Those ice-cold snake-like hands – she screamed and struggled in terror. The voice behind her sighed: “Madam, don’t cry out. It’s me.”

Wei Wuxia’s soul slowly settled. Only then did she realize the hands weren’t restraining her – it was just her excessive fear. And this voice – she slowly turned around to see a tall, handsome man with thick brows and big eyes. Who else but Chao Huang? Only he wore a felt hat and ordinary civilian clothes, quite different from his usual splendor.

“You’re not dead?” Wei Wuxia wept with joy, throwing herself into his arms.

Chao Huang held her, his heart inevitably moved with emotion. Though he had thoughts about Lian Xin, he and Wei Wuxia had been young spouses. After these years, their affection was deep. Though this time he was entrusted by Quan Feitong, he himself cared greatly for this wife. Seeing her genuine feelings for him, he was truly touched.

“Your husband isn’t dead, just had been ill.” He wiped her tears, teasing her.

Wei Wuxia’s face paled: “The plague?”

“Madam, don’t fear. It was epidemic disease, but I’m strong and hadn’t eaten much then, drinking only hot water, so was only lightly affected and have recovered. But quite a portion of my soldiers are still struggling at death’s door.” He spoke with a slight sneer, hatred showing in his eyes: “All thanks to your highly capable father.”

“My father?” Wei Wuxia’s expression changed completely as she nervously gripped his arms: “What did he do? Though you serve different masters, you were fighting Lian Yu – how did you come into conflict with him?”

“My elder brother and I were defeated and became prisoners. Your father feared my soldiers would become Lian Yu’s assistance, so he tampered with our water source, making us drink water soaked with corpses who died of plague.” Chao Huang said coldly.

Wei Wuxia was completely stunned. After a long time, she finally wept: “How could he do this? I’ve always been filial to him. You’re my husband – he knew you were in the army, yet he still… is it because I no longer have use value?”

Chao Huang lowered his head to kiss her eyes: “Madam, don’t cry. It’s not too late to see your father’s true face now. He only uses you as a chess piece, but to me, you’re my wife, the woman I love. As long as you don’t mind, will you still stay with me?”

Wei Wuxia felt joy and surprise, still immersed in sadness, but slowly nodded. That Chao Huang wasn’t dead brought her genuine happiness and great comfort.

She nestled in his arms: “Father wants me to remarry, but I won’t. I always thought of you in my heart. Today I’ll go with you, but you must treat me well in the future and not be fickle.”

Chao Huang nodded: “Naturally. Wuxia will always be my good wife.”

“Only,” he pondered briefly, then said quietly: “You can’t leave with me yet. Don’t forget, I’m a defeated general. My elder brother’s and my lives are still in Lian Yu’s hands.”

Wei Wuxia was in his tight embrace, eyes slightly closed, but trembled at these words, opening her eyes like a startled rabbit to look around: “His Majesty’s people are lying in ambush all around watching us, right? What should we do?”

“Don’t be nervous. If we want our wish fulfilled, we must accomplish something for him.” Chao Huang held her shoulders, speaking slowly.

“I knew it – Lian Yu couldn’t possibly let us meet so easily. So this really is his trap!” Wei Wuxia said through gritted teeth: “What… what exactly?”

“Help him save someone.”

“Save someone? Who?”

“Li Huaisu. She’s imprisoned by your father in the manor.”

“What!”

Wei Wuxia was extremely shocked, taking a long time to recover. Given her friendship with Murong Shu, she naturally knew what relationship Li Huaisu had with Lian Yu! But she quickly shook her head, saying hatefully: “I can’t save her! She’s Wei Wuyan’s friend and gets along very well with that little wretch!”

Chao Huang looked down at her: “Wuxia, don’t you want to be together with me?”

“I…”

“If you don’t agree, you and I can only go our separate ways today. Wuxia, what Ming Yanchu conveyed to your father that day wasn’t entirely false. Whether I’m alive or dead, in such circumstances being together is truly slim. You should go back and live your life well, finding another good husband to remarry in the future.” He smiled bitterly in a low voice: “I’m just a crude man – these years have wronged you.”

Wei Wuxia looked at him somewhat dazed, then shook her head repeatedly: “Chao Huang, I didn’t mean that. I’m not unwilling to go with you, I just don’t want to…”

“Besides not wanting to save Li Huaisu, you also don’t want to disobey your father, right?” Chao Huang also shook his head with a light smile: “You still have several sisters at home. If I’m not mistaken, your father will rely on them in the future. Isn’t he plotting rebellion under Prince Jin’s heir’s banner? Once successful, won’t he marry your sisters to Prince Jin as consorts? Then he’d be both national father-in-law and great contributor – tsk tsk.”

Wei Wuxia’s eyes were completely red: “He is. That’s exactly what he’s thinking.”

“Fine, I’ll help Lian Yu rescue the person. I’ll go with you.”

“Wuxia.” Chao Huang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, also quite happy. After all, this not only completed Quan Feitong’s entrustment but also got his wife back to his side while teaching Wei Chenghui a lesson – killing three birds with one stone!

“But how should I do it?” Wei Wuxia then frowned again: “Though I don’t know where Father imprisoned the person, you know Father’s character – deep and calculating. To imprison someone, wouldn’t he have troops guarding day and night? Moreover, this is Lian Yu’s beloved woman – could he treat it simply?”

“Even if I intervene, getting the person out of Wei Manor is still too difficult. Wei Manor has strict internal security, and outside it’s now heavily guarded. Even if I luckily brought the person out of the manor, with tens of thousands of soldiers guarding the capital gates and no order from Father, even a bird couldn’t escape. If not for Lian Yu’s scheme today, even I couldn’t have gotten out. Father letting me out to mourn you was already his maximum tolerance – he couldn’t possibly let me leave the city again.”

“Wuxia, Wuxia, calm down. This is indeed very difficult, but listen to me. First, are those you brought out today all your trusted people…” Chao Huang’s mind filled with what those two men had said in the tent.

Another half hour later, Wei Wuxia threw away the basket in her hand. Chao Huang pulled down his hat brim and walked out together with her.

Wei Wuxia returned to the manor at dusk. She asked servants about Wei Wujun’s whereabouts and learned he was still at the mansion, not having gone to the army. She had her maid send Wei Wujun a message, asking him to come to her courtyard that evening for drinks.

Soon after nightfall, Wei Wujun arrived, sitting down with a smile: “Wujun will soon return to the army for service – fortunately sister invited me today. Since sister went to pay respects to General Chao today, this matter is settled. Don’t dwell on it anymore.”

Wei Wuxia waved for the maids to leave and personally poured him a cup, sighing: “Yes, any later and sister couldn’t have invited you. That you could come tonight makes sister grateful. Chao Huang’s matter – how can one just let go? Take it slowly.”

Wei Wujun pretended to scold: “Sister, what words are these? We’re family siblings. Though Wujun grew up close to sister and we’re not from the same mother, I’ve long regarded sister as my real sister. In the future, little brother will certainly work with Father to find sister another good husband.”

Wei Wuxia’s face showed a trace of smile: “Then sister thanks brother first. Calling brother over today – first to drink and dispel the depression in my heart, second to say that with your brother-in-law dead, sister’s situation isn’t what it used to be. But Grandfather was after all a famous wealthy merchant in the country. Look at Father’s military provisions – we help considerably. Grandfather has always doted on sister. Though brother’s future is limitless, occasionally there might be places needing money. Brother should just speak to sister directly, hoping not to become distant.”

Wei Wujun was very happy hearing this. First, he had some sibling affection with Wei Wuxia; second, his scheming following Wei Chenghui was quite deep, and he did value the wealth of Wei Wuxia’s maternal family. He immediately raised his cup: “Sister speaks so – it’s too much for Wujun. Money aside, brother toasts to this. Sister, wherever you might need me – Wulei is my real sister, but Sister Wuxia is also my real sister.”

“Good, good.” Wei Wuxia beamed, raising her cup to touch his.

The two conversed very happily. Wei Wujun was persuaded to drink quite a bit. When he was half-drunk, Wei Wuxia’s face was also half-flushed as she giggled: “Brother, do you know? Today Mother even told me to beg Father to marry me to the heir too. She’s so foolish – Father’s favorite must be sister Wulei.”

Wei Wujun heard this and felt a chill, saying casually: “What does sister herself think? Do you have feelings for Prince Jin’s heir?”

“Ridiculous!” Wei Wuxia’s willow brows shot up, her face immediately frosty: “What kind of person do you take your sister for? Not to mention I’m already married – if the heir looks down on me, I don’t even know what the heir looks like, whether he’s outstanding or a wastrel. How could I be interested in him? My heart still thinks of Chao Huang.”

Wei Wujun’s gaze deepened. After a long time, he said indifferently: “If sister is interested, it wouldn’t matter. Wujun said treating sister as real sister wasn’t empty words. This heir – Wujun can tell sister – he’s not only handsome and talented, but the military strategies are all his arrangements. This person, sister also knows – he’s this year’s second-place graduate, current Assistant Minister, Li Zhaoting!”