Marrying a Disabled General and be His Wife

The unprecedented prison robbery casted a dark shadow on Chu Minghan’s face.

“Feng Chilie.”

Responding from the darkness, Feng Chilie affirmed, “I’m here.”

“Go after them, and I want the captive stayed in Jing Kingdom until death.” Chu Minghan’s eyes gleamed with cold determination, “If that fails, just kill her.”

Tuoba Lan must not return to Xibo. Her presence would not only plunge Jing Kingdom into war but also disrupted the delicate balance.

“Your Majesty!” Feng Chilie’s voice resonated with resolve, “I accept the decree!”

Amidst the watchful eyes of the onlookers, Feng Chilie retreated, leading a group towards the Imperial Prison. Tan Chuyan remained behind, attempting to discern who had saved Tuoba Lan.

Was it Cui Yuanqing or Feng Mingyuan?

Uncertain, Tan Chuyan leaned towards the latter, sensing a possible sympathy between them as women.

However, Tan Chuyan’s guess was off. The rescuer of Tuoba Lan was neither Cui Yuanqing nor Feng Mingyuan.

.

Imperial Prison

Tuoba Lan stared at her rescuer in astonishment.

“Why is it you?”

Tuoba Lan struggled to free her hand, thwarted by Feng Chengjian’s unyielding grip.

Accompanying Feng Chengjian were former members of the Wolf Eagle Cavalry, rendering the Imperial Prison’s guards inconsequential in their presence.

Ironically, these individuals were once teacher and students.

Following the Wolf Eagle Cavalry’s retirement, they became instructors in various military camps.

Facing his former teacher, the Imperial Prison’s guards were effortlessly subdued.

The escape from the Imperial Prison proceeded without a hitch. Feng Chengjian lifted Tuoba Lan onto a horse with all his strength, then turned and walked away.

“Feng Chengjian!” Tuoba Lan’s voice echoed in the night, laced with anger, “Why did you come to save me?”

“No reason,” Feng Chengjian’s voice remained calm, “Because I promised you, I will always protect you.”

This was their pledge from their time together.

Tuoba Lan trembled involuntarily, her voice thick with emotion, “I don’t need your protection. Leave! Someone else will come to rescue me!”

“I know.” Feng Chengjian sprinted toward the city gate, “But I’m unwilling to let you become a pawn in someone else’s game and wade into this murky water.”

“Ever since I decided to seek revenge on Jing Kingdom, I’ve already waded in.” Tuoba Lan cried out, “And you’re no longer with me. You’re so hypocritical in front of me. Don’t think I don’t know how you killed Ah Lie!”

Feng Chengjian was taken aback.

For a while, he couldn’t help but laugh, laughing at his own misfortune and the twists of fate.

“It turns out,” Feng Chengjian mocked, “You insisted on returning to Xibo back then because you knew about my child exchange.”

“Hmm.” Tuoba Lan sneered softly, “If I hadn’t accidentally overheard your talks with Hongchen, I wouldn’t have known that I had raised someone else’s son for so many years.”

“Listen to me…”

Feng Chengjian’s voice abruptly stopped as he saw the guards at the city gate.

He halted his horse, shielding Tuoba Lan protectively.

Despite Feng Chilie considering various possibilities, he never expected Feng Chengjian to be the one attempting the prison break.

His gaze fixed on Feng Chengjian’s figure, and he shouted with mixed emotions, “Dad…”

After the utterance, he grappled with what to say next. Should he question why Feng Chengjian attempted the prison break? Inquire about how he could still ride a horse after suffering a stroke?

Both sides stood in tense confrontation, the air thick with silence. Ji Bei and Jiang Che, following Feng Chilie, exchanged glances, revealing shock, confusion, and horror.

.

After a prolonged silence, Feng Chengjian broke the oppressive atmosphere.

“Your Highness,” he addressed, “Don’t call me dad. I’m not your dad.”

“You called me…” Feng Chilie tightened his grip on the spear, muttering, “What?”

“Your Highness,” Feng Chengjian repeated, “Your mother is the late queen, and your father is the king. Your original name is Chu Yizhu, meaning competing for the world. Do you understand?”

“No,” Feng Chilie’s eyes were bloodshot, “The second prince died in that fire long ago. I am not that person!”

“You are!” Feng Chengjian declared loudly, “That fire was deliberate! I used my own child to substitute for you. Do you understand?! Your Highness!”

If this were true, Tuoba Lan’s change in demeanor made perfect sense.

In such a case, he would carry the burden of a blood feud. Since everyone knew that Concubine Chun orchestrated the fire that year, how could he stand by while his mother perished in vain?

Simultaneously, he would be indebted to the General’s Mansion in a way that could never be repaid, and the unresolved conflicts between him and Tuoba Lan would become even more entangled…

Guilt and internal conflict etched across Feng Chilie’s face simultaneously. Even though Feng Chengjian couldn’t see it clearly, he could envision it. After all, Feng Chilie had been at his side for many years, and the two were intimately familiar.

Feng Chilie was a person of clear distinctions between love and hatred. His apparent arrogance and unyielding nature were merely a facade. It was his way of controlling the Wolf Eagle Cavalry and all civil and military officials. Strength alone could secure his position, leaving no room for vulnerability. The path he trod left nothing but chewed-up bones.

Yet, Feng Chengjian didn’t want Feng Chilie to bear the weight of guilt.

Of course, there was no need for Feng Chilie to feel guilty; everything was merely a twist of fate.

“Your Highness,” Feng Chengjian’s voice softened, “Don’t think you owe the General’s Mansion anything. My son would have been stillborn; otherwise, I wouldn’t have taken that action. After all, I am also a father.”

Stillborn…

Feng Chilie parted his lips, eager to understand what transpired back then, but Tuoba Lan’s reaction surpassed his own excitement.

“Stillborn?!” Tuoba Lan’s voice took on a sharp edge, “Feng Chengjian, please clarify. What happened back then?”

Recalling the past, Feng Chengjian looked melancholic, for he had lost his only sister.

.

Twenty-five years ago, a banquet took place at the Yuanxiao Palace in Jing Kingdom.

Feng Chengjian brought Tuoba Lan, with her pregnancy was due in September. Initially, he had no intention of taking her along, considering her almost close to due date.

However, women from the grasslands were not known for fragility; they cherished liveliness. Learning that Feng Chengjian didn’t plan to bring her to the palace banquet, Tuoba Lan became displeased.

She halted Feng Chengjian’s carriage and demanded, “Why won’t you take me?” Feng Chengjian gazed helplessly at her swollen figure.

His usually energetic wife puffed up her belly and exclaimed, “It’s only nine months! My mother came to us when she was nine and a half months pregnant with me. There was a bonfire party on the grassland, our big pregnant women could walk around just fine!”

“Yes,” Feng Chengjian nodded, “I’m aware of that. Your mother gave birth to you that night when she returned.”

“…”

Tuoba Lan’s expression froze, and she impulsively blurted out, “I don’t care! You must take me with you tonight, or else I’ll go back to Xibo to celebrate the New Year!”

In desperation, Feng Chengjian had no choice but to bring Tuoba Lan with him.

However, little did they anticipate that a series of unfortunate events would unfold during the banquet.

Tuoba Lan unexpectedly went into premature labor, and simultaneously, the queen’s palace erupted in flames.

Caught between his laboring wife and concerned for his sister, Feng Chengjian faced the most challenging moments of that palace banquet.

While attending to his wife in labor, he longed to know what was happening with his sister.

During this tumultuous time, Uncle Fu, who had been accompanying the queen, approached with the second prince in his arms.

Uncle Fu’s countenance was somber. He knelt before Feng Chengjian, presenting the recently born second prince, “The Queen… Her Majesty, has passed away. I implore the general to safeguard the second prince! You are the only one who can ensure his safety and upbringing!”

Upon hearing this, Feng Chengjian immediately grasped that the fire was no accident; it was a deliberate act with the intent to burn the child to death.

Worried for the child’s safety, Feng Chengjian took the infant. Meanwhile, the midwife, emerged with a downcast expression. “General…”

“Speak!”

Interrupted by Feng Chengjian’s urgent demand, the midwife hesitated before kneeling with a thud, “Reporting to the general, the child… the child did not survive.”

“Impossible!” Feng Chengjian refused to believe it, “The imperial doctor declared the child healthy when he examined him!”

“I dare not deceive you.” Steadying herself, the midwife explained, “The child was born with deficiencies and couldn’t breathe.”

“Doctor Fu!” Feng Chengjian exclaimed anxiously, “Examine the child quickly!”

Uncle Fu took the deceased baby and inspected it carefully, “General, the midwife is correct. The child indeed had congenital issues.”

Feng Chengjian’s expression turned blank for a moment before he swiftly made a decision.

He handed the lifeless baby to Uncle Fu, instructing, “Take this child to the Queen’s Palace. From now on, he shall be the second prince. Do you understand?”

Uncle Fu nodded and cradled the deceased baby, departing with solemn steps.