Favoring a Hidden Mistress? Engagement Broken-Chapter 146 - 116

Take a look.

Does this resemble a newlywed couple with growing estrangement? They are obviously like honey, with feelings deep and genuine.

Xie Wanqing’s days were truly comfortable.

In fact, compared to the time she spent waiting to get married, she now found herself even more free and carefree.

Without a brother to keep watch over her, she had Pei Yuqing who was exceedingly accommodating to her wishes, indulging her whims in Xuanhua Courtyard.

The two shut the door and lived their own lives.

With nothing much to do, they would experiment with cooking.

As the temperature dipped day by day, Pei Yuqing indeed became visibly busier, often receiving letters at night that needed to be perused and directives issued promptly.

Several times, he even hurried to the palace at night to discuss pressing matters with Your Majesty.

His health was already somewhat weaker than others, and such strenuous efforts made him visibly thinner. Seeing this and being free herself, Xie Wanqing began to research soups, frequently preparing nourishing broths to send to the study.

Aside from soups, she also enjoyed experimenting with pastries.

The weather was so cold that, apart from attending a few inescapable banquets, Xie Wanqing mostly stayed indoors at Xuanhua Courtyard, hibernating like a cat.

Without needing to pay her respects morning and evening to the Princess’s mother-in-law, she became increasingly languid, often refusing to get up even when the sun was high in the sky.

In the beginning, Pei Yuqing coaxed her with a gentle voice, but the delicate and charming maiden’s coquettish behaviors melted his heart.

Later, when she refused to sleep at night and couldn’t get up during the day, disrupting normal routines, he began to take it seriously.

Regardless of whether Xie Wanqing agreed or not, Pei Yuqing handed over a few of his private shops, farms, and wineries for her to manage.

Also, two months after their marriage, Princess Duan Yang began slowly granting her daughter-in-law the management rights of the household.

Thus, Xie Wanqing became busy once again.

She started diligently learning how to be a good heir’s wife of the Duke Pei Mansion.

Time went by quickly; every day, she dabbled in cooking, worked on needlework, flipped through account books, and managed household affairs.

She had already learned some of the managing tasks while in the boudoir, under Mrs. Zheng, for several years. Though the Duke Mansion’s personnel was more complex, it only required a little extra effort.

As a wife blessed with personal guidance from her mother-in-law above and the care and understanding of her husband below, Xie Wanqing never had to worry about unobservant servants causing trouble; everything she instructed was executed flawlessly.

The Pei Family itself has been established for a hundred years, with its protocol for both major and minor matters to follow accordingly.

......

That night, at the Wuyuan Marquis Mansion.

Lu Ziyuan stood by the window, with his hand resting on the windowsill, his gaze fixed on the shadowy courtyard, lost in thought.

Ming Feng approached him from behind, presenting a sealed letter with both hands, speaking softly, "Heir, there’s a confidential report from Qingzhou."

Lu Ziyuan turned around, took the letter, and opened it directly.

Whatever was described in the letter, his expression remained unchanged as he handed the letter to Ming Feng, "Prepare a group of men now. Tomorrow morning, after I receive the assignment from Your Majesty, we will set off for Qingzhou in the afternoon."

"Your heart condition..." Ming Feng quickly read through the letter, exclaiming, "It’s just a corruption case. Why must you go personally when I can handle it?"

Lu Ziyuan said, "Do you know the background of Qingzhou Inspector Chen Wen?"

The Inspector is a military and political governor of a state, commanding military power.

If this case involves the Inspector, it’s not a simple matter of arresting someone directly.

Moreover...

"Chen Wen was a scholar from the 13th year of Jianning, a fellow native with Chen Shizhong, and once apprenticed under Chen Shizhong," Lu Ziyuan said. "If he is indeed implicated, it would surely involve the influence of his mentor. If you went, you’d likely end up defeated."

Chen Shizhong was one of the three great elders of the current court; he’s been in office for decades, with students and old acquaintances spread throughout the Great Khan’s domain, and over half the court were his people. His legitimate granddaughter is set to marry the Crown Prince as the main wife early next year.

This is a union that Consort Shufei carefully selected for her son, ensuring it will be the Crown Prince’s greatest support in the future.

In the past life, when Lu Ziyuan ascended the throne and began purging these riffraffs, only then did he realize that the corruption case of disaster relief silver for the Qingzhou City earthquake this year involved Chen Shizhong’s intervention.

Back then, this corruption case was a murky mess, implicating dozens of officials, yet Chen Shizhong calmly remained in the shadows.

Now that this time coincidentally bumps into him, if he doesn’t take down this support, it would be a waste of this second chance.

If Chen Shizhong falls, the Crown Prince’s faction would be like a snake with its seven-inch vital spot severed, unable to make any significant waves.

Ming Feng was about to say more, but Lu Ziyuan raised a hand to interrupt.

His eyes slightly lifted, "Any movement from that side lately?"

The word ’Pei Family’ has become a taboo, usually replaced with ’that side’ in conversations.

Ming Feng internally felt unjust for his master, but dared not speak a word of ill against Xie Wanqing, only responding, "From the gathered information, Miss Xie continues to solely occupy the master bedroom, while that person moved to the study two months ago and hasn’t moved back."

Lu Ziyuan’s eyes lowered, concealing all emotions, and he spoke lightly, "Keep an eye on her. While I’m away from the Capital, if she encounters any danger, use your discretion and protect her at all costs, understood?"

Ming Feng bowed in acknowledgment.

Under normal circumstances, such stern instructions would suffice.

Yet this time, Lu Ziyuan tightened his voice, continued, "Repeat it back."

"..." Ming Feng knelt on one knee, solemnly saying, "If Miss Xie encounters any mishap, I will protect her at all costs."

Lu Ziyuan said, "Should anything happen to her, bring your head to see me."

Ming Feng’s entire body tensed up suddenly.

"Remember this," Lu Ziyuan patted his subordinate’s stiff shoulder, "Without her... your master probably wouldn’t live long either."

Ming Feng was stunned on the spot, his heart nearly stopping.

Among a few confidants, they harbored deep grievances against Xie Wanqing for deserting their master and hastily marrying someone else, despite not saying it out loud.

Particularly as Lu Ziyuan developed a heart disease from the rage, even vomiting blood, making the resentment hard to dissolve.

Even if ordered to protect her secretly, whether they’d willingly do so or let her face danger was a matter known only in their hearts.

"Rise," Lu Ziyuan’s gaze swept over him, "Isn’t it time for Mrs. Liu to give birth?"

Ming Feng stood up as instructed, "The midwife reported a few days ago that it could happen any day now."

Lu Ziyuan nodded, mildly saying, "Once the child is born, there’s no need to wait for my return. Send Mrs. Liu directly to the military camp."

To send a woman to a military camp...

Ming Feng was shocked once more.

Though his master had a predilection for killing, he never extended it to the old, weak, or women. Especially now, sending a woman who just gave birth to an heir into a military camp.

This showed hatred to an extreme degree.