The Foolish General's Mute Spouse - Chapter 96

96: Not Four Years

He had imagined many scenarios of their reunion—perhaps sharp confrontations or cold, mocking exchanges—but never this one.

It was as if he had been the one abandoned, the heartless one. As if the person who had disappeared without a word for two years was him.

Hadn’t he missed Fu Yu’an just as much? But he had always suppressed his feelings with official duties, deliberately avoiding him.

He was constantly at war with his own desires.

From the moment he had fallen in love, it was destined that he would always be led around by Fu Yu’an.

All his stubbornness and resentment seemed to crumble before this feverish, delirious nobleman who clung to him and whispered, I missed you.

Qi Ren hated his own weakness, but he still let out a deep sigh. If Fu Yu’an wanted to reconcile, then fine—they would live peacefully together from now on!

But what exactly had happened back then to make him leave so decisively?

“An’an, tell me—why did you leave without a word back then? If you tell me, we can go back to how we were before. Okay? Just tell me.”

“No… I can’t! I can’t say… I—”

His body burned, his mind clouded as if trapped in a dream, yet even in this state, he still refused to reveal the truth.

Fu Yu’an wiped his tears, his voice choked with sobs. “You haven’t appeared in my dreams for so long. I wanted to dream of you, but the elders say that if you dream of someone three times, your fate with them is severed. I didn’t dare… didn’t dare dream of you too much, but I couldn’t control it… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

Qi Ren was furious. So he thought this was all just a dream!

Even in his dreams, he wouldn’t tell him the truth—how utterly absurd!

A wave of disappointment washed over him, but there was nothing he could do.

Qi Ren pried him off and laid him back down on the bed, replacing the damp cloth on his forehead with a fresh one.

Fu Yu’an stared at him pitifully, clinging to his sleeve like a puppy, refusing to let him leave.

“Why are you holding onto me like this? Weren’t you the one who didn’t want anything to do with me?”

“I… I just want to look at you a little longer. Once I wake up, you’ll disappear again.”

He blinked, his eyes filled with unmistakable love and dependence—just like before.

“You’re awfully bold now.”

Qi Ren had no choice but to sit by the bed and let him look. He reminded himself not to argue with a sick man.

“Come stay at the General’s Manor. Mother misses you.”

“And you? Don’t you miss me?”

“I… miss you too. But if you won’t tell me why you left, then maybe I shouldn’t.”

“……”

Still, he refused to speak.

Qi Ren truly couldn’t fathom what earth-shattering reason could make him guard the secret so tightly.

His anger flared, but Fu Yu’an sniffled and gazed at him with such vulnerability that his fury instantly dissipated.

The sound of the door opening came from outside, followed by approaching footsteps. Soon after, there was a knock on the door, and Siqi’s voice came through muffled: “Young Master, are you asleep? Would you like a fresh towel?”

Offering a fresh towel was just an excuse—what he really wanted was to check on the situation between the two.

I refuse to believe they still haven’t made up! Are they both mute or something?

Qi Ren tried to pull away and hide, but Fu Yu’an shook his head pleadingly.

“No… I finally dreamed of you…” he muttered softly, gripping his arm to keep him from leaving.

Qi Ren had no choice. He pointed at the door, then at the screen, signaling that he wouldn’t leave.

Fu Yu’an didn’t believe him and began to cry again.

The two remained at a stalemate, and the silence stretched on.

Siqi quickly realized he shouldn’t intrude and whispered, “Alright then,” before retreating to his own room.

Qi Ren touched his forehead and replaced the damp towel.

“I won’t leave. Close your eyes and rest. When you wake up, I’ll come see you again, alright?”

Fu Yu’an shook his head weakly, coughing a few times.

Helpless, Qi Ren removed his outer robe and climbed into bed, holding him close as he used to.

Only then did Fu Yu’an relax slightly, thinking how real this dream felt—more vivid than any before, as if Qi Ren were truly beside him.

Even his warmth and heartbeat were so familiar.

I don’t want to wake up.

Qi Ren realized he could never truly harden his heart against him.

Fu Yu’an’s breathing soon steadied, but Qi Ren didn’t dare sleep. He slipped out of bed quietly and replaced the towel once more.

He had come intending to confront him, but seeing his pained, conflicted expression, all his words dissolved into silence.

“An’an…” Qi Ren sat by the bed all night, reluctant to leave even as dawn broke.

At least the fever had subsided. Once he recovered, they could talk properly.

When Siqi pushed the door open, he caught sight of the swaying window shutters.

Fu Yu’an slept peacefully, a faint smile on his lips, his face no longer flushed.

Siqi reached out to feel his forehead and exhaled in relief.

Truly, a sickness of the heart.

It seemed that General Qi wasn’t entirely useless after all.

…

Once the fever broke, Fu Yu’an’s fierce bout of illness gradually subsided.

When Siqi returned from school and saw him sitting beneath a tree, his heart lurched.

“Young Master, you’ve only just gotten better—why are you sitting in the wind? Come inside at once!” He hurried over to help him up, his brows knitted with worry.

Fu Yu’an studied the bright-eyed youth before him, recalling how Qi Ren had looked in his younger days.

But that dream a few nights ago had felt too real—as if Qi Ren had truly been there.

Yet when he woke in the morning, the space beside him was cold and empty, with no trace of him at all.

Si Qi also found it strange. The two of them had met that night, and judging by the general’s expression the next day, it had clearly gone well. So why hadn’t there been any movement since then?

Instead, the young master had been spacing out more often lately.

Not knowing what to say, Si Qi could only steer the conversation elsewhere.

“Today, Prince Qing came to the Imperial College. It seemed he was looking for General Qi. His expression was grave, and the two of them spoke privately. The general left in a hurry, abandoning our lesson, and didn’t return all afternoon.”

“What?” Fu Yu’an was startled. “How could that be? Where did he go?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt he had shown too much concern and quickly tried to cover it up. “Just asking casually. Don’t take it to heart.”

Si Qi could tell he wasn’t as indifferent as he pretended, but he genuinely didn’t know the details.

Fu Yu’an wasn’t bothered by the lack of an answer. He reminded himself that the general was bound to return to the southern border anyway, and since they hadn’t even met, why should it matter to him what the man did?

But claiming not to care was impossible.

The next day, when Si Qi went to the Imperial College, General Qi was nowhere to be seen. The instructors only said it was court business and told the students not to pry.

By the third day, Xiao Zhu came to say goodbye.

It turned out that the neighboring kingdom had grown restless. As soon as Qi Ren had returned to the capital, they had begun plotting an invasion. The urgent missives had taken half a month to reach the capital, and by now, the southern border was likely already in crisis.

Qi Ren didn’t dare delay. Summoned by the emperor to discuss the matter, he packed his things and left immediately. The second madam had decided to return to the south, so Li Ke would escort her, Xiao Zhu, and her mother, setting off the following day.

Fu Yu’an sighed. There was nothing he could do but silently pray for the war to end swiftly.

With Qi Ren there, it should be fine—but that didn’t mean he could stop worrying entirely.

Fu Yu’an touched the bracelet on his wrist, then took it off and handed it to Xiao Zhu.

“Give this bracelet… to him. Consider it a token of good fortune. After all, it was blessed at the temple when it was repaired.”

“Young Master…”

“Take care of yourselves down there. Within four years, Si Qi and I will come find you.”

Si Qi stared at the bracelet and said solemnly, “It won’t take four years. Three will be enough.”

His tone was unexpectedly resolute, surprising everyone present.

Fu Yu’an, however, didn’t react much, confident that the boy would keep his word.

Xiao Zhu carefully tucked the bracelet away, knelt to kowtow to him one last time, then left with tears in her eyes.

Fu Yu’an watched her go, then pulled his sleeves tighter, only now noticing the chill in the air.

Si Qi helped him into his cloak and, after a moment’s hesitation, finally spoke up.

“Young Master… you’re the Seventh Highness who married General Qi back then, aren’t you?”