After Marrying The Paranoid God of War (Rebirth) - Chapter 20.1
Chapter 20: Adhering to Male Virtue
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Marriage, to, him.
These three words weighed heavily, each pressing onto the heart of Ruan An.
Huo Pingxiao actually wanted to marry her?
But she was just a village girl, not even knowing who her own parents were. Could his father, Huo Lang, agree to this?
The young lady, with tears still lingering on her upturned face, looked at him in confusion and disbelief. She slightly opened her lips but didn’t know what to say.
“Don’t forget.”
Huo Pingxiao used the slightly calloused pad of his thumb to wipe away the last teardrop hanging from the corner of Ruan An’s eye.
He whispered, “My title didn’t come from my father; Huo Pingxiao doesn’t need to consider others’ opinions when deciding whom to marry, let alone seek his approval.”
“Only you matter. Do you want to marry me or not?”
Although Huo Pingxiao didn’t utter words of urgency, his pitch-black eyes remained fixed on Ruan An, carrying an invisible pressure, as if demanding an immediate response.
The words may sound arrogant, but they were not baseless. His title was indeed earned through battles, shedding blood, and risking his life, rather than inheriting achievements from his forebears.
Moreover, unlike civil officials, military commanders like him didn’t necessarily need marriage alliances to consolidate their positions.
“Knock, knock, knock—”
At this moment, the knocking on the door from outside the room interrupted the conversation between the two. A somewhat urgent and coarse voice followed, “Lord Hou, the deputy governor of the Qianzhong Road in the southern border has rebelled. Chenzhou and Wuzhou have both fallen, and the military strength in Qianzhou can’t hold on for much longer. His Majesty urgently summons you to the palace. Lord Hou, please accompany me as soon as possible.”
The speaker was named Meng Guang, a fierce general under Huo Pingxiao’s command. Meng Guang appeared relatively young, but he had a short beard, giving him a somewhat daring appearance.
With a creak, the door of the room was pushed open.
Meng Guang’s gaze was immediately drawn to the beautiful girl behind Huo Pingxiao. This girl had a gentle and graceful temperament, but her eye rims were slightly red, obviously showing signs of having cried.
Meng Guang guessed the identity of the girl and suddenly felt Huo Pingxiao’s cold gaze on him. He quickly withdrew his gaze.
Well, it seemed their great general had also gotten involved in romantic affairs. Quite unusual indeed.
However, if it was this girl, it wasn’t surprising. A delicate and soft young lady like her, crying would indeed be the most endearing sight, and he liked this type the most.
After Meng Guang withdrew his gaze, unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, “Who is this…”
Huo Pingxiao ignored him, lowered his voice, and explained to Ruan An first, “There is trouble in the south, and I will lead the troops to quell the rebellion soon. Before I leave, I will ensure the safety of you and your son. Don’t worry.”
“Wait for my return, and then we can discuss the marriage matter again.”
Marriage?
Huo Pingxiao is getting married?
Wait… Mother and son?
Meng Guang, after hearing this, looked completely astonished, his jaw about to drop.
In recent years, Huo Pingxiao rarely returned to Chang’an, living a life almost inseparable from the military camp. Meng Guang also knew that Huo Pingxiao was strict in commanding his troops, never allowing any soldier to privately keep female companions within the camp.
Of course, many young officers with military ranks were in their prime, facing the pressure of possible death every time they went into battle. The stress they endured was beyond what others could imagine. Occasionally, after finishing a battle, they would seek relief in some Qin buildings or Chu pavilions (entertainment districts).
However, Huo Pingxiao had never been involved in such matters. In Meng Guang’s impression, this man would hide somewhere to rest after a battle, always appearing lethargic.
When did he have a child with someone’s daughter?
Meng Guang was still in shock.
Looking at Huo Pingxiao, who was coaxing the girl with such a gentle appearance, he couldn’t help but click his tongue. He had never seen this side of him, so mild.
Was this the same killing god who could single-handedly face ten thousand soldiers?
Thinking like this, Meng Guang couldn’t help but want to see the girl whom Huo Pingxiao had in his grasp.
People with military backgrounds tend to be straightforward. Ruan An felt a bit uncomfortable under Meng Guang’s direct gaze and subconsciously turned her face away, avoiding his line of sight.
Huo Pingxiao noticed Ruan An’s unease and embarrassment, took the opportunity to hold the delicate little hand of the girl, and this time, firmly grasped it. The thick, black eyelashes of the man quivered twice.
Perhaps accustomed to handling knives and spears in ordinary times, Huo Pingxiao seemed to have not touched something so soft for a long time. He felt that Ruan An’s small hand was boneless, and her skin was warm like warm jade.
As if with just a touch, her small hand would melt in his palm.
Huo Pingxiao lowered his head and looked at Ruan An’s tranquil profile.
Her fair and flawless cheeks seemed to have fine fuzz from his perspective. Her small earlobes were not adorned with any earrings, blushing like a pearl in the rosy clouds.
Every part of her body seemed soft.
Moreover, her thick and long feather-like eyelashes trembled softly, indicating a slight nervousness. However, this time, she seemed not to particularly reject his touch.
Thinking of this, Huo Pingxiao feared hurting the girl and loosened his grip a bit.
When he withdrew his gaze, the man spoke calmly to Meng Guang again, “Don’t cause trouble in front of your sister-in-law.”
“Yes!”
Meng Guang’s lips contained a hint of joy, and he apologized to Ruan An, “I’m sorry, sister-in-law. I’m a rough person; please don’t mind.”
Hearing Meng Guang calling her sister-in-law, Ruan An was momentarily stunned.
She hadn’t agreed to Huo Pingxiao calling her sister-in-law, so why did he let his subordinate call her that?
Could it be that this man made decisions without consulting her?
The group of people then left the room.
Huo Pingxiao, being Ruan Xi’s father, naturally wanted to get closer to that child. After letting go of Ruan An’s hand, he originally intended to say a few words to Ruan Xi before going to the imperial palace. However, the boy immediately hid behind Li Yifang.
Seeing this, Huo Pingxiao glanced at his sharp eyes, but he also knew that there was a long way to go. He had been absent from Ruan Xi’s life for three years, and it would take more than a day to make the child let down his guard.
“Ruan Xi.”
Huo Pingxiao called him in a low voice. Seeing Ruan Xi’s chubby hands clenched into fists, the man faintly smiled and said, “No, I should call you Huo Xi from now on. I am your father. After I finish the battle, I will take you to see your grandfather.”
After hearing this, Ruan Xi’s chubby face puffed up.
Earlier in the carriage, Ruan Xi deduced from the conversation between Li Yifang and Ruan An that this strange uncle might be his father.
But if he was his father, why didn’t he live with him and his mother for these years?
His mother had just tried to avoid him.
However, this person who claimed to be his father did look quite intimidating.
Thinking of this, Ruan Xi, in a childish tone, retorted, “No~ I’m not surnamed Huo, I’m surnamed Ruan! I take my mother’s surname. Don’t change my name randomly!”
However, Huo Pingxiao walked straight to him. The man suddenly lowered his tall figure, ignoring the vigilance in Ruan Xi’s bright black eyes, and gently pinched the boy’s face with his long fingers.
Ruan Xi couldn’t help but pout, looking quite aggrieved.
“Remember to listen to your mother.”
Huo Pingxiao looked down at him as if to make him realize once again that he was indeed his father. Word by word, he continued:
“Wait, for, your, father, to, come, back.”
As the twilight enveloped them, the imposing and luxurious palace buildings in the Forbidden City stood tall. The vermilion palace walls and the blue-green trimmed eaves were bathed in the evening glow as if touched by layers of golden Buddha light.
After discussing matters with the emperor in the Yinyang Hall, Huo Pingxiao was preparing to return to the mansion first and then go to the military camp.
Just as he passed through the gate, a graceful figure intercepted his path away from the palace.
The person was dressed in a light fragrant-colored robe with wide sleeves, adorned with a three-petaled flower pattern resembling a butterfly on the pink silk. The young girl’s cheeks were decorated with a flower-shaped makeup made from dragonfly wings, clearly showing that she had carefully dressed up—she was the legitimate princess of the empress, Princess Xiao Yan.
“I, a humble official, greet the princess.”
Seeing that it was Princess Xiao Yan, Huo Pingxiao bowed expressionlessly to her. After a brief and subdued greeting, he intended to leave.
However, Princess Xiao Yan ordered the palace attendants to stop his progress. The palace maids and eunuchs at her side had taken a few steps toward the man, but his sharp and cold gaze deterred them, preventing them from moving any further.
Unable to stop him with the palace attendants, Princess Xiao Yan walked up to Huo Pingxiao. She spread out her luxurious wide sleeves, attempting to block his way with her own body.
Princess Xiao Yan had been pampered since childhood, being the legitimate princess of the empress. She had never suffered any grievances, but in front of Huo Pingxiao, she repeatedly encountered obstacles.
She couldn’t understand why, what was wrong with her, and why this man wouldn’t even look at her directly.
“Don’t go!” Princess Xiao Yan called out with a tender voice.
“Is there something the princess needs?”
Huo Pingxiao’s tone carried a hint of impatience. The warm rays of the evening sun gradually spilled onto his cold and sharp jawline, making his facial features appear even more exquisite and handsome.
He lifted his eyelids, and in his ink-black eyes seemingly devoid of warmth, he coldly looked at Xiao Yan and said, “If there’s nothing urgent, I still need to go to the military camp and can’t linger in the palace.”
Although Xiao Yan was accustomed to the man’s indifference, she still felt a sense of bitterness. If he could disregard other noblewomen, why didn’t he like her?
She liked him so much, couldn’t Huo Pingxiao give her some response?
That day, Xiao Yan hid behind a folding screen and overheard a conversation between the Crown Prince and the Emperor. They said that the military power in Huo Pingxiao’s hands would sooner or later be marginalized. The best solution, besides conferring him a royal title and granting him a fief, was to have him marry the princess.
Both methods would not harm the relationship, nor would they tarnish the reputation of the esteemed general in the historical records.
Anyway, she was a princess, unlike other noblewomen who would worry about marriage after turning twenty. She could afford to wait, and she would definitely wait for the day when Huo Pingxiao married her.
Thinking of this, Xiao Yan bit her lip and looked at Huo Pingxiao with teary eyes. Her voice carried a hint of weeping as she said, “Marquis of Dingbei, this princess just wants to talk to you for a few moments. Can’t you spare me this time?”
Looking at Xiao Yan’s appearance, Huo Pingxiao furrowed his brows.
If someone cried in front of him, he would only feel annoyed and might even think that Xiao Yan was too willful.
Easily moved to tears and overly dramatic.
“Farewell.”
He said in a deep voice, refusing to give Xiao Yan any more chance to speak, striding towards the Jiade Gate.
Xiao Yan hastily lifted her skirt and ran. Finally catching up with Huo Pingxiao’s pace, she gasped for breath and said in a delicate voice, “Lord Marquis, I heard that you are going to set out again, so I especially prayed for your safety at the Daci Temple and obtained a talisman for you.”
As they spoke, Xiao Yan stumbled along the steps of her embroidered shoes, closely followed by palace maids who feared the princess might trip. However, Xiao Yan still didn’t forget to unfasten the talisman hanging from her waist, insisting on handing it to the man, “Just take it~”
“I don’t need it; I don’t believe in such things.”
Huo Pingxiao, with his sharp eyes forward, didn’t glance at Xiao Yan again, only hastening his pace towards the palace gate.
When Xiao Yan almost lost her embroidered shoes from running, Huo Pingxiao finally reached the entrance of the palace.
Xiao Yan couldn’t run another step, and it was at this moment that Huo Pingxiao finally turned to look at her.
Although the man’s gaze remained cold, a faint joy gradually surged in Xiao Yan’s heart.
However, the words the man said next struck Xiao Yan like a thunderbolt, making her tremble on this warm spring day—
“This peace charm should be given by a wife to her husband.”
“If I were to accept one, it would be from my wife. Princess, don’t make this mistake again next time. Keep those for the future husband you’ll be sending them to.”
