Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 357: Lady Yao and Heir Su Reconcile and Return to the Capital

Chapter 357: Chapter 357: Lady Yao and Heir Su Reconcile and Return to the Capital

Lou Zixi had never harbored any grand desires.

He had never once crossed that line from beginning to end.

As a child, coming from a poor family, in order to study, he followed an attendant up the mountain to gather herbs. Once during a heavy downpour, to escape the rain, they took shelter in a ruined temple in the mountains. He was a pitiable sight, but when he looked up, he saw a statue of a goddess gazing at him with a faint smile, her face gentle.

That small decrepit temple was like an umbrella held up by the goddess statue, sheltering him from the wind and rain.

However, on an extremely cold rainy night, the temple collapsed, and the statue shattered, buried under the mudslide.

Later, he broke his leg, fell disgracefully in a filthy alley in the rain, water splashing, the cold piercing his bones, and his heart filled with utter despondence.

He thought, perhaps his brief life would come to an end in this Refugees Alley, unknown to anyone, unable to fulfill his mother’s, father’s, and grandfather’s expectations to revive the Lou Family.

Until a pair of clean embroidered shoes came into his view, soaked by the water, and above him, the relentless rain suddenly stopped. He looked up to see under the oil-paper umbrella, the fair and clear chin, and higher up, a pair of delicate, kind, and benevolent black eyes. In that instant, it was as if he saw the goddess statue of his childhood.

He seemed to have seen a living goddess statue.

Even Manager Chai didn’t know that in his heart, the Princess Consort was like the goddess statue he saw as a child, the Heavenly Immortal who had descended to the mortal world in his heart, one who should not be offended by anyone.

How could he himself harbor any thoughts of offending her?

But... having seen such a stunning person once in his life, how could his eyes make room for any other woman?

He had long been prepared to remain a bachelor.

The Fifth Princess was indeed a trouble, but not so troublesome that it was necessary for him to marry a woman just to use her as a shield.

He agreed to be Sikong Fu’s stand-in groom after careful deliberation, driven by the benefits. He wanted to become the pillar of the country that the Princess Consort spoke of, but although the position of an editor at Hanlin Academy seemed promising to others, it was still too slow for him. He needed external support, to align with Sikong Fu would allow him to progress faster, to come into the view of more people, and to recruit more talent for Prince Ling’s faction.

Anyone with clear sight could see that the struggle among the four Princes was all but out in the open. As the Emperor became increasingly inept, during the days when The Fourth Prince, Prince Ling, was under house arrest, The Third Prince was made regent, forgoing the morning court three days in a row, a situation bound to become the norm.

The Emperor’s mind was set on seeking immortality, even fooled by True Person Zi Chen, he still sent many to search for the so-called true immortals, foolishly hoping for eternal life.

The Emperor might feel that promoting overseas crops was already a major achievement during his reign, his heart no longer focused on the wellbeing of the state and its people.

Lou Zixi knew that time was of the essence, it did not allow for him to rise through the ranks slowly.

This, Manager Chai understood as well.

That’s why he felt an infinite sense of emotion and told Lou Zixi not to mistreat Miss Sikong.

He was marrying Miss Sikong for practical reasons, but Manager Chai knew that after several meetings, Miss Sikong was completely infatuated with Lou Zixi.

To marry off is like a woman’s second chance at changing her fate.

Whether it’s good or bad depends entirely on the man she marries.

Lou Zixi had no feelings for Miss Sikong, yet he married her. Others might think it was a perfect match of talents and beauty, but Manager Chai felt that if two people shared a bed with different dreams, unable to share their hearts, what kind of good match could that be?

All of Lou Zixi’s heart was dedicated to building a career and to machinations for the benefit of Prince Mansion, the part given to Miss Sikong was probably minuscule.

He then gave his heartfelt advice:"Zixi, not many people in the Capital City know about your betrothal to Miss Sikong, so you still have a chance to reconsider. Perhaps calling off the engagement would sadden Miss Sikong for a while, but if it’s truly..."

Lou Zixi interrupted him, speaking earnestly:

"Since I have decided to marry her, I will devote myself solely to her and have no concubines in the future, nor will I do anything to make her sad."

Manager Chai of course believed that he would do as he said, and he sighed, "Don’t blame your brother for being nosy or meddling too much, I just don’t want this world to have another couple in resentment."

His expression was filled with a vast array of emotions as if he was recalling something.

Lou Zixi knew that he was thinking of his wife and child, who were once also such a resentful couple. Commanded by their parents and matched by go-betweens, in reality, both of them had someone else in their hearts. If by some mistake they became husband and wife, they slowly developed feelings for one another. It took ten years of marriage to have five years of affection, with their child still young, when a merciless flood wiped everything away.

Manager Chai kept busy every day to the point of exhaustion in the Capital City because he was afraid of being reminded of heartbreaking memories.

But still, he often thought of his wife and child and was filled with self-reproach and regret, thinking that if they hadn’t married back then, and his wife had married the man she loved, staying away from that place, perhaps she wouldn’t have been swept away by the flood, forever separated by life and death.

The death of his wife, child, and other family members became a wound in his heart that would never heal.

Knowing the misery between resentful partners, Manager Chai offered advice to Lou Zixi from the perspective of someone who had been through it himself, afraid that he would waste the life of a young girl in her prime.

Lou Zixi also patted his shoulder, "Your worries won’t come true, and you should also move on from the past, not drown in guilt and regret, or else your health will break down. Don’t forget, we are the Princess Consort’s backing as well, and you haven’t yet realized your dream of a peaceful and prosperous world."

"Right, right, that’s the direction I need to put all my effort into in my life, I must open up all of Great Yan’s trade routes and make the most of my advantages. Okay, get going to your work, if this matter succeeds, it’s like cutting off one of The Fourth Prince’s arms."

When Manager Chai spoke of this, he perked up.

He felt he could plan even more meticulously, without fail, and the geographical position of Luzhou City was very good. They didn’t have a guild there yet, so it was indeed something worth planning for.

On the third day, Chang Chonghai, who had gone to Luzhou City, sent back messages via carrier pigeons.

Murong Jiu secretly found Manager Chai and Lou Zixi, and with Jun Yuyan’s accompaniment, they resumed their planning and began to carry it out.

Jun Yuyan also dispatched skilled individuals from the Prince Mansion to aid Manager Chai.

Just as the two left, a guard came with news that Su Kai had arrived at the Prince Mansion with his family in tow.

Murong Jiu’s eyes lit up at hearing this.

Had the Princely Heir brought Lady Yao and their children back to the Capital City?

"Quickly let them in!"

Murong Jiu eagerly pulled Jun Yuyan along to welcome them, as Lady Yao had once offered her and Senior Brother Cheng shelter, and her personality greatly suited Murong Jiu’s taste.

She had told Lady Yao before that if she ever came to the Capital City, she must come to see her.

She hadn’t expected it to be so soon.

Upon seeing Lady Yao, she knew that the Princely Heir must be treating her very well, her complexion was glowing, and her eyes no longer carried the faint sorrow of before, and the child was even being held by the Princely Heir himself.

And looking at the Princely Heir, it was as if he wished his eyes were fixed on Lady Yao, his smile so radiant, it almost seemed foolish.

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