Scheming man
Chapter 28
Although Qu Surou and Huan Juntian could fly on their swords and quickly reach the border of the country, the 100,000 soldiers they led did not have this ability.
Huan Juntian, as the commander-in-chief, could not leave the military camp without permission, lest he disrupt the morale of the soldiers. Qu Surou then volunteered to fly to the border of the country on her sword to find out the situation.
The round trip took quite a bit of effort, and it wasn't until the evening of the third day that Qu Surou hurriedly returned and arrived outside Huan Juntian's tent.
Huan Juntian was relieved to see her return safely. "Senior Sister, you've worked hard."
Qu Surou took a sip of tea with a somewhat solemn expression. "I went into the city to take a look and found that the most difficult thing is not to take back your city, but to rescue all those people safely."
Huan Juntian had already considered this problem. Although he and his senior sister could freely enter and leave the fallen city, it was almost impossible to rescue all the prisoners silently.
Because once the Western Night Kingdom discovers their invasion, they will definitely use these prisoners as hostages to threaten them.
Even if he and his senior sister possessed extraordinary abilities, they would not be able to save all the people of Li Kingdom under these circumstances. Inevitably, some of them would still die under the swords of Xiye Kingdom.
Qu Surou was impatient. Seeing Huan Juntian ponder for a moment and then come to a conclusion, she gulped down several cups of tea. "I don't care, you must win big this time, otherwise my bet with your father to annul the engagement will fall through!"
Huan Juntian stroked his chin. "Who told you to make a bet with my father?"
"I don't bet, do you really think I'll marry Jingyi?" Qu Surou got angry at this and put her hands on her hips, saying, "I have to say, you Li people really gossip. That Jingyi only gave me a few storybooks and invited me to see a few excerpts from plays, but in the mouths of you Li people, it's turned into mutual affection and love!"
"Hmph, if that's the case, then I'll be strolling hand-in-hand with you and Pianpian down the street. What, do I have to marry both of you?!"
Huan Juntian wiped the tea foam that Qu Surou had spat out from his face expressionlessly. "It seems that you, Senior Sister, have no romantic feelings for Jingyi."
"What nonsense about romantic love! If I really liked someone, would I need your father to arrange a marriage for me? I would have snatched them back myself long ago!" Qu Surou's tone became somewhat sarcastic as she said this. "I'm not as magnanimous as some people, who not only give up the person they like but also take the initiative to arrange a wedding date for them. They're like saints!"
"With such a broad mind and such a heart, if such a person doesn't ascend to immortality, Master will surely regret it and even give up meat!"
Huan Juntian looked at Qu Surou seriously and said, "Senior Sister, my feelings for Senior Brother are not what you see."
"As long as my senior brother is happy and will live a happy life in the future, I will do anything for him."
Qu Surou had originally planned to provoke Huan Juntian, this taciturn man, but after hearing what he said, she felt both sorry for him and relieved.
The three of them grew up together, and no matter which one of them was, their initial intention was simply to wish the other two well.
"You... I don't even know what to say to you." Qu Surou patted Huan Juntian's shoulder and sighed, "It's nothing serious. No matter what happens, your senior sister will be there for you. Don't worry!"
Huan Juntian's cold face softened slightly. "Alright, Senior Sister."
When Lu Pianpian woke up, several days had passed since Huan Juntian went to war.
He stepped out of his room and found that the Lu residence was being decorated with lanterns and streamers, as if preparing for some happy occasion.
He pulled over a servant from the manor and asked, "What business needs to be done in the manor?"
The servants were surprised instead. "Young master, this is naturally to celebrate your and Princess Changming's wedding."
Lu Pianpian was taken aback. Lu Zhong returned from the palace and, as usual, visited Lu Pianpian, saying, "My child, you're finally much better!"
Lu Zhong dismissed the servants and carefully examined Lu Pianpian's complexion. "How are you feeling? Is there anything else that's bothering you?"
"I'm fine." Lu Pianpian pointed to the red lanterns hanging in the corridor. "Father, I heard from the servants that they're going to hold a wedding for me and my junior sister? What's going on?"
Lu Zhong explained, "A few days ago, His Majesty personally issued an imperial decree, setting the date for your wedding with the princess. You are to be married on the ninth day of the third month, which is half a month from now."
Why would His Majesty suddenly issue such an edict?
Lu Zhong shook his head, "I don't know either... Fortunately, you woke up safely and are unharmed, so your wedding with the princess can still be held as scheduled. However, I'm afraid the eldest prince and the saintess will not be able to attend the ceremony."
Why is that?
If he were to marry his junior sister, besides his father, his senior sister and junior brother would be absolutely indispensable.
"His Highness the Crown Prince led his troops to the border of Li Kingdom a few days ago to attack Xiye Kingdom, accompanied by the Holy Maiden."
Military campaigns?
The two of them went on such a dangerous mission without even informing him.
Lu Pianpian's heart jumped into her throat. She turned and went into the room to pick up her sword, then returned to Lu Zhong. "Father, give me a horse. I want to go after them."
“Well… son, you have no official position or rank, and it would be a crime to join the army without permission,” Lu Zhong said earnestly. “Moreover, your wedding with the princess is imminent. If you go now and fail to return before the wedding, where will His Majesty put his face?”
Lu Pianpian knew that his father was always a bit old-fashioned in these matters, but the safety of his senior and junior brothers was more important to him than anything else, and he could not sit idly by.
"My mind is made up."
Lu Pianpian gripped his sword and strode toward the stables in the backyard. After walking a short distance, a sharp pain suddenly shot through the spot on his chest where his spiritual bone had been pierced, as if a needle were stuck there. The pain forced him to lean against the wall to stand.
The Herbal Elixir could barely save his life; the wounds left by the loss of his Spirit Bone would not heal so easily.
His vision blurred from the pain, and he uncontrollably lurched forward, falling into a slender embrace.
"Senior Brother Pianpian, what's wrong?"
Huan Changming hugged him and asked worriedly. He leaned against Huan Changming's chest for a while before calming down. "Junior sister... I have to go to the border. I'm worried about both senior sister and junior brother."
Lu Pianpian leaned half of her body against Huan Changming's chest. Huan Changming looked down at the top of Lu Pianpian's head, and although his tone was still gentle, there was no smile in his eyes.
"Senior Sister Qu and Senior Brother Huan are not ordinary people. How could a group of ordinary soldiers possibly hurt them? Senior Brother, you don't need to worry."
“But I’m still worried…” Lu Pianpian was stubborn about the safety of Huan Juntian and Qu Surou. “At a time like this, I can’t be away from them.”
A fine layer of cold sweat broke out on his fair forehead from the pain, and Huan Changming gently wiped it away with his sleeve. "Senior brother, you're not feeling well right now, how can I let you go? If you really want to go, wait until you're fully recovered. That way, Uncle Lu and I won't have to worry."
His words were like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing all the thoughts in Lu Pianpian's mind.
Without his spiritual bones, he was no different from an ordinary person, and his injuries had not yet fully healed. If he really went to his senior sister and junior brother's side, he would not only be unable to help them, but they would also notice that he had lost his spiritual bones, and they would worry about him and be distracted by him.
"Senior brother, have you heard that our wedding date has been set?"
Lu Pianpian leaned against the wall and struggled to her feet. She looked at Huan Changming and saw a faint blush on each of his cheeks, like a shy young girl.
"Our wedding date was requested by Senior Brother Huan from His Majesty before he left. Senior Brother Huan is very understanding. He knows that Senior Brother and I..." Huan Changming glanced at Lu Pianpian at this point, his cheeks turned even redder, and his voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Senior Brother and I are of one mind, so we wanted to make Senior Brother and I happy as soon as possible."
"If Senior Brother really disregards his own safety and goes to the border, then what about me?"
If the groom is absent from the wedding day if the wedding date is set by the emperor's decree, the bride will surely become the subject of ridicule throughout the country.
In addition, given his junior sister's special status, if he were to abandon her, he would be pushing her to her death.
Lu Pianpian gazed at the delicate young woman before her, whose beauty was as lovely as a peach blossom, and after a moment, asked softly, "Are you really willing to marry me?"
“My father was only a sixth-rank official, and I was also…” Lu Pianpian paused, the light in her eyes dimming slightly, “You are of noble birth, with a beauty that could topple kingdoms and a gentle nature. But I have neither fame nor official position, I am just an ordinary mortal.”
"Our social statuses are vastly different; we are not a good match at all."
"You really... want to marry me?"
Huan Changming looked back at Lu Pianpian and remained silent for a long time.
Lu Pianpian had said these words before in front of Prince Li. Huan Changming later realized that these words were just an excuse Lu Pianpian used to get him out of prison, but now Lu Pianpian was repeating them in front of him.
What princess status, what golden branch and jade leaf? In this Li Kingdom, Huan Changming is nothing more than a sinner in the cold palace, never to see the light of day, and utterly despised by everyone.
He was a flower that grew from the deepest mud, humble and weak, easily bullied by everyone.
But the person in front of him seemed to truly regard him as a precious and noble person.
This feeling of being cherished and held dear filled Huan Changming's chest with an indescribable emotion.
He had never experienced this unfamiliar feeling before, and unfamiliarity to him meant uncertainty and danger.
He wouldn't put himself in danger. So he subconsciously resisted the emotion and quickly erased it completely.
"Marry me." He gazed at Lu Pianpian with tender affection, his face displaying the smile he had shown countless times—the smile that could make people fall for him and lower their guard. "I don't want to marry anyone but my senior brother."
Lu Pianpian's Adam's apple bobbed, and the stinging pain in her chest was completely overshadowed by the emotions brought about by Huan Changming's words.
He opened his arms and embraced Huan Changming for the first time. "I have a secret I can't tell anyone, a secret that might change your mind about marrying me. Even so, would you still marry me?"
Huan Changming's thoughts shifted slightly, and he hugged Lu Pianpian's waist instead, saying, "No matter what the secret is, my thoughts will not change."
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt Lu Pianpian hug him even tighter, and she whispered in his ear, "I, Lu Shaoyan, will never let you down in this life."
Huan Changming lowered his eyelashes and leaned on Lu Pianpian's shoulder reliantly. "I believe in my senior brother."
A note from the author:
Let's congratulate this couple on their successful pairing.
Chapter 29
The wedding date was set in a hurry, so the embroiderers worked through the night to make the wedding dresses and brought them to the Lu residence for Lu Pianpian and Huan Changming to try on.
Lu Zhong was extremely concerned about their marriage. "My son's wedding dress is a bit too wide at the waist, and the princess's wedding dress has too large sleeves. It will probably be inconvenient for her to perform the ceremony... Also, this embroidery is still unfinished. Please put in more effort to finish it as soon as possible!"
The embroiderer noted down all these details. "Yes, Lord Lu."
Seeing this, Lu Pianpian smiled and turned around, her gaze meeting Huan Changming's in the bronze mirror, who was wearing a red wedding dress and looking at her.
Huan Changming opened her arms, revealing her wedding dress. "Does it look good?"
"nice."
She's already so beautiful without makeup; if she were to wear rouge on her wedding day, I wonder how stunning she would be.
Just imagining it made Lu Pianpian's ears turn red involuntarily.
Huan Changming was also observing Lu Pianpian discreetly. He hadn't looked well lately, and he usually wore white shirts, which made him look like swirling clouds in the sky, as if he would be carried away by the wind and disappear from Huan Changming's sight in the blink of an eye.
Now that she's wearing red, her cheeks finally have a touch of red, and she finally looks a bit more down-to-earth.
Huan Changming turned to Lu Pianpian, reached out and touched her waist, "Senior brother has become too thin lately. If you get any thinner, will you be able to carry Changming in the future?"
Lu Pianpian grabbed his fingers that were wandering around her waist and said shyly, "Of course I can carry you... Father is still here, don't touch me."
Huan Changming obediently withdrew his finger, but his eyes looked somewhat innocent. "I'll listen to my senior brother."
Lu Zhong gave the embroiderer instructions, and seeing the intimate behavior between Lu Pianpian and Huan Changming, it was clear that the two had a very deep relationship.
As an elder, it was inconvenient for him to stay any longer, so he ordered his servants to help the two of them change out of their wedding dresses and instructed them, "In a few days, I will have the guards of the manor escort Her Highness back to the palace. On the day of the wedding, Pianpian will personally go to the palace to bring Her Highness back to the manor."
Since ancient times, it has been customary for the groom to personally go to the bride's home to fetch her back to the groom's residence in order to comply with the proper etiquette for a wedding.