Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Traveling Together
The temperature of his palm was so hot that it could be clearly seen through the thin summer shirt, burning the skin on Zhe Rou's wrist, almost making her sweat.
She lowered her voice and tried to deny: "You got the wrong person."
However, Xie Yunzhou's tone had become firm. He was surprised and delighted. He lowered his head to search her eyes, "Jiu Niang, it really is you!"
Zhe Rou stood there, not knowing how to respond for a moment.
Only then did Xie Yunzhou belatedly realize the sharp pain in his arm, which spread to half of his body. A layer of cold sweat immediately broke out on his back. He gritted his teeth and took two breaths, then asked with all his might, "Jiu Niang, weren't you in Shangjing? Why are you here? Where is Lu Bingyan?"
When Zhe Rou suddenly heard Lu Chen's name, her body trembled slightly.
Xie Yunzhou immediately noticed her strangeness. He stared at her expression for a moment, then spoke hesitantly, "You and Lu Bingyan..."
Zhe Rou unconsciously clenched her palms.
Now that things have come to this, she might as well talk it out. Perhaps because of their past relationship, Xie Yunzhou can help her conceal her whereabouts.
Zhe Rou pursed her lips, raised her eyes to look at Xie Yunzhou, and said softly: "That's right. I have severed all ties with him."
When their eyes met, Xie Yunzhou was stunned.
His head was buzzing and he almost thought his ears were burning.
Coming back to his senses from his initial disbelief, Xie Yunzhou looked at Zhe Rou intently, his voice lowered, "He bullied you?"
His face was pale and his breath was weak, but his voice was full of undisguised concern and nervousness.
Zhe Rou's nose suddenly felt sore.
Among those nobles who knew her and Lu Chen, Xie Yunzhou was probably the only one who did not think that she was of humble origin and was not a match for Lu Chen, nor did he think that Lu Chen had no choice but to have an affair with someone else without telling her.
Before the warmth in her eyes could flow down, Zhe Rou quickly turned her gaze away, suppressed the complicated emotions in her heart, and whispered: "Mingqi...you and I have some friendship. I have a request for you, I wonder if you can agree to it."
Xie Yunzhou lowered his eyes to look at her faintly red eyes, and felt a deep pain in his heart. His Adam's apple rolled slightly, and he said in a hoarse voice: "Why are you being so polite to me?"
Hearing his response, Zhe Rou felt relieved. She pursed her lips and said, "Lu Chen doesn't know where I went south. If he asks about it in the future, just pretend you've never seen me, okay?"
Xie Yunzhou's eyes flashed with hesitation and struggle for a moment, but he finally nodded, not at all like his usual excited look, and responded very solemnly, "Don't worry, Jiuniang."
After hearing his agreement, Zhe Rou relaxed, a smile appeared on her face, and she said goodbye to him.
Seeing her turn to leave, Xie Yunzhou was stunned for a moment, then instinctively chased after her, grabbed her sleeve, and after taking a few breaths, he said softly, "Jiu Niang, this area is not peaceful. Wherever you want to go, I'll take you there."
Zhe Rou was no fool, so she naturally understood his feelings. But precisely because she understood, she rejected him. Since she had no intention of responding, she shouldn't have any unnecessary involvement with him.
Needless to say, Xie Yunzhou and Lu Chen still have such a close relationship.
Zhe Rou shook her head and tried to pull her sleeve out of his palm.
Xie Yunzhou stubbornly refused to let go, his face pale and bloodless, his temples gradually soaked with cold sweat, beads of sweat the size of beans dripped down his chin. Zhe Rou could see that he was gritting his teeth and holding on, not daring to struggle hard for a while.
Just as the situation was at a stalemate, Zhou Xiao, who was standing by, suddenly realized something. He suddenly struck his left palm with his right fist and shouted, "Young Master, this makes sense!"
Zhe Rou and Xie Yunzhou were both startled and looked over at the same time.
Zhou Xiao coughed uncomfortably and explained, "Young Master, you may not know this. Last night, my brothers captured two people alive. One died from torture, but the other one confessed. They said they received a tip-off that there was a young woman on that canal boat. If they could capture her, they might be able to negotiate terms with you... I originally thought that the bandit was just going crazy, but now it seems that the person those pirates were looking for last night must be Lady Ning..."
Xie Yunzhou was so angry that he laughed, and narrowed his eyes slightly: "These bastards are quite courageous. Where did they get this information from?"
Zhou Xiao shook his head. "I haven't asked, but I think it has something to do with Beijing."
Xie Yunzhou was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Zhe Rou: "Jiu Niang?"
Zhe Rou understood what he meant. Since there was a thief who had his eyes on her, it was too dangerous for her to be alone outside.
Zhou Xiao, aware of his position as a trusted confidant, looked around and decided to support his master at the right moment: "These thieves are so despicable, there's no guarantee they won't attack you again. To be on the safe side, why don't you come with us first?"
After all, safety is the most important thing, and everything else can be discussed later. Zhe Rou thought about it, no longer hesitated, and nodded in agreement.
Xie Yunzhou's injuries recurred and he urgently needed to take medicine and recuperate, so the group got off the boat in Suzhou. Zhou Xiao asked someone to rent a small courtyard for everyone to rest for a while.
Zhe Rou accompanied Ye Yian to his family's pharmacy and bought some medicinal herbs for treating injuries. She also asked the pharmacy maid to borrow a set of clothes for her.
I returned to the courtyard, quickly wiped myself, changed into clean clothes, had dinner, and everything was settled. It was almost evening.
The temporarily rented courtyard was very simple, with only two rooms. Xie Yunzhou and Zhe Rou were placed in the main house, one in the east side room and the other in the west side room, separated by the main room. Zhou Xiao and his guards rested in the side room.
Zhe Rou had just made her bed and hadn't even lain down when she heard a loud bang coming from the east room.
After hesitating for a moment, she walked to the main room and tentatively asked softly, "Mingqi, are you okay?"
There was a rustling sound in the east side room. Xie Yunzhou opened the wooden door and walked out. He seemed to be unable to help but look back. His voice was slightly tense. "It's okay. I'll go call Zhou Xiao over."
Zhe Rou followed his gaze and saw a shiny black centipede winding on the ground.
Zhe Rou was stunned.
She used to work in her uncle's clinic and had to deal with these things. She was afraid at first, but after seeing them many times, she got used to it.
Zhe Rou immediately turned around and fetched two teacups from the table. She quickly walked over, squatted down, and watched where the centipede was going. With a quick and steady clasp of her hands, she instantly gathered the centipede into the cups.
Looking at the teacup clasped in her hand, Xie Yunzhou's expression changed and he almost froze in place.
Zhe Rou couldn't help but laugh, "Ming Qi, so you are afraid of insects?"
Xie Yunzhou's movements were stiff, and he gritted his teeth, but he forced himself to remain calm and raised his eyebrows. "How could it be?"
"Really?" Zhe Rou pretended to hand over the teacup.
Unexpectedly, she would do this. Xie Yunzhou's face turned pale, his eyes widened instantly, and he could hardly speak clearly. "I, I, I was wrong, Jiu Niang, please spare me."
Ever since leaving Shangjing, Zhe Rou had been in a depressed mood. But today, for the first time, she smiled sincerely. Her eyes reflected the dim candlelight, and she was full of tenderness. "You are the dignified little tyrant of Shangjing. I thought you were fearless, but it turns out you are afraid of little bugs. Who would believe me if I told them that?"
Xie Yunzhou lowered his eyes and looked at her, coughed awkwardly, his eyes wandered, and his ears turned red.
Zhe Rou couldn't help laughing for a moment.
After dealing with the centipede, she was about to return to her own residence when Xie Yunzhou suddenly called out, "Nine Mother."
Zhe Rou turned around when she heard the voice and asked, "Hmm?"
"You look better when you smile." Xie Yunzhou looked at her for a while, the corners of his lips twitching slightly, his voice a little hoarse, "Even if you laugh at me, I'm happy in my heart."
His eyes were clean, clear, bright, soulful, and had a bit of fresh and passionate youthfulness. In the candlelight, it seemed as if they only contained her.
Their eyes suddenly met, Zhe Rou was stunned for a moment, then smiled as if nothing had happened and turned back to the west room.
It started to rain at night, and the raindrops hit the window frames, dripping non-stop.
Xie Yunzhou has never liked this kind of wet and sticky weather.
But tonight there was something strangely different.
In the west room, the candlelight was dim and warm, and through the peach blossom paper on the lattice door, a graceful silhouette was vaguely cast.
Xie Yunzhou looked for a while and forced himself to look away.
He didn't know when he had a fever again at night. He curled up slightly on the bed, his consciousness was hazy. Her slightly red eyes in the daytime kept appearing in his mind, as if weaving an invisible dense net, slowly wrapping around his heart, twisting it and causing him to feel a pang of pain.
Knowing that something happened between her and Lu Chen, he thought he would be happy, but when he actually heard it, he felt a pain in his heart.
It was because no one in the world knew better than him how much she cared about Lu Chen, so much that it made him jealous and wanted to go crazy. Whenever she mentioned Lu Chen, a touch of tenderness would appear in her eyes. Perhaps she herself had not even noticed that her heart and eyes were full of no room for a second person.
During the four years in Taozhou, the two people depended on each other and their youthful love, how could they give up so easily?
If we really want to break off the relationship, it would be tantamount to grinding bones and gouging flesh, breaking the soul.
He still remembered her smiling and saying that a hundred years later, she and Lu Chen would be buried together.
How much suffering and pain did you have to endure to want to break up with Lu Chen?
In a trance, Xie Yunzhou didn't dare to think about it anymore.
He didn't know what to do.
On the one hand, he couldn't help but be close to desire, and on the other hand, he was disgusted with his own meanness for deliberately coveting his brother's wife. The two thoughts tore back and forth, and the struggle made him have a splitting headache, and he gradually fell into a drowsiness.
The drizzle continued for two days. Although it finally stopped, the sky was still covered with dark clouds.
Funeral arrangements were being made in front of Xu's residence. Damp air was carried by the wind into the mourning hall, causing the white banners to flutter.
Lu Chen delivered the funeral money to the door and went in to visit Xu Chong.
"Please accept my condolences, sir."
Xu Chong nodded, "It's fine with me."
Lu Chen glanced at him with a guilty look on his face, "It was my negligence that failed to protect Madam."
Xu Chong shook his head and patted his shoulder in relief. "I'm very pleased that Sanlang has dealt with Pan Xing. This can be considered revenge for my wife. You should go see Rong Niang. She...sigh."
Lu Chen nodded in agreement, bowed, and turned to go to the mourning hall.
Xu Yourong, dressed in mourning clothes, was kneeling before Zhou's coffin. When she looked up and saw Lu Chen coming in, she called out with a choked voice, "Brother Bingyan."
Lu Chen nodded, "Mother Rong."
After offering incense in front of the coffin, Lu Chen looked at Xu Yourong and said in a gentle and soothing voice, "Please accept my condolences. Your mother would not want to see you so sad. I just promised you in front of her coffin that I would come and propose marriage once she's finished her mourning period. Please take care of yourself."
Xu Yourong's eyes were red as she responded softly.
After walking out of Xu's house, Lu Chen's eyes calmed down and he curled his lips slightly.
Seeing him come out after finishing his business, Nan Heng hurried forward and reported, "Sir, the guards spotted a man acting suspiciously outside the mansion. He seemed to be trying to find out about the women in our mansion, so they arrested him. Who would have thought that the man actually claimed to be a pirate under Pan Xing and asked to see you specifically, saying that he had something important to discuss with you."
Lu Chen pondered for a moment after hearing this and said, "Let's go back and take a look."
When they returned to the mansion, the suspected thief had been apprehended by the guards and was detained in the front hall.
Lu Chen lowered his eyes and looked at him. He was not a good-looking man. He was over 30 years old, with a dark complexion from sun and rain. He was slightly bent over, his eyes were slightly narrowed, and there was a smile on the corner of his lips. He looked like a slick and dishonest person.
"Who are you?"
"My surname is Chen, and I'm the third in lineage. I used to work for Pan Xing, the second-in-command of the Pan clan, known as 'Flipping Sky Dragon.' You can call me Chen San."
Lu Chen smiled, but his eyes were cold. "How dare you! The imperial court is hunting down the remaining pirates everywhere, and you still dare to come to my door?"
Chen San struggled a little, raised his chest, and smiled upwards: "Since I dared to come here, I must have brought something that would interest you, sir, and I am just trying to win a few taels of silver. I have a letter in my arms, and you will know it at a glance."
Lu Chen motioned Nan Heng to take it.
The paper was top-quality Chengxin Xuan paper, but it had been crumpled and creased, with damaged edges and a few spots of dried-in water stains.
It's a letter of divorce.
His mother's handwriting.
After seeing the contents of the paper, Lu Chen's eyes turned completely cold. He picked up the divorce letter with his long fingers and asked in a cold voice, "Where did you get this piece of paper?!"
Chen San grinned, "What a coincidence! A few days ago, my brothers robbed a grain boat on the Bian River. It was nothing special, but one of the women they kidnapped claimed to have a past relationship with you. My brothers found this divorce letter on her and hurriedly sent the news via flying geese.
Originally, the brothers just wanted to try their luck and see if they could use her to save our Second In Command's life. After all, this young woman is an abandoned woman and probably worth very little. Since Second In Command is no longer with us, I just want to try my luck and ask for some money to return home. I wonder how much money you are willing to pay to redeem her?"
Lu Chen knew in his heart that there was no mistake in the handwriting, the paper, or the contents. This divorce letter could not be fake. The more so, the more frightening it was. If she had not really encountered an accident, why would she let it go?
The veins on Lu Chen's forehead throbbed faintly. He looked at the person on the ground with cold eyes and sneered, "What kind of proof is this just a piece of waste paper?"
Chen San raised his head and secretly glanced at the guards beside him. He seemed to be embarrassed and said, "As for the evidence... this... this involves my wife's privacy. I'm afraid it's not good for others to hear it."
Lu Chen stared at him coldly for a moment, then signaled Nan Heng to lead his men to retreat.
Seeing the guards retreat, Chen San grinned, "To answer your question, my lady boarded the canal boat southbound alone on June 24th. She was a pretty girl with slim shoulders and waist, lychee eyes and mountain eyebrows. She spoke softly and had several medical books and notebooks with her..."
He knew very well that what he said could not be considered as evidence and that he could find out by just asking around, but since it concerned her safety, Lu Chen could hardly suppress his fear and anger and could only force himself to stay calm and not fall into the trap.
Chen San looked at Lu Chen's cold face with a smile and continued, "Master, have you thought about it? If the news of the Second Master gets back, your wife will probably have no good days. That delicate and tender girl, the brothers have been envious for a long time, just waiting to have a taste of her... Tsk tsk, if she falls into the den of thieves, I don't need to say how vulgar a man can be on the bed..."
"Even though you've divorced her, she was once your bedmate, wasn't she? If someone else were to abuse her..." Chen San chuckled twice and looked at Lu Chen with a sullen look on his face. "Then you'd lose face too. Isn't that what I'm saying?"
Every word was like a poisoned arrow, piercing deep into the heart and lungs.
How could she allow such scum to offend her?
Unable to contain himself any longer, his seething rage had already burned through his rationality. Lu Chen quickly stepped forward, grabbed him by the throat, and shouted with red eyes, "Shut up!"
Lu Chen tightened his fingers, his joints crackling with force. Chen San's face gradually turned red and purple, and he gasped for breath under his palm, "Sir... don't you want to save people anymore?"
Hearing this, Lu Chen relaxed a little.
At this moment, a cold light flashed unexpectedly, and Chen San suddenly drew out a short blade. Gathering all his strength, he took advantage of the opportunity and stabbed Lu Chen's waist and abdomen without any delay.
A sharp cold pain came over him instantly, and half of his body went numb. Lu Chen almost instinctively grabbed Chen San's wrist, exerted force suddenly, removed the weapon, raised his foot and kicked him.
In a rage, he kicked Chen San with full force, and he fell to the ground. Several of his ribs were broken and he kept coughing up blood. After taking two breaths, he raised his head and laughed uncontrollably.
"What a bastard official! You killed my eldest brother, so you have to pay for it with your life! Your woman won't have a good life either. The wife of an official is not ordinary. Wait for the brothers to play with her until she's worn out and sell her to a brothel..."
"Shut up!" Lu Chen's eyes flushed red. He stepped forward and clamped Chen San's neck, tightening his grip so hard that he almost strangled him. He didn't let go until he saw Chen San's eyes turned white and he fainted. He then threw him aside in anger.
A wet and sticky liquid kept flowing out from his waist and abdomen. Lu Chen had no time to deal with it. He just felt cold all over. Chen San's vicious and obscene words kept buzzing in his ears. He was so shocked and angry that he felt a little helpless.
He didn't dare to think at all whether she was really in danger or being bullied...
Even all this is because of him, because of him!
妱妱, 妱妱...
Unable to tell where the pain came from, Lu Chen's mind was in a mess, as if it was frying and boiling. His body was staggering like a trapped beast. He walked around aimlessly for a few steps before he remembered to call for help.
Nan Heng rushed in upon hearing the noise, and saw the blood on Lu Chen's body and on the ground. He turned pale with shock, and stepped forward to support Lu Chen, "My dear!" He tore off his robe to bandage his wounds, and at the same time straightened his neck and shouted for someone to call a doctor.
After a long while, Lu Chen finally forced himself to calm down. He tightly grasped Nan Heng's arm, gritted his teeth to suppress the severe pain in his body, and ordered: "Interrogate him strictly and find out where the bandit is. Quickly. If you can't find out, bring him to see..."
Nan Heng understood what he meant and said anxiously, "Don't worry, my dear."
Lu Chen closed his eyes and took a deep breath, veins popping out on his forehead. "I can't wait any longer. Pack your bags and head south... to find her..."
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