Chapter 153 Departure, to the capital!
The next morning, as dawn broke.
Lu Zhaoruo had already arranged everything in the embroidery room properly.
He even went to Zhou's Embroidery Shop across the street and brought it under Lu's name.
Manager Zhou looked ashen-faced and repeatedly bowed and begged for forgiveness, almost kneeling on the ground.
Lu Zhaoruo glanced at him indifferently: "It was unexpected. Back then, Manager Zhou kept saying he wanted to take over my Lu Ji Embroidery Building, and stood across the street all day, watching my Lu Ji falter in the storm. I never thought that today... the Zhou Ji signboard hasn't been changed, but the Lu family has already taken over."
Manager Zhou swayed, his face drained of color, and he was so ashamed that he wanted to disappear.
He stared blankly as the "Zhou Ji" plaque, which had hung there for half his life, was taken down and replaced with "Lu Ji".
There was a time when he plotted day and night how to take down the "Lu's Embroidery Shop" sign and replace it with his own name...
It's all that bitch Lin Yingyu's fault!
Lu Zhaoruo turned and left Zhouji Embroidery Workshop, returning to Luji Embroidery Building. Holding Abao, she boarded the lead carriage with blue curtains.
This journey leads to the capital.
One reason was to receive an imperial decree and reward.
Secondly, it was to expand Lu Ji Embroidery Building's business to important areas around the capital.
The carriage curtain was slightly lifted, and she looked at the crowd seeing her off at the entrance of the embroidery building. Lady Yun led a group of embroiderers and assistants, standing with their heads bowed. Fu'er stood at the front, her eyes red.
Sun Jing bent down and ruffled her hair, saying in a deep voice, "Study embroidery well and listen to what Manager Yun says."
Fu'er nodded vigorously, her voice choked with emotion but firm: "I will! Brother, I'll wait for you to come back."
Sun Jing nodded, mounted his horse, and stood guard at the front of the convoy.
On the other side, Wan Wanning was saying goodbye to everyone in the embroidery building. She held a handkerchief and wiped away her tears, her cries filled with sorrow, as if she was reluctant to part with them.
As she turned and stepped into the middle carriage, the handkerchief she had been wiping away tears fell to the ground, but a smug smile curled at the corner of her lips.
Embroidered Chamber?
This stifling place is hardly a place for Wan Wanning to belong.
She looked up at the extending official road and took a deep breath.
It belongs to the capital.
I am coming.
He couldn't help but think of Greenie again: "Greenie... I really have to thank you. You gave your life to pave my way."
Dong Rou was already sitting in the car.
Wan Wanning immediately lowered her head and became meek, her face regaining its just-right expression of sorrow and submissiveness.
The last carriage, fully loaded with boxes and bags, steadily brought up the rear.
Outside Jizhou City, the morning mist had not yet dissipated.
The prefect and magistrate had already led their officials and staff to wait by the roadside, and countless people who had heard the news lined the road to see them off, creating a bustling and noisy scene.
Lu Zhaoruo sat upright in the blue-curtained carriage, casually combing the soft fur on Abao's back with her fingertips, but her gaze kept drifting out the window, her brows furrowed with worry.
She is waiting for someone.
Abao shifted restlessly on her lap, tilting her little head back, her emerald green cat eyes reflecting a hint of anxiety: "Mother, why isn't Uncle here yet? Has he been caught?"
Lu Zhaoruo lowered her head, her fingertips tracing the tip of its ear, and whispered, "No, it must be on its way."
She was actually afraid that her father would find out before she left and obstruct her, thus missing the opportunity to take the martial arts exam that she had been looking forward to for many years.
Fortunately, the wait wasn't too long.
A tall, veiled figure quietly slipped through the crowd, swiftly approached the carriage, and deftly lifted the curtain to enter.
The interior of the carriage was dimly lit. The newcomer removed his veil, revealing Lu Bohong's face, which was travel-worn and tense, yet unable to hide his excitement.
As soon as Abao saw him, she immediately jumped off Lu Zhaoruo's lap, nimbly leaped onto Lu Bohong's leg, and affectionately rubbed her head against his palm, making a satisfied purring sound.
It adored its uncle.
Because of his honest and sincere nature, he genuinely cared for Lu Zhaoruo, and by extension, he also won her favor.
Lu Bohong smiled and scratched A Bao's chin, his eyes filled with surprise and doting affection.
He had never seen such a spiritual and affectionate cat, whose behavior and demeanor were as intelligent and understanding as a child's.
But he also knew in his heart that his younger sister treated this cat in a very special way.
Since adopting it more than three years ago, I have cherished it like a treasure, taking meticulous care of its daily needs. The affection I have for it is as deep as that for my own child.
At this moment.
Xiao Yeming, dressed in black riding attire, spurred his horse to the front of the caravan and suddenly pulled on the reins.
The horse reared up and neighed, and he sat upright on its back, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards Lu Zhaoruo's carriage.
But the moment the carriage curtain was lifted and her figure appeared, he quickly looked away as if he had been burned, and instead pretended to be calm as he looked at the distant mountains.
Lu Zhaoru bent down to get out of the car, and when she looked up, she could only catch a glimpse of his handsome profile, which he had deliberately turned to the side, and his slightly taut jawline.
Xiao Yeming noticed her gaze, and his ears involuntarily flushed red.
Just then, a loud voice rang out beside me: "General!"
Ban Ling spurred his horse closer. He was as burly as a mountain and looked Xiao Yeming up and down with an honest expression: "General! Why is your face so red? Did you catch a cold from traveling this morning? I'll go and fetch the army doctor to take a look at you and prescribe some Guizhi Tang to help you get better."
Xiao Yeming suddenly turned his head and gave him a cold glance.
Banling was taken aback by the glare, scratching his helmet: "What's wrong? Why are you glaring at me? Don't you need it?"
Xiao Yeming gripped the reins tightly, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, and he lowered his voice: "I'm fine."
Lu Zhaoruo looked at the two of them and couldn't help but lower her head and purse her lips with a soft smile.
Upon hearing the sound, Ban Ling turned around, immediately dismounted, and bowed obsequiously to Lu Zhaoruo: "Madam Lu, have I kept you waiting?"
Lu Zhaoruo nodded slightly: "No, I just arrived myself."
Ban Ling patted his chest and said in a loud voice, "Even at the fastest horse, it would take more than a month to get to the capital! Don't worry, with me protecting you, you'll be safe! By the way, if you catch a cold on the way, be sure to tell me, and I'll get you a doctor right away!"
Lu Zhaoruo: "..."
At this moment, the prefect of Jizhou hurriedly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said loudly, "This humble official respectfully sees off General Xiao and Master Lu! May their journey be filled with boundless success, and may they bring glory to Jizhou!"
Xiao Yeming turned around smoothly, nodded crisply to the prefect, and then announced loudly, "Let's set off!"
Carriages and horses rumbled along, and banners fluttered gently.
Amidst the farewells and blessings of the city's residents, the grand procession slowly drove out of the city gates of Jizhou and embarked on the long road leading to the capital.
Wan Wanning sat upright in the carriage, while Dong Rou closed her eyes to rest.
She quietly turned to the side, gently lifted a corner of the car window curtain with her fingertips, and looked outside.
As the fields and villages on both sides of the official road gradually receded, she couldn't help but smile slightly.
Belonging to the capital...
She pondered those two words repeatedly in her heart, as if she could already glimpse the magnificent scene of red gates, embroidered doors, and luxurious carriages.
That's the place that's worthy of me!
The caravan traveled north along the official road. For several days, Xiao Yeming rode his horse close to Lu Zhaoruo's carriage, neither moving away nor taking the initiative to approach.
That afternoon, the convoy took a break under the trees by the roadside.
Lu Zhaoru got out of the car to stretch her muscles. After taking only a few steps, she saw Xiao Yeming standing under a tree not far away, his gaze quietly fixed on her.
Their eyes met, and he seemed caught off guard, immediately turning his head to look at the distant mountains.
Lu Zhaoruo frowned slightly.
Since meeting Xiao Yeming, he has mostly been afraid to look at himself directly. Is it out of politeness, or is it because he finds himself ugly?
She walked slowly forward: "General, you must be tired from riding your horse these past few days."
Xiao Yeming stiffened slightly, but did not turn around. His voice remained hoarse: "It's not hard work."
A gust of wind blew by, scattering a few leaves, one of which landed right in Lu Zhaoruo's hair.
Xiao Yeming caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye and almost instinctively turned around, raising his hand to brush it away for her.
Just as his fingertips were about to reach the target, he suddenly stopped, his arm hanging in mid-air, caught in a dilemma.
Lu Zhaoruo looked up at him without looking away, and asked softly, "General?"
His breathing hitched slightly, and he finally withdrew his hand, saying in a low voice, "There are fallen leaves."
Lu Zhaoruo raised her hand to brush the fallen leaves from her hair, a faint smile curving her lips: "Thank you for the reminder, General."
Xiao Yeming's ears burned slightly, and he looked away: "No need."
Ban Ling, who was feeding the horse water nearby, saw this scene, scratched his head and muttered, "Why is it so much more difficult for these two to talk than for an imperial decree to be delivered..."
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