the region very effectively. The border areas are thriving under your rule, and the people live in peace and contentment, never worrying about the invasion of war. Just as you said, if you are given ten years, you will surely be able to restore Huainan to its former glory."

Su Qingwan took a small sip of wine, a hint of reminiscence in her eyes, and slowly said, "When I was little, I never learned about governing a region. I was the youngest in my family, and my older brothers and sisters were all exceptionally talented. My mother only hoped that I could grow up carefree and healthy, and she never even taught me needlework or those tedious rules. I was lively and mischievous, always running around and getting into trouble. Back then, I never imagined that one day I would become the Prince of Huainan, a ruler of a region." At this point, her expression darkened slightly, and her tone became heavy. "Later, my entire clan was wiped out, and I was forced to flee, eventually reaching the southwest. During that time, I lost my voice for half a year, suffering immense inner pain. The doctors said I had suffered a great shock, and the knot in my heart was difficult to untie; I was afraid this illness would be permanent. My father and mother sought out many famous doctors to treat me, but they were all helpless, shaking their heads and saying that I was beyond medical help."

Lu Jing listened quietly, his heart filled with heartache. He knew that Su Qingwan had been living under someone else's roof at a young age, her relatives had been brutally murdered, leaving her all alone. She must have gone through countless hardships and dangers on her journey, barely surviving.

"And then, how did your voice recover?" Lu Jing asked softly.

Su Qingwan raised an eyebrow, lost in her memories: "I was bedridden for half a year, utterly devoid of joy, and my body grew increasingly weak. My mother, worried that my illness was terminal, sent Xiao Jiu to take me out of the manor to relax. Xiao Jiu wasn't in good health and took medication year-round. My mother thought that perhaps we were of similar age and both young ladies, so we might have common topics to discuss, and chatting might be beneficial to my condition. We went horseback riding together, but ended up accidentally wandering into a small grove. There, we saw a huge hornet's nest, larger than we could have imagined, densely packed with..." The nest was swarming with wasps. Xiao Jiu was terrified and accidentally got stung. When I was a mischievous child, I'd disturbed wasp nests before and knew how to deal with them. I immediately ordered someone to bring a net, covered the nest, tightened the net, lit a fire, and smoked it for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Finally, I simply set the entire nest on fire. I always dealt with wasp nests this way, and not a single wasp had ever escaped. But that day was completely unexpected; more than a dozen wasps desperately crawled out while being burned. I was very curious, so I went closer to observe them, and I found it unbelievable.

Su Qingwan paused slightly, those past events surfacing vividly in her mind: "Humans and bees are like a drop of water and a river. A drop of water will eventually flow into the river, drifting with the current, powerless to resist. The same is true of a bee colony; they are too weak, and faced with the slaughter of humans, the entire colony could be wiped out in an instant. Yet even so, they still struggle desperately, trying to escape. One wasp, its wings burned off, lay on the ground, yet it still frantically flapped its remaining half of its wing, stubbornly trying to flee. At that moment, I remembered a saying my teacher once taught me: Even ants steal..." "Life, especially for humans. Humans are the most intelligent of all beings; as long as there is breath, there is hope. Although most of the wasps were burned by my fire, a dozen or so managed to escape. They will fly deep into the jungle, waiting for next spring to reproduce and thrive again. Before long, a new swarm will form. The same will be true for Huainan. Since Heaven has spared my bloodline, it surely does not want Huainan's lineage to be severed. I must live on, like those tenacious wasps. One day, I will return to my fiefdom of Huainan with my head held high. The bloodline of my Su family will never be extinguished under that merciless butcher's knife."

Lu Jing quietly watched Su Qingwan, listening to her story, his heart aching for her growing stronger. Su Qingwan's smile carried a resilience and unyielding spirit born from hardship, making him feel deeply sorry for her.

Su Qingwan looked at Lu Jing with unwavering eyes and said slowly, "That's how I figured it out. So, I regained my voice and realized what I should do. I started learning how to be a politician, and the Southwest will be my place of practice. Ziyu, I can marry you, but the fiefdom of Huainan... I will absolutely not give it up!"