TSWPF -Chapter 394 The Decision

Liang Zhimou smiled and pinched her nose gently, reassuring her not to worry about him—he had his own ways.

No matter how troubled he felt inside, he couldn’t show it in front of her.

Li Qingling looked at him skeptically. “What ways?” she asked.

Liang Zhimou smiled mysteriously and told her not to pry.

“…You haven’t come up with a good plan yet and are just pretending to trick me, have you?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

“Never,” Liang Zhimou curved his eyes into a smile, pressing his forehead against hers. “When have I ever lied to you? Huh?”

Sorry, my lady… this time he was lying to her.

It was a lie told with good intentions; he hoped she would forgive him.

He would do everything he could to return safely to her side.

Li Qingling studied him carefully, then reluctantly nodded. “If you’re lying, I’ll make sure you pay for it.”

Her words made his heart skip a beat. Liang Zhimou forced a smile. “Don’t worry, I really am not lying to you.”

Li Qingling raised an eyebrow. “I’ll barely believe you, then.”

Liang Zhimou exhaled subtly, feeling some relief. He bent down to help her put on her shoes, then took her hand and led her to the washbasin, preparing to wash her up—only to be stopped by her hand.

“I can do it myself,” Li Qingling said firmly.

She wasn’t a helpless child; she could handle things.

He pampered her unconditionally, and truly, he might spoil her.

Liang Zhimou’s eyes darkened slightly as he held her hand, gazing at her with affection. “Stand still, let me wash you,” he said.

They would soon be apart, and opportunities like this would be rare. He wanted to cherish every moment.

Li Qingling sighed but nodded, obediently standing aside to let him wash her.

He treated her like a precious treasure, carefully finishing the task before leading her to the main hall and calling out for Xichun to bring breakfast.

Xichun promptly brought in the breakfast, neatly arranged everything, and left.

With the adults present, she didn’t need to serve the lady herself.

Besides, the couple’s closeness was a bit too much for her to watch comfortably.

Liang Zhimou placed a bowl of millet porridge in front of Li Qingling. “Start with this to fill your stomach before eating the rest.”

Li Qingling nodded and gestured for him to eat as well.

He had intended to refuse, but thought better of it. Opportunities to have breakfast together were rare, and he wanted to cherish every one.

They ate slowly together, and afterward, went for a leisurely walk.

Li Qingling couldn’t help but ask, “When are you planning to take me back to Niutou Village?”

“Tomorrow…” he replied.

“What?” Did she hear wrong? “Say it again. I didn’t hear clearly.”

Liang Zhimou repeated himself—he would take her back tomorrow.

Li Qingling frowned. “Why so soon?” She had thought she could stay a while longer.

She inhaled deeply, looking seriously at Liang Zhimou. “Are you hiding something from me?”

It wasn’t just about the He, Zhao, Wang, and Lin families. If it were urgent, he would have sent her off already.

So, he must be hiding something, and it was serious.

“My lady, you…”

Liang Zhimou hadn’t finished, but Li Qingling interrupted him. “Think carefully and answer me honestly this time. No more brushing me off.”

She wasn’t a fool; there was no way she would be tricked again.

Swallowing hard, Liang Zhimou knew she was angry. If he didn’t tell the truth…

He looked at her with a complicated expression, then led her to the study. Once the door was closed, he held her and sighed over her head.

“My lady, it’s not that I wanted to hide it from you… I’m just afraid that if you knew the truth, you wouldn’t want to leave.”

Li Qingling leaned against him, sensing his helplessness. She pursed her lips. “Tell me the truth. If it’s serious, I won’t ignore the bigger picture.”

She wasn’t reckless; she wouldn’t act like a spoiled child.

Besides, she had children—she wouldn’t joke with their lives.

Liang Zhimou was silent for a long moment, then revealed the truth to her.

Had he known he couldn’t hide it from her, he wouldn’t have lied and upset her.

A rebellion?

Li Qingling shivered. She hadn’t expected a rebellion. She licked her lips. “Do you plan to wipe them all out?”

Liang Zhimou nodded. The specifics depended on the emperor’s decree.

Li Qingling exhaled heavily and looked at him. “Then I’ll take the children back tomorrow.”

Although she worried about him, she didn’t want to hold him back.

If it had been the He, Zhao, Wang, and Lin families, she would have tried to stay by his side.

But a rebellion was different—she couldn’t act on impulse.

Impulsiveness could get people killed.

She wouldn’t let her whims endanger him.

Liang Zhimou looked down at her, eyes slightly misty, and solemnly promised to return safely.

Li Qingling placed his hand on her belly so he could feel the children moving. Her voice was soft but firm, slightly choked. “We’ll be waiting for you in Niutou Village. You must come back safely, understand?”

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Liang Zhimou nodded with determination. “I understand.”

For her, for their children, he would return safely.

Li Qingling didn’t want him to see her tears. She rested against his chest, hugging his waist tightly.

Liang Zhimou lifted his chin, blinked, and after a long moment, spoke hoarsely, “Don’t worry. I won’t confront them head-on; I’ll protect myself.”

Her tears on his chest burned like fire.

Li Qingling remained silent. After a while, she wiped her eyes and said with a sniff, “Let’s go tell the children so they can pack. Are Master and Grandfather coming too?”

“Yes…”

“Good!”

Li Qingling composed herself and took Liang Zhimou to the children, telling them they would return to Niutou Village tomorrow to play for a few days and to pack their things.

“Sister, really going back to Niutou Village?” Li Qingning asked excitedly, not thinking too much. She missed her little friends.

Li Qingling smiled, patted her head, and confirmed it. “Yes. Pack your things—we leave first thing tomorrow.”

Li Qingning jumped happily several times, grabbed Liuyou Rou’s hand, and said with a grin, “Rou Rou, let’s pack—we’re going back to Niutou Village!”

Liuyou Rou, caught up in the excitement, nodded and ran hand-in-hand with Li Qingning to their room.

Li Qingling looked at Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan. “Why aren’t you packing?”

They were older and not so easily fooled.

They looked at Liang Zhimou, then Li Qingling, and asked why they were returning to Niutou Village.

Children grow up and aren’t easily deceived. Li Qingling sighed silently. “Didn’t I say? We’re going back to visit the villagers and will return after a few days.”

“Big brother, sister-in-law, are you hiding something from us?” Liu Zhiyan didn’t believe her. With how much their big brother cared about their sister-in-law, he couldn’t agree to let her ride a carriage while pregnant unless something serious was going on.

“Sis, brother-in-law, if you don’t tell us, we won’t go.”

Li Qingling: “…telling one lie requires countless others to cover it up. I’m tired of lying. Zhimou, you explain it to them!”

She stepped aside, letting Liang Zhimou speak. After all, it was his decision, and he should handle it.

Liang Zhimou: “…”

Liu Zhiyan and Li Qingfeng exchanged glances, eyes filled with suspicion.

What were they hiding? It seemed serious.

Liang Zhimou patted their shoulders. “Go to your room; I’ll tell you everything.”

While he was away, they were the pillars of the household. Knowing this wouldn’t hurt.

The three of them left for the room. Forty-five minutes later, they came out.

Li Qingling saw the solemn expressions on the children’s faces and realized Liang Zhimou had told them everything.

She pouted. Why was he so straightforward with the children?

She had to pry bit by bit to get the truth; it wasn’t fair.

Liang Zhimou stroked her furrowed brow, then told the children to finish packing so they could leave early tomorrow.

The children responded in unison, “Yes.”

With their eldest brother (or brother-in-law) away, it was their responsibility to protect the household.

Li Qingling glanced at them silently and left the yard with Liang Zhimou.

He escorted her back to her room to rest, then went to the county office to find Magistrate Ma, asking him to inform Madam Hu so she could bring Zhishu Dali to stay in Niutou Village for a while.

He didn’t want any trouble at home while he was away.

Li Qingling urged him to go quickly. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll rest on my own later.”

Liang Zhimou nodded, kissed her forehead, and left.

Once he left, Li Qingling’s smile gradually faded. She sat dazed in her chair, unsure how long she’d been there, until Xichun called her worriedly.

She looked up and instructed Xichun and Nanny Yao to pack, while she went to the backyard to find Ah Huang.

“Madam, I’ll go with you first and pack afterward.”

“No, I’ll go alone,” Li Qingling waved her off. “You pack and wait for me to check when I get back.”

Seeing her resolute, Xichun nodded in agreement.

Li Qingling went to the backyard. Diandian saw her and ran over playfully.

She ruffled Diandian’s head, looked up at Ah Huang and Ah Bai emerging from the house, and smiled, calling them inside to discuss something important.

Ah Huang and Ah Bai turned and went back.

Li Qingling followed, standing before them with a serious expression. “Can you do me a favor?”