Chapter 59 : Isn’t it natural to make your wife happy?

Once that suspicion popped into her mind, it couldn’t be retracted.

The more Cui Yunzhao thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

In her previous life, she hadn’t understood the people around Huo Tan, she was unfamiliar with those generals and leaders. She had never even heard of Bau Xiaochuan.

He either fell out of favor with Huo Tan due to his biased actions and was subsequently expelled, or he simply didn’t succeed and ended up as an inconspicuous guard.

Cui Yunzhao narrowed her eyes, her thoughts racing.

If it was the first possibility, then he definitely wasn’t acting under Huo Tan’s orders. A simple inquiry about Huo Tan’s attitude would clarify everything.

If it was the second possibility, then who would want to spend money to bribe him to harm her?

To enter and exit the Changle Villa, one needed a token from Lingxiao Palace. Even Cui Yunting had to go to Lingxiao Palace to request a token to see her.

In her previous life, Bau Xiaochuan either had a token from Lingxiao Palace himself or had received it from whoever was plotting against her. In any case, this person must have had a way to obtain the token.

Thinking of this, Cui Yunzhao paused for a moment. In her previous life, due to the divorce and feeling that her relationship with Huo Tan was strained, she had always kept to herself, quietly living in the Changle Villa.

Everything in the Villa was beautiful. The scenery was lovely, the palace servants were attentive, and her clothing, food, and living conditions were all the best. Aside from occasionally feeling a bit lonely, her life was genuinely good and comfortable.

She never felt particularly important to Huo Tan, to Lingxiao Palace, or to the court.

But why were there such strict rules for entering and exiting the Changle Villa? Even Cui Yunting couldn’t see her freely, he had to request a token from Lingxiao Palace to meet her in person.

This suggested that her existence was not insignificant.

Cui Yunzhao felt her heart racing.

But how could she possibly be so important?

This question lingered in her mind, and by the time she returned home, she still hadn’t found an answer.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Huo family home. As Cui Yunzhao stepped down, she saw two tall young men standing under the porch, speaking with Uncle Ping.

As she alighted from the carriage, Uncle Ping noticed her and hurried over, limping slightly. “Ninth Miss, you’re back.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded at him and asked, “Who are these two?”

Uncle Ping replied, “These are two long workers chosen by Ninth Master. They’ve already signed contracts and came here for you to arrange. Since you weren’t back, I couldn’t make any arrangements.”

Uncle Ping was good in many ways, but he was a bit stubborn, always taking Huo Tan’s word as final, without any flexibility.

Cui Yunzhao didn’t say much more; she first praised him for his hard work and then turned to the two tall workers.

Seeing the cold weather outside, she suggested, “Let’s go to the front room to talk.”

There wasn’t really a suitable place for receiving guests in the house, which was quite inconvenient.

The entrance was too small, and Cui Yunzhao sighed inwardly, wishing they could move to the Fulu residence soon, to live in her favorite large house.

The front room was usually only occupied by Uncle Ping, but he kept it very tidy, with the tables and chairs arranged neatly.

Cui Yunzhao sat down in a chair and said, “Let’s all sit and talk.”

The two workers exchanged glances, unsure, but eventually sat down cautiously.

Cui Yunzhao observed their faces.

Both men were around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, looking about ten years older than her and Huo Tan, with signs of hardship and the passage of time etched on their faces.

One man had a scar on his face that looked somewhat intimidating.

Cui Yunzhao noticed that the other man’s left hand was not quite whole; he was missing a few fingers.

Seeing their upright postures and determined expressions, she started to form a guess.

“Are you two retired soldiers?”

Both men were surprised. The one with the injured hand spoke up, “Ninth Miss, you’re indeed insightful. We are retired soldiers, but our injuries weren’t severe. Our home suffered a disaster, and our parents were seriously injured and paralyzed. Ninth Brother took pity on us and specifically requested from his superiors for us to be discharged due to injury.”

Ordinary long-xing soldiers typically only received injury discharges if they were missing limbs and could no longer serve on the battlefield generally, they wouldn’t be granted such discharges otherwise.

Being discharged for injury meant they could receive a pension of a tael of silver each month from the military affairs department. Though this sum might seem small, it was quite substantial.

If they were single and lived frugally, it would be enough to get by.

Of course, living frugally was quite strict; if they wanted a better life, they would certainly need to find other work as well.

The man with the missing fingers continued, “We are brothers, twins actually. This is my older brother, Su Mingjin, and I am the younger brother, Su Mingmu.”

Though they were twins, they didn’t look especially alike. The older brother, Su Mingjin, was somewhat dull and reticent, appearing quiet. In contrast, the younger brother, Su Mingmu, was much more talkative and looked a bit more handsome.

They must have served under Huo Tan in the past, and it was Huo Tan who had helped them when their family faced difficulties.

Cui Yunzhao noticed that Huo Tan truly cared for his soldiers. He never sought favors for himself; most of the time, it was for the sake of these brothers.

No wonder they followed him loyally even in tough times and never betrayed him.

Cui Yunzhao nodded, “I understand. I will call you Su Da and Su Er. Currently, there is only the back room available for living, but there are two more rooms, you can choose one to stay in.”

She paused and asked, “How have you arranged for your families?”

The two exchanged glances, and Su Mingmu sighed, “Our parents passed away last summer. For the past six months, we’ve been trying to make a living in Boling. We didn’t marry because of the years of war, and now only the two of us are left.”

Cui Yunzhao responded, “I see. Since my husband has brought you here, it must be for guarding the house. Recently, things at home have been a bit unstable, so I am very grateful you two are here to work.”

Even though they were retired soldiers and no longer on the battlefield, Cui Yunzhao still respected them greatly.

This made the brothers feel a bit embarrassed.

Su Mingjin stood up immediately, and Su Mingmu quickly followed suit, saying, “Ninth Miss, you are too courteous, making us unsure how to respond.”

As he spoke, he smiled broadly.

“We are no longer soldiers; it is Ninth Brother’s kindness that gives us a place to stay. We should be the ones thanking you, Ninth Miss, and we will do our utmost to serve well. Just give us your orders.”

Cui Yunzhao smiled back.

She enjoyed speaking with straightforward people.

So, she stood up and said, “Well, your wages should have already been discussed by my husband, so I won’t say more about that. However, you do need to change your clothes and shoes. I will have Huzi take you to buy some.”

Cui Yunzhao added with a smile, “The New Year is approaching, and we’ve all gotten new clothes for a festive touch.”

She said this to give the brothers no chance to argue.

After reminding Uncle Ping a few more times, Cui Yunzhao returned home.

In the evening, Huo Tan came back.

He returned a bit later than usual, and when he entered, Cui Yunzhao was feeling a bit hungry, dozing off at the table.

He noticed her rubbing her eyes and said, “I told you it was fine to eat without waiting for me.”

Cui Yunzhao just smiled and didn’t reply, moving closer to prepare a towel for him.

“Those Su brothers are quite good. Should I have them accompany me when I go out?”

Huo Tan nodded.

Life was indeed comfortable; he didn’t have to explain himself to Cui Yunzhao for anything he did, and vice versa.

That kind of understanding between them made everything feel warm and sweet.

Thinking of this, Huo Tan couldn’t help but smile to himself.

“They are skilled fighters. Huzi should learn from them; don’t waste this opportunity.”

Huo Tan continued, “I often need to go out, and I don’t feel at ease leaving the house unguarded. After the disturbance caused by the Wang family, I’ve been thinking about this.”

“It’s a pity they have been wandering around without a stable home. I finally waited until today for them to go to the military affairs office to collect their pension.”

Huo Tan was genuinely concerned about the safety of his home.

Cui Yunzhao smiled, “Now that they are here, I feel much more at ease.”

Huo Tan nodded, and after washing up, they both sat down at the table.

Both were hungry, so they started eating right away.

At first, they didn’t speak, quietly enjoying their meal. Huo Tan occasionally picked up some dishes for Cui Yunzhao, encouraging her to eat more.

Once they were about half full, Cui Yunzhao’s eating pace slowed down.

She thought for a moment and then shared her earlier conversation with Tan Qihong with Huo Tan.

At first, Huo Tan smiled, but as he heard about Bau Xiaochuan’s actions, the smile faded from his face.

By the time Cui Yunzhao finished, he had already put down his chopsticks, his expression turning serious.

Cui Yunzhao asked, “What does my husband want to do about it?”

Huo Tan lightly tapped the table three times with his fingers, quickly coming to a decision.

“He cannot remain under my command. However, Tan Qihong’s testimony cannot be used as evidence; he won’t admit to anything, and we can’t just remove him from the military household.”

Tan Qihong had reported Liu Shiba, and since Liu Shiba hadn’t changed his name, his military household and transfer orders were intact. Furthermore, Liu Shiba’s subordinates had confessed to all their crimes.

That was a self-admitted guilt, making it relatively easy to prosecute.

But Bau Xiaochuan was different.

The main issue was the lack of further evidence and witnesses.

Relying solely on Tan Qihong’s statements, it would indeed be impossible to convict Bau Xiaochuan.

However, it was clear that Huo Tan already held a strong disdain for him.

Seeing Huo Tan frowning, Cui Yunzhao smiled, “I mentioned this to my husband because I was worried he would continue to cause trouble and implicate you. It’s best to transfer him before he does any harm, and you can discuss how to arrange that with Deputy Commander Mu.”

Huo Tan relaxed his brows slightly and soon looked at Cui Yunzhao with a smile.

“You’re truly clever, my dear wife.”

Huo Tan didn’t want to keep Bau Xiaochuan around and had no more evidence to hold him, but he could send this “good news” to Vice Commander Mu. It all depended on whom Vice Commander Mu had a conflict with. This way, he could do Commander Mu a favor while also getting rid of a troublesome hot potato, it was a win-win situation.

Cui Yunzhao couldn’t help but laugh when Huo Tan praised her “I was worried my husband might think I’m too scheming and full of tricks.”

Huo Tan clicked his tongue. “How could that be?”

“Your wife’s cleverness is something I’ve never seen before; I didn’t even think of such a good idea.”

Cui Yunzhao shot him a playful glare. “I don’t believe it.”

Putting down her chopsticks, she felt relieved that Bau Xiaochuan was leaving. With a smile, she picked up a piece of braised pork and offered it to Huo Tan.

“You just know how to make me happy.”

Huo Tan laughed heartily and returned the gesture, giving her a slice of her favorite bamboo shoots.

“Isn’t it only right to make my wife happy?”

“If it weren’t for you, my life would be so difficult! It would be full of crises!”

Huo Tan was serious when he needed to be, but he was also playful when the moment called for it. In any case, he had managed to make Cui Yunzhao laugh.

Cui Yunzhao shot him a teasing look. “Yes, yes, yes, it’s all thanks to me protecting you.”

Seeing the smile in her eyes, Huo Tan couldn’t help but laugh along.

“Only you understand me, my dear wife.”

After finishing their meal, Cui Yunzhao felt relaxed and wore a constant smile on her face. When Huo Tan came out after bathing and changing clothes, he saw Cui Yunzhao sitting by the Rohan bed, working on some needlework. He approached and took her hand.

“Don’t do this at night, you might strain your eyes.”

Cui Yunzhao set down her embroidery frame. “I have nothing else to do, so I’m just passing the time.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt warmth enveloping her hand; Huo Tan had taken hold of it.

Looking up slightly, she saw Huo Tan gazing at her deeply with lowered brows. The flickering light and warm candle glow created a soft atmosphere in the room, filled with the sweet aroma of pear.

Cui Yunzhao met Huo Tan’s profound gaze and felt a stirring she couldn’t quite articulate. It reminded her of the passionate nights of her past life.

Biting her lip, she softly asked, “Husband?”

Her voice was cool, like blooming pink lotuses swaying on the shimmering surface of a summer lake, graceful and enchanting.

Huo Tan’s brows lowered, his eyes filled with a heavy mist.

He suddenly sighed, a low, deep sound that lingered in Cui Yunzhao’s ears, making her earlobes turn crimson.

Noticing her shifting gaze, Huo Tan chuckled softly, using a little force to lift her off the Rohan bed.

In the next moment, Cui Yunzhao found herself in his arms.

Huo Tan’s chest was broad and warm, securely holding her as she leaned comfortably against him. He lowered his head, rubbing his chin against her forehead.

“My dear wife, isn’t this enough?” Huo Tan’s voice was husky.

“I always feel like countless moments have passed, that time has flown by, and it seems we have been married for many years.”

His words lingered in Cui Yunzhao’s mind, bringing back memories of past warmth and intimacy. He was warm and strong, his arms enveloping her tightly, making it hard for her to move.

Cui Yunzhao’s face flushed from the heat.

She lowered her head to avoid his stubbly chin, playfully scolding, “It tickles.”

Huo Tan laughed again, his deep, melodious laughter like a gentle flute tune, resonating against Cui Yunzhao’s cheeks.

She felt even warmer. Wanting to push him away, she moved, but the mischievous man pulled her towards the bedside, and she stumbled right into his embrace.

The flickering candlelight and gently draping curtains created a beautiful scene.

Cui Yunzhao no longer resisted, feeling lazy as she nestled in Huo Tan’s arms, listening to the strong beat of his heart.

Thump, thump.

It was his unique strength.

Cui Yunzhao couldn’t help but smile.

Her delicate fingers began to trace Huo Tan’s neck.

Her fingers were slender and soft, especially her uncalloused left hand.

With a gentle touch, they moved downward.

Huo Tan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he let out a light sigh.

This time, his eyes were dark and deep, as if there was a bloodthirsty beast hiding in them, wanting to immediately tear the delicate beauty in front of him into his stomach.

“My wife,” Huo Tan’s voice also became hoarse, “Is it okay?”

Cui Yunzhao felt her whole body getting hot, and she was a little moved in her heart, but as her eyes moved, she still gently pinched Huo Tan’s chin.

Her fingers gently stroked his chin, causing a tingling sensation. “My husband, wait a little longer?” Her voice was rarely coquettish.

Huo Tan sighed slightly. He lowered his head and leaned on Cui Yunzhao’s shoulder pitifully. “Why?”

Cui Yunzhao could not give an answer. But she just felt that the last answer in her heart had not yet been settled.

Cui Yunzhao pursed her lips and said in a gentle voice “My husnband, I’m scared.” This was just an excuse.

At this time, there were only two of them in the bedroom. Cui Yunzhao was delicate and weak, while Huo Tan was strong and powerful. Whatever he wanted to do was easy.

But every time, he would ask her. Huo Tan respected her and himself very much.

He attached great importance to their marriage and their feelings.

Cui Yunzhao was deeply touched by this.

Cui Yunzhao felt sweet and warm in her heart. The hot spring flowed from the bottom of her heart, making her whole body warm.

Cui Yunzhao stretched out her hand and pinched Huo Tan’s neck, which made Huo Tan raise her head and look at her with some resentment.

“My wife, don’t tease me.”

Cui Yunzhao hooked Chun, and she lowered her head and moved closer to Huo Tan little by little.

“Husband, you are so honest.”

Cui Yunzhao said this, and as soon as his soft lips fell, they found Huo Tan’s hot lips.

In an instant, Cui Yunzhao felt sweat on his back again.

Although they haven’t consummated their marriage yet, the two of them are so close to each other, their lips intertwined, which makes people feel excited and have an indescribable warmth.

Cui Yunzhao is very good at giving a sweet date after a beating.

Since Cui Yunzhao gave this sweet date, Huo Tan was reluctant to let it go and ate it clean inside and out.

In the end, Cui Yunzhao’s lips felt a little painful, so he patted his chest gently. “You are born in the year of the dog.”

Huo Tan’s voice was hoarse, and there was satisfaction in his tone.

Cui Yunzhao couldn’t help but laugh at his serious rebuttal. She playfully tapped Huo Tan’s forehead, feigning annoyance. “It’s late, let’s settle down.”

Huo Tan sighed, “As you wish, my wife.”

For the next two days, after the porridge distribution ended, there was little else to do at home, and Cui Yunzhao enjoyed a few leisurely days.

Then one fine day, Huo Tan saw Cui Yunzhao awake early and thought for a moment before saying, “My wife, do you have time today?”

Cui Yunzhao paused, then replied, “I have time.”

Huo Tan suggested, “How about accompanying me to the military camp? I can teach you how to ride a horse.”

Cui Yunzhao’s eyes brightened. “You have free time today?”

Huo Tan nodded. “I’ve finished my tasks. Now it’s just drills. In half a month, it will be the New Year, and there won’t be much to do in the army.”

“It’s perfect timing to teach you to ride before the New Year.”

Although Cui Yunzhao already knew how to ride, she thought it would be better to learn in advance for convenience in the future. So she nodded. “Alright, then I’ll trouble you, husband.”

After breakfast, Huo Tan said, “Today, I’ll ride and take you to the barracks instead of using a carriage.”

Cui Yunzhao replied, “Then I’ll let Mother Xia rest at home and not make her come along.”

When they reached the door, Cui Yunzhao spotted the familiar chestnut horse. Huo Tan’s chestnut horse was tall and strong, with a shiny red mane and determined eyes, it looked impressive.

Cui Yunzhao remembered its name: Tafeng. She had only had a brief acquaintance with Tafeng before and hadn’t had the chance to bond with it. Today, as she was about to ride out, she wanted to reach out and stroke its head.

However, as soon as she extended her hand, Tafeng cleverly stepped back and neighed disdainfully.

Having just gone to fetch some feed, Huo Tan couldn’t help but laugh at its reaction. “It has quite the temper,” he said, handing a bean cake to Cui Yunzhao. “You’ll need to feed it some bean cake. If it’s happy, it will let you ride.”

Tafeng seemed to understand Huo Tan’s words. Just as he finished speaking, it neighed again and even stamped its hoof.

Cui Yunzhao couldn’t help but laugh again. Holding out the bean cake in front of Tafeng, she watched as it looked at her, then at the treat. After sniffing it for a while, it finally deigned to eat.

Cui Yunzhao teased Huo Tan, “Your horse has a bigger temper than you do.”

Huo Tan patted Tafeng’s neck, laughing heartily. “Indeed! I have to beg it to let me ride.”

After feeding Tafeng a couple of bean cakes, it finally allowed Cui Yunzhao to pat its head. This was quite generous of it.

Huo Tan helped Cui Yunzhao step onto the horse. “It’s because it sees you often; our scents are similar now. That’s why it’s willing to get close to you. Otherwise, it wouldn’t eat from your hand.”

Though Cui Yunzhao’s waist was slender and appeared delicate, when he pulled her up, she mounted the horse with ease. In the blink of an eye, she was seated firmly in the saddle.

This time, Tafeng didn’t act up and stood patiently, allowing her to settle in.

Huo Tan was a bit surprised to see her calm demeanor and the way she sat with perfect posture. He couldn’t help but praise, “My wife, you’re truly impressive. You take to everything so well, it seems you’ll be galloping soon.”

As he spoke, he lightly kicked his legs, effortlessly swinging himself onto the horse behind Cui Yunzhao. His movements were clean and quick, displaying a graceful charm.

Cui Yunzhao felt herself nestled against his chest and leaned back, lifting her gaze, appearing quite relaxed. “Huo Tan, shall we go?”

Huo Tan laughed heartily, flicking the reins. “As you command, my lady.”

This was the first time Huo Tan jokingly referred to her. 

Cui Yunzhao blinked, momentarily caught off guard, but before she could reminisce, the wind rushed in, cooling her cheeks.

As the horse trotted down the path, the brisk wind wove through the dappled sunlight, mixing with the warmth of the winter sun, making her heart soar.

The lane was empty, and the sky was brightening. The golden sun was rising as the horse sped along the wide road ahead.

Riding together, they felt like they could truly ride the winds and waves, leaping into the depths of the galaxy.

Cui Yunzhao suddenly felt all her burdens lifted. The troubles of past lives, the schemes, and plots faded away in the rush.

At that moment, all she thought about was running forward. No looking back.

She didn’t need to look back.

She just needed to ride the winds, cross the thorns, and move past all obstacles, heading straight into the depths of blooming flowers.

Huo Tan’s arms were securely around her waist as he guided Tafeng from a walk to a gallop.

In no time, they were racing ahead.

In the blink of an eye, they burst out of the lotus flower lane and sped down Linquan Street, the scenery flashing by,familiar yet new.

Huo Tan leaned close to her ear and asked, “Are you scared?”

Cui Yunzhao shook her head, then quickly turned to answer loudly, “Not scared!”

Huo Tan laughed brightly, “Then I’ll go faster.”

With that, he squeezed with his legs, flicked the reins, and with a commanding “Go,” Tafeng shot forward like an arrow, racing away in an instant.

The sound of hooves was crisp, a flash of fiery red moving from afar, leaving a trail of speed on Linquan Street.

At this moment, Cui Yunzhao felt as if she were flying.

She felt exhilarated, joyful, and utterly liberated.

Slowly, she loosened her grip on the reins and spread her arms wide.

In that moment, she was free.