Chapter 118: Lin Yingxue Is Pregnant

Chapter 118: Lin Yingxue Is Pregnant

Fu Bin leaned on an imperial tiger-headed cane, watching as everyone loaded the luggage onto the carriage.

Lin Yingxue looked at the carriage's setup and her eyelids twitched heavily; she wanted to say there was no need for such grandeur.

The powerful eunuch, Lord Nine Thousand, smiled slightly, "When Jinyuan traveled before, he was taking up an official post, so I couldn't make it too ostentatious. If we travel lightly this time, wouldn't people look down on me?"

The struggle between Fu Bin and Yutang Palace's Chen Pan was intense, and for this rootless eunuch, the grandeur of his closest person's wife must be maintained, as if Lin Yingxue traveling lightly would make him seem insignificant as well.

Since he said that, Lin Yingxue had no choice but to accept the grandeur.

The horses used were pure white Tongzhou horses with no blemishes, and the harnesses were made of top-quality cowhide, sewn tightly to fit the horses. The horses walked proudly, indicating their great value.

The frame of the green-canopied carriage was made of huanghuali wood, and occasionally, when the canopy was lifted, one could glimpse the snow-white fox fur inside, with a faint fragrance, showcasing its luxury.

Despite such high-profile travel, there was no need to worry about any danger along the way, as the escorts were all retired from the Jinyiwei.

Lin Yingxue bid farewell to her mother, Lady Wen, and hugged her newly married sister-in-law, Fu Wanan, before boarding the carriage to leave.

When they reached the city gate, Lin Yingxue couldn't help but look back. She could still see her mother and Lord Pei standing together.

Lin Yingxue had met her biological father; during the tumultuous times in the Lin family, Lin Yi had aged, while her mother was like a late autumn flower, maintaining a serene and beautiful state despite the passage of time.

Her mother would live well in the capital, she waved vigorously in her mother's direction, and only after her mother responded did Lin Yingxue lower the curtain.

Everyone has their own life to live. She had already married Fu Jiaze and was now going to find her husband.

·

The carriage moved smoothly along the official road, stopping to rest at every larger town or market.

These retired Jinyiwei members planned the journey well and even made special stops at scenic spots.

At first, Lin Yingxue thought it might not be good, as it would delay the trip.

But later, she became more confident, only feeling a slight twinge of guilt when she received a letter from Fu Jiaze, reminding her that she had promised to come to him, yet kept delaying the journey due to these stops.

The scenery was too beautiful, and each city had its unique delicacies, making it hard for Lin Yingxue to hurry.

However, that bit of guilt dissipated when she received Fu Jiaze's letter.

"Take your time coming. Follow this map."

Fu Jiaze's letter included a map, and instead of discouraging her from enjoying the journey, he provided detailed suggestions.

It was rare to have such an experience, and with guards around, she didn't need to worry about propriety; she just needed to enjoy the moment.

Lin Yingxue had already intended to continue this way, and Fu Jiaze's letter confirmed her decision. She continued her journey, taking detours.

In the capital, Lin Yingxue had only seen small mountains and lakes, and visited well-decorated villas. But in such vast landscapes, those small scenes paled in comparison.

She saw beautiful mountains, and upon climbing them, the view was incredibly expansive. The red sun rose and set among the layers of clouds, casting a magnificent hue over them.

She witnessed the shimmering lake at night, and with the protection of the Jinyiwei, she saw fireflies flying gracefully. She even spotted a small deer leaping.

Because of the detour, she also saw the sea. Standing on a cliff, looking down, the height was dizzying. The waves crashed against the rocks with a thunderous roar, making the ground beneath her feet feel unstable. Lin Yingxue even dreamed of being swept away by the white waves.

In unfamiliar cities, Lin Yingxue remembered Miss Yao's instructions and stopped by the Jinyiwei message station to personally hand over Miss Yao's portrait, asking if anyone recognized her.

Unfortunately, no one had seen Miss Yao.

It took about two months, but Lin Yingxue finally entered Weilin.

·

The city gates of Weilin had just been rebuilt, painted with a deep red lacquer, and adorned with fierce and imposing animal heads. The citizens lined up orderly to enter the city.

Lin Yingxue also noticed that some of the roads in the city had been newly paved.

Cities near the border required significant effort to build tall walls, but the fact that Weilin could pave roads indicated better development compared to other cities.

Sitting in the carriage, Lin Yingxue observed the surroundings, knowing she would likely spend many years here, so she examined everything carefully.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped.

The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a hand with distinct knuckles pulled it further, revealing a black hat and a familiar face.

Compared to before, his skin was darker and his figure leaner.

His long eyebrows arched over bright, black eyes, which sparkled when they met Lin Yingxue's gaze, causing her eyes to curve into a smile.

Lin Yingxue stepped forward to pull Fu Jiaze, who stepped into the carriage in his black boots and sat beside her.

The two maids quickly lowered the curtain and jumped out of the carriage.

After pulling him in, Lin Yingxue tried to let go, but Fu Jiaze held her hand tightly, only releasing it with a smile when her face turned red.

They sat close, and Lin Yingxue could smell the faint earthy scent on him.

He settled in the carriage, looking at his wife's fair cheeks in the dim light. Despite the poor lighting, the effect of viewing a beauty under a lamp made her appear even more clear and beautiful.

They were husband and wife, but it had been a long time since they last saw each other. Lin Yingxue felt a bit embarrassed under his gaze, cleared her throat, and spoke first, "Shouldn't you still be on duty?"

Looking at his official robes with the bird emblem, which were embroidered by the best artisans in the palace, Lin Yingxue noted the fine craftsmanship.

"I just returned from the village," Fu Jiaze said with a smile. "See, my boots are still muddy."

He had ridden to a village below, and after the rain, the edges of his black boots were caked with yellow mud.

Lin Yingxue followed his gaze and saw large footprints on the leather of the carriage.

Fu Jiaze also noticed the mud marks on the leather. He frowned at first, then relaxed, "If I had known they used leather for the floor, I wouldn't have gotten in. Did your uncle arrange this carriage?"

"Yes," Lin Yingxue replied, "When you left the capital, your uncle couldn't prepare it for you, so he did it all for me."

Fu Jiaze smiled, "Then you should listen to your uncle."

Back when they were still in the capital, he had passively accepted his uncle's kindness. Now that he had left the capital, it was clear that his uncle had directed his favor towards Lin Yingxue.

After a long time apart, the slight distance between them quickly dissipated as they talked.

The side gate of the mansion was dismantled to allow the carriage to enter. Fu Jiaze jumped down from the carriage and extended his hand to Lin Yingxue. Once she took his hand, he led her to see the entire courtyard.

It was a simple two-courtyard house. After Fu Jiaze bought it, he didn't make many changes to the structure, simply locking up the rooms he didn't use with iron chains.

Lin Yingxue, however, was already planning. The reception hall was a bit small, and the side room wasn't very convenient; both needed to be renovated, as well as the study.

The original setup of the study wasn't ideal. Lin Yingxue wanted to expand it and place the qin platform near the window.

As Lin Yingxue discussed her plans for the courtyard with Fu Jiaze, the modest estate came to life through her descriptions.

The courtyard changed day by day. But the most significant change came from Lin Yingxue herself—she was pregnant.