Rebirth of a Farming Wife

Chapter 563: Chapter 569: Unwilling to Believe
 

Han Yu didn’t just want to let Liu Xiu know the importance of Su Wenyue, to prevent him from acting rashly, and from making any unfavorable moves toward Su Wenyue that could cause irreparable rifts between them. It was also a declaration of himself, letting Liu Xiu know he was a man with little ambition.

Han Yu was never shortsighted; he wouldn’t lose his ability to think just because of the slight kindness and apparent trust from Liu Xiu. No matter how much trust Liu Xiu seemed to show on the surface, what he really thought was hard to say. Even if he let emotion triumph over reason for a moment due to gratitude, as time went by, it was inevitable that he would start to think too much, especially given the transformation Liu Xiu had undergone, shedding his previous soft-heartedness. While this may be good, it was a double-edged sword for his subordinates. They’d benefit from using it well to avoid harming themselves, so all the more they had to be careful in their actions.

“Hey, since you say so, I can’t really do much about it. Just be careful with the way you carry yourself. Sometimes, being too obvious might bring unwanted attention to your younger sister-in-law. Just try not to overdo it in public,” said Liu Xiu, knowing that further persuasion was futile. He simply gave up and temporarily discarded any unkind thoughts towards Su Wenyue. His original intention to target Su Wenyue was to prevent Han Yu from having a weak spot. However, if that ended up causing Han Yu to turn against him, it would defeat his purpose and be meaningless. Besides, Liu Xiu didn’t really trust Han Yu that much. He was still somewhat cautious and guarded, and sometimes, it was actually good for him to know Han Yu had a vulnerability – people with weaknesses could be managed more securely.

“Thank you for the reminder, My Lord. I’ll be mindful,” Han Yu responded, acknowledging Liu Xiu’s kind intentions. As for whether to keep a low profile, Han Yu was somewhat indifferent. After this incident, whispers were already buzzing around; anyone with even a little insight would know how much he valued his wife. Concealing it seemed pointless; better to be open and upright about it, which seemed more forthright.

The topic was somewhat unpleasant, so Han Yu and Liu Xiu buried their heads and began to nibble on dry food. Before long, Han Yu finished his dry food and pulled out a handkerchief from his bosom to wipe his mouth.

Liu Xiu initially glanced casually, but when he saw the handkerchief in Han Yu’s hand, he paused, staring at the pattern, which seemed familiar. However, before he could get a clear look, Han Yu tucked it away again. Liu Xiu wanted to ask for the handkerchief to take a closer look but ultimately couldn’t find a proper reason to do so.

A surge of excitement rose in Liu Xiu’s heart. The pattern on that handkerchief looked just like the one left by the woman who had saved him. Although the pattern was slightly different, the stitching and the general style were almost identical. Despite the passing of so much time, his feelings for that woman hadn’t faded. Even in these turbulent times, he had not given up, continuously sending people to inquire after her, yet without results. Now that he had stumbled upon a clue, it turned out to be related to Han Yu.

Liu Xiu wanted to ask directly, but seeing the extent to which Han Yu treasured that handkerchief, folding it neatly and putting it away in his chest, it was obviously a beloved item. The more Liu Xiu understood what kind of man Han Yu was, the more he was convinced that if the handkerchief was given by a woman, it could not have been from other women; it must have been from Han Yu’s wife. Could that woman be…

In front of Han Yu, Liu Xiu dared not show his feelings too obviously. He merely frowned slightly, unwilling to believe his own conjecture. He had always held that woman in his heart. Although it was because of the life-saving grace, deep down he harbored feelings that he was reluctant to admit. He felt he couldn’t accept such an outcome. Moreover, she didn’t seem like the type of person to be Han Yu’s wife; daring to save someone at such a time, and a completely unknown man at that, required not just courage but a certain rebelliousness and nonconformity. It was quite dissimilar to the personality of Han Yu’s wife as described by Han Yu.

Even though Liu Xiu always advised Han Yu not to indulge in personal affections, he could do so for his wife and the women around him. However, he couldn’t let go of this one woman, although they had only met once. It felt almost like love at first sight, an eternal fondness from a single glance.

In fact, Su Wenyue had acted only because she didn’t want Liu Xiu to die an untimely death, thereby changing some of the pathways of his previous life. Liu Xiu, unaware of this reason, filled in the blanks with his imagination, conjuring up an entirely different scene. He only knew of a kind-hearted woman who, disregarding the risk to her own life and without questioning the reason or considering the consequences, had saved him. Moreover, she was beautiful as a fairy, unforgettable at a glance. The overall effect this created in his mind was quite different.

“Xiu Qi, you are not usually so fastidious, being so careful with that handkerchief. Could it be that it was a gift from someone you care about? Let me guess, it must have been embroidered by your wife. Could I borrow it to admire your younger sister-in-law’s fine craftsmanship?” Liu Xiu couldn’t resist probing, but having laid the groundwork with his earlier comments, it didn’t seem peculiar, even though his request was somewhat abrupt.

Han Yu didn’t say yes nor no, just smiled, which amounted to consent. When he heard Liu Xiu’s somewhat presumptuous request, he thought Liu Xiu had merely misspoken. He frowned slightly and then let it go, not giving it much thought. Han Yu was aware that Su Wenyue had saved Liu Xiu, but he didn’t dwell on that fact. Primarily because of how Liu Xiu typically treated women – he was not the kind of man to take women to heart, much less harbour thoughts for a married woman.

Since Han Yu considered it a slip of the tongue by Liu Xiu, he brought up the subject no further. There was no way he would actually give the handkerchief to Liu Xiu to look at. Even if he wanted Su Wenyue to make a good impression on Liu Xiu, he would never let another man see anything belonging to his wife – especially not touched by his hands. Han Yu admitted that he was possessive in this regard, but this was a common feeling among men who cherished their wives.

Seeing Han Yu’s reaction, Liu Xiu’s eyes changed. No matter what his inner thoughts were, he quickly put on a smile and said, “Don’t mind me, Xiu Qi. It was a slip of the tongue. My mistake! How could I, a crude man, look at your wife’s personal token? It’s the fault of those louts in the camp, they never talk sense, only ever bringing up trifles and leading me astray!”

Liu Xiu’s reason sounded quite appropriate; Han Yu even had similar experiences, so he was even less suspicious. Although he still vaguely felt something was off, he couldn’t pinpoint what it was. He also knew that the brothers in the military camp were bored without women by their sides, and enjoyed speaking coarsely to amuse themselves and pass the time.

“Uncle Wen, it’s nothing; I wouldn’t take it to heart. Let’s not delve into idle chatter anymore and hurry to finish eating. The pursuers may catch up soon,” said Han Yu.

Liu Xiu nodded, aware that now was not the time to entertain such thoughts. Besides, he had only caught a glimpse and could not be completely certain. Any conclusion would have to wait for the future – it would come eventually.