Chapter 161 Lu Zhaoruo drives Wan Wanning away
One word.
It struck my ears heavily.
The impact made her heart tighten, and she couldn't breathe.
She lay on his back, and the whole world seemed to fall silent. Only the steady beating of his heart could be heard through the fabric of her clothes, each beat striking her dazed thoughts.
So it turned out... it was myself.
Looking back, the clues were already everywhere...
He, a man of such cold taciturnity, repeatedly showed his unease in her presence; he held great power and commanded a large army, yet he always appeared quietly when she needed him; even on the day she donated military funds, he, a dignified general, did not need to perform such a grand kneeling ceremony before her in front of everyone…
It turns out that everything was foreshadowed.
She suddenly remembered something from the past, and a thought struck her. She hurriedly asked, "Magistrate Li was suddenly dismissed and investigated... but was it you..."
"Um."
His voice was low and his response was very soft.
A mix of bitterness, excitement, confusion, and an indescribable warmth washed over her, leaving her momentarily at a loss for how to respond. She could only bury her burning cheeks deeper into his blood-stained shoulder and back, letting the tears welling up in her eyes silently seep into his clothes.
But.
She didn't understand.
If you admire her, why do you keep it hidden? Why don't you dare to tell her openly?
She ultimately didn't ask.
Perhaps in his eyes, the two were worlds apart.
Even if his intentions were sincere, how could his mother and grandmother, living in the high-class courtyard behind him, allow a mere merchant's wife to step into their home?
With his status, he should marry a princess of noble birth...
That's why he did it.
And she no longer yearns for any romantic love.
My only wish in this life is to go to the capital to receive an imperial decree and establish myself as a royal merchant.
As for matters of love and romance, she no longer wished to be involved with them.
The firelight flickered in the camp.
Lu Bohong has already subdued the Japanese pirate.
Unexpectedly, the other party suddenly bit into the poison sac in its mouth, and its face turned ashen, and it collapsed dead.
Wan Wanning huddled in a corner, trembling as she stared at the cold, lifeless corpse on the ground.
Dongrou held Abao tightly, anxiously gazing at the dark mountain road.
Abao struggled in her arms, its emerald green cat eyes filled with terror.
It was so worried about its mother.
Just then, two figures slowly emerged from the darkness.
Xiao Yeming was carrying Lu Zhaoruo back to the camp step by step.
Abao recognized her at a glance, broke free from Dongrou's embrace, and darted away like a white arrow!
Dongrou hurriedly followed.
Wan Wanning looked up and saw that Xiao Yeming was carrying Lu Zhaoruo on his back.
A sudden pang shot through her heart.
General Xiao, with his status, how could he be so intimate with her?
Doesn't she know that men and women should not touch each other?
Lu Zhaoruo lay on his back and whispered, "General Xiao... please put me down."
Knowing his feelings, she couldn't help but feel a little awkward.
Xiao Yeming paused slightly, then bent down as instructed and carefully put her down.
Abao immediately jumped into her arms, his bright green cat eyes glistening with tears, his little nose twitching: "Mother! Mother, are you alright? Are you hurt? Why...why does it smell so strongly of blood?"
Lu Zhaoruo hugged it tightly and gently comforted it, "Abao, I'm fine."
Dongrou rushed forward, sobbing, her voice choked with emotion: "My wife, you're finally back... Thank goodness, you're safe and sound!"
When Lu Bohong saw that his younger sister had returned safely, he felt a great weight lifted from his heart. But in the blink of an eye, he saw that Xiao Yeming was covered in blood.
He didn't notice the mutilated hand hidden beside him, and hurried forward to ask with concern, "General Xiao, are you alright?"
Xiao Yeming showed no sign of pain; instead, his handsome face revealed a hint of undisguised joy as he calmly said, "It's nothing."
Lu Zhaoruo shouted urgently, "Where is Doctor Yan?"
The tent flap twitched slightly, and Doctor Yan, accompanied by his apprentice, cautiously peeked out. Upon seeing that it was Xiao Yeming returning, he quickly went to greet him.
Lu Zhaoruo said urgently, "Quickly stop the bleeding and bandage General Xiao!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze fell upon it...
Only then did he realize with horror that his drooping left hand had only four fingers left!
Doctor Yan's expression changed drastically, and he said urgently, "Commander Xiao, please come into the tent with me!"
He then turned to the young apprentice and urged, "Quickly, bring the medicine box!"
Xiao Yeming remained calm and first glanced at the corpses on the ground.
Lu Bohong reported in a deep voice: "This Japanese pirate attacked the camp alone, attempting to silence us. Fortunately, the general had made prior arrangements, leaving us here to guard the camp, which allowed us to subdue him. Unexpectedly, he committed suicide by poison."
Xiao Yeming nodded slightly: "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Lu."
Lu Bohong repeatedly said, "I dare not accept such praise! But it is your skill, General..."
His eyes were filled with sorrow.
Xiao Yeming didn't care at all. As he turned to leave, his gaze swept over Lu Zhaoruo and he saw that her eyes were filled with sorrow and worry.
He walked briskly, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Lu Zhaoruo's cold gaze fell on Wan Wanning.
Wan Wanning noticed her gaze and timidly stepped forward, her voice trembling with tears, "Sister, I'm so glad you're alright... I thought..."
Snap!
Lu Zhaoruo suddenly raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face!
The slap was crisp and loud, startling Dong Rou, Lu Bohong, and A Bao.
However, recalling all the dangers of tonight that were caused by Wan Wanning, this slap was indeed deserved.
Wan Wanning covered her burning cheeks, tears welling in her eyes, her face filled with disbelief.
How dare she hit herself? And slap herself in public?
What makes her so special?
But then she thought that Lu Zhaoruo must be taking her anger out on her.
But wasn't she also implicated by Lu Zhaoruo?
Now living under someone else's roof, she dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction. She could only kneel down with a thud, sobbing uncontrollably: "Sister, I'm sorry... I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have gone to the river to wash myself without permission, and I've dragged you into this..."
Lu Zhaoruo's voice was icy: "I warned you long ago not to leave the team without permission. Even if you needed to wash up, you should have gone and returned quickly. But you dared to conspire with the Japanese pirates to lure me into a trap!"
Wan Wanning trembled all over and cried, "They held knives to my head... I... I was forced... They promised me they would never harm you... Otherwise, why would they let me come back to deliver the message?"
She muttered under her breath, "Besides... my sister is back safe and sound now, isn't she..."
Lu Zhaoruo's voice trembled with anger: "I came back perfectly fine? Do you know I almost lost my life? Do you know General Xiao cut off a finger to save me?"
Wan Wanning harbored resentment in her heart.
So he cut off his finger for her? Then what right does she have to be so condescending and reprimand me? Just because I come from a humble background? She never truly considered me her sister!
Lu Zhaoruo felt resentful.
Because of her, Xiao Yeming lost a finger.
How could I possibly keep her by my side?
Her gaze was resolute and frosty: "Go, I will not keep you by my side anymore."
Wan Miaoniang had long been afflicted with syphilis and was not expected to live more than a few years.
Moreover, in her past life, she knew that a year later she would stab Li Yanei to death with a hairpin, and ultimately she would not escape death.
Last time, it was Wan Miaoniang and Li Yanei who conspired to harm him first. He was just giving them a taste of their own medicine and letting her take the blame and get away with it.
Ultimately, I owe her nothing.
Of course, if she hadn't agreed to take the blame, Wan Miaoniang would never have willingly faced death.
In fact, she could have easily broken her promise.
However, she was ultimately soft-hearted and, remembering Wan Miaoniang's tragic life, she agreed to her dying wish and took Wan Wanning with her.
It was also made for the people in the boudoir to see.
Unexpectedly, a scourge was left by my side.
The previous incident was overlooked since it didn't cause any major trouble, but now Xiao Yeming has lost a finger.
Just thinking about it makes her feel terribly pained.
Wan Wanning panicked upon hearing her words.
Does Lu Zhaoruo mean to send me away?
She rushed forward, hugged her leg, and cried, "Sister! You can't leave me! You promised me, sister!"
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