The Foolish General's Mute Spouse - Chapter 51

51: Nightmare

No wonder she was so kind to me. No wonder she had that expression when she first saw me.

The palace maids once said I looked very much like my mother. Elder Shu must have recognized me at first glance.

“Will you come with me? I’ll take you back to Jiangnan. Your uncle and aunt are there—don’t you want to see them?” Elder Shu asked again, her cane tapping the ground as she pressed it into a small hollow.

Fu Yu’an hesitated.

There was no reason for him not to go.

Ahead lay the life he had dreamed of for over a decade. All he had to do was agree, and he could live the life he had longed for.

But…

He thought of Qi Ren.

His heart twisted in pain. He took a step forward and reached for Elder Shu’s hand, but the other was suddenly gripped by a strong force.

Fu Yu’an turned and saw Qi Ren’s dark expression.

The bamboo forest was shrouded in mist, and everything before him seemed like an illusion.

Qi Ren shouted at him, “You’re leaving with her? What about me?”

What about you?

“You’ll be your great general—why should you care what I do?” His nose stung, and a surge of bitterness overwhelmed him.

Qi Ren pulled him back into his arms, holding him tightly, his voice desperate. “You can’t go… Please don’t leave, alright? I can help you uncover the truth about your mother’s death. I can treat you well for the rest of your life!”

Tears spilled from Fu Yu’an’s eyes. He seemed to see Xiao Zhu and Li Ke, saw her marrying in phoenix robes and jeweled headdress, saw Qi Ren drowning in alcohol and despair after he left, saw his mother’s vengeful spirit wailing underground.

He saw too much.

But if he didn’t leave, he had no one to rely on. They were both men—how could he depend on Qi Ren for a lifetime?

You’re not even someone who likes men. What if one day you grow tired of me? What will I do then?

Torn, he hesitated for a long time before finally refusing Elder Shu.

Elder Shu’s figure gradually faded away. Qi Ren, overjoyed, clung to him, and the two returned to the general’s estate.

The madam suddenly appeared at the gate, standing with the late old general.

Strange—this should have been impossible, yet Fu Yu’an found it entirely reasonable.

The old general glared furiously, demanding that Qi Ren take a concubine to continue the family line.

Qi Ren refused, and father and son came to blows. Fu Yu’an tried to mediate, but it was futile.

Qi Ren held firm and did not take a concubine. Fu Yu’an was overjoyed, and the two lived in tender affection.

Then, in a sudden shift of scenery, Fu Yu’an shivered and found himself in a world of ice and snow. He turned to Xiao Zhu and asked, “When did the general leave?”

“Your Highness, he left at dusk. It’s almost midnight now, and he still hasn’t returned. Your health is frail—you should go inside and wait!”

Fu Yu’an waved his hand. The cold pierced his bones, but he insisted on waiting at the gate.

Lately, Qi Ren seemed increasingly reluctant to come home.

Is it because there’s too much going on at the military camp? Or did some other official drag him out for drinks?

Matters of the court were beyond Fu Yu’an’s understanding.

The cold wind howled outside. He didn’t know how much time had passed before Qi Ren finally returned—with a beautiful woman in his arms, dressed in dazzlingly bright robes, smiling sweetly.

“Are you drunk?”

“I haven’t been drinking.” Qi Ren impatiently brushed his hand away. “At this point, I won’t hide it from you anymore. This is Xiao Cui. I bought her freedom today. From now on, you two should get along.”

There wasn’t a trace of alcohol on him, yet Fu Yu’an felt as if he were the one intoxicated.

Otherwise, how could he be hearing something so absurd?

Yes, Qi Ren had been coming home late recently, speaking to him with impatience, barely sparing him a glance. He would rush to bed as soon as he returned, with none of the tenderness they once shared.

Fu Yu’an had thought he was just exhausted. But now, he had brought someone home—there was no more room for self-deception.

Biting back tears, Fu Yu’an forced a smile and instructed the servants to prepare a room and meals for them.

Yet he couldn’t suppress his bitterness. He chased after Qi Ren, asking, Didn’t you say you loved me? Didn’t you promise to treat me well for the rest of my life? How could you—

Abandon me like this?

Qi Ren’s expression was icy. The warmth he had once reserved for Fu Yu’an was now directed at someone else. He said he had never truly liked men—that his interest in Fu Yu’an had merely been a passing whim. Now that the novelty had worn off, so had his affection.

Heart torn asunder, Fu Yu’an’s face was streaked with tears. Clenching his jaw, he turned and walked away, refusing to beg pathetically.

Outside, the wind raged, howling against the windows. Fu Yu’an saw a sky full of snowflakes—and Qi Ren’s resolute, disgusted face.

With a shudder, he woke up.

His lashes were damp. He opened his mouth but no sound came out.

Just a dream.

The wind had picked up during the night, and the unlatched window banged noisily. He nudged Qi Ren with his foot, signaling him to close it.

With a soft click, the window shut, muffling the gale outside.

“The wind’s strong—is it raining?” His voice was sleep-softened, husky and muffled.

Qi Ren’s heart melted. He ruffled Fu Yu’an’s hair and tucked him deeper into the blankets. “No rain yet, but it might tomorrow. Go back to sleep.”

Fu Yu’an hummed in acknowledgment, nestling into a comfortable position. After a long pause, he spoke again, as if murmuring to himself:

“I had a dream.”

Qi Ren, half-asleep, merely let out a muffled “Hmm?” and asked drowsily, “What kind of dream?”

But Fu Yu’an didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “You’re not actually into men, are you?”

“…”

Qi Ren’s heart lurched, his drowsiness fading in an instant. Why is he suddenly asking this?

He turned his head and saw the tear stains on Fu Yu’an’s face—then understood.

“Did you have a nightmare?”

“Answer me first.”

Fu Yu’an was insistent, refusing to let it go.

It wasn’t an unreasonable question. Once someone fixates on something, they’ll keep seeking confirmation for their fears.

Seeing no way to dodge it, Qi Ren hesitated for a long moment before finally speaking.

Fu Yu’an sighed, exhaustion creeping back in. “Forget it if you don’t want to say.”

“I did like a girl once.” Qi Ren admitted slowly. “A palace maid, I think. She was delivering some artwork for her mistress when I caught her climbing over the wall.”

Fu Yu’an vaguely recalled this story. “You’ve mentioned her before.” he said. “She just disappeared after that, right? You told me.”

Qi Ren couldn’t quite remember. “Did I?”

“Mhm. Besides her, have there been others? You’ve lived over twenty years—surely it wasn’t just that one teenage palace maid?”

Qi Ren fell silent for a long time before finally murmuring, “Honestly? Yeah, just her.”

Fu Yu’an: “…”

At first, it sounded unbelievable—but then again, this was Qi Ren.

“I never really grew up around girls. Later, I followed my father to the military camp and stayed there for over a decade. The only times I came back were during festivals—when would I have had the chance to meet anyone?”

Fu Yu’an sighed. “No wonder you fell for that little palace maid at first sight five years ago!”

Qi Ren let out an indignant hiss. “It wasn’t love at first sight! At first, I just thought she was funny—she climbed the wall, I startled her, and she fell right off! Hah, how could anyone be so clumsy?”