Chapter 308: Grudge
Lin Changning ate some food, took the medicine with cold water, and then called a waiter to bring a bucket of hot water. After washing himself thoroughly, he finally felt comfortable.
Not to mention the long journey, the bloodstains on his bandages had scabbed over, and the sweat from the fighting over the past two days had made his body sticky.
Lin Changning was in so much pain. After taking a shower, applying medicine, and bandaging himself, he sat on the bed and changed into a set of clothes that Wenzhi had prepared for him.
Lin Changning had only been lying in bed for a short while when she heard someone knocking on the door. She got out of bed and went to open the door. She was surprised to see Qi Rong standing outside with one hand still in a knocking position.
She assumed that the commander and the county magistrate had agreed to talk for a while tonight and probably wouldn't come looking for her.
I didn't expect you to arrive so early.
Lin Changning turned to the side: "Second Brother? Are you done talking so quickly? Come in first."
Qi Rong strode in: "Third Sister is a woman, it wouldn't be good if I stayed too long."
Lin Changning turned to the side, closed the door, and nodded: "That's true, but there's no one else here, so it won't hurt to chat a little longer."
Qi Rong entered the room and sat down at the table, his starry eyes fixed on Lin Changning. Lin Changning turned around and met Qi Rong's gaze, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
"What's wrong, Second Brother?"
Qi Rong shook his head: "It's nothing. Thank you so much, Xiao Liu, for what happened this time. But I still want to apologize to you."
Lin Changning was a little confused: "Huh? Apologize for what?"
Qi Rong sighed: "Originally, Mr. Gao Huan went on this trip by himself. I also know about the will. This matter is dangerous. Originally, I wanted to use the will to divert attention and bring my third sister and Yue'er back. However, I was not very at ease, so I asked you if you could go. I apologize for not being able to tell you about the will in advance. I did not expect that you would actually bring the will back."
Lin Changning was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's alright. The matter of the will is of great importance. It was right not to tell me just in case. Fortunately, the result was good. The items were retrieved, and the princess is safe and sound."
The more Lin Changning said this, the more guilty Qi Rong felt. He knew he had done wrong, but the matter of the will was of great importance, especially concerning the life of his third sister. Although he trusted Xiao Liu, he dared not gamble with his sister's life.
It's a pity about Mr. Gao Huan.
Although they knew the journey might not be smooth, they never expected that Mr. Gao Huan's team, except for Wang He, would all die from poisoning.
Thinking of this, Qi Rong's face darkened again. They were so careful, yet they never imagined that there was an inside traitor among the hidden moles they had planted, who had silently poisoned the water.
To this day, we still don't know which faction it is; despite all our precautions, we still couldn't prevent it.
Qi Rong closed his eyes and sighed deeply. When he opened his eyes again, he looked up at Lin Changning and asked, "How are your injuries?"
Lin Changning looked at Qi Rong's face and shook his head: "He's fine now, thank you for your concern, Commander."
When Qi Rong heard Lin Changning ask him to give orders, and his words were so polite, he knew that Xiao Liu was probably angry.
It was his fault, so it's no wonder Xiao Liu was angry with him. Xiao Liu had followed him through thick and thin this past year and risked her life to save him several times. He had kept it from Xiao Liu for the sake of his family, which was wrong of him, and it's understandable that Xiao Liu was angry.
It goes without saying how difficult it must have been for Xiao Liu to carry his third sister and Yue'er all by himself.
Qi Rong opened his mouth, then sighed after a long while: "It was Second Brother's fault, Sixth Brother..."
Lin Changning remained silent. She knew that these important figures had their concerns and that this matter was of great importance, so it was normal for them not to tell her. However, she still felt somewhat awkward.
I wouldn't say I was angry, but I just felt a little uncomfortable.
Qi Rong looked at Lin Changning and explained without speaking, "I'm not telling you partly to prevent information leaks, and partly to ensure your safety. You go and take Shu'er and Yue'er home. Mr. Gao and the others will go to retrieve the will and distract people. If anything unexpected happens along the way, Mr. Gao and the others will bear the risk."
Mentioning Mr. Gao, Lin Changning fell silent again, feeling a pang of unease. "Second Brother, did you know from the beginning that Mr. Gao and his men might be going to their deaths?"
Lin Changning's words were sharp, and his clear and upright gaze made Qi Rong feel somewhat exposed.
"Mr. Gao and those who died also had relatives."
"Xiao Liu, it's not what you think. The plan was originally going smoothly. Even if one of these people died, it would be a loss for us. But an accident happened halfway through. No one expected that there would be a traitor in the team."
Lin Changning nodded: "I understand, Second Brother, no need to explain."
In a daze, Lin Changning felt a sense of reality, a real feeling of being in this dynasty, where human life was as worthless as grass, and the privileged class always crushed the common people.
Mr. Gao Huan knew that he might never be able to return to Taiyuan, but he still led his men all the way to the capital and cleared obstacles for them after they came out.
So many lives were lost, all to save two lives of privileged individuals and a will.
Remembering what Mr. Gao Huan had said back then, that their lives had been saved by the Prince's Mansion, Lin Changning sighed. So, it was also Mr. Gao Huan's willingness to risk his life for the Prince's Mansion.
However, Lin Changning cherished her life. Thinking of her family, her loving mother, her kind older brother, and her younger brother who was studying hard away from home, she stretched out her palm and looked at it.
She still couldn't climb high enough.
Even if her life was as insignificant as grass, even if she stood on the opposite side of the male and female protagonists, even if she was not tolerated by the laws of this world, she still wanted to live on and lead her family to live well.
Qi Rong looked at Lin Changning's somewhat dazed face and suddenly said, "Xiao Liu, you don't need to worry, I will protect you."
Lin Changning looked up at Qi Rong's serious expression and suddenly smiled: "I have no worries, Second Brother. Even if I'm to be a pawn, I'll be the most useful one."
Qi Rong paused for a moment, then pursed his lips: "Little Six, as long as I'm here, I'll protect you."
Lin Changning shook off the various complicated thoughts in his mind and suddenly smiled at Qi Rong: "Thank you, Second Brother. I will take your words to heart. If I cause any trouble in the future, I hope you will be lenient with me."
Qi Rong breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Xiao Liu didn't hold any grudges, that was good. He was worried that Xiao Liu would become estranged from him.
Hearing Lin Changning say that, Qi Rong also laughed: "Just don't cause any major problems, Second Brother can't fix them."
At this point, Qi Rong became serious again: "We should be able to reach Taiyuan in six days at the latest. When you get back, take a two-day break and spend time with your family. After this, you won't have many more leisurely days."
A dark glint flashed in Lin Changning's eyes. He understood what Qi Rong was talking about and nodded.
The time is almost up. Once we go back and make the necessary adjustments, the political landscape will change.
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