Always feel indebted
After a long time of asking, Bai Miaoke still couldn't figure out what the two people were plotting in the house. What surprised her the most was that the two people who almost fought in the afternoon were now so calm.
Needless to say, Lu Yu, who usually kept his emotions expressionless, did not show any unhappiness on his face. He sat aside looking cool and dignified.
But even Xiao Heng, who always had a bad temper and got angry easily, sat calmly on the other side drinking tea without saying a word, which was really strange.
Unfortunately, Bai Miaoke didn't get anything out of her question, so she had to give up for the time being, put aside her curiosity, and told them the information she had found out from the owner of the inn.
"Finally, I can't hold my temper anymore." Lu Yu's eyes were gloomy, and veins bulged on his hand holding the teacup.
"Although you are not in the capital, what about the other ministers in the court? What about the emperor? Why didn't anyone stop him?" Bai Miaoke didn't understand.
"Yes, why?" Lu Yu turned the ring on his hand from time to time.
"Let's go and take a look next door." Bai Miaoke wanted to try her luck.
After changing into a nightgown and leaving Lu Yu to look after the young leader of the Eagle Claw Gang, she and Xiao Heng went into the backyard of the official inn next door, one after the other.
It was already dark, and the only sound in the pitch-black yard was the sound of horses chewing hay. The two men landed quietly and groped their way to the front yard where the lights were on.
After walking a few steps in the dark, I heard footsteps.
Bai Miaoke and Xiao Heng reacted quickly, holding their breath and sticking to the corner, their black clothes perfectly blending into the night.
Then she heard footsteps approaching and entering the toilet next door. Wait, are they going to the toilet?! Bai Miaoke couldn't help but cover her face in frustration.
Then the sound of two people talking came from next door.
"Why would your father be willing to send you here?" one of them asked.
"My father is doing this for my own good. If he doesn't come to collect taxes now, I will be conscripted by the court to fight in the war. Which one do you think is more cost-effective?"
"How did you know there was going to be a war?"
"I heard that Yan Sunzi's soldiers have all reached the west! It's only a matter of time before a war breaks out."
"No wonder they sent me to collect taxes. The son of a bitch only knows how to bully farmers."
"Garlic bird, garlic bird, I don't care about so many birds~"
Accompanied by the rustling sound of fabric rubbing against each other, followed by the intermittent sound of water, Bai Miaoke gritted her teeth and held her breath to listen to their conversation.
As soon as the people left, he immediately jumped onto the roof and took a deep breath.
Xiao Heng stood aside and paid attention to the movements around him. He wanted to reach out to help her calm down but then he took his hand back silently. In the end, he asked in a low voice that only the two of them could hear: "Xiao Ke, do you really love him?"
"Ah?" Bai Miaoke was a little confused about his train of thought. She had just heard the news that there was going to be a war, so why was he still worrying about these love affairs?
Bai Miaoke just rolled her eyes at him and turned back. She could understand why Xiao Heng didn't care about the struggles within the court. That was indeed not something they should worry about.
But it was different when it came to foreign invasions. That would mean wars and deaths, and who knows how many people would be torn apart from their families. This matter concerned every citizen of Dayan.
Bai Miaoke ignored him all the way out of spite, letting Xiao Heng follow behind her. When they were almost in the room and were sure that there was no one around, she took a deep breath and said:
"Yes, I am fond of him, but I want to protect him not just for this. If the news I just heard is true, there must be a conspiracy. If he doesn't return to Beijing, who will stop Ma Hongzhe?"
"If a fight breaks out, no one will be safe when the whole nest is destroyed. How can Moon Shadow Pavilion remain unscathed?"
"Xiao Heng, you and I grew up together. I know you are the most protective of your people. This time, it's for those innocent people."
Xiao Heng interrupted her: "Okay, I will help you with whatever you want to do."
"Not for anything else, just for you."
The last sentence was said in a low voice, but was extremely firm. He was not a high-ranking official in the court, and even if he wanted to protect someone, he could only protect the people he cared about. He didn't need to say these words to her.
Bai Miaoke patted him on the shoulder as she did before, as if to say that they were still good friends fighting side by side.
After resolving Xiao Heng's temper, Bai Miaoke breathed a sigh of relief and turned to discuss the war with Lu Yu.
When I pushed the door open, I saw Lu Yu and the young leader of the Eagle Claw Gang sitting there staring at each other.
When the young gang leader saw Bai Miaoke coming back, he looked gloating, as if "you're going to be doomed" was written all over his face.
Bai Miaoke looked at Lu Yu in confusion. The latter was sitting at the table, staring at the teacup in his hand, his lowered eyes making it impossible to discern his emotions.
Bai Miaoke walked over and sat aside, poured herself a cup of tea and drank it all before saying, "A war is about to begin."
Lu Yu then raised his head and looked over with a stern expression, "What did you say?"
Bai Miaoke then told him in detail the news she had just heard from next door.
"Ma Hongzhe is collaborating with the enemy." Lu Yu only said five words, but it was like a thunderclap, shocking Bai Miaoke so much that her eyes widened.
"He is the Grand Tutor of a country and the teacher of the Crown Prince. How could he collaborate with the enemy and commit treason?" Bai Miaoke couldn't believe it.
"The specific reason is still unknown, but his collusion with the enemy country started a long time ago," said Lu Yu.
He had been investigating the matter before he left Beijing, and had basically gathered evidence. Ma Hongzhe had been communicating with neighboring countries since about ten years ago, and it had become more frequent in recent years. However, this old fox was very cautious in his work, and usually let his subordinates come forward, never personally, so there was no substantial evidence.
More importantly, Lu Yu had discussed with the emperor many times but still failed to figure out the reason why he colluded with the enemy and committed treason. He was powerful and influential in the dynasty, with deep roots. It could be said that he could get whatever he wanted. Even if Lu Yu occasionally made things difficult for him, he could not shake his foundation. Therefore, this unknown reason was probably not that simple.
"If it doesn't work, I'll go kill him." Bai Miaoke looked at Lu Yu's frown and proposed the simplest solution. Since Ma Hongzhe could send people to hunt down Lu Yu, why couldn't Lu Yu find someone to kill him back?
"Some things can't be solved by killing people. I must figure them out." Lu Yu tried to reason with Bai Miaoke.
"Pfft." A sneer suddenly broke into the serious conversation between the two people, causing them to look at the young leader of the Eagle Claw Gang who was tied to the side.
"Newbie, what are you laughing at?" Bai Miaoke glanced at him.
"Auntie, don't you know your own identity? Is there anything easier than killing people? He actually wants to persuade you, hahaha." The greenhorn young gang leader's utterly ungraceful laughter was interrupted by Bai Miaoke pinching his chin. With a click, his jaw was dislocated and the pain made him unable to laugh anymore, and he immediately wilted.
Bai Miaoke's eyebrows jumped. When did this guy recognize her identity? She was careless and thought he was a fool. She didn't expect that he knew so much.
After telling him to shut up, Bai Miaoke sat back at the table as if nothing had happened and said with a smile, "He's too noisy."
After saying that, he saw Lu Yu looking at him inquiringly.
At this moment, silence is better than words. Bai Miaoke couldn't help but say, "What kind of identity can I have? Haha, you also know that I am the young master of the Bai family, haha."
Lu Yu lowered his eyes, took a sip of tea, and finally did not ask anything.
In fact, before Bai Miaoke came back, this man had already told him that Bai Miaoke was a killer. In order to sow discord between the two, he exaggerated and listed in detail the cruelty of Bai Miaoke's methods, and forcibly described her as a perverted murderer. In the end, he did not forget to negotiate with Lu Yu, asking him to let him go so that he could take him away from this bad woman.
But Lu Yu just listened to him the whole time with an expressionless face, looking calm as if he had known it for a long time.
It would be a lie to say he was not shocked, but he quickly thought back to the events that happened after the two met. First, his top-notch martial arts, then his superb disguise skills, and his ability to climb over walls and eavesdrop with ease. Even when he came to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, he could do it as if he was in an empty place. With all these actions, he was afraid that what this man said was somewhat true.
But she had never hurt herself, and even saved herself many times. Lu Yu quickly accepted this fact, and even cooperated with her to pretend not to hear or doubt when Bai Miaoke was trying to cover her ears and steal the bell.
He had picked these flowers with great difficulty, and he would not allow anyone to destroy their relationship.
Even if she is really a perverted murderer, she is still his wife. He should just teach her well in the future. No one else has the right to point fingers at her.
So the issue was revealed in a deaf-mute manner and a crazy attempt to change the subject.
The two returned to their business.
"We have to hurry up, otherwise it will be too late if a real fight breaks out." Bai Miaoke was a little anxious.
"This is not just Ma Hongzhe's decision. Your Majesty should be able to delay for a while. There is no need to rush. We can reach Gusu in another three to five days." Lu Yu said slowly.
Bai Miaoke looked at his confident look and felt inexplicably convinced. Her uneasiness and anxiety gradually subsided.
The moon was as cold as water, and the annoying young gang leader was also sent to Xiao Heng for care.
Only Bai Miaoke and Lu Yu were in the room, sitting opposite each other by the window. The night wind blew on them with a bit of chill, but no one said they wanted to leave.
They were talking incoherently, as if enjoying the calm before the storm.
"Look, the moon is so round. Is the fifteenth day of the lunar month coming soon?" Bai Miaoke pointed at the full moon in the sky and showed it to him. Lu Yu understood that she was missing home.
"In another month, we will return to Beijing." Lu Yu took her hand and held her fingers tightly. He did not mention getting married again, but he had thought about it countless times in his heart.
But after knowing that she was a killer, he felt that his plan might not be comprehensive. She was so free and unrestrained, and it would be unfair to confine her in the world of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
Lu Yu knew that many noble ladies and even royal princesses in the capital wanted to marry into the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, but love often makes one feel indebted. Lu Yu still felt that the family background that others were vying for was unfair to her, so she stopped talking about marriage, fearing that her love would become a bondage to her.
Love is always feeling indebted.
Little did she know that Bai Miaoke, who was also gazing at the moon in deep thought, had a mind as dim as a candle flame. She was debating whether she should go back to her room tonight. It was already so late and Lu Yu didn't ask her to go back. Maybe she had some ideas but was too embarrassed to say them. Should she take the initiative?
While Bai Miaoke was thinking about this and that, she didn't notice that the man's gaze towards her was very complicated, hesitant and struggling, yet full of tenderness.
"Rest early."
"How about we ..."
The two spoke almost at the same time. Bai Miaoke swallowed the remaining two words "sleep" and changed her words to "It's time to rest. I'll go back first."
Lu Yu stood up to see him off. Bai Miaoke did not refuse verbally, but she just climbed back to the next room through the window in a huff, expressing with her actions that she didn't need him.
The confused Prime Minister was left standing there touching his nose.
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