If I were born again, I would marry a strong but short-lived husband.

It took Lu Heng two months to finally convince the officials of Huainan.

The affairs of salt wells and salt taxes were progressing smoothly, and he finally had the chance to hold his head high.

"Master Lu, let me massage your shoulders for you." A pair of soft and tender hands rested on Lu Heng's shoulders.

Lu Heng was holding a wine glass in his hand, his eyelids drooped, his handsome face flushed with drunkenness, looking even more handsome and charming than usual.

The girls around him were so delighted that they wished they could spend the night with such a handsome young man.

But Lord Lu only had Princess Guangning in his heart. Even when he was drunk in Huai Tower, he never touched other women.

Princess Guangning is so lucky to have such a prince consort.

"Get out!" Lu Heng's thin lips moved slightly, his eyes filled with hostility.

Lu Heng now hates all women who get close to him, as they remind him all the time that he is not a normal man.

He thought he was just indifferent to Guangning.

But in Huai Tower, no matter how beautiful the woman was, even if she took off all her clothes and stood in front of him, he would not react at all.

In order to avoid becoming a laughing stock, he could only say that he had a special liking for the princess and was not interested in other women.

This news also reached Guangning's ears.

The mocking and contemptuous look she gave him made his self-esteem feel like it was being rubbed to the ground.

It was Lu Yuan who made him become like this, making it impossible for him to be a normal man anymore.

How vicious.

He was not the one who caused him to be unable to have children, so why should Lu Yuan take revenge on him?

Lu Heng only hated that he was not powerful enough.

"Prince Consort, Her Royal Highness the Princess has sent someone to look for you." Liu Mo whispered in Lu Heng's ear.

"What's the matter?" Lu Heng asked impatiently.

Liu Mo said: "It seems that someone has come from the capital, and it seems that something happened at home."

Lu Heng immediately sobered up a little.

"go back."

He has been living in fear ever since his mother's personal maid Hong Xing told him the whole truth.

I always feel like there's a knife hanging over my head.

He also guessed that it was impossible for Song Xiuzhi to abandon her daughter and run away on her own. She must have been captured by Concubine Yao. However, such a long time had passed and the emperor still kept him in Huainan, which separated him from the incident and knew that he was not involved.

Liu Mo prepared some sobering soup, and Lu Heng drank two bowls in a row. When he returned to the mansion, he was almost sober.

As soon as he got off the carriage, he saw Hong Xing standing outside the door.

Dressed in plain white.

"Second Young Master..." Hong Xing sobbed, "Madam, she...she..."

Lu Heng stared at Hong Xing's plain dress with a straight gaze, "Why are you wearing this?"

"My dear Prince Consort, someone has come from the Duke's Mansion and said that my mother-in-law has passed away." Princess Guangning came out wearing plain clothes.

"There is another very important thing. I just found out about it yesterday, but I just couldn't find you."

Mother died?

Did Concubine Yao kill her mother?

Guangning: "The Bai family sold salt and iron privately, and the court ordered a thorough investigation. As a result, the Bai family defected and fled from Shangjing. Now they have become wanted criminals."

"Except for Madam Bai who returned to the old house, the rest of the Bai family has not yet been arrested."

"As for my mother-in-law..." Guangning looked at the middle-aged man next to him.

Lu Heng recognized him as the Duke's confidant.

"Uncle Li?"

"Second Young Master, the Duke asked you to return to the capital as soon as possible. You are needed to go back and preside over the mistress' funeral." Uncle Li said in a deep voice.

"How did mother die?" Lu Heng's voice was hoarse and difficult.

"The wife was on the run when the carriage accidentally fell off a cliff. When we found her, the carriage was destroyed and the wife was badly bruised," said Uncle Li.

There was a buzzing sound in Lu Heng's mind.

He staggered back a few steps, but Liu Mo still held him up.

"Go, go and pack your belongings." Lu Heng tried to suppress his sobs.

Guangning said: "All the valuables have been packed, and the prince consort can set off at any time."

Lu Heng whispered, "The journey is long, and the princess hasn't recovered yet. You don't have to go back with me to attend the funeral. I'll come back to pick you up after I've finished the funeral."

"Okay." Guangning nodded.

She is Her Royal Highness the Princess. Even if she goes back to attend the funeral, she will never kneel down to Madam Lu.

"Sister Rou is still young and has been feeling a little unwell recently. If the ride continues to be bumpy, I'm afraid she won't be able to bear it," said Guangning.

What Lu Heng is most reluctant to part with is his daughter.

This is the only flesh and blood he has left in the world.

He was very worried about leaving his daughter to Guangning, but he didn't dare to take her back at this time.

The words spoken by the palace maid sent by Concubine Yao are still fresh in my mind.

"Princess, you will have to work harder." Lu Heng clenched his fists.

"Second Young Master, the carriage is ready." Liu Mo said.

Lu Heng glanced at Hong Xing and said, "Take good care of Sister Rou."

Guangning stood on the steps and watched Lu Heng's carriage go farther and farther away.

She looked away, her eyes filled with a coldness as still as dead water.

Hong Xing looked up inadvertently and was frightened by Guangning's eyes.

"Go to the government office and tell them that the prince consort will be returning to the capital to attend the funeral soon, and tell the people under you to do their work well." Guangning said calmly.

She went back to the backyard and asked someone to bring Rou Jie'er over.

"Chuzhi, tell me, if I give birth to a child, will it be prettier than this child?" Guangning asked in a low voice.

Hearing Guangning's words, Chu Zhi's nose was slightly sour, "Of course, if the princess gave birth to a child, it would definitely be as delicate and beautiful as you were when you were a child."

Guangning murmured, "I can't have children."

Chu Zhi was stunned, "Princess, what did you say?"

"Nothing." Guangning looked up and gave Chu Zhi a bright smile.

"Your Highness, if you don't like this child, I will deal with it for you so that you won't be upset when you see it." Chu Zhi said.

How can Song Xiuzhi's bastard be worthy of calling Her Royal Highness the Princess mother?

This child should not be alive.

"No, I want to keep her." Song Xiuzhi gently touched Rou Jie'er's cheek.

So delicate.

The neck is so tender and thin that it seems like it could be cut with just a slight touch.

Chu Zhi looked at Guangning suspiciously, feeling secretly panicked.

She was afraid that the princess might remember something.

But if I think about it, it’s impossible to be so calm.

"Although you don't have to go back to attend the funeral, she is the mother of the prince consort after all, so you still have to do what you should do. Hang up the white banner tomorrow." Guangning ordered.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness."

Guangning held Chuzhi's hand and said, "Aunt Chuzhi, when will you return to the capital?"

"Her Majesty said that as long as the princess needs me, I will always be with you." Chu Zhi said with a smile.

"That's great. Then I can only compete with my mother for this person." Guangning said with a smile.

Sister Rou, who was sleeping just now, was frightened by something and suddenly started crying loudly.

A pair of black eyes looked around, as if they had discovered something terrible.

"Why are you crying so loudly suddenly? Hurry up and take him to the wet nurse." Guangning said.

Sister Rou stretched out her two little hands, as if she wanted to grab Guangning's fingers.

Chu Zhi frowned and took a look. This girl seemed quite smart.

That's not okay.

Even if Song Xiuzhi's daughter could be raised, she would be a waste.