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

Chapter 363 Flaws
Lu Jing got up before dawn to wash and dress, intending to leave quietly. Su Qingwan was someone who could withstand separation, but after becoming pregnant, she had become somewhat sentimental. The night before their departure, his reluctance and longing were palpable. Lu Jing felt sorry for her and, fearing she would be heartbroken, decided to leave quietly.

Su Qingwan was a light sleeper; when he woke up, she woke up too.

The Imperial Guards were already waiting outside. Lu Jing, after getting ready, was about to leave when he noticed Su Qingwan had woken up. He sighed softly, turned to lie on his side, and gently held her in his arms. A strange feeling welled up inside her. Su Qingwan turned around, buried her face in his chest, and whispered, "You must come back soon."

Parting is inevitable after a thousand miles of farewells. She didn't want to be too sad. Separation and death were the most common things in her twenty-one years of life, and she had long been used to them.

She suffered the massacre of her entire family when she was seven, and left the southwest to travel all over the country when she was thirteen. She had never had such attachment to anyone.

Lu Jing felt a pang of sorrow and gently stroked her swollen belly.

The imperial physician said that Xiao Wu was most likely carrying a son.

The night before, the baby kicked Xiao Wu, the first fetal movement, which surprised both of them. The baby seemed to know that its father was going on a long journey and playfully greeted him, but poor Su Qingwan was suffering.

For both of them, this was the first time they had experienced the joy of a new life about to be born.

Lu Jing was not immune to romantic feelings.

I want to take her with me.

Let's go to Huainan together.

But the journey is long, and if she encounters danger during childbirth on the way, it will be a lifelong pain for him.

"Xiao Wu, wait for me to come back!" He kissed Su Qingwan deeply and pulled the blanket up for her. "Sleep well."

He hardened his heart, pushed open the door and went out. Su Qingwan originally didn't want to see him off, but she couldn't help but get up, put on her cloak, and chased after him out the door.

She only caught a glimpse of his nimble back as he mounted his horse, and then the large group departed under the stars and moon. Su Qingwan stood at the door, her eyes slightly red.

Why was she so reluctant to part with it?

Knowing full well that it was a routine official trip and that Xilin needed Lu Jing to go in person, she accepted it in her heart, so why was she so sad?

She became a stranger.

Qingyun said, "Miss, it's cold and windy, let's go inside."

The night wind was still chilly, penetrating to the bone. Qingyun was afraid she would catch a cold. Lu Jing had already gone far away, and it was still early. Standing outside the door, she might as well take a nap.

Su Qingwan nodded and turned back.

His body heat seemed to still linger in the blankets, and Su Qingwan fell into a deep sleep, clutching the blankets. In the capital city in spring, the weather was warm and flowers were in bloom. The ladies of the powerful and wealthy were keen to hold all kinds of banquets and socialize. Su Qingwan was pregnant and very cautious, avoiding most occasions. Apart from the banquets of the Chen family and the Marquis of Ningyuan family, she politely declined all other banquets.

She looked very healthy during her pregnancy. Although she had been traveling for many years and was thin, she was very healthy. She could even play shuttlecock when she had nothing to do. Zhang was sweating profusely when she saw that she was really idle, so she asked her to advise Lu Yuntang on his marriage.

The Lu family's daughters are either married or engaged, and even the youngest fourth daughter is engaged, but Lu Yuntang's marriage is still undecided.

She should set her wedding date this year and start preparations for it next year.

She was different from the other girls in the Lu family. The other girls were all from the main branch of the Lu family. Although the Lu family did not divide into separate households, the Regent Prince established his own residence, forming his own lineage.

Lu Yuntang is Lu Jing's younger sister, so she has no trouble getting married. Many people who want to curry favor with Lu Jing want to marry Lu Yuntang, and Zhang Shi is overwhelmed with choices.

Before Lu Jing became regent, the Lu family was not of high social standing and had very few connections with powerful figures. Now, however, many noble ladies come to befriend them, but she knows very little about the affairs of the clan and family, so she inevitably sends people to inquire, fearing that the marriage she has chosen for her daughter will be unsuitable. A few days ago, Lu Yuntang attended a banquet and almost fell into the water. Zhang was furious, fearing such a sordid incident. If a young woman falls into the water and is rescued, her reputation will be ruined, which would be truly terrible.

Su Qingwan was pregnant and unaware that Lu Yuntang had been tricked into falling into the water. Fortunately, she was quick-witted and escaped unharmed. Hearing Zhang's worry, she couldn't help but laugh and say, "Mother, why worry? Third Sister can take her time choosing a marriage partner. Ziyu is high-ranking and powerful, so it's inevitable that some people will try to curry favor with him. Why be afraid of a marriage obtained through such despicable means? Our daughter is innocent and pure. How could she be betrothed to someone just because she fell into the water and had physical contact with him? What if that person is a beggar, or already married? If she is really tricked, whoever went into the water to save her can be killed. It's not like my sister will be wronged."

Su Qingwan had a clear mind and didn't care about such reputation. With the alliance between the Eldest Princess and the Regent, there was no one in the entire court that Lu Jing feared.

Those people must have had a death wish to plot against Lu Yuntang.

"That being said, it will always leave room for criticism. Besides, our Lu family's reputation has been bad these past two years... so it's better to avoid trouble. Xiao Wu, you are acquainted with the Marquis of Ningyuan's wife and Madam Chen's family. Help your mother inquire about which family has a good young master who is of good character and of marriageable age. Tang'er's marriage cannot be delayed any longer."

Su Qingwan thought for a moment and realized she really didn't know whose young man was still unmarried. Chen Lanzhu was the one most familiar with this matter.

"Okay, Mother, I'll keep an eye out for you."

Zhang's expectations for her daughter were different from Lin's. She did not require her daughter to marry into a wealthy family. However, nowadays, most of the men seeking marriage were from wealthy families. These families had many rules and regulations, and she knew very little about them behind closed doors. She still needed to learn more about them.

Zhang gave Su Qingwan a list to keep in mind. They were all men who had come to her door to ask for her hand in marriage. Zhang had rejected some of them, but kept a few that seemed decent on the surface. She didn't know their backgrounds.

The next day, Su Qingwan sent invitations to Chen Lanzhu and Lu Yunyan, inviting them to her residence to enjoy the flowers, and gave them the list of names given to her by Zhang Shi.

Chen Lanzhu laughed and pointed at the list, saying, "Not a single one of them is good."

Lu Yunyan smiled subtly. The list left by Zhang contained six people, none of whom were good. Chen Lanzhu said, “This Zhou family’s third son appears refined and honest, but he’s extremely lecherous. He already has four concubines before marriage, and his studies are terrible. This Cai family’s second son is easily influenced and weak-willed. His concubine’s sons are fiercely competitive, causing constant infighting and chaos in the inner quarters. This Ning family’s eldest son is a boorish and fierce man. He had a cousin he loved very much years ago, but she married someone else, and he still can’t forget her. This one, his mother-in-law is domineering and powerful. If your sister’s personality is like that, she’ll be devoured alive. This one… forget about him, he’s a spoiled brat, a womanizer, and of bad character. What kind of people has Madam Lu chosen? None of them are suitable; marrying into such a family would be a living hell.”

Su Qingwan couldn't believe it. Her mother had already screened the samples, so how could it still be this bad?

Lu Yunyan said, "The good young men from prominent families in the capital get engaged very early, usually around fourteen or fifteen years old. Those who are still unmarried today are mostly... flawed."