The Wife of a Loyal Servant - Chapter 19

“That’s true, but you don’t know,” Madam Zhou sighed. “Back when we were talking about adoption, that child stayed in our home for a while. Your father spent a great deal of effort on him, and now that they’ve suddenly gone back on their word—he may not say it aloud, but I can see he’s really hurting.”

“It’s better to suffer now than later. That’s just Father’s temper—give him a few days, and he’ll come around,” Ling Yu replied indifferently.

Madam Zhou poked her on the forehead in exasperation. “You two, father and daughter—you really leave people speechless. Both of you are so stubborn!”

Ling Yu rested against her mother’s shoulder, arms around her waist. “Father must have accumulated blessings for several lifetimes to marry you.”

It wasn’t flattery but a belief she held sincerely.

Her mother was gentle and agreeable, beautiful in her youth, and capable in every aspect of work inside and outside the house. Her stiff, old-fashioned father, on the other hand, was foul-tempered, rigid, and domineering. Aside from writing a few characters and reciting a few poems, he was useless. At home, he acted like a grand lord—just short of expecting food to be fed into his mouth and clothes handed to him.

“If anything, it’s me who must’ve accumulated good karma over lifetimes to end up married to your father,” Madam Zhou said with a laugh, shaking her head.

Well, those two, one stubborn as a mule, the other matching right back. There’s no point in worrying herself sick over them.

“Is Shaotang really alright? He’ll be back soon?” she asked after a moment, still uneasy.

“Don’t worry, Mother. He’ll be home soon,” Ling Yu lied smoothly.

That reassured Madam Zhou, and she smiled. “I knew he was someone with great fortune. Before you two got married, I even had someone read his fate—said he was destined for good luck.”

“Who did you ask, Mother?” Ling Yu asked.

“Sai Banxian from town. Why? You thinking of getting yours read too?”

Ling Yu only smiled, saying nothing. Get my fortune told by him? Not smashing his stall is already my charitable deed for the day. A ‘blessed man,’ huh!

Madam Zhou stayed less than a shichen before leaving. Ling Yu carried Xiao Shitou to the village entrance and watched her mother’s figure grow smaller and smaller, shrinking into a dark speck on the path. Only then did she take her son’s hand and start home.

“Mommy! Horsey!” Xiao Shitou cried excitedly when a carriage raced past them, pointing at the galloping steed.

“Oh, Xiao Shitou is so clever—he recognized that it’s a horse,” Ling Yu said with a smile, gently pinching his rosy little cheeks as she admired his crescent-shaped eyes and bright grin.

“Daddy!” the little boy called in his high, childish voice.

Ling Yu’s smile froze for a moment. She bent down and lifted him into her arms. “Your daddy will definitely be fine this time. He still wants to watch you grow up, get married, and have children with me!”

Xiao Shitou didn’t understand the whirlwind of emotions in his mother’s heart. He just clung to her neck, calling “Daddy” again and again in the clearest, happiest voice.

“Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law! Big Brother’s back! Big Brother’s back!!” Suddenly, Cheng Shaoan came running toward them, shouting excitedly as he ran.

Ling Yu paused, eyes wide in disbelief.

Though she had always told Madam Zhou and Madam Wang with unwavering certainty that Cheng Shaotang would return safely, after repeating it so many times, she had begun to wonder whether she was comforting them or herself.

“Daddy!” Xiao Shitou clapped his hands in delight.

“Sister-in-law! Big Brother’s back! Big Brother is back safe and sound!” Within moments, Cheng Shaoan reached them, rubbing his hands in excitement, his voice trembling with emotion.

“Really?” Ling Yu asked, stunned.

She’d only been gone a short while, and Cheng Shaotang was already back?

“Really! I’m not lying. Just now, Chief Escort Wu personally brought him back. Sister-in-law, hurry home—he is waiting for you!” Cheng Shaoan hurriedly explained, seeing her disbelief.

When he even mentioned Chief Escort Wu, Ling Yu finally believed it. Overjoyed, she immediately handed her son to him. “Hold him for me!”

Grabbing the hem of her skirt, she dashed home like the wind, with Cheng Shaoan and Xiao Shitou trailing behind, crying out in unison.

With a bang, she shoved open the door—and there he was: Cheng Shaotang, face injured but alive.

“You…” The one she had worried about for days had finally returned safely. Her throat felt blocked, and she could only squeeze out that single word.

“Xiao Yu, I’m back. I’m sorry for making you worry!” Cheng Shaotang’s eyes softened, and his voice was deeper than before.

Ling Yu bit her lip hard, struggling to contain her excitement. Taking a deep breath, she strode forward, whoosh! Lifting the thin blanket that covered him. Beneath it, his body wrapped in layer upon layer of white cloth, was revealed.

She gasped, her face paling slightly.

Such injuries… could there be any part of his body untouched? How much suffering he must have endured!

“You…you don’t need to worry. It looks worse than it is—all superficial wounds. Chief Escort Wu has already had a doctor examine me and apply medicine. I should heal soon,” Cheng Shaotang said awkwardly, snatching the thin blanket back to cover himself.

“Those damned beasts!” Ling Yu ground her teeth, speaking with hatred. This was practically beating someone to death!

“It’s all in the past now. This time, we owe everything to Chief Escort Wu. If it weren’t for him running around on our behalf, we brothers would probably have lost our lives in prison,” Cheng Shaotang said, relief evident in his voice.

Ling Yu forced down her anger. At that moment, she realized that besides the couple, Madam Wang and Wu Liren were also present. Feeling slightly embarrassed, she cleared her throat and offered a graceful bow to Wu Liren. “Thank you so much, Chief Escort. Your great kindness will always remain in our hearts!”

“Sister-in-law, there’s no need for such formalities. At this point, it’s almost too polite,” Wu Liren said, laughing heartily.

His brothers being alive was a fortune amidst misfortune, and he was genuinely happy.

Madam Wang wiped away her tears and said gratefully, “No matter what, this is a debt of gratitude we will never forget in our lives!”

Wu Liren returned the courtesy with a modest bow.

Ling Yu wanted to carefully examine Cheng Shaotang’s injuries, but it was inconvenient at the moment. She and Madam Wang quietly stepped out, leaving the two men inside to talk.

“I haven’t had a chance to ask Chief Escort Wu before, but this time… which noble did our brothers offend? And which noble intervened to save their lives?” Cheng Shaotang asked softly.

Wu Liren’s expression grew solemn. After a pause, he sighed deeply. “You’ve always been steadier and more meticulous than they are, so I won’t hide it from you. This time, you didn’t offend any powerful person. You were simply caught up in the imperial family’s conflict, which led to this disaster.”

Cheng Shaotang’s suspicions were confirmed, and his expression changed slightly.

They were just ordinary people, working each day tirelessly to put food on the table. The affairs of the imperial family were so distant to them, matters that only appeared in plays. They never imagined they would be drawn into it themselves.

This time, it had truly been a narrow escape from death.

“…As for who saved you, it was His Highness Prince Qi!”

Cheng Shaotang was silent for a long moment before speaking in a low voice. “Three days before our release, several mysterious figures dressed in black brocade robes, carrying official tokens, suddenly appeared in the prison. They clashed with those who were to execute us. It was obvious these two groups belonged to separate factions.”

“Since Prince Qi saved us, it’s clear he doesn’t belong to either faction. So why would he risk offending the other two factions to save us?”

Would the favor of the imperial family be so easily granted?

Wu Liren shook his head, lowering his voice. “This was all thanks to Mr. Yan Li, Prince Qi’s advisor. It was his persuasion that prompted Prince Qi to intervene in this matter. Don’t overthink it. The imperial family has everything they could want; do you really think they expect repayment from ordinary people like us?”

Cheng Shaotang was silent again for a while. Then, he nodded slightly. “You’re right.”

***

For Prince Qi, Zhao Yi, having already left the capital, that nest of intrigue, he was unwilling to intervene in the matters between the Crown Prince and Prince Lu. However, Yan Li had a different view.

“Your Highness surely knows that among the bandits on Chichuan Road who fought with those escorts were some of Prince Lu’s men. Hence, Prince Lu knows the escorts probably knew nothing. But given his nature, he always prefers punishing innocents to letting the guilty escape. That’s why he forced Guo Qi to imprison them all.”

“Now they’ve used every form of torture, yet haven’t obtained a single useful word. This proves the escorts’ innocence. Moreover, even if they did know something, what loss would it be for Prince Lu? It might even work in his favor. So, if Your Highness wishes to protect them, Prince Lu will not stand in your way.”

“Furthermore, Your Highness is new here and lacks trustworthy, capable people. I also know Wu Liren somewhat; in the martial world, people prize loyalty and righteousness above all. If you save them now, it will be a life-saving favor, and you will naturally earn their loyal following.”

Zhao Yi frowned in thought. “What you say is true, sir. But the Crown Prince… as you know, he has already sent men to the county office to seize them. Prince Lu may spare them, but the Crown Prince will certainly have them killed!”

Yan Li smiled slightly. “If Prince Lu can release them, the Crown Prince’s fear of the escorts will naturally lessen. If anyone else tried to vouch for them, the Crown Prince would never allow it—except for Your Highness.”

Zhao Yi’s expression stiffened, then he sneered, “You’re right, sir.”

As far as the Crown Prince Zhao Yun was concerned, all his brothers could compete for that position—except Zhao Yi.