Chapter 1492: Her Highness the Princess (38)

On a narrow mountain path, a little girl being led by a woman curiously asked, “Mother, if we go to the Imperial City, can we really find Father? Why doesn't Father come home?”

“We'll understand once we find him.”

There was no smile on Lin Yuexiang's face. The news she had heard from her father some days ago had left her deeply unsettled.

Counting the nearly two years Lü Qing had spent living in the Imperial City and the years after taking the imperial examinations, he had been gone for almost ten years.

During that time, she had entertained countless thoughts of going to the Imperial City to find him.

Yet every time, before she could even set out, one accident or another would occur.

At first, she had believed those incidents to be genuine accidents.

Until some time ago, when her father returned from a journey and came to see her, telling her something that stunned her.

He said that Lü Qing had now become a prince consort.

She hadn't believed him, but her father insisted that a relative who knew Lü Qing had personally witnessed him marrying the princess and riding a white horse.

Whether she believed it or not, she had to find Lü Qing.

She had a vague feeling that all those accidents in the past had been very strange.

That was why, this time, she had secretly left with the two children in the middle of the night, taking hidden mountain paths.

Sure enough, things were just as she had suspected.

No accidents had occurred.

Doubt arose in Lin Yuexiang's heart.

Who exactly had been preventing her from reaching the Imperial City?

Only by finding Lü Qing could she uncover the truth.

“Mother, don't frown. If you frown, you won't look pretty anymore.” Lü Yufan was more sensible than Lü Yuzhi and had unintentionally overheard a conversation between his grandfather and Lin Yuexiang. “Even if Father doesn't want us anymore, your son has grown up. In the future, I'll take care of Mother. Mother won't have to worry anymore. Your son will never forget Mother.”

Lin Yuexiang felt somewhat comforted.

Holding one child in each hand, she said gently, “Come on. No matter what, I want an explanation.”

She couldn't accept it.

She had happily married Lü Qing.

Knowing he had a bright future ahead of him, she had taken care of everything for him. All the good food in the family had been reserved for him, and even the two children hadn't gotten any.

When he said he wanted to go to the Imperial City early to adapt to the environment, she had sold everything she could, afraid that he would suffer hardships.

And what had she received in return?

Nearly ten years without a single word from him.

This trip to the Imperial City…

She truly hoped that Lü Qing had died in some accident rather than married a princess.

If he really had died, she would raise their children properly and burn paper money for him every year on his death anniversary.

But if he had truly abandoned his wife, who had endured hardships with him, and married a princess for wealth and status…

Then she would never let Lü Qing off!

Several days later, the three of them crossed another mountain.

They sat beside a small river and drank some water.

Suddenly, Lin Yuexiang sensed something wrong.

She raised her head and saw several men silently approaching their position.

Instinctively, she grabbed both children and fled in another direction.

Her instincts were correct.

The moment the three of them started running, the men drew their knives and gave chase.

“Mother!” Seeing those terrifying men pursuing them with gleaming blades, Lü Yuzhi burst into tears from fright.

Lü Yufan's small face turned serious. “Little Sister, don't cry. Run faster and don't let them catch us. If you cry, you won't have the strength to run.”

“Zhier, don't be afraid. Mother will protect you.”