Raising a wife? The mistress of the Hou family divorced and remarried her younger uncle

Chapter 279 Flower Appreciation
The eldest princess's mansion.

Su Qingwan arrived as promised to see the Princess, ostensibly to admire the flowers, but in reality, the Princess only entertained her. Su Qingwan brought a maid named Tingting with her today.

She was bought again by Qingyun from the matchmaker after Qingyun came to the capital. She usually served in the outer courtyard. Qingyun thought she was quite clever and sensible, so he just moved her to the inner courtyard.

Qingyun had urgent business at the trading company, so Tingting became Su Qingwan's maid. She was indeed clever and composed, and never made a mistake. After the princess invited her to sit down, Tingting took a few steps back with just one look from her, but remained within her sight. When the people from the princess's residence invited her to have tea and rest, she did not go.

This pavilion, perched high above the entire mansion, exudes grandeur and solemnity. A gentle breeze wafts through the pavilion, bringing a welcome respite from the sweltering heat.

"Have you gotten used to being back in Huainan?"

“It’s a habit. That’s my homeland. I haven’t paid respects to my parents and brothers for over a decade. I feel guilty. I originally planned to stay in Huainan and stay with them forever, but who knew that circumstances would force me to come to the capital again.” Su Qingwan also laughed. “It’s true that in this life, we have no control over our own lives.”

“What’s wrong with the capital? Lu Jing treats you with sincerity, and there’s the Ningyuan Marquis’s family, who are also your blood relatives. The borders are currently engulfed in war, so it’s good to have some peace and quiet in the capital.” The Princess said softly, “You’ve been wandering for more than ten years, it’s time for you to enjoy a good life.”

"What the princess says makes sense." Su Qingwan suppressed her displeasure. Since she had said they were blood relatives, what else could she say? She and the princess knew each other too well.

Since learning about Nianqing, they have both exploited each other's weaknesses and become each other's support. They will inevitably investigate each other thoroughly, and the matter of Lady Ningyuan is no secret.

"The flowers at the Princess's residence are blooming beautifully." Su Qingwan looked down and saw a flowerbed, full of vibrant colors, which was quite lovely.

"Do you like it? We can transplant a section there. The Lu family's villa has a peony garden that everyone flocks to visit in spring. Next spring, you can give me a Yao Huang peony, how about that?"

"That's the Prince's Yao Huang phoenix; I dare not answer you privately."

"Next May, you'll be a princess, right? You'll be in charge of the whole courtyard, Xiao Wu."

Su Qingwan thought to herself that she was still not skilled enough, or perhaps because she was the mother of Princess Nianqing, she would always think the best of the princess. "Princess, stop beating around the bush. I was drunk yesterday and I'm not very clear-headed. I don't understand your metaphors. What are you trying to say? Just be direct."

The princess felt a pang of pain in her heart. She hadn't specifically asked Su Qingwan to come over on the 16th, and she knew that yesterday was the anniversary of Huainan's death, so she was feeling uneasy.

But the matter was urgent and she couldn't delay. "Xiao Wu, has Lu Jing told you about Nian Qing?"

What happened to Nianqing?

Lu Jing hoped that Nian Qing would take over the command of the three armies in Huainan.

“He is the Prince of Huainan. No matter how young he is, he is still the Prince of Huainan. He is the only prince of the first rank besides the Regent. What’s wrong with him taking charge of the three armies?” Su Qingwan thought to herself, “Isn’t this a matter of course? You want him to acknowledge his ancestors and return to the family, which is also because you want him to take charge of the three armies of Huainan.”

The eldest princess desires her own military power. Currently, she can only control military supplies, not the army itself. She is not the sole ruler of the court either. She controls military supplies because she needs the southwest. If she harbors any evil intentions, the southwest will unite with Lu Jing to oppose her. She has no real troops; the imperial army is all in Lu Jing's hands, and she cannot obtain it.

“But Nianqing is only thirteen years old. Dayuan is going to attack Xilin. The commander-in-chief could be Marquis Ningyuan or General Chen. They are experienced. Nianqing can just hold a nominal position in the army.”

"Absolutely impossible!" Su Qingwan categorically rejected the idea. "A commander is a commander, and a general is a general. On the battlefield, where the commander's flag is, there lies the army's heart; where the commander's tent is, there lies the people's will. It's impossible to confuse the issue. A commander-in-chief being sidelined by his generals on the battlefield? What a joke! You're trying to sow discord between the commanders and generals, fueling the power and ambition of your subordinates. Sidelining the commander-in-chief on the battlefield is not the same as a regent sidelining the emperor. Princess, why do you have such thoughts?"

The Eldest Princess has been in charge of the Grand Council for so many years, how could she possibly make such a basic mistake, unless...

"Huainan was defeated?" Su Qingwan was slightly taken aback. She had been a bit out of touch with the news lately, and Lu Jing hadn't told her about the battles in Huainan and Xilin, so she wasn't very clear about it.

The fact that the eldest princess is so anxious means that the war has been lost.

"Yes, we lost the first battle."

"Nianqing is leading the troops?" Su Qingwan's heart leaped into her throat. She wished she could return to Huainan. Why did she come back so quickly? She should have bought herself some more time, even if it meant arguing with Lu Jing!

“It’s Marquis Ningyuan leading the troops. What’s the difference between that and Nianqing leading the troops? I’d rather it wasn’t Nianqing. The first battle between Huainan and Dayuan is so important. If Nianqing loses, and the King of Huainan loses his first battle after taking office, it won’t sound good.” The Princess hoped that Nianqing could have a smooth journey with all his might.

“Princess, your thinking is wrong. Victory and defeat are common in war. No one is an invincible general. Even if you lose, as long as you have a clear conscience and have fulfilled your duty to defend the border, that is enough. No general dares to say that he has won every battle in his life. Father has also fought many battles and suffered many defeats. Don’t be afraid of losing battles. Just keep Nianqing behind you.” Su Qingwan said calmly, “He is a wolf, not a rabbit. He has to fight, fight, and lead troops into battle, not be protected by others. I do not agree to hand over military power to others.”

"Xiao Wu, Nianqing is Huainan's only bloodline!" The princess's eyes reddened. "If anything were to happen to him..."

The princess was heartbroken and speechless. Her son was on the battlefield, and she dared not utter a single unlucky word. This was a superstition common among families with military households.

Su Qingwan felt a pang of pain in her heart. She knew that this was a very painful and difficult choice. Nianqing was the only bloodline of Huainan, and she knew that all too well.

But what the eldest princess said is absolutely unacceptable!
“If Heaven’s will is to sever the bloodline of Huainan, then so be it,” Su Qingwan said. “Princess, if you want him to acknowledge his ancestors and return to the clan, then he must bear the fate of Huainan. Every king of Huainan has emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood.”

The princess recalled Lu Jing's words, which were exactly what he had said. In fact, Lu Jing's words did not describe Su Qingwan's ruthlessness and heartlessness. She had not expected Su Qingwan to leave no room for compromise.

That's Nianqing!
Although she sent Nianqing to the battlefield, she worried about him day and night, dreaming about the battlefield, fearing that something might happen to him.

Su Qingwan's tone softened slightly, "Princess, do you regret it? Do you regret letting him go back to Huainan and go through all this?"

"Do I regret it?" The princess asked herself. She didn't really regret it. She just... felt a little sad. Perhaps it was because she thought of the Prince of Huainan. Nianqing was too similar to him. She was afraid that their fates would be similar.