The Imperial Guard’s Revenge
Chapter 103 Farewell
When Wang Yanqing heard that Fu Tingzhou had arrived, she stared at her fingers, falling into silence for a long time. Seeing that Wang Yanqing remained motionless, Fei Cui hesitantly asked: “Miss?”
Wang Yanqing let out a quiet sigh. She stood up, and said: “Since the Marquis of Zhenyuan is here, please invite him in.”
Fu Tingzhou entered the courtyard, which was named the Wang residence. He noticed that although it lacked gold and silver embellishments, the stone structures and flowing water were arranged with great care and placed just right. Furthermore, in terms of safety and practicality, it was impeccable, perhaps even better than some grand mansions of officials built at great expense.
It was clear that this residence was constructed thoughtfully.
Fu Tingzhou felt an indescribable sensation in his heart. Lu Heng couldn’t possibly have known that Fu Tingzhou planned to have Fei Cui remind Wang Yanqing on the day of the wedding. If Lu Heng had known in advance, Fei Cui would not have succeeded. This meant that Lu Heng, knowing full well that Wang Yanqing would only stay for three days, still built a residence to perfection.
Coupled with Lu Heng’s acquisition of this property in Wang Yanqing’s name, it seemed that from the very beginning, he intended for this house to be Wang Yanqing’s “family residence” in the capital. Even if it was more in name than real, a woman having a family residence still gave her more confidence.
However, it was unexpected that Lu Heng’s words were prophetic. This house truly became Wang Yanqing’s home.
Fu Tingzhou felt a mix of emotions. He thought that Lu Heng initially wanted to use Wang Yanqing, and later, upon seeing her beauty, he developed feelings and took her as his wife. If Lu Heng were merely infatuated with her beauty, why would he falsely claim that Wang Yanqing was his sister, insisting that she be treated like the daughter of the Lu family? If he pitied Wang Yanqing’s loneliness, why not marry her sooner and take care of her, instead of going through the trouble of “creating” a Wang residence in the capital?
Fu Tingzhou sensed that Lu Heng desired not just to possess Wang Yanqing’s beauty, but also aimed to make her his wife in every psychological and social sense.
The so-called Wang residence was essentially empty. The wives of officials in the capital would surely know this. Yet, by doing so, Lu Heng was signaling to everyone that even without family backing, Wang Yanqing was still his legally wedded wife. If anyone were to embarrass her without a family to stand up for her, then Lu Heng would be the one to intervene. After all, if Wang Yanqing was unhappy, Lu Heng would make sure their entire family felt the same way.
Fu Tingzhou’s mood darkened. He had long anticipated this moment from when he was in Datong. Yet now that he was really going to see her, his steps felt increasingly heavy.
But no matter how slowly he walked, he eventually reached his destination. As Fu Tingzhou entered, he sensed something was off. Wang Yanqing had chosen to receive him in the main hall, the formal area for entertaining. While it wasn’t unreasonable, Fu Tingzhou instinctively felt it was an ominous sign.
Wang Yanqing was seated in a spacious armchair, and upon hearing of Fu Tingzhou’s arrival, stood up and performed a slight bow: “Long live the Marquis of Zhenyuan.”
Seeing her like this, Fu Tingzhou felt a pang in his heart: “Have you become so distant from me now?”
Wang Yanqing pursed her lips and smiled, then replied: “I’m afraid Second Brother will blame me.”
She was referring to the incident during the Southern Patrol when she stabbed Fu Tingzhou. Fu Tingzhou shook his head and lightly dismissed it: “Let’s not talk about the past.”
They exchanged greetings, and a smile erased their past grievances, as if they returned to their former selves. As Fu Tingzhou sat down, he noticed that Wang Yanqing wore a pristine white collared jacket, topped with a white fur-trimmed robe, and a red horse-face skirt that hung naturally on her knees.
The outfit was striking in its simplicity, with the red providing a vivid accent, yet it also appeared very serene. Especially noteworthy were various little embroidered tigers on her skirt, adding a touch of cuteness to Wang Yanqing, who initially seemed aloof and untouched by the world. These little tigers brought a warmth that instantly closed the distance between them.
Since Wang Yanqing had “disappeared,” Fu Tingzhou noticed that she dressed quite plainly. He initially thought Lu Heng was being harsh on her, but later realized it was Wang Yanqing’s preference for such attire.
Although Fu Tingzhou didn’t know much about women’s clothing, he couldn’t help but acknowledge that while Wang Yanqing’s outfits at the Fu family were luxurious, they carried a certain stiffness. It was as if every detail was meticulously crafted, a kind of beauty that, while stunning, was less generous. Now, with fewer colors and a more relaxed posture, she radiated a natural brilliance like an invaluable pearl.
A person’s state could reveal a lot. Fu Tingzhou had previously deceived himself into believing that the Fu family treated Wang Yanqing well, but seeing her current state made him realize just how unhappy she had been while living with them.
Fu Tingzhou sighed inwardly: “Your outfit is uniquely designed and suits you very well.”
Wang Yanqing smiled faintly: “Thank you for your kind words, Second Brother.”
If she remembered correctly, this was the first time Fu Tingzhou had praised her looks. In the past, when he kept her by his side, he viewed her as a possession. She could feel attraction in his gaze, but he had never openly admitted that she was beautiful, this was the only time.
Two years ago, such words would have been enough to make her go to great lengths and dedicate everything to him. But now, upon hearing this, Wang Yanqing only felt calm.
Perhaps after hearing Lu Heng’s constant praise, when faced with another man’s compliments, she no longer felt the urge to reciprocate wholeheartedly.
Fu Tingzhou took out a box and placed it on the table, saying: “This is Fei Cui’s contract of servitude. It was kept in the mansion, but now that she’s with you, you should take care of these.”
Wang Yanqing saw the box but didn’t reach for it. She simply nodded and replied: “Thank you, Second Brother.”
Fu Tingzhou had used the excuse of delivering Fei Cui’s contract to visit, and now found himself at a loss for what to say next. The room fell into silence, and the atmosphere became slightly awkward. After a moment of quiet, Fu Tingzhou finally mustered the courage to speak: “Qing Qing…”
“Second Brother…”
Wang Yanqing spoke at the same time. They both paused in surprise, and Wang Yanqing stepped back, saying: “You go first, Second Brother.”
Fu Tingzhou felt that this matter needed to be resolved sooner or later, so he spoke: “Qing Qing, I let you down, the day you fell off the cliff. I forgot your birthday and forced you to do things you didn’t like. About Hong Wanqing…”
Wang Yanqing abruptly interrupted him: “Second Brother, you said that was in the past. I’ve forgotten it, so let’s not bring it up again.”
Fu Tingzhou looked at her, his gaze silent: “Do you still blame me? Regarding the matter of the engagement, I am sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Wang Yanqing replied, “Although you inherited the marquis title, you are still young and inexperienced. There will inevitably be those outside who do not respect you. The Yongping Marquis Mansion has a reputation but lacks real power, and the Marquis of Wuding has long been away from the front lines. You need someone to help you manage the military, and you also need support in the court to safeguard your position. A marriage is the simplest and most effective way to form an alliance. It benefits all three parties. Your choice is the wisest.”
Fu Tingzhou frowned. Wang Yanqing was still so well-behaved and sensible, but Fu Tingzhou felt something was wrong. He pushed aside his intuition and said: “But in my heart, you alone are my one and only wife.”
Fu Tingzhou gazed deeply at Wang Yanqing, trying to convey the sincerity of his words. However, Wang Yanqing lowered her head, unwilling to meet his gaze: “Second Brother, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time, but I lost my memory and didn’t get the chance. Since we’re together today, let’s discuss it.”
A chill ran through Fu Tingzhou, and an ominous premonition arose within him: “Qing Qing…”
Ignoring the plea in his voice, Wang Yanqing kept her eyes downcast and firmly expressed what she should have told him two years, one month, and eleven days ago: “I’ve been away from home for many years and have forgotten what my hometown looks like. I want to go back and see it. I want to thank the old marquis and you for taking care of me all these years.”
Fu Tingzhou felt his blood run cold: “Are you really going to leave?”
“Yes.” Wang Yanqing said, “I’m thankful to Chief Commander Lu for understanding and allowing me to recover here. But once the situation stabilizes, I still intend to leave.”
The very thing Fu Tingzhou had been most unwilling to believe had come true. She really intended to leave two years ago when she packed her documents. Even without Lu Heng’s interference, he and her could never reach a happy ending.
Fu Tingzhou asked: “What about our engagement?”
Wang Yanqing noticed that Fu Tingzhou didn’t try to avoid the issue. The main hall’s doors and windows were wide open, with attendants standing around, exuding an air of polite hospitality and clear conscience. The maids nearby, even though Master Lu had instructed them to remain silent and only listen to the mistress, couldn’t help but show expressions of indignation upon hearing Fu Tingzhou’s words.
An engagement? The lady was already married, and the Marquis of Zhenyuan had given her away. What engagement were they talking about?
Wang Yanqing merely smiled and said: “Second Brother, that was just a joke from the old marquis many years ago. We have no engagement.”
Fu Tingzhou completely froze, his heart turning cold so he could hardly feel it beating: “Is it because of the Hong family? I’ve been preparing for this. My marriage to her was a scheme from the beginning. Now that I’ve achieved military merit, I can speak to the emperor, perhaps he could rescind the command…”
Before Fu Tingzhou could finish, he was interrupted by Wang Yanqing. Finally lifting her gaze, her eyes quietly fixed on him: “Second Brother, think carefully before you act. A ruler’s words are not to be taken lightly. Do not speak of such things again.”
“Are you still blaming me?”
“No.” Wang Yanqing’s eyes were clear, like ice-immersed jade, reflecting all the world’s ugliness within them, “Steering a family is no easy task. Everything you do, Second Brother, is for the sake of the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion, and I understand that. Miss Hong comes from a noble family, and her interests align with yours. She has deep feelings for you, and it is a great joy for you to marry her. I’ve heard that next month is your big day. Miss Hong has waited for you a long time, and now you two will finally be united, which is a good thing. I will be leaving the capital soon, so I may not be able to attend your wedding. Therefore, I’d like to congratulate you in advance, wishing you both a long life together and an abundance of children.”
Earlier, Wang Yanqing had her head down, and Fu Tingzhou thought she was unhappy, perhaps sulking at him for some reason. But now that she looked up, calmly laying all her emotions bare, Fu Tingzhou realized that she wasn’t sad or reluctant at all.
This realization pierced him deeply.
Fu Tingzhou always believed in maintaining dignity in any situation. Once the other party expressed rejection, he thought it essential not to cling on or dig deeper. Even if it meant walking away, he would leave with dignity. But now he understood that the entanglements, the tears, and the dramatic displays he despised weren’t always deliberate. Sometimes they arose from a profound fear of losing something irreplaceable.
His eyes unwittingly turned red as he fixed his gaze on her and asked: “Was it also a lie when you said you wanted to marry me on your tenth birthday?”
At that time, Fu Yue was still alive. During Wang Yanqing’s birthday celebration at the Marquis Mansion, someone had teasingly asked her what kind of husband she wanted in the future. Back then, she was naive about such matters and felt that her second brother treated her well, so she replied that she wanted to marry someone like him.
The room erupted in laughter, and afterward, it was forgotten. However, Fu Yue took it to heart and, from them, genuinely began to consider matching Wang Yanqing with Fu Tingzhou.
This happened many years ago, and Wang Yanqing thought the embarrassing incident was only remembered by her and the old marquis. She never expected that Fu Tingzhou would remember it too.
As she recalled those years, she turned her face away, fighting back tears. After a pause, she finally said coldly and decisively: “I said that when I was a child. I was naive back then. Now, we have both grown up.”
In childhood, there were no complicated compromises, likes and dislikes were the most important things. Now that they had both grown up, they had become more cautious and worldly, and liking someone became the last consideration. Naturally, the promises made in youth no longer held any weight.
In the end, Fu Tingzhou didn’t respond and left silently. After he walked away, Wang Yanqing’s good mood for the afternoon was completely gone. The maids came in one after another to change the tea. When Wang Yanqing saw Fei Cui quietly and diligently tidying up the teacups, she felt a flicker of emotion but ultimately chose not to speak.
Fei Cui urged her to go out for a stroll in the morning, and after she refused, Fu Tingzhou had come by in the afternoon. If Wang Yanqing had taken Fei Cui’s advice and gone out, would she have “coincidentally” run into Fu Tingzhou on the way?
He could have found a reliable place to talk to her, without worrying that Lu Heng would overhear. If Wang Yanqing had shown any signs of softening, he could have used the opportunity to take her away.
Wang Yanqing didn’t want to think along those lines about her childhood companion of ten years, but perhaps it was true that she needed to consider Fei Cui’s future.
The Fu family was Jade’s source of livelihood, her loyalty was her entire belief. Wang Yanqing understood that Fei Cui was thinking of her family, just as she understood Fu Tingzhou’s choice of a marriage more beneficial to his career.
However, Wang Yanqing could no longer pretend that nothing had happened and continue to get along with them happily.
Fei Cui was older than her, at the age for marriage, and Fu Tingzhou already delivered her servitude contract. Before Wang Yanqing would leave the capital, she would complete the formalities for her release, providing a dowry so she could marry freely. She considered it a fulfillment of their ten years of friendship.
·
At the Lu Mansion, Lu Heng had just returned from = South Fusi. A servant followed closely behind him and said: “My lord, today the Marquis of Zhenyuan went to see Madam.”
Lu Heng had spent the whole day searching for assassins and was originally very fatigued. When he heard this, he instantly regained his energy, and his weariness vanished: “When did this happen?”
“This afternoon.”
Lu Heng felt a surge of anger but reminded himself to stay calm. In times like this, it was crucial to maintain his composure. In the final elimination stages, it wasn’t always about who performed better, but rather who made fewer mistakes.
Wang Yanqing was already dissatisfied with being manipulated. Her experiences with the Fu family and her amnesia had left her feeling insecure, making her particularly averse to being controlled or used. Wang Yanqing was angry with Lu Heng not because he caused her amnesia, but because he had lied to her.
For two years.
Lu Heng felt guilty and had no words to defend himself. At this stage, what Wang Yanqing needed most was respect and the chance to rebuild her confidence in controlling her own destiny, rather than having decisions made for her under the guise of concern.
When Wang Yanqing went to bed without eating yesterday, Lu Heng had felt anxious but held back. His years in politics had not been in vain. He successfully anticipated Wang Yanqing’s state of mind and avoided a potentially fatal misstep.
If he had shown yesterday that he was fully aware of her struggles, he would have lost her completely — eventhough Lu Heng did know.
Although Lu Heng knew her inner turmoil, if he casually intervened in her life, coaxed others to speak well of him, and relentlessly pursued her, it would not have been an apology but a form of coercion.
Since she doubted his intentions, Lu Heng decided to give her space, allowing her to believe that he liked her as a person, and then she could decide whether to accept that. But he couldn’t let her think entirely on her own. If she calmed down and still believed they should part ways, it would drive Lu Heng to madness.
He had been worried about how to prevent Wang Yanqing from leaving, considering the city’s closure would not last long enough. Unexpectedly, Fu Tingzhou had come forward to initiate his own end. It was only in comparison to Fu Tingzhou that Wang Yanqing could truly realize Lu Heng’s respect and care for her.
Although Lu Heng knew this was a good thing, he couldn’t help but feel furious.
A servant cautiously observed Lu Heng’s expression and asked: “My lord, we have the conversation recorded from this afternoon. Would you like to see it?”
“I don’t want to see it.” Lu Heng’s anger flared at the mention of Fu Tingzhou. With a cold face, he gritted his teeth and ordered, “Throw it out. Burn it.”
“Yes.”
Lu Heng returned to his room. The furnishings were as usual, however, there was no longer anyone waiting for him by the bedside. He paced around the room, the bright red decorations stinging his eyes, but he wouldn’t allow the servants to remove the red silk. After sulking for a while, he finally called for a servant with resignation: “Bring me that conversation from earlier.”
The servant was taken aback, panic instantly written on his face: “My lord, I followed your orders and burned it already.”
Lu Heng was known for his efficiency. Once he ordered something to be burned, his subordinates dared not delay and immediately set it on fire, not even leaving behind any scraps. Lu Heng never reversed an order after it was given, the servant was completely bewildered.
Lu Heng let out a cold laugh, devoid of warmth: “Then make another copy.”