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

Chapter 268 Returning to Beijing
“If you don’t intend to hide, then let’s not hide!” Lu Jing chuckled. “I came to Huainan to find you and brought you all the way to the capital. I never intended for you to hide your face. Xiao Wu, you’ve been hiding for thirteen years, living in the shadows under someone else’s name. I can’t truly empathize with what you’ve been through, but your future life will be open and aboveboard. I’ll bear the public opinion and criticism. You don’t have to compromise.”

"Even if people gossip behind your back, saying you're after your sister-in-law, you don't care?" Su Qingwan raised an eyebrow. "Your reputation has always been good, so you don't care anymore?"

"I don't live for other people's praise, and other people's slander can't hurt me in the slightest. Is Xiao Wu worried about me?"

"Oh, not at all!"

"Do you still hate my brother and aunt?"

"The knot in my heart is hard to untie." The direct trigger for her sister's death was Li Xueying. She has already avenged herself, but Lin Shi and Lu Feng are also murderers. Just because she doesn't kill them doesn't mean she forgives them or is willing to sit at the same table with them and live under the same roof. She was just about to talk to Lu Jing about living separately.

Lu Jing said, "After we got married, we lived in the Prince's Mansion, but we lived separately. My mother and sister could come and live in the mansion, while my uncle's family would stay in the ancestral home and would not live together."

"Excellent!" Su Qingwan felt a warmth in her heart. It was good if others agreed to some things she had brought up herself, but Lu Jing had already made thorough arrangements before she even brought them up. She was touched. Although there were interests involved, Lu Jing had truly put his heart into it.

Whether it's a relationship or an engagement, it requires effort.

Since she was to be bound to him for life, and the interests of Huainan were closely related to the Regent, she should be more tactful, gentle, and dedicated, and play her part well.

Her liking for Lu Jing and her desire to use him are not contradictory.

Having figured it out, it wasn't so painful. Su Qingwan had never had any expectations for marriage, and she had never thought about getting married and having children in her life. The imperial decree ordering her to marry was just a charade for her; she had never taken it seriously. Now, forced by circumstances, she had to marry Lu Jing to stabilize Huainan. Marrying anyone was still marriage, a political alliance.

Lu Jing is a good man. He is good-looking, looks healthy, holds a high position, and treats her with respect. He is a rare find.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's nothing, it's fine." Su Qingwan chuckled. Tired from playing chess, she took out a storybook to read. Lu Jing didn't find it boring at all. He asked her if she wanted to listen to some music. Su Qingwan said it was up to her, so Lu Jing played the flute. The journey was harmonious, and they didn't argue at all.

They are all calm and composed people who would not deliberately make things difficult for others and are extremely difficult to quarrel with.

After entering Lianyun City, Su Qingwan developed a fever. Lu Jing planned to stay in Lianyun City for a few days. Su Qingwan had been guarding Huainan for several days, her mind was on edge. Later, she led troops into battle and witnessed the soldiers die one by one. She always suppressed her grief, but she could not show it because she was the backbone of Huainan.

Even with Nianqing by her side, her life wasn't easy. She had to go to the capital with Lu Jing, arrange Nianqing's journey in Huainan, and instruct Nianqing on how to utilize her connections in Huainan. It was all very demanding.

On the way back to the capital, Lu Jing deliberately walked very slowly, enjoying the scenery along the way. Su Qingwan's anxiety gradually subsided, and her illness struck suddenly; she was bound to fall ill eventually.

Su Qingwan developed a fever very quickly and lay in a daze for a day. Qingyun said that her illness came at a very opportune time. Marquis Ningyuan and General Chen had just led their troops through Lianyun City. Lu Jing was also at the inn with Su Qingwan and did not disturb the soldiers. They were also passing through Lianyun City and did not rest in the city.

She wanted to meet her uncle and cousins, but she also thought that since they knew Nianqing's identity, they would definitely protect her, so there was no need to say more. With the Marquis of Ningyuan and his son at the border, she felt more at ease.

During Su Qingwan's illness, Lu Jing stayed by her side and took meticulous care of her. Lu Jing said, "It feels like I've gone back to the time when I was blind, and you were the one who took such good care of me."

"They didn't take much care of me, though."

"That's true, it's letting a blind person like me wash and change clothes by myself."

"How could you let me wash and change your clothes?" Lu Jing smiled and looked down. Su Qingwan realized that she was becoming more and more relaxed around him. She was a little wary and always felt that Lu Jing was pretending and deliberately bringing up the past to soften her heart, but she had never asked him to do anything.

Three days later, Lu Jing accompanied her to Lianyun City for several days. They went hiking and visited temples together. The melodious sound of bells echoed through the mountain streams and cleared the air, making people feel refreshed. She left the war and pain in Huainan behind.

She was going to move forward; from now on, she would be on the battlefield and in the capital.

The Regent and the Princess's carriage swayed and rattled as they entered the capital. By the time they arrived, it was early August, autumn had arrived, and the weather was somewhat chilly. Huainan originally had a royal residence in the capital. After the Huainan King's clan was exterminated, the residence was confiscated and bestowed upon the Kang King. Su Qingwan could not openly stay at the Xie family residence, much less go to the Regent's residence before her marriage.

She couldn't go to the Southwest Prince's Mansion, as the steward there didn't know her identity. Finally, on Lu Jing's advice, she chose Lu Jing's villa.

The only thing that didn't quite satisfy Su Qingwan was that this villa was a gift from a wealthy merchant. Although it had been renovated, it lacked the tranquility of a prince's mansion. However, after she stayed in the villa to recuperate from her injuries, she discovered that the garden was full of blooming flowers, a riot of colors. The peony season had passed, and the autumn flower season was approaching, with all sorts of flowers in full bloom. The wall of the east garden had also been demolished, expanding the courtyard and building a lotus pond. Lotus flowers had been transplanted into the pond, and there were koi carp and duckweed floating on the surface, drifting with the current. Under the interplay of light and reflection, and the mutual enhancement of the flowers, there was a kind of serene yet vibrant beauty.

The courtyard had been meticulously renovated and was beautifully constructed. Su Qing felt as if she had entered a paradise, and her eyes lit up. It was truly beautiful!

“Although you’ll only be staying for half a year, I hope you’ll be comfortable,” Lu Jing said with a light laugh. “I’m going to the palace soon, and this villa will be yours. You can arrange it as you please.”

"Okay!" Su Qingwan's heart softened. Watching Lu Jing's departing figure, she asked Qingyun, "When I'm acting, should I be more sincere?"

After much painful reflection, Qingyun said, "Yes, girl, none of us put in as much effort as he did."

This is practically the courtyard of a girl's dreams. She is so decisive and resilient, the kind of person who would defend Huainan to the death and would not retreat an inch. She just loves these kinds of flowers and plants, the more vibrant the better.

Qingyun went down to arrange for people to clean the house. The house was swept and cleaned, and there were servants in the courtyard and a cook in the kitchen. There was not much to worry about in terms of food, clothing, and shelter. Moreover, since they had never met Xie Zhaolan before, there was less gossip.

Li An didn't go to the palace with Lu Jing; instead, he stayed in the villa. Qingyun asked, "Why aren't you leaving?"

"His Highness ordered me to guard the Princess." Li An grinned. Only Qingyun remained of the Princess's maids; the rest had died on the battlefield. Chenfeng and the others were also gone, so the Princess was short-handed.

"I appreciate the thought, but our girls don't like being served by strangers."

“Sister Qingyun, I’m not a stranger to you, we’re quite familiar. Besides, the princess is also my master.” Li An was shameless and not afraid of Qingyun’s order to leave.

"what ever!"

Li An was already the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Qingyun couldn't afford to offend him, so he bluntly said something and went to arrange accommodations for his men.

Su Qingwan entered the main room, which was spotless. The dressing mirror displayed sets of jeweled headdresses, hairpins, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and other jewelry. The daybed beside her was covered in fabrics from the capital's Shixing brand, worth a considerable sum. The furnishings were similar to those in the Plum Blossom Garden, but even more opulent, clearly designed to please her.

She returned to Kyoto, a city she loathed, a place rife with power struggles. Fortunately, there were a few things in this city that could offer her solace.

After resting for a few days, Su Qingwan went to the trading company to see Manager Xie and resumed management of the company. This was tacitly approved by the Xie family. From now on, Su Qingwan will manage the Kyoto Trading Company in place of Xie Zhaolan. Xie Zhaolan's dowry will also be given to Su Qingwan in full, as a token of the Xie family's goodwill.

After exchanging information about Kyoto with the shopkeepers, she took Qingyun to Nanfenglou for a meal and sent someone to invite Chen Lanzhu. Chen Lanzhu already knew that she was going back to the capital. If her mother hadn't said that Su Qingwan was tired from the journey and needed to rest, she would have visited her long ago.

Chen Lanzhu happily came to see Su Qingwan, "From now on, I'll protect you in the capital, but... do you really want to flaunt this face in public?"