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Wen Shiyang looked at him in shock.
This matter had never been mentioned by Lu Qingyan before, nor had it ever been told to the original owner.
“You…” Wen Shiyang could hardly believe it.
A trace of sorrow flashed across Lu Qingyan’s eyes. As if gathering every ounce of courage, he spoke again:
“Their father was my comrade. On the battlefield… he was shot by the enemy while protecting me.”
“At that time, his wife was pregnant back home. When she received the terrible news, she grieved so intensely that not long after, she gave birth prematurely to Dabao and Xiaobao.”
“The children survived, but their mother, unfortunately, passed away due to complications from childbirth.”
Wen Shiyang was still coming out of her shock, covering her mouth, her eyes full of astonishment.
She had never known that Dabao and Xiaobao’s fate had been so tragic.
Looking at Lu Qingyan, whose eyes were red with determination, Wen Shiyang suddenly felt that the man before her was not so fearsome.
On the battlefield, weapons spare no one. If he had not acted as he did, how could he have led his soldiers? How could he have protected the comrades he cared about?
“But… why are you telling me?” Wen Shiyang could tell that this was a scar Lu Qingyan had never dared to reveal.
Lu Qingyan looked at her, his expression serious.
“Because you care for them.”
Because she cared for Dabao and Xiaobao, she deserved to know this truth.
Of course, he had considered keeping it from her.
After all, this was the first time in years she had asked about Dabao and Xiaobao’s mother.
Hearing this, Wen Shiyang almost laughed. This man trusted her so easily!
But now that she knew this secret, she would certainly protect it.
“The water must be cold by now,” Lu Qingyan remarked, glancing at the foot bath.
If he hadn’t mentioned it, Wen Shiyang wouldn’t have noticed. She wiggled her toes—indeed, the water had cooled.
“A little,” she admitted.
Seeing that he was about to refill it, she quickly declined, “No need. I’ve soaked long enough.”
Lu Qingyan then turned and grabbed a dry towel from the wooden rack.
“Wipe your feet first. I’ll pour out the water,” he said, handing her the towel as he bent to lift the basin.
Wen Shiyang hurriedly waved him off. “No, no, I’ll do it myself.”
Since childhood, Wen Shiyang liked doing things with her own hands. Even after gaining fame, her manager at Yue Si Ge had arranged a few servants for her.
Yet she never got used to ordering others around; she still preferred doing things herself.
Moreover, in their era, most men held prestigious positions, and few would do anything for a woman—let alone fetch a foot bath.
“It’s nothing,” Lu Qingyan thought. Effortlessly, he carried the basin with one hand and strode away.
Wen Shiyang watched him leave, unaware of the redness at the tips of his ears.
Even after leaving the room, Lu Qingyan’s mind was filled with the image of Wen Shiyang’s delicate, boneless-looking feet—the snow-white skin made him uncomfortably heated.
He was not a man who easily lost control, but physiological needs were not something he could simply restrain at will.
He gulped several mouthfuls of cold water, finally alleviating the dryness in his throat and mouth.
After two trips to the restroom, Lu Qingyan finally returned to the room.
No need to guess—tonight was destined to be torturous!
Wen Shiyang, wearing thin sleepwear, had her long, smooth legs exposed to the air.
Hearing the movement, she sat up, beads of sweat on her face. She wiped her forehead and said softly, “It’s so stuffy here… even hotter than home.”
It was early autumn, and the city had no rivers or trees to provide shade, making it feel even more oppressive.
Lu Qingyan noticed her cheeks flushed pink, and his Adam’s apple moved slightly as he watched her. Her bright, fluttering eyes looked like an innocent little bunny, full of innocence.
Snapping back to reality, he said, “I remember there’s a fan in the living room. I’ll get it for you to cool yourself.”
Wen Shiyang shook her head, looking troubled. “Forget it. Let’s just sleep. Once I’m asleep, I won’t feel hot anymore.”
She collapsed onto the bed, lying on her side, adjusting to a more comfortable position.
It was unbearably hot, and her clothes were soaked with sweat.
Lu Qingyan returned from the living room with a bamboo fan.
Carefully, he sat at the head of the bed and began fanning her, slowly, rhythmically.
Wen Shiyang felt the cool breeze and snuggled comfortably against the pillow. Her voice soft and sweet, she said, “Thank you, Lu Qingyan.”
Thank him?
In just a few short days, it seemed she had thanked him countless times already.
In fact, he was the one who should be thanking her—she had wholeheartedly cared for his household and helped raise his two children.
The night was quiet, cicadas chirping endlessly outside. The moonlight was gentle, and before they knew it, time had passed beyond the western window.
Because they were so exhausted from moving yesterday, everyone had slept until noon in mutual silence.
Wen Shiyang was among the first to wake, changing her clothes and tidying the clutter in the living room.
It wasn’t until past one o’clock that Lu Qingyan, Zhou Liang, and the two children got up.
After a quick wash-up, Lu Qingyan declared he would take everyone out to eat.
The restaurant in Jing City was just down the next street. A wooden sign hung on the door, with today’s specials written in chalk.
“Let’s have Mu Shu pork, stir-fried pork with chili, Mapo tofu, and for the kids, fish-flavored shredded pork and twice-cooked pork. Add a bowl of rice and a sesame flatbread,” Lu Qingyan said as he scanned the menu, choosing a few dishes that were decent in flavor.
Zhou Liang bumped his shoulder against him with a grin and teased, “You’ve got quite the appetite!”
Lu Qingyan knew he hadn’t held back a fart of mischief and ignored him.
He turned to ruffle Xiaobao’s twin pigtails. “You’re such a good girl.”
Xiaobao looked up at him with a dazzling smile, stretching out her chubby little arms. “Daddy, pick me up.”
Lu Qingyan lifted her lovingly, teasing her playfully.
Wen Shiyang couldn’t help but take in the scene, feeling that this place reminded her of the inn she had once run.
It was probably not too different.
She had previously invested in fabric shops, cosmetics shops, and some herbal medicine shops in Chang’an City, all with top-tier returns.
So she always ranked first on the annual list of charitable benefactors helping the poor.
Serving porridge in temporary shelters, funding embankment repairs—she had been involved in it all.
She knew very well that taking from the people and giving back to the people was the surest way to maintain her position.
Had she not done these things, how could she have been granted a residence by the emperor and bestowed a title? It simply wouldn’t have happened.
“Stubborn woman! Can’t even have kids and still dare to boss me around!”
“Do you believe I’ll beat you up today?!”
A heated argument erupted outside the restaurant.
Wen Shiyang and Lu Qingyan instinctively covered the children’s eyes in unison.
The man slapped the woman twice, then roughly pushed her to the ground.
The onlookers ignored it completely, as if they were accustomed to scenes like this.