Chapter 550 - Chapter 550: Chapter 556: The Only Way Out (1/2)

chapter 550: chapter 556: the only way out

han yu had taken qi luo under his wing with a purpose in mind, and he had promised her certain things. the current situation was related to those promises. moreover, since he had been singularly focused on searching for someone before, there was a shortage of manpower on that front, so he had transferred qi luo there. however, he had not anticipated that her absence would lead to such an incident.

su wenyue was indeed exhausted. han yu carried her away from the child’s side, and before they reached their destination, she had fallen asleep in han yu’s arms. han yu looked at her with affection, but his face was etched with worry and complexity. his daughter-in-law couldn’t withstand any turmoil; otherwise, her health would break down. but as things stood now, there was no turning back from some matters.

in the past, he might have been somewhat greedy for power, or wished to achieve great things. although the recent events hadn’t diminished his ambition, they paled in comparison to the importance of his daughter-in-law. for her, he would give up power and status without a second thought, as long as she was well. but now, the choice was no longer his to make. if he truly gave up his power, with what would he protect his wife and child? some grudges had been sown too deep to undo. the only way out was to become stronger.

whether he could act or not was not up to him anymore, but it was essential to communicate with his daughter-in-law beforehand to prepare her so that she wouldn’t worry too much and harm her health. however, he needed to hurry, as the situation in yiyang prefecture was growing more and more dire each day. the city’s fall was imminent, and he had to return to his rightful place according to the plan.

“this sleeping posture, she’s really like a little piggy.” han yu thought to himself as he walked. having returned to the room arranged by the feng family, he saw the sleeping figure in his arms snoring softly, with some suspicious marks near her mouth. a doting smile curled up at the corners of his mouth, saying, his heavy mood also lightened quite a bit. seeing his daughter-in-law safe and sound, nothing else seemed to matter. although the situation was tricky, he would handle it.

thinking so, han yu gently placed her on the bed, had the servants bring water, and after washing and changing her clothes for her, he cleaned himself up and blew out the candle to rest.

with matters pressing on his mind, han yu got up early, thinking of discussing plans with his wife’s parents’ home. moreover, since the feng family and marquis beian and his son were also present, he needed to meet with them and get a feel for the situation to be fully informed.

“take good care of madam. she went to bed late last night; don’t disturb her sleep, and let her wake up naturally. have the kitchen keep the porridge warm, so madam can eat anytime when she wakes up,” han yu instructed softly. after tucking in his wife again, he then walked outside.

by the time su wenyue woke up, it was already noon. she looked around and saw no one by her side. only after asking the servants did she learn that han yu had risen early and gone out, probably discussing something with her big brother and the others.

“really, even if there are matters to discuss, it doesn’t have to be at this very moment. it’s not like he’s made of iron,” su wenyue mumbled in frustration, her face marked by concern. although she knew han yu was robust, he hadn’t rested properly these past few days. they had finally reached a temporary safe haven at the feng family manor, but han yu was still working himself to the bone.

su wenyue had a rough understanding of liu xiu’s attitude by now. she didn’t think much of liu xiu’s actions. it appeared that even an emperor, reputed for wisdom in her previous life, was only human after all. but upon reflection, it seemed only natural. as a ruler, liu xiu would make such choices when faced with a subordinate as powerful and potentially threatening as han yu.

but understanding aside, it still sat uneasily with her. she was especially discontented to see han yu tirelessly working despite prior grievances. while she knew her husband wasn’t a pushover and wouldn’t be as he appeared on the surface, part of su wenyue still felt unsettled. if only she had known, she wouldn’t have saved liu xiu. she had thought that, like in her previous life, liu xiu and han yu would remain a good emperor and minister pair, with han yu being deeply trusted as liu xiu’s most relied-upon subject. yet, things had not turned out as expected.