You Are My String Of Fate

2.10 || Virtuous To One's Husband

Feeling tired, she strolled by herself in the garden. The guests' personal servants were not allowed entry into the banquet, so Liu Qirong felt completely bored as she could not even chat to Zhuzi. She really wanted to leave, but it was uncalled for a wife to leave without her husband's permission, especially at such a grand banquet.

She sighed, "Oh well, at least this garden is pretty and I can just relax and watch flowers."

Liu Qirong had to play the dutiful in-law at home, and had been fake-smiling all day during the banquet. Now that she was alienated by both the men and women, she felt this was the first time she was truly at peace.

The Imperial Garden did not cut any corners in aesthetics. The trellis of willow over her head swayed gently, carrying muffled voices and laughter from other guests to her ears. When she was only a few breaths away from dozing off, a palace servant walked towards her. Besides the young eunuch, was none other than Khagan Yuzhen and his personal servant, Anluo.

Liu Qirong fixed her posture and greeted the young Khagan. He spoke, "Prince Hou wants you to return to your estate first."

Liu Qirong was happy to return home by her lonesome. However, the Khagan offered, "My men and I will guard your carriage."

"This... ," Liu Qirong smiled slightly at him, maintaining her downcast gaze. A married woman must not look into another man's eyes directly in the absence of her husband, "It is not proper and I do not wish to intrude."

"No such thing," Yuzhen waved his hand, "Hou Feihong has also given his permission. As this little guy." He gestured towards the palace servant.

Liu Qirong frowned in her heart. This husband of hers let other men gawk at her, paraded her beauty in front of them, and now allowed a foreign Khagan to escort her home?

She glanced at the young eunuch, and the latter also confirmed, "The Prince of Ping has indeed asked this lowly one to relay the message to Your Ladyship. The Prince of Ping was going to assign a few guards to escort Your Ladyship but decided to accept Esteemed Khagan's offer instead. This lowly one will also join the entourage as this one needs to report back to Prince Hou after escorting Your Ladyship home."

Liu Qirong maintained her steps two paces slower than Yuzhen, while Anluo and the young eunuch walked a couple of feet behind the two of them. As they made their way towards the outer gate, the guests threw them curious and probing gazes. But no matter what they might be thinking, Liu Qirong was confident she had done everything proper in accordance to this world's society protocol.

Walking past the main area of the garden, she saw the distant figures of Hou Feihong and Hua Mulan, as well as the other noble men still happily chatting. Feeling the view hurting her eyes somewhat and disgust rising in her heart, she quickly averted her gaze.

"Hua Mulan is a military person." Yuzhen suddenly spoke, "It's normal for Hou Feihong to be close to his subordinate."

"But I don't see any other male military subordinate warmly chatting away with that poor excuse of a man," Liu Qirong mused, but she smiled sweetly, "Naturally, I understand. Lieutenant Hua is courageous as she is charmingly beautiful. She is one everyone admires."

Yuzhen stiffened slightly at this, a frown on his handsome face. He paused his steps, causing Liu Qirong to also cease walking. When she looked up, she realized they had already reached her waiting carriage. Zhuzi had been waiting outside, along with a few of the estate's maids.

As Zhuzi helped Liu Qirong to enter the sedan, Yuzhen hold the curtain up for her. Then the man spoke, "Hua Mulan may be courageous and she may look charming, as you put it," he tilted his head slightly, "But you are the fairest of them all."