Transmigrated into the Villain's Cannon Fodder Ex-Wife (Transmigrated into a Book) - Chapter 46

Lin Chu’s eyes flew wide in surprise—was that Mu Xingfeng?

Just last night, Yan Mingge had received a letter from him and ranted about it for ages, and now Mu Xingfeng had shown up here, at the border?

It would take at least three to five days to get from the southern capital to the borderlands. That meant he must’ve sent the letter and immediately hit the road himself?

The coughing outside the house hadn’t stopped.

Wei Rou pressed her lips together and stood to open the courtyard door.

As the courtyard door creaked open, a figure in pale blue appeared through the snow—his silhouette gradually coming into focus before Lin Chu’s eyes.

When she got a proper look at Mu Xingfeng’s face, Lin Chu couldn’t help but pause. If Han Zichen was the walking definition of “as warm as jade, unmatched among noble sons”, then Mu Xingfeng was the living image of “Like polished jade, like carved stone, refined and noble through effort and care.”

He was tall—perhaps a bit on the thin side, likely due to poor health. But not the kind of frailty that looked sickly—more like a slender bamboo, carrying the gentle, graceful aura of a true gentleman. A black crane cloak hung over his shoulders, dusted with snow from standing in the cold too long.

His eyes were a pale color—soft at first glance, but if you looked closer, they seemed permanently shrouded in mist, unreadable.

What surprised Lin Chu even more: he hadn’t tied up his hair.

Long, jet-black locks fell loosely down his back. Paired with his delicate, clean-cut features, he looked like someone who had stepped out of a painting.

There was no denying it—Mu Xingfeng was beautiful, no matter how you looked at him.

Behind him stood a burly man with a thick beard, carrying two massive axes on his back—clearly a skilled martial artist, most likely serving as his bodyguard.

Wei Rou’s face turned cold. “What are you doing here?”

Mu Xingfeng smiled faintly, his pale lips barely curving. “Looking for you.”

Two simple words, but spoken like an oath.

Wei Rou laughed, like she’d just heard something absurd. Her eyes were already turning red. “Do you even remember what you said to me when you left the mountain?”

His expression remained warm, just as she remembered. “Ah Rou, the world is about to fall into chaos. I can’t hide away in the mountains forever.”

Wei Rou scoffed. “That’s just your ambition talking.”

Mu Xingfeng’s gaze remained locked on the small, fierce woman in front of him, his voice low and soft—like tenderness carved into bone. 

“If that’s really how you want to see me… what can I do?”

Wei Rou laughed again, bitter and tired. 

“Then tell me, how should I see you?”

A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye. Her voice trembled with exhaustion. 

“Maybe I was just young and naive, believing in fairy tales. I thought—Senior Brother would always be Senior Brother. That you’d stay with me in the mountains for life. I’d earn money forging iron, and you’d stay at the medicinal hut treating people. Even if our master’s wife nagged me for marrying someone who couldn’t swing a hammer, I’d give her a fat baby to carry next year. You couldn’t forge iron? Fine—I’d raise a daughter who could. And when she grew up, she could bring home a son-in-law to the mountain instead…”

Mu Xingfeng’s eyes flickered with rare regret. “Silly girl…”

Wei Rou wiped her tears away, only for new ones to fall just as quickly. She let out two hollow laughs. 

“But you’re no longer just my Senior Brother. You’ve got a family name to uphold. You were never content living like a recluse. I know you’re chasing your grand ambitions. I don’t blame you, I really don’t. But what’s gone is gone—we can’t go back.”

Mu Xingfeng tried to lift his hand to wipe away her tears.

Wei Rou quickly stepped back, avoiding his touch.

His expression didn’t change, but those who knew him would’ve seen that he was already displeased. His voice stayed calm, but his eyes were fixed on her. 

“I didn’t bring you down the mountain because I thought you wouldn’t like life outside. I wanted you to stay carefree up there, while I handled things down here. When it was all done, I’d come back for you. A few days ago, Third Brother wrote to me—that’s when I found out you’d come down. Ah Rou, I may not be able to give you everything you deserve right now, but that day isn’t far off—”

Wei Rou dried her tears and gave him a bright, dazzling smile. 

“No need. I was born in jianghu—I’m not some delicate noble girl obsessed with status. You didn’t want to hide away with me, and I’ve got no interest in becoming your trophy wife. Let’s end it here—clean and simple. That’s for the best.”

Mu Xingfeng’s brows drew into a tight frown. 

“Ah Rou…”

“Lord Mu,” Wei Rou said flatly, “please leave.”

And with that, she shut the door in his face.

“Ah Rou!” Mu Xingfeng called from outside, but the cold must’ve gotten to him—he broke into another fit of violent coughing.

The bearded man hurried forward to pat him on the back and pulled a porcelain bottle from his coat. 

“Master, your medicine.”

Mu Xingfeng took two pills and swallowed them. Only then did the coughing subside.

He stared at the closed courtyard door, his face clouded with sorrow and regret. 

“Ah Rou… ever since I left the mountain, I haven’t tied up my hair again. If you’re not by my side… who else is left to do it for me?”

He wanted to say more, but the only thing in his mouth was bitterness.

Inside, Wei Rou leaned against the closed door. When she heard his words, her tears poured down again. She slowly slid to the floor, hugging her arms tightly around herself, crying without a sound.

Lin Chu didn’t know how to comfort her.

All she could do was walk over and gently pat her on the shoulder, over and over again.

“Senior Sister,” Lin Chu said softly, “it’s cold out here in the snow. Let’s go back inside.”

Wei Rou’s shoulders shook with silent sobs, her tears falling like rain.

Mu Xingfeng was still outside. Lin Chu didn’t dare bring up the baby just yet. One look at Mu Xingfeng today, and she knew—he was trouble. And clearly, he still cared deeply for Wei Rou. If he found out she was pregnant, there was no way he’d let her go.

Now that Wei Rou had decided to keep the child, Lin Chu was absolutely sure—no matter what happened, she couldn’t let her go back with Mu Xingfeng. Wei Rou was a free-spirited woman raised in jianghu, not someone who could survive the dirty politics of a noble household.

The Mu family was a prestigious clan with a hundred-year legacy in Da Zhao. They cared deeply about matching social ranks. Mu Xingfeng’s official wife was a commandery princess. She may’ve smiled sweetly on the surface, but Lin Chu was sure she played a mean game behind closed doors.

In the original novel, the heroine only learned about Wei Rou’s past from an old maid who had returned to the countryside. In that timeline, by the time Mu Xingfeng found out Wei Rou was pregnant, she was already seven months along.

He locked her away in a secluded manor, assigned mute servants to care for her, and stationed guards at every exit. Though he came to visit her daily, every time, Wei Rou either mocked him coldly or tried to throw things at him. She tried to escape multiple times, but with her belly that big and no allies, she failed again and again.

Even the old maid realized something was off. She’d seen mistresses before—but none treated like this.

When Wei Rou was eight months pregnant, the old maid’s son was injured in a gambling brawl. She took time off to take him to the doctor. A few days later, when she returned, the entire manor had burned to the ground. All the mute servants had been killed. No one knew what had really happened.

Terrified for her life, the old maid packed up and left with her crippled son, hiding in the countryside for over ten years.

Later, when the heroine learned Mu Xingfeng was her father, she confronted him about Wei Rou’s death. His face twisted with hatred—he claimed it was the heroine’s fault.

Eventually, the heroine tracked down the midwife who’d helped deliver her. The woman said Wei Rou had gone into labor, but during the birth, a noblewoman barged in and forced everyone to leave. No one knew what she said to Wei Rou—but when she left, Wei Rou was clearly ready to die.

Back when Lin Chu read that part of the book, it left her feeling suffocated with rage. But now that Wei Rou was a real person, right in front of her… Lin Chu felt cold all over. No matter what, she had to change this tragic fate.

She looked at Wei Rou, crying in silence—and a fury bubbled up inside her. She didn’t know whether it was heartbreak or pity, but it burned all the same.

She grabbed Wei Rou and pulled her up. 

“Senior Sister, if you’re gonna cry, we’re not doing it out here in the snow. We’re going inside. We’re climbing into bed, grabbing the heater, and crying it out under the blankets. And after this cry—we’re moving on.”

Lin Chu helped Wei Rou back into the house.

Behind a pillar, Han Junye stepped out into the snowy courtyard.

There wasn’t a trace of childhood innocence left on his round little face. His cold gaze seemed to pierce through the courtyard gate, locking on to the man standing outside. His brow was furrowed, his face dark with storm clouds.