Chapter 346 The More You Explain, the Worse It Gets
Pei Siyan couldn't help but laugh. Zhang Chengxian was a veteran of countless battles. Could anyone possibly hurt him near Tianning City?
Dou Wenyi's focus was completely different from his. Her eyes lit up, her gossip-loving heart burning brightly. "Family members? Who are they?"
"She's said to be his fiancée, and her surname seems to be Shen."
Dou Wenyi's expression froze slightly, as if she had been struck by lightning. Her head was buzzing. It was an old acquaintance!
The two are progressing very quickly, and they can already refer to each other as fiancée in public. Does this mean that their marriage will soon be a reality?
She put down her chopsticks, rubbed her temples, and wanted to confirm again, "Isn't it someone around my age, about the same height, exceptionally beautiful, with a sweet smile and two shallow dimples?"
"Yes, yes, that girl had an ethereal air about her, a beautiful face, and a gentle demeanor. It was just that the night was too dark, and I didn't notice her dimples."
Dou Wenyi was overjoyed; she was almost certain it was the two of them.
Pei Siyan had a cryptic smile on his lips. "Let them in and settle them in the west wing."
This kid's really gotten clever; he's starting to use any means necessary to get a wife.
Dou Wenyi put down her chopsticks, somewhat anxious, "Let's go see, Zhang Chengxian is injured."
He glanced at her sideways, his tone resolute, "Don't rush, let's wait. Maybe they'll come looking for us."
Meanwhile, Shen Lishu carefully helped Zhang Chengxian into the room. The unique fragrance of a young woman wafted into his nostrils, making him somewhat distracted. He controlled his strength and leaned against her as they entered the room.
Shen Lishu politely apologized to the steward, "Thank you, sir. May I ask who the master is? May I trouble you for a moment? My young master is injured. Could you please provide some wound medicine? Is there a doctor on this estate? We can pay for it."
Today, she went to the temple to offer incense, but unfortunately encountered some thugs. Zhang Chengxian came to her rescue, but there were many of them, and he was injured, hurting his shoulder. Although she treated it briefly, she still wanted to find a doctor to take a proper look at it.
As she spoke, she took out a certain amount of silver and handed it over.
The steward did not accept the silver, but politely declined with a smile, "Miss, this is not possible. Please wait a moment while I ask my master."
The steward immediately withdrew and thoughtfully closed the door behind him.
Zhang Chengxian slumped in his chair, his eyes half-closed, and naturally noticed her tension and embarrassment.
He unconsciously withdrew his hand from his sleeve. He always carried the best wound medicine when he was on campaign, so he didn't need her to lower herself to ask for it. But seeing her worried expression and her concern for his injury, a secret sweet feeling welled up in his heart.
Shen Lishu frowned slightly as she looked at the undelivered silver. "I wonder who the owner of this house is. The rules of his steward are just too good."
Zhang Chengxian shrugged indifferently, looking calm. "Who cares who he is? If he's willing to open the door to guests, he has no ill intentions."
He looked around and saw that the furnishings in the room were simple and elegant. From small ornaments to large items such as beds, furniture and screens, everything exuded understated luxury, unlike that of an ordinary family.
Moreover, he had just noticed that the fat boots on the steward's feet were not ordinary boots at all, but military boots.
Smelling the blood emanating from him, Shen Lishu couldn't sit still any longer and suddenly stood up. "I'd better go and see. You can wait for me here. It's too slow for you to come and go."
Zhang Chengxian immediately stood up and grabbed her wrist. "Why are you in such a hurry? I'm just injured, not dead."
"But……"
"Aren't you afraid of running into criminals again so late at night?"
His gaze was calm, and his tone left no room for doubt: "If you want to go, then go together."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by the steward's respectful voice: "General Zhang, Miss Shen, my master requests your presence."
Zhang Chengxian and Shen Lishu exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of surprise in each other's eyes.
Zhang Chengxian understood; the other party indeed recognized him.
The two followed the steward through the covered corridor and soon arrived at a spacious and elegant main hall.
The room was brightly lit. When Zhang Chengxian saw the two people sitting at the head of the table, he raised an eyebrow slightly, while Shen Lishu let out a soft "ah." The two stopped almost simultaneously and bowed to greet each other.
Pei Siyan's lips curled into a smile that wasn't quite a smile, and he offered him a seat, saying there was no need for formalities.
Dou Wenyi's beautiful eyes widened in surprise, her questioning gaze shifting back and forth between the two men before finally settling on Zhang Chengxian's shoulder, which was slightly stained with blood. "It really is you two!"
Her face lit up with surprise, and she couldn't help but tease, "Zhang Chengxian, what are you up to? You're playing the hero who saves the damsel in distress, and then... you want to cling to my Li Shu?"
Pei Siyan slowly sipped his tea, his tone playful: "I am also very curious. Who is so capable of harming our illustrious General Yunhui right here at the foot of Tianning City?"
He deliberately dragged out his words, "Or... is there something more to this injury?"
A hint of embarrassment flashed in Zhang Chengxian's eyes. He touched his nose and said casually, "We met by chance. She went to offer incense and encountered a few mad dogs who didn't know what they were doing, so she attacked them. It was my carelessness."
"As for you, why aren't you staying in the palace? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"
He finally realized, "This manor belongs to the Emperor?"
"What? You won't allow the Empress and me to occasionally go out for some fresh air?" Pei Siyan sneered.
Shen Lishu felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, so ashamed that she wanted to disappear.
If this matter reaches His Majesty tonight, even jumping into the Yellow River won't clear my name.
How can she possibly break off her engagement with Zhang Chengxian?
Especially since they seemed to be able to see through everything, she wished she could just disappear on the spot.
A struggle flashed in her eyes, knowing that any further explanation would be futile: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please don't make fun of me. General Zhang was injured while saving me. Is there a doctor on the estate? His injury needs to be treated as soon as possible."
Seeing her embarrassment, Dou Wenyi stopped teasing her and quickly said, "Yes, someone come here."
He then gave the orders.
Pei Siyan put down his teacup, stood up, and walked over to Zhang Chengxian. After examining his injuries, he said in a serious tone, "Under the emperor's nose, there are still people who dare to commit violence? The security situation in Tianning City is really worrying and needs to be properly rectified."
He said in a voice only audible to the two of them, "You've gotten quite capable, even resorting to a self-inflicted injury ruse?"
Zhang Chengxian didn't dare to argue, and could only give him a pleading look.
A knowing smile flashed in Pei Siyan's eyes, and he nodded slightly. "Go down first."
Shen Lishu finally breathed a sigh of relief. Zhang Chengxian gave her a reassuring look, and the two followed the steward back to the room they had just left.
Despite all that commotion, the heat on her face hadn't subsided, while the man beside her, though injured, still walked with a steady gait, as if with him there, all problems could be easily solved.
It inexplicably makes one feel... at ease.
Only the two pairs of probing and amused gazes behind him made him feel uneasy.
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