Chapter 290: Youthful Heartache

He pushed aside his messy hair. “Grandmother, it’s Lei Yun. Look, I’ve really come back.”

“Grandson, sob sob sob.” The old lady, leaning on her cane, swayed and then threw herself into Lei Yun’s arms. “My grandson, how long have you been dead for your soul to return?”

“Grandmother, I’m not a ghost. I’m alive and well. Look.”

The old lady pinched Lei Yun’s face. “The stubble is scratchy, but you are alive. You haven’t died.”

“Grandmother, who told you I was dead?”

“The epidemic in Lingnan was so severe. I’ve heard about it.”

“But have you heard about the emperor personally going to Lingnan?”

“I haven’t. The emperor led the troops himself?” That should be a state secret not announced to the public, so it was understandable she didn’t know.

“Yes, the epidemic was controlled last month. I returned to the capital with the emperor. The emperor was considerate of us and allowed us to come back with him. I was also rewarded and promoted.”

Since his father’s death and his own accession, he hadn’t returned to the capital for ten years.

Normally, he would write a letter home every month, but during the year of the Lingnan epidemic, he wrote very little.

His grandmother lived simply, and the Lei residence didn’t have many servants. Moreover, he rarely had contact with the emperor and wasn’t a favorite of the court. Compared to other general’s residences, the Lei residence wasn’t as luxurious.

But this suited his grandmother’s character.

“When will you return to Lingnan? How long do you plan to stay at home this time?”

“The emperor granted me an extended leave and also said I should take up a post in the capital. I haven’t decided yet.”

The old lady patted Lei Yun’s hand. “You should think carefully about your career. The emperor is benevolent. Whatever you do, just follow your conscience.”

“Mm-hmm, I understand, grandmother.”

“By the way, I’ll have the kitchen prepare more dishes to welcome you and wash away the dust.” The old lady was exceptionally happy today.

“I… we?” Lei Yun was somewhat puzzled.

The old lady chuckled, “Don’t worry, I understand. I understand everything.”

Lei Yun was stunned. Did his grandmother misunderstand something?

“Old lady, there is a woman outside who wants to come into the residence to see you,” the maid Xiaohe reported.

—

The old lady Lei covered her mouth with a smile, clearly delighted. “Quick, quick, go and bring her in! It’s not proper to have her waiting outside. How embarrassing.”

Lei Yun was puzzled.

“Let’s go together to meet her, so I can see my future granddaughter-in-law.”

Lei Yun was shocked. “Grandmother, it’s not like that. This time I came back to the capital…”

“Old lady, General Lei,” Lin Rumeng entered the residence in casual clothes ahead of time.

She had been waiting outside for a while, but seeing no one from the Lei residence come out, she decided to enter uninvited.

The old lady Lei was stunned.

Lei Yun was dumbfounded!

“Who does this look so familiar?” The old lady Lei thought for a moment. “Isn’t this Concubine Hui from the palace?”

Lin Rumeng hadn’t expected that even in plain clothes, the old lady would recognize her immediately.

Feeling a bit awkward, she said, “Yes, old lady.”

“Grandson, where is our future granddaughter-in-law? How come your wife isn’t here, but Concubine Hui is?”

Lei Yun was already dumbstruck by his grandmother’s mention of ‘Concubine Hui.’

Lin Rumeng, a concubine in the palace now?

It seemed Lin Xuanzhi’s words were true. The woman he fell for ten years ago had long married someone else, but he hadn’t expected that the woman from ten years ago would be married to the emperor.

“Grandmother, I don’t have a wife yet.” Lei Yun felt a bit embarrassed. Even though it had been ten years since he last saw Concubine Hui, and he thought he might feel some stirring emotions, his heart was as calm as still water, even calmer than he had imagined.

The old lady Lei’s face fell. “No wife? Then why did you come back? My goodness, my grandson is already in his thirties and still has no wife.”

Lei Yun: …

So, whether he returned home or not didn’t seem to matter.

What was most important was whether he brought a wife back?

You are truly a grandmother!

“Old lady, the meal is ready. Please, old lady, General Lei, and Concubine Hui, take your seats.”

“What Concubine Hui? This is Concubine Hui from the palace,” the old lady Lei clarified hastily.

Xiaohe, terrified, almost started crying and quickly knelt down, begging for forgiveness. By heaven’s grace, she had only just started serving in the Lei residence and had never seen Concubine Hui.

Moreover, Concubine Hui was dressed as a young maiden and wasn’t wearing the hairstyle of a married woman, so Xiaohe thought she was the future wife of the young general.

“Look at this mess.” The old lady Lei felt quite embarrassed.

But the most embarrassed was Concubine Hui.

“Concubine Hui, what brings you to the Lei residence today?” Lei Yun furrowed his brow.

Lin Rumeng smiled gently. “I heard that General Lei has returned to the capital, so I came to pay a visit.”

“Concubine Hui, you are being too formal. You are a palace concubine and I am a subordinate. It’s not proper for us to meet privately like this. If you have no other business, please return.”

The old lady Lei glanced at Lei Yun and then at Concubine Hui. As someone who had seen many things, she understood the situation immediately.

“Well then.” She turned and went straight into the house.

Her grandson had just returned, and instead of bringing back a wife, he brought back a troublesome matter.

With the old lady gone, only Lei Yun and Concubine Hui remained in the courtyard. Concubine Hui no longer hid her feelings and smiled at Lei Yun. “Lei Yun, it’s been a long time. I hope you’ve been well.”

“Concubine Hui, you are too kind.”

“Lei Yun, we haven’t seen each other for ten years. There’s no need to be so formal with me. We’re not in the palace now. You can just call me by my name.”

“That’s not appropriate. After all, we don’t have much of a relationship.”

Ten years ago, he had met Concubine Hui in Lingnan when she was still an unmarried daughter of the Lin family.

As a naïve military man, he had been instantly captivated by the elegant and kind Lin Rumeng.

They had interacted as friends in Lingnan for nearly a month. After a month, he confessed his feelings to Lin Rumeng.

But on that day, she was leaving for the capital.

She had said, “Lei Yun, if you come to the capital and I am still unmarried, I will marry you and be your only wife.”

He had cherished that promise for ten years, thinking about it constantly.

During that time, he had even exchanged letters with her.

Later, as he sent letter after letter back to the capital, he never received a reply.

He had tried to find news about Lin Rumeng in the capital through others, but there was no word.

Eventually, he lost all contact with her.

Returning to the capital was purely coincidental.

He understood that after ten years, she might have already married and was living a peaceful life.

So, when he saw Lin Rumeng appear at the Lei residence, he was quite surprised. She had found out about his return so quickly.

When his grandmother mentioned she was the current Concubine Hui, he had accepted it with calmness.

The past was, after all, the past.