The Foolish General's Mute Spouse - Chapter 101

101: Reunion

This is an angry remark, but if the person really comes, Qi Ren indeed doesn’t want to go back.

Li Ke tried to persuade him, saying it wouldn’t look good—after all, they were colleagues, so how could he refuse to meet them?

He said it was Prince Qing’s order, and Fu Yanxiao had even sent him a letter urging him to return quickly.

Qi Ren was completely baffled, feeling something was off, which only made him more resistant. No matter what, he refused to go back.

So Li Ke had no choice but to pretend to return and report, taking a detour outside before coming back, saying that a letter from the Seventh Prince had arrived and been delivered to the residence.

“What?!” Qi Ren was instantly furious. “I’m at the military camp—how could it be delivered to the residence?!”

Li Ke stammered, saying it was sent by someone else and he didn’t know the details either.

Qi Ren had no choice but to order someone to prepare a horse so he could return.

As soon as he arrived at the residence, Qi Ren stormed off with his horsewhip to find Fu Yanxiao, his anger practically making his eyebrows stand on end. “Fu Yanxiao! What’s the point of forcing me to come back?! Where is it?! Where’s my letter?!”

His imposing manner was so intimidating that the maidservants passing by didn’t dare to look up at him. Qi Ren strode straight to the inner courtyard, and Fu Yanxiao came out upon hearing the commotion, frowning at him. “What’s all the shouting about? What letter?”

“The letter from Yu’an! Where is it?! Hand it over!”

“I don’t know! Eat first, then we’ll talk! The envoy is about to arrive, and here you are waving a horsewhip and yelling—do you want to make a fool of yourself in front of others?”

Qi Ren laughed in anger. “This is my general’s residence—who cares?! Give me the letter! I don’t care what imperial envoy or censor is coming, I’m not entertaining them!”

Xia Xiu made a hand gesture behind his back, unseen by Qi Ren. Fu Yanxiao’s eyes flickered as he suppressed his temper and forced out a smile, walking over to drape an arm over Qi Ren’s shoulder and steer him inside. “The food’s already served—eat first, then we’ll talk. It’s almost dark—aren’t you hungry?”

“I’m too angry to eat!”

“Go inside and wait. I’ll fetch the letter for you. If the envoy arrives, don’t lose your temper, alright?”

Qi Ren waved his hand impatiently. “Yeah, yeah, go get the letter.”

Fu Yanxiao patted his shoulder again before leaving to retrieve the letter.

No sooner had he left than an announcement came from outside—the envoy had arrived and was already at the gate.

Qi Ren frowned at the dishes on the table and waved for someone to bring the envoy in.

Why were all the dishes so bland? And so many sweet ones? Was this also to suit the envoy’s taste?

Though these were dishes Yu’an liked—too bad he wasn’t here.

He reached for his chopsticks and accidentally brushed against the plate of candied yam. The sugar strands stuck to his sleeve along with bits of yam, making a mess.

Qi Ren clicked his tongue, flicking the bits under the plate, but the sticky syrup on his sleeve wouldn’t come off.

He lifted his arm to sniff it, silently calculating how many days he’d been wearing this outfit.

Seemed like it could last a couple more days.

Living in the military camp, he’d even shaved his beard with a dagger, and now stubble was sprouting again, making him look rather unkempt.

Whatever—it wasn’t like there were outsiders around. When you’re out fighting all day, who are you dressing up for?

Shadows moved outside as the envoy’s party finally arrived in the inner courtyard.

Qi Ren patted his clothes and stood up. Fu Yanxiao happened to return from the room just then, handing him the letter.

So Qi Ren didn’t even spare a glance for the envoy, his heart finally settling as he looked down at the familiar handwriting on the envelope.

What was Yu’an writing about this time? Why was it almost the same as before?

Not even a single word of longing?!

Your humble official pays respects to Prince Qing and to the General.”

Qi Ren flipped the letter over, even peeked inside the envelope, trying to see if there was anything else hidden within.

“No need for formalities!” he replied carelessly, not even glancing at the visitor before turning to head back inside.

The imperial envoy sounded young—whether he was a capable rising star or just someone who had pulled strings to get the position remained to be seen.

Holding the letter, he entered the inner chambers, ignoring the envoy outside. After all, Fu Yanxiao could handle the socializing—it had little to do with him, a mere military man.

The sound of chairs scraping outside suggested they had taken their seats.

Fu Yanxiao even cheerfully remarked, “It’s all your favorite dishes—Qi Ren personally had them prepared. Quite thoughtful of him!”

Qi Ren, the man in question, was baffled—he had no idea about any of this!

Why is Fu Yanxiao buttering up the envoy on my behalf?

Just who is this imperial envoy?

Tucking the letter into his robe, he strode out with a deep frown, ready to exchange some polite pleasantries. But the moment he looked up, his eyes collided with a gaze he had dreamed of countless times.

“You… y-you… you…”

He stammered for a long moment, convinced he must be hallucinating.

Xia Xiu, arm linked with Fu Yu’an’s, teased, “What’s wrong, General Qi? Cat got your tongue? Weren’t you all cold and dismissive just now?”

Fu Yu’an simply smiled at him, not saying a word, just watching.

And sitting beside him—who else could that envoy be but Si Qi?!

Qi Ren immediately turned to Fu Yanxiao, who wore a mischievous grin, and everything clicked.

No wonder he insisted I come back. They all knew—only I was kept in the dark like a fool!

Qi Ren glanced down at his own disheveled state—his sleeves stained with syrup, looking even more unkempt than a sewer rat!

Meanwhile, Fu Yu’an didn’t look too well either, likely exhausted from days of travel.

“You… you’re here? I thought—”

“Yes, I’m here. Long time no see.”

The overwhelming rush of finally seeing his deepest wish fulfilled was too much. Qi Ren discreetly pinched the back of his hand, using the pain to confirm this wasn’t just another dream.

He desperately wanted to pull him into a tight embrace, but with so many people around, he couldn’t.

And Fu Yu’an might not even want him to.

He clenched his jaw and let Fu Yanxiao pull him down into a seat. Xia Xiu tried to stand and make space, but Fu Yu’an held him in place.

Qi Ren sat across from him, staring without blinking.

The intensity of that gaze made Fu Yu’an feel as if needles were pricking his back. Maybe I should’ve told him in advance.

The meal passed with everyone distracted. Fu Yanxiao and Xia Xiu watched the subtle interactions between the two like it was the most riveting drama.

Fu Yu’an and Si Qi kept their heads down, focusing on their food—especially Si Qi, who grew increasingly irritated every time he looked up to find Qi Ren’s predatory glare fixed on them.

I shouldn’t have brought the young master here! The man looks like a starving wolf!

“I’ve finished eating. Please take your time,” Fu Yu’an was the first to set down his chopsticks, sitting upright as he glanced at Si Qi.

Taking the hint, Si Qi stopped eating as well and stood to escort him back to the inn.

But Qi Ren wouldn’t hear of it—now that Fu Yu’an had stepped into his general’s residence, there was no way he’d let him leave!

“You’re already here… why not just stay? No need to trouble yourselves elsewhere.”

“No, thank you. We heard General Qi wanted us to find our own lodgings. We wouldn’t want to impose,” Si Qi replied stiffly, his smile not reaching his eyes.

Qi Ren had dug his own grave with that earlier remark and now had no retort.

Watching them prepare to leave, he blurted out, “Fine, if you don’t want to stay, then go—but leave Yu’an here! We’re practically married anyway, sharing a room wouldn’t be any trouble at all!”

Fu Yu’an: “…What nonsense!”

Si Qi was also speechless: “I am the imperial envoy, General Qi. And have you even asked for my young master’s opinion before making such an arbitrary decision?”

Qi Ren snorted and asked Fu Yu’an, “So, do you want to go stay at an inn with him or remain here? Xiao Zhu has been missing you terribly!”

These words gave him an easy way out. Fu Yu’an himself had been longing for Qi Ren madly—how could he bear to leave after suppressing his feelings for so long?

He nodded slightly and took a small step away from Si Qi: “In that case, I’ll stay to see Little Yuanbao before leaving!”

Si Qi sighed, rubbing his forehead—he should have known it would turn out like this.

“In that case, this humble official dares not leave the young master here alone. I’ll have to trouble the general to prepare another room for me.”

Qi Ren readily agreed, then immediately ordered the servants to assign him a room as far away from his own courtyard as possible.