Chapter 123 Naval Expedition Sets Sail!
In the misty rain, a tall and elegant figure stood quietly outside the wall.
The dark armor was still on, and the shoulders were soaked dark with rain, with water droplets constantly rolling down the edges of the armor plates.
He tilted his head slightly back, his jawline taut, his somber gaze fixed on her window, as if he had been standing there for a long time…
Their eyes met suddenly.
Xiao Yeming froze abruptly and hurriedly lowered his head.
I felt awkward and embarrassed.
Lu Zhaoruo wondered, "Xiao Yeming is going to war tomorrow, why is he downstairs now?"
She took an oil-paper umbrella and quietly went downstairs.
downstairs.
She opened her umbrella and walked step by step toward the person who was still standing there in the rain.
The umbrella was tilted slightly, shielding him from the rain.
"The night is deep and the rain is cold..."
Her voice, mingled with the fine rain, betrayed little emotion: "General, you are about to set off on a campaign tomorrow. Why have you been standing here for so long?"
Xiao Yeming looked up at the sound, raindrops sliding down his angular jawline.
His gaze was lowered, only daring to fall on her hand holding the umbrella. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his voice was low and hoarse: "That day, thanks to your kindness in gifting me the map, I promised that I would personally come to report the victory upon my return, but..."
He paused slightly, his voice filled with remorse, "However, military affairs are too busy to fulfill this promise in person, so I had to send someone to convey it on my behalf. I have always felt guilty about this matter."
Lu Zhaoruo was slightly taken aback.
So that's what it was about.
For a promise she hadn't taken to heart, this general... actually stood outside her wall in the dead of night, soaking wet, looking as helpless as a child who had lost his manners and was meeting a strict teacher.
How clumsy!
Lu Zhaoruo smiled slightly: "General, you flatter me. What difference is there between sending someone to inform me and coming in person? The matter of suppressing the Japanese pirates is of great importance. I am not one to be bound by formalities. General, you really don't need to worry about this."
Xiao Yeming shook his head, his handsome face showing youthful determination and solemnity. He said in a deep voice, "We will set out again tomorrow. I hereby reiterate my promise—once we have wiped out the bandits and returned in triumph, I will personally visit your boudoir to report the victory to you, my lady, and express my gratitude for your kindness."
His voice was not loud, but every word struck clearly in the pattering rain.
His eyes were open, sincere, and even had an almost devout burning intensity...
Lu Zhaoruo was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
She couldn't help but recall Gu Xian saying that Xiao Yeming already had a beloved wife in his heart.
I wonder what kind of woman could win the admiration of someone like him.
Immediately, Shen Rongzhi's hypocritical and selfish face flashed into his mind.
One thought can be sincere, another can be treacherous.
The difference between people's hearts is as vast as clouds and mud.
She quickly suppressed her inappropriate daze, hiding all her emotions in her eyes. When she looked up again, she was as calm and composed as ever, nodding slightly: "Then... I will await the good news of the general's triumphant return."
Then, my gaze fell on his forehead and chin, which were wet with rain, and water droplets were sliding down his sharp lines.
She took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it over, her voice softer than before: "The rain is chilling, General... wipe yourself."
Xiao Yeming froze, his gaze falling in astonishment on the handkerchief that had been handed to him.
Sister Lu... she actually gave him a handkerchief?
His heart suddenly raced, and he almost hastily took the handkerchief.
The instant their fingertips touched, it felt as if a tiny electric current surged through him, causing his heart to tremble violently, and he hurriedly gripped their hands tightly.
The handkerchief was plain and simple, except for one corner embroidered with a proudly blooming snow plum blossom, its subtle fragrance just like her.
He clenched the handkerchief tightly in his palm. The faint, warm fragrance of her sleeve lingered on the handkerchief, making him momentarily stunned and forgetting to move.
"General?"
Seeing that he was just holding the handkerchief tightly but not wiping himself, Lu Zhaoruo couldn't help but gently remind him, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion.
Xiao Yeming suddenly came to his senses, his Adam's apple bobbing uncontrollably, but he only clenched the handkerchief tighter in his palm, almost with all his might, and said in a low, hoarse voice: "It's alright, we can deal with it when we get back to camp."
How could he bear to let this handkerchief get dirty with dust and rain stains?
Just then, a night breeze carrying the damp chill of rain swept by, and Lu Zhaoruo subconsciously frowned slightly, covering her mouth and coughing softly.
Xiao Yeming's expression immediately tightened, all other thoughts were instantly put aside, leaving only worry: "The rainy night is chilly, Madam Lu, please go back quickly, lest Yeming catch a chill!"
He was afraid she would stay even a moment longer.
Seeing his reaction, Lu Zhaoruo said nothing more, only nodded slightly, turned and stepped into the fine rain, her figure gradually disappearing into the distance.
Xiao Yeming did not leave immediately.
He stood there until her figure completely disappeared inside the embroidered tower before slowly withdrawing his gaze.
He lowered his head, gazing at the warm handkerchief in his palm, his fingertips gently and slowly caressing the solitary snow plum blossom.
Then, he carefully placed it in the most intimate spot in his arms.
He touched a small wooden box hidden at his waist with his other hand.
Inside, a snow-white plum blossom hairpin lay quietly.
He still didn't dare to send it out!
However, he was still happy at the moment, and he turned and disappeared into the night.
Little did they know, in the shadows of a nearby alley corner, another figure had witnessed the entire scene, from the touch of fingertips to the handkerchief hidden in her bosom, and a sinister smile curled at the corner of her lips.
Back in the dormitory at the water village.
Xiao Yeming tossed and turned, unable to sleep, his mind filled with the image of those hands holding the umbrella and the clear eyes beneath it.
He got up, spread out paper and ground ink. Relying on his memory and emotions, he carefully sketched the figure that made his heart tremble in the rainy night onto the rice paper, stroke by stroke.
The next day, at dawn.
The Kedah pier was warmed by the sea fog and the whispers of the crowd.
The salty wind blew from where the sea and sky met, but it could not dispel the fervent anticipation and expectation that was almost overflowing in the eyes of the people.
Carrying bamboo baskets and earthenware jars, they spontaneously flocked to the dock, bringing food and drink, including Jizhou's unique zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), Danjia cakes, and homemade rice wine. They stood on tiptoe, gazing at the sea, to bid farewell to the naval officers and soldiers who were about to set off for war.
On the sea, warships stood like a forest, their sails and masts obscuring the sky, stretching as far as the eye could see.
At the bow of the largest command ship, Xiao Yeming stood facing the wind.
The sea breeze whipped up a corner of his dark blue battle robe, revealing a suit of black, cold-forged iron armor underneath, the armor plates gleaming with a chilling, eerie sheen in the dim light.
A red-tasseled helmet adorned his head, protecting his neck; a long sword hung steadily at his waist; and a command flag awaited unfurling behind him.
He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his gaze calm and serene as he slowly swept over his fleet and the crowds seeing him off on the shore.
His face, still bearing the youthful handsomeness of a boy, showed no emotion whatsoever, only a resolute and cold aura, an imposing presence that seemed to have merged with the ironclad warship behind him.
"Waaah—"
A powerful horn blared, its sound piercing the clouds and splitting the rocks, instantly drowning out the clamor of the docks.
Upon hearing the sound, Xiao Yeming slowly raised his arm.
In an instant, the soldiers on board responded with thunderous roars: "Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The roars rose higher and higher, shaking the sea and demonstrating the might and high morale of the Great Navy.
The fleet moved slowly in response, its huge sails rising one after another on the masts, billowing in the sea breeze, like a giant dragon awakening, roaring in a deep voice, breaking through the thin mist, ploughing the dark waves, and resolutely heading downstream, toward the vast sea.
Xiao Ye stood firmly at the bow of the ship, his eyes anxiously searching through the surging crowd on the dock.
However, the figure he most wanted to see never appeared.
A sense of loss washed over him, and he silently thought, "Sister Lu, this expedition to quell the Japanese pirates will take at least a month, and at most half a year. And Magistrate Li, who condoned and protected you, will be dismissed from his post, and Li Nian'er, who bullied and humiliated you, will be reduced to a commoner. During my absence from Jizhou, I only wish you all the best and that everything goes smoothly and peacefully for you."
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