Chapter 443: 450: The Great Battle is Imminent

“I had someone send her back,” Han Yu nodded, indicating he had planned to tell his daughter-in-law all along. Seeing her curiosity grow, he suddenly felt the urge to tease her and stopped mid-sentence, purposely not continuing his thought.

“Just like that?” Su Wenyue blinked, finding his response too concise. She wanted to know more than that; usually, Han Yu understood her thoughts, so why today, after her clear hints, did he not get it? Instead, he just took off his coat and prepared to wash up as if he was ready for bed.

“Yes, just like that. What else could I do? She’s a woman; should I have kept her at the mansion? I thought you sent someone to dispel my thoughts because you couldn’t stand that woman’s chatter and wanted me to send her away for you. It seems I misunderstood your intentions,” Han Yu perhaps misunderstood Su Wenyue on purpose, deliberately saying so, with an air as if he realized that he meddled where he wasn’t needed.

Su Wenyue felt somewhat frustrated. How could Han Yu become a bit foolish today, completely failing to grasp her point: “You didn’t misunderstand my intentions; I did send someone to call you away because I wanted you to get rid of Chen Li. But that’s not what I wanted to ask you. I wanted to know…”

Su Wenyue hadn’t finished her sentence when she saw Han Yu looking at her with a playful face and a malicious smile, realizing suddenly that he was playing with her!

“Fine, Han Yu, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? You’re trying to tease me and make a mockery of me, right?! You clearly know what I’m asking, and you’re purposely diverting the subject. How can you be so nasty? Tell me, what happened after you took Chen Li away, and be honest. If you don’t fess up, I won’t let you off!”

Su Wenyue grabbed Han Yu fiercely as she spoke, though her delicate appearance and small stature failed to give her any intimidating presence.

“Oh? I’d like to know how my daughter-in-law will not let me off,” Han Yu said with a playful tone, watching as Su Wenyue clutched at his clothing; he simply pulled her into his arms and spoke with disbelief and teasing in his voice, clearly belittling her.

Such blatant disrespect was annoying! Seeing Han Yu so smug, Su Wenyue’s curiosity vanished. She wanted to see if she could handle him; he was simply too arrogant. Right there and then, she ordered loudly to the outside, “Shu Xiang, go tidy up the bed in the Inner Study Room. Your master will spend the night there today.”

After speaking, Su Wenyue turned to Han Yu, “Husband, I’m feeling upset and a little unwell today. You’ll have to make do with sleeping in the Inner Study Room for a while.”

Han Yu saw his daughter-in-law resort to this tactic, which was indeed quite cunning, but how could he agree? “Darling, you really want me to stay alone in that cold study room?”

Han Yu looked pitifully at her, but Su Wenyue remained unmoved, stupid man! He needed to be taught a lesson or he’d think she was easy to bully!

“Husband, don’t worry, I’ll have the girls take good care of you, and I won’t let you feel aggrieved. If not, then you can sleep in here, and I’ll go to the study room,” she said.

Su Wenyue spoke and immediately started to rise to make room for Han Yu, but he grabbed her, “Sweetheart, I was just teasing you. Stop making a fuss; it’s getting late. Let’s rest early, I’ll tell you everything, I promise to leave no detail out.”

“Hmph, you should’ve said that earlier. There was no need to make me angry. Next time you do this, see if I let you off so easily!” Su Wenyue wasn’t genuinely angry, it was just playful banter with Han Yu. Seeing that he had given in, she willingly agreed, inwardly triumphant, “Let’s see if I can’t handle you!”

Although Han Yu noticed Su Wenyue’s self-satisfaction, he didn’t show it, and he mentally chuckled. If it were not for his indulgence, how could she get her way? He let her have her moment of happiness; he would get his revenge later. A happy wife meant more benefits for him, a calculation clear in his mind.

Su Wenyue hadn’t enjoyed her victory long before she found a certain someone started to act up. She wanted to protest, but before she could, her mouth was silenced, cursing the cunning man in her mind. He knew well that she would disagree, so he simply made the first move.

Hearing Su Wenyue, Shu Xiang approached from the outer room, thinking something might have happened, but seeing it was just the Husband and Wife fooling around, she stopped in her tracks and didn’t enter, but instead smiled and turned away from the door, knowing that the Master and Madam getting along well was a welcome sight for the servants.

As the Imperial Court’s army drew closer to Yiyang day by day, the atmosphere in the city began to tense up. Some of the wealthier folks with connections got wind of the situation and left for refuge elsewhere to avoid the war. But the ordinary commoners, who already struggled for food and warmth, had neither the means to flee nor the heart to abandon their humble possessions—enough only to keep them from the elements. Most preferred not to leave, living in fear and hoping the war would not reach their doorstep.

Since the Imperial Court had mobilized such a large force, Han Yu was well aware that Yiyang would likely fall. With the battle imminent, he knew he had to secure the safety of his wife and child. His Eldest Brother-in-law had gone to the Capital City to rescue someone, so Han Yu felt obliged to offer more support. Although his Father-in-law and Second Uncle were there to take charge, it was a matter of showing support and not wanting his daughter-in-law to worry. Moreover, Han Yu didn’t trust arranging for Su Wenyue to leave alone; if she could join the People from Su Family, with her Father-in-law and Mother-in-law to look after her daughter-in-law and child, he would be more at ease.

Although Han Yu had made up his mind, he still needed to discuss it with his daughter-in-law first to avoid any headaches if she didn’t cooperate later.

“Wife, as the Imperial Court’s troops are nearly at Yiyang’s borders, the battle is imminent, and we have no assurance of victory since the forces sent by the court far outnumber ours. In fact, we have already arranged a retreat route in private, should we be unable to hold our ground,” Han Yu informed her truthfully, knowing his wife was not one to fuss without reason and would understand the situation naturally.

Su Wenyue, hearing this from Han Yu, was quite worried, particularly for his safety: “Has it gotten that serious? Husband, the battlefield is heartless. You must be careful for me and our child’s sake; keep yourself safe, and don’t blindly compete for bravery. Think of me and our child.”

Han Yu nodded solemnly, promising, “Wife, you can rest assured, I will take care of myself for you and our child. But right now, there’s something very urgent to do.”

“What is it?” Su Wenyue asked reflexively upon hearing him.