The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!-Chapter 251: Rumors Can’t Be Trusted

The wind howled as Yu Tingwan snuggled into his arms, sensing urgency between the lines.

Riding a horse wasn’t like a carriage; it was quite bumpy. But you could ride fast, and the scenery around quickly receded. The sound of hooves echoed through the silent forest, dust swirled at their approach, and startled birds flapped their wings in escape.

This wasn’t the direction back to Ze County.

They weren’t taking the official road, and there were no passersby in sight.

Everything was unfamiliar.

Beyond the forest was a narrow path, and along that path was a downhill slope.

After all, Yu Tingwan was a young woman, and though she started out fine, maintaining one position for a long time became uncomfortable.

"How much longer before we arrive?"

Wei Zhao freed one hand to massage her slightly aching waist.

"Before nightfall."

Wei Zhao: "We’re going to Wuyang City. A few years ago, I bought a house there."

He thought for a moment and then smiled.

"You’ll like it there."

Yu Tingwan was just about to ask him why he was so sure.

Wei Zhao: "The gold, silver jewelry, and various rare items seized from corrupt officials in Ze County are all stored in a secret room there."

The real owner behind the money shop and pawnshop in Wuyang City was him. Once things passed through those two places, they reached the light of day.

Well... Yu Tingwan indeed wanted to have a look.

Wei Zhao: "Once we arrive, take a good rest."

Yu Tingwan: ...

Got the message. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Rest enough, and when daylight comes, is it time to get busy?

Clearly, romantic affection was nothing out of the ordinary, yet with his repeated hints, Yu Tingwan felt a sense of urgency.

But it was still early now.

Wei Zhao: "It’s almost noon; in another incense stick’s time, there’s a lake ahead where we can roast fish. Half an hour later, we’ll pass by the official road, where there’s a tea house that also sells food. What would you like to eat?"

"Will you roast for me?"

Yu Tingwan was skeptical, doubting Wei Zhao could handle such a task.

"Any issue?"

"... Yes."

As long as she didn’t have to do the roasting.

The young lady’s cooking skills were really only at the level of edible.

She was quite interested in trying Wei Zhao’s culinary skills.

"Is husband familiar with this area?"

Wei Zhao nodded: "Going back and forth between the Capital and the border, we would pass by."

The Wei Family Army was always well-stocked with dry rations. But no matter how convenient the rations were for storage, after a while, they made the throat dry and hoarse.

If time was tight, and a tea house was ahead, they would send someone galloping ahead a day in advance to have the shop prepare a large quantity of buns, steamed buns, and dry rations that soldiers could eat on the road.

Wei Zhao would not mistreat the Wei Family Army.

If time allowed, they would stop by the lake to rest and recuperate. The soldiers would catch fish, hunt, and finally gather to roast meat and eat.

Yu Tingwan found it hard to imagine what Wei Zhao looked like leading the Wei Family Army in armor.

Nonetheless...

"I heard about you a long time ago."

Wei Zhao raised an eyebrow.

He was a bit interested.

"Let’s hear it."

Yu Tingwan: "Do you want to hear it?"

Yu Tingwan suggested, "You’d better not listen."

Wei Zhao: "Criticizing me?"

"Not exactly."

"But people did say you were quite arrogant, that instead of being a good gentleman from a noble family, you rushed to the battlefield, unaware of your own limits, wanting to command the Wei Family Army, and were bound to cry for your parents."

Yu Tingwan: "The words were harsh, but since you won, it’s like you slapped those doubters in the face. They quickly changed their tune, praising you as talented, inheriting the legacy of General Jing Yuan."

Wei Zhao didn’t care about such things.

After all, at first, no one believed he had the talent.

After the death of his uncle, the border situation became critical within a year.

Emperor Ying set his mind on the Wei Family Army, but they would only obey the Wei Family’s descendants. Any general arbitrarily sent by the court would have a hard time getting them to serve.

Wei Zhao volunteered to go and fight the enemies.

Yet, it earned him the scorn of officials.

They scolded Wei Zhao for being reckless! That the Wei Family Army should submit to the court’s rule and serve the emperor.

A truly arrogant attitude.

Wei Zhao didn’t dwell on it and asked, "What did you think at the time?"

Yu Tingwan: "Me?"

She recalled her mindset at the time, speaking truthfully, "I didn’t care."

"Back then, I couldn’t know you. Hearing these things didn’t add a piece of bread nor reduce the work I had to do."

Yu Tingwan: "But later on, I started to care."

This time, Wei Zhao didn’t have to ask; she shared openly.

"Someone mentioned that while you were on the battlefield, you beheaded enemies without batting an eyelid. Then you kept the heads as companions."

Yu Tingwan: "At that time, I wasn’t sure if it was true or false. I just thought accomplished people often had some quirks."

Wei Zhao: ...

The rumors certainly were widespread.

However.

He admitted, "I did keep the heads of the enemy nation’s generals."

Yu Tingwan: ???

Wei Zhao was indifferent: "I sent them as a greeting gift to their emperor."

Yu Tingwan asked, "Didn’t he want to kill you?"

"He did."

"Couldn’t succeed."

Wei Zhao: "He was infuriated to illness."

Yu Tingwan: ...

Truly infuriating.

Wei Zhao: "Anything more?"

Yu Tingwan cleared her throat.

"Recently, someone in the street said you’re not interested in women."

"I knew then not to trust hearsay."

Wei Zhao: ...

The young lady had made a wise realization.

————

The lake shimmered with a slight glow, stones were clearly visible, and the lake water was an emerald green.

Catching fish was no challenge for Wei Zhao.

Yu Tingwan saw several wooden huts not too far away.

"Does anyone live here?"

Wei Zhao cleaned the fishes’ innards and set up a bonfire.

He executed the task with pleasing grace,

Yu Tingwan found a clean, smooth stone to sit on, watching him take out two small porcelain bottles no bigger than a palm, one filled with oil and the other with spices.

Clearly, he was well-prepared.

Wei Zhao always executed things meticulously and flawlessly.

The man lowered his eyes to brush on the oil. His hands were long and attractive, and his actions not too quick, not too slow.

"The Wei Family Army is skilled in battle, but the soldiers are not made of iron; casualties happen. Some are left with no remains, others with just some broken bones."

The border was littered with countless dry bones.

Near the camp, year after year stood numerous graves.

Wei Zhao’s eyes dimmed.

Soldiers sacrificed themselves on the battlefield, yet few remembered their sacrifices after death.

"Every time we return to the Capital, there are also many wounded."

"Not every place has a post station, nor could you find lodging every night."

In desolate places, with no village in front and no shop behind.

The Wei Family Army were all rough men; sleeping on the ground usually didn’t matter.

But Wei Zhao was unwilling for the wounded to suffer.

"Summer’s heat and mosquitoes can be tolerated, but winter’s cold is harsh. Over the years, quite a few wooden huts have been built, specifically for them to rest."

There was some astonishment, but it wasn’t significant. If Wei Zhao wasn’t good, the Wei Family Army wouldn’t follow him so loyally.

In Yu Tingwan’s impression, other camps treated people harshly.

Death wasn’t a big deal; new recruits were drafted every year.

No shortage of people.

The rules inside were plenty, and none humane.

Sick or injured soldiers who were seriously hurt were often left to die on the road, with no one to care.

After all, to those people, they were burdens.

The Wei Family Army compared to other camps, one was heaven, the other hell.