Perfect Match – CH 068

Chapter 68

Compared to Xi’an, Ningxia town was much smaller, but its city walls were towering, flags flew high, and the entire town was teeming with soldiers. Eagles circled in the vast sky.

The sandstorms built high walls, the iron cavalry carved long roads, and even the pedestrians were border soldiers guarding the pass. Troops constantly passed through the town.

Deng Ruyun had never been to the border town of Ningxia before. Sitting on Teng Yue’s horse, she curiously surveyed the town.

Seeing this, the man loosened the reins, slowing the horse so she could leisurely look around.

Most of the passersby were local military households, all recognizing Teng Yue. Seeing him return to Ningxia after his promotion to guerrilla general, they all came to greet him and offer their congratulations.

Teng Yue was much more amiable than most military officers. He smiled and nodded in response to everyone’s greetings, but the border soldiers also looked at the person he was carrying on horseback.

Although the person’s head and face were covered with a scarf for protection against the wind and sand, it was clearly a woman.

Someone mustered the courage to ask, “General Teng, who is this…?”

Would a man like General Teng casually bring back a beautiful woman on the road?

Deng Ruyun tried to conceal herself on horseback, but Teng Yue answered directly.

“This is my wife. She thought it was too hot and stuffy in the carriage, so she rode here with me.”

Upon hearing this, everyone’s eyes widened. They awkwardly greeted the “Madam” while quickly backing away, not daring to utter another word.

Deng Ruyun had not expected Teng Yue to so bluntly identify her as his “wife”…

But why did he not say he had forcibly abducted her? He simply said she did not want to ride in the carriage.

As if he offered her a carriage, but she resolutely refused to ride and chose to be on his horse.

Looking at how tired and aged the horse had become after just a few days…

But the man had become noticeably quieter these past few days, and Deng Ruyun did not want to initiate conversation.

She secretly turned her head to look at him, just as he looked down at her face.

Deng Ruyun paused, then turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.

The man remained silent, pursing his lips, and rode back to his mansion in Ningxia with her. Teng Yue’s Mansion in Ningxia was not very large. He had previously told her that if she was willing to establish a separate mansion with him in Ningxia, they could buy the vacant courtyard of their neighbor and combine it with his current mansion.

At this moment, Deng Ruyun had already been abducted and brought here.

Standing in his courtyard, Teng Yue noticed her curiously observing him again and could not help but speak.

“I will have someone buy the neighboring courtyard in the next few days. After renovating it, and once Ningxia City is settled, I will bring Grandmother, Aunt Juan, and Linglang here.”

Teng Yue spoke, his eyes slightly shifting to his wife.

But Deng Ruyun was secretly startled.

“No need,” she replied immediately.

This immediate refusal felt like a needle piercing his wounded flesh.

Teng Yue’s eyes darkened, his tone hardening.

“As long as I am still your husband, these things are what I should do.”

As he spoke, he thought of how devoted she was to that man, but had he cared for her at all after leaving?

He gave a low snort and continued.

“If a man cannot even protect the woman he loves and her family, I do not think he deserves any kind of devoted love.”

He finished speaking and turned away.

The man’s sculpted profile was now shrouded in a deep, suppressed rage. Deng Ruyun looked at him, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

But she still said.

“That…that’s none of your business.”

Her voice was not loud, but the man heard her clearly.

He left her with only four words and strode away.

“It’s not up to you.”

The man’s feet seemed to surge with anger, his robes fluttering as he walked.

Deng Ruyun bit her lip, not following him, but turning to ask the guard, Tang Zuo.

“Does the General’s Mansion in Ningxia have any other habitable courtyards?”

For someone of her status to live in the main courtyard where his proper wife lived would be extremely inappropriate.

Tang Zuo shook his head at her.

Not only were the other courtyards unfinished, but even if they were, the General would not agree.

Having witnessed things on the road these past few days, Tang Zuo had a new understanding of the current relationship between the General and his wife.

He whispered to Deng Ruyun, “Madam, why not live with the General in the main courtyard? It’s spacious, warm in winter and cool in summer, and fully furnished.”

But Deng Ruyun still pleaded with him, “Even if the courtyard is not finished, it does not matter. I can fix it myself.”

Tang Zuo frowned in distress but could only shake his head at Deng Ruyun.

“Madam…”

Without Teng Yue’s intervention, Tang Zuo and the others could not make any decisions, so Deng Ruyun simply said.

“Then I will live in the woodshed…”

Unexpectedly, before she could finish speaking, the man’s steps, which were at the entrance of the main courtyard, suddenly stopped.

Even from such a distance, Deng Ruyun did not expect his hearing to be so sharp; he heard her immediately. But at that moment, he turned and looked at her.

“You dare try?”

Deng Ruyun: “…”

It was her own business if she wanted to live in the woodshed; how was that bothering him?

But she only dared to mutter these thoughts to herself, obediently following him into the main courtyard.

Once she entered the main courtyard, she noticed that although there were not many flowers or trees, the side rooms were clean and tidy.

She could not help but say it again.

“Then I will stay in the west wing.”

The east wing was his study; surely she could stay in the west wing?

However, as soon as she spoke, the man directly called Tang Zuo.

“Seal off both the east and west wing rooms.”

He clearly tried to suppress his anger as he said this, but Deng Ruyun could clearly sense the pent-up rage beneath.

Seeing Tang Zuo’s face contorted in bitterness, Deng Ruyun felt a pang of embarrassment; she truly felt she had wronged him.

She could only say, “Do not seal it off; I will not stay.”

Tang Zuo immediately looked towards his general.

Teng Yue glanced at the dishonest woman out of the corner of his eye, and seeing her still looking so aggrieved, he grew even angrier but ultimately said nothing, tacitly agreeing.

He pushed open the door and stepped into the room.

He overheard her kindly comforting Tang Zuo, “It’s alright. Guard Tang, you should go and rest.”

She was so kind to everyone else, except him.

But he could not argue with her anymore, or it would only drag on endlessly.

He caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye, and she finally followed him into the room. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she noticed a short couch in the side room.

“This couch is nice; I will sleep on it.”

Deng Ruyun only looked at the carved bed in the main room of his courtyard; it was truly a fine bed.

If she slept on it now, such a fine bed would only be relegated to the storeroom, never to see the light of day again.

But as soon as she uttered this suggestion, he suddenly turned and stepped in front of her.

Deng Ruyun instinctively took a half-step back, but he still grabbed her with his long arm.

She could not help but let out a small cry of surprise, but the man pressed her directly onto the bed.

His previously deep eyes now burned with anger, and he stared at her intently through gritted teeth.

“Are you so eager to separate from me?”

These words made Deng Ruyun’s heart tighten.

But he said, “Did I not…explain everything to the General?”

These words caused Teng Yue to close his eyes tightly, as if a piercing pain was nagging at him, requiring immense strength to endure.

In the desolate and silent Teng Mansion in the border town, the only sound was the rustling of the wind through the doors, windows, floorboards, and corners.

The man closed his eyes tightly and, after a few breaths, slowly opened them.

He looked only at Deng Ruyun and suddenly said, “Yunniang, you do not have any contraceptive pills left, do you?”

Deng Ruyun, pressed tightly to the bed by him, felt a jolt in her heart upon hearing this.

She heard him ask her slowly.

“Tell me, if we start from this moment and have marital relations every night, will that person come back first, or will our child come first?”

Deng Ruyun instantly shut her mouth, daring not to utter another word that would provoke him.

Her small face was taut with tension.

For a fleeting moment, Teng Yue wanted to tear off her clothes and do to her what he had vehemently vowed to do.

But seeing the tension in her eyes, he could only grit his teeth and look at her.

She was truly heartless.

To avoid having a child with him, she had been taking contraceptive pills. Was she not afraid of harming her body?

How could she be so infatuated with that man?!

Teng Yue stared intently at the person before him, but when he met her trembling eyes beneath her delicate eyebrows, his heart softened involuntarily.

Could she not be a little kinder to him? Just a little?

He suddenly released her, stood up, took three deep breaths, and slowly exhaled, finally regaining his composure.

Teng Yue did not look at her again.

“I will sleep on the couch.”

His voice was soft and low, like the lingering rain dripping in a dark corner of the room.

After he said this, he went to the cupboard and took out a quilt, heading towards the couch.

But this couch was different from the one in Liumingxuan’s room; it was just a small, short couch, and he was too tall and sturdy to fit comfortably.

Deng Ruyun had already taken the bed, so what was the point of making him sleep on the couch?

They had been sleeping like this all along the way anyway.

Never mind, never mind.

She sat up and called to him.

“That short couch is not comfortable; you should come to bed.”

Her voice was soft, but even that gentle utterance was like a clear spring flowing into a parched heart.

Teng Yue looked at her, seeing her small, willow-leaf eyebrows and her blinking eyes, and repeated herself softly. “That little couch is not a place to sleep. I should not be usurping your place.”

Her voice was as soft as a bird stealing grain.

But she said that the couch was not a place to sleep, that he would not be comfortable sleeping on it, and that he should go back to his bed, that they should be like before.

Teng Yue put the bedding back in the closet, silently glancing at her.

She still cared about him, did she not?

Thinking of this, the man’s heart softened as if gently brushed by a feather.

At least she still had some conscience.

He slowly breathed a sigh of relief, but then heard her secretly observing him and say, “I was just trying to annoy you.”

Teng Yue: “…”

She did have a conscience, but not much!

But then he thought again.

Even if it was not much, it was still something. Having some was good enough.

Teng Yue sat angrily at the table and opened the window to let in some fresh air.

He did not know when he had learned a skill to comfort himself; perhaps it was just a useless comfort, but at least for now, he took a deep breath and sat down.

She also got out of bed, tiptoed around behind him, stood by the window to enjoy the breeze, and then looked at him.

“Are you not going to the main camp to lead troops next?”

She asked about business, and Teng Yue nodded.

“Recently, some Tartars have been running amok on the border, intending to cause trouble. I am going to the government office tomorrow to officially take up my post, and afterwards, I will probably go to Yuquan Camp to lead troops to drive out these Tartars from beyond the pass.”

Yuquan Camp was outside the city, some distance away, and he could not stay home with her, so he explained.

“I originally wanted Wang Fuxiang’s wife to show you around Ningxia City, but she seems to have gone back to her parents’ home and has not been here these past few days. Let Tang You show you around for now.”

He said Tang You, and she blinked, tilting her head in confusion, like a little sparrow fluttering its wings and tilting its head by the window.

She asked, “Right? Not Tang Zuo? Are you sure it’s right^(You) and not left^(Zuo)?”

She spread her right hand, then her left, confused.

Teng Yue could not help but want to laugh, but remembering her earlier infuriating behavior, he held back.

He said it was right, not left. “Tang You is Tang Zuo’s younger brother and also my personal bodyguard. He’s been staying at the mansion here in Ningxia. He’s a year younger than you.”

Upon hearing that this young bodyguard was a year younger than her, Deng Ruyun suddenly felt that if she could take advantage of Teng Yue’s absence from the city, she might be able to escape.

But the moment her thought crossed her mind, Teng Yue saw right through it.

“Do not even think about running out of the city, and definitely do not think about going back to Xi’an. I am not kidding.”

His face was stern, his gaze seemingly pinning her to the window.

Deng Ruyun immediately shut up.

She said no and walked around the bed to his armchair. The armchair was a bit high; her legs dangled in mid-air, barely touching the ground. She did not mind swinging her legs. “Then I can at least go to the pharmacies on the street, right?”

Of course, Teng Yue’s heart softened again at her swinging legs.

“As long as you do not leave the city, you can go wherever you want.”

But thinking of this, he remembered something else and specifically instructed her on it.

“By the way, take extra men with you when you go out. If you encounter anyone from the Prince Enhua’s Mansion, try not to clash with them. Especially if you run into Princess Rongle, Zhu Yijiao, ignore her.”

As he spoke, he looked out the window. “The Prince Enhua’s Mansion these days is like a grasshopper in the late summer heat, very restless.”

But what could this grasshopper do once autumn was over?

Deng Ruyun had already heard him mention this before, and upon hearing this, she became serious.

“I know; do not worry, I will avoid them.”

She answered him earnestly.

For a moment, Teng Yue felt as if everything had returned to half a month ago, when they were still on good terms.

Back then, Sixth Young Master Bai was still secretly competing with him. It was laughable that neither he nor Sixth Young Master Bai knew that the one most important to her was not one of them.

*

In Xi’an Prefecture.

Bai Chunfu had been busy for several days in the counties and towns under Xi’an Prefecture. Recently, Huimin Medical Hall discovered a case in the counties and towns below that appeared to be a common wind-heat syndrome, but it was much more severe than ordinary wind-heat syndrome. People were falling ill one after another, and ordinary wind-heat medicines were not very effective.

Huimin Medical Hall had invited him to visit, and Bai Chunfu only managed to return to Xi’an today.

He had intended to stop by Yuyun Hall to see if the person was there, but a patient in the morning delayed his journey, and he did not arrive in Xi’an until the afternoon. Today was the day he had arranged to see Shen Yanxing at the Shen family home to examine Yang Youyun.

Bai Chunfu had no choice but to go to the Shen family first.

However, upon arriving at the Shen family home, he found not only members of the Yang and Shen families present but also the fourth young lady of the Zhang family.

She had been there the last time he had come to the Shen family to examine Yang Youyun; she seemed to have also learned some medical skills and was able to ask him a few questions in detail.

However, Bai Chunfu had been busy with various matters and had barely taken Yang Youyun’s pulse when the fourth young lady of the Zhang family slowly approached.

“Sixth Young Master Bai, how is my cousin today?”

Bai Chunfu did not respond immediately, and then had Yang Youyun switch hands to continue taking her pulse.

This Young Lady Zhang was quite perceptive; she did not ask further until he had carefully taken her pulse, and Shen Yanxing asked him. Only then did she smile and speak.

“Judging from Sixth Young Master Bai’s expression, my cousin seems much better.”

“Indeed,” Bai Chunfu nodded.

Shen Yanxing’s eyes lit up with joy. “Sixth Young Master, you are so busy, yet you still remember to look after Ah Yun. I am truly grateful.”

Bai Chunfu waved his hand, saying it was nothing.

“She’s only gradually improving, but to fully recover, even to the state she was in before pregnancy, it will take another year or two.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Yang’s expression changed.

These past few days, she had only thought that although her daughter had survived, it would be difficult for her to have a child like ordinary people.

Although Shen Yanxing was devoted to her, she had heard too many stories of childless women’s sorrows and was deeply worried about her daughter.

Hearing Bai Chunfu’s words, she repeatedly uttered Buddhist prayers.

But whether this was a blessing from Buddha or a miraculous cure from Physician Bai, it was hard to say.

Madam Yang also thanked Bai Chunfu repeatedly.

Bai Chunfu simply said it was nothing, “But I will be seeing patients in the counties and prefectures under Xi’an Prefecture, and I am afraid I will not be able to return. The patient only needs to continue taking her medicine and recuperating.”

He readjusted the prescription for Yang Youyun.

While others could not understand, the Zhang family girl remarked, “Sixth Young Master added a few sweet-tasting herbs to my cousin’s prescription; it should make it much easier for her to take.”

Bai Chunfu nodded but offered no comment.

Just then, Shen Yanxing spoke up.

“Sixth Young Master Bai, if Ah Yun is feeling better, may I take a long trip?”

Bai Chunfu said it was nothing and casually asked Shen Yanxing, “General Shen, are you temporarily leaving Xi’an?”

Shen Yanxing said yes, “I manufactured a batch of firearms for the Ningxia army. Teng Yue had urged me to do so before, but now he’s gone back to Ningxia. I am worried the firearms will be slow on the road, so I am preparing to personally escort them.”

As he spoke, he added, “Aunt Teng also asked me to go and see Madam Teng. I will go myself and then report back to her.”

He said it casually, but the expressions on the faces of those in the room changed.

Madam Yang, on the other hand, had already known about Teng Yue kidnapping the young madam.

She had assumed that her cousin was going to send her away, and she had been tossing and turning for days, but she had not expected that Teng Yue would not let go and would take her away! When she heard the news, she felt an indescribable excitement and drank three bowls of tea before calming herself.

However, she did not know how to tell her niece.

She could not say anything immediately, and her Cousin Lin had no explanation, so she asked someone not to tell Zhang Zhenhui for the time being.

Unexpectedly, after only a few days of keeping it a secret, Shen Yanxing revealed it.

As soon as Shen Yanxing spoke, Madam Yang saw her niece raise an eyebrow slightly and ask her.

“Aunt, General Teng went to Ningxia and took Madam with him?”

Madam Yang’s throat seemed to be blocked, and she was speechless for a moment.

But then, Sixth Young Master Bai, who had been sitting on the stool, stood up upon hearing this and asked Shen Yanxing.

“Yun… no, Shop Owner Deng, she went with Teng Yue?”

Yang Youyun, half-sitting on the bed, tugged at Shen Yanxing’s sleeve, and only then did the latter realize he had spoken out of turn.

He had assumed this was not a secret.

But at this moment, he could only exchange an awkward glance with Ah Yun and nod in acknowledgment.

“Indeed, they’ve been traveling for several days and should have just arrived in Ningxia.”

His words fell softly, and the expressions of those in the room shifted even more.