Chapter 141: Xiao Jue Asks for Han Rou's Hand in Marriage

While Shen Sisi and Hongyu were at each other's throats, no one paid any attention to the affairs between Jiang Miaodan and Shi Shaohua.

Every day, Shi Shaohua put on a pretentious display of reading and composing poetry, while Jiang Miaodan sat beside him, grinding ink and keeping him company. Although the two had not crossed any boundaries, the deep affection in their eyes grew stronger with each passing day.

Strangely enough, Jiang Miaodan was naturally proud, spoiled, and haughty; she should have looked down upon someone like Shi Shaohua. Yet, she was exceptionally innocent when it came to matters of the heart, and she had always heard Madame Jiang praise Shi Shaohua in the past. After Madame Jiang left, only Shi Shaohua offered her soft words of comfort, and throughout her life, he was the only one who had ever professed his love to her.

Facing such a handsome young man who looked at her with adoration every day, Jiang Miaodan eventually surrendered her heart.

As for Shi Shaohua, his original plan was to scam Jiang Miaodan out of her silver and then make a run for it. Now, to his astonishment, he found himself actually falling for her.

Having worked as a male courtesan, he had always been forced to humble himself to please wealthy madams and young ladies. Jiang Miaodan, however, simply treated him like an ordinary person.

The young girl's affection was very pure. She would occasionally bring him pastries, gift him the four treasures of the study, and even secretly embroider a sachet for him. These were experiences Shi Shaohua had never known before.

At the same time, Shi Shaohua grew increasingly nervous and alarmed. He was afraid that Madame Jiang might return one day, terrified that Jiang Miaodan would discover his true identity, and completely clueless as to what he should do once the autumn imperial examinations arrived.

More crucially, Madame Jiang was carrying his child—a massive hidden danger. If Jiang Miaodan were to find out, Shi Shaohua felt he would rather die of shame.

Yet, he could not find Madame Jiang anywhere.

Little did he know that Madame Jiang and Shen Zhifeng—who was officially declared dead—were miserably suffering away their days in a rural courtyard.

There was another person searching for them as well: Xiao Jue.

The moment he heard that Shen Zhifeng had poisoned Han Rou, he cast aside his leg injury and hurried back to the capital as fast as he could, intending to run his sword through that ungrateful scoundrel Shen Zhifeng. To his surprise, all he found was the news of the Duke's passing.

Han Rou said with a hint of helplessness, "Qingyun, didn't I tell you to keep this a secret?"

She had never wanted Old General Han and Xiao Jue to hear the news and worry about her, but she had not expected Xiao Jue to return prematurely.

Shen Qingyun suppressed a smile and blinked. Naturally, she was the one who had intentionally leaked the news. "Mother, you should go comfort General Xiao first."

Sure enough, the moment the door opened, Xiao Jue was standing there with a face full of anxiety. Seeing the door open, he ignored Shen Qingyun's presence and rushed straight over, looking Han Rou up and down with deep concern. "Rou'er, are you alright?"

Han Rou's face flushed red with shyness, and Shen Qingyun tactfully stepped outside, leaving the two of them to have a quiet conversation.

Disregarding whether Han Rou might be angry, Xiao Jue pulled her straight into his embrace. "Rou'er, do you have any idea how worried I was when I heard you were poisoned? I thought I would never see you again. This time, no matter what you say, I am not letting go."

Han Rou did not push him away, her eyes glistening with moisture. "Xiao Jue, but I am merely a divorced woman."

"No, Rou'er, don't say that." Xiao Jue released her, looked straight into her eyes, and said every word with absolute clarity, "I only know that you are Han Rou. In my heart, you are forever that gentle, kind, and wonderful young maiden of the General's Estate. Instead, I should thank Shen Zhifeng for being blind enough to let you go, giving me the chance to make up for all the suffering you've endured over the years."

Of course, Xiao Jue thought to himself, if Shen Zhifeng were to stand before him alive, he would certainly reward him with a blade—performing a good deed to help that beast be reincarnated sooner.

Back in the rural courtyard, Shen Zhifeng inexplicably shivered from head to toe.

Xiao Jue gently wiped away the tear tracks at the corner of Han Rou's eye. "Rou'er, do you trust me?"

Han Rou smiled and nodded, though a trace of worry inevitably surfaced in her gaze. "But we are destined not to be together. The people above will never agree."

If Xiao Jue truly married Han Rou, his future influence among the military and martial officials would be unmatched. How could the emperor ever tolerate a situation where one family dominated all others?

"I am willing to surrender my military command," Xiao Jue said with an earnest expression, showing no sign of wavering. "Rou'er, I have already avenged my parents. I can stay in the capital."

"No, how can you do that?" Han Rou shook her head vigorously. "You are already a commanding General of the Cavalry with a brilliant future. You cannot ruin it for me..."

"Power and status mean far less to me than a home," Xiao Jue interrupted, his gaze resolute. "Now that the realm is at peace, the imperial family is already wary of the military's strength, and the imperial princes are eyeing the throne like tigers eyeing their prey. If I lay down my armor and return to farming, the Emperor certainly will not oppose our marriage. Rou'er, leave everything to me, alright?"

Looking at the deep affection in Xiao Jue's eyes, Han Rou could no longer bear to utter any words of objection.

"If you fear the gossip and slander in the capital, I can take you away for a while first. We can go look at the yellow sands of the frontier, or enjoy the misty rain of Jiangnan. Rest assured, the Old General knows my thoughts, and he does not oppose it."

Recalling how Old General Han had merely let out a long sigh upon hearing the matter: "As Han Rou's father, I am selfish, but rest assured, as long as I draw breath in the military, whatever you two wish to do, go ahead and do it."

A sour ache welled up in Han Rou's heart. Her father had shouldered far too much throughout his life; it was her unfilial nature that always caused him to worry on her behalf.

The two exchanged a glance, mutual understanding passing between them, and they embraced with smiles.

When Shen Qingyun learned of Xiao Jue's decision, she was so astonished she could not speak.

If he surrendered his military command, he would likely be transferred from a military post to a civil office, and he probably would not be assigned any important positions.

In truth, she was happy for Xiao Jue and Han Rou in this scenario. In her past life, Xiao Jue had remained unmarried for his entire life; if he could live life anew this time, perhaps it would be another kind of fulfillment.

Yet, a lingering sense of unease always lurked in her heart, and ever since Jiang Lin's rebirth, this unease had grown even more pronounced.

Therefore, Shen Qingyun made a trip to the Manor of the Prince of Li to ask whether Xiao Jue faced any risks in seeking to marry Han Rou.

Mo Moshi pressed his thin lips together, his brow furrowing slightly. "I am afraid it will not be that smooth."

"Why?" Shen Qingyun's heart tightened. "General Xiao is willing to surrender his military command. Doesn't that play right into the Emperor's wishes?"

Mo Moshi thought for a moment and gently shook his head. "An alliance through marriage between the Xiao family and the Han family remains a massive hidden threat."

Depression weighed heavily on Shen Qingyun's heart. "The Xiao family and the Han family have been loyal to the country, guarding the borders for so many years without a single complaint. Can the Emperor still not trust them?"

"Even if the Emperor is willing to believe in the loyalty of Old General Han and General Xiao, there will always be those who seize the opportunity to stir up trouble."

"You mean the imperial princes..." Shen Qingyun pondered for a moment, looking up at him. "Moshi, is someone planning to harm the Han and Xiao families?"

In truth, she had constantly tried to recall every detail of her past life. Why did Old General Han fall so easily in battle? There must have been someone else's hand behind it all.

Mo Moshi sighed inwardly and nodded.