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

Chapter 262 Wake up
A large-scale conflict broke out on the border. Generals Lu Nianqing, Xiao Ning, and Li made careful arrangements, and the soldiers fought a bloody battle. After a fierce battle, the outcome was finally decided.

The Xilin border army was routed, retreating all the way to the opposite bank of the Lanning River. The battlefield was now a scene of carnage, with blood staining the riverbanks almost completely red. Corpses and severed limbs littered the battlefield, a truly gruesome sight. A flock of vultures, known for their scavenging, circled overhead, their mournful cries adding to the desolation and terror.

Lu Jing was deeply shocked and horrified by the devastation on the border. Fortunately, they had won this arduous battle! The Xilin army was forced to retreat to its own border, and Huainan had achieved a hard-won victory. To prevent the Xilin army from making a comeback, General Li quickly deployed his forces after arriving in Huainan. He first established three outposts in key locations to closely monitor enemy movements; then, he organized manpower to repair the damaged city walls, rebuild a strong defensive system, and reorganize the army to enhance its overall combat effectiveness.

With General Li's extensive experience and Lu Jing's command, this force from Zhongzhou moved swiftly and efficiently. Prefect Yun was also busy, quickly sending messengers to the southwest to inform them that there was no need for reinforcements, as the war in Huainan had subsided. He astutely sensed that Xilin's actions were unusual, seemingly intending to reignite the conflict, and that there might be unforeseen changes on the southwest front. He advised the Xilin reinforcements to turn back and defend their own territory, lest Xilin's feint attack put Dayuan at a disadvantage.

After all, the main force of this border army has not been completely wiped out. If they attack the city again, the troops from Zhongzhou are stationed in Huainan and can still resist. However, the southwestern front must not be lost. At the same time, defending two fronts is undoubtedly a huge challenge for Dayuan.

Lu Jing was busy running around the city, deploying city defenses and discussing with Prefect Yun a variety of complicated matters, such as resettling the wounded and providing relief to their families. After a long period of work, he was really worried about Su Qingwan, so he handed over these trivial matters to Lu Nianqing.

Lu Nianqing was still young and couldn't help but worry that he wouldn't be able to handle the job. After all, in other people's eyes, he was just a boy and probably wouldn't be able to establish enough authority.

Lu Jing saw his concerns and said earnestly, "Young master, your aunt has devoted ten years of her life to exonerating Huainan. She is determined to create a prosperous and stable fiefdom for you in Huainan. You will become the King of Huainan in the future, and you should learn about these matters. If there is anything you don't understand, ask Prefect Yun for guidance."

Governor Yun looked at Lu Nianqing with eyes full of affection. Just as Su Qingwan had told him, he would recognize Lu Nianqing immediately upon seeing him. Governor Yun confirmed Lu Nianqing's identity the moment he saw him.

The Crown Prince of Huainan held power and prestige second only to the Prince of Huainan in his fiefdom, and shared the same administrative staff. In Huainan, there was never a power struggle between the Prince and the Crown Prince; most daily affairs were handled by the Crown Prince. The Prince had a fiery temper, and many officials in the fiefdom preferred dealing with the more mild-mannered Crown Prince. Some veteran officials in Huainan recognized Lu Nianqing simply by his striking resemblance to the Crown Prince of Huainan.

With this background, Lu Nianqing would not encounter much resistance in taking over Huainan affairs. Moreover, in the recent battle between Huainan and Xilin, General Xiao Ning and General Li intentionally attributed some of the credit to Lu Nianqing, which also established a certain level of prestige for him in the army.

After hearing this, Lu Nianqing lowered her eyes slightly and said softly, "I understand."

After entrusting the matter to Lu Nianqing, Lu Jing returned to the manor and stayed by Su Qingwan's side. Chenfeng and Lüzhu had died on the battlefield, and now only Qingyun remained by her side. Although Qingyun was seriously injured, he was fortunate enough to survive.

Although she was still unable to get out of bed, she could speak fluently. Qingyun was recuperating in seclusion, and in the quiet room, the faint sound of crying could be heard outside. Zhang Huaining's injuries were relatively minor, so he took over the management of the palace's internal affairs from Qingyun. In the past, these matters were handled by Lüzhu and Qingyun, but now one was dead in battle and the other seriously wounded. Zhang Huaining couldn't help but feel a little sad when he thought of the past. Lu Jing sat on the veranda, his expression solemn and full of worry. He thought that when Xiao Wu woke up and learned of Chenfeng and Lüzhu's deaths, she would be devastated. Lüzhu was like a sister to her, and their bond was deep. Of the twin sisters, one had unfortunately died in the palace intrigue, and Chenfeng and his team of more than a dozen spies had also been wiped out. Of these trusted confidants who had followed Su Qingwan from the capital all the way to Huainan, only Qingyun remained.

Su Qingwan remains unconscious. Doctors from across the city have come for consultations, but none have reached a definitive conclusion; no one can be sure if she will survive the critical period. The best medicines from the Prince's mansion have been brought in, all in an effort to prolong her life. Years ago, she stabbed herself and was on the verge of death, only saved by a Resurrection Pill. Unfortunately, the ingredients for this pill are extremely rare, and there are no more available.

Su Qingwan remained unconscious for two days without any news. Upon seeing the smoke signals, the Prince of the Southwest immediately led 10,000 troops to relieve Huainan. En route, he received a letter from Prefect Yun, informing him that the war in Huainan had been quelled.

Fearing a feint by the Western Lin forces, the Crown Prince of the Southwest ordered his deputy to lead the troops back to the Southwest first, while he, worried about Su Qingwan, insisted on coming to Huainan City. This wasn't the first time Lu Jing and the Crown Prince of the Southwest had met; they had a past encounter. The Crown Prince of the Southwest was unaware of the complex relationship between Lu Jing and Su Qingwan, assuming Lu Jing had come to Huainan on official business and happened to encounter the Western Lin attack.

Lu Jing, not wanting to cause further trouble, didn't offer much explanation. After meeting Lu Nianqing, the Southwest Prince earnestly instructed him to protect Su Qingwan well, and subtly reminded him to be wary of Lu Jing. Lu Nianqing, unsure how to explain, could only remain silent.

Due to the urgency of the war, the Crown Prince of the Southwest could not linger in Huainan and had to return to the Southwest after only a day and a night. The unusual actions of Xilin, including the brutal murder of Xilin Yongxuan, made him deeply worried that war would reignite on the border. Before departing, Lu Jing, with a cold expression, said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, rest assured, we will definitely avenge this blood debt from Xilin!"

The Crown Prince of the Southwest replied with unwavering resolve, “Blood debts must be repaid with blood. Prepare for battle. As for Huainan, I hope the Regent can keep the troops in Zhongzhou in check. If you need anything, just send me a message, and I will transfer troops from the Southwest!”

He would never let Xiao Wu face the immense pressure from the Xilin border army alone. This battle was sudden and caught everyone off guard. Lu Jing solemnly promised, "Your Highness, rest assured, as long as I am here, Huainan will be here! Xilin has not been completely subdued yet, and I will not abandon Huainan."

The Crown Prince of the Southwest felt something was off about Lu Jing's words, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. This regent had only recently seized power, and instead of staying in the capital, he had come to Huainan, which was truly puzzling.

Even if he has official business to attend to, he should have finished the talks and returned to the capital by now. Isn't he afraid of losing the power he holds?

Moreover, the Regent Prince was openly engaged to his sister, yet he never mentioned it, which seemed rather strange. However, the situation was urgent, and the Crown Prince of the Southwest had no time to think it over before hastily embarking on his journey home.

Who would have thought that Su Qingwan would wake up the moment he left...