"What do you mean?" Xu Jixin frowned immediately, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure. "At this critical juncture, you still have things to hide from me? I'm your second brother, would I harm you?"
Xu Zhuohua frowned even more deeply, and she subconsciously looked up at Chen Hede, her eyes filled with a bewildered plea for help.
"Second Brother, there are some things I don't know how to tell you." Those secrets that involve too many people, once spoken, will only stir up a bigger storm.
Xu Jixin wanted to press for more information, but Chen Hede stepped forward, gently patted his arm, and whispered, "Let's go, Second Young Master. Let the couple talk it out alone. It'll be good for them to clear things up. We'll go back first and wait for news."
Xu Jixin reluctantly tried to argue, but Chen Hede half-pulled and half-persuaded him away.
Watching the two figures walk away, Xu Zhuohua breathed a long sigh of relief, her gratitude towards Chen Hede deepening even further.
She turned her head and looked at Cheng Muyun again. The tears in her eyes were still wet, but there was a hint of determination in them. She really wanted to spend some time alone with him and tell him all the words she had kept in her heart.
Xiao Wuxin stood frozen at the doorway, caught in a dilemma.
Having traveled a long way, they never expected to almost cause an argument between Cheng Muyun and his wife, leaving them feeling both regretful and bitter.
His cheeks flushed, and his hands unconsciously gripped the hem of his long robe, wrinkling the fabric. His voice was filled with embarrassment: "Well... I'll be going now too."
As soon as he finished speaking, he was about to turn around when a clear but undeniable voice came from behind him: "Senior Brother Xiao, don't go, I have something to say to you."
Xiao Wuxin's movements suddenly stopped, his back stiff as a door panel.
He slowly turned around, his gaze fixed on Xu Zhuohua's face, his eyes filled with surprise and a hint of barely perceptible tension.
Xu Zhuohua raised a hand and gently gestured to the chair next to him, his tone calm but gentle: "Senior Brother Xiao, sit down and let's talk."
Xiao Wuxin hesitated for a moment, but ultimately sat down as instructed.
He knew clearly in his heart that his purpose in coming here was twofold: firstly, to probe Xu Zhuohua's attitude, and secondly, for the sake of the Dongzhou Army.
Even though he felt extremely sorry for the couple he had just reunited with, he had no choice but to stay and make sure he said what needed to be said.
Cheng Muyun, standing to the side, frowned, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing his cuffs.
Since he had already written the letter authorizing Xiao Wuxin to take over the Dongzhou army, there was no reason for him to go back on his word.
But the words stuck in his throat. Looking at Xu Zhuohua's reddened eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say them, afraid that she wouldn't be able to bear it.
So, before Xu Zhuohua spoke, the three of them sat quietly without saying a word.
Only the sweltering night breeze, carrying the unique oppressive heat of a summer night, slipped in through the open doorway, swirling up a few scattered fallen leaves on the ground, then quickly brushing past their clothes, leaving behind a brief moment of coolness.
Xu Zhuohua's gaze fell on the flower stand. The pink and white petals swayed gently in the wind, like countless butterflies about to take flight, yet they were pulled by invisible threads, and could only drift helplessly in the wind.
A sense of indescribable sorrow welled up in her heart—in this chaotic world, neither small families nor large communities could find a moment of peace.
Aren't we all like petals in the wind, drifting helplessly, unable to find a safe place to land? We can only wait silently in the darkness, filled with fear, waiting for the wind to stop, waiting for dawn.
“There are some things I need to say, otherwise neither of you will feel at ease.”
Xu Zhuohua finally broke the silence, her gaze falling on her clasped fingers, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force of the grip.
She didn't look at Cheng Muyun and Xiao Wuxin's reactions, but the tense atmosphere between them made her able to guess their expressions without even looking.
Xiao Wuxin frowned subconsciously, his gaze fixed on Xu Zhuohua.
He secretly considered that if Xu Zhuohua really disagreed with Cheng Muyun's risky involvement in the Dongzhou Army's affairs, then he couldn't force him. At worst, he could try to find reinforcements elsewhere, or if all else failed, he could go to the other side of the ocean to hide for a while.
Cheng Muyun also frowned, staring intently at Xu Zhuohua.
He knew her too well; he could clearly sense the suppressed emotions in her voice, like the calm before a storm.
Xu Zhuohua took a deep breath and continued, "Right now, your people are being hunted down, living in constant fear. Some have scattered and fled, even crossing oceans, just to find a way to survive. Therefore, you urgently need a strong armed force to protect yourselves, right?"
Xiao Wuxin's eyes widened suddenly, his face filled with shock and disbelief. He asked in a trembling voice, "How...how did you know?"
These are all pieces of information they deliberately concealed and never mentioned to outsiders.
Xu Zhuohua did not answer his question directly, but continued, "So you need the Dongzhou Army, because behind you, there are tens of thousands of people waiting for you to save them and to live."
Xiao Wuxin's eyes instantly reddened, and hot tears welled up uncontrollably, blurring his vision.
It turns out that Xu Zhuohua had always understood him, understood the heavy burden on his shoulders, and understood his unspeakable difficulties.
She was still the confidante who could see right through him.
“You are the hope of the future,” Xu Zhuohua’s voice trembled slightly, but was unusually firm. “Therefore, I will not let Cheng Muyun stand idly by. You can rest assured that the Dongzhou Army will definitely help you and save you from this predicament.”
In an instant, Xiao Wuxin felt as if something had struck his heart hard, and the immense joy and excitement left him almost speechless.
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