Chapter 614: Argument
Editor: Atlas Studios

Other than Fan Zijin, no one knew why the family of three had different expressions. However, this did not stop Chief Ji’an from knowing that the alarm had been lifted. He quickly went forward to make his presence known, then invited Qi Haoran and his wife to stay in the stockade for a night and let the Miao people throw a welcome dinner for the Princess Consort.

Qi Haoran still did not know the truth, so it was naturally impossible for him to stay. Their entire family was here. If the Miao stockade really had ulterior motives, wouldn’t it be easy for them to wipe them out?

Besides, the couple had not seen each other for a long time, so it was even more impossible for them to stay here.

Qi Haoran declined. Chief Ji’an thought for a moment and said, “Why don’t you return two days later? When my eldest son-in-law and eldest son come back, I’ll throw a dinner with good wine to welcome Her Highness.”

Mu Yangling nodded slightly at Qi Haoran, who agreed.

Jinhua looked at Qi Haoran and wanted to say something but hesitated. When Mu Yangling saw this, she stopped her horse and pointed at Jinhua. She said to Qi Haoran, “Your Highness, this is Chief Ji’an’s daughter. She said that she has taken a fancy to you. I wonder if you have any **** thoughts.”

Qi Haoran shuddered and retracted his stomach. Straightening his back, he said without even glancing to the side, “No, Ah Ling. You’re the only one I want in my life. I won’t even spare a glance at other women.”

Even though Jinhua was a Miao girl, she couldn’t stand Qi Haoran’s direct rejection. She glared at Qi Haoran angrily before running away.

Fan Zijin frowned slightly and looked at Mu Yangling disapprovingly, but he did not say anything.

Qi Haoran turned his head and nodded slightly at the embarrassed Chief Ji’an. Then, he rode away.

After leaving the stockade, Little Madam Xia sat in the carriage. Fan Zijin glanced at the carriage and turned to Mu Yangling. “I know you don’t want Haoran to take in a concubine, but you don’t have to be so domineering with him in front of outsiders. If word gets out, how will he lead the army?”

“Since the Miao clansmen are straightforward, it’s more effective to say it directly than hint. If we don’t make them perish the thought immediately, there will be endless trouble in the future.” Mu Yangling said, “I can’t keep an eye on Haoran all the time. Instead of separating for this reason in the future, it’s better to dispel this thought of theirs from the beginning.”

This was also why she had intimidated Ji’an and Jinhua from the start and told them explicitly that Qi Haoran would never give up on her or take in a concubine. She, too, would never accept Qi Haoran having another woman besides her.

Fan Zijin was so infuriated by Mu Yangling that he immediately dismounted and said, “Up to you.” Since one was willing to give a beating and the other was willing to endure it, why should he fret on their behalf?

Fan Zijin got into the carriage directly. Compared to riding on the bumpy horse, he was more used to sitting comfortably in carriages. Previously, when he rode the horse at full speed, his bones almost scattered.

Mu Yangling turned around and realized that Qi Haoran was sulking. However, since they were outside, it was not appropriate to talk about it in depth. She could only suppress her doubts first.

With an ashen face, Qi Haoran wrapped his son in a cloak and carried him as they rode back to the city.

The military camp was stationed outside Juzhou City, and Qi Haoran was still living in a squire’s house. The squire’s family had moved to another courtyard.

However, this house with three entrances was not as big as the one in the north and the capital. It was almost a third smaller. With so many people living in it at once, it immediately seemed a little cramped.

When Mu Yangling saw Qi Haoran slam the door and enter with their son in his arms, she knew that he was angry. Mu Yangling didn’t know why he was angry, but she knew the urgency of the matter. After handing everything to Mama Wang and Spring, she hurriedly followed him.

As children were sensitive by nature, Little Bear could sense his father’s emotions. He shrunk his neck and nestled in his father’s arms. When he saw his mother enter, he immediately opened his arms to her, looking like he was about to cry. It made her heart ache.

Mu Yangling quickly went forward to carry the child and complained, “You scared the child.”

Qi Haoran retracted his murderous aura and forced a smile. “Hand the child to the wet nurse.”

Mu Yangling coaxed Little Bear. Seeing that he was no longer afraid, she carried him out to the nanny, but not long after, she carried him back. Mu Yangling said helplessly, “This child probably feels that this place is unfamiliar and is unwilling to be with the nanny. Forget it, he won’t understand anything we say anyway.”

Mu Yangling placed him on the couch and let him play by himself. Then, she sat at the side and looked straight at Qi Haoran. “What’s wrong? Why is your expression so ugly?”

Qi Haoran was a little angry, but more than that, he was sad. “Am I not worthy of your trust? Why are you so guarded?”

Mu Yangling was unconvinced. “Since when am I guarded against you?”

“You weren’t guarded against me?” Qi Haoran couldn’t help but shout, “Didn’t you tell Zijin that just now? What do you mean by ‘separate because of this reason’? So all you think about every day is separating from me? Even if I make just the slightest mistake? Are you going to leave me if I take just one wrong step?”

Mu Yangling was stunned for a moment before she flew into a rage. “What mistake do you want to make? Qi Haoran, don’t you dare make such a mistake!”

“Let me ask you, will you leave without looking back if I make a mistake and not give me any chance?” Qi Haoran looked at her with reddened eyes.

Mu Yangling’s heart ached. She felt that Qi Haoran must have made a mistake. Otherwise, why would he ask this question so persistently?

Her tears fell with a whoosh. She turned around and lay on the couch, crying. She couldn’t bear to leave Qi Haoran, but what should she do? Her heart hurt. So dirty…

Stunned, Qi Haoran looked at Mu Yangling, who was crying bitterly, and felt a little helpless. He patted her shoulder clumsily and said, “Why are you crying? I’m the one suffering a grievance and I haven’t even cried yet.”

Mu Yangling turned around and kicked him off the couch. She roared, “What grievance are you suffering? What suffering was there to speak of when you slept with another woman?”

Qi Haoran jumped up. “When did I sleep with another woman? Mu Yangling, don’t push your luck.”

“If you didn’t sleep with another woman, why are you so persistently asking me about what I would do if you made a mistake?” Mu Yangling wiped her tears and asked, “Or do you want to make this mistake now?”

Frustrated, Qi Haoran circled the room twice before clenching his fists and saying, “I just don’t understand why you don’t have faith in me. I said that I would do my best to fulfill my promise of having you as my one and only for the rest of my life, but you’re still so paranoid and keep thinking about leaving…”

“Wait.” Mu Yangling interrupted him. “When did I become paranoid and keep thinking about leaving? I trust you very much, and I’ve never doubted you for no reason. The most important thing between husband and wife is trust. Haoran, I do trust you.”

“But you said that if I made a mistake, you would leave me…”

“That’s only if you make a mistake!” Mu Yangling emphasized the words “make a mistake”.

At Qi Haoran’s silence, Mu Yangling looked at him with reddened eyes. “Qi Haoran, tell me, are you going back on your word?”

“No,” Qi Haoran denied firmly. He didn’t deny the fact that many people had sent women to him. Looking at those women, he had been tempted, but he had always adhered to his principles. Those women were only attractive in physical terms, but they couldn’t at all hold a candle to Ah Ling.

However, as there would be more and more social events in the future, such incidents would only increase. On some occasions he might even get drunk. Qi Haoran was a little afraid. If one day, should his self-control decrease while he was intoxicated and he succumbed to his desires, would Ah Ling also leave him and never see him for the rest of his life?

Every time he thought of this, Qi Haoran felt like his heart was being squeezed in someone’s hand. It was excruciating. He couldn’t bear to part with Ah Ling, couldn’t bear to see her sad, and couldn’t bear to see her leave.

Without saying anything, Qi Haoran just looked straight at Mu Yangling. She understood those words left unspoken and her face instantly turned pale.