The day was sunny and fine. Lu Nianfu found an opportunity when no one was in the room and climbed onto the rooftop with a ladder.
She could see the main gate by looking into the distance.
If A Yan came back, he would surely enter from there.
As she was staring at the main gate in a daze, Qing Ya followed her up the ladder, "Princess Consort, you are still recuperating, how can you be on the rooftop catching the wind?"
"There's no wind today."
"But..."
"No 'buts.' Go about your business. I'll be back inside after soaking up some sun." Lu Nianfu glanced towards the main gate and saw a carriage slowly stopping. She was quite disappointed, as A Yan only liked riding horses.
As expected, Cheng Beizheng alighted from the carriage.
Qing Ya quickly said, "Oh, Third Young Master is here. Princess Consort, please come down quickly. You can't possibly entertain him on the rooftop, can you?"
"The rooftop is better than the confinement room."
According to Da Yin customs, the birthing room and the recuperation room were considered inauspicious, and men were absolutely forbidden from entering, especially those who were soldiers or merchants.
Qing Ya was helpless and could only fetch a hooded cloak, wrapping Lu Nianfu tightly. Cheng Beizheng, who knew some martial arts, flew onto the eaves without a ladder, "Lu Xiao Fu, you're still recuperating and running onto the rooftop to catch the wind? You'll suffer from headaches in the future."
"It's not that serious, is it? Besides, there's no wind." She patted the spot beside her, "Sit here."
"No, you must go back inside quickly."
"Only when the wind picks up."
Cheng Beizheng said angrily, "What is wrong with the maids in your room? If you don't know better, don't they?"
Lu Nianfu didn't want to go back inside, "It's really fine. It's so stuffy staying in the room all day. Soaking up some sun is good. By the way, why are you here today? Do you have any news of A Yan?"
Cheng Beizheng immediately lost his strength, "Lu Xiao Fu, no news is the best news right now."
Lu Nianfu was much more optimistic than him, "I think so too. Maybe he's hiding somewhere recuperating from his injuries, otherwise his body would have been found by now, wouldn't it?"
With such a long river, not finding the body truly couldn't explain anything. But Cheng Beizheng still nodded heavily, "Yes, Prince Rui is blessed with great fortune and long life; he will surely be fine. I have already instructed people to search for him. Don't worry, even if the imperial court gives up the search, I will continue until I help you find him."
He silently added in his heart, to see him alive, or if dead, to find his body.
"Hoo-hoo..."
Standing high, they could see far. The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young soldier in military uniform rein in his horse and dismount, entering the Rui Wang's mansion.
Lu Nianfu stood up abruptly, her footing unstable and she almost fell, fortunately Cheng Beizheng steadied her.
As soon as Lu Nianfu regained her balance, she said, "That person is from the post station. Is there news of A Yan? Quickly, let's go down."
Cheng Beizheng's hand paused an inch from her waist, and he finally didn't embrace her again, "I'll have Qing Ya come to pick you up."
Men and women must not touch each other. If he were to carry her down from the rooftop, who knew what would be rumored tomorrow? Situ Yan was gone, and he could not protect her.
Lu Nianfu's entire mind was on the courier outside the main gate, she had no time to think about what Cheng Beizheng was thinking. She only heard him shout, "Qing Ya!" Qing Ya poked her head out from under the eaves, "What is it, Third Young Master?"
"Carry your Princess Consort down. Lu Xiao Fu, you stay put below. Trust me, I'll go and get it for you."
So Qing Ya went onto the rooftop and carried her down, while Cheng Beizheng stepped on the rooftop and flew towards the main gate. Soon, he handed the letter to Lu Nianfu, who was standing under the eaves, "It is indeed a letter from Shanxi."
Lu Nianfu's hands began to tremble uncontrollably. She held her breath and concentrated, but for a long time, she couldn't even tear open a corner of the letter. Cheng Beizheng couldn't bear to watch and snatched the letter, tearing open the seal, "Shall I help you read it?"
"No."
Lu Nianfu snatched the letter back into her hands. As soon as she opened it, tears fell.
It was Situ Yan's handwriting.
Qing Ya asked cautiously, "Princess Consort, is there news of His Highness?"
Lu Nianfu nodded vigorously, tears falling like a broken string of pearls, blurring her vision, which she wiped away haphazardly with her sleeves.
However, the tears only increased, almost soaking the letter in her hands.
Cheng Beizheng grew anxious, "Wh-what happened? Say something, at least."
Lu Nianfu looked up, tears in her eyes, but her smile was incomparably radiant, "Wuwu, A Yan, A Yan is fine."
Cheng Beizheng quickly leaned over to look at the letter. After a while, he said, "He's a prince, and his handwriting is so ugly!"