CHAPTER 154: CHAPTER 148: I DON’T BLAME YOU, SO DON’T BLAME ME

Father Wen asked the household guards to wait for a moment, then went back to tidy up and changed into clean clothes.

When he came out, he saw Mrs. Zhou standing outside the door watching him, "Where are you going?"

Father Wen said, "I have some matters to attend to in the county."

Mrs. Zhou frowned, "At this hour, you’re still going to the county? Can you make it back by tonight?"

Father Wen said, "If I can’t make it back, I’ll stay in the county for the night and return early tomorrow."

"What exactly are you going to do?" Mrs. Zhou rarely saw Father Wen dress himself so neatly, even pulling out the new clothes he couldn’t bear to wear.

She felt a vague unease.

Father Wen was in a hurry to leave. After a few words without patience, he left a remark, "Don’t wait for me for dinner."

Ignoring Mrs. Zhou’s shouts from behind, he boarded the carriage sent by the household guards and headed towards Pingjiang County.

The Eldest Princess reserved a private room in the teahouse.

Upon reaching the upper floor, just as the household guards were about to knock on the door, Father Wen suddenly stopped him, "Wait!"

The household guard was puzzled.

Father Wen clasped his hands together, and the nervousness that he hadn’t shown slowly appeared on his weathered face. He took several deep breaths, and only when he barely calmed his mind did he look at the household guard, a bit embarrassed, and said, "Alright."

"Knock, knock, knock."

The short knocks pulled the Eldest Princess’s thoughts back in the private room. Just as she was about to stand, Lu Xingzhou, sitting beside her, said, "Let me go instead!"

The Eldest Princess responded with a sound of assent.

She didn’t ask Lu Xingzhou to avoid suspicion.

Having wronged Wen Guangping was a fact, and when facing him later, the apology owed for over a decade should properly be spoken in front of the Prince Consort.

Lu Xingzhou opened the door, and Father Wen immediately saw him—a tall, handsome man. From his appearance, the other person looked at least ten years younger, though Father Wen couldn’t be sure about the actual age. After all, city people maintain their looks well, unlike himself, a rural bumpkin who couldn’t compare.

It was said that Fanghua asked for him, so why was it a man?

Father Wen was wondering if he had been deceived when he heard the man’s calm voice, "Please, come in."

Saying this, the man stepped aside to let him in.

Father Wen stepped forward, and as he crossed the threshold, his eyes were deeply drawn to the woman sitting by the window.

So many years had passed, yet her appearance had hardly changed, still as stunning as ever. However, compared to back then, she was now a bit less approachable. Even when dressed simply and plainly, the inherent aloofness in her demeanor made it intimidating to approach easily.

With just one glance, Father Wen pulled back his gaze, not daring to look at her again, and lowered his head to gaze at the floor tiles.

"Fanghua, I thought I wouldn’t see you again in this lifetime."

Father Wen’s tone didn’t reveal any resentment; instead, it seemed somewhat apologetic to her.

The Eldest Princess pressed her lips together, the words she had prepared stuck in her throat upon seeing him, unable to utter a single word.

Lu Xingzhou moved a chair behind Father Wen, his tone full of warmth, "Let’s sit down and talk!"

Father Wen looked gratefully at him and slowly sat down.

Lu Xingzhou also poured tea and handed it over.

Father Wen took it but didn’t drink, holding the teacup tightly in his hands, clearly hiding the nervousness inside.

The Eldest Princess didn’t speak, and the private room suddenly fell into silence, the atmosphere indescribably awkward.

Lu Xingzhou was about to speak to diffuse the tension when the Eldest Princess, after a long silence, finally spoke, "Leaving you and Wanwan without a word back then was my wrongdoing to Second Brother Wen."

She didn’t ask him how he had been all these years, nor did she offer a word of farewell. Leaving him and their three-year-old daughter, she had been gone for over ten years. Could he have lived well?

If she had any conscience, such a question shouldn’t even arise.

"No, you didn’t wrong me."

Father Wen hurriedly said, "From the very beginning, I knew it was under duress that you ended up in this small place. Later, taking care of you was my own choice. With your status, leaving Pingjiang County was inevitable. I should have realized it much earlier. It’s just that I was too young then, selfish and immature, wishing to keep you by my side without considering you enough, thereby delaying you. It’s me who should say sorry."

This speech made Lu Xingzhou look sideways.

He was a normal man, having waited so long for the woman he loved. Now meeting her former husband officially, it’s impossible to say he didn’t have any thoughts about it.

Lu Xingzhou had even considered how he would handle things if Wen Guangping had been unreasonable and refused to let Ah Yin leave.

But he hadn’t anticipated that the words the other person would speak actually contradicted his expectations entirely.

However, thinking from another perspective, with Ah Yin’s standards, even in a state of decline, she would never casually pick just any man. Someone she would consider, even if just a rural villager, wouldn’t have bad character.

After speaking, Father Wen looked up at Lu Xingzhou, "This gentleman, I presume, must be Wan Niang’s biological father?"

He is merely honest and simple, but that doesn’t mean he’s brainless.

Would Fanghua really let an unrelated man stay in the room to listen to a secret from over a decade ago?

The Eldest Princess was a bit surprised; she hadn’t even introduced him yet, and he already guessed it.

However, in doing so, much awkwardness was avoided.

Lu Xingzhou nodded slightly, his gaze gentle, "Second Brother Wen endured much hardship raising Wanwan. I should have visited earlier to see her. Regardless of the reasons, not coming was my fault. I’ve already reserved a private room at the restaurant; later on, let’s have a drink or two, as my way of apologizing to Second Brother Wen for my negligence."

Throughout his words, he didn’t mention "biological father," nor did he explicitly thank Father Wen for raising his daughter.

Such words, no matter how they are spoken, are always hurtful.

An apology, on the other hand, is easier for the other party to accept.

Although he also raised a son for over a decade, these two matters can’t be compared, nor do they "offset" each other; gratitude is gratitude, and he is not an ungrateful person who confuses right and wrong.

Father Wen could easily discern the words Lu Xingzhou deliberately avoided, showing that this "main character" was not a simple person.

In a few words, the difference between himself and Lu Xingzhou became clear.

His heart was not without disappointment, but there was more joy.

Fanghua, such a beautiful woman, deserves better; keeping her by his side would be like clipping her wings.

The smooth conversation was beyond the Eldest Princess’s expectations; relieved, she also felt a sense of urgency, "By the way, where is Wanwan? She’s eighteen now, has she been promised to anyone?"

Although she initially entrusted Wanwan to Song Sanlang, who knew what might have happened over the years?

The conversation lightened the mood, and Father Wen relaxed significantly, saying truthfully, "Wan Niang was married the spring when she turned sixteen."

The Eldest Princess and Lu Xingzhou exchanged a glance and asked, "Who did she marry?"

Father Wen said, "Just as you entrusted before you left, to Song Family’s Third Son, Song Wei."

Upon hearing this, the Eldest Princess breathed a sigh of relief, "If it’s him, then I’m completely at ease."

Lu Xingzhou’s expression changed slightly, "Song Wei?"

Ningzhou? Song Wei?

Was it just a coincidence of the same name, or...

Lu Xingzhou recalled the girl he saw earlier in the courtyard alley, his heart racing uncontrollably.

The Eldest Princess noticed something was wrong with him and asked, "Why, does the Prince Consort know him?"

Not wanting to stray too far from the topic in front of Father Wen, Lu Xingzhou shook his head and said, "It’s nothing."

Father Wen looked at the Eldest Princess, "I want to know, how were you so sure back then that Song Wei would treat Wan Niang well?"

The Eldest Princess smiled at the question, "When it comes to judging people, I do not lack insight. Everyone said Song Sanlang was cursed, with bad luck, destined to achieve little in life. But I felt he was not a mere pond fish, just waiting for his time; give him an opportunity, and one day, he’d surprise everyone."

"Your insight is indeed sharp," Father Wen said excitedly, "Ever since his luck turned, Third Son has excelled in exams, and has been sent to the Capital City Imperial College thanks to his outstanding results in the prefectural and county examinations. Wan Niang went with him, and they won’t be back until the end of August. You two have come for nothing this time."

This candid remark from Father Wen hit Lu Xingzhou’s ears like a thunderbolt, almost disorientating him.

To avoid losing composure, Lu Xingzhou stood up, excusing himself to check on the restaurant’s arrangements, striding out of the room.

The Eldest Princess could tell he had something on his mind but did not expose him, instead turning her gaze to Father Wen, "Second Brother Wen, do you mean Third Son is currently at the Imperial College?"

"Yes." Father Wen nodded.

The Eldest Princess showed surprise, but compared to the internal shock Lu Xingzhou felt, her reaction was not overly apparent.

All these years, to avoid disturbing Wanwan’s life, and to resist the urge of taking her daughter back, she refrained from having anyone investigate her whereabouts, merely setting up contacts in the Capital to prevent the Empress Dowager from secretly arranging harm to Wanwan.

She genuinely knew nothing about Wanwan and Song Wei.

Unexpectedly, Third Son had already gained admission to the Imperial College by his own merit.

Whether as Wanwan’s biological mother, or as Third Son’s mother-in-law, or even as the "Aunt Lu" Third Son referred to from the past, she genuinely felt happy for him from the bottom of her heart.

Coming back to her senses, the Eldest Princess picked up where Father Wen left off, "We intended to visit you purposely, so it wasn’t all for nothing."

Father Wen could tell she still felt guilty towards him.

"Fanghua." Taking advantage of Lu Xingzhou’s absence, Father Wen raised his eyes, looking directly at the Eldest Princess, "Not long after you left, my mother, wanting to have a grandson, forced me to marry Mrs. Zhou. She and I now have an eight-year-old son. It was I who first wronged you, so in the future, you shouldn’t have any burden on your mind."

He is Wan Niang’s biological father. Returning to him is only natural. I do not blame you, nor should you blame me. As for past matters, let’s forget them as if they never happened."

The Eldest Princess’s eyes brimmed with tears, choking up for a long time before saying, "Second Brother Wen, thank you."

If she hadn’t heard his forgiveness firsthand, she might never have untangled the knot in her heart, which meant she and the Prince Consort could only remain a couple by form only.

Hurting the Prince Consort actually hurt herself too; such torment, she endured for over ten years.