You Are My String Of Fate

2.16 || Virtuous To One's Husband

As soon as they disposed of the Second Prince's men, Hou Feihong still held Liu Qirong close to his chest. However, the Second Prince managed to escape with a few of his guards. Hou Feihong ordered his men to chase after them, knowing they could not go too far.

Then he spoke to a slim postured man, also garbed in the Second Prince's guard uniform, "Lan'er, I could not stay silent. Although the Second Prince promised a noble status for you, I could not let him trample over Qirong's dignity."

The man turned out to be Hua Mulan in disguise. She flashed a look at Liu Qirong, who buried her head in Hou Feihong's chest and acted like a frightened rabbit. Hua Mulan sighed, "I... can never bear to gain fame and status from another woman's misfortune, no matter how wicked she is. It's good you stabbed him. What a vile man the Second Prince turned out to be!"

Liu Qirong stiffened slightly, "Me? 'wicked'? What kind of bullshit has Hou Feihong been feeding you?"

Hua Mulan was then reminded of some words the Second Prince had said, "Feihong, what did the Prince mean when he said you and him had a deal? And... about this woman...?"

Hou Feihong sighed, "Lan'er, you know I never have any ambition to become the Emperor. As long as I can spend the rest of my life with my beloved woman, that will be enough for me. Thus I made a deal to support him in ascending the throne. The both of us and some of our men were in disguise and acted as spies, to make sure he won't do anything unscrupulous. After all, knowing the three Princes in the past, the Second Prince was the most talented and smart, but I did not know him that well!" His expression showed regret, "He told me he was going to oversee some famine problems around this area. Who'd have known he actually had machinations about Qirong."

Hua Mulan squinted her eyes in slight disbelief, "So about the exchange for this woman... ."

"Obviously it's the Second Prince's intention to throw mud on my reputation!" Hou Feihong growled in indignation.

Liu Qirong rolled her eyes inside her heart, "Give this man an Oscar!"

Hua Mulan, "But... "

Hou Feihong's face darkened slightly, "Don't you trust me?'

As if on cue, Liu Qirong immediately looked up and held onto Hou Feihong's sleeves. Her eyes contained nothing but warmth and love, "Lord Husband, I trust you!" After all, he had asked that question numerous times before, and Liu Qirong always answered the same thing.

Hua Mulan diverted her gaze away, crossing her hands in front of her chest. Liu Qirong knew Hua Mulan was still not resigned to Hou Feihong's explanation, but Liu Qirong's intervention was just enough to avoid her further interrogation.

This way, she built further goodwill from Hou Feihong. True to her deduction, the man subconsciously ran his fingers through her hair and wiped a drop of blood on her face tenderly, "Have a rest for now. I'll ask my men to pursue the Second Prince and put an end to this all. I will visit you later toni-... " Upon Hua Mulan's disapproving glare, he coughed and rephrased, "I will visit you when you feel better. Just ask a servant to let me know."

As Liu Qirong was escorted away by some servants, she heard bits and pieces of arguments between Hou Feihong and Hua Mulan.

"... the edict... ."

"...you... the only woman I love... ."

".... let her go!"

"... not safe."

"You'll be the Emperor... . Broke your promise... ."

"... don't have any choice. The country cannot be without a leader."