Chapter 161: A Man’s Love is the Most Unreliable
Chapter 161: Chapter 161: A Man’s Love is the Most Unreliable
Liu Rong’s face fell. "Your Highness, has something happened in the Capital City?"
Aside from the Emperor’s death, he couldn’t think of anything else that could shake his master—who had been like a walking corpse—so profoundly.
"Something major has indeed happened, and I must return to the Capital City at once."
Xie Jinbai folded the letter, tucked it safely into his sleeve, and said, "Prepare the horses. I will travel by water and return to the Capital City in secret."
Within moments, he had already formulated a plan.
The journey from Pingzhou to the Capital City was a considerable distance—not too long, but not short either.
Riding at top speed, day and night, the journey would take only four days.
But his body wouldn’t allow it. With his chest wound still unhealed, he couldn’t ride for long periods, let alone travel day and night.
So, he would abandon the land route for the waterways.
Xie Jinbai named a few adjutants to accompany him and said to Liu Rong, "There are still unfinished matters here in Pingzhou. You stay behind and wrap things up."
"Yes!" ’His master is so agitated, yet he refuses to give any details. It must not be a major political affair.’ Liu Rong hesitated for a moment, then reminded him, "Your Highness, there’s another letter here."
This one was the letter handwritten by Li Yong himself.
Xie Jinbai froze.
The monumental good news had nearly drowned his reason. Staring at another letter from the Capital City, he was suddenly afraid of what bad news might be waiting inside.
After a moment’s hesitation, he tore open the envelope and cast his eyes down to read.
This letter was very long.
Xie Jinbai’s gaze fixed on the black characters on the white paper.
’The Princess Consort suddenly awoke at noon on the eleventh day of the tenth month.’
’After waking, she immediately ordered for ink and a brush, personally penning a letter and demanding it be sent to Pingzhou.’
’We tried to persuade the Princess Consort to come herself, but to no avail. Her reason was that she couldn’t rest easy about the Heir’s wife of the Duke Zhao Mansion.’
’The Capital City is rife with hidden turmoil. The Emperor is gravely ill and has suspended court for many days. The Empress and several Princes have been making one suspicious move after another...’
’For the Princess Consort, who has been out of the public eye for three years, to suddenly reappear would surely draw too much attention...’
The letter was succinct, hinting at much more.
But the potential danger practically leaped off the page.
’If she had left the Capital City in disguise and come straight to Pingzhou to find me, no one would have known she was still alive.’
’But to move about the Capital City so openly, letting everyone know she isn’t dead... that makes her too large a target.’
Especially...
’For Chen Minrou’s sake, I’m afraid she’ll leave her residence more than once to visit her.’
’And the danger will only grow.’
Ordinarily, Xie Jinbai would have been fearless. He did not employ useless men, and he trusted Li Yong’s ability to arrange protection.
But now, after the anguish of losing her, the joy of finding her again, and the renewed fear of losing her once more, he simply couldn’t bear the slightest risk.
’As long as she isn’t right here, under my watch, I can’t rest easy for a single moment.’
His warhorse had been brought before him. Xie Jinbai grabbed the reins, vaulted into the saddle, and galloped off.
The adjutants he had called for followed close behind.
Leaving Liu Rong and a few other subordinates behind, watching.
Until the sound of hooves faded into the distance.
Someone couldn’t hold back their curiosity and said, "It’s rare to see His Highness so anxious. I wonder what on earth happened in the Capital City."
’It surely can’t be that the Emperor has passed away.’
’Otherwise, our prince wouldn’t be traveling with such a small, simple retinue.’
’Then what could it be, to make him rush back to the Capital City overnight in such a state?’
As a thought occurred to Liu Rong, his eyes slowly widened.
"...It couldn’t be."
If that was what it was, then it was just too incredible.
So incredible, it defied belief.
...
Since taking the Hundred Diseases Pill that day, Chen Minrou’s health improved day by day.
On the third day, she could get out of bed and walk with support.
On the fifth day, she could move around on her own.
By the seventh day, she was already back to her normal self.
Her energy was visibly recovering, and her pulse grew stronger by the day.
Her once-gaunt cheeks slowly grew plump enough to pinch.
Her pale lips gradually regained their rosy color, and a healthy glow returned to her complexion.
These last two days, she could even pick up her chubby little son and walk around the courtyard.
Zhao Shijie, in contrast, didn’t seem to be recovering nearly as quickly.
His wife had been bedridden with a serious illness for two years, and he had lived in constant fear for just as long.
The feeling of being on the verge of losing her at any moment had left him unable to rest day or night.
When Chen Minrou’s condition worsened to the point that she nearly died, he had endured one sleepless night after another. He never spoke to anyone of the utter exhaustion, despair, and helplessness he felt.
Only his body showed the visible toll, growing more haggard by the day.
Chen Minrou could rely on the Hundred Diseases Pill to restore her vitality, but he could only recover gradually over time.
Not yet thirty years old, the man’s frame was gaunt beneath his cloak.
From a distance, he looked like a chronic invalid kept alive only by medicine.
Any friend who saw him would have praised him for being so deeply devoted.
It was a good thing his wife survived; otherwise, it was feared he might have followed her to the grave.
However, after Chen Minrou’s health gradually improved, the couple’s relationship became increasingly lukewarm.
Cui Lingyao, aside from the couple themselves, was the one who best understood the reasons why.
She looked at her friend opposite her and smiled. "It’s been so many days. Are you two just going to keep up this awkwardness?"
The two of them were in the courtyard, gathered around a small stove to brew tea.
On the table were a few plates of tea cakes, and a pot of hot tea bubbled with a soft gurgle.
The Zhao Family’s eldest grandson of the direct line was a little over a year old and had some real weight to him, like a little stone weight.
He was fair-skinned and adorable, looking just like one of the lucky children from a New Year’s painting.
Cui Lingyao adored him, but he was a bit too heavy for her to hold for long. She set the little one on her lap and picked up a tea cake to amuse him. "You’ve been given a new lease on life, so don’t go back to your old ways. If the resentment in your heart is truly that hard to dispel, don’t wrong yourself by bottling it up. Just divorce him."
Only she would dare to say such words so bluntly.
Chen Minrou rubbed her temples. "It’s not that simple," she said, her voice strained.
’Marriages between the children of great clans are about forging an alliance between two families, not creating enemies.’
’I am the Heir’s Consort of the Duke Mansion, the future Duchess.’
’To get a divorce now... setting aside everything else... my own natal family alone would never agree.’
’Besides, I have two children.’
’If we divorced, I wouldn’t have to return to my parents’ home. I could live by myself with my dowry, shut the doors, and live a quiet life.’
’I would be free, but what about my two children?’
"I’ve thought it through. It’s fine just to make do and live like this," Chen Minrou said. "You’re right. A man’s love is the most unreliable thing there is. I didn’t understand that before, but I see it clearly now."
’Without expectations, there is no disappointment.’
’And without disappointment, one’s emotions remain undisturbed.’
’You won’t have a complete breakdown over a single word from a man.’
’And end up so melancholic that your health suffers.’
Cui Lingyao fell silent.
Her brow twitched, her gaze complex.
"Don’t look at me like that," Chen Minrou laughed. "Which lady of the inner courts in the Capital City doesn’t live like this? Showing mutual respect to one’s husband and raising one’s children—those are the important things."
’Love... it’s too illusory.’
"Enough about me. The same goes for you,"
Chen Minrou collected herself and said seriously, "After the way Xie Jinbai treated you, don’t you dare go soft and make up with him. Always remember, he still has a concubine breathing in his backyard."
"..." Cui Lingyao was rendered speechless.
’My friend is so young, yet she already acts like some enlightened sage who has seen through the mortal world, planning to seal her heart for the rest of her days and never spare a man another glance.’
’And it seemed she wanted to drag me along and cleanse my worldly desires right along with hers.’