Chapter 91 Lin Yingyu is in prison and wants to see Lu Zhaoruo.
Embroidered Pavilion and Deep Garden, Boudoir
Lu Zhaoruo's boudoir, where she rests peacefully, is located on the second floor of a small building in the courtyard. It is not very spacious, but it is exceptionally quiet and elegant.
She had just finished washing up when the image of Xiao Yeming kneeling before her, his warm palms massaging her ankles, involuntarily surfaced in her mind. His lowered eyes and slightly reddened ears were vividly clear in her memory, making her heart race.
Just as she was slightly lost in thought, a fluffy white shadow suddenly emerged from behind the curtain, lightly leaped into her arms, and affectionately rubbed its little head against her arm.
"Mother, what are you daydreaming about?"
Ah Bao tilted his round little face up, his bright green eyes sparkling, "Ah Bao, you seem to be in a good mood!"
Lu Zhaoruo suddenly came to her senses, gently rubbing its soft head with her fingertips, and couldn't help but smile: "Look at you, you've gotten so chubby after being raised at Master Gu's place for a month or two."
As night deepened, Abao remained energetic, hopping onto the tea table to sniff the porcelain cups, leaping to the window to fiddle with the bamboo curtains, and finally landing gracefully on a corner of the bookshelf, its tail swaying gently as it chattered on about the days it had been carefully cared for at Gu Xian's house.
As it spoke, it suddenly turned its head, its clear blue eyes sparkling, its tone innocent yet earnest: "Mother, Abao really likes General Xiao. If only he were my father!"
Lu Zhaoruo's heart tightened, and she quickly stopped her in a low voice: "Don't talk nonsense."
Abao immediately fell silent, obediently shrinking back onto her lap. His blue eyes glanced at her timidly before quickly lowering again.
It knows.
My mother was defiled by a shameless man a few years ago, which is how I came to be.
But Mother never held a grudge against it, and never treated its arrival with indifference or resentment.
It had long since learned to stop asking who that so-called "father" really was.
It was already content to be treated so gently by its mother.
only.
It reminded it of those children chasing and laughing.
I remember those little figures running, jumping, and laughing.
Although it can easily leap to the top of the highest wall, it can never catch up with that simple joy.
It used to secretly hide at the alley entrance, watching the children rush into their mothers' arms and act spoiled, or be lifted high on their fathers' shoulders.
At that time, it would quietly retreat into the shadows, licking its paws, over and over again.
It lowered its head, looked at its fluffy, snow-white paws, and let out a soft "meow".
For five consecutive days.
Lu Zhaoruo was busy coordinating everything in the embroidered tower.
Fortunately, the shop assistants and embroiderers were all quite capable, and the business of the embroidery shop finally got back on track.
She had just found a moment to sit down and rest when Dongrou approached and whispered, "Madam, I saw Deputy Inspector Sun with a young lady of about ten years old, lingering outside the embroidery tower for a long time. They seem to be in trouble."
Lu Zhaoruo nodded and ordered Dongrou to invite them in.
Deputy Inspector Sun entered the room, looking flustered, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
The girl following behind him was thin and had a sallow complexion, clearly indicating that she had poor diet and was deficient in qi and blood.
Lu Zhaoruo asked gently and learned that the girl's name was Sun Fu'er, and that she was actually the younger sister of Deputy Inspector Sun.
The brother and sister lost their parents at a young age and depended on each other for survival.
He came here hoping to secure a future for his sister, hoping she could stay in the embroidery workshop and learn some embroidery skills.
He spoke earnestly, yet felt he had been abrupt, so he took out a string of copper coins from his pocket and said hesitantly, "This... this small fee, please accept it."
Lu Zhaoruo agreed without hesitation. She not only agreed to let Fu'er learn embroidery for free, but also thoughtfully said, "Fu'er is still young and growing. Let her stay in the embroidery building to eat and live, so that everyone can take care of each other."
Looking at Sun Fu'er's timid yet longing eyes, she softened: "As for the tuition fee, there's no need for that."
In her previous life, she had very little interaction with this Deputy Inspector Sun, and she was unaware that he had such a younger sister who desperately needed protection.
Deputy Inspector Sun was momentarily stunned.
His eyes reddened slightly, and he abruptly pulled his timid younger sister close, his voice choked with emotion, "Fu'er, quick! Quickly kowtow to Madam Lu! Thank you for your great kindness!"
Although young, Sun Fu'er was very sensible. Upon hearing this, she immediately knelt down properly and kowtowed to Lu Zhaoruo, saying in a soft but clear voice, "Fu'er thanks Madam Lu."
He also clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply to Lu Zhaoruo, his head bowed very low, his voice trembling with excitement: "I, Sun, will remember this kindness from Madam Lu. I will go through fire and water for you if you ever need my help in the future!"
They left the embroidered tower.
He looked at the slightly worn leather wristband on his arm and wiped it with his hand again and again.
This leather wristband was a gift from Lu Zhaoruo.
The next day, the sky was bright and clear.
Lu Zhaoruo was sitting under the flower trellis in the backyard of the embroidery building, flipping through the newly arrived pattern book with her fingertips, but half of her thoughts were wandering away.
She silently calculated her schedule...
Xiao Yeming should be back in about five days.
If those three places are indeed the lair of Japanese pirates as they were in his previous life, he will definitely take steps to wipe them out.
It will probably take about a month to completely wipe out the bandits.
One month later...
She could then take her brother to the capital to take the military examination.
And the woman who should have appeared six months later in the previous life, Li Nian'er, the brother's wife, will be able to avoid meeting her in this life as well.
She was slightly lost in thought when she saw Dongrou leading someone into the backyard.
The visitor was dressed in the official robes of the prefectural government, wearing a black turban, and walked with caution and decorum.
The clerk approached, bowed respectfully, and said, "Madam Lu, I apologize for disturbing you. Lin Yingyu, a female prisoner in the prefectural jail, recently submitted a petition requesting the prefect to see you, saying that she has urgent business to attend to. The prefect has specially sent me to inquire. Would you be willing to come to the prefectural office?"
Knowing that Lu Zhaoruo had Xiao Yeming as her backer, the prefect naturally treated her with respect.
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoruo paused slightly in the hand holding the book.
Lin Yingyu?
My ex-husband's mistress...
He actually wanted to see me.
Very well, this is a good opportunity to meet Shen Rongzhi.
Before leaving, she took out the white jade pendant from the depths of her makeup box; it was the token she had given to Shen Rongzhi years ago.
The state prison.
Although there is a custom of "showing compassion to young children," Lin Yingyu's identity was ultimately that of a "concubine" personally escorted by General Xiao to take the blame, a rather dishonorable act. Logically speaking, there was absolutely no way that the state government would give her any extra care.
However, the scene before her eyes startled Lu Zhaoruo slightly.
Lin Yingyu was not imprisoned in a regular women's prison, but instead was given a room to herself.
The cell was very clean and fully furnished. A wooden couch in the corner was covered with a brocade cushion, and there was even a small rosewood table next to it, on which was placed a plate of delicate osmanthus cake and a cup of tea.
This is hardly a prison; it's clearly an elegant yet incongruous woman's boudoir.
She was leaning back on the couch, her slender fingers holding a pastry, savoring it slowly, while her other hand gently stroked her slightly protruding belly, humming a strangely melody with a light rhythm.
Her eldest daughter, who was almost two years old, was nowhere to be found.
Hearing footsteps, Lin Yingyu slowly raised her head. Her face showed no fear or haggardness, but rather a lazy, wild smile. Her eyes were slightly upturned, revealing undisguised smugness and disdain.
“Lu Zhaoruo…”
Her voice was clear and bright, even with a touch of playful drawl, "I knew you would come."
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