TFWYH – Chapter 257 My Husband is Gone

Tang Wan looked at him in confusion. “I’ve changed?”

“Mm.” Ling Yu nodded and pinched her cheek. “Your face has more expressions now, and you talk more too. You feel… more like a person.”

Tang Wan pondered for a moment, then cautiously asked, “So before, I wasn’t like a person?”

Ling Yu raised an eyebrow. “What do you think?”

“I think I was!” Tang Wan thought, I’d be crazy to say I wasn’t. “Husband… I really can’t go with you?”

Ling Yu shook his head. “Not this time. Next time, alright? Next time, wherever I go, I’ll take you with me.”

“Oh…” Tang Wan drooped her head gloomily.

Ling Yu rubbed her head, then pulled her into his arms. “Behave at home. Listen to Mother, alright?”

“Mm.”

“If anyone bullies you, bully them right back. Don’t be afraid—no matter what, you have me.”

“Mm.”

“When I’m gone, the household will trouble you. If you encounter anything difficult, go find Consort Li. She likes you and will definitely help you.”

“Mm.”

“I…”

Tang Wan didn’t hear his words; she looked up at him blankly.

Ling Yu kissed her cheek. “Be good and wait for me to come back.”

“Oh.” Tang Wan pouted, completely indifferent to kisses now. “Got it. When you come back, bring Suxi with you.”

Ling Yu frowned slightly. “There’s no need. I—”

“Bring her!” Tang Wan insisted. “The prefectural city isn’t close to the capital. If anything happens, Suxi can help look after you.”

Ling Yu’s eyes shifted. “You know something, don’t you?”

Tang Wan nodded honestly. “Mother and Ling Chen whispered to each other—I heard them. Your father isn’t Ling Cangshan. And I think whoever could make Mother that afraid must be someone rich or powerful. With Suxi there, she can help keep you safe.”

Ling Yu was silent for a moment before he finally spoke. “Since you already know… you don’t have anything you want to ask me?”

Tang Wan shook her head. “If you want to tell me, you’ll tell me. If you don’t want to, I won’t ask. To me, no matter who you are, you’re just my husband. I’ll always stand on your side.”

Ling Yu stared at her for a while, then sighed and hugged her tighter. “My father… indeed has great power. But he doesn’t know I exist, nor does he know who my mother is. It’s very complicated. I don’t want to tell you yet. But Wan-niang… I will tell you someday. Give me a little more time, alright?”

“Alright.” Tang Wan responded obediently.

Ling Yu looked toward the direction of the capital and murmured, “Soon… very soon…”

—

Early the next morning, Ling Yu left with Suxi, without waking Tang Wan.

When Tang Wan finally woke up, the bed beside her was already empty.

“Husband?” she called out, but the room was silent.

She looked outside at the sky and lowered her head in disappointment.

Her beautiful husband had left.

She missed him.

—

At the same time, a group of carriages arrived at the Su Residence.

Ji Wushuang lifted the curtain and helped an elderly man step down from the carriage.

The Su family had already received word. Except for Su Yangyu, who had gone to the prefectural city for the exam, the rest of the family neatly lined up at the entrance to welcome the guests.

As soon as the elder stepped down, the entire family prepared to kneel.

“Don’t go through all these formalities out here. I’m traveling incognito,” the elder said, waving his hand to stop them—though his eyes stayed fixed on Su Qing.

Su Qing gracefully stepped forward, her eyes reddening slightly. “I thought… I thought I would never see you again in this lifetime, my lord.”

“You’ve suffered.” The old man sighed and patted her hand.