Chapter 77 Spring Order "In broad daylight, you should at least tone it down a bit..."
A surge of bitterness welled up in Jiang Xuanli's mouth, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.
He had come before; he would come every day off. But he was too ashamed to see her. As long as he couldn't take her away, he dared not show himself to her.
Even so, he still sent her over a hundred taels of silver every month, and also prepared winter clothes, shoes and socks. He had no idea that she was living such a life.
"Lord Jiang, why didn't you give us any advance notice before you arrived?"
The maid behind him was startled and quietly hid the whip behind her back. Remembering the people outside's evaluation of Jiang Xuanli, she suppressed her fear and forced herself to remain calm.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuanli turned around with a dark face: "Did I notify you in advance so you would have time to set up the stage?"
After being coldly rebuked by him, the maid turned pale and stammered for a moment. She racked her brains before hurriedly explaining, "What are you saying, sir? If you had told us in advance, we could have prepared a pot of tea for you. The tender shoots were just harvested a few days ago, and they are so delicious. We brought them for you to try."
As they spoke, the two maids turned to leave.
"Stop!" A sharp shout, seemingly filled with boundless rage, came from behind, startling the servant woman so much that she instinctively stopped in her tracks.
“Turn around.”
Another angry shout came from behind. The maid turned around shakily, and a face as black as ink came into view. The maid immediately lowered her head.
"You think you can just leave after hitting someone?" Jiang Xuanli walked up to them, pointed to the shorter maid, and said to the other person holding the whip, "You, give her twenty lashes."
Upon hearing this, the short servant looked at the person opposite her with a look of panic. When she saw the person hesitate for a moment and then move the hand holding the whip, she was startled.
Seeing that there was no way to turn things around, she decided to go all out, put her hands on her hips, and said sternly, "Lord Jiang, don't think that just because you're an official you can do whatever you want. We're doing all this on orders from above. How dare you interfere?"
Jiang Xuanli looked at her with a somber expression and said nothing.
The maid with the whip, seeing this, thought he was afraid, so she put away the whip and, imitating the man opposite her, put her hands on her hips and raised her head arrogantly: "That's right, everything we do is on orders from above. Even if you are an official, you can't use private punishments."
Just then, five servants entered and bowed to Jiang Xuanli: "Sir, the carriage is ready."
Jiang Xuanli glanced coldly at the two servant women: "Perfect timing, you've arrived. Drag these two ignorant and lowly servants out and give them thirty lashes."
Upon hearing this, the head servant was startled, thinking he had misheard, and instinctively asked in a daze, "Sir, are you really going to fight?"
He joined the Jiang family at the beginning of last year and was promoted to the head of the guards by Jiang Xuanli because of his quick hands and feet and his steady actions.
In the year or so since he started working at the Jiang family mansion, he has been constantly grateful for his initial choice, because the master he follows is kind and tolerant. Even if the servants in the mansion make mistakes, he rarely punishes them, let alone beats them.
Hearing these harsh words now, he was naturally terrified.
Jiang Xuanli's eyes were cold: "Of course it's true, why don't you make your move now?"
The servant hesitated for a moment after hearing this, then raised his hand behind him.
"We...we were ordered by our superiors to discipline this brat!" As the servants rushed forward, the two female servants clung to each other and retreated, shouting fiercely, "You...what grounds do you have for punishing us?"
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Xuanli laughed angrily: "On what grounds? You whipped an official of the imperial court. For that crime alone, I could punish you with fifty strokes of the cane. Now, a mere thirty strokes is already showing you mercy. Why don't you do it?"
Upon seeing the whip in one of the maids' hands, the servants did not hesitate and immediately rushed forward to take the two away.
Before long, two heart-wrenching screams echoed in.
Jiang Xuanli's eyes welled up with tears, his gaze filled with heartache: "Yin'er, are you satisfied?"
Knowing what he meant, Meng Yin smiled sadly, but answered irrelevantly: "You've come countless times, why haven't you ever come to see me even once?"
The wall behind her was yellowed and old, with the white plaster peeling off, faintly reflecting his bitter face.
"As long as I can't take you with me, I won't have the face to see you for another day."
"Yin'er, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
***
In late spring, March, orioles flitted about, and a gentle breeze carrying the fragrance of peach blossoms swept through Yunxiang Garden, where green buds covered the ground.
Based on the advice of the doctor from Hejingtang, Lu Xiuyi pondered for many days and sent many guards to accompany Meng Yu before deciding to let Meng Yu go out for a walk.
Hua Yi brought over a pot of peach blossom wine and a plate of lily pastries.
Meng Yu glanced at the plate of lily pastries adorned with peach blossoms and paused, then asked, "Who made this?"
"Who else could it be but me?" Before Hua Yi could speak, a cold voice, like jade striking ice, came from ahead.
Under the soft sunlight, Lu Xiuyi, dressed in black, walked over with his hands behind his back. When he reached her side, he said, "The peaches haven't ripened yet, so we can't make peach cakes. I'll make them for you in the summer."
A shadow fell overhead, obscuring the glare of the sunlight. Meng Yu swallowed back the words of disdain that were about to come out, and instead exclaimed "Eh?" She picked up a piece of lily pastry and tasted it: "You can make peach cakes?"
Lu Xiuyi sat down next to her, raising an eyebrow: "I don't know how now, but you like to eat it, so I'll learn when the time comes."
A gentle breeze caressed the willows, and golden sunlight softly draped behind him. Meng Yu stared blankly, momentarily forgetting that he still had half a lily pastry in his hand.
Seeing that the lily pastry in her hand was about to fall, Lu Xiuyi quickly bent down, reached out and took the half of the lily pastry, waved it in front of her, and couldn't help but smile: "Madam, there's no need to be moved. It's my own choice to cook for you."
"Bullshit!"
Meng Yu reached out and snatched back the lily pastry, stuffing it into her mouth in one bite.
Lu Xiuyi frowned and poured her a cup of warm tea: "Take your time, there's no need to eat so fast even if it's delicious."
Meng Yu mimicked his gesture, raising an eyebrow. "What do you know? I'm just trying not to waste food."
Behind her, willows swayed gently, and the misty waves rippled. Even the distant sky became her backdrop, highlighting her exquisite and otherworldly beauty, like bright jade among flowers, or plum blossoms embracing snow. Lu Xiuyi looked at her and felt a tremor in his heart.
Just then, a guard came over with an invitation and bowed, saying, "General, Madam, Lord Jiang is welcoming Madam Jiang back and has specially brought this invitation to invite you and Madam to the Meng residence for a family reunion with Old Madam Meng."
"Madam Jiang? When did Jiang Xuanli bring Meng Yin back?"
Meng Yu took the invitation, glanced at it briefly, and then turned to ask.
Lu Xiuyi seemed ashamed. Faced with her question, he lowered his head, clenched his fist and coughed lightly: "It should have been yesterday. I haven't had a chance to tell you about this yet. Jiang Xuanli saved His Majesty, and His Majesty agreed."
Meng Yu's doubts deepened: "With you here, how could Jiang Xuanli, a weak civil official who can't lift a finger, save the Emperor before you?"
She wasn't questioning Jiang Xuanli's abilities. If we're talking about strategic maneuvering and displaying great talent, he's naturally better than Lu Xiuyi. But if we're just talking about agility, he's definitely not as good as Lu Xiuyi.
Lu Xiuyi explained calmly, "He's by the Emperor's side, so he's quick-witted and nimble-fingered. If you don't want to go, you can simply decline."
Meng Yu gently shook her head: "No, I want to go. I haven't seen my fourth sister in a long time, and I miss her too."
***
The next day.
Lu Xiuyi canceled all military duties, removed the gold chains from Meng Yu's feet, and went back to the Meng family with her. Although the incident had not yet spread beyond the General's Mansion, apart from Meng Zhangzhou, who still had some conscience, the rest of Meng Yanqing's family were all sycophants and bullies. If he hadn't accompanied her back today, these people would have ridiculed her in some way.
Just as they arrived at the gate, they happened to see Meng Shuang and her husband getting off their carriage.
Meng Yu walked ahead with her, and a soft laugh reached her ears: "I thought Third Sister was angry and wouldn't come today."
Lu Xiuyi and Cheng Yao nodded in greeting and followed behind their respective wives.
"Second sister, you dare to come out and face people in this state. Even if I am very angry, I will never embarrass you."
Meng Yu glanced at Meng Shuang's face and smiled coolly. No matter how thick her makeup was, it couldn't cover up the faint fingerprints.
The rumors were indeed true.
"you……"
Meng Shuang's face turned pale with anger. She subconsciously touched her face, but then suddenly realized what she had done. She glanced back and chuckled in a low voice, "Do you think you're any better than me? Even if Lu Xiuyi is disguised, he can't hide the fact that he's a playboy. Don't forget, back then he got into a fight in the street over a woman from a brothel, and was even punished by the Emperor with confinement. Everyone knows about it. If you don't believe me, Third Sister, you can go and ask around."
“I didn’t say I didn’t believe it.”
Meng Yu smiled faintly.
Seeing that Meng Yu was not hurt at all, Meng Shuang intensified her attack: "I didn't expect that Third Sister is really virtuous and kind. Even her husband stood up for a flirtatious woman without caring at all."
"Second sister, you are mistaken. How could I be a virtuous person? I have heard that your husband has four or five concubines, not counting his maids. You can tolerate this, you are truly a model of virtue. Besides, it is not that I do not want to let the general take a concubine."
As he spoke, Meng Yu stopped and turned around, calling out, "General."
Lu Xiuyi was chatting with Cheng Yao when he heard her voice and looked up. Before he could ask her what she wanted to do, she smiled and said, "It's not always convenient for me to serve the general alone. How about I take a concubine for the general?"
Lu Xiuyi thought he had misheard. He paused for a moment, then suddenly realized what he had heard. His face turned ashen, and the aura around him seemed to press down like a small mountain, making it hard to breathe.
Meng Shuang stared wide-eyed in shock, looking at Meng Yu in disbelief. But as soon as she turned her head away, she suddenly felt a cold wind sweep past her.
Looking up again, she saw Lu Xiuyi holding Meng Yu, nuzzling her forehead without any hesitation, and gently raising his lips: "Nonsense, Madam has plenty of energy. With you serving me, who else would I want?"
The man before her was so affectionate, so tender, his eyes brimming with love that they seemed to overflow. She clenched her handkerchief and twisted it tightly.
Ignoring the murderous glare in Lu Xiuyi's eyes, Meng Yu smiled leisurely at Meng Shuang and said, "Second sister, you see, it's not that I don't want to help the general take a concubine, it's just that the general is too persistent."
Unexpectedly, Meng Yu's move was intended to anger Meng Shuang. Lu Xiuyi was surprised for a moment, but the anger that surged up quickly dissipated without a trace. He straightened his body and put his arm around Meng Yu's shoulder: "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Second Sister. My wife is always like this and doesn't know how to restrain herself. Please forgive her."
Meng Shuang's face turned pale and then red. Just as she was about to retort, Cheng Yao quickly came over and put his arm around her: "Third brother-in-law is joking. As the older sister, Shuang'er is naturally much more magnanimous. How could she hold a grudge against her third sister?"
"That's good. Second Young Master, you are indeed worthy of your noble family background. Your words and actions are unmatched by others." Lu Xiuyi smiled faintly.
Cheng Yao ignored Meng Shuang's glare and raised his hand forward: "General Lu, please."
Lu Xiuyi did not refuse and took Meng Yu's arm, walking ahead of them.
***
"It's one thing for you to act like a madman in the manor, but to act like this here is unacceptable. Don't you know who Lu Xiuyi is?" Seeing Lu Xiuyi and Meng Yu walk away, Cheng Yao immediately turned cold and whispered sharply, "If you anger him, our Longguo Duke's manor will inevitably get into trouble."
Having been publicly humiliated by Meng Yu, Meng Shuang was already harboring resentment. Now, seeing Cheng Yao not only not helping her but also constantly criticizing her, the huge disparity between Lu Xiuyi's favoritism towards Meng Yu and the tears welling up in her eyes finally spilled out.
She glared at Cheng Yao, wanting to yell at him, but a wave of exhaustion washed over her, and her face, which had been slapped the night before, was still throbbing. She couldn't bring herself to say anything.
"Cry, cry, cry! What else can you do besides cry? Your mother is supposed to be a legal wife, yet her daughter is worse than a concubine's daughter," Cheng Yao looked at Meng Shuang with disgust. "You'd better stop crying your worthless tears and stop embarrassing yourself here, or don't expect me to accompany you back to your parents' home in the future."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cheng Yao turned and left.
"Tell me, why would Mother have betrothed me to someone like that?"
Watching Cheng Yao's departing figure, Meng Shuang asked, her voice choked with emotion.
Yu Yan, standing behind her, dared not answer her directly. Instead, she steered the conversation away from the topic and gently advised, "Miss, you should really try to have a child. There are too many shameless women in your husband's household. They might even have children before you. If that happens, you won't have a say in the Cheng family or in front of Madam."
Because of Hua Mian's death, she and Yunyan were sent by Madam Yuan to the latrine to empty chamber pots for a period of time. Unfortunately, Yunyan caught the eye of Bald Bao in the latrine. Bald Bao went back and reported to Madam Yuan, who agreed without thinking.
Unwilling to accept defeat, Yunyan preferred death to humiliation, and that very night she jumped into a well and committed suicide.
If she hadn't later heard that the girl was getting married and seized the opportunity to beg her, it's hard to say she wouldn't have later fallen victim to Bald Bao's cruelty.
Although life in the Cheng family mansion was stifling, at least she didn't have to live in fear. She really didn't dare to give Meng Shuang any advice. Following Yuan's words, preserving her life was the most important thing.
With tears streaming down her face, Meng Shuang laughed self-deprecatingly, "How could I not know what you were saying? But he hasn't even stepped into my room once. What can I do?"
Her voice carried a hint of sadness, mingling with the fragrance of flowers in the air, leaving Yu Yan momentarily at a loss for words.
***
The banquet was held in the main hall. As soon as Meng Yu and Lu Xiuyi entered, Meng Yin and Jiang Xuanli came to greet them: "If Third Sister hadn't come soon, Xuanli and I would have had to go and invite her in person."
Having not seen Meng Yin for a long time, she immediately grabbed Meng Yu's hand, their conversation as warm as if they had never had any disagreements.
Meng Yu was slightly surprised to see that Meng Yin had become less arrogant and domineering than before, and more like a virtuous wife and loving mother. She didn't react for a moment and then paused, saying, "Since it's a family gathering, wouldn't my grandmother and father be heartbroken if I didn't come?"
As she spoke, she glanced at Meng Yanqing and Old Madam Meng.
Seeing this, the mother and son dared not be negligent and immediately echoed with smiles.
At the dinner table, everyone was talking and agreeing with each other, as if there was no grudge between them. But as they ate, Meng Yu thought of Aunt Shen and suddenly lost her appetite.
"Father, I want to go back to Qingli Courtyard for a visit."
Amidst the laughter and conversation, Meng Yu suddenly spoke.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Meng Yanqing avoided her gaze and coughed lightly, feeling somewhat uneasy: "Since your aunt passed away, Qingli Courtyard has been uninhabited for a long time. In addition, it is a bit remote, and the manor can't spare anyone to manage it. Now it's a wasteland. What would you do there?"
Although she already knew the answer, Meng Yu's heart still sank when she heard Meng Yanqing say it: "It's okay, I'll just take a look."
Before Meng Yanqing could stop her, she got up and walked out, and Lu Xiuyi naturally followed immediately.
“You and they were never the same kind of people, so why did you have to come back?” Seeing through her thoughts, Lu Xiuyi sighed as he walked away.
"So, does that mean I'm the same kind of person as you?" Meng Yu was already extremely depressed, and upon hearing his words, she was so angry that she stopped in her tracks and blurted out the question instinctively.
Lu Xiuyi lowered his eyes after being scolded by her, and his originally calm gaze began to ripple.
Upon seeing this, Meng Yu was immediately overwhelmed with remorse. She sighed, a rare occurrence for her, "I'm sorry. You meant well in advising me, but I was too harsh with my words."
A spring breeze caressed her face, and a courtyard full of flowers stretched out behind her. When she heard the words "I'm sorry," Lu Xiuyi felt as if something had pierced her heart. She had lived too cautiously.
"You never need to say those three words to me. Do whatever you want, and I will always be your strongest support."
The man's features were sharp and clear, yet his gaze was always so gentle when he looked at her. Meng Yu felt as if the wall in her heart had cracked.
But she knew very well that being moved was not love.
He wanted it, but she couldn't give it to him.
"Let's go! After visiting Qingli Courtyard, I want to go back." After a moment of silence, Meng Yu suppressed her heartache and turned to leave.
Before she even reached the gate of Qingli Courtyard, a desolate and dilapidated atmosphere wafted over from afar. The old wooden door was half-open, and the stone steps gleamed with a greenish light.
Pushing open the wooden door, the scene of ruins after the fire instantly came into view, a landscape of devastation as far as the eye could see.
Meng Yu took two steps forward, and suddenly her toe kicked a piece of wood that was half-burnt. She picked it up and looked at it. There was still a pear blossom pattern on it. She had carved it on the wooden board by the door when she was bored.
“After the fire, they didn’t even bother to clean up, let alone repair it. To them, my mother and I were like a ball. They would hug us and be affectionate when they were useful, and kick us to a corner when they were no longer needed.”
The charcoal had stained her fingertips black, but Meng Yu still held on tightly.
Lu Xiuyi didn't know how to persuade her; in some ways, he and she were quite similar.
After a long pause, Meng Yu raised his hand and threw it away.
The charred planks fell back into the pile of ruins with a loud "bang," echoing through the empty Qingli Courtyard, their lingering sound like those vanished days, never to return.
She turned around and walked away.
After returning to the main hall and greeting everyone, Meng Yu and Lu Xiuyi boarded the carriage and returned to the mansion.
***
After this incident, it is unclear whether Lu Xiuyi lowered his guard against Meng Yu because he saw that she stayed in the mansion all day and did not ask to go out, or whether he felt that there was no point in keeping her locked up anymore. One day at the end of March, he suddenly unlocked the gold chain and had it thrown into a corner of the storeroom.
After the gold chains on her feet were removed, Meng Yu obediently drank all the medicine prescribed by the doctor, and even cooked a meal during that time.
Staying in the mansion was really boring. Thinking of the beautiful scenery of Yunxiang Garden and its wide lawn, she asked someone to prepare two kites and some pastries, and also made two pots of peach blossom wine.
Having prepared all this, Meng Yu personally went to the study to invite Lu Xiuyi.
"Flying kites?" Lu Xiuyi was busy with military affairs, his head bowed. He frowned slightly and blurted out without thinking, "That's something only children do. I have other things to take care of, so I won't go."
Meng Yu was waiting for him to say that. Hearing this, she shrugged and quickly replied, "Okay! Then I'll go with Zhi Mian. Don't say I didn't invite you."
Seeing her turn to leave, Lu Xiuyi moved his lips, but the words stuck in his throat and he couldn't bring himself to say he was going. He quickly gave Chu Ze a wink.
Chuze was momentarily confused about the meaning of his instructions. He looked at him blankly, then at the door, thinking to himself, "Why are you two bickering and dragging me into this?"
Seeing him still standing there dumbfounded, Lu Xiuyi was furious. He immediately kicked him and frowned, shouting, "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and follow me!"
Chu Ze understood the meaning behind his look and hurriedly agreed to follow him out. Lu Xiuyi, still worried, added from behind, "You must stay with her every step of the way. If anything happens to her, I will hold you responsible."
"Leave this matter to me, young master, you can rest assured."
Chu Ze replied without turning his head, and then disappeared.
The study returned to silence, with only the occasional bird call drifting in from outside the window. Lu Xiuyi continued to try to deal with military affairs, but the thought of Meng Yu leaving the room made him restless and unable to calm down.
He had no choice but to get up and pace back and forth a couple of times, but the more he walked, the more agitated he became, so he went to the kitchen to take a look.
"Did Madam bring anything with her when she visited Yunxiang Garden?"
After looking around and finding nothing, Lu Xiuyi asked with a cold face, still unwilling to give up.
When Aunt Chen and the others saw Lu Xiuyi's ashen face, they looked at each other in bewilderment, thinking that Meng Yu had angered him again. For a moment, the matter of the golden chain from that day came to mind again, and none of them dared to speak.
Seeing that Lu Xiuyi's anger was growing stronger, Aunt Chen hesitated for a moment before hurriedly reporting the truth: "General, the lady brought a box of Ruyi cake, a box of yam and poria cake, two boxes of green rice dumplings, and two pots of peach blossom wine that the lady made herself."
Upon hearing that Meng Yu had actually made peach blossom wine, he immediately blurted out sternly, "Madam even made peach blossom wine herself, why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Aunt Chen was startled, her legs immediately went weak, and she hurriedly lowered her head and knelt down. Seeing this, everyone else also knelt down.
"It's all my fault, please forgive me, General." Aunt Chen trembled, not daring to say that Lu Xiuyi had not given any instructions beforehand, and hurriedly admitted her mistake.
Seeing them all kneeling on the ground, Lu Xiuyi frowned, suppressed his temper, and impatiently raised his hand: "Didn't I tell you? Madam doesn't like you kneeling around like that. If you have something to say, then do it. Don't kneel down all the time."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
But Lu Xiuyi hadn't left yet. Aunt Chen racked her brains trying to ask a question when a soft cough suddenly came from above: "Um, does Madam still have any peach blossom wine?"
"..."
Aunt Chen suddenly looked up.
Half an hour later.
In the study, Lu Xiuyi looked at the small cup of peach blossom wine left in front of him, swallowed hard, hesitated for a long time, and finally couldn't resist picking it up and drinking it down in one gulp.
The moment he swallowed it, the man's eyes lit up.
This peach blossom wine wasn't made with peach blossoms and liquor as he had imagined. Instead, it was made with peach blossoms, honey, and lemon seeds in water. It not only had the fragrance of peach blossoms but also a very mellow taste. The sweet and sour flavor went straight to his brain, instantly driving away the drowsiness that had bothered him all day and calming his restless heart.
Lu Xiuyi picked up the cup, wanting to drink more, but found the bottom of the cup empty, not a drop of water could be poured out.
He lowered his head in annoyance, and then called out again, "What time is it now?"
The guard standing at the door replied, "Reporting to the general, it is just past 3:15 PM."
Lu Xiuyi calculated that Meng Yu had only been gone for less than half an hour.
"Has the lady said when she will return?"
After a moment of silence in the study, another question came from inside.
"Reporting to the General, Lord Chu sent someone back to say that the Lady will be waiting until after 5 PM."
As soon as he finished speaking, the study fell silent again. The two guards looked at each other, both somewhat surprised. This was the most they had ever spoken to Lu Xiuyi since they entered the manor.
They waited patiently for a while, and when no more sound came from inside, the two breathed a sigh of relief.
But then, bang!
"General..."
The two were startled and rushed inside, only to be met with Lu Xiuyi's astonished gaze. The floor, which had been shiny, was now stained black like charcoal.
***
The distant mountain peaks were shrouded in crimson, and a rainbow seemed to have appeared on the horizon. The two-horse carriage moved slowly along the uneven path, looking from afar like an old oxcart.
Chu Ze rode behind, unable to resist going around to the front to urge the driver: "Why are you going so slowly? Can't you see it's getting dark?"
The coachman didn't even dare to lift the whip, gently pulling on the reins, his face full of helplessness: "Sir, it's not that I don't want to go fast, it's just that Madam says she can't handle a bumpy ride."
Hua Yi also lifted the curtain and whispered, "Madam is tired and is resting. Don't walk so fast, slow down."
Chu Ze had no choice but to suppress his anxiety and retreat to the back.
It was nearly 7 PM when the carriage finally came to a slow stop in front of General Huaiyuan's residence.
Above the eaves, stars, like daisies, bloom in the dark mist, while the orange light under the plaque illuminates the somber faces of the people below.
Meng Yu stretched and slowly got off the carriage. As soon as she stepped off the low stool, she saw Chu Ze standing in front of Lu Xiuyi with his head down, as if he had committed some heinous crime.
The young man on the steps stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at them with a deep look: "Didn't you say you'd be back by 5 PM? Why are you so late? Do you know I almost led my troops to find you?"
His voice was dry and tight, as if he had suffered a great injustice.
Meng Yu walked up to him, smiling and softening her tone: "Alright! It turns out I was tired from flying a kite and took a nap leaning against the carriage, which is why they didn't dare to go too fast."
As she led him inside, she asked, "Have you had dinner yet?"
Lu Xiuyi pouted: "How can I have the appetite if you don't come back?"
His voice was soft and aggrieved. Meng Yu quickly stopped, paused, pinched his cheek, and smiled, "Okay! I was wrong. Next time I go, I'll definitely take you with me."
As soon as she finished speaking, the man's eyes lit up instantly, as if they were filled with stars: "Really?"
"real."
Having received her affirmative reply, Lu Xiuyi smiled and took her hand: "Then you need to make three pots of peach blossom wine, and also bring pastries and fruits, and a kite too."
Meng Yu agreed to everything, but after walking a few steps, she remembered something: "Speaking of which, I asked you to come today too, but you said it was something only children play with, and you refused to go no matter what."
Lu Xiuyi's eyes widened. "How can you say you absolutely refuse to go? You've only asked one question."
"Is that so?"
"that is."
"I forgot."
"You can't go back on your word even if you forget. If you do, you'll be punished by having to make peach blossom wine right now."
"No, no, no, my neck is sore from flying kites."
"Your neck is sore? Let me massage it for you. I'm pretty good at it."
"No, no need, ah... I was wrong, I was wrong..."
Laughter and banter echoed throughout the mansion, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, secretly imagining the future general and his wife living in harmony, so they wouldn't have to live in constant fear.
***
With Meng Yu's promise, Lu Xiuyi was overjoyed and looked forward to going to Yunxiang Garden with her again, but she made excuses to avoid it every time he urged her.
More than half a month later, when his patience was about to run out, Meng Yu finally relented.
Early in the morning, he got up and instructed this person to prepare a basket, told that person not to break the kite, went to check on the peach blossom wine, and then strolled to the kitchen to watch Aunt Chen pack pastries.
The maid sweeping the floor was surprised to see this. She had taken leave the day before and was unaware of what had happened recently. Watching Lu Xiuyi walk by, she asked curiously, "General, aren't you going to the West Camp today? Why are you so free?"
Upon hearing this, another person was about to reply when a voice suddenly came from ahead: "What do you mean 'I'm free'? I only took a day off after finishing up some business."
The two were startled, their legs went weak and they were about to kneel, but Lu Xiuyi immediately raised his hand, frowned and said, "Don't kneel, Madam dislikes you kneeling at the drop of a hat."
The maid stood still, broom in hand, and nodded subconsciously. After watching Lu Xiuyi walk away with his hands behind his back, they exchanged glances: "The general seems to be in a very good mood..."
"It's not just good, it's excellent."
The morning dew in the courtyard had not yet dried, and a ray of dawn swept across the distant mountain peaks, spreading across the eaves and green tiles as if sprinkled with fine gold.
Meng Yu dragged her aching body to her feet and saw that the courtyard was piled with things. Not only were there pastries, kites, and peach blossom wine that she had asked for, but there were also two chairs, a recliner, and various tea sets.
The brilliant sunlight shone on the recliner, where the man lay with his face covered by a fan, blocking the dawn light from brushing against his skin.
Meng Yu felt a headache coming on: "It's not like we're moving. Why are you preparing so much stuff?"
Upon hearing this, the person whose view was blocked by the fan immediately put away the fan and said with a smile, "Didn't you say that you would stay there for a day and not return until evening? Although Yunxiang Garden has beds, I was worried that you wouldn't be used to sleeping there, so I had these tea sets, reclining chairs and the like prepared. If you are tired, you can lie down and rest at any time."
Well! ! !
Meng Yu was speechless.
After a pause, she said, "Then have someone bring the food over, and we'll eat before we go."
Lu Xiuyi sprang up from the recliner: "I told them there's no need to prepare a meal. You hurry up and wash up. We'll have breakfast at Yunxiang Garden."
Meng Yu's head still throbbed slightly.
Seeing that he was beaming with excitement, as if he had been given a stimulant, she had no choice but to ask Huayi to bring her toiletries. She quickly washed up, changed into a set of lighter and more comfortable clothes, and then boarded the carriage with him to go to Yunxiang Garden.
Yunxiang Garden is located in the suburbs. It was bestowed upon Lu Xiuyi by Emperor Jinghuai when he was appointed General Huaiyuan. The garden has an excellent location, with convenient access in all directions. It is backed by mountains and faces water. There is a row of banana trees on both sides of the entrance. The banana leaves are thick and sturdy, and they shimmer with colorful hues in the morning light.
Ahead is a rockery with flowing water, and to the right is a pebble path. Walking along the path, you will find winding corridors and hear birdsong and the fragrance of flowers.
That large lawn is on the east side of the garden.
Lu Xiuyi had someone carry food boxes and other things and follow behind. After walking through the corridor, across an arched bridge, the lawn came into view in the distance.
The varying shades of green shimmered softly in the golden sunlight. A gentle breeze rippled the water, and Lu Xiuyi watched as Meng Yu took the lead, stepping over the shadows and walking across the arched bridge, her face bathed in green light, until she was bathed in sunshine.
His heart suddenly trembled for no apparent reason.
As if terrified that she would disappear at any moment, he jogged after her.
Hua Yi and another maid spread a blanket on the lawn and then placed pastries, peach blossom wine, tea sets, and other items on it.
Meng Yu took two pillows out of the box and placed them beside her. She patted the spot next to her, gesturing to the person standing there dumbfounded: "What are you still standing there for? Aren't you hungry?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiuyi sat down awkwardly. Unexpectedly, when he turned his head, he saw Meng Yu raise his hand to his belt, as if to loosen it.
His expression suddenly changed, and he quickly pressed down on her hand, saying sternly, "Yu'er, it's broad daylight, and there are people around. You should at least be more discreet."
Hearing these seemingly random words, Meng Yu looked at him with a puzzled expression, but she could feel his hot breath and the tips of his ears as red as ripe cherries.
She vaguely understood the meaning of his words and couldn't help but laugh, "Lu Xiuyi, what are you thinking? Why are you always thinking about such lewd nonsense?"
This time, it was Lu Xiuyi's turn to be puzzled: "What is yellow waste?"
Seeing his unusually blank expression, Meng Yu couldn't help but reach out and poke his forehead, raising an eyebrow and saying without any embarrassment, "It's... it's the erotic picture you mentioned before."
"..."
The surroundings were completely silent. Lu Xiuyi felt as if crows were flying overhead. He quickly turned around and saw that the guards and maids were all far away, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
After realizing what he had said, he pretended to have a cold expression: "In broad daylight, you are not allowed to say this again."
Meng Yu couldn't help but smile. The more she looked at him, the more she felt she was seeing her past self. Suddenly, she understood why the more she resisted when these things were mentioned, the more interested he became.
She is the same now.
Meng Yu leaned closer to him, one arm around his strong waist and the other stroking his chest, and said softly, "Didn't you used to like this the most?"
She drew out the last syllable of his name as she watched the blush on the tip of his ear gradually spread to his face.
How could Lu Xiuyi withstand her provocation?
He swallowed hard, trying to suppress the surging heat that was washing over him, but the more he tried to suppress it, the more fiercely the heat surged back.
He couldn't control himself any longer and immediately turned to the side and pinned her down.
He thought that Meng Yu would beg for mercy in fear, but instead she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and asked with a smile, "Couldn't hold back anymore?"
The spring sunshine fell on her, as soft as if covered with a piece of silk. One side of her face was hidden in his shadow, and the other side was bathed in the sunlight.
Looking at the face so close to his, Lu Xiuyi swallowed hard, his eyes welling up with tears: "You'll regret this."
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly bent down.
He rubbed against her repeatedly for a long time, until she was almost out of breath, before he pulled away slightly, his hand still exploring as he spoke softly, "Still arguing?"
Seeing the desire in his eyes, Meng Yu was so frightened that she shook her head violently and pushed him with her hand: "I won't do it again, I won't do it again, you get up quickly, they are still over there."
Seeing that she had finally returned to normal, Lu Xiuyi moved with interest: "What's the rush? Didn't you provoke me first?"
Sensing his change, Meng Yu was truly frightened and quickly softened her tone: "I was wrong, I was just teasing you."
Her lips, which had been repeatedly rubbed together, turned pink. When they moved up and down, they glistened with moisture, like a clear spring. Lu Xiuyi looked at them, his throat tightened, and he couldn't help but lean down again.
The kiss seemed to last for a very, very long time.
***
After resting on the blanket for a long time, Meng Yu finally recovered and got up to eat something.
Lu Xiu had already flown the kite and turned around to urge her several times.
Meng Yu felt like her ears were about to fall off. She looked up and saw a kite shaped like a pig's head fluttering in the vast sky. She frowned.
"I don't recall seeing kites like these at the market. Where did you get these two kites?"
Meng Yu took another kite out of the box; it was another pig's head, and this time it looked like a sow...
"Is it pretty?"
Lu Xiuyi turned around and smiled, "Designed by the master himself."
"..."
Meng Yu twitched her lips but didn't dare to say anything. Fortunately, Lu Xiuyi turned his head and was attracted by Gao Feifeng's steady flight. He seemed not to care about her answer, so she quickly picked up the kite and let out a long string, successfully changing the subject.
The pig-head kite flew higher and higher.
Click!
The thread was stretched to its limit, and then suddenly it broke.
"Quick, go and get it back."
Seeing Meng Yu's hand fall down, Lu Xiuyi glanced at it and anxiously ordered someone to pick it up.
Upon hearing the sound, Hua Yi and the others immediately went to pick it up.
Seeing that they had disappeared into the woods, Meng Yu said calmly, "Why bother picking them up?"
She stared blankly at the kite drifting further and further away in the sky, murmuring, "Those who want to leave can't be kept."
A gentle breeze brushed past his ear, carrying her soft whispers. Lu Xiuyi's heart trembled again, and he immediately snapped his string.
Suddenly, the wind and waves rose up, and another kite followed closely behind.
Meng Yu was startled and turned to look at Lu Xiuyi, only to see him smile and say gently, "In that case, let mine accompany yours as well."
The lawn behind him rippled with waves, playing a melody of fluctuating emotions under the sky. Meng Yu suppressed his heart, which was trembling in the wind, and then changed the subject: "I'm hungry. I want to eat Ruyi cake and drink peach blossom wine."
"Perfect timing, I'm hungry too."
Lu Xiuyi had been craving that peach blossom wine for over half a month. Upon hearing this, he immediately pulled her back onto the blanket, opened the peach blossom wine, and was about to have a drink.
Meng Yu stopped him, picked up a piece of yam and poria cake, took a bite, and explained, "Peach blossom wine is sweet and sour. You don't have anything in your stomach to line it. If you drink it, your stomach might feel uncomfortable. Eat a piece of this first to line it. Besides, yam and poria cake are a perfect match for it."
As they were talking, she picked up another piece and handed it to him.
Lu Xiuyi didn't take it. For some reason, he stared at the other piece in her hand, then suddenly snatched it away, and said with a smile, "I still prefer yours."
Seeing him open his mouth and take a bite, and then casually pick up the peach blossom wine and take a sip, Meng Yu smiled faintly and did not stop him. She simply lowered her head and silently ate another piece.
A moment later, the expected "bang" came from beside her, and Lu Xiuyi's incredulous voice, carried by the breeze, reached deep into her ears: "Yu'er, what, what did you put in the peach blossom wine?"
A sudden wave of dizziness hit his brain. Lu Xiuyi's face turned pale, and he felt weak all over, unable to even sit up straight.
Meng Yu slowly stood up, his expression indifferent as he looked at the guards in the distance. Seeing them lying sprawled on the ground, he put away the yam and poria cake he had been eating: "I didn't put anything in the peach blossom wine. The bewitching powder was in this cake."
Lu Xiuyi's eyes were filled with shock and panic. He forced himself to stay calm and asked, "You...didn't you eat it too?"
Meng Yu opened her palm, revealing a small piece of yam and poria cocos cake: "I didn't swallow it at all."
A figure approached from afar, hurrying towards her. Knowing it was time to leave, Meng Yu turned to go.
Watching her resolute departure, Lu Xiuyi smiled self-deprecatingly. Before closing his eyes, he still asked, unwilling to give up, "Meng Yu, do you really hate me to this extent? Even though I treat you so sincerely, you still want to run away time and time again."
The moment she took that step, Meng Yu stopped.
She didn't turn around. "Didn't you already know the answer? Lu Xiuyi, let me go, and let yourself go too! What you force will eventually slip through your fingers like sand in an hourglass.
The chill behind her suddenly surged like a tidal wave, enveloping her in its embrace.
Ning Sui had already crossed the arched bridge and stopped in Lu Xiuyi's blind spot, and hurriedly waved to her.
Ignoring Lu Xiuyi's situation, Meng Yu hurriedly ran over and followed Ning Sui, quickly bypassing the guards standing in various parts of the garden, and arrived at the high wall on the west side.
The towering wall stood majestically, exuding a sinister aura. Over the years, the bricks, originally a plum-green color, had turned black. Standing before him, it blocked his path like a perilous peak. Just one glance was enough to make Meng Yu feel breathless.
She looked up and estimated the height of the wall, realizing it was probably over five meters high. Her eyes narrowed suddenly: "I can't climb this wall."
"Who told you to climb?" Ning Sui glanced at her and quickly moved the dry branches leaning against the wall. "Come help me, the way out is here."
Meng Yu immediately stepped forward to help move the dry branches. As the dry branches covering the wall were gradually moved away, a sliver of light faintly shone through the hole below.
After a while, Meng Yu stared at the somewhat irregularly shaped oval hole. Just as she was about to ask if it was a dog hole, she suddenly noticed a few hairs scattered on the ground.
The answer is self-evident.
Meng Yu patted Ning Sui's shoulder meaningfully: "You've really suffered because of me."
Ning Sui curled her lips: "Just pay back the wine you owe me."
Meng Yu clenched his fists and, in the manner of a martial artist, expressed his gratitude to her: "Here are two more jugs for you."
She seemed to be suppressing a laugh despite her serious expression. Ning Sui was amused by her appearance, and the tense atmosphere eased slightly. She gently pushed her towards the cave entrance: "No rush, we can talk about this when you're safe."
Upon hearing this, Meng Yu suddenly pictured Lu Xiuyi's gloomy face in her mind, and her heart skipped a beat. Just before she crawled into the hole, she trembled and subconsciously looked back. Seeing that no one was chasing her, she breathed a sigh of relief and quickly ducked out.
After leaving Yunxiang Garden, a horse was tied to a tree not far away. Ning Sui led Meng Yu to a dilapidated temple without stopping, took out the bundle hidden inside, and handed it to her.
Meng Yu thought it was a silver note or a travel permit, so she hurriedly opened it to take a look, only to find that there was only a set of clothes.
It's a men's style...
Meeting Meng Yu's questioning gaze, Ning Sui explained, "You've already tried to escape once, but you did it as if you were already dead. He found you. Now, if you try to escape as a living person, do you think you can still get out? You might as well become a man."
Meng Yu belatedly realized: "You mean, you want me to dress up as a man and go with you to Dongying?"
Ning Sui smiled slightly and said, "Smart."
“No, absolutely not,” Meng Yu said, shaking her head violently. “You have already helped me a lot. If I enter Dongying and Lu Xiuyi suspects you, he will never let you off the hook.”
Ning Sui grabbed her shoulder and said seriously, "Do you think he won't suspect me if you don't go to the Eastern Camp? Yu'er, don't be silly. Ever since he found out that I helped you escape once, the first person he'll suspect when he wakes up will be me. Since the result is the same whether I do it or not, why don't I just do as he says?"
Meng Yu frowned, still worried: "But..."
"No buts. Not to mention that my brother's official rank is higher than his, even I am a deputy general of the Eastern Camp. He has no evidence and can't do anything to me," Ning Sui comforted her. "If you don't change quickly and someone catches up and finds out, that will put me in the eye of the storm."
The brilliant light poured down from the eaves, spreading out in fine fragments on the ground. Meng Yu looked at Ning Sui, who was backlit but had a resolute expression. She then looked down at the clothes in her arms.
The clothes were made of rough material, and they felt a little rough to the touch, but for some reason, they gave her a sense of security.
After a moment's thought, Meng Yu finally nodded firmly.
After quickly changing her clothes and dressing as a man, Ning Sui handed her a medicine box hidden in another corner: "If you want to enter Dongying, you need an identity. I've arranged everything. There's a surgeon in our camp. He's a very good person. You'll be his student in Yichuan. Your surname is Li, and your given name is Shu. There are your registration information in the box. Familiarize yourself with it and burn the paper after you've memorized it. Don't leave any trace."
As Meng Yu listened to her, she took out the paper from the medicine box containing acupuncture needles and carefully read it through. After confirming that she had memorized it, Ning Sui took out the flint she carried with her and lit the paper.
"This surgeon surnamed Zhao is indeed a good person; he actually agreed to something like this," Meng Yu said casually, watching the flame flicker in the air before quickly going out. "You should have already spoken to him about this, right?"
“This…” Ning Sui twitched her lips, looking somewhat embarrassed, and stammered a few times without being able to utter a complete sentence.
Meng Yu was so shocked that her mouth dropped open. "Ning Sui, how dare you bring me there without telling him?"
Stomping out the ashes on the ground and pulling aside the tattered cloth covering her head, Ning Sui pushed her outside, saying confidently, "It's alright, he's a really good person. A few years ago, I was ordered to suppress bandits, and if it weren't for him, I would have been dead long ago. He would definitely agree to something that involves life and death."
Meng Yu was speechless.
But now she has no other choice but to go to Dongying.
After spending half a day in the dilapidated temple, it was almost noon when they came out. The two dared not relax any longer and spurred their horses to gallop all the way. Fortunately, the East Camp was located at the foot of a mountain about ten miles outside the city, and they arrived after traveling for nearly half an hour.
To avoid being seen, Ning Sui dismissed the guards at the back door, secretly brought Meng Yu inside, hid her in her tent, and then immediately went to find the surgeon surnamed Zhao.
***
"What? You hid Lu Xiuyi's wife in the camp..."
The hoarse voice was drowned out by a snow-white steamed bun. Ning Sui frowned and looked out, tugged at Zhao Yangyi's gray beard, and moved her lips: "Keep your voice down. Why are you shouting so loudly? Do you want everyone to know?"
Dr. Zhao took a bite of his steamed bun and raised an eyebrow: "So you know it's not honorable?"
“What’s dishonorable?” Ning Sui lowered her voice. “You should at least be more precise with your words. Lu Xiuyi disregarded other people’s wishes and forced her to stay by his side. That’s what’s dishonorable. I was saving someone from dire straits. I was doing a heroic act.”
As she spoke, Ning Sui seemed to have thought of something, and clicked her tongue, asking in confusion, "Didn't you used to love saving people the most? What's wrong? Are you afraid now that you're getting older? Or rather, are you afraid of Lu Xiuyi?"
Ning Sui spoke her last words slowly, and not in a question, but in a tone of certainty.
She tilted her head, watching Zhao Yangyi's reaction.
He raised an eyebrow, unimpressed: "What are you talking about? Even if Lu Xiuyi is the King of Heaven, I, Old Man Zhao, wouldn't even flinch if I saw him. Why would I be afraid of him? Bring that girl here, and I, Old Man Zhao, will take her as my last disciple."
He spoke without thinking, too quickly and too confidently. As soon as the last word left his mouth, Dr. Zhao realized what he had said, frowned, and hurriedly tried to correct himself. But Ning Sui immediately responded, "Yes, thank you, Dr. Zhao. I will bring her here right away."
With that, she lifted the curtain and disappeared in a flash.
"Yu'er, Doctor Zhao has agreed!" Ning Sui hurriedly ran back to the tent, lifting the curtain as she excitedly called out.
She was met with complete silence in the tent, and a pair of eyes on the steps filled with boundless rage.
Upon seeing the person who had arrived, Ning Sui trembled, but quickly regained her composure and stepped forward to shield Meng Yu behind her: "Brother, when did you return? Why didn't you inform your sister beforehand?"
The man on the steps, dressed in military uniform, sat in a round-backed chair, staring coldly at her: "Informing you in advance? So you could prepare to keep it from me, is that it?"
Ning Sui squeezed Meng Yu's hand to reassure her, but looked at Ning Jianxing and said calmly, "Brother is joking. Brother was ordered to suppress the rebels in Rongchang. He has done a great job and has returned. I will naturally prepare a good meal to celebrate."
"You're still so sharp-tongued. Do you even know how much trouble you've caused?" Ning Jianxing slammed his hand on the table and shouted angrily, "The outside world is in complete chaos. Lu Xiuyi ordered the Western Camp to conduct a massive search in the city just to find her, and you still hid her here. Don't you think there's enough trouble already?"
Ning Sui remained calm: "In the capital city, right under the emperor's nose, Lu Xiuyi is merely a Huaiyuan General, and not even a Grand Minister of State. What right does he have to conduct a city-wide manhunt?"
"On what grounds? On the grounds that he single-handedly built up the Western Camp, on the grounds that he commands 100,000 troops in Dayi, on the grounds that he is favored by the Emperor, and on the grounds that he obtained a search warrant from the Emperor." Ning Jianxing coldly retorted.
Upon hearing that Lu Xiuyi had dispelled the bewitching powder in just one hour and applied for a search warrant from the Emperor, Meng Yu's expression changed drastically.
She trembled uncontrollably. She didn't want to implicate Ning Sui and wanted to step forward, but Ning Sui held her hand tightly.
Then, her calm voice penetrated deep into our ears: "Brother, you will help us, right?"
Based on her understanding of her brother, if he didn't want to help them and only wanted to stand by and watch, then it wouldn't be him appearing in the tent now.
Upon hearing this, Ning Jianxing looked at the girl who had been standing behind his younger sister with her head bowed. She was completely different from what he had imagined, and his dark expression softened slightly.
He stood up and walked down the steps, glancing at Ning Sui. As he walked out, he said coldly, "Lu Xiuyi will definitely come to Dongying in person within half an hour. You'd better make her hide well within this time, otherwise even I can't help you."
As darkness fell, the curtain was lifted, letting in a cool breeze. Meng Yu didn't feel cold; instead, a warmth filled her heart.
Ning Sui breathed a sigh of relief, turned her head and smiled at Meng Yu: "Yu'er, don't mind, my brother is just like that. He looks cold, but he's actually very warm-hearted."
"I noticed."
Meng Yu raised her lips, about to thank her, but Ning Sui anticipated what she wanted to say and quickly raised her hand: "No need for thanks, let's hurry to see Dr. Zhao, Lu Xiuyi should be here soon."
Upon hearing this name, which sounded like a nightmare, Meng Yu forgot everything else and hurriedly nodded, letting her lead her to Zhao Yangyi's clinic.
***
From the city gate to the East Camp, it was about ten miles. The sky was grayish-blue. The old man leading the ox crossed the road and went down into the grass. Suddenly, he saw thick smoke and dust rising in the distance. A group of iron cavalrymen wearing cold, hard military uniforms appeared in the smoke and dust. The man in the lead was dressed in black. He looked very young, but his face was extremely cold. Even the winter ice was not as cold as his expression.
The old man's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly tugged at the rope holding the ox, pulling the old yellow ox to the side.
Three miles from Dongying, Lu Xiuyi rode on horseback, his eyes burning with fury. He was almost certain that Ning Sui had helped her escape.
"drive……"
A sharp shout suddenly pierced the gray sky, and before long, the iron fence in the distance came into view.
As the horses' hooves drew closer, a dashing man in military uniform stood before the fence.
Lu Xiuyi narrowed his eyes, recalling that Ning Jianxing was supposed to be suppressing rebels in Rongchang, but now he suddenly appeared here, which made him even more certain of his previous guess.
He tightened the reins and dismounted.
"I'm sure General Ning has already heard the news about why I've come here," Lu Xiuyi said solemnly with his hands behind his back. "I'm conveying His Majesty's decree that Lady Huaiyuan has gone missing. He has ordered everyone to cooperate with General Huaiyuan in the search. Anyone who obstructs or disobeys will be executed without mercy."
After delivering the imperial edict, Ning Jianxing stood up and sneered, "It's one thing for General Lu to look for his wife in the city, but you openly brought people from the Western Camp here. Did you think your noble lady was hiding in this military camp full of men?"
"All men?" Lu Xiuyi looked past him and at the people approaching from a distance. "In my opinion, that's not necessarily true."
Ning Sui swaggered over, and when she saw Lu Xiuyi, she smiled leisurely as if she had seen something new: "Oh! A distinguished guest!"
She passed Lu Xiuyi and saw the menacing troop of cavalry behind him. She stopped smiling and asked in confusion, "General Lu, what is the meaning of this?"
As she spoke, she glanced at Lu Xiuyi and then at Ning Jianxing.
Seeing her ignorant and fearless appearance, Lu Xiuyi felt a surge of anger and said coldly, "Stop pretending. I don't want to say any more. Please hand Miss Ning over to my wife."
"What? Yu'er is missing?" Ning Sui's brows furrowed deeply. "When did this happen? Why didn't you say so sooner? Who did it? Brother, quickly send me a thousand elite soldiers, I need to go and help find her."
Lu Xiuyi's brows furrowed even deeper, and his face grew increasingly dark: "Ning Sui, I don't want to do it. If you know what's good for you, you'd better hand her over."
Ning Sui then realized what she meant: "What do you mean? Are you saying that I hid Yu'er?"
"Isn't that so?"
“No,” Ning Sui said coldly, “Lu Xiuyi, do you think you can slander me based on just one sentence? Even if the Emperor himself were here, there would be no reason to convict someone based on just one sentence.”
Lu Xiuyi's cold gaze swept across her face inch by inch: "What a sharp tongue you have. I'd like to see what excuse you'll come up with when I find Meng Yu. Go inside and search her."
"You dare?"
Ning Sui drew her sword and blocked his way. "Lu Xiuyi, this is the East Camp, not your West Camp. You have no right to trespass here."
Seeing this, the soldiers behind her also drew their swords to help their general.
Lu Xiuyi's gaze was like a cold pool: "I am here by imperial decree. Whether it is the Eastern Camp or the Western Camp, we are all under the Emperor's command. Ning Sui, do you intend to disobey the imperial decree?"
After he finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent.
Ning Jianxing, who had been silent, finally spoke in a cold voice: "What are you doing? Why are you drawing your swords? Do you really want to defy the imperial decree? Put them all away. Ning Sui, you too, don't cause me any trouble."
The group exchanged glances, paused for a moment, and then indignantly sheathed their swords.
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