Chapter 57: Chapter Fifty‑Seven

This calculation really hits the mark; Xie Junling isn't a fool, how could he not know? He guessed that the trip to Tongzhou would take at least two months round‑trip, and not wanting Lu Bao'er to be burdened, he let her stay at home alone until he returned.

Lu Bao'er refused, having resisted a few times. She was extremely anxious, unable to eat properly. Yet she also feared that if she went to Tongzhou and ran into the Cheng Clan, it would cause trouble for Xie Junling. She wanted to help him, not hurt him. So she obeyed Xie Junling's arrangement.

Xie Junling went alone to Tongzhou; the Tongzhou Inspector was no fool and would naturally put on a show. He personally organized laborers to dredge the river and fill the silt to prevent floods. Moreover, the Inspector opened a porridge stall to aid disaster victims, putting on a pretentious righteous façade.

Xie Junling had anticipated this; he secretly placed informants, starting with the disaster victims, and discovered that after the flood many destitute families were expelled from Tongzhou and barred from entering. Half of the relief silver was properly distributed to the victims still in Tongzhou, while the other half was pocketed by the Inspector. Lacking enough silver, he continued to petition the court, claiming poverty.

After securing the evidence, Xie Junling spent an evening chatting with the Tongzhou Inspector. He praised the Inspector's lofty integrity, calling him a model official, but secretly sent the bamboo courier on an 800‑li express to Jingdu, having Minister of the Secretariat Fu deliver the letter to His Majesty. Xie Junling feared that if he reported after returning to Jingdu, it would give the Tongzhou Inspector ample time to cover up the crime. Thus, imperial troops covertly rushed to Tongzhou with the imperial edict, arrested the guilty official, and took him back to Jingdu for examination by the Grand Justice Temple, Ministry of Punishments, and Censorate.

Cheng Linghe learned that her lord had fallen, and that night tried to flee, but when she opened the door she ran into the composed Xie Junling. Cheng Linghe's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed uncontrollably, "Brother‑in‑law! Brother‑in‑law, save me!"

Xie Junling slightly frowned, glanced at the woman rushing toward him. After a long thought he recalled who she was and said with disgust, "I can't call you brother‑in‑law; my humble family isn't listed in the Cheng genealogy, I'm not a Cheng woman. Don't cling to kinship, it's repulsive."

His words were casual, but Cheng Linghe felt as if she'd fallen into an ice cellar. A burning pain flared on her face, and she didn't know what to say. Before she could speak, an official forced a cloth into her mouth and led her away.

The day Xie Junling rushed back to Jingdu by night and day, the officials greeted him; His Majesty recalled his merit in uncovering the embezzlement of relief silver and appointed him a fourth‑rank Junior Minister of the Grand Justice Temple. This was the throne's way of rewarding him officially.

In less than four years, Xie Junling rose to the fourth rank, perhaps too quickly. Some observant people remarked that Lu Bao'er truly brings good fortune to a husband, indicating that Xie Junling's desire to marry this remarkable country girl had its reasons.

Xie Junling was busy with official matters; when he returned home it had already been two days since he last saw Lu Bao'er. After three months apart, only letters kept them connected, which was truly hard to bear.

As soon as he entered the residence, Lu Bao'er ran toward Xie Junling, exclaiming joyfully, "Husband!"

Xie Junling, also thinking of Lu Bao'er, embraced her tightly. His arms were filled with her fragrant scent; he inhaled deeply and held her firmly. He asked, "It's been months, have you been listening to Grandmother's words?"

In the residence, Xie Junling could only entrust Lu Bao'er to the old matron; he glanced at the old matron, awaiting a reply.

The old matron, seeing the couple smitten, pursed her lips and smiled, "Lord, rest assured; the lady is very obedient in the house, never missing a meal, and even snacking at night!"

Hearing this, Xie Junling initially felt reassured. Yet when he recalled that merely thinking of Lu Bao'er kept him sleepless, and that this carefree girl ate heartily without a thought of him, he wondered: is he still her husband? Why doesn't he suffer the pangs of longing and waste away for her?

Xie Junling pinched Lu Bao'er's cheek hard, teasing, "You've indeed put on a bit of flesh."

He calls her fat the moment they get home? Lu Bao'er, a bit indignant, bared her teeth and said, "You're the one who's like that; I only notice whether I've gained flesh. I'm not a backyard chicken or duck to be weighed by the pound!"

Hearing her rant, Xie Junling finally felt a spark of life. His days in Tongzhou had been uneasy; he constantly feared the Inspector might notice, cut him down, and blame bandits. If his corruption couldn't be proved, his life would be wasted for nothing.

Lu Bao'er also knew the affairs of the Tongzhou Inspector's family; had Cheng Linghe not coveted the Inspector's wealth and not married him as a second wife, she might have avoided disaster. Thus, each person has their own fate. She was fortunate to meet Xie Junling; with someone else she might not have enjoyed today's glory.

Thinking of the Cheng Clan, Lu Bao'er asked Xie Junling, "After Cheng Linghe's huge incident, did the Cheng family come looking for you?" This matter was handled by Xie Junling, so it's easy to imagine how anxious the Cheng family would be, fearing Cheng Linghe's case might implicate them. After all, the Inspector had previously served as a shield; the Cheng family had leveraged the Inspector's title "Yue" for many deeds, which is why they had championed Cheng Linghe. Now that the tree has fallen and the monkeys scattered, losing a concubine is trivial, but if it drags the Cheng family's centuries‑old legacy into trouble, the loss would be immeasurable.

Speaking of the Cheng Clan, Xie Junling sneered, "The Cheng family did come looking for me, but I pushed them out the door; you need not worry."

That day, the Cheng family arrived with a large sum of silver notes to visit Xie Junling, claiming Old Lady Cheng wanted to meet her prospective grandson‑in‑law. Xie Junling, having no obligation, rejected them on the grounds that Lu Bao'er was not listed in the Cheng genealogy and thus not a Cheng woman. Moreover, the visitors were beaten back by the bamboo courier's staff. This shows Xie Junling's iron‑clad impartiality; disaster victims even called him the reincarnation of "Xie the Righteous."

He guessed the Cheng family wanted to pay for information, to learn how the Tongzhou Inspector would handle the case, and whether a harsh punishment would implicate their own families.

Unfortunately, no information came from Xie Junling, and the Cheng family staged a drama overnight, claiming Cheng Linghe was not of Cheng blood but an illegitimate child born from her mother's one‑night liaison. Using this pretext, they expelled Cheng Linghe from the Cheng Clan and erased her name from the genealogy. Whether such a method truly punishes is unknown. The Cheng family had indeed become opportunistic, the entire clan growing cold. Xie Junling was relieved that Lu Bao'er had not become entangled with such a family.

Within a few days, the three courts delivered a verdict, convicting the Tongzhou Inspector of embezzling relief silver. The benevolent His Majesty ordered the Inspector's beheading and his family's exile, as a warning to others; that is the later story.

When it came to offspring, Lu Bao'er worried all day, and even Xie Junling could not sleep soundly a few times.

Seeing Lu Bao'er awake at night, Xie Junling pulled her into his arms and asked, "What is the lady thinking?"

Lu Bao'er turned, nestled into Xie Junling's embrace, and whispered, "Husband, do you want children?"

"Children?" Xie Junling recalled she meant legitimate sons or daughters; he had no elders and was indifferent to offspring. Thinking of a crying infant, especially a boy who would constantly hover around Lu Bao'er, he grimaced and said, "I'm not particular about that."

"Who doesn't want children?"

"If we do, we could adopt one later."

Who wouldn't desire a bloodline? It was surprising that Xie Junling could even speak of adoption. Lu Bao'er was astonished, yet felt a sweet warmth. She had previously wondered if, should she be unable to conceive, Xie Junling would, like other men, fill the harem to propagate, perhaps bearing ten or eight children.

Even if this were a lie, she would be happy to hear it.

Lu Bao'er lifted the corner of her mouth and said, "Then, husband, you've promised me that you will not take concubines under the pretense of bearing children."

Xie Junling was startled; he feared Lu Bao'er might not understand, recalling how she had once insisted on filling his household with people. He had rarely refused; was it because she cared for him? She loved him, so she wouldn't let others share him. Is that so?

Xie Junling's features softened; he gently stroked Lu Bao'er's cheek and said, "Hmm, I've promised you."

Lu Bao'er, like a cat that got away with a stolen fish, giggled twice, "If you take a concubine under some other pretext, I won't object. It's just that my fertility is problematic; you mustn't say that remark that pierces my heart."

Hearing this, Xie Junling's face darkened again. So she forbade him from hurting her with those words, yet could Lu Bao'er wound him with the "take concubine" remark?

Xie Junling, with a slight edge of anger, said coldly, "How many times must I tell you? I, as a husband, will not take a concubine! Perhaps you're too idle, so you daydream. Since you have nothing to do, I'll find you something to occupy you."

When Lu Bao'er finally reacted, she was already tightly held in Xie Junling's embrace. His hands, like shackles, bound her firmly, allowing no escape.

Such a terrifying Xie Junling made Lu Bao'er want to flee, yet she could not escape. His kisses rained down, leaving her dizzy and tear‑filled. The events that followed she could not recall.

There was only one thing she remembered clearly: she could no longer bring up the matter of taking a little wife with Xie Junling, for he, besides her, seemed to want no one else.

But Xie Junling is so good; she monopolizes him—does that make her unkind? If she never bears children in her lifetime, what then? Would she truly adopt one, raising another's child?

Adoption is impossible; even staying by Xie Junling's side is fine, there's no need to raise another's bloodline for free.

She thought again and lifted the corner of her mouth. "Whatever! Since it's Xie Junling's words, I'll follow them—first claim him, then decide! Lu Bao'er is a solitary eater; if others beg you to share, refusing would feel a bit unfair to them."