NOVEL NEXT Another month had passed, and the date of the engagement ceremony was approaching quickly and quietly. Leng Yuhe’s attitude towards Su Ruoqing did not change much, but he was more tolerant to her in life, giving her space for her activities.
It had been a long time since she had seen Ming Zhu last time, and Su Ruoqing cherished this only good friend. Now that Leng Yuhe allowed her to go out, the only person she wanted to see most was Ming Zhu.
“Ming Zhu, it’s me.”
“Ruoqing, why haven’t you contacted me for so long? I’m so worried about you!”
“There were some accidents before, so… are you available? Let’s talk about it when we meet.”
“Okay, then let’s meet at the same place.”
Hearing Ming Zhu’s voice, Su Ruoqing was in a good mood and left for the Mirror Lake.
Since her childhood, every time she was bullied in the Su Family, she would run to the Mirror Lake and cry secretly alone. Until she met Ming Zhu, she didn’t know what it was like to have someone with her. The Mirror Lake was the best witness of their friendship.
Because of the impending engagement, all people in Leng Yuhe’s house respected Su Ruoqing, and no one stopped her when she went out. Although she knew in her heart that Leng Yuhe would send someone to follow her, she didn’t bother to care.
Soon, Su Ruoqing saw Ming Zhu by the Mirror Lake.
“Ruoqing!”
Ming Zhu, wearing a western-style dress with bubble sleeves, ran cheerfully towards Su Ruoqing.
“Ruoqing, I miss you so much.” Ming Zhu pressed Su Ruoqing’s shoulder and circled around her. “How are you? Your are all right? My brother said that you were hurt and it really scared me, but I can’t contact you since you are in Leng Yuhe’s house…”
“Silly girl, I am fine since long ago, but Leng Yu… It’s just that it was not convenient to come out.”
Ming Zhu rolled her eyes doubtfully. “Ruoqing, why are you getting engaged to someone else suddenly? Weren’t you engaged with with my brother?”
Unexpectedly, Ming Zhu was unaware of all this, so Su Ruoqing pulled her to sit down. “This is a long story.”
Su Ruoqing told Ming Zhu about all the bitterness and grievance, as well as her own pain and sorrow these days.
After a long time, the eyes of Ming Zhu, who heard everything were full of tears. “They have gone too far. How can they treat you like this? My brother has kept it from me for so long.”
“It’s okay, Ming Zhu. Leng Yuhe is nice to me now. Let’s take one step at a time in the future.” Ming Zhu was simple-minded, so Su Ruoqing couldn’t bear to tell her about her calculations inside, but just comforted her in a low voice.
“But do you like Leng Yuhe? When I was studying in Country Y, the couples around me fell in love freely. Only the marriage with love can make you happy.”
Su Ruoqing smiled bitterly. “Although we are not in love freely, he is handsome and powerful, a wonderful choice.”
The two friends chatted for a long time before they got separated unwillingly.
When Su Ruoqing returned home, Leng Yuhe sat straight in the main hall and nobody knew how long he had waited.
“I…”
“No need to explain. I know where you went.” Leng Yuhe always looked calm and confident to win, so Su Ruoqing couldn’t see through him.
“Have you had dinner yet?”
Su Ruoqing shook her head, as she chatted happily with Ming Zhu and had forgotten about the meal.
Leng Yuhe reached out his hand. “Come here and I’ll take you to dinner. After eating, we have other plans.”
“Okay.” Su Ruoqing obediently held his hand and followed him to the dining table. They had dinner quietly, and Leng Yuhe seemed to have something on his mind. Su Ruoqing glanced at him a few times, and then she didn’t dare to look at him again.
After dinner, Leng Yuhe finally said, “Go upstairs to change into some simple but elegant clothes and wash up. I’ll take you somewhere.”
Although she didn’t know what Leng Yuhe planned to do, Su Ruoqing did as he said.
The car ran for a long time on the road and finally stopped in front of a mansion. Leng Yuhe didn’t say anything and pulled Su Ruoqing out of the car before entering the gate.
“Young General, good evening.”
The guards at the gate were neat and well-trained.
Walking into the mansion, Su Ruoqing looked around, wondering where it was. Perhaps Leng Yuhe saw her face full of questions, so he then slowed down. “Don’t be afraid. I just brought you to see my family.”
The main hall was empty, and there was a family photo in the middle on the wall. Was it…
“Governor, Young Master, Young General has come.”
Sure enough, this was the residence of Leng Yuhe’s father. He wanted Su Ruoqing to see his father today, and she was a little nervous.
“Hem, let them in.”
As they came into the study, Su Ruoqing saw two people, one old weak man who must be Leng Yuhe’s father, and the other appeared to be the young master Leng Yulin, who had just returned from studying abroad.
Although the old man looked weak, his eyes were still sharp, which made Su Ruoqing more nervous.
“Don’t be afraid, child. Soon you will be a member of our family. Don’t be nervous. That’s your big brother.” Leng Yuhe’s father smiled at Su Ruoqing and softened his tone.
“Yes.”
Looking at Su Ruoqing who was like a little frightened animal, Leng Yuhe couldn’t help but laugh and then explained for her, “Father, I came here to inform you personally that we are about to get engaged. The date of the engagement ceremony is set, on the fifth day of lunar October.”
“I see. It’s late now. Go back to rest.”
The father looked very tired and replied indifferently.
“Father, I’ll see them off,” Leng Yulin, who stood by the side, duly offered.
Leng Yulin walked with them out of the mansion. “You came at the perfect time on purpose.” Leng Yulin’s voice was very pleasant to hear, seemingly more indifferent than Leng Yuhe’s, so Su Ruoqing couldn’t help but look at him a few more times.
“Of course, I try my best to avoid seeing your mother. If you hadn’t advised me to personally inform Father last time, perhaps I wouldn’t have come today.”
Leng Yulin smiled and didn’t answer. Then he looked at Su Ruoqing. “Sister, Yuhe’s temper makes you tired.”
“No. Yuhe is very good,” Su Ruoqing responded nicely.
Leng Yuhe held Su Ruoqing’s shoulder and said, “Stop talking nonsense. Goodbye, big brother.”
After getting into the car, Leng Yuhe seemed to be in a better mood and didn’t loosen his grip on Su Ruoqing’s shoulder.
“It’s still early. Do you want to go home or go somewhere with me?”
He was asking for her opinion?
As this was the first time that Leng Yuhe had not spoken to her in a commanding tone, Su Ruoqing wasn’t even used to it. Then she blinked at him. “Up to you.”
Leng Yuhe patted her on the head and ordered the driver, “Go to the assembly hall.”
The assembly hall? Was Leng Yuhe taking her to see the hall where the engagement ceremony would be held? Had he prepared everything?
She was full of doubts while the car slowly stopped in front of the assembly hall.
“Let’s go. Come and see.”
After he pushed the hall door open and pressed the light switch, the entire hall was shining instantly and dazzled Su Ruoqing.
“How about it? Are you satisfied?”
“It’s so beautiful!”
Crystal lamps, goblets, lace carpets.. all of these were matched with Su Ruoqing’s fantasy of marriage.
“By the day of the engagement ceremony, this hall will be more beautiful than it is now. It’s all for you.” The sudden words made Su Ruoqing unable to resist. Was Leng Yuhe expressing his love?
No way. He must be just teasing his pet… Thinking of this, Su Ruoqing calmed down as soon as she was moved.
After they stood for a while, Su Ruoqing felt a little cold and folded her arms across her chest.
Leng Yuhe took off his coat, putting it on her. “Go home.”
In the military governor’s mansion.
“Father, in fact, it’s hard for Yuhe to make it. So many years…”
“Alright, no more words. Help me to rest.” Military Governor Leng was the absolute authority of this family, and Leng Yulin dared not speak more but silently helped him go back to his room to rest.
In order to ease the relationship between Leng Yuhe and his father, Leng Yulin made a lot of efforts, but the two never made peace. Leng Yulin’s mother fought for him, but never thought that what he wanted was not power and wealth, or else he would not have gone abroad to study in order to avoid those, but now he had returned and still couldn’t escape from it…
When the couple returned to their house, the butler hurriedly greeted Leng Yuhe, “General, there was a call from the army.”
“Okay, take Miss Su upstairs to rest.”
Leng Yuhe frowned and made a phone call. “What’s wrong…”
The call went on for a long time, and Su Ruoqing heard the sound of the bedroom door while she was half asleep. Rubbing her eyes, she saw that Leng Yuhe was changing into a military uniform and prepared to leave.
“Where are you going?”
“I have to something urgent to attend to. Go back to sleep. Be good.” A kiss fell on Su Ruoqing’s forehead before Leng Yuhe strode out.
Su Ruoqing lost all sleep. These days she had been used to sleeping in Leng Yuhe’s arms every night, but now suddenly nobody was beside her and she seemingly felt extremely cold. Thinking about Leng Yuhe’s frown, Su Ruoqing was a little soft-hearted.
Now it was so late at night, but Leng Yuhe still had to go out to deal with the military affairs, so he must be very tired for so many years. She could see that the relationship between Leng Yuhe and the military governor was not good. How much effort should be devoted to get the position of the young commander?
A lot had happened today, and her feelings for Leng Yuhe became more complicated, as he was irresistible and unacceptable. At this thought, she couldn’t sleep all night…
In the army.
“General, the killers of the last assassination have been identified. They are assassins and spies sent from Province S. They should belong to the same faction as the assassins before.”
Leng Yuhe knew that he had encountered several assassinations, some of which must be related to his father’s first concubine, but he wouldn’t tell anyone about them.
“Have you figured out why they tried to stab me in the back?”
“General, because we didn’t catch anybody alive, and there are insufficient clues, we can’t determine the cause of their assassinations so far.”
Looking at the unfolded large military map in front of him, Leng Yuhe thought silently and then said, “Their assassinations should not be directed at me alone. I think that Province S may be plotting a bigger conspiracy. Just continue to investigate in this direction.”
“Yes, Sir.”
When Leng Yuhe came back home, it was almost dawn. He was exhausted as he had been handling business all night, and black beards appeared on his delicate chin.
He gently pushed the bedroom door open, but found Su Ruoqing awake. “Why didn’t you sleep? Did I wake you up?”
“No. I’m waiting for you.”
This sentence was short but struck Leng Yuhe’s heart. She was waiting for him? Since his mother died, he had never had the feeling of being waited for. No matter what he did, he was always alone, and Su Ruoqing’s arrival had indeed changed his life.
Lying in bed and tightly hugging Su Ruoqing, Leng Yuhe felt unusually warm.
“You must rest well and keep your spirits up. Our engagement ceremony is just around the corner.”