Chapter 210

Chapter 210

Han Zhang had previously chosen to conceal his plans for rebellion, simply because he didn't want Shen Qinglan to spend these years in constant fear.

Now that they were about to make their move, and Er Bao and San Bao had just been born, it truly wasn't convenient to bring them along on the exile. Faking a stillbirth was the best way to handle it.

To keep his husband from grieving too much over the children's "deaths," he now had to reveal the rebellion.

Since the words were already out, Han Zhang held nothing back, laying out every single plan and arrangement in full detail.

"...Husband, I'm sorry. The reason I kept this from you before was truly because I was afraid you'd be scared out of your wits."

"None of the Emperor's princes are fit to rule. Allying with them would end no differently than allying with the Crown Prince—in the end, it's just 'the hounds get cooked once the hares are caught.'"

"Besides, you know my background. It's not in my nature to bow to anyone. Even if I didn't rebel, one day I'd still end up as the one holding the emperor hostage and calling the shots. So why keep swallowing my pride?"

"Now everything's ready, just waiting for the right moment. Though I've made arrangements along the exile route, it'll still be rough—sleeping out in the open, bumping along, dead tired. Er Bao and San Bao are far too young. Better to get them settled somewhere safe now."

"Husband, please don't be mad at me for keeping this from you, okay? I was just scared you'd worry. I just wanted to give you the best, to make everyone who mocked you for marrying down regret ever opening their mouths..."

When he was done, Han Zhang nervously watched Shen Qinglan's reaction.

He was genuinely scared his husband would be mad, even though he knew it was unlikely—after all, he knew better than anyone how crazy his husband was about him.

But that's just how love works: love breeds worry, love breeds fear.

And Shen Qinglan's feelings right then were definitely all over the place. Mad, sure—how could his husband hide something this big from him?

This was rebellion! A crime that got your whole family—nine generations—wiped out! How dangerous!

But after the anger faded, all that was left was a deep, aching tenderness. That his husband had ended up here was all tied to him.

If not for his sake, back then his husband could've just married Chang Gongjun Jiayou and gotten the power he wanted—why go through all this risk now?

These past few years, he'd lived easy and happy, never knowing how his husband had been tiptoeing on thin ice behind the scenes, carrying all that weight for him and the kids.

So in the end, with a thousand words stuck in his throat, Shen Qinglan could only mash all his shock, fear, anger, and heartache into one grumble—hurt and annoyed at the same time:

"Even if I was mad, would it change anything? Would you regret this decision? Don't I know how you are? Once you've made up your mind, not even ten oxen could drag you back—you're stubborn as a mule."

"But I'm still really mad, really mad! We're husbands! You don't want me worrying, but do you think I can stand by while you carry all that pressure alone?"

Shen Qinglan's voice got all nasally as he buried his face deep in Han Zhang's chest, choking up:

"Husband, from now on, don't ever hide things from me again just because you think it's for my own good, okay? Whether it's honor or shame, rich or poor, through hell and high water—I just want to go through it all with you."

They were husbands—how could he live easy while his husband suffered?

Sure, he was spoiled and couldn't take hardship, but as long as it was for his husband, he'd gladly take on even the worst suffering!

"Alright, it's all my fault. I'll change, I promise."

Han Zhang's expression was soft, and he agreed quick enough—but deep down, he had zero intention of changing.

His husband had already been done wrong enough by marrying down. Now he was about to drag him into exile—how could he let his husband suffer even more?

Shen Qinglan had shared a bed with him for years; he could easily tell Han Zhang was just sweet-talking him. In the future, anything that needed hiding, this guy would still hide it from him!

But he also knew Han Zhang did it all for him—wanting to give him the best life and all the nice things. No matter how much he fussed, Han Zhang would never budge on that.

In the end, he could only sigh helplessly, accepting reality with a mix of sweetness and annoyance...

...

Now that Shen Qinglan was in the loop, sending the two kids away temporarily was easy to arrange.

After talking it over, the couple got things set up.

Meanwhile, Wet Nurse Wang and Wet Nurse Luo had been kicked out of the estate, losing their fat paychecks. Offending Han Zhang had brought disaster on their families, and they'd been cast out by their husbands' households too.

They couldn't handle falling from comfortable, respectable wet nurses to destitute, scorned, abandoned women.

And with neighbors pointing and whispering, feeling like life wasn't worth living anymore—just as expected, a few provoking words were all it took for them to nurse a vengeful grudge against the Han family.

With Han Zhang deliberately letting it happen, a few days later,

While Shen Qinglan was heading to the outskirts to burn incense and pray for blessings, he ran right into their revenge. The carriage got spooked, and he was badly shaken, putting the pregnancy at risk.

After a full day and night of agony, Shen Qinglan was completely drained, and the two babies, born after such a hard labor, stopped breathing the second they came out.

When word got out, the folks of Yunyang Prefecture were nothing but sympathetic and heartbroken!

"Ah, what cruel twists of fate! Lord Han and Master Han were such good people—how could such a tragedy befall them?"

"These years, Lord Han has reduced our rents, wiped out bandits, redressed grievances, and taught us farming—making everyone's lives more and more secure. And Master Han personally funded the orphanage, distributed porridge and medicine, saving countless lives... How could those two black-hearted wet nurses do this to them!"

"I heard Master Han was carrying twins—a boy and a boy, what great fortune... And now they're just gone. How heartbroken Master Han must be."

"Utterly devoid of conscience! The Han household treated those two wet nurses generously—not only did they show no gratitude, they even dared to sow discord between father and sons, scheming to have the young master treat them as their own mother. And now they dare to harm people like this!"

"Alas, I wonder how Master Han is doing now? Lord Han and his husband share such deep affection—if anything happens to Master Han... how devastated Lord Han would be?"

"Heaven protect them. I heard Master Han was saved, but the difficult labor damaged his health. When he woke and learned the children were gone, he grieved terribly..."

The people of Yunyang Prefecture who heard the news couldn't help but ache for the couple.

These past few years, Han Zhang had worked tirelessly to rectify governance, suppress powerful families, promote agriculture and sericulture, and provide medical care and medicine...

Not only had he filled the bellies of Yunyang's common folk, but he had also greatly improved their living conditions. The people of Yunyang truly supported and appreciated him now.

So when tragedy struck the Han household, everyone was deeply worried!

The Han family members and An Ge'er were likewise grief-stricken, cursing the two wet nurses, and taking turns to comfort Shen Qinglan through their own sorrow.

Because the rebellion was a matter of utmost importance, Han Zhang could not possibly reveal it to the family—after all, if too many people knew a secret, it ceased to be a secret.

So now, aside from Grandpa Han, who knew the truth, everyone else in the household was genuinely grief-stricken.

Grandma Han had fainted from weeping several times, clutching the little clothes she had sewn for her two grandsons and sobbing: "My little grandsons! Those heartless wretches..."

If not for Han Zhang's power gently sustaining her, the old lady would likely have fallen gravely ill from grief.

Han Zhang's heart ached—he truly hated putting the elderly through such torment.

But one cannot have both the bear's paw and the fish. Until his plans came to fruition, his family would inevitably have to endure some hardship and blows alongside him.

Just like those men of the Han clan who had gone out to conduct business for him before—they had sacrificed their happy lives with their wives and children, crafting personas as scoundrels and disappearing into obscurity to carry out their tasks.

There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If you want to gain something, you must be willing to give something up—there is no rule that all the good things go to one person.

Fortunately, there was still Xiao Tao'er around. Although Grandma Han was grief-stricken, she still had something to hold onto emotionally, and so she did not completely drown in sorrow over the loss of her twin great-grandchildren, a boy and a girl.

...

Meanwhile.

In the capital, at the Shen residence.

Old Master Shen had done the same thing, and he was even craftier than Han Zhang.

Because all the legitimate grandchildren of the Shen main line had, under his 'indulgence' of his favored concubines over his wife, been 'killed off' in the back-courtyard infighting.

Old Master Shen's mother, having discovered the truth, had also 'died of illness' just a few days prior.

Then, on the very day after the seventh-day mourning ritual for Old Master Shen's mother, he hurriedly went to his immediate superior's residence, shamelessly offering to marry the man's divorced daughter, who was past her prime.

The superior official: ...

Nope! Nope! Nope!

He had thought to himself—this Shen Houde, a greedy, shameless scoundrel, could not possibly have truly been bewitched by beauty, bearing the infamy of driving his own wife to death for the sake of a few concubines.

So it turned out the old fox had simply decided his wife was no longer useful, and his children's marriages weren't bringing him any benefits, so he might as well get rid of the legitimate heirs from his wife and start fresh, finding a new woman to support him.

Although Old Shen had indeed been treading on thin ice in court these past few years due to his son-in-law's troubles, and his desperate move made some sense, he could understand that, but he'd never in a million years marry his daughter to a man who, at middle age, could cold-heartedly sacrifice his own grandsons for the sake of his career.

When it came to being ruthless, he had to admit he was outmatched. He was truly afraid of being eaten alive by this old fox!

However.

Some people despised and feared Old Master Shen, but others admired and appreciated him.

The superior official wanted nothing to do with him, but other officials saw value in Old Master Shen and extended an olive branch.

And Old Master Shen, of course, acted overjoyed and eagerly latched onto them.

After all, he was about to be exiled anyway—this marriage was never going to happen, and he had no intention of letting it.

Because his son Lan Ge'er might very well become the Emperor Consort in the future.

Lan Ge'er was most devoted to his mother, and he absolutely refused to replace his wife. He had to protect her well.

Forget all the crap he'd pulled before—from now on, he, Shen Houde, was going to be a clean-living, devoted husband who cherished his wife!