The Wife of a Loyal Servant - Chapter 50

“I have overstepped my bounds. I will say no more than this—please give it careful thought, Commander.” Wan Ping bowed respectfully to him and spoke no further.

Cheng Shaotang’s mind was in utter turmoil, haunted by the sight of bodies lying in pools of blood. He did not know how much time passed before he finally asked in a hoarse voice, “That year in Tongzhou City, when Lord Ren Zhong’s residence burned down and his entire family perished in the flames—did that have anything to do with you?”

Though he said “you,” Wan Ping knew perfectly well that what he was truly asking was whether the matter involved His Highness the Crown Prince. He shook his head and replied, “Ren Zhong’s death was the work of Prince Lu and truly had nothing to do with His Highness the Crown Prince. At the time, Prince Lu believed he had bribed Chief Escort He and that everything was foolproof, so he sent men without hesitation to wipe out Ren Zhong’s entire family to silence them. Who would have thought the matter would still take an unexpected turn in the end?”

Cheng Shaotang could not quite describe what he felt—it was as if he had finally let out a long breath.

So it had all been Prince Lu’s doing after all. The string of calamities that had befallen the escort agency back then had nothing to do with the Crown Prince.

With the mission complete, the group naturally did not linger and immediately set off to return to the capital.

Inside the Crown Prince’s study, Zhao Yun abruptly snapped shut the secret report in his hand and sneered coldly, “That bastard Zhao Fu dares to set his sights on military power, trying to plant his own people in the Ministry of War. He’d better see whether I allow it.”

His advisers all spoke up at once, offering suggestions on how to completely block Prince Lu’s attempt to interfere in the Ministry of War. One spoke after another, each with their own view, and the discussion grew increasingly animated.

Zhao Yun, however, remained silent throughout, allowing them to speak freely. His gaze was dark and unfathomable, betraying nothing of his thoughts. Only when a subordinate came in to report that Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards Cheng Shaotang and Imperial Guard Wan Ping were requesting an audience did he finally utter a single word: “Summon them.”

At that, the advisers rose and withdrew one by one.

When Cheng Shaotang and Wan Ping entered, only Zhao Yun remained in the room.

The two stepped forward to pay their respects. Cheng Shaotang dropped to one knee and said in a deep voice, “This subordinate has come to report.”

“Was the task completed?” Zhao Yun asked calmly, idly stroking the ring on his finger, his tone utterly flat and without discernible emotion.

Cheng Shaotang opened his mouth, but the images of bodies lying in pools of blood surged back before his eyes. For a long moment, he found himself unable to speak.

Seeing this, Wan Ping grew anxious, afraid that Cheng Shaotang might provoke Zhao Yun’s displeasure, and quickly answered in a loud voice, “The mission was completed without failure!”

Zhao Yun’s gaze, however, remained fixed on Cheng Shaotang, sharp and unyielding, as though he intended to miss not a single flicker of expression on his face. “And what is Commander Cheng’s account?” he asked coolly. “Was the mission truly completed? Was even a single survivor left alive?”

Cheng Shaotang drew in a deep breath and repeated hoarsely, “The mission was completed without failure.”

Zhao Yun stared at him for a long while. At last, the corner of his mouth curved slightly, and he said with satisfaction, “Very good. I truly did not misjudge you. You’ve been running about these past days, go back and rest for a few days before returning to duty.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!” Cheng Shaotang and Wan Ping replied in unison, offering their thanks before withdrawing from the residence.

Wan Ping naturally went on to report the details of the mission, from beginning to end, to Chu Liang.

After listening, Chu Liang let out a long sigh. “I understand. It was within expectations. You’ve worked hard, this was handled very well. Go back and rest for a few days before returning.”

Wan Ping acknowledged the order, but after some thought, spoke with lingering concern. “Although Commander Cheng didn’t say anything further that day, I don’t think he necessarily took my words to heart. If that’s the case, one day he’ll end up dragging himself down.”

Chu Liang rubbed his temples. “A person’s nature doesn’t change overnight. His worldview has been deeply ingrained for years. How could it be altered by just a few words? Right now, he’s merely taken a blow, and his thoughts must be in complete disarray. All we can do is wait for him to slowly come to terms with it.”

Such soft-hearted mercy is ill-suited to carrying out official duties, but among brothers, it is precisely what makes one trustworthy beyond doubt. Perhaps that was why he had spared no effort in helping him.

Cheng Shaotang returned home in silence. Pushing the door open, he found the house unnervingly quiet. For reasons he couldn’t name, his chest tightened, and he hastened his steps, searching everywhere. The courtyard, the main hall, the kitchen, the east wing. He looked through them all, yet still found no trace of his wife or child.

His face began to pale, and his hands, clenched tightly into fists, started to tremble uncontrollably.

One by one, the faces of those who had died by his hand flashed through his mind. Without realizing it, his whole body began to shake even more violently.

“X-Xiao Yu!” He finally cried out, his voice carrying a tension and fear that were hard to conceal.

“Why are you shouting so loudly?” When the woman’s lightly chiding voice sounded, his breath caught. He spun around, and upon seeing that familiar face, he could no longer restrain himself, striding forward, he pulled her forcefully into his arms.

“You—” Ling Yu was startled by this rare display of passion. His strong arms wrapped tightly around her waist, squeezing so hard she nearly couldn’t breathe. Then she caught sight of Yang Suwen covering her mouth and snickering, and when she looked down, she met Xiao Shitou’s wide, curious eyes as he gnawed on his finger and blinked at them.

“What are you doing? Let go of me!” Watching Yang Suwen thoughtfully scoop Xiao Shitou up and hurry inside, Ling Yu’s face flushed. She slapped the back of the man who was holding her ever tighter, half embarrassed and half annoyed.

Feeling the familiar softness and warmth in his arms, Cheng Shaotang’s heart, tightened for so long, finally settled. His racing heartbeat gradually slowed, and sensing her struggle, he at last loosened his hold and released her.

“What are you doing? It would be so embarrassing if Suwen saw this. She’ll definitely take the chance to tease me,” Ling Yu complained softly, her pretty face still tinged with red.

“Where could we possibly go?” Ling Yu said irritably. After a brief pause, she asked in puzzlement, “What’s gotten into you? You’re like a block of wood, always so proper and upright in front of others. Something like today, so real and unguarded, is truly a first.”

It took her completely by surprise, and yet she couldn’t quite conceal the small flicker of joy rising in her heart.

Cheng Shaotang stared at her, unmoving. He took in the familiar face before him, flushed like peach blossoms—at once annoyed, pleased, and faintly vexed. For a moment, he felt dazed, and then, quietly, relief washed over him.

Thank goodness. Thank goodness. She’s still here. She’s really still here…

“Where did you go?” Only after a long while did he finally ask, his voice low and hoarse.

“I went with Suwen to Aunt Wang’s place next door. Why do you look so pale? Did things not go smoothly this time?”

“I’m fine. The sun’s strong, let’s go back inside.” Cheng Shaotang shook his head, took her hand, and led her toward the house.

Ling Yu had meant to press him further, but the moment her left hand was wrapped in that warm, steady palm, calloused and familiar, she found herself unable to say another word. She made a half-hearted attempt to pull free, only for his grip to tighten instead.

Something was off. Very off.

That night, as she sat before the bronze mirror applying her face cream, Ling Yu couldn’t help replaying Cheng Shaotang’s string of unusual behaviors from earlier that day. The more she thought about it, the more baffled she felt.

Aside from refusing to let go of her when they first returned, he later kept carrying their son and followed her everywhere without straying even a step. When she went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, he went too, son in arms, his eyes fixed firmly on her. It made Yang Suwen so embarrassed that she set down the vegetables she was washing and openly abandoned the task, taking the chance to slack off.

In the end, that father-and-son pair took over Yang Suwen’s work, “working together” to wash the vegetables clean.

At this moment, Cheng Shaotang stood holding a wooden bucket, pouring water over himself from head to toe. He scrubbed his body fiercely, again and again, as if he wanted to rub an entire layer of skin off, as though doing so might wash away all the blood that clung to him.

Yet no matter how much he washed, the stench of blood seemed to linger in his nostrils. The unwilling eyes of those corpses appeared to be staring straight at him, accusing him of cruelty and bloodshed.

Ling Yu waited inside for a long time without seeing him return. Only then did she realize he had forgotten to bring clean clothes. She picked them up and went to look for him. But the moment she pushed open the door to the washroom, she saw Cheng Shaotang with his back to her, scrubbing himself with such ruthless force that it made her ache just watching.

“What are you doing? Peeling your skin off?” she finally snapped. She set the clean clothes on the rack and urged him, “Don’t wash for so long, your skin will wrinkle.”

After quite a while, she finally heard a low “Mm” from him.

She frowned. That strange feeling in her heart grew heavier, but it wasn’t the time to question him. She could only offer a few more reminders before turning and leaving.

The sound of a door opening and closing rang out, and the woman’s light footsteps gradually faded into the distance. Cheng Shaotang stood stiffly in place. After a long while, he let out a bitter smile.

At this point, even if what lay ahead was a bottomless abyss, he could only steel himself and keep walking. Wan Ping’s words may not have sounded pleasant, but they were the plain truth.

He was not alone. Behind him were his wife and child, his aging mother, and many relatives and friends who cared about him.

If he were to fall…

He rubbed his temples, suddenly stood up, grabbed a clean cotton towel, and wiped the water from his body.

Just as he was about to push the door open and go inside, he heard the voices of his wife and child coming from the room. He stopped in his tracks, listening intently to the gentle, soft exchange within.

“Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Xiao Shitou. Later he grew up. Mm… What does Xiao Shitou want to be when he grows up?”

“Just like Daddy! Giddy up, giddy up—bang bang bang! Look how awesome I am!”

“…Why not be like Mommy, or like Uncle, and earn lots and lots of money?”

“Mm… okay then. I’ll be like Mommy and Uncle too, earn lots and lots of money, and buy lots and lots of yummy food!”

At some point, without even realizing it, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. Just listening to the mother and son’s back-and-forth, he could already picture the helplessness and quiet frustration on his wife’s face.

He had long realized that Ling Yu did not want their son to grow up like him. In the past, he hadn’t taken it seriously, but now, he too hoped that one day his son would walk a path completely different from his own.

A path without killing, without bloodshed, without hatred or revenge.

Ling Yu was awakened by a sudden surge of heat rising within her body. Still groggy, she opened her eyes and realized that at some point her clothes had been half removed, and a pair of large hands were roaming over her.

“Y-you… what if… what if you wake our son…” she panted softly, trying to push the man off her, but her limbs were limp, and she could muster no strength at all.

Cheng Shaotang stopped. Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he suddenly lifted her straight up into his arms. Caught completely off guard, she nearly cried out.

Without a word, Cheng Shaotang carried her into the east wing, which was currently unoccupied. Ling Yu was shocked, embarrassed, and annoyed. “What are you doing? Put me down! What if our son wakes up and can’t find us—”

“He’s almost four years old. He can sleep on his own,” Cheng Shaotang cut her off. He carried her straight to the neatly made bed, turned back to lock the door, and before she could struggle up to escape, he leaned in and pressed her beneath him, sealing her lips without hesitation.

After a long while, soft sobs, half pleased, half aggrieved, echoed through the quiet room.

“W-waahh… are you done yet? I’m exhausted…”

“You bastard, you’re doing it again?! W-waahh… please, let me go, I really can’t anymore…”

“Are you ever going to stop?! What did you take, huh?! You jerk! I hate you—I really hate you…”