Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 478

Chapter 478: One

When they entered the city, Xu Wenjuan was anxious to return to He Xun, so it was only her and Binglu in An Zhi’s carriage.

“Madam, the son-in-law has come specially to pick you up,” Binglu said with a smile.

An Zhi glanced at Binglu and replied, “Then Shunzi must have come out of town specifically to look for you, little girl. I wasn’t teasing you, but you’re making fun of me.”

Binglu was an unmarried girl and even more shameless than An Zhi. Upon hearing her young madam’s words, she instantly turned her head away, lowered her head, and whispered, “Don’t talk nonsense! He clearly came here on orders from the son-in-law.”

Seeing Binglu’s embarrassment, An Zhi laughed a few times and let her go.

After arriving at the Pei Mansion, Pei Que came to help An Zhi out of the carriage.

Feeling Pei Que rubbing her palm, An Zhi applied a little force to hold his fingers in place, then calmly returned to their own courtyard.

An Zhi had already sent a pigeon to Pei Que about their encounter with the Jiuyi assassins at the imperial mausoleum. Later, Shunzi also brought Pei Que’s message. The two of them tacitly returned to their rooms before discussing the matter.

“If all goes well, news will arrive from Jiuyi in a few days.” Pei Que pulled An Zhi to sit beside him. “You’ve been so tired from the journey; don’t worry about the luggage. Let Nanny Wang and the others take care of it. I’ll give you a shoulder massage.”

In broad daylight, with maids and servants coming in and out of the house, An Zhi felt too embarrassed to play around with Pei Que. She tilted her shoulder, avoiding his hand, and snorted, “It’s only been a dozen days since we last met, and you’re becoming so reckless!”

Her words tickled Pei Que’s heart, but when he saw An Zhi blush, he was unable to exploit her any more. He simply held An Zhi’s hand and said gently, “We’re husband and wife. If you want to tease me, that’s fine. Since my wife left, you’ve become much more distant from me, which makes me very uncomfortable.”

When An Zhi turned around, she saw Pei Que pouting. His eyes, usually cold towards others, now shone brightly at her.

Instantly, his heart softened.

“It’s daytime now,” An Zhi said softly, adding a soothing “Be good,” turning the topic back to the Jiuyi matter. “When we get news from Jiuyi, we don’t know if Wenjuan will go with them. Madam of Xu and I both advised Wenjuan not to go yet. After all, she’s pregnant, and anything that could go wrong would be terrible. But when Wenjuan heard us say that, her expression was indifferent, as if she had other plans.”

Pei Que had a different opinion. “You’re worried about Xu Wenjuan’s health, but have you ever considered that if Xu Wenjuan stays in the capital and she gives birth, given the current situation, she and the child might very well remain in the capital forever, serving as new hostages? I miss you so much every day I don’t see you. Do you think it would be better for the couple to separate?”

If Pei Que hadn’t said it, An Zhi wouldn’t have considered this.

Indeed, if He Xun returned alone to Jiuyi, and if he succeeded to the throne in the future as a vassal state of the Jin Dynasty, it would be difficult to take Xu Wenjuan and the child back to show their loyalty.

“But what if He Xun doesn’t succeed?” An Zhi thought of another possibility. “What if Wenjuan goes back with He Xun, but He Xun doesn’t succeed? Then wouldn’t the whole family go to hell together?”

Pei Que clicked his tongue, his voice deepening. “Husband and wife are one. If they can share happiness, they’re willing to share hardship. These matters need to be discussed between them. Anything we say is just empty talk.”

“Indeed, given Wenjuan’s personality, she’ll probably go back with He Xun,” An Zhi sighed.

In fact, Xu Wenjuan did as An Zhi had said. She insisted on going back with He Xun.

The couple had even argued over this.

Luzhu cleaned up the debris on the floor and retreated without raising her head.

The air in the room was terribly low. Xu Wenjuan sat on the bed with a puffed-up face, while He Xun stood on the other side, his back to her.

Xu Wenjuan expressed her desire to accompany He Xun back, but He Xun, feeling the journey ahead was dangerous, disagreed. Each had their own reasons, and neither could convince the other.

After a moment of silence, Xu Wenjuan saw that He Xun still had his back to her. Tears welled in her eyes, and she couldn’t help sobbing.

When He Xun turned around, he saw his usually fiery wife crying. He trotted over in panic. “Oh heavens, why are you still crying? It’s not like I don’t want you. I told you, I’m not completely sure I can protect you this time when I return to Jiuyi.”

“Do you look down on me so much?” Xu Wenjuan angrily pushed He Xun’s hand away. “I, Xu Wenjuan, may be a little spoiled and have a bad temper, but I’m a noblewoman after all, not a fool. Don’t you think I can’t even protect myself? Besides, a couple is supposed to share weal and woe. If they each run their own way when disaster strikes, then we’re not even a couple anymore. We’re just living together temporarily!”

Xu Wenjuan was always straightforward, and now in front of He Xun, she spoke her mind.

He Xun pursed his lips and said, “I didn’t say we should go separately. I said I’ll wait until I’m settled in Jiuyi, then I’ll take you and the child over. Isn’t that good?”

“That’s good.” Xu Wenjuan had heard her mother talk about this on the way back. “But you have to know that if I stay, I’ll most likely have to take the child with me as a hostage to Jiuyi. My mother told me to think carefully. There are pros and cons to staying or going with you. Since I married you, it’s because I love you and am willing to be with you through thick and thin. I didn’t marry you for a stable and wealthy life.”

No one knew a daughter better than her mother. Madam of Xu saw her daughter’s intentions when she first asked her to stay, so she later spoke to her alone about this matter.

Xu Wenjuan raised her hand to wipe the tears from her eyes. “As long as you take me back with you, my father will spare no effort to help you. Otherwise, with my father’s slippery personality, he’ll definitely have a backup plan. With my father’s help, at least you don’t have to worry about money. Money is what he has most.”

He Xun was amused. “If my father-in-law heard you say that about him, he’d be so angry he’d say he’d raised you in vain.”

“Just say it. He raised me. I’m his daughter. My current temper is a result of his pampering.” At this point, Xu Wenjuan sighed. “My father had it tough, too. Listen to me. You’re my husband, and I’m your wife. As long as we’re husband and wife, we must support each other, not think about leaving each other behind. As husband and wife, we’re family. There’s no reason to talk behind each other’s backs. Do you understand?”

He Xun felt a cozy warmth in his heart. Moved, he hugged his wife and said, “I understand.”

Xu Wenjuan leaned against He Xun’s shoulder, gently pinched his arm, and said coquettishly, “But if you betray me in the future, even if I leave, I’ll walk back from Jiuyi to the capital. Don’t think I’ll ever look back.”