The Fourth Lady novel Chapter 89

Murong Jingxuan buried himself in her arms. Sometimes, he really wanted to meet his mother, even if just once, but he knew this was only something he could imagine. As to Jingshu's appearance, he didn't remember too clearly, but even so, she was still his mother who worries about him.

"Jingxuan, don't be sad." Qingyan patted him on the back with a smile, "You'll be happy."

Murong Jingxuan looked to her and held up her face, dropping a kiss on her forehead. "Yan'er, you know, sometimes I would feel really happy, because I know that you'll always be by my side."

Qingyan looked him and nodded earnestly, "I will always be at your side, that will never change."

"The matter with Xiu Ran, I'll tell the Fourth Prince. Counting the days, Su Yun should be back soon. You don't need to worry." Murong Jingxuan patted her on the back, "Everything will be fine."

Qingyan, seeing Murong Jingxuan slightly tired, nodded, "Okay."

He glanced to her one last time, before flying away.

Seeing Murong Jingxuan's figure in the distance, Qingyan walked over to her bed and closed her eyes. Last night, she didn't sleep for the whole night, and in addition to wasting so much time this morning, probably only with a good sleep, can she finally feel a bit at ease.

Just, father, mother, big brother, you all need to come back safely.

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Meanwhile, somewhere five hundred li* away from the capital, an army was just setting up camp. A man dressed in armor was sitting by the campfire roasting a lamb, and sitting next to him was woman with her hair in a high bun. One look and you could tell she was a female general that could rival men. This couple was precisely Su Yun and Luo Bing.

(*TN: Li is an ancient measurement approximately 1 li is 500 meters.)

"Dear, we'll arrive at the capital soon. I wonder if Yan'er has been well these three years." Luo Bing look to Su Yun reluctantly and spoke, "From the beginning, I've said I wanted to keep her by our side, but you wouldn't agree."

"Don't worry, second sister-in-law and third sister-in-law will help us take good care of Yan'er." Su Yun carved out the roasting lamb leg and handed it Luo Bing.

Luo Bing looked to him and took the lamb leg from his hands, "But Yan'er, that child, for some reason isn't close with us." When Luo Bing thought of this, she felt a bit upset.

That was the daughter she carried for 10 months and gave birth to, how could she not love. But Yan'er felt estranged and not the least bit close with them.

"Yan'er...we naturally owe her too much." When Su Yun thought of this, he also felt a bitter taste in his mouth. If it wasn't for the fact that they were out year-round, how could he not want to raise his daughter by his side.

Who doesn't want to enjoy the bliss of having one's children around.

"Dear, this time the Emperor suddenly called us back to the capital, do you think something could have happened?" Luo Bing looked to Su Yun and asked in a serious tone.

Su Yun shook his head, "His Majesty's intentions isn't something we can guess at."

Although Su Yun didn't understand Hongjia Emperor, he still trusted him very much. After all, they were once under the same master and were fellow apprentices. In their youth, the two of them were very good friends. This was also the reason why Su Yun was the one that succeed the title of Dingguo Duke.

Donghe's throne is to be inherited by the Crown Prince, but Su Yun knew very well that Hongjia Emperor had a soft spot for the Imperial Consort and her son, the Fourth Prince. But to no avail, the Imperial Consort didn't pursue after these things, and her Fourth Prince had always stood by the Crown Prince's side.

Although this was what Hongjia Emperor wanted to see, it was also something he wasn't willing to see. If, say, the Fourth Prince was willing to compete for the throne, he was afraid Hongjia Emperor would probably be willing to yield.

"Dear, this time when we return, we need to properly make it up to Yan'er." Luo Bing held onto Su Yun's hand and dejectedly said, "It's not that I don't believe the second and third house, but ultimately, they're not us!"

Su Yun looked to her worryingly, and nodded, "If Yan'er is willing, we'll stay behind for her."

"Father, why is the mink we hunted last time missing? Didn't we say we're going to give it to little sister as a present?" A young man urgently rushed over towards them, "Why can't I find it, even after searching for so long."

Seeing the young man's flustered appearance, Su Yun couldn't help but to scold him, "Didn't I tell you to call me General when we're outside!"

The young man stood where he was and scratched his head, "General." This smiling young man was precisely Qingyan's blood related older brother of the same mother--Su Qingyu.

"You don't need to bother your father about it." Luo Bing rolled her eyes at Su Yun, "That mink is in our carriage."

Su Qingyu looked to Luo Bing with a smile, "Alright. Oh that's right, are we also giving little sister the scarf made from the brown bear fur?"

"How about we give it to your grandmother. After all, we're not in the capital year-round." Luo Bing said as she patted Su Qingyu's hand, "That mink will be enough for your little sister."

Su Qingyu twisted his mouth as he listened to Luo Bing. Although he didn't like this grandmother too much, she's very kind to Qingyan, so he could only agree to Luo Bing's idea of giving the scarf to grandmother.

"That was originally for you, why bother giving it to that old woman." Su Yun looked to Luo Bing and helplessly said.

"Dear, although we both know she's not your birth mother, regardless, she's very good to Yan'er." Luo Bing looked Su Yun with a smile, "Furthermore, only you and I know about this, even the second and third house don't know."

Su Yun, seeing Luo Bing's serious look, decided not to say anymore. What Luo Bing said made sense, that was Su Jiashi wasn't their biological mother, but was once one of the real Su Jiashi's dowry servants*. After Su Jiashi died, she used some unknown methods to climb into the Su old general's bed. Although she had no children, she was still very good to the three brothers.

(*TN: Since in ancient times servants were considered property, the term basically means servants that are sent over with the bride and become property of the new family.)

At that time, Su Ming and Su Yan were still infants, so it was natural they didn't know about this matter, but Su Yun knew very clearly.

That's why Su Yun only had respect for the current Su Jiashi and didn't have the love and concern that one had for a mother.

"Dear, three hundred li from here will be the Forest of Buried Souls. I think when the time comes, we all need to be careful." Luo Bing looked to Su Yun and said with a serious look.

Su Yun held onto Luo Bing's hand and nodded, "Yu'er, when the time comes, we'll walk around the forest."

When Su Qingyu received the order, he earnestly nodded to the two of them, "Understood."

Su Yun and Luo Bing watched Su Qingyu's retreating back and looked at one another with a smile.

But just then, an arrow fell before them. On the arrow was a fabric pouch, and in it was a hairpin and a slip of paper.

Seeing the hairpin, Luo Bing tightly covered her mouth. This hairpin was exactly the one she personally put on Qingyan when she'd left in the beginning. And the words on the slip of paper proved this:

'If you want to save your daughter, come to the Forest of Buried Souls.'