Marrying a Disabled General and be His Wife

Feng Chilie understood Chu Minghan well, so he carefully managed the situation.

If he had tried to defend himself earlier, he might have cornered himself. Chu Minghan could have not only stripped him of his military power but also taken more severe actions.

On the contrary, speaking arrogantly aligned with Chu Minghan’s perception of him as a disregarded figure. The more audacious he appeared, the more it matched his character, especially in the face of injustice.

Though today’s actions might seem imprudent, Feng Chilie needed to retain military power to protect Tan Chuyan effectively.

Glancing back at the palace door closed by the eunuch, Feng Chilie walked away, unconcerned about Chu Qingyi’s situation. Since Chu Qingyi was Chu Minghan’s most beloved child, and his favorite in life, Chu Minghan would likely refrain from taking any drastic measures against her.

At most, Chu Qingyi might be kept away from Tan Chuyan.

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Feng Chilie’s guess was indeed accurate.

In the palace, Chu Minghan rubbed his brows. “Qingyi, tell your father the truth. Have you already drawn Tan Chuyan into your camp?”

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In this situation, even if she said no, Chu Minghan wouldn’t believe it. He would also wonder if she was truly plotting something with Tan Chuyan.

Rather than being questioned, it was better to admit it openly.

She nodded. “Yes.”

Chu Qingyi still concealed part of the content – it was Tan Chuyan who took the initiative to find her!

“Your father has heard about Young Master Yan. If he were not from King Qi’s royal family, your father would not have stopped you, but…” Chu Minghan stopped talking and sighed. “But his status is too high. Yours also sensitive; what should you do if he has evil intentions? So, stay away from him.”

Tan Chuyan did have evil intentions, but what he wanted was royal hegemony and the unification of the world.

Chu Qingyi also admitted that she was shocked when she heard the idea, but when she thought about those people displaced by the war, she felt bad in her heart. So, she accepted this almost crazy condition.

Of course, there was also her own selfishness in it. She wanted to prove to everyone that women could stand in the court just like men and even became the most powerful person in the world!

Chu Qingyi glanced at Chu Minghan calmly and said, “Father, everyone knows that His Highness is not favored, so we don’t need to be so wary of him.”

“Who knows whether he is really favored or not?” Chu Minghan frowned. “What if the rumors are false, and he is a pawn used by Qi Kingdom to break into our Jing Kingdom? It will be difficult. Or, to say the least, he is really not favored. If he wants to use our hands to attack Qi Kingdom, how should you choose?”

“Father, he won’t do it,” Chu Qingyi assured, sensing the revenge in her father’s heart. “Discussing about Tan Chuyan’s plans are not important. It’s a small matter; he shares the same ambition as you, aspiring to assist in unifying the world under one rule.”

“If meeting with father weren’t so challenging, why would he seek out through me?” Chu Qingyi articulated smoothly. “If you wish to recruit him, I am willing to help bridge the gap and persuade him to align with you, contributing to the accomplishment of the great cause of reunification.”

Chu Minghan, although sharing suspicions with Tan Hongyun, wasn’t as distrustful of his children. He knew well that the throne he occupied would eventually be relinquished, and there was no need for a protective barrier. However, he insisted on caution when it came to Tan Chuyan.

He expressed stubbornly, “I don’t need a weak kid offering advice, and I can’t trust him. Stay away from him. This kid is too cunning!”

Whether it was the initial escape from the marriage or the time when Chu Qingyi accompanied him into the palace, Chu Minghan’s wariness of Tan Chuyan persisted.

How could Chu Qingyi eliminate the lingering wariness in her father’s heart?

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Tan Chuyan’s identity was exposed at the wrong time. This incident thrusted him into the spotlight, and Feng Chilie found himself similarly thrusted forward.

One couldn’t help but wonder if a general with military power and the powerful counselor had ulterior motives for getting so close.

However, Feng Chilie paid no heed to these speculations. He was in no mood and had no time to care. He simply hoped that Tan Chuyan could lead a long life.

Back at the General’s Mansion, Feng Chilie summoned all the courage in his life to step into the bedroom.

Sitting by the bed, he looked at the still-sleeping Tan Chuyan, feeling an infinite pain in his heart.

Why did Tuoba Lan choose this time to reveal that he and Tan Chuyan were brothers by blood.

Now he finally understood what Tuoba Lan meant!

“Hmm…”

Tan Chuyan, unaware of his surroundings, furrowed his brows and made a squeaking sound in his sleep.

Uncle Fu, anxiously standing by, said: “General, wake him up quickly! The Fifth Prince is not in good health. Nightmares may lead to a prolonged sleep!”

Hearing this, cold sweat oozed from Feng Chilie’s back. He helped Tan Chuyan up, cradled him in his arms, and gently patted his cheek: “Tan Chuyan, Yanyan—”

Despite Feng Chilie’s repeated calls, Tan Chuyan remained unresponsive, still struggling in his dream.

He dreamed of something he least wanted to recall in his life, and the nightmare intensified his terror.

Tan Chuyan’s dream revolved around the day Tianbao met his demise. Pushing open the palace door, he found Tianbao, half-clothed and disheveled.

With blood and tears streaking down Tianbao’s eyes, he questioned, “Why didn’t you take me out last night? Why didn’t you come to save me?”

Tan Chuyan tried to explain, but Tianbao offered no opportunity.

“Tan Chuyan, I hate you!” Drawing a knife from nowhere, Tianbao stabbed his heart, crying blood, and left a curse: “Even as a ghost, I will never let you go. I will always haunt you!”

“No…”

“It’s not what you think…”

Tan Chuyan murmured softly. Unable to face Tianbao’s suicide, he turned and fled.

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Exiting the palace gate, doors appeared in all directions. Tianbao, in various forms of demise, emerged, surrounding him, questioning relentlessly.

Unable to bear it, Tan Chuyan squatted down, buried his head in his knees, and whispered, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please forgive me.”

“Forgive you?” Tianbao gritted his teeth, driving the knife into his heart. Pulling it out, he threw the dagger before Tan Chuyan.

The dagger landed silently. Tianbao grabbed Tan Chuyan’s hair, forcing him to look: “It’s not impossible to spare you. Apologize with your life, stay here with me forever. Let’s do it.”

Tan Chuyan’s eyes gradually dimmed, becoming hollow, as the words ‘apologize with your life’ echoed in his ears.

Reaching for the dagger, his inexplicably red lips whispered, “Okay, I’ll accompany you.”

Holding the dagger with both hands, Tan Chuyan closed his eyes, slowly pressing it against his chest.

“It’s stinging,” Tianbao’s hand turned his hair forcefully, but Tan Chuyan felt no pain, only the sensation of his scalp being pulled. His eyes were forced open as Tianbao urged, “Hurry up. Stab! What’s the delay?”

Yet, at the moment of the thrust, Tan Chuyan hesitated.

A sense of emptiness filled his heart, as if he had forgotten someone crucial.

Tianbao’s urging persisted, prompting Tan Chuyan to tighten his grip on the dagger, a determined look on his face.

The dagger inched into his chest. No pain, no blood, but Tianbao’s eyes revealed a strange glint.

“Yes, that’s it,” Tianbao continued to encourage: “Stab harder! Go deeper!”

Deeper!

Tan Chuyan applied a bit more force, but before he could complete the act, a suffocating sensation enveloped him, making his entire body feel as uncomfortable as drowning.

Just as he felt he couldn’t breathe, fresh air filled his chest, and a different voice reached his ears.

“Tan Chuyan, Yanyan, wake up…”

Who?

Who was calling him?

“Yanyan.”

Feng Chilie!

It was Feng Chilie calling him.

“Yanyan, don’t sleep!”

Sleep?

Oh, he remembered. He and Feng Chilie went for disaster relief, then rested upon returning to the General’s Mansion.

Wait, how could he be in King Qi’s Palace!

Tan Chuyan lifted his head, gazing at the figure before him, only to realize the person’s face had blurred and the figure was fading away.

Moreover, Tianbao would never treat him like this.

This person wasn’t Tianbao at all; it was his guilt!

Ever since that incident, Tan Chuyan had carried a heavy guilt. If he had taken Tianbao with him that night or returned earlier, none of it would have happened.

Yet, Tan Chuyan kept silent, letting things unfold in the worst way.

Even though the wrongdoer was gone, the guilt lingered, becoming his ongoing nightmare.

Tan Chuyan knew the nightmare was only momentarily hidden. As long as the guilt remained, the nightmare would persist.

However, a moment of respite was enough for him to awaken.

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Tan Chuyan’s eyelashes trembled, finally separating.

He lifted his head slightly, gazing at the nearby, anxiously-wrapped Feng Chilie. Unable to contain himself, he kissed Feng Chilie’s lips: “Don’t worry, it was just a nightmare.”

Feng Chilie said nothing, raising his hand to cradle the back of Tan Chuyan’s head, deepening the kiss.

This kiss differed from all the previous ones, carrying a strong sense of aggression and an uncontrollable fear.

Feng Chilie bit his lip, the strength in his arms wanting to envelop him completely.

“Yanyan…” After a long while, he pressed his forehead against Tan Chuyan’s and gently rubbed it: “I do.”

“What?” Tan Chuyan was stunned, not understanding Feng Chilie’s response.

“I am willing to give you my heart.” Feng Chilie took Tan Chuyan’s hand and pressed it against his chest: “From now on, it belongs only to you. You can do whatever you want with it, even tear it out.”