Chapter 264 Grandmother, Your Grandson Has Someone He Loves

Dongrou watched secretly from the side until the figure disappeared outside the courtyard gate, then she couldn't help but move closer to Lu Zhaoruo and say with a smile, "Wife, have you noticed? Meng Langjun treats you really differently!"

She continued, "Ever since you pulled him out of the pond at the Meng residence last time, although he still occasionally makes sarcastic remarks, he hasn't said anything like 'climbing the social ladder' again. Last night when you were in danger, he risked his life to protect you! Just now, his eyes and tone... I think it's more than just gratitude."

Dongrou boldly guessed, "Could it be that he... has fallen for you, my lady?"

Lu Zhaoruo was not surprised when she heard this, but simply lowered her eyes and smiled faintly.

Sunlight streamed through the windowpane, casting a soft glow on her pale profile.

How could she not sense it? The clumsy concern beneath those seemingly languid words, the occasional flash of tension in those world-weary eyes that even he himself didn't notice, and today's seemingly casual yet undeniably joyful gift...

She was no longer an innocent girl; how could she not understand such a passionate yet awkward feeling?

only.

As my thoughts wandered, another handsome and aloof figure appeared in my mind without warning.

It was Xiao Yeming.

Seeing that she seemed distracted, Dongrou assumed she was still considering Meng Xizhi's matter, so she leaned closer and whispered, "My lady, if you ask me, Meng Langjun is actually... quite good. He is first-rate in both looks and family background. Although he is a bit lazy, he truly cares about you! Moreover, he is backed by the Duke of Di's mansion, and the old lady of Di's family likes you so much. If you marry him, you will definitely live a life of luxury and be respected by everyone."

She paused, thinking of Xiao Yeming, and her tone couldn't help but carry a hint of resentment for her wife, as she said sourly in a low voice, "It's still better than... better than some people! They clearly care a lot, but they insist on refusing the marriage, and when it comes to the crucial moment, they can't even say a straightforward word!"

Just then, with a soft "whoosh," a snow-white shadow nimbly leaped in through the slightly open window and landed lightly on Lu Zhaoruo's lap.

It was none other than Abao, who was pure white.

It lazily licked its paws, and a child's voice, clearly displeased, rang in Lu Zhaoruo's mind: "Mother! Abao doesn't want that lazy Meng Xi as her father!"

Abao flicked its tail, its bright blue eyes filled with unwavering determination: "Abao only likes Brother Xiao Yeming! He's the best and most amazing! Every time he comes to see Abao, he brings candied peas, and he's always so careful, afraid of disturbing Abao!"

As Lu Zhaoruo listened to Dong Rou's nagging and A Bao's clamor, a wave of exhaustion and helplessness washed over her.

She gently patted Abao's head to calm it down, then looked up at Dongrou: "Alright, Dongrou, right now it's important to take care of your health and stabilize Yunshang Pavilion."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the "trinkets" Meng Xi had given her on the table, as well as her injured arm, and said, "Put all of these away."

After leaving the Lu residence, Xiao Yeming did not return to his own residence to rest as Lu Zhaoruo had instructed.

He forcefully suppressed the exhaustion from a sleepless night, and the bloodshot eyes made his gaze appear even sharper, like that of an eagle.

He mounted his horse and said in a deep voice to Wang Wu, who was waiting outside, "Come with me to the place where the incident happened yesterday."

Wang Wu was taken aback. Looking at the general's tense profile, he didn't dare to ask any more questions and immediately replied, "Yes!"

The two rode out of the city again, heading straight for the section of the official road where Lu Zhaoruo had been attacked the day before.

As dawn broke, the mist in the forest lingered, and a faint, lingering scent of blood seemed to remain in the air.

Xiao Yeming reined in his horse and nimbly dismounted.

His expression was solemn as he began to carefully examine the scene inch by inch.

The traces of yesterday's fight are still visible.

Disordered hoofprints, trampled and flattened grass, and several dark brown, dried bloodstains.

He crouched down and carefully took something out of a clump of thorns.

It was a piece of black cloth about the size of a palm, not something used by ordinary people, but more like some kind of standardized clothing material.

Immediately afterwards, his gaze was drawn to an unusual reflection under an old tree not far away.

He walked quickly over, bent down, and picked up a broken scimitar.

The blade is long and narrow with an unusual curve, making it an extremely rare weapon. The broken edge is brand new, clearly the result of yesterday's fierce battle.

The moment his fingertips touched the cold blade, Xiao Yeming's pupils constricted sharply!

A chill that felt all too familiar shot up my spine!

This unique curve, this sharp texture... perfectly overlaps with an old wound in his memory that was so deep it revealed the bone!

Several years ago, when he first secretly went to Kedah to investigate salt smugglers, he was ambushed by top-notch experts of unknown identity.

The opponent was using this strange curved blade!

He was stabbed in the chest and nearly died; the scar is still there to this day.

It was during that time that he hid on the roof of Lu Courtyard, severely injured, and gazed at Lu Zhaoruo for eternity.

He initially thought they were local salt smugglers, then suspected them of being Japanese pirates, but after further investigation, all of these suspicions were ruled out.

This force is like a ghost, appearing and disappearing without a trace, its purpose unknown.

Now, the missing murder weapon has reappeared at the scene of Sister Lu's attack!

Xiao Yeming gripped the cloth and the broken knife tightly in his hands, his eyes growing increasingly cold and piercing.

These people were no ordinary assassins.

They must be from the same source as the ambushers in Kedah a few years ago!

"Keep it safe!"

In a low voice, he handed the evidence to Wang Wu, "Go back to the city. This matter must be thoroughly investigated!"

After saying that, he mounted his horse, turned it around, and galloped away.

Meng Xi did not return to the Meng residence, nor did he go to his own villa. Instead, he went straight to the residence of the Duke of Di.

Changhong couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Young master, aren't you afraid that when the old lady sees you, she'll seize the opportunity to nag you about the marriages of the young ladies from various families? Why did you come to visit in person?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Xi smiled lazily yet with a hint of certainty, glancing at Chang Hong: "Today, I am here to ask my grandmother to grant me a wish."

Chang Hong was taken aback, and before he could figure out the deeper meaning of those words, he had already arrived at the gate of the mansion.

Upon seeing that it was the eldest son of the family, the gatekeeper hurriedly went in to announce his arrival.

Before long, Madam Di, supported by Granny Xiang, personally greeted them at the second gate, her face showing undisguised joy and reproach: "My child! You finally remembered to come back to visit your grandmother!"

His words were filled with deep love for his only daughter, his bloodline.

Before Meng Xi could even perform the full ceremony, the old lady had already pulled him up and down, and once she started talking, she couldn't stop: "Look at you, always acting like a carefree hermit! You're getting older, but your marriage is still undecided. Doesn't that worry your grandmother? You look down on all those high-born ladies in the capital, but this time your grandmother has gone to great lengths to find you a one-in-a-million good young lady!"

The old lady became more and more excited as she spoke, lowering her voice as if sharing some precious treasure: "That child, in terms of talent and character, far surpasses those I've previously looked for for you! Your grandmother dares to say that if you were to meet him, you would not be disappointed!"

Meng Xi listened patiently, as was rare for him. After the old lady finished speaking, he slowly opened his mouth, but his tone was more serious than ever before: "Grandmother loves her grandson dearly, and I am grateful to her. However... in my heart, there is already someone else."