sovbooks Chapter 185 The Second Marriage: Welcoming Yang Yu'er
Chapter 185 The Second Marriage: Welcoming Yang Yu'er
"Yes." Lü Xiao nodded. "I understand."
"Alright, in that case, Second Brother will be leaving now." Xue Liang turned to leave.
"Second Brother," Lü Xiao grabbed him, "Aren't you going to see Sister Yu'er?"
Xue Liang paused, a complex expression flashing across his face.
He almost forgot.
If I'm leaving, I should at least tell my younger sister.
The two walked one after the other towards the villa where Yang Yu'er lived.
In the secluded courtyard, Yang Yu'er was embroidering something under the lamp.
Seeing Lü Xiao and Xue Liang arrive together, she put down her needlework and went to greet them.
"Second Brother?" She noticed Xue Liang's expression, her smile faltering slightly. "What's wrong?"
"Yu'er," Xue Liang forced a smile, "Second brother is leaving. Something happened in Dengzhou, and my godfather wants me to go back."
Yang Yu'er's expression changed slightly.
She opened her mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out.
Xue Liang, Luo Fang... they were both orphans adopted by Yang Lin and grew up together.
Although they are not related by blood, they are closer than siblings.
She is getting married now, but her godfather is gone, and even her second brother is leaving.
She lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
"My second brother will be going to war again after he goes back," she said softly, raising her head. "But... I won't have time to embroider peace charms for you."
Before each expedition, she would embroider a peace charm for Luo Fang and Xue Liang.
But this time, it was too late.
Xue Liang felt a pang of sadness when he saw his sister's slightly red eyes.
He smiled and said casually, "Don't worry, we'll be careful, nothing will happen."
He turned around, took two steps, and then turned back.
"Little sister," his voice trembled slightly, "treat Zilie well, your godfather is waiting to hold his grandson."
Yang Yu'er's face flushed red.
She didn't speak, but nodded vigorously.
Xue Liang strode away without looking back.
Yang Yu'er stood at the courtyard gate, watching his figure disappear into the night, and remained motionless for a long time.
"Sister Yu'er," Lü Xiao said softly, "they'll be alright. I'll arrange for someone to help them."
After saying that, he turned and strode out.
Yang Lin is getting old.
This is an unavoidable fact.
Those bodyguards were loyal, but their abilities were questionable.
With more and more people starting uprisings in various places, Dengzhou cannot rely on Yang Lin alone.
What if Xiong Kuohai, Wu Yunzhao, Wu Tianxi and the like suddenly appear in Dengzhou?
What if they run into Yang Lin?
It won't work without a strong general in charge.
Lü Xiao strode into the main hall and ordered his guards, "Summon those four generals here."
A moment later, four middle-aged men in plain clothes entered the main hall.
Their steps were steady, their eyes sharp; they were clearly trained fighters.
These four people were none other than Yang Ruyi's dowry generals.
They were also Yang Guang's palace generals back then, after Yuwen Chengdu suddenly appeared.
They gradually faded out of the court and remained hidden in the shadows, responsible for protecting Yang Ruyi and Lü Zhen's safety.
Now is the time to use them.
"I hereby order the four of you to go to Dengzhou," Lü Xiao said bluntly, "to assist the Prince of Kaoshan in suppressing the surrounding rebellions. You shall obey his orders without fail."
The four men exchanged a glance, then clasped their hands in unison: "Yes! We dare not disobey His Highness's orders!"
"Zuo Xiong!" Lu Xiao's gaze fell on another person.
Although Zuo Xiong wasn't particularly skilled in martial arts, he had a dirty trick up his sleeve.
This move alone is enough to give Wu Yun and his men a run for their money.
Zuo Xiong stepped out from the crowd, bowed, and clasped his hands in greeting: "Your subordinate is here!"
He was a Goguryeo general whom Lü Xiao had subdued years ago; he was highly skilled in martial arts and extremely loyal.
"You shall come along too."
Lü Xiao said.
Zuo Xiong was slightly taken aback, then clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This subordinate obeys!"
The five of them stood in a row, waiting for Lü Xiao's next instructions.
Lu Xiao remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "If anything happens in Dengzhou, send someone to report immediately. If the situation is critical, there is no need to fight to the death; protecting the life of the Prince of Kaoshan is the most important thing."
"Yes, we obey!"
The five figures responded in unison, then turned and strode away.
Lu Xiao stood in the courtyard, looking in the direction where the five people had disappeared, and breathed a slight sigh of relief.
With these five people around, he felt at least a little more at ease.
Although Yang Lin was old, he was still the Prince of Kao Shan, the pillar of the Sui Dynasty.
He couldn't let that pillar fall, no matter what.
Lu Xiao withdrew his gaze and turned to walk towards the other courtyard.
In the courtyard, Yang Yu'er stood under the eaves, her hands clasped in front of her, her gaze fixed on the direction of the courtyard gate.
Upon seeing Lü Xiao appear, her eyes lit up, and she quickly went to greet him.
"How is it?" she asked, a hint of urgency in her voice. "What about my second brother...?"
"Don't worry," Lu Xiao said, taking her hand and patting it gently.
"I've made all the arrangements. I've sent five men to Dengzhou to assist my adoptive father; they are all fierce and capable generals."
Yang Yu'er's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and a look of relief appeared on her face.
But soon, that sense of relief was replaced by a trace of sorrow.
"These days," she said softly, leaning on Lü Xiao's shoulder, "I've been on tenterhooks, always feeling... always feeling that something big is about to happen."
Her hands unconsciously tightened around Lü Xiao's sleeve, as if grasping at something to lean on.
Lu Xiao looked down at her and put his arm around her shoulder: "You're getting married, Sister Yu'er, are you nervous?"
He deliberately emphasized the word "nervous," with a hint of teasing.
Yang Yu'er was slightly taken aback, then a smile appeared on her face.
She looked up, as if she wanted to say something, but then hesitated and stopped.
Lu Xiao noticed her unusual behavior: "Sister Yu'er, just say what you have to say. There's no need for such beating around the bush between us."
Yang Yu'er hesitated for a moment, bit her lip, and finally spoke.
"Then...then my sister will tell you."
She took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind:
"That's right, as you know, my godfather never married for the sake of the Sui Dynasty, but he always wanted to have a grandson..."
She raised her head, looked into Lü Xiao's eyes, and said cautiously.
"I was thinking that in the future... when I become pregnant, could I take the child back to Dengzhou for a while so that my godfather could see and hold his grandson?"
As she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.
She knew her request was a bit excessive.
Marrying Lü Xiao means becoming a member of the Lü family.
How can a new bride think about taking her unborn child back to her parents' home as soon as she enters the family?
Moreover, Lu Xiao treated her so well, yet she made such a request.
But my godfather is old and may not live for many more years.
She was adopted by Yang Lin when she was a child. Although they were not related by blood, he was closer to her than her biological father.
All she could do was fulfill her godfather's last wish.
"I think I understand."
Lu Xiao's voice rang out, as calm as if he were saying that the weather was nice today.
Yang Yu'er suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Lu Xiao's face showed no displeasure, but rather a hint of understanding.
He thought it was something serious, but it's just this?
As a military general, his lifelong goal was to be loyal to the emperor and serve his country.
Yang Lin has excelled in both of these areas.
For the sake of the Yang family and the Sui Dynasty, he was willing to remain unmarried for life and guard Dengzhou for decades without wavering.
For this sentiment alone, Lü Xiao had great respect for him.
"So...so you agree?"
Yang Yu'er's voice trembled slightly.
She had thought that Lü Xiao would refuse, would put her in a difficult position, and would make her choose between her husband and her godfather.
She was even prepared to plead and beg after being rejected.
But to her utter surprise, Lü Xiao agreed so readily.
"Of course." Lü Xiao nodded, his tone matter-of-fact. "Sister Yu'er wants to fulfill her filial duties; how could I stop her?"
He paused, then said, "If Sister Yu'er can take a child back with her, my godfather will be happy, and I will be happy too."
Yang Yu'er stared at him blankly, her eyes gradually reddening.