novelraw Chapter 735 - 7145: First Wife
Chapter 735 - 7145: First Wife
Capital City.
Fang Chuning hadn’t expected that after so many days of cold war, Xie Jue would find him to discuss Lan Ningzhen’s journey to Shangjing. It turned out that back in the days outside the Red Sand Mine’s small town, he had indeed recognized him. After Xie Jue became drunk, he forgot everything, had no memory of their exchanges or what had transpired. When Fang Chuning heard Xie Jue’s questioning, he was shocked, knowing Xie Jue’s drunken memory lapses, and lured him into revealing how he recognized him.
Yet, Xie Jue inexplicably said, "You’re so much like him!"
Fang Chuning was both startled and delighted, but couldn’t keep pursuing the matter, because Xie Jue had already drunk himself into unconsciousness and remained so even after being sent to the Second Prince Manor.
He kept pondering when and how Xie Jue recognized him. He knew the full story but didn’t press further, truly curious. Having taken medicine at that time, his voice had changed, and even slight physical differences had emerged—there was certainly no logical way for Xie Jue to have recognized him. Therefore, Fang Chuning had always been confident that Xie Jue didn’t know his true identity. If he had known, those things, those words, would be completely mortifying. Perhaps only by adopting a different identity and appearance in a foreign land could he dare to speak those words without reservation.
True feelings buried deep, never spoken aloud—only in this way could the two of them possibly coexist peacefully for a lifetime. Once revealed, it would all collapse into the dilemma of today.
"The Lan Family’s arrival in Shangjing—how do you plan to settle them? Back then, how did you negotiate with General Lan, and what’s the truth about Lan Ningzhen?" Xie Jue’s voice carried a faint chill amidst the snow.
Years ago, Fang Chuning managed to impersonate Lan Ningzhen because of General Lan’s tacit consent. General Lan was secretly allied with Marquis Zhenbei. Later, when Fang Chuning ventured into Beiman to identify him, it was General Lan who brought him in and provided him with a new identity. Originally, he was supposed to assume the role of Lan Ningzhen’s cousin, but Fang Chuning found the cousin role too distant to succeed under Fox City’s rigid hierarchy, so he decided to masquerade as Lan Ningzhen instead.
"Back then, Marquis Zhenbei promised the Lan Family that if Beiman ever surrendered, he would persuade the Emperor to grant them a noble title and ensure their glory and lineage, while never mentioning his betrayal." Sitting quietly across from Xie Jue, Fang Chuning spoke thoughtfully. Outside the pavilion, snow poured down in waves. Fang Chuning thought of Beiman in the past, how in his memories, Fox City spent half a year blanketed in snow, a bitter cold world. That year, he had desperately wanted to help Xie Jue fulfill his mission, repeatedly flirting with danger. Both of them lived on the razor’s edge, where the slightest misstep could lead to their deaths, yet he was truly happy. Because in Beiman, they were husband and wife, freely releasing emotions buried deep within their hearts.
But he also felt an intense sadness realizing that everything would evaporate into nothingness upon returning to their homeland.
Fang Chuning said, "The Beiman Royal Family still doesn’t know that during that time I was pretending to be Lan Ningzhen, though they do know you were Helian Feng. As for Lan Ningzhen supposedly carrying a daughter, we were unaware. Now that the Lan Family is arriving in Shangjing, from what I understand about General Lan, he likely doesn’t want us exposing what happened back then. He’s been rooted in Beiman for years. If the Beiman people ever discovered he had long since betrayed them and welcomed outsiders into their midst, he’d be public enemy number one. Back then, Marquis Zhenbei promised to protect his reputation. This matter cannot be revealed—it would ruin him."
Xie Jue furrowed his brow slightly, his face darkening. "You mean to say, I should acknowledge Lan Ningzhen and her daughter?"
Fang Chuning’s throat felt dry, and pain flickered in his eyes though he suppressed it deep within. He himself was unwilling to accept it, yet what choice did he have? Neither he nor Xie Jue were the type to forget a debt of gratitude. Back in Beiman, after their marriage, they had risked their lives multiple times, only to be saved by General Lan. Later, General Lan even risked his life to get them out of Beiman; without him, they couldn’t have escaped the snowy mountains alive.
Back then, Marquis Zhenbei had already promised General Lan to keep the secret. As his son, Xie Jue couldn’t disobey his father’s dying wishes—that would be treachery.
Nor could they ignore the help General Lan had provided. Perhaps Lan Ningzhen had encountered some hardship; otherwise, General Lan wouldn’t have made such a request.
Fang Chuning said, "We’ve been away from Beiman for years and don’t know what’s happened to the Lan Family. This issue will likely only become clear once they arrive in Shangjing. Then we’ll negotiate with General Lan and Lan Ningzhen. Perhaps..."
"Understood!" Xie Jue said faintly. "They did help us, after all. If they’ve made a request and considering my father’s will, I’ll naturally comply. If it means acknowledging them, it’s not a difficult matter."
He had no plans to marry or have children in this lifetime. If Lan Ningzhen wanted a hollow title, why not give it to her? It would simply be an empty honor, something easy to grant, done as repayment for the protection they had provided. Without those two—General Lan and Lan Ningzhen—it was uncertain how many times he and Fang Chuning would have died in the perilous Fox City.
If they had perished in Beiman back then, what would today’s world look like? Would Zhixu have ascended the throne smoothly? That was uncertain. Having received someone’s kindness, the debt must be repaid.
"Ting Feng..." Fang Chuning’s eyes reddened slightly. Would Ting Feng truly ignore him forever? If Lan Ningzhen arrived in Shangjing, he didn’t care about the title. After all, the position of Xie Jue’s legitimate wife could never belong to him. The vows spoken back then before the Beiman King were sincere, as were the emotions in that moment, but how could they ever break free in Beining?
"Your impersonation of Lan Ningzhen in Beiman must remain concealed—if it’s exposed, you’ll become the laughingstock of everyone." A renowned General disguising himself as a woman in Beiman to marry and almost wedding Dugu Jing, causing countless farces—this absolutely could not be revealed.
Lan Ningzhen could only be Lan Ningzhen. She could never be Fang Chuning.
Not only did Xie Jue need to protect General Lan’s reputation, he also needed to protect Fang Chuning’s.
Fang Chuning hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. So much he wished to say, yet it all stopped at the edge of his lips, unable to be expressed. Inside, it felt like thousands of ants gnawing at his heart—a dense, painful feeling.
They... could only be like this!
The wind and snow were fierce, descending deep into their hearts.
Ever since hearing the story of Xie Jue and Lan Ningzhen in Beiman, Xie Xun had been relentlessly curious. Now, Dugu Jing—frequently summoned to the palace by him—was starting to feel annoyed.
Xie Xun spoke with impeccable logic, "I know my second brother’s temperament and preferences well enough. Unless you’re using Gu poison, it’s impossible for him to marry Lan Ningzhen and have a child. Back then, you were quite enamored with Lan Ningzhen. That daughter... could she be yours?"
"Do you want a fight?" Dugu Jing glared at him. "Everything between me and Lan Ningzhen ended long ago. Besides... ever since Xie Jue’s identity was exposed and he left Fox City, Lan Ningzhen’s personality drastically changed—I haven’t liked him in ages. I much preferred the old Lan Ningzhen!"
Xie Jue and Fang Chuning also came to meet Xie Xun to discuss Lan Ningzhen and the Lan Family’s affairs. Just as they entered the door, they overheard Dugu Jing’s loud retort. Fang Chuning nearly stumbled against the threshold but was steadied by Xie Jue’s hand. Smirking slightly, Xie Jue watched Fang Chuning’s embarrassed, flushed face and said to Dugu Jing, "The Ninth Prince seems rather nostalgic about my wife, doesn’t he!"
Fang Chuning, "..."
Xie Xun, "..."
Wife?