Chapter 12 Sister Lu, I'm willing to be your dog!
Ban Ling's face showed surprise: "Madam Lu is even familiar with the 'Treatise on Judging Horses'?"
Although his voice was loud, his tone carried a hint of sincere admiration: "Although Madam Lu is a merchant and a commoner, her knowledge and insights are so profound that even military generals, let alone noble ladies in the capital, have not seen many who can comprehend the 'Complete Essentials of Military Classics' to this extent."
He clasped his hands in a respectful gesture and said, "I truly admire you, Ban!"
Lu Zhaoruo curtsied in return, a stray hair at her temple fluttering in the wind: "The Deputy Commander is too kind."
Then she added, "I only know a few words, and I use them all for accounting. How can I compare to Young Master Li's reputation for being 'learned beyond measure'?"
Li Yanei's face turned pale and then red. Although he was not literate or skilled in martial arts, he could still hear the sarcasm in those words.
Throughout, Xiao Yeming remained silent, his face as indifferent as frost, exuding an aura of unapproachable coldness.
Unbeknownst to anyone, a glint of light flashed in his eyes the instant he listened to Lu Zhaoruo speak.
"General Xiao has taken office as commander, and your subordinates are late in welcoming him."
The magistrate's voice came from the stone steps.
Lu Zhao snapped out of her thoughts and knelt down on the snow with a thud, her voice filled with fear: "Young Master Li, please forgive me. This maid was so eager to protect her master that she panicked when she heard that you had invited me to Sweetwater Lane to enjoy tea and discuss painting. She misunderstood the elegant meaning of 'enjoying tea and discussing painting'."
After saying that, she turned around and kowtowed to Xiao Yeming: "This humble woman thanks Commander Xiao for his help."
Xiao Yeming's gaze flickered, his body shifted slightly, and his right hand reached out into the air, but suddenly froze just inches away from her sleeve...
Upon hearing Lu Zhaoruo's words, the magistrate's face turned ashen. He kicked Li Yanei in the back of the knee and roared, "You wretched child! How dare you offend the Commander's entourage! Quickly kowtow and beg for forgiveness!"
Li Yanei knelt on the ground with a thud and kowtowed: "I deserve to die! I have offended the general's might!"
Xiao Yeming coughed lightly.
Ban Ling immediately stepped forward with his hand on his sword, exuding a domineering air: "Your Excellency, while your son did not offend the Commander, as the son of an official, he openly harassed a Jia family's wife in front of the county government's screen wall. This is an illegal act. According to the laws of the county, such behavior is aggravated and he should be punished with eighty strokes of the cane!"
The magistrate's forehead was beaded with cold sweat, but he managed a weak smile and bowed, saying, "General Ban, you are wise! I have always admired Lady Chenlu's exquisite painting skills, and I specially prepared tea and cakes to invite her today. Although my actions were rash, it was truly out of youthful admiration... I will immediately order him to reflect on his actions behind closed doors!"
He suddenly turned his head and shouted sternly, "You wretched child! Apologize to Madam Shen Lu now!"
Reflecting on one's mistakes behind closed doors?
Lu Zhaoruo knew perfectly well that the magistrate was not unaware of the location of "Sweetwater Lane," but he pretended not to know and was intentionally protecting the area.
She smiled slightly and said, "Just now, Young Master Li mentioned a villa in Sweetwater Lane. Everyone knows that Sweetwater Lane is a brothel. I suppose Young Master Li is a man of refined tastes and loves to enjoy tea and discuss painting there, which is why I misunderstood..."
The county magistrate looked embarrassed.
She suddenly curtsied, her eyes lowered, and said, "In the end, it was my fault for not disciplining him properly. Today happens to be the day Commander Xiao takes office, so let's just let this trivial matter go."
Having no powerful connections, she naturally couldn't afford to offend the county magistrate directly.
The magistrate thought to himself, "This merchant's wife is quite sensible; otherwise..."
His son, Li Yanei, smiled smugly.
At this moment, Ban Ling suddenly stepped forward, the sword at his waist clanging loudly: "Your Honor, please understand! According to the 'Law on the Protection of Minors,' 'Anyone who harasses a respectable woman shall be punished with eighty strokes of the cane.' Now your son has openly violated this law in front of the government office..."
He suddenly drew half of the blade, its cold light reflecting on the magistrate's face: "If we condone such behavior, will you dare to forcibly abduct women tomorrow?"
Forced back half a step by the flashing blade, the magistrate nearly tripped when his official boots tripped on the hem of his robe. He hurriedly said, "General Ban, please forgive me! This unworthy son shall bear the consequences..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ban Ling shouted an order: "Drag Li Yanei to the Criminal Affairs Corridor and punish him with eighty strokes of the cane according to the law!"
Li Yanei collapsed to the ground.
The yamen runners immediately grabbed Li Yanei and dragged him away.
Although the magistrate was indignant, he still respectfully extended his hand and said, "Commander Xiao has had a long journey. The county office has prepared accommodations, and all the necessary documents and maps for the navy are ready..."
Xiao Yeming remained silent throughout, only nodding slightly as his black battle robe swept past Lu Zhaoruo.
In that instant, the stench of the sea, carrying a chilling aura, swept by.
The crisp air was mixed with a very faint fragrance, like a memory of a snowy night many years ago.
Ban Ling then clasped his hands in a respectful greeting to her.
After everyone stepped onto the stone steps, Lu Zhaoruo turned her head to look at Dong Rou.
The maidservant tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Madam, Commander Xiao and his deputy are both exceptionally good officials. But why hasn't Commander Xiao uttered a single word? Could it be..."
"Perhaps it's a personality trait developed in the military."
Lu Zhaoruo gazed at that tall and elegant figure, which was covered with a thin layer of snowflakes, looking both aloof and forlorn.
Dongrou added, "But he didn't look at you even once from beginning to end."
Lu Zhaoruo smiled gently: "Such a person probably only has his country and its mountains and rivers in his eyes."
She had just looked away and turned to leave when a wisp of hair was lifted by the wind and brushed against her porcelain-white neck.
However, at this very moment—
On the high platform, the black-armored general's steps suddenly froze, the biting wind whipping his battle robes...
He slowly turned his head back.
His gaze, as deep as a winter night, fell heavily on that receding figure in a green robe.
His eyes held an unyielding restraint that could withstand a thousand armies, yet a barely perceptible tenderness peeked out from the corners of his eyes.
His hand at his side gradually closed, as if he wanted to grasp that figure into his palm and melt it into his blood.
Only when the wind and snow swallowed up the last corner of his clothes did he close his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing with difficulty, and finally he softly uttered the words that had lingered on his lips day and night in the wind and snow: "Sister Lu, now that I have returned, I am willing to be a dog under the eaves, not barking at the sun and moon... but only smelling the fragrance of your clothes."
Ban Ling, who had somehow walked ahead, turned back and shouted, "Commander, what are you looking at?"
He stood on tiptoe to look.
Xiao Yeming withdrew his gaze, blocked his view with his body, and said, "Go inside."
…………
Lu Zhaoruo took Dongrou back to the shop, and they didn't return to the Shen family until evening.
She took Dongrou to the accounting office to register, and they received the newly made clothes and daily necessities before returning to their own courtyard.
As soon as I stepped into the courtyard, I saw Abao pacing back and forth under the eaves, as if he was waiting anxiously. When he saw Dongrou, he immediately darted to her feet.
Dongrou hugged Abao tightly and said with a smile, "My dear Abao, I've missed you so much! Have you lost weight?"
Suddenly, Abao tilted his little face up, and his round eyes welled up with tears.
A faint sob escaped its throat, as if it had suffered a great injustice. It looked like a child who had been separated from their loved ones for a long time, both happy and heartbroken.
Dongrou exclaimed, "Wife, look at Abao, he looks like he's about to cry..."
Lu Zhaoru shook the oil paper package in her hand, the sugar peas rustling inside: "Don't say it will cry, it'll probably roll around with joy like a child when it sees this."
Abao's ears twitched, and his eyes, which had been misty just moments before, suddenly lit up.
The next second, it leaped lightly and landed steadily, rolling around happily at Lu Zhaoruo's feet while making pleasant meowing sounds.
Unlike ordinary cats, Abao disdains dried fish and won't even touch raw meat. The fishy smell of chicken and duck offal can make it gag repeatedly, but it loves these sweet candied peas, just like a delicate little girl.
People say that cats are cold-hearted and insensitive, but A Bao seems to have emotions and desires.
Lu Zhaoruo recalled those thirty years in her previous life. Whenever she broke down and cried in the dead of night, a pair of furry little paws would gently wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
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