Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Lu Yinghuai

However, he had originally told Major Wei he would be staying at the Duke's Mansion for just two days.

If it was only because of this, why... make a special trip?

The young man's eyes were clear, filled with straightforward curiosity.

Yet Lu Yinghuai saw something more within.

Something he often noticed in the eyes of new recruits in the legion: a restless desire suppressed by discipline.

Lu Yinghuai was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly, saying, "Indeed, it's not just for that reason."

A look of understanding flashed across Xia You's face, but her gaze remained piercingly focused on Lu Yinghuai.

Instead of maintaining eye contact with Xia You, Lu Yinghuai withdrew his gaze and spoke slowly, "Isn't it only natural for me to be here when I know my spouse might be bullied?"

His earlier apology was a testament to the trust he placed in Xia You. His immediate arrival upon waking up was due to the marital bond they now shared.

It took Xia You two seconds to recall a post she had shared on the StarNet social platform an hour ago, where she had publicly declared herself the Marshal's wife. Blushing, the redness spread from the tips of her ears to her cheeks.

Awkwardly fiddling with her knuckles on her knee, the demurely seated Xia You looked somewhat embarrassed, "I wouldn't get bullied..."

Even if she had only survived five years in this post-apocalyptic world, the wickedness of human hearts was something Xia You had long grown accustomed to, always on guard and ready to strike first.

Had the Marshal not shown up, he surely would have taken action by now.

"So, what did you initially plan to do?" Instead of making a direct comment, Lu Yinghuai questioned Xia You about her intentions.

Seeing no reason to hide, Xia You, still playing the 'Marshal card', honestly recounted the events of the banquet hall, then added, "Although I don't know the exact drug they intended to use on me, I managed to reduce its effect by 40% with my psychic abilities. And since I didn't consume much, Xia Jiayang shouldn’t have faced any lethal harm."

"Next, well, I plan to let them fight amongst themselves and then sever ties with them publicly."

"This way, when we go to Blue Star with the Marshal, they won't dare tarnish our reputation."

At the end of her statement, Xia You's tone lifted slightly, her bright eyes hinting at a subtle plea for praise.

Noticing her satisfaction with her plan, Lu Yinghuai raised an eyebrow, "Break ties in public? How do you intend to do that?"

"Well... They all want to kill me, so I'll announce our disconnection and such... What else is there to do?" Xia You was taken aback.

"The one who wanted to harm you was Xia Jiayang. Even if we consider the worst-case scenario where he drags Xia Qing into this, it would only go as far as him."

Lu Yinghuai continued thoughtfully, and upon seeing Xia You deep in thought, paused for a moment for her to process and then resumed:

"Duke Xia could easily express his rage towards his other son and his remorse for his inadequate upbringing after you leave. By releasing a few old videos of you two, he can paint himself as a slightly negligent but still loving father in the eyes of the public."

"What will you do then?"

Following Lu Yinghuai's logic, Xia You visualized the scenario and instantly appeared disgusted.

To say Duke Xia never noticed Bai Xiaoxiao's deliberate undermining of Xia You? No, he was always aware.

Whenever young Xia You expressed a desire to learn something, Duke Xia would always bring even more fascinating toys for her—similarly for Xia Qing.

As these two sons were chips to be traded in marriages, Duke Xia believed all they needed was a deep affection for the duke's mansion, ideally making them easily manipulated by their father.

As Lu Yinghuai pointed out, even if the situation at the Duke's Mansion escalated today, it remains an issue between Xia You, Xia Jia Yang, and Xia Qing. Bai Xiaoxiao and the Duke would remain uninvolved. But after that, a slew of troubles would inevitably follow.

By then, Xia You, bearing the title of the Marshal's spouse, would need to act with even more caution and foresight.

Thinking of this, Xia You couldn't help but feel wronged.

No one ever taught him these things growing up, and in the post-apocalyptic world, he only had to use any means necessary to survive.

Of course, he wanted to directly confront Xia Qing and incapacitate him, thus permanently shutting down Xia Qing's plans.

Affluent family.

He wished to retaliate against Bai Xiaoxiao, who depended on Xia Qing all her life—how satisfying that would be! But could he really do that?

Probably lost in his thoughts, Xia You inadvertently voiced out that sentence.

Yet, to his surprise, Lu Yinghuai casually remarked, "Why not?"

"What?" Xia You looked stunned, disbelief evident in his expression.

Lu Yinghuai turned his head once again, looking at the youngster beside him, and with a patient and gentle tone educated this young individual who just gained power but didn't really know how to wield it.

"You are the Marshal of the Empire, the legitimate spouse of the Imperial Prince. Even without an official title, your status isn't much different from a Duke."

"If the Duke's mansion attempts to assassinate a member of the royal family and the relative of a military officer, given the severity of this crime and the substantial evidence available, the mansion should be sealed off for investigation. Moreover, once the true culprit is identified, the military has the authority to bypass the Senate and deal with the criminal, regardless of life or death."

Without his stern military uniform and sharp-edged medals, Lu Yinghuai simply sat there, hands clasped together, exuding an aura of decisiveness, reminiscent of a smoky battlefield.

"Of course, Ms. Bai can use public opinion to pressure you."

"However, while public opinion can be utilized, it's always a double-edged sword."

Xia You was dumbfounded for quite a while, swallowed hard, and looked at Lu Yinghuai with newfound respect, stammering, "But..."

"In terms of public opinion, she and Xia Qing have the upper hand. I can't compete with that."

Bai Xiaoxiao and Xia Qing came from humble backgrounds without influential families to back them, gaining their reputation from the entertainment industry.

Both have a vast number of devoted fans on the star network, and both their public images and reputations are overwhelmingly positive.

The Marshal slightly raised an eyebrow, looked directly at Xia You, and asked, "Xia You, what's your status?"

After a brief silence, suppressing his embarrassment in front of the Marshal, Xia You hesitated, "...Marshal's... wife?"

"So," Lu Yinghuai tapped lightly on his holo-computer, displaying a transparent screen between them. Prominently featured was Lu Yinghuai's social media account. "You have an Imperial Marshal on your side."

Xia You's eyes lingered on the follower count of the Marshal's social media profile for a moment, not even attempting to count the number of zeros following the billion mark.

"Xia You, manipulative tactics may not be challenging, but they aren’t worth your energy."

Lu Yinghuai's lips quirked up slightly, "It's best to effectively use the weapons at your disposal to quickly deal with your enemies."

Xia You: "..."

Xia You's mother passed away when he was just two. Growing up, no one ever discussed these matters with him.

Of course, the cards Xia You held had always been pitifully few. The support the Duke's Mansion offered him felt ephemeral, like a fragile bubble, ready to burst at the slightest touch.

Xia You looked at Lu Yinghuai, his eyes flashing with an emotion Lu couldn't decipher.

He understood the implication behind Lu Yinghuai's words.

The Marshal was conveying that he could be trusted and relied upon.

In this private sanctuary of his, the young man stood up, approached the older figure, and with stubborn yet sincere eyes, asked softly, "Marshal, can you be my pillar of strength?"

Lu Yinghuai gazed into Xia You's face, something fleeting crossing the depths of his deep purple eyes.

After a long pause, he replied, "Xia You, although our marriage is a match, it isn't merely for appearances."

Lu Yinghuai isn't someone who would enter into marriage lightly.

In fact, he had long believed that he might never enter into a matrimonial bond with anyone in his lifetime.

To Lu Yinghuai, a marital bond is even more sacred and unique than that of comrades or mecha contracts.

But now that Xia You had become his spouse, Lu Yinghuai would ensure Xia You receives all the rights he deserves in this marriage.

This was precisely why Lu Yinghuai felt compelled to meet Xia You in person.

Though the child before us is still young and tender, he possesses the resilience and strength of a blade of grass, reaching eagerly for the sun.

Despite an air of self-doubt and an inescapable weariness, he remains steadfast and genuine.

Xia You reminded him of his younger self, Lu Yinghuai, who often lost control over his extraordinary psychic powers, trapping himself in a cycle of turmoil.

Back then, Lu Yinghuai was shielded by his older sister, creating a protective space for him to grow. Similarly, Xia You's mother, Ning Zhuoyue, once did Lu Yinghuai a favor. Consequently, Lu Yinghuai now chooses to shield Xia You in the same way.

Moreover, as the elder in their marital relationship, Lu Yinghuai consciously assumes the role of protector and mentor to his young spouse.

"Xia You, I am your spouse in the eyes of the law. It's both my duty and obligation to protect and guide you. Without causing harm to the empire, if I were to leave first, you would inherit all my personal assets, making you the primary heir to the Lu family wealth."

"Thus, awake or asleep, alive or dead, Lu Yinghuai will always be your anchor."

Xia You felt as if a heart that had been encased in ice was suddenly submerged in warm water. The tolerance and gentleness shown by Lu Yinghuai perfectly filled the void Xia You had always felt inside.

A sense of urgency welled up inside Xia You, a desire to do something for the man before him.

He exclaimed, "Marshall, is there anything you'd like me to do? Anything at all—"

His psychic power is potent; he could remain with the First Legion, even soothe or heal others in need, but...

Xia You clenched his sleeves.

But Lu Yinghuai might not be able to wait for him.

Xia You bowed his head, feeling heartbroken for the first time over something he had known long ago but never truly acknowledged.

He had never realized... just how wonderful the Marshall was.

His thoughts wandered...

Thinking back to some previous notions, Xia You's head dropped even lower.

Warmth enveloped the top of his head, as his soft hair was gently brushed by someone.

Before Xia You could look up, he heard Lu Yinghuai's softened voice from above.

"Those with psychic talents have boundless potential; there's no need to burden yourself excessively."

"Xia You, all you need to do is protect yourself."

Lu Yinghuai's voice paused, tinted with a hint of laughter.

"Grow up well."