Chapter 164 The Concubine's Daughter of the Marquis of Anguo
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, then she fell silent again.
Doctor Yan hurriedly stepped forward to examine the body, and after a moment he pondered and said, "The injuries are mostly superficial and fleshy, with no fatal wounds, but the patient is extremely weak and has probably not eaten or drunk anything for many days."
Since the medicine needed to be applied and cleaned, Dr. Yan was unable to do it himself, so the responsibility of taking care of the patient fell on Lu Zhaoruo, Dong Rou, and Wan Wanning.
Wan Wanning wrung out the cloth in her hand, her gaze sweeping over the woman's beauty, which was still undeniable even in her unconscious state. Her heart was filled with disdain and disgust: "She's just a wild woman of unknown origin with only good looks. So what if she's dead? What does it have to do with us? We have to trouble ourselves to serve her... What bad luck!"
Lu Zhaoruo and Dong Rou were carefully wiping the woman's body and changing her wound dressing.
Dong Rou frowned and said softly, "Who exactly is this young lady? Why is she lying alone in the wilderness, so badly injured? She seems to be heading towards the capital, but there's not a single piece of luggage around her..."
Lu Zhaoruo ran her fingertips over the woman's arm, her gaze slightly narrowed: "Her skin is delicate, not rough from years of labor. But look closely at these hands," she said, taking the woman's wrist, "the knuckles and palms are covered with a thin layer of calluses, which must be from years of needlework or washing."
She picked up a tattered dress that had been taken off: "The fabric is the soft gauze commonly found in Beijing. Although it's faded from washing and the edges are worn and frayed, it's definitely not the coarse linen of poor families. This color..."
Her fingertips traced the pale autumn moon white. "Such a bland and unremarkable color is often the usual attire of unfavored concubine daughters or daughters of collateral branches in wealthy families. It is both dignified and unobtrusive."
She sighed softly: "This young lady is probably an illegitimate daughter from some noble family who is left unattended and cautiously trying to survive. I wonder what misfortune has befallen her to end up here."
As the woman gradually regained consciousness, she vaguely heard these words.
He was secretly astonished: This woman was so perceptive and intelligent that she had guessed his background almost perfectly based on these subtle details!
However, her body was still as weak as cotton, and she didn't even have the strength to open her eyes, so she could only continue to rest with her eyes closed.
She didn't wake up until the first light of dawn the next day.
Upon opening her eyes, she found herself in a moving blue-curtained carriage, while the woman opposite her, with her elegant and beautiful face and calm demeanor, was looking down at her.
Seeing her eyelids tremble slightly and her gaze slowly focus, Lu Zhaoruo asked softly, "Awake? Are you feeling better?"
Upon hearing the sound, the woman instinctively shrank back, her gaze timidly sweeping across the cramped carriage and the unfamiliar woman before her, filled with fear and wariness.
Lu Zhaoruo remained calm and told the truth: "Don't be afraid. My surname is Lu and my given name is Zhaoruo. I am the owner of the Xiulou in Jizhou. You are currently in a caravan heading to the capital. This is the triumphant convoy led by General Xiao after the Linhai Navy's great victory over the Japanese pirates. You are very safe."
Upon hearing the words "General Xiao" and "triumphant troops," the woman's tense shoulders and neck relaxed slightly, and the fear in her eyes subsided.
She was silent for a moment, her voice barely audible, yet clear: "My daughter... is named Zhanfujun, and my father is... is the Marquis of Anguo Pavilion in the capital."
She paused, her voice lower and tinged with bitterness: "I... am a concubine's daughter in the household."
Upon hearing this, a look of understanding flashed in Lu Zhaoruo's eyes.
Although the Anguo Pavilion Marquis's mansion was a marquis's family, the Marquis's residence was not considered particularly prominent in the capital, a place teeming with powerful and influential people. It was understandable that an unfavored concubine's daughter in the mansion would face difficult circumstances.
She asked, "Then how come you're all alone in the wilderness, covered in injuries?"
Zhanfu Jun: "It was my elder sister who brought me out to enjoy the spring outing with many noble young men and women from the capital. As a result, my elder sister said... the eldest son of the Marquis of Xiang'an County lost a mutton-fat jade ring."
She suddenly choked up, her breathing became rapid, and she felt a chill run down her spine as she recalled being beaten by the crowd.
Lu Zhaoruo did not urge her, but simply gazed at her quietly.
"They said... I stole it."
Finally, Zhanfu Jun managed to squeeze out a voice, each word choked with bitterness, "I've never seen that jade ring, but my elder sister said she found it in my bundle. The county magistrate's son immediately changed his expression and ordered the young masters and ladies around him to punch and kick me..."
The carriage swayed slightly.
A hint of suppressed hatred surfaced on her pale face: "They called me a lowly wretch, saying that illegitimate daughters are dishonest and disgrace the family... Later, they abandoned me in the wilderness. I walked for a long time and couldn't tell which way was which... After that, I don't remember anything."
His voice trailed off, almost whimpering, and his thin shoulders trembled slightly. He bit his lip tightly, refusing to let a single tear fall.
Lu Zhaoruo gazed at her quietly.
She is a woman who is gentle on the outside but strong on the inside.
They are somewhat similar to myself.
Suddenly realizing her lapse in composure, Zhanfu quickly composed herself and said in a low voice, "Thank you for saving me, Madam Lu."
Lu Zhaoruo smiled faintly: "It wasn't me who saved you."
She lightly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain with her slender fingers, and the morning light, accompanied by a gentle breeze, rushed into the carriage. "It was my brother who found you. He is the most chivalrous person. Look... then I am my brother."
Following the direction she pointed, Zhanfujun saw a tall, upright figure on horseback.
The man sat upright on horseback, his broad shoulders and back accentuated by his robes, making him appear exceptionally heroic.
She vaguely remembered that she was indeed picked up by a heroic man.
Just then, Lu Bohong seemed to sense something and suddenly turned around.
Their eyes met unexpectedly.
He recognized the person who had woken up inside the car, and a bright smile naturally appeared on his lips as he looked at her.
Zhanfu felt her cheeks burning and hurriedly lowered her head to avoid that gaze.
Lu Zhaoruo gently lowered the carriage curtain, blocking out the handsome figure outside the window.
"In that case, Lady Zhan, please come back to the capital with us without worry."
Lu Zhaoruo continued in a calm tone, "Although the caravan's journey is not extremely fast, it will take at most four or five more days to reach the capital. You are injured, so you can recuperate along the way."
Upon hearing this, Zhanfujun's fingertips curled slightly, and she said in a low voice, "This... is too much trouble. I haven't yet repaid the life-saving grace of Madam Lu and Brother Lu, how can I..."
"Meeting is fate, so why bother you?"
A faint smile appeared on Lu Zhaoruo's lips, her eyes clear and sincere. "Now that my brother has rescued you, there is no reason for him to abandon you halfway. Just rest assured and relax."
A warm feeling quietly seeped into Zhanfujun's heart.
She was just a lowly concubine's daughter who never received any favor from her father, stepmother, or stepsister in the Marquis's mansion. She could only rely on her younger brother for survival, struggling to survive in the cracks between them.
I have never been treated so meticulously and kindly before.
She couldn't help but secretly raise her eyes to sized up the woman opposite her.
Although this Lady Lu claimed to be a merchant, she possessed a calm and dignified demeanor, unlike ordinary young ladies, and even more so, she had the noble and refined air of a royal princess.
Not only was she exceptionally beautiful, but she was also incredibly kind and compassionate.
She swallowed the slight lump in her throat and said sincerely again, "Thank you, Madam Lu..."
Lu Zhaoruo smiled gently: "Alright, no need to thank me anymore, you should rest first."
The wheels rumbled and rolled over the official road.
Zhanfu leaned against the carriage wall, but her gaze unconsciously drifted towards the gap in the curtain.
Through the gaps, one could see the tall and broad silhouette of the rider.
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