Chapter 300: Chapter 300

After the coal mine collapse accident years ago, no one dared to approach the foot of Da Huan Mountain, where a couple lived.

Bamboo fence, thatched cottage, stone house, flower pavilion.

No one knew the couple’s names, only occasionally hunters in the nearby mountains would see the man supporting his wife as they went up the mountain, visiting each of the eighty or so newly built graves to pay their respects and burn paper money.

Ningzhou is a remote area with blocked news. Although some information returned after the sensational case in the Capital was judged, not everyone knew about it.

Therefore, most people assumed this couple were relatives of the accident victims, unable to ascertain which grave belonged to their relatives, so they paid respects to each one.

At the moment, Fanghua stood in front of one of the graves, holding incense and paper money in her hands, her expression somewhat dazed.

Lu Xingzhou stood up after paying respects at the neighboring grave, noticing her distraction, and softly asked, "Is Ah Yin feeling unwell somewhere?"

After speaking, his gaze fell on her belly, "The graveyard has heavy yin energy, next time you should not come, stay home and rest. I can pay respects by myself; you have a small one in your belly, I’m sure they will understand in heaven."

Fanghua did not refuse; although she felt fine on previous visits, today she felt discomfort in her abdomen as soon as she arrived on the mountain. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novelFirｅ.net

Lu Xingzhou took the incense and paper money from her hands, placed them back in the bamboo basket, and guided her to sit under the shade of a tree, "Wait here for me, I’ll be done soon."

As Lu Xingzhou turned away, Fanghua suddenly asked, "Husband, do you think Yanqing can return in thirty years?"

"Certainly," Lu Xingzhou responded firmly, "Though no one can take his place in punishment, I’ve arranged someone to accompany him, and news will return soon. As long as we can wait, he can return alive."

"It would be good if he returns," Fanghua smiled slightly, "You go ahead, I’ll rest for a while, and later I’ll come to help you."

Lu Xingzhou didn’t allow it, "Only a few graves left, you wait a little longer for me."

Seeing Fanghua want to say more, he continued, "Though we came to Ningzhou to guard the spirits and atone, if it harms our unborn child, isn’t it another sin?"

Fanghua listened and didn’t insist, watching the man carry the bamboo basket and continue paying respects to the deceased.

His actions were devout, not negligent because he was busy caring for her.

Clearly, he sincerely repented, sincerely wanted to atone for a son who had no blood relation with him.

Fanghua watched, her eyes gradually wet.

Lu Xingzhou finished paying respects and returned, seeing the person originally sitting under the tree was gone.

Feeling an unconscious tension, he softly called, "Ah Yin—"

After a change at home, she often worried excessively, and he genuinely feared she might do something foolish.

The more he thought, the more alarmed Lu Xingzhou felt.

Dropping the bamboo basket holding incense, he stepped forward to search.

A voice suddenly came from the woods behind.

Lu Xingzhou halted his steps, turned around, and saw her holding a large bunch of wildflowers, slowly walking towards him.

The previously tense brows slowly relaxed, Lu Xingzhou showed a faint smile, "Where did you go?"

Fanghua looked at him, honestly saying, "I smelled floral fragrance in the woods and thought to pick some to take home."

Saying this, she handed him a wildflower she couldn’t name, "Smell it, does it smell good?"

Lu Xingzhou took it, inhaling cautiously, smiling, "This flower’s scent is a bit strange."

"How could it be?" Fanghua didn’t believe it, wanting to take the flower back for herself to check.

Lu Xingzhou took the opportunity to hold her delicate wrist, feeling its fine and thin touch.

He could tell she lost quite a bit of weight since leaving the Capital.

The flower she had just snatched fell to the ground, and a low male voice came by her ear, "Next time you want flowers, I’ll pick them for you, don’t wander into the woods alone, I’ll worry."

Fanghua responded crisply, indeed causing him trouble was not wise.

Lu Xingzhou slowly released her, bent down to pick up the flower, handed it back, and asked, "Are you still uncomfortable?"

Fanghua said, "I walked in the woods for a while, and it’s not too bad now."

Lu Xingzhou was still uneasy, "Once we descend the mountain, I’ll have someone check you."

Among the Hidden Guard, someone understands medicine.

This way, it saves them from traveling to a town by the foot of the mountain for a doctor, and avoids unnecessary troubles.

After all, Fanghua appeared in this area twenty years ago.

Twenty years later, it’s difficult to guarantee someone would not recognize her again.

Bringing Hidden Guard was just in case; in reality, Lu Xingzhou didn’t want any more conflicts or accidents.

He cherished the ordinary and peaceful life they currently had.

Before this, both he and Ah Yin carried too much, too heavy burdens.

Twenty years ago, due to identity constraints, they ended up where they are today.

Now dropping the identity, shedding burdens, he was no longer the Lu Family Second Master, nor was she the Eldest Princess, not needing to worry about anyone’s obstruction.

Most of the way down the mountain, it was Lu Xingzhou supporting her.

Fanghua could have managed herself, but the man was overly anxious, so she went along with him.

Back at home, Lu Xingzhou immediately had Ye Zong, the Hidden Guard who understood medicine, check Fanghua.

After the examination, Hidden Guard said frankly, the Eldest Princess had stirred up fetal energy due to excessive worry.

Lu Xingzhou slightly pursed his lips with a gaze instinctively turning to Fanghua, but she appeared with a beaming smile, then sheepishly shifted her gaze away, stubbornly saying, "I’m not excessively worried. Every day I eat and sleep well."

Lu Xingzhou instructed Ye Zong to go to town for the fetus-preserving medicine, then told Fanghua, "If you feel something isn’t right, you can tell me, but don’t hold it inside alone, otherwise if time goes on, it’s easy for issues to arise. You’re with child after all; if something unfortunate happens, my worry is secondary, mainly it’s you who suffers."

Fanghua listened to him, was silent for a while before expressing her recent thoughts, "I was just thinking, you’re a Great General Marquis, for me you abandoned your military power, and also self-exile to this countryside as an ordinary commoner; do you feel regret?"

Lu Xingzhou obviously hadn’t expected her worries to be this, a moment of astonishment followed, then he calmly replied, "There’s no regret; only whether it’s worthwhile. To exchange the latter part of my life’s wealth for decades of tranquility, I find nothing compares to this value.

Ah Yin, I can guess what you’re pondering, don’t think about sending me to the border. Since I handed over the military power, I never thought of regaining power,

I’ve waited over a decade for the day we truly become husband and wife, each day of those years you might not feel, but surely you saw.

Now, I have the right to be the master of my own fate."

His gaze gradually softened, "You carrying my child, I cannot possibly leave you at this time."

Fanghua listened, smiled while pursing her lips, "I’m not sending you away, just wanting to know your true thoughts. We’ve come this far. You say you can’t abandon me, so I haven’t possibly pushed you out! If you leave, who will my child call father?"

Seeing her mood improving, Lu Xingzhou followed suit, delighted.

The fetus-preserving medicine came quickly.

Lu Xingzhou personally washed the medicine pot to brew.

Though Hidden Guards had outstanding martial skills and intelligence gathering abilities, cooking and brewing medicine weren’t their expertise.

Even if they could, Lu Xingzhou hadn’t intended to delegate the task.

The not-so-large fenced yard, with three rooms lined up.

Central living room, left bedroom, right kitchen.

Knowing visitors wouldn’t come, no guest room was set.

At the fence gate, lay a half-grown yellow dog as a guard, smelling the bitterness of the brewing medicine, as it turned its face disparagingly to the side.

After the medicine brewed, Lu Xingzhou took it to the living room.

Fanghua had already arranged the flowers she picked before, being skilled in this, so even using ordinary water pots instead of precious vases, her hands could arrange wildflowers to harmonize with the house, making it appear simply elegant and refreshing at first glance.

"Ah Yin, time for medicine," Lu Xingzhou placed the medicine bowl on the table, calling the person who was arranging wildflowers.

Fanghua set the clay pot on the low table, reflexively touched her abdomen before sitting at the table.

She wasn’t afraid of drinking medicine and quickly finished it.

Lu Xingzhou asked if she wanted preserved fruit, Fanghua shook her head, saying no need, not that precious.

Spotting red happened half a month later, Lu Xingzhou went to the graveyard, Fanghua was in the kitchen rinsing rice, just about to cook, when suddenly a severe abdominal pain struck, followed by a warm flow.

Feeling uneasy, she supported herself to check in the room.

At the sight of blood, Fanghua’s face turned ghastly pale.