Outside the Xingzhou County government office, Lu Jingze, wearing a cloak, stood quietly amidst the swirling snow.
A biting wind howled past, making the hem of his clothes flutter.
Lu Jingze stared intently into the distance, motionless like a statue.
Snowflakes fluttered down onto his shoulders, as if draping him in a layer of silvery armor.
As the carriage drew closer, Lu Jingze seemed to thaw as a statue, regaining some vitality only when the people inside stepped off.
He rushed forward and, without saying a word, pulled the person into a tight embrace, refusing to let go even for a moment.
It was as if if he let go, the person in his arms would disappear.
Time passed slowly, until his personal guard cautiously reminded him, at which point he snapped out of his daze.
Without hesitation, Lu Jingze bent down and gently lifted the person in his arms, then walked towards the county government office.
“Go back and tell your master that all her requests will be granted this time.” Lu Jingze’s voice was deep and powerful.
Upon hearing this, Granny Lu knelt down and kowtowed, "Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!"
Lu Jingze took the cloak off his own body with one hand and draped it over her.
At this moment, Wang Xiuxiu was completely wrapped up, so much so that she could only vaguely hear a simple "thank you" from Lu Jingze's mouth.
I originally wanted to peek out a little to see what was going on outside.
However, as soon as she opened the cloak even a tiny crack, the sharp-eyed Lu Jingze covered her completely with his cloak again.
Wang Xiuxiu was carried by Lu Jingze and placed on the soft bed.
At this moment, Wang Xiuxiu was like a child who had made a mistake and was waiting to be scolded by an adult. She sat there silently with her head down, not daring to move at all.
She fully expected Lu Jingze to scold her and berate her for being foolish.
However, the first thing Lu Jingze said was, "Wang Xiuxiu, have you been bullied these past few days?"
These days, Wang Xiuxiu has been desperately trying to endure and persevere.
She had more important things to do, so she had to force herself not to be swayed by her emotions.
But in the end, she was just a naive young girl who had never experienced the world. Faced with so many things all at once, she was already overwhelmed.
Now, Lu Jingze's question was like opening the floodgates of grievance.
Wang Xiuxiu could no longer hold back her tears.
She cried so bitterly that her snot and tears mingled together, and she wiped them all over Lu Jingze's clothes without any restraint.
Lu Jingze, however, had no time to care about any of that. He simply patted the little girl's back gently, letting her vent her emotions.
Letting her go back then was just a feigned compromise.
He wanted to wait until she realized the many dangers lurking in the outside world, and then she would obediently retreat to his side.
Unexpectedly, her actions were exploited by someone with ulterior motives, causing her to suffer so much.
At this moment, Lu Jingze was filled with remorse.
No one knows how much time passed, but Wang Xiuxiu finally fell asleep due to exhaustion.
Even in her sleep, she would occasionally let out a sob.
Lu Jingze gazed silently at the pitiful little one before him, feeling extremely sorry for him.
When he first heard the news of her kidnapping, he personally led a team to track her down. They finally found some clues, but they were still too late.
According to the kidnappers, the girl actually set a fire herself and escaped.
At that time, he was terrified.
He gently stroked Wang Xiuxiu's hair and murmured, "Silly girl, I'll never let you leave my side again."
The snow continued to fall outside the window, while the candlelight inside shone on the two of them, seemingly adding a touch of warmth to the cold winter night.
Lu Jingze sat by the bed, quietly protecting her until dawn.
---
That snowy night, the wind was biting cold. Lu Jingze lay on the cold snow, the intense pain in his chest making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
Fresh blood gushed from the wound, staining the white snow beneath him red.
His consciousness gradually blurred, and the world before his eyes began to darken.
Even Lu Jingze himself didn't understand what was happening on his deathbed.
Why is it that what's on his mind not loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, nor concern for his family and friends, but that stubborn girl who can drive people half to death?
"What if I'm gone? Those people won't let her go. What will happen then?"
This thought was like a sharp blade, piercing his heart and causing him more pain than any physical wound.
He knew that Wang Xiuxiu was constantly thinking about escaping from him.
Her eyes always held a hint of stubbornness and defiance, like a bird ready to spread its wings and take flight at any moment.
Even so, he was still worried.
Alone and without any relatives or friends in this world, how could she protect herself with only her passion for the world?
Lu Jingze never imagined that the small figure would quietly occupy his entire heart without him even realizing it.
Her smile, her stubbornness, her tears—these are all deeply etched in his memory, indelible.
The snow fell heavier and heavier, and Lu Jingze's consciousness gradually faded.
He seemed to see Wang Xiuxiu's figure gradually disappearing into the wind and snow.
He tried to reach out and grab her, but found himself unable to move.
"Xiuxiu..." he murmured softly, his voice so faint it was almost inaudible.
---
Even after learning that Wang Xiuxiu had escaped, he still turned the entire Huanghua Town upside down.
Lu Jingze thought that perhaps this girl had gone into hiding again, just like before.
But unexpectedly, this unlucky little guy really did have one bad thing after another.
As the day of departure for Beijing drew closer, Lu Jingze hesitated to set off.
He couldn't let go of that stubborn girl in his heart, fearing that if he left, she would be in danger and have nowhere to turn for help.
He was only slightly relieved when Madam Cheng sent another message saying that Wang Xiuxiu was safe.
The moment I saw Wang Xiuxiu, all my worries, anxieties, and unease instantly transformed into boundless joy.
He never imagined that the feeling of losing something and then getting it back would be so intense, so intense that it made him feel as if he were floating on clouds, his whole body light and airy.
The wind and snow continued, but at that moment their hearts quietly drew closer.
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