Chapter 68 His troubled A-Zhu… actually wanted him to lose his children…
*
The Shenji Camp was established by the founding emperor of the Great Ye Kingdom. Its duty was to guard the eastern capital city and consisted of three parts. First, the Shenwu Guard, which was responsible for patrolling the imperial city; second, the Shenji Division, which specialized in researching, developing, and forging various mechs, shields, bows, and crossbows; and third, the Shenji Team, which was skilled in using all the weapons produced by the Shenji Division.
There are no age restrictions for members of the Divine Mechanism Division, and the older they are, the more experienced they are, so most of them are not young. However, the Divine Mechanism Team is completely the opposite of the Divine Martial Guard, which relies on physical fitness and martial arts skills, and is mostly composed of young and middle-aged men.
Shen Qinglu's striking appearance naturally attracted the attention of many young people, who either gazed at her with longing or stole glances.
It wasn't that she wasn't aware of the admiring gazes, but rather that one was so intense that she ignored everything else. When she looked up again, she still saw nothing unusual.
The people on the watchtower have vanished without a trace.
Suddenly, she heard Shen Changting call out joyfully, "Divine Strategist!"
Her heart skipped a beat for no reason, and she looked over instinctively. She saw that the person who came was dressed in a dark blue official robe, as elegant as a bamboo, and the frosty air between his brows seemed to have faded a lot.
"I've improved the hidden arrow according to your method, and it's indeed much more effective." Shen Changting said excitedly, pulling her over as proof. "Don't believe me? Ask my sister!"
"..."
Now there's no escaping it.
She had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "It is indeed better than the previous one."
As for anything else, she didn't want to say a word.
"Women's strength varies, and the items they use also differ from person to person; what is most suitable should be chosen." Mu Hanshi's voice was still so light, like drifting snow, but it was different from before. It was as if those aimless snowflakes, not knowing where to go, had finally found a clear destination.
“You’re right.” Shen Changting looked like he had been taught a lesson and hurriedly asked Shen Qinglu, “Sister, do you feel there’s anything else that’s not quite right? Tell me quickly so I can ask the Divine Strategist to point it out to me and I can continue to improve.”
Just as Shen Qinglu was about to say that nothing was wrong with her, Yu Jingliang suddenly remembered something and said to her, "Ali, I remember you seem to be carrying that hidden arrow with you, is it on you?"
Last night, when the two siblings separated, Yu Jingliang was extremely worried. He said that even though the capital was safe, it was still a bit inappropriate after nightfall. He was afraid that they might encounter some fools, so he insisted on accompanying her to the General's Mansion first.
She repeatedly said no, but to put Yu Jingliang at ease, she naturally showed that she was well prepared, such as with self-defense items.
Now everyone was watching her, so she had no choice but to nod, then take the hidden arrow from her sleeve and hand it to Mu Hanshi with her head down.
When Mu Hanshi reached out to take it, she saw the bite marks on the other person's hand.
My feelings were complicated; I wasn't ashamed or regretful, but rather puzzled.
Did she bite that hard?
"Uncle Jiu, your hand... what bit you?"
Mu Lin's question startled her.
Her heart seemed to leap into her throat, and she subconsciously glanced at Mu Hanshi.
Those dark eyes, like a deep cave concealing countless mysteries, silently warned some people not to cross the line, and even more so, not to try to probe her secrets.
To others, she might have just glanced at the woman out of curiosity, but Mu Hanshi understood her warning and couldn't help but find it amusing.
"I bit it by accident."
The answer was clearly unbelievable, yet no one questioned it, including Mu Lin, who found it rather strange. The bite marks were strange, the answer was strange, and even stranger was that he seemed to be smiling when he saw Mu Han.
On second thought, he realized he was seeing things. After all, they had been uncle and nephew for many years, and he had never seen his mature-looking uncle smile before, as if he was born unable to smile.
Shen Qinglu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to herself that this person still had some sense of shame.
Mu Hanshi held the sleeve arrow, seemingly examining it closely, but in reality, he was just trying to feel the lingering warmth of his body on it. After a while, he started fiddling with it, his slender hands turning it around, finding it quite pleasing to the eye.
"Mu Wei's cousin should be twenty-two this year, right?" Shen Linlang asked Gu Ruxu in a low voice.
Gu Ruxu replied, "It's twenty-two."
"He's good in every way, except he's a bit quiet and doesn't like to see people. Otherwise, he would have already risen to the fifth rank at such a young age, and his marriage prospects would be very smooth."
The Divine Strategist is a fifth-rank official, neither high nor low, but if he is a lord of a marquis's family and has an exceptionally outstanding appearance, then he is a top-tier son-in-law candidate from a prestigious family.
Gu Ruxu mumbled, "Perhaps our time has not yet come."
The word "fate" filled Shen Linlang with deep emotion, and she let out a soft sigh.
Because she didn't want to get too close to Mu Hanshi, Shen Qinglu deliberately stepped back a little, which allowed her to hear everything they were saying.
On the surface, they all seem to be right.
In terms of looks, ability, official rank, and background, this Mu Lao Jiu was indeed outstanding in every way, but no one knew that he not only had someone he loved, but was also mentally ill.
Thinking this, Shen Qinglu wished she could get even further away.
After studying the arrow, Mu Hanshi looked up at her and asked, "May I ask you to shoot an arrow to test its strength?"
Is this ever going to end?!
She walked over reluctantly, took the item expressionlessly, and put it back on her wrist. "Lord Mu, I find this hidden weapon quite useful. There are too many people here, so it's probably not appropriate to display it."
People from the Divine Martial Camp are coming and going. Arrows don't have eyes. What if someone gets hurt?
"Just shoot upwards, that's where you aim." Mu Hanshi looked at her, but pointed to the watchtower.
Suddenly, a thought struck her.
Could this bastard be the one who was spying on her from the shadows? How dare he blatantly provoke her? Does he really think she's a pushover?
She pretended to be obedient and compliant, nodding as if she had inadvertently triggered a mechanism on the hidden arrow. Although the arrowhead was pointing downwards, it wasn't too low; the slightly tilted angle was just right for Mu Hanshi's lower body.
In the blink of an eye, the arrow pierced the ground diagonally, penetrating more than halfway into the ground, while Mu Hanshi had already moved to her side.
The crowd then realized what was happening and rushed forward.
There are those who care about her, and those who care about Mu Hanshi.
She seemed startled, not daring to even lift her head. "Lord Mu, I didn't mean to... I was just trying to adjust things properly, I didn't expect to press that mechanism..."
"It's nothing," Mu Hanshi said in a low, deep voice.
It turns out that his Azhu really hated him now!
Should he be glad that he was too successful as the older brother in his past life, or should he be glad that he didn't reveal his true colors? Even though the person he longs for is so close, he feels that they are so far away, so far that he could never catch up with them in two lifetimes.
Azhu, Azhu...
"Lord Mu, shall I try again?"
"No need, I already know your strength."
Good to know.
Shen Qinglu thought that some people should be taught that people are afraid of others being more ruthless than themselves, the ruthless are afraid of the crazy, and the crazy are afraid of the reckless.
After she showed off her skills today, it seems that Mu Lao Jiu will have to think twice before threatening her again, unless he's not afraid of death.
As the two passed each other, she deliberately lowered her head, thus failing to see the sadness in Mu Hanshi's eyes.
Looking at the arrow that was more than halfway into the ground, Mu Hanshi gave Shen Changting some suggestions for improvement.
Shen Changting listened intently, nodding as he listened, his eyes filled with admiration.
Even after everyone had left, they were still there marveling, "The Divine Strategist is truly amazing!"
Shen Qinglu remained noncommittal.
In terms of ability, she believed that Mu Lao Jiu was capable.
As for the rest...
Gu Ruxu came over, touched her hair, and said, "You really scared your aunt to death just now."
"It was my fault for making you worry, Aunt." She could tell that Gu Ruxu was indeed frightened; her face was noticeably pale, and her voice sounded off.
She couldn't help but feel some regret, blaming herself for almost causing trouble for those around her because of a moment of anger.
Fortunately, Mu Lao Jiu dodged quickly, otherwise he would have been shot in the thigh.
*
The Shen family boarded the carriage, and then the carriage drove away.
Mu Lin watched them go, his handsome face losing its usual spiritedness and replaced by the melancholy of a young man troubled by love.
Cheng Ying patted his shoulder, "You'd better not even think about it. Not to mention that Miss Ali doesn't have that kind of intention, you won't be able to get past your mother's opinion."
The two are cousins and have known each other for many years. Cheng Ying knows a lot about the Mu family.
“My mother clearly said before that as long as I like it, it doesn’t matter what my family background is.” His voice was a little muffled.
Jiang Yingshui did say those words, and she said them in front of Ning Shi and Mu Wei. Firstly, she married into the Mu family precisely because Ning Shi wanted to silence gossip and used those words as a shield. Secondly, she wanted to demonstrate her magnanimity and curry favor with her mother-in-law and husband.
Mu Lin, her son, could never understand her thoughts.
“It’s not your mother’s fault. It’s really hard for her to accept Miss Ali. Besides, now that this has happened, it seems to have calmed down for now, but who knows what other storms might come? She’ll probably be even more opposed,” Cheng Ying added.
“Ah Ying, sometimes I’m quite envious of you.” Mu Lin said with a bitter expression. “You can do whatever you want on your own, without anyone to control or restrain you, which is pretty good.”
Cheng Ying is a relative beyond the fifth degree of kinship. Because her parents died and she had no one to protect her, she was brought back to the Mu family by Mu Wei six years ago.
They were about the same age, only two years apart, and practiced martial arts together. Although they were cousins, they were practically brothers. If they weren't so close, he wouldn't have said such hurtful things.
"You really know how to hit a nerve, kid. I even tried to comfort you, but you've only made yourself more worried." Cheng Ying said, then punched him. "I think you've been too lazy to exercise lately, that's why you're thinking about all sorts of things. Come on, let's have a fight!"
The two cousins exchanged a glance, then turned and walked inside.
From a distance, Yu Liuzhu appeared from a corner of a wall. She stared at their backs, her eyes filled with resentment and anger, as well as a hint of indescribable contempt and disgust.
In her past life, she was neglected by Mu Lin, and rumors about her were rampant in the mansion.
At first, she was still being petty and refused to back down, but later she became increasingly insecure and gritted her teeth to lower herself and beg for peace. She even cooked soup herself and sent it to him.
At that time, Mu Lin would not come to her room when he returned home, but would rest in the study.
The study was half-open, and she saw Mu Lin and Cheng Ying together. The two were very close and talking about something. Cheng Ying laughed from time to time, and her delicate face was more beautiful than a woman's in the lamplight.
There are many sordid things happening within the walls of high society, and quite a few men have homosexual tendencies. The more she thought about it, the more disgusted she felt, and in a fit of anger, she smashed the soup bowl in her hand on the ground.
Hearing the commotion, Mu Lin came out, but instead of feeling guilty, he scolded her. Cheng Ying, on the other hand, stood with her arms crossed against the door, seemingly watching the spectacle.
Even though it happened in her past life, she still feels resentful when she thinks about it now.
Her expression shifted, slowly calming down before anticipation returned as she continued to wait.
After an unknown amount of time, she finally met the person she was waiting for. After straightening her clothes, she walked towards him in her most satisfactory state.
"Uncle Mu Jiu".
Yang Zhen instinctively stepped in front of her.
She paused for a moment.
"Uncle Mu, I... I came to you to ask about my mother and the others."
"You should know they're alright, why don't you go ask them yourself?" Mu Hanshi's voice was indifferent, sounding devoid of emotion.
Upon hearing this, she tried to get closer, but Yang Zhen blocked her way. She was secretly annoyed that these servants were so blind, always flattering the powerful and kicking the weak when they were down. If she were to marry into the Mu family one day, the first thing she would do is deal with these blind fools.
"Uncle Mu must know about my family. I'm not my mother's biological daughter. My mother is afraid of upsetting her own daughter, so she doesn't like to see me often. I'm really worried about her, and after thinking it over, I felt that I should come and ask her to put my mind at ease. I don't know if my mother and the others are really alright?"
To show that she was genuinely worried, she spoke with a sob in her voice, thinking that even if it wasn't a past life, the person who was meant to like her would still like her.
She knew what kind of appearance would best attract attention, so she deliberately acted sickly and even coughed twice while covering her mouth with a handkerchief.
Yang Zhen looked at her for a moment, then gazed at the sky.
This young lady Yu's thoughts are not very deep. Even though the Shen family is already fine, she still insists on asking again. It sounds like she cares, but if you think about it more deeply, it seems like she doesn't want the Shen family to be well at all.
Why are you putting on such a pretentious act? Are you trying to gain sympathy and curry favor with others?
For a long time, Mu Hanshi remained silent.
So calm, so indifferent.
After a long silence, he replied calmly, "Whether they are alright or not is not up to me to decide."
Yu Liuzhu sensed the chill in those words, and a coldness ran down her spine as she felt a surge of anxiety. She was anxious because she hadn't gotten any information out of him, and also because she felt like she wasn't being taken seriously by anyone.
But when she thought about it carefully, she realized that she hadn't done anything in her previous life, and she hadn't even met this Uncle Jiu many times. Why was he not only not helping her in this life, but also so indifferent to her?
"Mu Jiu..."
"I told you, you have an excellent face. Just be mindful and don't ruin it."
Why are you saying this again?
She touched her face in surprise, thinking to herself, "So this means you like my face, but why does it sound like that..."
"Uncle Mu, you've misunderstood. I didn't mean anything by it. I was just concerned about them." Her eyes were slightly red, but her heart was filled with resentment, resentment at why her life had been so unlucky. "If you're not comfortable saying it, then I won't ask anymore."
Mu Hanshi didn't look at her again and prepared to get into the carriage.
She was using a retreat as a tactic to advance, but when she realized the person was really leaving, she was filled with both hatred and anxiety. "Last time you asked me what name it would be if we built a charity hall in the city. I thought about it for a long time. How about we call it Jishan Hall?"
The only response she received was the cold, indifferent air.
Why is this happening?
He clearly helped and protected her in his past life, and even called her name when he was drunk. He had such deep and restrained affection. How come he doesn't have it in this life?
She was unwilling to accept it!
It's all that wretched child's fault...
If he had died on the day of the Awakening of Insects, would none of these things have happened?
Her face was filled with hatred and resentment, which she thought Mu Hanshi's carriage had already driven away. Little did she know that a jade-like hand lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, taking in her distorted face.
The carriage quickly drove away, leaving its tracks on the road.
Yang Zhen seized the opportune moment and said, "My lord, Mei Yi just came to report that, as you instructed, all matters related to the couplets have been cleared away."
He thought that the person in his dream that the Lord had mentioned should have been found, so why did he not seem happy, and even seem to be struggling with something?
He had always thought that such a dilemma could never happen to his exceptionally talented master, but now he was seeing it, and so clearly at that.
Mu Hanshi was indeed struggling with how much Shen Qinglu disliked him.
That arrow was clearly aimed at him; it was extremely accurate and powerful, clearly intended to hit him squarely, leaving him no way out.
His A'Zhu...
They actually want him to be childless and without descendants!
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